From color animation to RFID-enabled wristbands, the Walt Disney Company is a trailblazer of new technologies. Now, Disney's technology team is transforming its workforce to focus on Artificial Intelligence and machine learning. Here are three things we learned. "I really feel that the most transformative technology in the retail space since mobile is artificial intelligence and machine learning. These tools have the ability to change every aspect of retail, both consumer-facing and back-of-house."

It's not exactly news that Hugh Hefner, the perpetually robed Playboy founder who died Wednesday at the age of 91, is a polarizing figure. For decades Americans have disagreed about whether he should be remembered as a great liberator of Americans from their sexual puritanism or as a sexist exploiter of women. On Thursday, columnist Robin Abcarian came down strongly on the latter side, writing that although we shouldn't forget Hefner's support for smart journalism, reproductive rights and civil liberties, we should also not lose sight of the fact that his core business was the objectification of women -- mostly women under 30 -- and the exalting of exclusively male fantasies. Before Abcarian's column was published, the letters on Hefner's death reflected the typical mix of opinions we get after most notable celebrity passings: Several mentioned the existence of strong polarization over Hefner's work without taking a side, others reflected dispassionately on his work, and a few recounted their own experiences with Hefner. It was only in response to Abcarian's column that more readers started expressing stronger opinions on Hefner's work itself.

Next week the boss of one of the UK's largest banking groups will descend on Manchester, to celebrate the opening of the first of Lloyds' new super-size branches. At more than 15,000 sq ft (1,394 sq m) - and at a cost of £3m - it is the bank's most expensive branch ever, and a likely blueprint for other British cities. But while Antonio Horta Osorio will be all smiles, some of his customers may have mixed feelings. Banks may be investing heavily in mega branches in the centre of cities, but those in the suburbs are disappearing fast. In Manchester at least 23 suburban bank branches have closed - or will close - in 2017 alone.

From color animation to RFID-enabled wristbands, the Walt Disney Company is a trailblazer of new technologies. Now, Disney's technology team is transforming its workforce to focus on Artificial Intelligence and machine learning. Here are three things we learned. "I really feel that the most transformative technology in the retail space since mobile is artificial intelligence and machine learning. These tools have the ability to change every aspect of retail, both consumer-facing and back-of-house."

Gartner's Hype Cycle tracks emerging information technologies in their journey towards mainstream adoption. It is designed to help companies tell hype from viable business opportunity, and give an idea when that value may be realized. This year, artificial intelligence is one of the year's three megatrends in the 2017 Hype Cycle. Gartner is calling this class of AI technologies "AI Everywhere". Unsurprisingly, many of the technologies are already at the "Peak of Inflated Expectations". Machine learning and deep learning are at peak hype, and predicted to be 2-5 years away from mainstream adoption. Cognitive computing is also at peak hype, but up to 10 years away, while artificial general intelligence (AI with the'intelligence' of an average human being) is 10 years away and in early innovation phase. Commenting on the Cycle, Gartner research director Mike J. Walker predicts that AI technologies will be the most disruptive class of technologies in driving digital business forwards during the next 10 years.

Just what artificial intelligence will be able to do in the future is almost impossible to know.

The Ohmni robot, with artificial intelligence (AI), can help. Featuring a screen for a "face" this telepresence robot offers personal connection to older …