The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) is going all-in on AI. The department, which oversees everything pertaining to the U.S.'s national security and armed forces, has been tossing around the idea of establishing a center focused on artificial intelligence (AI) since October 2016. On June 27, the idea became a reality when Deputy Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan issued a memo officially establishing the Joint Artificial Intelligence Center (JAIC). The JAIC will serve as the military's AI center, housing the DoD's 600 or so AI projects. According to a request the DoD submitted to Congress in June, the center will cost an estimated $1.7 billion over the next six years.

AI is continually improving climate models. As the planet continues to warm, climate change impacts are worsening. In 2016, there were 772 weather and disaster events, triple the number that occurred in 1980. Twenty percent of species currently face extinction, and that number could rise to 50 percent by 2100. And even if all countries keep their Paris climate pledges, by 2100, it's likely that average global temperatures will be 3 C higher than in pre-industrial times.

Foreign Minister Taro Kono agreed Wednesday with his German counterpart to promote free trade amid a rising protectionist tide, while supporting a rules-based international order. During talks in Tokyo, Kono and German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas stressed the importance of closer economic ties just days after the signing of a free trade agreement between Japan and the European Union. "The free, open and rules-based international order faces a serious challenge," Kono said during a joint press briefing with Maas. "Closer cooperation between Japan and Germany, (countries) that share the same values such as democracy, and lead Asia and Europe … is taking on greater importance than ever." The signing earlier this month of the free trade deal, which covers about a third of the world's economy, has been seen as symbolic of the concerted effort to counter the increasingly protectionist steps taken by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Comment Debate has raged for months over various internet giants' forays into providing next-generation technology for war. For example, in March, dissenters at Google went to the press about the web goliath's contract with the US military's Project Maven, which aims to fit drones with object-detecting AI among other things. This US Department of Defense project apparently began a year before, in April 2017. Google has always maintained that its computer vision TensorFlow APIs are for "non-offensive" purposes only and repeatedly denied the malicious use of its technology in its Maven contract with the Pentagon. Over 3,000 staff signed an open letter to Google CEO Sundar Pichai, stating that "Google should not be in the business of war".

Technicians and researchers are cautioning about the threat such technology poses for cybersecurity, that fundamentally important practice that keeps our computers and data -- and governments' and corporations' computers and data -- safe from hackers. In February, a study from teams at the University of Oxford and University of Cambridge warned that AI could be used as a tool to hack into drones and autonomous vehicles, and turn them into potential weapons. "Autonomous cars like Google's (Waymo) are already using deep learning, can already raid obstacles in the real world," Caspi said, "so raiding traditional anti-malware system in cyber domain is possible." Another study, by U.S. cybersecurity software giant Symantec, said that 978 million people across 20 countries were affected by cybercrime last year. Victims of cybercrime lost a total of $172 billion -- an average of $142 per person -- as a result, researchers said.

USCIS data show the "Buy American and Hire American" executive order signed by Donald Trump on April 18, 2017, set in motion policies that made it more difficult for foreign-born scientists and engineers to gain H-1B visas and other types of employer-sponsored visas. At the same time the Trump administration has launched a trade war premised, in part, on worry that China will pass the U.S. in the technologies of the future, Trump officials are guaranteeing America will not have the talent to produce such technologies by blocking the entry of foreign-born scientists and engineers. New data show that in 2017, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) denied many more H-1B petitions and issued numerous costly Requests for Evidence to stop highly educated foreign nationals from working in America. "Soon after Donald Trump issued the'Buy American and Hire American' presidential executive order on April 18, 2017, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services started to increase both the Requests for Evidence (RFEs) and denials for H-1B petitions for high-skilled foreign-born professionals," according to a new report from the National Foundation for American Policy (NFAP). Data obtained by NFAP from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services show the impact of the administration's efforts, particularly in the 4th quarter of Fiscal Year 2017 (which started July 1, 2017).

Researchers will hold the next wave of artificial intelligences (AI) to the same standard as high school math students everywhere: no credit if you don't show your work. On Friday, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), a Department of Defense (DoD) agency focused on breakthrough technologies, announced its Artificial Intelligence Exploration (AIE) program. This program will streamline the agency's process for funding AI research and development with a focus on third wave AI technologies -- the kinds that can understand and explain how they arrived at an answer. Most of the AI in use today falls under the category of first wave. These AIs follow clear, logical rules (think: chess-playing AIs).

While many hospitals and medical groups are exploring artificial and machine learning, Hill Physicians Medical Group in San Ramon, California, has already reaped noteworthy results using the technologies to advance value-based care work. "The efficiencies we've gained have allowed us to increase the number of charts collected by more than 200 percent," said Jennifer Pereur, director of government programs at Hill Physicians Medical Group. "We've increased the frequency of reading our EHR charts to twice yearly. And, we've completely removed the chart collection burden for many of our primary care and specialty practices." Hill Physicians has 4,000 contracted physicians and provides care to more than 400,000 members across commercial HMO, Medicare Advantage, Next Generation ACO, Medi-Cal and PPO lines of business.

Technicians and researchers are cautioning about the threat such technology poses for cybersecurity, that fundamentally important practice that keeps our computers and data -- and governments' and corporations' computers and data -- safe from hackers. In February, a study from teams at the University of Oxford and University of Cambridge warned that AI could be used as a tool to hack into drones and autonomous vehicles, and turn them into potential weapons. "Autonomous cars like Google's (Waymo) are already using deep learning, can already raid obstacles in the real world," Caspi said, "so raiding traditional anti-malware system in cyber domain is possible." Another study, by U.S. cybersecurity software giant Symantec, said that 978 million people across 20 countries were affected by cybercrime last year. Victims of cybercrime lost a total of $172 billion -- an average of $142 per person -- as a result, researchers said.

A legal challenge against the use of automatic facial recognition technology by police has been launched by a civil liberties group. Automatic Facial Recognition uses CCTV or surveillance cameras to record and compare facial characteristics with images on police databases. Lawyers for Big Brother Watch argue the use of AFR breaches the rights of individuals under the Human Rights Act. The Metropolitan Police says the technology will help keep London safe. The system is being piloted in London, with three other forces - Humberside, South Wales, and Leicestershire - also trialling the technology. However, it has proved controversial, with one watchdog describing its use in public places as "very intrusive".