Earlier this year, 116 technology luminaries signed an open letter (PDF) imploring the United Nations to ban "lethal autonomous weapons systems," warning that they would "permit armed conflict to be fought at a scale greater than ever." According to the Independent, it "marks the first time that artificial intelligence (AI) experts and robotics companies have taken a joint stance on the issue." Not all observers are as concerned; Andrew Ng, up until recently Baidu's chief scientist, concludes that "worrying about killer robots is like worrying about overpopulation on Mars--we'll have plenty of time to figure it out." In the early years of the 21st century, few topics have generated more intense interest, or elicited more spirited debate, than AI, beginning with the very understanding of the term: one observer quipped this March that "there are about as many definitions of AI as researchers developing the technology." Robbie Whiting, a founder of the brand consulting firm Junior, contends that "AI is not a buzzword, and it is going to change the world."

My previous post on the House and Senate automated driving bills (HB 3388 and SB 1885) concluded by noting that, in addition to the federal government, states and the municipalities within them also play an important role in regulating road safety.These numerous functions involve, among others, designing and maintaining roads, setting and enforcing traffic laws, licensing and punishing drivers, registering and inspecting vehicles, requiring and regulating automotive insurance, and enabling victims to recover from the drivers or manufacturers responsible for their injuries. The House bill contains modest preemption language and a savings clause that admirably tries to clarify the line between federal and state roles. The Senate bill, in contrast, currently contains a breathtakingly broad preemption provision that was proposed in committee markup by, curiously, a Democratic senator. First, a single text of the bill is not available online; only the original text plus the marked-up texts for the Senate Commerce Committee's amendments to that original have been posted. Second, whereas HB 3388 has passed the full House, SB 1885 is still making its way through the Senate.)

This week I was joined by dozens of visitors for the unveiling of an exciting new part of our Watson IoT Center in Munich, Germany. The new Government Industry Lab is an extension of the industry section of the Center, which provides tangible examples of how IoT and cognitive technologies are impacting how we live and work including automotive, manufacturing and worker safety. Government leaders are continually challenged to improve program outcomes, optimize service delivery, and strengthen security, safety and resilience. They face these challenges knowing they have to build capabilities to identify hidden patterns, apply insight with speed and build knowledge that will better enable them to enhance and protect the economic vitality of the citizens and communities they serve. The new Government Industry Lab is designed to help government organizations with these challenges. It demonstrates real examples of how understanding sensor data from the environment and within our cities through cognitive technologies can offer new insights and improve quality of public services.

Under new rules issued Oct. 7 by the Department of Health and Human Services, employers and universities are allowed to cite religious or moral objections in order to end birth control coverage that was available under President Barack Obama's Affordable Care Act.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is making speedy progress in acquiring skills that were previously regarded as exclusively human. Whether it's beating masters at the ancient game of Go or getting better and better at autonomous driving, the many emerging forms of computer intelligence are giving us pause as a species. AI is real and it's the next big thing in our social evolution. Even if you don't believe in the singularity -- the theoretical point at which AI will outstrip all human intelligence -- it's undeniable that AI is playing an increasing role in our everyday lives, from serving up search results, car navigating, suggesting entertainment options, shopping recommendations and automating more and more jobs. It's natural to be wary, even scared, of the growing power of AI.

Is your learning establishment preparing for – or even aware of – the next revolution in human development: robots educating our young? Artificial intelligence (AI), though rudimentary at the moment, is already having an impact on daily life. Your mobile phone is fast becoming a personal assistant, learning to anticipate your needs. Computer games contain virtual characters that learn to respond to their environment and smart cars are doing the same in the real world. And the UK government is keen for the country to exploit AI, publishing a report on the impact of AI on the economy, estimating that it could add another £630bn to the UK economy by 2035.

Episode two of Blue Planet II could be one of Sir David Attenborough's scariest shows yet - giving us a glimpse of life in total darkness that we are only just starting to explore. The episode also looks at peculiar gardens that are thriving in the pitch black as well as species of coral that have never been seen in shallower waters. The fangtooth (pictured) has the largest teeth relative to body size for any fish in the entire ocean. The filming of Blue Planet involved around 1,000 people from producers to deep sea divers, researchers to scientists, camera crews to helicopter pilots and drone operators. Some 125 expeditions were undertaken across every ocean, with 1,500 days spent at sea and 6,000 hours underwater.

The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) is the great story of our time, thanks to the low cost of computing, storage, and off-the-shelf machine algorithms. However, cyber criminals also have access to these resources and are able to build smarter malware. This means that the attackers of the future will be machines that think, as hackers will look for new ways to use AI to their own benefit. We will witness sophisticated attacks launched on a large scale both quickly and intelligently, with little human intervention. As the digital economy expands, cybersecurity threats will also grow.

A high-flying drone equipped with surveillance sensors and a wingspan longer than that of a Boeing 737 will be the newest way for the U.S. Navy to monitor the seas. The first operational MQ-4C Triton drone will be delivered by Northrop Grumman Corp. to the Navy within the next week at Point Mugu Naval Air Station near Oxnard, with a second drone to follow by the end of the year. The two drones will undergo testing at Point Mugu before being deployed to Guam next year. The program has strong California roots -- engineering and design is done in Rancho Bernardo, and the drone is assembled in Palmdale. During low-rate initial production, that line will churn out three Tritons a year.

In a world characterised by technology, where new advancements and innovations come to life every day, our capabilities have far exceeded what were once thought possible. When the first mobile phone call was made, when the first electric car was driven, and when the first remote surgery was performed -- the world was wowed, as it has been with every great "first" in the realm of technology. We are consistently amazed by what technology can do, and as time passes, the magnitude of its capabilities and the world's subsequent astonishment are heightened. And as society progresses, technology will only continue to redefine what is possible when innovation, resources, and initiative come together. With the recently launched UAE Artificial Intelligence Strategy, introduced by his highness Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and the ruler of Dubai, the world will bear witness to a slew of new "firsts" -- technological developments conceived in one of the world's greatest innovation hubs which will make ripples across the globe.