NEW YORK; Mar. 8, 2017 – Rentokil, a global pest control company based in the UK, is piloting an Artificial Intelligence app developed by Accenture to help its almost 5,000 pest control technicians fight bugs faster for customers. The solution utilizes a partnership announced last year, when Accenture and Google joined forces to bring to market industry-specific solutions that help clients use cloud, mobility, machine learning and analytics to advance their digital transformation agenda and improve business performance. Rentokil technicians are some of the best trained in the industry but even they come across unusual insects that they can't identify. As part of a larger rollout of new Android mobile devices and apps to its field service workers, Rentokil took advantage of Accenture's alliance with Google to solve their business challenge through an innovative mobile app that identifies pests and automatically presents information, customer recommendations, and treatment plans. The Android app, called PestID and built by Accenture Mobility, part of Accenture Digital, uses Google's CloudML image classification technology to help field technicians identify and treat pest problems quickly and efficiently.

See it in action--and saving money--in field service. Artificial intelligence (AI) has never felt like a human-friendly term. The very notion of intelligence that is artificial is a little, well … unsettling. Will machines ultimately replace us? As we gather at Mobile World Congress, in part to explore the ultimate reach of AI in an increasingly mobile business world, one thing is clear: AI and machine learning technologies won't replace humans in the enterprise, but they're going to change the game considerably.

It seems like every organization today is betting on artificial intelligence (AI). But what does that really mean? We asked those gathered at a recent AI conference to share their definition. Hear how--and why--they see things so differently.

Can artificial intelligence do the work of high-powered consultants? A Munich-based startup founded by a math major is doing just that. His fast-growing software startup offers companies like 3M, Cisco, and General Electric better results at a fraction of the cost -- and he's grabbing market share in a $15 billion market from consulting powerhouses like IBM and Accenture. Should investors in those incumbents be worried? Before getting into why, let's take a trip down my memory lane.

Komatsu is adopting artificial intelligence technologies for a service that can help construction supervisors and workers do their jobs more efficiently and rapidly. The Japanese maker of construction machinery plans to add the AI-based service to the menu of its Smart Construction service sometime later this year. Launched in February 2015, the advisory service uses drones and other equipment to conduct surveys and generate 3D data for uploading to construction machinery for semi-automatic operation. With the incorporation of AI technologies, Komatsu will be able to offer a wider range of services that bring a degree of automation, not just to machinery but also to the scheme of execution. The Japanese construction sector faces an aging and diminishing pool of skilled workers, and Komatsu sees AI as a way to replicate their knowledge and improve productivity at the building site.

Ducati Corse Races Ahead of the Pack with Accenture and Machine Learning Intelligent MotoGP Racing Bikes Build New Aptitude for Optimal Results MOBILE WORLD CONGRESS, BARCELONA; February 27, 2017 – Ducati Corse, the racing department of Ducati Motor Holding, a world leader in sports motorcycle manufacturing, is working with Accenture (NYSE: ACN) to integrate Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence technologies into the testing of its MotoGP racing bikes. Ducati Corse wants to make testing its race bikes faster, cheaper and more effective. Accenture Analytics, already Official Digital Partner to the Ducati Team racing in the MotoGP World Championship, has lately been working with them to create an intelligent testing approach with a bespoke analytics engine. Integrated Machine Learning technologies mean that the more data that enters the system, the more configurations are available for testing with increasingly accurate performance predictions. Data visualization tools designed for an intuitive user experience will allow testing engineers to interact with insights, tweaking them at any point to create a new perspective on configurations and race times.

Software-defined networking, or SDN, offers automation and orchestration advantages, leading to an intelligent enterprise. SDN can enable automated cyber defense, especially as organizations look to more effectively respond and mitigate cyber attacks. However, more advanced techniques, including the application of machine learning, can be used to shift an organization's focus from automated response to proactively defending the network. This discussion will focus on the use of SDN to not only enable security orchestration and automated cyber response, but to proactively alter the attack surface to deceive potential adversaries.

China set a record high in terms of venture capital (VC) investments in 2016, despite a global slowdown. The strong performance is expected to continue with artificial intelligence (AI) an additional focus for investors, finds latest KPMG analysis. Investment by VCs in China increased 19 percent year on year to USD31 billion in 2016, although deal volumes declined 42 percent to 300 from 513 a year earlier, according to Venture Pulse, KPMG's quarterly global report on VC trends. The strong performance is attributed to a number of mega-deals recorded early in the year. The report highlights that artificial intelligence and cognitive learning are poised to transform almost every aspect of people's lives.

Artificial intelligence (machines doing things instead of humans) and augmented intelligence (machines helping humans do what they need to do better) are vogue concepts but what's the relevance to professional services organizations? In this free webinar, we will discuss how machine intelligence can be applied to help drive performance in consulting. John Ragsdale, VP Research, Technology and Social for TSIA will explain where TSIA members see the most opportunity and Kimble will talk about how Kimble customers are using intelligence and gamification to drive behaviors that speed up and improve the impact of positive decision making in selling, resourcing, delivery and operational management.

Thanks to the Artificial Intelligence (AI) software drones are able to perform flights without a human pilot. The new software was introduced by a start-up Exyn Technologies and allows drone navigation through dark, indoor and off-grid environments. The sensor fusion and AI provide drones with a situational awareness. Multiple sensors enable drone to create a 3D map and update it after take-off. Human engagement during the flight is limited only to giving drone a goal and starting location.