We introduce LAMP: the Linear Additive Markov Process. Transitions in LAMP may be influenced by states visited in the distant history of the process, but unlike higher-order Markov processes, LAMP retains an efficient parametrization. LAMP also allows the specific dependence on history to be learned efficiently from data. We characterize some theoretical properties of LAMP, including its steady-state and mixing time. We then give an algorithm based on alternating minimization to learn LAMP models from data. Finally, we perform a series of real-world experiments to show that LAMP is more powerful than first-order Markov processes, and even holds its own against deep sequential models (LSTMs) with a negligible increase in parameter complexity.

Australian researchers have revealed a new technique to combine lasers into a single beam using diamonds - similar to the'superlaser' seen on the Death Star in the hit film Star Wars. The researchers say their breakthrough could be used for everything from shooting down drones on Earth to blasting space junk in orbit. Australian researchers have revealed a new technique to combine lasers into a single beam using diamonds - similar to the'superlaser' seen on the Death Star in the hit film Star Wars. Researchers at Macquarie University say their research, published in Laser and Photonics Reviews, demonstrates a concept where the power of multiple laser beams is transferred into a single intense output beam that can be directed to the intended target. 'Researchers are developing high power lasers to combat threats to security from the increased proliferation of low-cost drones and missile technology,' said said co-author Associate Professor Rich Mildren.

It might take a few months--or maybe even a few years--but eventually, Scarlett Johansson's Ghost in the Shell will have an afterlife. The live-action adaptation of the Japanese classic is a complete cyberbore, narrative-wise, but for those who gush over big-screen artistry, there's plenty to get lost in: the opulent, expansive CGI visuals; the gorgeous Clint Mansell/Lorne Balfe score, pulsing and plinking like a Tangerine Dream nightmare; even Johansson's stoically acrobatic performance, which proves once again why she's one of the most in-demand action-film stars in the world. It's one of those films destined to be salvaged by the web, where the movie's defenders will advocate for it via frame-grab sprees or the occasional subreddit threads. Ghost will find its followers. In the here-and-now, though, Ghost in the Shell is an all-encompassing embarrassment, the kind of movie you might not want to admit you watched--and which, judging from the box office, not a lot of people bothered to see in the first place.

"AI is the new UI" may be a cliché now. But back in 2011 when Apple first released Siri, the capability to control a mobile device by talking to it through an intelligent assistant was revolutionary. Granted, Siri wasn't as smart as HAL in the movie "2001: A Space Odyssey" or Eddy, the shipboard computer in "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy," but it made enough of an impact on consumer technology to spawn a stream of similar intelligent assistants. And these will likely be joined soon by many others, including Samsung's Bixby, which is based on technology Samsung acquired when it bought Viv, a company founded by the people behind Siri. And just as the iPhone took off when Apple opened it up to third-party app makers, the key to the success of these intelligent assistants may well be the ability for third-party developers to access them and employ them as a user interface to their applications.

Facebook has added a new icon to some people's home screen – and not explained why it is there. Selected users are now seeing a small rocket at the bottom of their screen, without any clue about what to do with it or what it means. Clicking on the rocket appears to lead to an altered version of the news feed, but the traditional one still exists alongside it. The button is appearing for selected users on iOS and Android at the bottom of the app's view. It sits between the normal news feed and the friends option.

Eighty percent of marketing leaders say that AI will "revolutionize" marketing by 2020, but many CMOs remain paralyzed on the sidelines, questioning how this kind of bleeding-edge tech should be used and if it will provide a marked return on investment. Ironically enough, at the same time we talk about the uncertainty that an artificial intelligence-powered future could bring, we are increasingly adopting these experiences into our day-to-day lives. From Siri and self-driving cars to connected devices like Amazon Echo and customer service chatbots, experiences powered by artificial intelligence will soon be the norm. Even though marketers generally accept AI's growing influence, they hesitate to adopt it (though they may not realize that if their brand invests in programmatic media buying, for example, they're already deeply immersed in the world of AI). But although marketers are liberally leaning on AI to drive media buying and automate customer service, they struggle when it comes to its role within the creative puzzle.

What are some cool things we can do now that we couldn't 5 years ago because of science? This is like the prequel to I, Robot or The Terminator. When I was a kid, there were standard jobs: doctor, lawyer, banker, engineer, maybe programmer, journalist, etc. And I would read science fiction novels about robots. I'd watch Star Trek and Star Wars and read Dune and be amazed at the imaginations of their creators.

For months now, Ghost in the Shell has been heavily criticized for casting Scarlett Johansson as a protagonist who was Japanese in the original source material. And for months now, those involved with the movie have pleaded with audiences to see the film for themselves before they judge. Well, we've seen the movie now. And it turns out the film's race problem is, if anything, even worse than it had appeared. SEE ALSO: The 8 main excuses Hollywood uses for racially insensitive casting – and why they're BS To back up a bit: the Ghost in the Shell whitewashing controversy began brewing in 2015, when Johansson was first cast.

A quick, hassle-free way to stay on top of robotics news, our robotics digest is released on the first Monday of every month. Sign up to get it in your inbox. March is a month for change and new beginnings. The new UK Budget promised hundreds of millions of pounds to scientists and researchers to develop solutions to hi-tech challenges, including artificial intelligence and robotics, next generation batteries and new techniques for manufacturing medicines. The government is expected to allocate more than £500 million from the National Productivity Investment Fund so that UK companies might lead the way in the new technologies set to transform the world.

The new single by the superstar Compton rapper arrived suddenly last week, and on it he sounds like he's been storing this venom since birth. Lamar lunges at anyone in his way on the fourth installment of a song series he started in 2010. In one set of couplets, he slams the president with rhymes about complicity and truth: "Donald Trump is a chump/ Know how we feel, punk/ Tell'em that God comin'/ And Russia need a replay button/ Y'all up to somethin'." Big Sean?) and derides disgraced former L.A. County Sheriff Lee Baca -- "tables turned, lesson learned" -- who was recently convicted of obstructing a federal investigation and then lying about his actions. Musically, "The Heart, Part 4" features contributions from producers the Alchemist, Axl Folie, Syk Sense and DJ Dahi, who collaborate on a track that rolls through a few different movements and tempos.