The U.S. House of Representatives has approved a bill that would ban child sex dolls and robots because they'normalize sex between adults and minors.' The bill now moves to the Senate, where it must be approved before it is then offered up to the president for signing. 'These dolls can be programmed to simulate rape,' said Rep. Bob Goodlatte, a Republican from Virginia who chairs the House Judiciary Committee. 'The very thought makes me nauseous.' News of the bill's passage in the House was reported by McClatchy.

Two legal challenges have been launched against police forces in south Wales and London over their use of automated facial recognition (AFR) technology on the grounds the surveillance is unregulated and violates privacy. The claims are backed by the human rights organisations Liberty and Big Brother Watch following complaints about biometric checks at the Notting Hill carnival, on Remembrance Sunday, at demonstrations and in high streets. Liberty is supporting Ed Bridges, a Cardiff resident, who has written to the chief constable of South Wales police alleging he was tracked at a peaceful anti-arms protest and while out shopping. Big Brother Watch is working with the Green party peer Jenny Jones who has written to the home secretary, Sajid Javid, and the Metropolitan police commissioner, Cressida Dick, urging them to halt deployment of the "dangerously authoritarian" technology. If the forces do not stop using AFR systems then legal action will follow in the high court, the letters said.

The global shipping industry has changed more in the past few years than the previous half of a decade. Artificial intelligence is one of the biggest factors that is spearheading the evolution of this timeless industry. Mike Konstantinidis, The CEO of METIS Cybertechnology provided an especially insightful critique of the impact AI has had on the industry. Konstantinidis points out that the shipping industry was reluctant to invest in new communication technologies during the late 1990s and early 21st century. Artificial intelligence has made it easier for these companies to seamlessly integrate new shipping logistics and communication technology into their business models.

Without a doubt, retailers enjoyed a very good holiday season last year. Not only was U.S. retail spending up 4.9 percent over the previous year, but the new tax law promised to leave both businesses and many consumers with more money to spend in 2018. The critical question for retailers this year is, how can they capitalize on this changed landscape when the next holiday season rolls around in November? With an eye on making the most of the coming holiday season, Dennis breaks down how smart retailers are already using technology to drive sales. The answer, according to Steve Dennis, a leading retail consultant, blogger and former executive at Neiman Marcus and Sears, is a mixture of traditional tactics and investment in new technologies.

After the fall of the Berlin Wall, East German citizens were offered the chance to read the files kept on them by the Stasi, the much-feared Communist-era secret police service. To date, it is estimated that only 10 percent have taken the opportunity. In 2007, James Watson, the co-discoverer of the structure of DNA, asked that he not be given any information about his APOE gene, one allele of which is a known risk factor for Alzheimer's disease. Most people tell pollsters that, given the choice, they would prefer not to know the date of their own death--or even the future dates of happy events. Each of these is an example of willful ignorance.

This report examines some of the challenges for policymakers that may arise from the advancement and increasing application of AI. It draws together strands of thinking about the impact that AI may have on selected areas of international affairs – from military, human security and economic perspectives – over the next 10–15 years. The report sets out a broad framework to define and distinguish between the types of roles that artificial intelligence might play in policymaking and international affairs: these roles are identified as analytical, predictive and operational. In analytical roles, AI systems might allow fewer humans to make higher-level decisions, or to automate repetitive tasks such as monitoring sensors set up to ensure treaty compliance. In these roles, AI may well change – and in some ways it has already changed – the structures through which human decision-makers understand the world.

Over the next five years, we are about to witness the world we live in entirely disrupted by improvements in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. Children today are growing up with AI assistants in their homes (Google Assistant, Siri and Alexa) -- to the point that you might consider their mere presence an extension of co-parenting. As voice and facial recognition continue to evolve, machine learning algorithms are getting smarter. More and more industries are being influenced by AI, and our society as we know it is transforming. The transportation industry looks like it will be the first to be completely disrupted by artificial intelligence.

Artificial intelligence and Big Data get lots of ink (and electrons) these days about their awesome promise for the future. But here are two things of real and immediate importance that AI could do today to improve people's lives and strengthen our economy. Big Data is a Big Deal because we are being already overwhelmed with information, and it's going to get a lot more overwhelming very, very soon. The research firm IDC estimates that within two years we will have be awash in an astonishing 40 zettabytes of data (a zettabyte is one sextillion bytes), or 50 times the data that existed just in 2010. This will be the equivalent of 5,200 gigabytes of data for every man, woman, and child on the planet.

Artificial intelligence and Big Data get lots of ink (and electrons) these days about their awesome promise for the future. But here are two things of real and immediate importance that AI could do today to improve people's lives and strengthen our economy. Big Data is a Big Deal because we are being already overwhelmed with information, and it's going to get a lot more overwhelming very, very soon. The research firm IDC estimates that within two years we will have be awash in an astonishing 40 zettabytes of data (a zettabyte is one sextillion bytes), or 50 times the data that existed just in 2010. This will be the equivalent of 5,200 gigabytes of data for every man, woman, and child on the planet.

It is undeniable that Artificial Intelligence (AI) and blockchain are two of the major technologies that are driving the pace of innovation and introducing radical shifts in rapidly growing list of industries. As Artificial Intelligence advances, the need for enhanced security is becoming apparent and therefore Blockchain is becoming more common in the market. Leaders in tech are more and more infusing the two cutting edge technologies to create innovative products and increase efficiencies. One of the factors driving this trend is the nature of the two technologies as they work well together hand in hand. It's projected that Blockchain and AI will eventually become inseparable as intelligent platforms evolve and become more mainstream.