We study the problem of subsampling in differential privacy (DP), a question that is the centerpiece behind many successful differentially private machine learning algorithms. Specifically, we provide a tight upper bound on the R\'enyi Differential Privacy (RDP) (Mironov, 2017) parameters for algorithms that: (1) subsample the dataset, and then (2) apply a randomized mechanism M to the subsample, in terms of the RDP parameters of M and the subsampling probability parameter. This result generalizes the classic subsampling-based "privacy amplification" property of $(\epsilon,\delta)$-differential privacy that applies to only one fixed pair of $(\epsilon,\delta)$, to a stronger version that exploits properties of each specific randomized algorithm and satisfies an entire family of $(\epsilon(\delta),\delta)$-differential privacy for all $\delta\in [0,1]$. Our experiments confirm the advantage of using our techniques over keeping track of $(\epsilon,\delta)$ directly, especially in the setting where we need to compose many rounds of data access.

Advances in artificial intelligence (AI) will transform modern life by reshaping transportation, health, science, finance, and the military. To adapt public policy, we need to better anticipate these advances. Here we report the results from a large survey of machine learning researchers on their beliefs about progress in AI. Researchers predict AI will outperform humans in many activities in the next ten years, such as translating languages (by 2024), writing high-school essays (by 2026), driving a truck (by 2027), working in retail (by 2031), writing a bestselling book (by 2049), and working as a surgeon (by 2053). Researchers believe there is a 50% chance of AI outperforming humans in all tasks in 45 years and of automating all human jobs in 120 years, with Asian respondents expecting these dates much sooner than North Americans. These results will inform discussion amongst researchers and policymakers about anticipating and managing trends in AI. This article is part of the special track on AI and Society.

LOS ANGELES – Law enforcement officials are looking into whether a New York man arrested in California for killing a woman he met on a dating app may have killed others. Danueal Drayton was arrested in Los Angeles last week and charged with raping and strangling a woman. Two law enforcement officials told The Associated Press on Monday that Drayton talked about killing at least five others in Connecticut and New York. Investigators are trying to determine whether his claims are true. The officials said Drayton did not admit killing Samantha Stewart, a nurse found dead in her Queens apartment, though police believe he's responsible for her murder.

The United States military's Africa Command has confirmed that its forces began deploying armed drones in Niger earlier this year. The West African country's government granted American forces permission in November 2017 to arm their drones - but neither side had previously confirmed their deployment. "In coordination with the Government of Niger, US Africa Command has armed intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft already in Niger to improve our combined ability to respond to threats and other security issues in the region. Armed ISR aircraft began flying in early 2018," Samantha Reho, spokeswoman for US Africa Command told The Associated Press on Monday. The armed drones are currently deployed to Niger's Air Base 101 in the capital, Niamey.

Machine learning and artificial intelligence have been the talk of the town for the past few years--and the hype isn't slowing down anytime soon. I believe 2019 is going to be the year for businesses who have waited to finally jump on board to witness a goldmine of advancements for their industry. What could we potentially see next year? Let's dig deeper into AI and machine learning predictions for the coming months. When dealing with a technology as advanced as machine learning, there simply isn't an industry that would not benefit.

Our new Martian friend just landed on Earth and is excited to learn about the latest developments in human technology. In this Q&A series, IBM experts explain complicated topics to a Martian (and you). On Mars, the closest thing to a chatbot is NASA's Opportunity Rover. I was curious to find out more about chatbots, so I asked Vickie Dorris, an IBM solutions leader in global digital customer care to tell me about chatbots. Let's get right to it.

In the race to seize the competitive advantage that artificial intelligence (AI) can offer, many businesses have focused on the decades-old assumption that as long as the technology is good, they'll undoubtedly be successful. While technology is important, prioritizing it at the expense of talent can often become a pitfall for organizations. If you want to build an armoire, you need a craftsman, not just the latest, most expensive hammers. Behind every successful AI project lies a foundation of AI skills -- people who understand the importance of the trifecta of business priorities, sector context and technology. With this in mind, here are three reasons why your AI strategy needs to start with AI talent sooner rather than later.

We won't be able to comfortably live on Mars, experts have revealed. Scientists – as well as science fiction fans – have long hoped that we might be able to change Mars so it has an Earth-like atmosphere, allowing us to comfortably live there. Plans to do so have included dropping thermonuclear weapons at the planet's poles – an idea supported by Elon Musk. But there simply isn't enough carbon dioxide on the planet to allow the atmosphere to ever become habitable for humans, according to new research. At best we could achieve only a fiftieth of what is needed, and would only be able to raise the surface temperature by less than 10 degrees Celsius, the study published in Nature Astronomy reveals.

Nasa has begun a major search for alien worlds. The agency's Tess spacecraft has started its science missions, exploring the universe as it looks for new planets. It engineers hope that it will eventually find thousands of alien worlds, some of which could be habitable. The craft – whose name stands for Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite – will look deep in the universe for signs of planets. Any that are found will be explored from afar, as scientists try to work out what it might be like on those planets, and whether life could survive there.

The U.S. military presence in Niger has expanded in recent years to an 800-strong force that accompanies Nigerien troops on intelligence gathering and other missions, reflecting U.S. concerns about rising militancy in West Africa's Sahel region.