SINGAPORE - Businesses in Singapore are set to benefit from free health screenings to spot weaknesses in their Web domain, e-mail system and connectivity. This freely provided diagnostic is part of the newly unveiled Safer Cyberspace Masterplan 2020 that aims to protect Singapore's digital sphere. The national plan also outlines the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to sniff out security threats in key infrastructure, including broadband and 5G networks, and consumer devices such as webcams and Wi-Fi routers. Coordinated by the Cyber Security Agency (CSA) of Singapore, the masterplan is central to Singapore's plans to lead in AI and smart nation deployments globally, and comes amid rapid digitalisation in recent months. "The pandemic accelerated the pace of change... Telecommuting, video calls, e-learning, online shopping, and digital payment surged," said Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat in unveiling the masterplan on Tuesday (Oct 6).

The UK's Space Agency has backed a laboratory from mobile phone operator O2 looking at how 5G and satellite links could be used for driverless cars. However wide area links are needed for coverage outside of 5G networks, which is where the satellite links come in. This links up with the UK's rescue of the OneWeb low earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation that is intended to provide broadband links, although with higher latency than 1ms. The lab will be based at the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus in Oxfordshire which is already the focus of space technology development with the European Space Agency and will also host the recent £10m purchase of a quantum computer from Rigetti Computing. "We are excited to continue working on 5G projects with our partners, especially the Darwin SatCom Lab located on the Harwell Campus, which is also home to the ESA's European Centre for Space Applications and Telecommunications," said Antonio Franchi, 5G Strategic Programme Manager at the European Space Agency.

Japan Post Co. unveiled Wednesday a self-driving mail delivery robot as demand grows for minimizing human contact amid the coronavirus pandemic. Using built-in cameras and sensors, the robot -- which is the size of a wheelchair -- operated on a sidewalk in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward, dodging obstacles such as utility poles, and crossed an intersection with traffic lights. The robot is in the middle of a series of test runs that began on Sept. 18 and runs through late October. One of the tests involves the robot traveling 700 meters from a convenience store in a hospital to a local post office in about 25 minutes. The red DeliRo robot developed by ZMP Inc. is capable of carrying packages weighing up to 30 kilograms at a speed of 6 kilometers per hour, according to Japan Post, which aims to put the self-driving delivery robots into practical use in fiscal 2021.

Amid a pandemic implosion, these startups showcase the strength, diversity and adaptability of America's entrepreneurs--and provide hope for the country's economic future. Even in the most challenging times, the best entrepreneurs find ways to excel. The 25 small companies listed here--all of which have less than $50 million in 2019 sales and fewer than 200 employees--are successfully navigating this turbulent year, even as some of their founders cope with personal losses from Covid-19. Some make things that are increasingly critical, such as software that improves hospital operations or robots that clean schools. Others have shifted to adapt to the pandemic, such as the extended-stay hotel operator using its rooms to house displaced international students and traveling doctors, or the maker of rolling buffets that started producing plexiglass dividers. These small-business standouts showcase the strength, adaptability and diversity of America's entrepreneurs, giving us hope for the country's economic future.

Mohammed Bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI), the world's first university dedicated to artificial intelligence (AI) launched in October 2019 paves a new era of technological advancements in the UAE. UAE's Minister of State Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber says, "The Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) is an open invitation from Abu Dhabi to the world to unleash AI's full potential." Precisely, State Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber happens to be appointed as one of the board of trustees at the university. Ever since the announcement about dedicating he world's first university to AI, the year 2020 projects to be a great year in making its move toward becoming the global tech hub. This also means that job opportunities for AI experts and AI engineers will increase.

Therefore, the Defense Department has a keen interest in taking the lead in AI research and development, said Air Force Gen. John E. Hyten, who spoke yesterday at the 2020 Department of Defense Artificial Intelligence Symposium and Exposition. When most people think about how AI is created, they think it's all about the algorithms, he said. While algorithms are critical, they are just one of the seven building blocks that comprise AI, the others being data, software, computing, ethics, engagement with industry and international cooperation. "Algorithms, to me, are actually one of the easier problems to solve," Hyten said. "But algorithms without the other building blocks are useless, especially when it comes to data and computing."

Rapid developments in AI have triggered digital advancements in almost every industry. The technology is capable of construing data contextually to provide requested information, supply analysis, and push events based on findings. Simultaneously, businesses need to meet social, investor and regulatory requirements regarding how they use advanced technologies like AI. Significantly, it is also crucial that organizations must commit to using the technology with a purpose, which leads to the way of sustainable development. In its recent study, the Allen Institute for AI argued the prioritization of "Green AI" efforts that focus on the energy efficiency of AI systems. The study was based on many high-profile advances in AI that have wavered carbon footprints.

London RegTech firm's cutting-edge AI enables financial institutions to validate tax forms in seconds. Success in the US has led to surging revenues and workforce growth of 46% this year despite the pandemic. The UK recent concluded its fourth round of trade negotiations with the US and in an ever-changing regulatory landscape, TAINA Technology's innovative software expedites compliance, enabling businesses to validate tax forms in seconds and lower costs. For many firms, RegTech: regulatory technology, has become key to ensuring compliance across jurisdictions at reduced costs. Using machine learning, a form of artificial intelligence in which computer algorithms improve through experience, TAINA's platform cuts costs by 84% by reducing time spent validating tax forms by over 75% and tax form rejection rates by over 85%.

Published: Monday, October 5, 2020, 8:40 [IST] New Delhi, Oct 05: RAISE 2020, a mega virtual summit on Artificial Intelligence will be inaugurated today by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at 7 pm. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and NITI Aayog are organising the mega virtual summit on October 5-9, 2020, a release from the PMO said. "RAISE 2020 (Responsible AI for Social Empowerment 2020) will be a global meeting of minds to exchange ideas and chart a course for using AI for social transformation, inclusion and empowerment in areas like healthcare, agriculture, education and smart mobility among other sectors," the PMO release also added. The summit will discuss cross-sector subjects like'Leveraging AI for Pandemic Preparedness', 'The Impetus that Innovation Places on Digitisation', 'Inclusive AI', 'Partnerships for Successful Innovation'. RAISE 2020 will be a global meeting of minds to exchange ideas and chart a course for using AI for social transformation, inclusion and empowerment in areas like Healthcare, Agriculture, Education and Smart Mobility, among other sectors.

Now, a Purdue University team has created a mobile docking system for AUVs, enabling them to perform longer tasks without the need for human intervention. The team also has published papers on ways to adapt this docking system for AUVs that will explore extraterrestrial lakes, such as those of Jupiter and Saturn's moons. "My research focuses on persistent operation of robots in challenging environments," said Nina Mahmoudian, an associate professor of mechanical engineering. Once a marine robot submerges in water, it loses the ability to transmit and receive radio signals, including GPS data. Some may use acoustic communication, but this method can be difficult and unreliable, especially for long-range transmissions.