Amazon's DJL is a deep learning toolkit used to develop machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) models natively in Java while simplifying the use of deep learning frameworks. A toolkit open-sourced just in time for re:Invent 2019, DJL provides a set of high-level APIs to train, test and run inference. Java developers can develop their own models or utilize pre-trained models developed by data scientists in Python from their Java code. DJL stays true to Java's motto, "write once, run anywhere (WORA)", by being engine and deep learning framework-agnostic. Developers can write code once that runs on any engine.

Artificial intelligence (AI) and robots have slowly but steadily made their way into a variety of industries spanning fast food to the financial sectors. This expansion is projected to continue and is forecasted to replace a considerable amount of jobs. A Forrester report notes that AI can replace as many as six per cent of jobs by 2021. A PwC reports notes that many jobs across the globe will be affected by the 2030s, including 38 per cent of U.S. jobs; 35 per cent of jobs in Germany; 30 per cent of U.K. jobs, and 21 per cent of occupations in Japan. There is no doubt that AI and robots can replace frontline workers who complete routine tasks.

Google Assistant and Alexa may pretend to have "personality," but they really don't. Telling a joke when asked does not make any of them a great raconteur. This is fine for two reasons. First, it's not what they're for, and second, giving an artificial creation personality is very, very difficult. Gatebox, the company behind the eponymous product, is succeeding where others have either failed, or aren't even trying.

Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba announced Wednesday it will invest more than $15 billion over the next three years into a global research and development program to increase collaboration and develop new technologies. That sum was slightly more than double the total amount Alibaba spent on R&D between 2014 and the fiscal year that ended March 31, 2017. The program is called the Academy for Discovery, Adventure, Momentum and Outlook -- DAMO Academy for short. As part of the program, Alibaba will set up seven research labs in Beijing, Hangzhou, San Mateo and Bellevue in the U.S., Moscow, Tel Aviv and Singapore, and recruit 100 researchers to staff them. Those labs will undertake projects in areas of data intelligence, Internet of Things, financial technologies, quantum computing and human-machine interaction, including machine learning and Natural Language Processing.

The entire written works of mankind in all languages from the beginning of recorded history is around 50 petabytes. One petabyte is about 20 million four drawer filing cabinets filled with text. Google processes about 20 petabytes per day so in three days they would have processed everything we have written – ever. Meanwhile, data centres now annually consume as much energy as Sweden. By 2025 they'll consume a fifth of all of Earth's power.

The University of Adelaide plans to achieve substantial growth in its student population within five years, and one of the teams responsible for achieving this very aggressive goal has a new staff member this year: a chatbot. It helps answer the critical question, "Am I eligible to attend the university?" Catherine Cherry, the school's director of prospect management, is putting innovative technologies to work to help meet that goal. The University of Adelaide uses a chatbot to let prospective students know whether they're eligible to apply. Prior to the introduction of the chatbot, the university's admissions office couldn't easily answer the eligibility question for prospective students from outside of Australia who were curious about whether they could attend.

New Zealand's financial sector is primed for artificial intelligence, according to new national research. The AI Forum of New Zealand (part of the NZTech ecosystem) research study says the country's financial and insurance sectors are better prepared to incorporate and reap rewards from AI implementation than other industries. According to Emma Naji, AI Forum executor director, the report identifies New Zealand urgently needs to increase its focus on the core foundations needed to operate in an AI enabled future. This is especially important relating to investment, skills and talent, research, trusted data, ethics and regulation, she says. "The report shows how AI-driven solutions can be used to improve New Zealand's wellbeing, productivity and sustainability," says Naji. "Unsurprisingly, financial institutions have been quick to capitalise on the opportunities and new techniques that AI offers."

A New York City based large volume private practice radiology group conducted a quality assurance review that included an 18 month software evaluation in the breast center comprised of nine (9) specialist radiologists using an FDA cleared artificial intelligence software by Koios Medical, Inc as a second opinion for analyzing and assessing lesions found during breast ultrasound examinations. Over the evaluation period, radiologists analyzed over 6,000 diagnostic breast ultrasound exams. Radiologists used Koios DS Breast decision support software (Koios Medical, Inc.) to assist in lesion classification and risk assessment. As part of the normal diagnostic workflow, radiologists would activate Koios DS and review the software findings with clinical details to formulate the best management. Analysis was then performed comparing the physicians' diagnostic performance to the 18-month period prior to the introduction of the AI enabled software.

This is the third Synced year-end compilation of "Artificial Intelligence Failures." Despite AI's rapid growth and remarkable achievements, a review of AI failures remains necessary and meaningful. Our aim is not to downplay or mock research and development results, but rather to take a look at what went wrong with the hope we can do better next time. A leading facial-recognition system identified three-time Super Bowl champion Duron Harmon of the New England Patriots, Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand, and 25 other New England professional athletes as criminals. Amazon's Rekognition software incorrectly matched the athletes to a database of mugshots in a test organized by the Massachusetts chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).

Almost a third (32%) said that deep learning would'totally' transform their industry, while 26% said other kinds of machine learning would have this effect. Most CTOs highlight machine learning as the technology that will disrupt their industry and lead to new innovations. But, how can they effectively put machine learning models into production? However, only 60% said they were confident that they knew what deep learning is and how it works, despite participants having direct responsibility for overseeing AI. The sample was made up of 350 CIOs and senior AI decision makers in the UK and the Nordics, all of whom worked for organisations of at least 1,000 employees.