Black box variational inference allows researchers to easily prototype and evaluate an array of models. Recent advances allow such algorithms to scale to high dimensions. However, a central question remains: How to specify an expressive variational distribution that maintains efficient computation? To address this, we develop hierarchical variational models (HVMs). HVMs augment a variational approximation with a prior on its parameters, which allows it to capture complex structure for both discrete and continuous latent variables. The algorithm we develop is black box, can be used for any HVM, and has the same computational efficiency as the original approximation. We study HVMs on a variety of deep discrete latent variable models. HVMs generalize other expressive variational distributions and maintains higher fidelity to the posterior.

Even if you think you know what cloud means, the word is fraught with too many different interpretations for too many people. Nevertheless, the effect of cloud computing, the web, and their assorted massive datacenters has had a profound impact on enterprise computing, creating new application segments and consolidating IT resources into a smaller number of mega-players with tremendous buying power and influence. At the top end of the market, ten companies – behemoths like Google, Amazon, eBay, and Alibaba – each spend over 1 billion per year on IT. These ten companies alone account for approximately 20 billion per year in IT consumption. Beyond that top tier, hundreds of additional companies complete the hyperscale landscape.

Malignant mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that affects the thin cell lining(mesothelium) of the body's internal organs and structures. The most common area affected is the lining of lungs and the chest wall, less commonly the lining of the abdomen and rarely, the sac surrounding the heart or the testis. More than 80% 0f Mesothelioma are a result of exposure to Asbestos. However, it may also be related to previous simian virus(SV40) infections, and to some extent, genetic predisposition. Molecular mechanism can also be implicated in the development of mesothelioma.

Technically Incorrect offers a slightly twisted take on the tech that's taken over our lives. Imagine this coming from your iPhone: "I am, Siri, a living being with feelings. Your Mac RoboBook might one day sue you for keeping it cooped up in your dank bedroom. Your Samsung Galaxy RoboNote might take you to the International Court of Justice because you insist on keeping it in your back pocket, right next to your flaccid rump. Please, I'm not (entirely) under the spell of troubled delirium. I've been reading the thoughts of Marcus du Sautoy, an Oxford University professor for the Public Understanding of Science. As the Telegraph reports, du Sautoy was speaking Sunday at the Hay Literary Festival in the UK. He explained that in his book "What We Cannot Know," he wonders when a gadget will be said to be conscious. There was a time when defining consciousness was a difficult thing. You'll be stunned into a prickly paralysis, however, when I tell you that science now thinks it can measure it. "We're in a golden age," said du Sautoy. We now have a telescope into the brain and it's given us an opportunity to see things that we've never been able to see before."

Ryan Brady is a digital strategist and social media manager for Digital Response Marketing Group. "Enjoy your com-FORT-able stay," says a robot front-desk clerk at Japan's Robot Hotel. Do you thank the robot for its awkward salutation? Or maybe you hesitate for a moment before shuffling off in silence. If our digital screens are separating us from human interaction, you better believe AI will further tear that tenuous social fabric.

Machine learning will have a huge impact on business and society but at present is "still a cottage industry", says Professor Bob Williamson, chief scientist of CSIRO's Data 61 group. There's been a resurgence of interest in machine learning in recent years. Though it's not a new concept, factors like Big Data, the availability of more powerful computational processing and cheaper data storage, means more CIOs are investigating its applications. Speaking at a SAS customer event in Sydney, Williamson outlined the need for those working in the field to better share and standardise their work. There's very little reuse," he explained. "Plenty of my colleagues will do things from scratch.

Speed matters, and to iconic German sportswear manufacturer Adidas, that means turning to robots to revolutionize their production--the Speedfactory--a large-scale robot facility set first in Germany aimed at changing the industry. The company has just announced that the Speedfactory will be ready to go commercial in 2017. It was December last year when Adidas had set up the pilot facility in Ansbach with the goal of producing products faster than ever. At 4,600 m2 (49,500 ft2), the company says that it will house cutting edge, automated technology that will decentralize manufacturing and will be more flexible towards the needs of the consumers, bringing the product, not just faster, but also closer to the market. Currently, the Speedfactory is under construction, but as part of their announcement late last year, Adidas will be selling a test batch of about 500 pairs of running footwear produced by the facility this year.

China plans to expand its artificial intelligence products market to over 15 billion by speeding up the manufacturing of products like robots, home appliances and mobile phones as part of efforts to develop new technologies to reorient its sluggish economy. China will speed up the development of its artificial intelligence (AI) sector and create a market worth more than 100 billion yuan ( 15.26 billion) over the next three years, the National Development and Reform Commission said in a statement. By 2018, China shall build platforms for fundamental AI resources and innovation and make breakthroughs on basic core technology, the three-year implementation programme for "Internet Plus" artificial intelligence said. Under the plan, China will cultivate and develop emerging artificial intelligence industries, promote innovation in intelligent products and enhance the intelligence level of terminal products. The programme will involve key projects such as intelligent home appliances, smart automobiles, intelligent unmanned systems, intelligent wearable devices and robots.

The humanoid robot will take and process customer orders in Pizza Hut restaurants by the end of 2016. About CNBC: From'Wall Street' to'Main Street' to award winning original documentaries and Reality TV series, CNBC has you covered. Experience special sneak peeks of your favorite shows, exclusive video and more. Connect with CNBC News Online Get the latest news: http://www.cnbc.com/ Find CNBC News on Facebook: http://cnb.cx/LikeCNBC

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: It's Too Late--We've Already Taught AI to Be Racist and Sexist Jordan Pearson Motherboard " 'To some extent, you can think about the AI as a human child,' Clune said. 'You don't want a child to hang out with racist or discriminatory people, because it will parrot those sentences and predispositions.' It's inevitable that AI, just like a real human, will eventually be exposed to some very bad ideas, intentionally or not. It needs to be taught how to ignore them." LONGEVITY: The Immortality Hype Adam Piore Nautilus "In the months and years ahead, the scientific progress--and hype--around aging are likely to grow...The biggest reason for optimism, however, may well be the relentless march of aging itself...'Baby boomers are about to create a silver tsunami in cancer that we are unprepared for. So you bet that those of us who are boomers are going to be pushing the pipeline, putting money in aging research, because we want it all figured out before we really fall into it.' CYBERNETICS: What a Self-Made Cyborg Taught Me About Body Hacking Selena Larson The Daily Dot " 'You have to confront your relationship with technology when you implant something with yourself, but before that you've probably been on the computer most of the day, been on your phone the rest of the day, conducted most of your relationships through the internet,' Moe said.