The Defense Innovation Unit is looking for participants in its second computer-vision artificial intelligence challenge, this time to identify building damage in post-disaster areas. The xVIEW2 challenge, to start in early September, asks machine learning experts to develop algorithms and models to analyze post-disaster satellite imagery to improve mapping. Understanding the scale of disasters is still an often dangerous and time-consuming process that slows first responders. With AI analyzing satellite imagery, the Department of Defense hopes to improve response time and effectiveness in those critical moments. Competitors will be judged on their ability to identify buildings and score how badly damaged they are.

The US remains the global leader in artificial intelligence (AI) innovation, despite big moves by China to change its standing, according to a study from the Center for Data Innovation, released this week. The study focused on six distinct categories--talent, research, development, adoption, data and hardware--and found that the US was far ahead of both China and the European Union in at least four of them. With the help of Amazon, Apple, Facebook, Google, Intel and Microsoft, the US was able to financially dominate the last wave of digital innovation. But China has doubled down on its efforts to become equals with the US and now invests heavily into educating and funding AI research. SEE: IT leader's guide to deep learning (Tech Pro Research) "The United States is leading in AI today, but it should not rest on its laurels," Michael McLaughlin, the Center's research analyst and the report's lead author, wrote in the study.

An unmanned spacecraft carrying Russia's first humanoid robot to be sent into orbit failed to dock at the International Space Station on Saturday, in a new setback for Moscow. "Russian cosmonauts issued a command to abort the automated approach of an uncrewed Russian Soyuz spacecraft to the International Space Station," the US space agency NASA said in a statement. "The craft was unable to lock onto its target at the station," and "backed a safe distance away from the orbital complex while the Russian flight controllers assess the next steps," NASA said. Russian flight controllers had told the ISS crew it appeared the problem that prevented automated docking was in the station and not the Soyuz spacecraft, NASA added. The docking had been scheduled for 0530 GMT but a live broadcast of the event on the website of the Russian space agency Roscosmos was interrupted when the Soyuz approached to about 100 metres (yards) off the ISS.

Bengaluru, Aug 21 (PTI) The Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) is in the process of opening 28 centres of excellence (CoE) in emerging technologies at an investment of over Rs 400 crore ( US$ 56 million), its director-general Omkar Rai said on Wednesday. Five CoEs are already functioning and all 28 of them would be operational in two years, he said in an address to the 15th India Innovation Summit 2019 organised here by the Confederation of Indian Industry, according to a CII release. Emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IOT), medical electronics, IOT in agriculture and automotive electronics would be the focus of the CoEs, the release quoted him as saying. He said India's IT services industry currently stands at US $177 billion with exports amounting to US $136 billion. "It is the intention of the government of India to transform the country from an IT services industry to a product nation," Rai said.

The growth of artificial intelligence (AI) demands that semiconductor companies re-architect their system on chip (SoC) designs to provide more scalable levels of performance, flexibility, efficiency, and integration. From the edge to data centers, AI applications require a rethink of memory structures, the numbers and types of heterogeneous processors and hardware accelerators, and careful consideration of how the dataflow is enabled and managed between the various high-performance IP blocks. This paper will define AI, describe its applications, the problems it presents, and how designers can address those problems through new and holistic approaches to SoC and network on chip (NoC) design. It also describes challenges implementing AI functionality in automotive SoCs with ISO 26262 functional safety requirements.

DESPITE HAVING SERIOUS problems with bias, raising enormous privacy concerns, and not actually being very reliable, businesses and services seem to be tripping over themselves to get on board the facial recognition train. The EU, it seems, plans to put some much needed brakes on this metaphorical choo-choo, and is planning to put strict limits on "the indiscriminate use of facial recognition technology" in order to protect European citizens. Documents seen by the Financial Times say the new legislation will "set a world-standard for AI regulations" with "clear, predictable and uniform rules… which adequately protect individuals." "AI applications can pose significant risks to fundamental rights," it continues. "Unregulated AI systems may take decisions affecting citizens without explanation, possibility of recourse or even a responsible interlocutor."

On a tower in the Brazilian rain forest, a sentinel scans the horizon for the first signs of fire. They don't blink or take breaks, and guided by artificial intelligence they can tell the difference between a dust cloud, an insect swarm and a plume of smoke that demands quick attention. In Brazil, the devices help keep mining giant Vale SA working, and protect trees for pulp and paper producer Suzano SA. In the future, it's a system that may be put to work in California, where deadly wildfires abound. The equipment includes optical and thermal cameras, as well as spectrometric systems that identify the chemical makeup of substances.

China not only has the world's largest population and looks set to become the largest economy -- it also wants to lead the world when it comes to artificial intelligence (AI). In 2017, the Communist Party of China set 2030 as the deadline for this ambitious AI goal, and, to get there, it laid out a bevy of milestones to reach by 2020. These include making significant contributions to fundamental research, being a favoured destination for the world's brightest talents and having an AI industry that rivals global leaders in the field. As this first deadline approaches, researchers note impressive leaps in the quality of China's AI research. They also predict a shift in the nation's ability to retain homegrown talent.

A humanoid robot sent by Russia's Vladimir Putin to the International Space Station (ISS) has failed to dock. A live stream of the six-foot Fedor robot - strapped in the pilot seat of the Soyuz spacecraft while wielding a Russia's white, blue and red flag - had to be interrupted with the humanoid still 100 meters away, news agency AFP reported. Fedor, an artificially intelligent robot known officially as Skybot F-850, was on an automated and unmanned mission to the space station, where he is supposed to help out crews for ten days. He is said to be the first humanoid sent to space by Russia. Having failed its landing at 05:30 BST on Saturday, Fedor will now have to wait until Monday to try reaching the ISS again.

A humanoid robot sent by Russia's Vladimir Putin to the International Space Station (ISS) has failed to dock. A live stream of the six-foot Fedor robot - strapped in the pilot seat of the Soyuz spacecraft while wielding a Russia's white, blue and red flag - had to be interrupted with the humanoid still 100 meters away, news agency AFP reported. Fedor, an artificially intelligent robot known officially as Skybot F-850, was on an automated and unmanned mission to the space station, where he is supposed to help out crews for ten days. He is said to be the first humanoid sent to space by Russia. Having failed its landing at 05:30 BST on Saturday, Fedor will now have to wait until Monday to try reaching the ISS again.