We all remember Watson from Jeopardy, right? It's not just Jeopardy that Watson is used for. Watson is famous for its cognitive computing system. Cognitive computing is another name for artificial intelligence. In other words, Watson learns.

If you follow retail trends, you know that department stores are in trouble. As shoppers have headed online and to discount stores, traditional mall department stores are struggling to define their niche and halt falling profits. Many are now focused on creating a better in-store experience in hopes of motivating customers to shop in person. One of the most interesting customer experience initiatives is coming from Macy's, which also announced last week that it is closing 100 of its stores. In 10 of its U.S. locations, Macy's shoppers can now use artificial intelligence through their mobile devices to help them navigate the shopping experience.

We all remember Watson from Jeopardy, right? It's not just Jeopardy that Watson is used for. Watson is famous for its cognitive computing system. Cognitive computing is another name for artificial intelligence. In other words, Watson learns.

BEIJING: China is eyeing the use of a high level of artificial intelligence and automation for its next generation of cruise missiles, a senior designer was quoted as saying on Friday. "We plan to adopt a'plug and play' approach in the development of new cruise missiles, which will enable our military commanders to tailor-make missiles in accordance with combat conditions," Wang Changqing of the China Aerospace and Industry Corp told the state-run China Daily newspaper. "Moreover, our future cruise missiles will have a very high level of artificial intelligence and automation," Wang added. "They will allow commanders to control them in real time manner, or to use a fire-and-forget mode, or even to add more tasks to in-flight missiles." China is already a global leader in the field of using artificial intelligence in missiles, Wang added, without elaborating.

BEIJING: China is eyeing the use of a high level of artificial intelligence and automation for its next generation of cruise missiles, a senior designer was quoted as saying on Friday. "We plan to adopt a'plug and play' approach in the development of new cruise missiles, which will enable our military commanders to tailor-make missiles in accordance with combat conditions," Wang Changqing of the China Aerospace and Industry Corp told the state-run China Daily newspaper. "Moreover, our future cruise missiles will have a very high level of artificial intelligence and automation," Wang added. "They will allow commanders to control them in real time manner, or to use a fire-and-forget mode, or even to add more tasks to in-flight missiles." China is already a global leader in the field of using artificial intelligence in missiles, Wang added, without elaborating.

You may recall that Google snapped up Nest back in January 2014 for US 3.2 billion. For much of the time since then, Nest has languished, a view bolstered by the recent departure of its visionary founder and CEO Tony Fadell. But with the recent release of the Nest outdoor camera, it appears Google has an ace up its sleeve. Leveraging its expertise in artificial intelligence and machine learning, Google is on the verge of creating security cameras capable of advanced scene recognition, a feat that could enable them to corner the entire market for surveillance cameras. Imagine a camera that could detect on its own when a robber had entered the house or when a falling branch had cracked a window, or that an elderly loved one had fallen down, or even that a baby had climbed out of its crib and was heading towards the stairs.

Bill Gates recently declared artificial intelligence "the holy grail of computer science." The industry has made massive strides in recent years and there are even more exciting things ahead.

Startup Civil Maps has a plan to get human-piloted cars to hasten their own demise. Autonomous vehicles like those being tested by Google, Uber, and major automakers rely on 3-D maps that record the position of curbstones and traffic lights with high accuracy. The maps are usually created by driving around in vehicles outfitted with expensive sensors. Civil Maps wants to use consumer cars as a low-cost mapping workforce instead, taking advantage of the sensors being added to premium models for advanced cruise control and crash avoidance. Those cheaper sensors can't match those in a dedicated mapping vehicle.

By combining satellite data and sophisticated machine learning, researchers have developed a technique to estimate household consumption and income. Such data is particularly difficult to obtain in poorer countries, yet it is critical for informing research and policy, and for efforts including resource allocation and targeted intervention in these developing nations. The African continent provides a particularly striking example of limited insights into economic wellbeing. According to World Bank data from 2000 to 2010, 39 out of 59 African countries conducted less than two surveys substantial enough to result in poverty measures. Surveys are costly, infrequent, and cannot always reach countries or regions within countries, for instance, due to armed conflict.