Fifty years ago, I published a paper, "Error bounds for convolutional codes and an asymptotically optimum decoding algorithm," on the important class of convolutional codes, which is particularly effective in preventing errors in digital communication over wireless and other transmission media. The algorithm, which became labeled with my name, was a crucial step in establishing the merits as well as evaluating the performance of these codes. The paper was read and understood by only a few specialists. In the next few years, clarity was provided by two papers, the first by a colleague, G.D. Forney Jr., who introduced the trellis model, and the second by myself based on a state diagram, or Markov model. A.A. Markov was a Russian mathematician who proposed and analyzed a statistical concept regarding the relationship between terms of a sequence or, more generally, of successive events; specifically, that each term (or string of terms) or event is statistically dependent only on the previous one.

Artificial intelligence and cognitive computing is being heralded as the brave new frontier of clinical IT, Kim Thomas reports on how it is already beginning to reshape radiology imaging and diagnostics. IBM chose December's annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America to showcase the ability of its Watson supercomputer to rapidly analyse medical images and suggest a diagnosis. Mark Griffiths, a clinical radiologist at University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, who attended RSNA, says he saw some "stunning demonstrations" of the technology, including chest X-rays being "reported in milliseconds." Watson is an example of a technology that IBM refers to as "cognitive computing". Using a form of artificial intelligence known as natural language processing, Watson, a cloud-based system, is able to analyse vast stores of scholarly articles, patient records and medical images.

Machine learning and big data in the healthcare field have tremendous potential. Not only are these new technologies improving diagnosis and treatment options, they also have the potential to empower individuals to take control of their own health. Some of the most exciting advances in healthcare today are coming about with the help of machine learning, artificial intelligence, and advanced analytics. Advances in diagnostics, predictive healthcare, personalized medicine and AI interfaces to help patients access healthcare all come down to the application of machine learning. One team of doctors used advanced machine learning to analyze search queries online and discovered that they could identify people with pancreatic cancer--even before they received a diagnosis.

Artificial intelligence is the technology of the future, and public schools are indoctrinating students to prepare. STEM School Academy in Highland Ranch, Colorado allowed students to use a 3D printer and artificial intelligence to create historical figures for their history class. "I wanted to bring history alive. I wanted the students to experience the process of talking to an artificial intelligence, talking to a person long deceased," history teacher Owen Cegielski told 9News. So who did the students decide to reanimate?

The adoption and application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) continues to accelerate at an exponential rate in modern businesses. As referenced in the 2017 Tech Trend Report, AI is nearing completion of the next layer in technological advancement, integrated into everything individuals and organizations do. This trajectory is predicted to drive cumulative worldwide spending of $40.6 billion on AI projects by 2024 – according to Raconteur. This is expected to create mass opportunity for the pioneering businesses currently investing in AI development. Moving beyond the hype in existing media coverage, this post will uncover the reality behind what AI means for businesses today, in the near future, and beyond 2017.

From helping you take care of email to creating personalized online shopping experiences, AI promises to transform the way we live and work. But with all the hype out there, how do we know which benefits we'll actually see? Gary Vaynerchuk was so impressed with TNW Conference 2016 he paused mid-talk to applaud us. What is the top benefit you predict emerging from AI, and do you think the overall benefits will live up to the hype? The greatest benefit of AI -- which is already emerging -- is the elimination of repetitive tasks.

Money keeps pouring in from companies trying to perfect the self-driving car. The latest eye-popping transaction: Intel announced Monday that it was buying Israeli company Mobileye for $15.3 billion. Mobileye's systems, which are used by 27 carmakers, depend on specialized cameras to sense a car's surroundings on the road. It's the tech behind the emergency braking and lane assistance systems that are becoming more common in new vehicles. The acquisition shouldn't come as a huge surprise, since the two companies have been working together with BMW since last year to create a fully autonomous car by 2021.

Countersurveillance fashion designs are being spotlighted at this year's South by Southwest conference in Austin, Texas, by a group of young women of color who started a company called Hyphen-Labs. Carmen Aguilar y Wedge is the co-founder and director of creative technology for Hyphen-Labs. She modeled the company's ScatterViz visor at the Sundance Film Festival in January. Carmen Aguilar y Wedge is the co-founder and director of creative technology for Hyphen-Labs. She modeled the company's ScatterViz visor at the Sundance Film Festival in January.

Whether you know it or not, your life is impacted everyday by Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning. In fact, if you asked Alexa about the weather or traffic while enjoying your morning cup of coffee, you leveraged AI. This voice recognition is part of the growing field of technology that is changing the lives of consumers and our interaction with technology. The government is no exception. AI is also becoming involved in every aspect of how our country runs--national security, economics, healthcare, and other domains.

Cloud accounting software provider Xero announced a new product that it says will bring machine learning and AI to the process of small business invoicing. The machine learning automation technology is currently without an official title, but Xero says it's designed to simplify and improve the way invoices are filed. More specifically, the technology will automatically suggest the appropriate account codes for an invoice based on past invoicing behavior of the business owner and their advisor. While the use case is indeed specific, Xero posits that small businesses frequently mislabel invoices, which in turn creates more work for themselves and their accountants down the road. "Before we work with a client, we always review their balance sheet to see if items are correctly allocated," said Andrew Erkins, director of technology at Xero Partner Digit Books.