DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Public-service executives in Europe are optimistic and enthusiastic about the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on government operations and services but face challenges implementing the technology, according to a study issued today by Accenture (NYSE: ACN). The study -- based on a survey of 300 government leaders and senior information technology (IT) decision-makers in Finland, France Germany, Norway and the U.K.-- found that the vast majority (90%) of respondents believe that AI will have a high impact on their organizations over the coming years. In addition, nearly the same number (86%) said that their organization plans to increase its spending on AI next year. Customer service and fraud & risk management are the two operational areas favored most for public service AI deployments, cited by 25% and 23% of respondents, respectively. In addition, respondents most often cited increased efficiencies, cost or time savings, and enhanced productivity as the greatest anticipated benefits from their AI investments.

Ottawa-based MindBridge Analytics announced, on Wednesday, a partnership with the Bank of Canada that will see the FinTech and AI startup participate in a proof-of-concept project to track payment transactions. "Working alongside a leading central bank accelerates MindBridge's capabilities in delivering impactful solutions." Through the partnership, Bank of Canada will utilize MindBridge's AI platform, which analyzes large datasets to detect deviating patterns of activity and errors. The financial institution is hoping to develop an AI solution that can spot abnormalities in payment transactions. A core function of the Bank of Canada is to provide funds-management services to the Government of Canada, as well as other customers.

Machine learning could become a new weapon in the fight against Medicare fraud. Machine learning could become a useful tool in helping to detect Medicare fraud, according to a new study, potentially reclaiming anywhere from $19 billion to $65 billion lost to fraud each year. Researchers from Florida Atlantic University's College of Engineering and Computer Science recently published the world's first study using Medicare Part B data, machine learning and advanced analytics to automate fraud detection. They tested six different machine learners on balanced and imbalanced data sets, ultimately finding the RF100 random forest algorithm to be most effective at identifying possible instances of fraud. They also found that imbalanced data sets are more preferable than balanced data sets when scanning for fraud.

On the dash to the subway one morning, I grabbed an AMNY and proceeded to toss away the advertising insert, as usual. But the headline stopped me from dropping it in the trash: "What's Next? I work at THIRTEEN and the day before, I had attended a meeting about digital transformation, innovation and new technology. We're in the business of broadcast and video, but our discussion touched on all of the new ways content is being delivered, including voice assistants that pair with smart speakers for the home, like Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri. So instead of reading the AMNY news of the day, I combed what the future might bring, according to the sponsored content insert (from NewsDay, for P.C. Projections of what artificial intelligence will do in our homes were impressive but also made me just a little uncomfortable.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is making more decisions for us than ever before. AI is helping us keep our cars on the right lane, helping judges make the right decision, and even deciding who lives or dies on the battlefield. As AI proliferates in our daily lives, there is also a growing fear that humans lose control. The European Commission's current president, Ursula Von der Leyen, has pushed hard to start creating frameworks to regulate the use of AI, resulting in a document guidelining the requirements that AI systems need to meet in order to be trustworthy. One of the key elements of these guidelines is the notion that "AI systems and their decisions should be explained in a manner adapted to the stakeholder concerned." What the European Commission really wants then, is Explainable AI (EAI): an AI where the logic for making the decision, or a summary of the logic is made available.

The period between November through February is pretty interesting for the field of medical imaging -- two major conferences bring out the latest developments in the field during this period. The Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) concluded its four-day annual meeting at the end of November 2018, the largest radiology event globally. Indeed, as healthcare looks to futuristic technologies, so does radiology. February saw the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) conference, where again technology for medical imaging is at display. From both the conferences, here's Frost & Sullivan's take on the top imaging technologies and how they will continue to evolve.

Killer autonomous robots that use algorithms and sensors to determine when to kill people should be banned, the UN has been told. The Campaign To Stop Killer Robots has called on the international community to create a treaty to regulate drones, vehicles and boats that operate on their own. Organisers say artificial intelligence technology is advancing so rapidly that legislation is urgently needed. The treaty would prohibit weapons systems that do not allow human control and those that make kill decisions without human consultation. The group includes Jody Williams, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1997 for her work on the International Campaign to Ban Land Mines.

As you have probably heard or read, IBM's Marketing Cloud recently published that "90% of world's data today has been created in the last two years alone." Growing daily at 2.5 quintillion bytes of data daily, this number will only explode over the next few years. This may seem impressive, but much of it is simply raw data. Nonetheless, you may point out that with all this data we are advancing technology, improving outcomes, enriching lives and making better decisions. However, how vastly improved these outcomes could be if all this data was enriched?

"The original Wright flyer was not a useful airplane," said Scott Aaronson, a computer scientist at the University of Texas at Austin who reviewed Google's paper before publication. "But it was designed to prove a point. And it proved the point." A quantum machine, the result of more than a century's worth of research into a type of physics called quantum mechanics, operates in a completely different manner from regular computers. It relies on the mind-bending ways some objects act at the subatomic level or when exposed to extreme cold, like the metal chilled to nearly 460 degrees below zero inside Google's machine. One day, researchers believe, these devices could power advances in artificial intelligence or easily overwhelm the encryption that protects computers vital to national security.

European Government Organizations Are Enthusiastic About Artificial Intelligence but Face Challenges Adopting It, According to Accenture Study DUBLIN; Oct. 23, 2019 – Public-service executives in Europe are optimistic and enthusiastic about the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on government operations and services but face challenges implementing the technology, according to a study issued today by Accenture (NYSE: ACN). The study -- based on a survey of 300 government leaders and senior information technology (IT) decision-makers in Finland, France Germany, Norway and the U.K.-- found that the vast majority (90%) of respondents believe that AI will have a high impact on their organizations over the coming years. In addition, nearly the same number (86%) said that their organization plans to increase its spending on AI next year. Customer service and fraud & risk management are the two operational areas favored most for public service AI deployments, cited by 25% and 23% of respondents, respectively. In addition, respondents most often cited increased efficiencies, cost or time savings, and enhanced productivity as the greatest anticipated benefits from their AI investments.