Technology company Continental has acquired a minority stake in Israeli start-up company Cartica AI. Cartica AI develops software in the field of artificial intelligence (AI). The solutions from Cartica AI are designed to accelerate machine learning in the field of object recognition. In the future, automotive systems for automated and autonomous driving will be able to adapt to and handle new traffic situations more quickly. The parties have agreed not to disclose the investment amount.

Xero has bolstered its machine learning capabilities for document processing and extraction using technology from Hubdoc, a company that the cloud accounting firm acquired last year for $70 million. According to Xero, the new machine learning capabilities means advisors will have access to more accurate information, gain deeper understanding of financial health, and the flow of data will become more automated. Xero added it is working with advisors to pilot a short-term cash flow tool that uses data and advanced statistical methods to provide small businesses with a 30-day view of artificial intelligence (AI)-powered cash flow predictions, including impact of existing bills and invoices. In addition, the company has introduced single sign-on, touting it as making it easier for developers to build on the Xero platform, onboard new users, and integrate Xero with certified third-party apps. Updates to the Xero Advisor Directory using geo-targeting have also been made, the company said during Xerocon Brisbane 2019, noting the technology will make it easier for small businesses to find a local accountant or bookkeeper and onboard new clients.

Adcore Inc. (ADCO:TSX.V), the developer of machine-learning powered advertising technologies, reported record second quarter financials, including an increase in revenue growth of 53% year over year. Adcore uses artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms to automate online search and shopping advertising and is used by digital agencies and advertisers to enhance and maximize search engine marketing. The company also announced two major contracts for online advertising, one with the Israeli Government Advertising Agency for CA$125 million over five years, and the second with Experience Oz, Australia and New Zealand's number one site for travel experiences, with an online advertising budget of up to CA$5 million per year. "Our growth continues to outpace the market and our competitors, with yet another record quarter of revenue and earnings,-- said Omri Brill, Adcore's CEO. "Our outlook for the second half of the year, historically the stronger half of the year, remains extremely bullish and we expect to make several exciting announcements over the coming months to drive shareholder value." The firm has developed three sets of tools to assist advertising agencies and advertisers with digital media marketing. Ben Mann, founder and director of Experience Oz, stated, "Adcore is the perfect partner to take our search and shopping to the next level.

Toyota Motor Corp. and Suzuki Motor Corp. are strengthening their alliance by taking stakes in one another, seeking to bolster their position as the auto industry shifts further toward electrified and self-driving cars. Japan's biggest automaker will acquire about 5 percent of Suzuki shares for about ¥96 billion ($907 million), while Suzuki will get a smaller holding valued at about ¥48 billion in Toyota, the automakers said in statements Wednesday. That is equivalent to 0.2 percent of Toyota's shares as of Wednesday's closing price, before the announcement. The move builds on ties established in 2017 between the two carmakers and is aimed at expanding their collaboration to keep up with technological advances sweeping through the transportation industry, from on-demand rides to cars that are no longer powered by fossil fuels. For Toyota, the alliance provides access to Suzuki's expertise in India, which is on track to overtake Japan and become the third-largest vehicle market in the world.

Bengaluru-based cab aggregator unicorn Ola has acquired Bengaluru-based artificial intelligence platform Pickup.ai. As part of the deal, the co-founders and employees of Pikup.ai will join the Ola team. When it comes to technology, Ola has been leveraging a lot and has been scaling volumes of success and growth. Its Electric Vehicle arm Ola Electric Mobility became one of the fastest unicorns in India last month. The company too highlighted its commitment and intent of investing in technology especially AI and ML to build futuristic mobility solutions for India and the world.

PROS, a provider of AI-powered solutions that optimize selling in the digital economy, today announced it has acquired Travelaer SAS, a digital innovator for the travel industry, for approximately $12 million. With Travelaer, PROS further extends its comprehensive portfolio to enable airlines to transform the traveler's digital experience across all retail channels: airline.com, "We are thrilled to welcome Travelaer to the PROS family," said President and Chief Executive Officer Andres Reiner, at PROS. "With Travelaer, PROS is uniquely positioned to provide an end-to-end solution that transforms the digital selling experience for airlines, from revenue management, through offer personalization and optimization, to supporting excellence in retail channels. This acquisition accelerates our ability to deliver airlines flexible, configurable retail capabilities yielding an optimal customer experience every time. Our combined teams will drive even greater innovation, accelerating the digital transformation our airline customers need today."

Many people perceive the development of artificial intelligent positively for the overall economy, in relatively any industry. For businesses, these AI technologies involve reducing long-term production costs with more reliable systems. AI structures in business only make sense when targeting objectives such as customization, trouble-shooting, chain efficiency, or flexibility. As happens with all programs, adapting software to your company is about moving from absolute chaos to maximum order. At first, it is expected to have unreliable systems that need constant revisions, and it becomes more complex the more innovative updates we present.

WASHINGTON – Looking for that perfect recipe, or a new flavor combination that delights the senses? Increasingly, players in the food industry are embracing artificial intelligence to better understand the dynamics of flavor, aroma and other factors that go into making a food product a success. Earlier this year, IBM became a surprise entrant to the food sector, announcing a partnership with seasonings maker McCormick to "explore flavor territories more quickly and efficiently using AI to learn and predict new flavor combinations" by utilizing data collected from millions of data points. The partnership highlights how technology is being used to disrupt the food industry by helping develop new products and respond to consumer preferences and offer improved nutrition and flavor. "More and more, food companies are embracing digitization and becoming data-driven," said Bernard Lahousse, co-founder of Foodpairing, a startup with offices in Belgium and New York that develops digital food "maps" and algorithms to recommend food and drink combinations.

Data Science has become one of the most powerful technologies in the retail sector by providing fact-based and data-driven insights. Data Science technologies help retailers in enhancing their marketing strategies, operations, and financial performance. Retailers today are searching for ways to derive more customer intelligence and operational insights from their overflowing databases which are currently fulfilled by Data Science technologies. Data science plays a vital role in almost all sectors of retail such as assortment, recommendation, Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Demand Forecasting, Price Optimization for products, Predictive Maintenance, Churn prediction, and Data-Driven Product Management. Other products that are bought together with the required products by the customers lead to increase in sales.

Roku blew away its numbers in style as the US streaming company surpassed 30 million active users in Q2 2019 – comprehensively extending its native dominance in the connected TV space. But while Roku's second quarter results are a milestone for the company, they also signify significant tailwinds in a broader field – advertising. Revenue growth of 59% year on year to $250.1 million was primarily driven by growth in advertising as Roku managed to more than double the number of monetized video ad impressions.