On Google's recent Q3 earnings call, Google's CEO, Sundar Pichai said that one "transformative" technology is causing Google to rethink "how we're doing everything." There's a single technology that's causing Google to rethink they way it does everything. The same technology is in the process of transforming many of the biggest names in tech -- Facebook, Amazon, Netflix, UBER, Twitter -- not to mention smaller, up-and-coming startups. Entrepreneur and thought leader Peter Diamandis say that it will "do more to improve healthcare than all the biological sciences combined" and will generate large amounts of wealth and abundance. Billionaire venture capitalist Vinod Khosla agrees, saying that over the next 50 years, it will drive abundance, transform industries, and impact almost every part of society.

China's biggest manufacturer of home appliances, Midea Group, announced Wednesday an unsolicited takeover bid for German robot maker Kuka, offering 115 euros ( 130) for each share of the German company, valuing it at over 5 billion. The Chinese company, which has a market cap of about 21 billion based on its listing in the Shenzhen Stock Exchange, had, on Feb. 4, announced it raised its stake in Kuka to 10.2 percent and currently owns 13.5 percent of the German company's shares. The offer, made through Midea subsidiary MECCA International, of 115 euros is a 59.6 percent premium to Kuka's closing share price on Feb. 3, which was 72.05 euros per share. The company said in its statement it "is committed to maintaining Kuka's independence as a publicly listed company in Germany and has no intention of entering into a domination agreement regardless of the result of the takeover offer." Midea has previously announced its intent to increase its stake in Kuka, and the current bid is to keep in line with regulatory framework that makes it mandatory for an acquiring company to make an open offer for all issued shares of the company being acquired, if its stake exceeds 30 percent.

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--(NASDAQ:AMZN)--Amazon today announced new Alexa voice features are coming to Fire TV, including the ability to control playback of Amazon Video and Add-On Subscription content, launch apps, access local movie show times, search local businesses and restaurants, and more--all just by using your voice. Discovering and accessing content on Fire TV has never been easier with the new Alexa playback features, plus integrated voice search across 59 content partners including Hulu, Showtime, Starz, HBO Go and more. These new Alexa features will be automatically delivered via free, over-the-air software updates in the coming weeks. "Customers have told us they love having the convenience of Alexa on their Amazon Fire TV," said Tim Twerdahl, General Manager, Amazon Fire TV. "We're excited to add new Alexa features to Fire TV, making it easier than ever to enjoy their favorite TV shows, movies, and apps."

Amazon's virtual assistant was already hard at work helping with tasks via its Echo speakers and Fire TV, but now Alexa is getting more control of your television. The online retailer announced today that Alexa can handle more requests on its streaming gadgets, including launching apps, playing selections from Amazon video and add-on subscriptions (HBO Go, Starz, Showtime, SeeSo) and browsing local movie times. Fire TV already offered voice search and Alexa has been available on those devices as well, but this update expands the virtual assistant's workload.

Dell today announced the availability of the Dell Data Protection Endpoint Security Suite Enterprise, which integrates Cylance technology using artificial intelligence and machine learning to proactively prevent advanced persistent threats and malware. As part of this solution, Dell also announced the availability of a new post-boot BIOS verification solution for Dell commercial PCs, which allows customers to ensure their device remains free from malware during the boot process. The post-boot BIOS verification solution will be integrated on Dell commercial PCs with the purchase of the Dell Data Protection Endpoint Security Suite Enterprise license.

The innovations protected by the new patent provide users of the Arria NLG Platform with an added level of control to query their data to achieve a deeper understanding. Users can direct the report output by changing the data parameters to refine its focus and apply the embedded subject matter expertise to quickly interrogate their data at the click of a mouse. For example, financial analyst who receive an NLG report analysing an entire year of sales data can use an interface to focus the report on the most recent quarter or on one or a combination of geographic regions, or by using any other search criteria that they specify. With one click, the NLG Platform searches the data afresh, conducts pre-programmed analysis and produces an amended report responding to the new query. This, Arria's eighth patent, covers flexible modification of search parameters not only for reports that may be generated with Arria NLG's advanced artificial intelligence technology, but also with more rudimentary, template based NLG systems offered by several of Arria NLG's competitors.

Sure announced today that it has introduced the world's first on-demand insurance app powered by artificial intelligence, marking an important step for the company as it drives rapid adoption of mobile, on-demand insurance products. An industry first, Sure uses data-driven approaches to empower consumers with the ability to personalize insurance needs on the go. In doing so, it eliminates the built-in limitations of an industry driven largely by one-size-fits-all recommendations from brokers. Sure continues to pioneer Episodic Insurance in the insurance market by providing consumers with simple options based on the context and information gathered through his or her mobile device with permission. Sure uses data-intelligence and advanced analytics to identify needs and provide products for easy, on-demand purchase. For the first time, customers can buy the type of insurance they need, for exactly the duration they need it.

TOKYO, May 16, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- UBIC, Inc. (Nasdaq:UBIC) (TSE:2158), a leading provider of international litigation support and big-data analysis services, and Hearts United Group Co., Ltd. announced today that on June 1, they will launch DH-AI, a next-generation system designed to detect potential signs of risk contained in comments and other content posted on the Internet using UBIC's KIBIT artificial intelligence (AI) engine. Since UBIC started engaging in joint research with Hearts United Group in October 2015, both companies set out to develop cutting-edge debugging technologies and services using AI. By leveraging their technical expertise, the companies have made steady progress researching AI-based debugging and are now preparing the service for commercialization. In recent years, many firms have launched community and blog websites as a channel to communicate with end users, so as to promote their products and services. Increasingly, malicious comments have been posted on such websites, which often serve to incite hostile exchanges or mislead customers about products and services, resulting in damage to the companies' public images.

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Accenture (NYSE:ACN) and IPsoft today announced the creation of an Accenture Amelia practice, designed to accelerate client adoption of artificial intelligence to improve business outcomes and create new growth opportunities for their businesses. Accenture will utilize IPsoft's Amelia platform to develop go-to-market strategies, solutions and consulting service offerings around deployments of virtual agent technology for clients across several industries with initial focus on banking, insurance and travel. "Artificial intelligence is maturing rapidly and offers great potential to reshape the way that organizations conduct business and interact with their customers and employees. At the same time, executives are overwhelmed by the plethora of technologies and many products that are advertising AI or Cognitive capabilities," said Paul Daugherty, Accenture's chief technology officer. "With our new Accenture Amelia practice, we are taking an important step forward in advancing the business potential of artificial intelligence by combining IPsoft's world-class virtual agent platform with Accenture's broad technology capabilities and industry experience to help clients transform their business and operations."

Yi-Jian Wu, Founder & CEO of Yuanqu Tech in China, talks about how NVIDIA Tesla GPUs are being used to train their interactive educational robot for children. Call the robot's name and the speech-controlled robot is able to tell jokes, answer educational questions, teach English and act as a patient tutor for a child. Watch more scientists and researchers share how accelerated computing is benefiting their work at http://nvda.ly/X7WpH