This three-day course is for data engineers, analysts, architects; software engineers; IT operations; and technical managers interested in a thorough, hands-on overview of the Apache Spark platform. The course covers the core APIs for using Spark, fundamental mechanisms and basic internals of the platform, SQL and other high-level data access tools, as well as Spark's streaming capabilities and machine learning APIs. Each topic includes slide and lecture content along with hands-on use of Spark through the elegant Databricks web-based notebook environment. Inspired by tools like IPython/Jupyter and Matlab, Databricks notebooks allow attendees to code jobs, data analysis queries, and generate visualizations using their own cloud-based Spark cluster, accessed through a web browser.* Duration: 3 Days, Full Time (9AM to 5PM) We will have a break from noon to 1pm daily; lunch will not be provided, but there are several options nearby.

This training is ideal for engineers creating algorithms and software for visual machine perception in all types of applications (e.g. in the industrial, medical, consumer, retail, public safety or automotive area) who want to quickly come up to speed on using TensorFlow for these applications. It's also appropriate for managers who want to get a flavor for creating deep neural networks and using TensorFlow. After the training, attendees will be ready to begin using TensorFlow productively in their work. In addition, for attendees who require an introduction to deep neural network algorithms, the Embedded Vision Alliance will offer a two-hour video tutorial presentation online prior to the TensorFlow class.

A hilarious new video reveals the clumsy progress of AI'parkour,' as scientists work to teach computer systems how to navigate'challenging terrains and obstacles.' DeepMind researchers have trained a number of simulated bodies, including a headless'walker,' a four-legged'ant,' and a 3D humanoid, to learn more complex behaviours as they carry out different locomotion tasks. The results, while comical, show how these systems can learn to improve their own techniques as they interact with the different environments, eventually allowing them to run, jump, crouch and turn as needed. Footage from the study offers a hilarious look into the trial-and-error process. As the team explains in the paper, the environments presented to the simulated bodies are of varying levels of difficulty.

A new Google initiative was announced today that aims to improve how humans and AI interact. Called PAIR, or People AI Research initiative, its goal is to make sure AI technology is beneficial and empowering to everyone and it will focus on aspects like tools for AI developers and how to make sure AI systems are inclusive. "PAIR is devoted to advancing the research and design of people-centric AI systems. We're interested in the full spectrum of human interaction with machine intelligence, from supporting engineers to understanding everyday experiences with AI," said PAIR's website. The PAIR team will be led by Google Brain researchers Fernanda Viégas and Martin Wattenberg and its 12 full-time staff members will also work with researchers outside of Google, such as Harvard University professor Brendan Meade and MIT professor Hal Abelson.

The amount of conflicting advice there is on how to bring up happy and successful children can make your head spin. Parents often find themselves questioning how strict they should be with youngsters and how much independence they should allow them. Now a new book by psychologists says our approach is wrong – because we're training them to be computers, reports NPR. Instead of focusing on'success' at school, we should be teaching them how to be better at being social, navigate relationships and be good citizens in a community. That's according to two professors who have written Becoming Brilliant: What Science Tells Us About Raising Successful Children.

Professor Moshe BenBassat has been a leader in Artificial Intelligence for several decades. During a long academic career with positions at Tel Aviv University, USC, and UCLA, Professor BenBassat made significant contributions in Pattern Recognition, Artificial Intelligence, Optimization, Data Science and Machine Learning. Following his invention of "service chain optimization," he founded ClickSoftware which has been leading this space with AI-centric products since its inception in 1997. Moshe served as ClickSoftware's CEO until 2015, at which point it was acquired for nearly $0.5 Billion. Moshe also founded Plataine which is focused on intelligent automation for smart manufacturing, leveraging Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and Artificial Intelligence technologies.

For decades, textbooks were seen as the foundation for instruction in American schools. These discipline-specific tomes were a fundamental part of the educational infrastructure, assigned to students for each subject and carried in heavy backpacks every day – from home to school and back again. The experience of students is much different today. As a scholar of learning technologies and a director for outreach and engagement at Ohio State's College of Education and Human Ecology, we've seen how technological advances and an increase in digital curriculum materials have hastened the move away from textbooks. Does all of this technology spell the end of traditional textbooks?

Smart devices are steadily becoming a part of our daily lives, with gadgets like smart speakers, which are a combination of voice commands and artificial intelligence, being very useful in emergency scenarios. While users may be coming to terms with the idea of a slew of smart devices inside their homes, in their pockets or on their wrists, these devices are evolving fast in their capabilities in responding rapidly in emergency situations. Reports said a smart speaker saved the life of a woman and her daughter in New Mexico by alerting authorities to an alleged assault last week. Eduardo Barros allegedly pointed a gun at his girlfriend and posed the question: "Did you call the sheriffs?" This exchange triggered the speaker to call 911.

First impressions count – and nowhere more than in online dating. But how lifelike are the selfies posted on websites like Tinder? New research shows both sexes are prone to manipulating their images to create the right impression for potential lovers. Men are much more likely to take their selfies from around waist height to make them appear taller, more powerful and more likely to be able to protect their partner. And women are much more likely to take them from above head height to accentuate facial features and disguise any concerns over body weight.

These and other findings are from the McKinsey Global Institute Study, and discussion paper, Artificial Intelligence, The Next Digital Frontier (80 pp., PDF, free, no opt-in) published last month. McKinsey Global Institute published an article summarizing the findings titled How Artificial Intelligence Can Deliver Real Value To Companies. McKinsey interviewed more than 3,000 senior executives on the use of AI technologies, their companies' prospects for further deployment, and AI's impact on markets, governments, and individuals. McKinsey Analytics was also utilized in the development of this study and discussion paper.