Researchers from the University of Valladolid (Spain) have created a computer model based on neural networks that calculates the probability in Spanish provinces of corruption, as well as the conditions that favor it. This alert system confirms that the probabilities increase when the same party stays in government for more years. The study, published in Social Indicators Research, does not mention the provinces most prone to corruption so as not to generate controversy, explains one of the authors, Ivan Pastor, who says, "A greater propensity or high probability does not imply corruption will actually happen." The data indicate that the real estate tax, the exaggerated increase in the price of housing, the opening of bank branches and the creation of new companies are some of the variables that seem to induce public corruption, and when they are added together in a region, more rigorous control of public accounts might be warranted. "In addition, as might be expected, our model confirms that an increase in the number of years of government by the same political party increases the chances of corruption, regardless of whether or not the party governs with majority," says Pastor.

The prime minister says she wants the UK to lead the world in deciding how artificial intelligence can be deployed in a safe and ethical manner. In a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Theresa May said a new advisory body, previously announced in the Autumn Budget, will co-ordinate efforts with other countries. In addition, she confirmed that the UK would join the Davos forum's own council on artificial intelligence. But others may have stronger claims. Earlier this week, Google picked France as the base for a new research centre dedicated to exploring how AI can be applied to health and the environment.

In this post, Don Miner covers how to identify, evaluate, prioritize, and pick which data science problems to work on next. Don is a cofounder of Miner & Kasch, an artificial intelligence solutions and data science consulting firm. Don specializes in large-scale data analysis enterprise architecture and applying machine learning to real-world problems. He has architected and implemented dozens of mission-critical and large-scale data analysis systems within the U.S. Government and Fortune 500 companies. His is also the author of the O'Reilly book "MapReduce Design Patterns".

The government plans to utilize artificial intelligence to constantly observe and analyze images of the Earth's surface and location data provided by satellites, mainly for disaster prevention, sources said Tuesday. Through the AI-based analysis, the internal affairs ministry aims to predict the risk of landslides by observing steep slopes, among other measures, hoping that the project will lead to the creation of new services by businesses and local governments. On Thursday, the ministry will launch an expert panel to discuss details of the project. The panel is expected to draw up proposals as early as June. Many businesses have advised the ministry that AI-based analysis of satellite data will be particularly effective in developing new disaster reduction services, including forecasts of tsunami arrival times for other countries, informed sources said.

January 31, 2018 --Rocket fire streaked across the dark evening sky over Cape Canaveral, Fla., on Jan. The United States had just launched a satellite into orbit, piercing the barrier between our world and the rest of the universe. The oblong Explorer 1 satellite wasn't the first human-made object in space. The Soviet Union's Sputnik claimed that title on Oct. 4, 1957. But the first successful launch of an American satellite made space exploration an international endeavor, paving the way for scientific discoveries of cosmic proportions.

Theresa May has issued a call for international co-operation to develop ethical rules for the use of technological breakthroughs in areas like artificial intelligence (AI). Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, the Prime Minister said she wanted to make the UK a world leader in innovative technologies, including AI, which could provide "a path to deliver prosperity and growth for all our people". However, she said that new norms and regulations must be developed to allay public concerns over issues like the control of private data, the disappearance of traditional jobs and the abuse of social media.

Jan. 15, 2018 - The federal and Ontario governments have announced up to $100 million worth of combined grants today to help automotive parts maker Linamar Corp. develop advanced manufacturing technologies. The funding will help create 1,500 new Canadian jobs and maintain more than 8,000 by supporting advanced manufacturing processes -- including artificial intelligence and 3D printing -- and cleaner automotive technologies, says Linamar. The manufacturer will also open a new innovation centre in Guelph, Ont., focused on technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning and collaborative robotics. Linamar employs more than 25,700 people worldwide, with more than 9,300 in Canada. It operates 59 manufacturing locations, six R&D centres and 21 sales offices in 17 countries in North and South America, Europe and Asia.

As we bid farewell to cold, frosty January and welcome slightly-less-cold February, we're banging our heads against earnings season. Samsung and Nintendo both have good news for shareholders and fans, and there's a special Super Blue Blood Moon lunar eclipse happening this morning -- tune in live to see its peak at 8:29 AM ET. Like everyone expected, but in half the time.Nintendo Switch sales have surpassed the Wii U Nintendo had a stellar holiday quarter, shifting 7.23 million Switch consoles and bringing lifetime sales to 14.86 million already. In short, the company almost doubled its user-base in a single three-month period. The Wii U, for comparison, sold 13.56 million total -- a paltry sum in comparison to the Wii's 101.63 million units.

What is DMARC and How Does it Improve Email Security? By practically every measure, cybersecurity threats are growing more numerous and sophisticated each passing day, a state of affairs that doesn't bode well for an IT industry struggling with a security skills shortage. In a recent ESG and ISSA survey, 70 percent of cyber security professionals felt the cybersecurity skills gap had an effect on their organization. The Center for Cyber Safety and Education and (ISC)2 predicted a shortfall of 1.8 million cybersecurity professionals by 2022 after quizzing 19,000 security experts. With less security talent to go around, there's a growing concern that businesses will lack the expertise to thwart network attacks and prevent data breaches in the years ahead.

The government is searching for someone to become the "highly public face for AI" as head of its new Office for Artificial Intelligence (OAI). The OAI, the formation of which was announced in the Industrial Strategy whitepaper published in November, will be jointly established and run by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. The two Whitehall departments have launched a recruitment process for a leader to head up the office. The role – which comes with a salary of up to £80,000 – is being offered on an initial two-year fixed-term, loan, or secondment contract, "with the possibility of extension or permanency", the government said. The head of OAI will be employed by DCMS but will report into the senior managers and ministers of both departments.