Our second annual list highlights promising, private, U.S.-based companies that are using artificial intelligence in meaningful business-oriented ways.

MIM Software Inc., a leading global provider of medical imaging software, announced today it has received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its deep learning auto-contouring software, Contour ProtégéAI . Contour ProtégéAI is an auto-contouring solution that seamlessly integrates into any department's workflow and can be rapidly implemented into virtually any environment. User feedback and a determination to continuously improve auto-segmentation were key drivers in developing the product. "Our customers are under continual pressure to improve their practices while facing escalating time constraints,'' said Andrew Nelson, Chief Executive Officer of MIM Software Inc. "Our deep learning auto-segmentation product, Contour ProtégéAI, will play a critical role in reducing the burden of contouring." Auto-contouring is an ideal use case for deep learning algorithms because it is one of the most time-consuming clinical tasks.

Google appeared to discontinue the original Home speaker when it recently marked the product as "no longer available" in its store. That move suggested a replacement smart speaker is on the way, and now we've gotten what's likely our first proper look at it. Recently certified by the FCC, here is our first look at GXCA6, the new @Google Nest Speaker, replacing the original Google Home. The Federal Communications Commission just certified some type of "wireless device" from the company, though many of the details about the gadget remained confidential. Reports have suggested that Google was working on a Nest-branded speaker to replace the Home and this filing fits the bill.

Australia and the UK have opened a joint investigation into Clearview AI. Specifically, the regulatory bodies are concerned with Clearview's practice of using "scraped" data and biometrics. The two countries aren't the first to question Clearview AI, the company behind the controversial facial recognition program. Clearview AI claims to have a database with three billion images gathered from the open web. It offers that database to law enforcement, supposedly so they can identify criminals and victims.

Peggy highlights the Invest in America Act and how it is going to authorize funds for transportation infrastructure. She says we need to tackle the backlog of infrastructure that needs to be replaced and if both sides of the aisle don’t get their collective acts together, we are going to be in trouble. She also discusses: A refresher on the ASCE report card and transportation infrastructure. How legislation like the Invest in America Act is trying to tackle infrastructure challenges. The potential for the IoT to help fix infrastructure and innovative technologies that need to be built into our plan. (07.07.20 - #676) IoT, Internet of Things, Peggy Smedley, artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data, digital transformation, cybersecurity, blockchain, 5G cloud, sustainability, future of work, podcast  

The UK's Information Commissioner's Office and the Australian Information Commissioner have announced a joint investigation into Clearview AI. The data watchdogs will focus "on the company's use of'scraped' data and biometrics of individuals" they said in a statement. The investigation follows a similar announcement by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada, which also has opened an investigation into Clearview AI. "The joint investigation was initiated in the wake of media reports which stated that Clearview AI was using its technology to collect images and make facial recognition available to law enforcement in the context of investigations" the Canadian statement says. "Reports have also indicated the US-based company provides services in a number of countries to a broad range of organizations, including retailers, financial institutions and various government institutions." The company had advised the privacy protection authorities that, in response to their investigation, it would be withdrawing its services from Canada.

The largest technology companies in the world, including Google, Amazon, and Microsoft, all have contracts with the American government and federal law enforcement agencies that had gone previously unreported. Research from the non-profit Tech Inquiry has found that these companies have thousands of deals with the Department of Defense, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Agency and the Federal Bureau of Prisons. The revelation comes as workers from Google and Microsoft are asking executives to take action and end contracts with the police and other law enforcement organisations as Black Lives Matter protests continue across the country. An analysis of over 30 million government contracts signed over the past five years found that many of these large companies use subcontracts to fulfil government requests. "Often the high-level contract description between tech companies and the military looks very vanilla and mundane," Jack Poulson of Tech Inquiry told NBC. "But only when you look at the details of the contract, which you can only get through Freedom of Information [Act] requests, do you see the workings of how the customisation from a tech company would actually be involved."

Public scrutiny is critical for trust in, and democratic legitimacy for, the use of data-driven decision-making and algorithmic systems in our society. We stand at the intersection of monumental and ongoing ruptures that will transform the data governance landscape. If they are to have a positive long-term influence it will be because we have heeded their lessons. The Royal Society's new publication, The UK data governance landscape, is a valuable resource published at a moment of immense uncertainty, as well as possibility, in the data governance ecosystem. Midway through 2020 we stand at the intersection of three monumental and ongoing ruptures: the coronavirus pandemic, which is accelerating the application of data-driven technologies (PDF) to health as well as policymaking; the Black Lives Matter movement, which is drawing long-overdue attention to the unequal distribution of the benefits of digital transformation as well the problem of bias in algorithmic systems (PDF); and the impending departure of the United Kingdom from the European Union, which is generating questions about the future of international data flows and the opportunities the UK faces to expand its leadership in artificial intelligence (AI).

In February, the outreach director for an organization called Communities Against Rider Surveillance wrote to Evan Greer. CARS wanted to know if Fight for the Future, a nonprofit digital-rights advocacy group where Greer is the deputy director, would join, and allow itself to be listed as a member of the newly formed coalition. "CARS is a new coalition working to raise awareness of a dangerous technology called Mobility Data Specification," the email from outreach director Rich Dunn read. "In the wrong hands, the information collected by MDS poses grave privacy and safety risks." MDS is a technical specification created by Los Angeles' Department of Transportation, now managed by a third-party foundation.

Clearview's facial recognition software, popular with law enforcement, uses images scraped from the internet and social media Data regulators in the UK and Australia have announced a joint investigation into practices of facial recognition app Clearview AI. The UK Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) and the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) said they are looking into the firm's use of data "scraped" from the internet. Clearview AI uses its facial recognition software to help law enforcement match photos of unknown people to other images online by using the company's database of photos which have been taken from publicly accessible social media platforms, including Facebook, and other websites. The controversial system has raised questions about privacy and consent to data gathering but has been used by a number of law enforcement agencies in the US. A report by Buzzfeed earlier this year also claimed that a number of UK law enforcement agencies had registered with Clearview, including the Metropolitan Police and the National Crime Agency as well as other regional police forces.