This has been one of the most intriguing questions in science fiction and philosophy since the advent of machines. With modern technology such questions are no longer bound to creative conjecture, machine learning is all around us. From deciding which movie you might want to watch next on Netflix to predicting stock market trends, machine learning has a profound impact on how data is understood in the modern era. This tutorial aims to give an accessible introduction to how to use machine learning techniques for your own projects and datasets. In just 20 minutes, you will learn how to use Python to apply different machine learning techniques, from decision trees to deep neural networks, to a sample dataset.

Google's image recognition software, which uses artificial neural networks to simulate an actual human brain, is very capable of dreaming . When Google engineers fed photos of random objects to a network taught to identify images of animals, the network "dreamed" of disturbingly distorted dogs and other hybrid creatures, set against a kaleidoscopic backdrop of clouds and mountains. Shortly after publishing the outcome of their experiments, Google developers made the code for the "DeepDream" software public, enabling anyone to feed images into the machine and see what comes out. Fear and Loathing, which stars Johnny Depp as a drug-using hedonist, is basically just one long acid trip. Now that none of us are going to get any sleep tonight, here's a two-minute clip from the movie that was fed through the software:

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While Amazon has been furiously releasing updates to keep Alexa abreast of current events (and holiday shopping deals), Apple has been content to keep most of their Siri updates limited to major OS releases. That'll change with the iTunes release of The Secret Life of Pets, which marks the first time Apple's virtual assistant has been used to promote a movie release or partnered with a major movie studio. As 9to5Mac notes, the promotional stunt for The Secret Life of Pets gives Siri 15 somewhat humorous canned responses to the question "What do my pets do when I'm not at home?" When Engadget tried the gimmick, Siri responded with: "I don't know, but the dog just asked me for a walking route to the nearest park." And: "I don't know, but the cat just asked me about the five day forecast for the living room sunny spot." Those answers might be cute, but they're also not quite as smart as say: having Siri pull up your Nest cam highlights or launching your treat cam app.

The Mill created a massive real-time data art installation built from the computation analysis of pop music, social media and news media by IBM's Watson. Natural language and musical compositions were assigned emotional values by Watson which we then translated into immersive visualizations that could be navigated by time, emotion and genre. Intricate color coding of the visuals was based on a five color palette, one each for joy, anger, disgust, sadness, and fear. Follow @Millchannel on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram for more updates.

As a sign of just how quickly autonomous vehicle technology is progressing, industry analysts are predicting that two-thirds of new cars sold in the United States in 2030 will drive themselves with no or very little human intervention. The admittedly optimistic forecast by McKinsey -- the firm has a less rosy version as well -- presumes a fast resolution of regulatory challenges and widespread acceptance by consumers. It also presumes that the technology can ensure a safe experience. Human drivers have enough problems navigating inclement weather. If they're to take their hands off the wheel, they'll have to be confident that computerized drivers can do better.

Machine learning is being used by companies such as Netflix, Facebook, and Spotify for automated data analysis. The results are then used to create recommendations based on past consumption habits. This approach is based on algorithms that learn and adapt to the usage data and patterns that emerge, not the hard-coded rules used in traditional analytics. Netflix in particular has successfully leveraged analytics for years, and their strategy serves as an example of how machine learning can help you gain a competitive advantage. Big Data analytics, being based on manual processes to search for patterns in data, has a major flaw--humans.

Camera-carrying drones are among this year's hottest holiday gifts, with models like DJI's Phantom series flying off store shelves. But drones can be expensive, cumbersome and tough to learn to fly. A Swiss company called Fotokite aims to address those concerns with its new Fotokite Phi, a $249 foldable drone with a unique twist: Instead of flying freely, it stays tethered to a handheld controller. Launching the drone involves taking it out of a Pringles can-like case, unfolding the wings, syncing the controller and giving the Phi a twist. After a few seconds of orienting itself, the Phi revs up to takeoff speed, at which point you release your grip on the drone as it takes to the sky. Similar to flying a kite, the Phi's altitude depends on how much line you give it.

Software created by the SONY CSL Research Laboratory named Flow Machines is expertly making songs with a little helping hand from a human. The AI hit maker has recently released two pop songs on YouTube and is planning on releasing a full album next year. The first song is named'Daddy's Car' and is modeled after The Beatles' melody type. Although artificial intelligence has made jazz songs before, this is the first time that AI pop songs were released to the public. Listen to the first pop AI song released: Daddy's Car

The'DroneGun' blocks drones from flying and can also jam their GPS Gun is designed to stop drones carrying explosives or other weapons It weighs only 13lbs (6kg) and can be operated by just one person It disables drones in a safe and controlled manner, away from target zones The'DroneGun' blocks drones from flying and can also jam their GPS The DroneGun is a signal-jamming rifle capable of taking out an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) from 1.2 miles (2km) away'I spy, with my little drone...': This is the world's... China unveils its answer to Amazon's Echo: The $118 LingLong... The AI that gives you a voice: Lip-reading machine... Why Mars astronauts risk going BLIND: Scientists finally... 'I spy, with my little drone...': This is the world's... China unveils its answer to Amazon's Echo: The $118 LingLong... The AI that gives you a voice: Lip-reading machine... Why Mars astronauts risk going BLIND: Scientists finally...