Network capacity planning aims to ensure that sufficient bandwidth is provisioned, allowing network SLA targets, such as delay, jitter, loss, and availability, to be reliably met. Until recently, the network data necessary for insightful capacity planning was generally only available via static, historical, after-the-fact reports. This situation is now rapidly changing. "By pairing advanced data science and cognitive technology such as AI and machine learning, IT can drive new and smarter predictive insights to improve network capacity-planning accuracy," says Ashish Verma, a Deloitte Consulting managing director specializing in cognitive analytics. "This helps organizations unleash data to make more agile decisions, improve operational wisdom, avoid downtime and create a better user experience."

Going through the reports about Financial Services and AI, the KPMG report "High scores for Machine Learning" is worth taking note of. And if you don't have time to read it all, FinML did the infographic below about it.

Accenture today opened a new Innovation Hub in Hyderabad, where clients can co-innovate with Accenture by ideating, rapidly prototyping and then scaling disruptive products and services for the digital economy. The latest addition to Accenture's global innovation network, the Hyderabad Innovation Hub is spread over 300,000 square feet where clients can co-innovate and co-create solutions with more than 2,000 Accenture professionals with expertise across multiple industries and advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, security, extended reality, automation and blockchain. "Our research shows that organizations are struggling to achieve their innovation goals, due to the lack of an enterprise-wide strategy for technology investments and adoption," said Bhaskar Ghosh, group chief executive, Accenture Technology Services. "Through our leading advanced technology capabilities, we help clients scale their technology investments and bridge the innovation achievement gap. Our Innovation Hub in Hyderabad has the pieces our clients require to accelerate value creation through enterprise-wide, game-changing innovation."

You've heard of Artificial Intelligence (AI), but what about Applied Intelligence? AI may be the talk of the town, but it's not a silver bullet. That's where Applied Intelligence comes in: It's our unique approach to combining AI with data, analytics and automation under a bold strategic vision to transform your business--not in silos, but across every function and every process, at scale. Applied Intelligence helps you maximize your existing investments and then extend new technologies across your business. With more than 6,000 deep AI experts and 3,000 data scientists, plus the flexibility to work with almost any technology partner, we can help you evaluate, maximize and scale opportunities as they arise--just one reason why 100% of industry analysts consider us among their category leaders.

Teachers spend about 20% to 40% of their time--or about 13 hours a week--on activities that could be automated using technology, according to a new report on artificial intelligence by the management consulting firm McKinsey & Company. Preparation time has the biggest potential for automation, making teachers more effective and efficient in lesson planning. For instance, adaptive math software lets teachers more quickly and accurately assess student performance, place learners in groups and provide the next assignments. Collaboration platforms, meanwhile, allow teachers to share relevant materials. "Technology has the least potential to save teacher time in areas where teachers are directly engaging with students: direct instruction and engagement, coaching and advisement, and behavioral-, social-, and emotional-skill development," the report found.

An analysis of GlobalData Artificial Intelligence (AI) Influencer Platform, which tracks over 200 leading global AI experts and their discussions pertaining to the emerging trends, pain areas, new fields of innovation and other popular areas on Twitter, revealed Ronald van Loon, Director at Adversitement, as the top influencer in the fourth quarter (Q4) 2019. Ganapathi Pulipaka, chief data scientist at Accenture, was ranked second among AI experts with an influencer score of 84. Kirk Borne, Principal data scientist at Booz Allen Hamilton, was ranked third with an influencer score of 81. Among the companies, Microsoft emerged as the leading company among the discussions of artificial intelligence experts, followed by Google and Amazon. The conversations on Microsoft were led by Microsoft HoloLens, an immersive mixed reality experience, developed by the reliability, security and scalability of cloud and AI services from Microsoft.

Accenture will soon acquire Mudano, a strategic data consultancy to UK financial services firms. While the terms of the transaction have not been disclosed, the intent of the acquisition is to enhance Accenture's analytics, data, and artificial intelligence (AI) transformation capabilities. After the acquisition, Mudano's team of data professionals will join Accenture Applied Intelligence, which employs more than 20,000 professionals worldwide who help clients scale artificial intelligence, including 6,000 data scientists, data engineers, and artificial intelligence professionals. Ed Broussard, Mudano CEO, said, "Accenture's reputation for excellence and large-scale delivery will enable us to help clients realize the benefits of data transformation -- from setting the strategy and building the culture to leveraging the game-changing insights that data analytics can bring. We are excited to become part of one of the world's leading companies and look forward to the opportunities this will bring for our employees and clients."

Using AI for finance processes has been a compelling idea for years, and it's not hard to find companies that are really doing it. Machine learning, natural language processing (NLP) and intelligent chatbots are taking over much of the tedious work of accounting, reporting and auditing. They're even performing basic financial analysis and decision-making that used to be unique to humans. But several experts agreed that AI for finance departments is still in the early adoption phase. Companies are either piloting AI or using it for narrow purposes, said Adrian Tay, managing director of finance and CFO services at Deloitte Consulting.

Modern technology has observed an immense evolution. Self-driven cars, instant translation, and cell phones that will do anything we need with a simple verbal order, are some examples of artificial intelligence (AI). We have discussed it with Gianluca Mauro, energy engineer, co-author and co-founder together with Nicolò Valigi of the AI Academy, a consulting firm of tech experts with the mission to help business leaders to "understand AI and what to do with it through trainings and coaching, and build successful AI projects with tailored consulting." Gianluca is a Roman, young entrepreneur and speaker, who has the ambitious plan to spread awareness about AI. Considering the many hardships of being young professionals -- especially in Italy -- we talked with him about the academy, the main issues in the Italian educational and professional fields, and prejudices against AI.