It's long overdue but Google Play Music is getting a makeover. The search giant confirmed today that it is in the process of updating its Android, iOS and Web offerings with bright new UI that relies on machine learning to deliver what's relevant to you. Its AI-like algorithms will identify where you are and what you're doing, also factoring in things like the weather, to serve up playlists and track recommendations that you didn't know you wanted but capture your mood at the time. "When you opt in, we'll deliver personalized music based on where you are and why you are listening -- relaxing at home, powering through at work, commuting, flying, exploring new cities, heading out on the town, and everything in between," Google says in a blog post. "Your workout music is front and center as you walk into the gym, a sunset soundtrack appears just as the sky goes pink, and tunes for focusing turn up at the library."

What could be the next big thing in technology after the digital revolution? According to Chuo University engineering professor, the answer could come from Mother Nature. "Traditionally, people wanted industrial robots to be able to work precisely to help with mass production. But today, demand is high for robots that can live together with people or that can operate in situations where people cannot," said Taro Nakamura, who has developed several robots modeled on living organisms. "People are now looking for new knowledge to bring about innovation. And I believe the next paradigm shift will start by learning about nature," the professor said.

US-based tech firm Department 13 has shown off its anti-drone device Mesmer, which takes control of intruding drones and forces them to land. The ASX-listed firm's esky-sized device is intended for the protection of a fixed site, such as an airport, where it can use existing radar to detect intruding drones. Previous methods to deal with nuisance drones have ranged from blasting it from the sky with a shotgun, snaring it in a net, or shooting in with an anti-drone drone -- the US military has used Hellfire missiles and 30 kilowatt shipboard lasers to destroy drones. The agency warned local law enforcement of the emerging threat that drones pose. Conversely, Department 13 worked on a method that reduced the risk of any potential danger to nearby personnel or infrastructure.

As enterprise enters further into the digital age, data has become the strategic asset that knowledge workers, small or large, rely on to guide their decisions. However, managing such large volumes of data has exposed some unprecedented challenges for the enterprises. Enterprises have learned that the data that they hold, comes in a variety of formats, resides in different and distributed systems and is specific to the organization and its domain. Setting these challenges as the backdrop, IBM's Watson division has built solutions that not only allow for data connectivity but also the analysis of unstructured data and its customization to an enterprise domain. IBM Watson Explorer is Watson's flagship product for text analytics and discovery.

In this post you discovered gradient descent for machine learning.

Ever thought your selfies were as good as a Rembrandt? Well, Facebook hears you, and it's got something to help. This morning, the company announced that a number of AI-powered art filters would soon be arriving on its mobile app, allowing users to overlay photos, videos, and even live broadcasts with various artistic styles. This type of AI feature is known as "style transfer" and has been around for a while now. Russian app Prisma popularized it earlier this year, and in October, Facebook showed off a prototype version working with live video.

Mark 2016 as the year that researchers applied artificial intelligence (AI) to the challenges of cybersecurity. If machines can steer our cars and predict our shopping habits, then why not watch over our networks and servers too? IBM in May 2016 announced Watson for Cyber Security, in which the IT behemoth began teaching its pattern-recognition supercomputer to learn the difference between safe and risky data. That could ease the burden on overworked cybersecurity professionals, IBM hopes. Several universities involved with that project began having students train the system within the past several weeks, explained IBM Watson's Jeb Linton, chief security architect.

What is artificial intelligence and how is it being used? What benefits is it likely to bring for society and for government? What is artificial intelligence and how is it being used? What benefits is it likely to bring for society and for government?

This story is part of a series inspired by the subjects and speakers appearing at BBC Future's World-Changing Ideas Summit in Sydney on 15 November. Find out more about the inspiring people coming to the meeting, including: Researcher Alex Gillespie on what artificial intelligence means for us Researcher Helen Christensen on how tech can spot and treat mental health issues Alan Finkel, Australia's chief scientist, on the future of energy BBC TV presenter Michael Mosley on the science of food and health Uber's Kevin Corti on the hidden patterns of city transport Researcher and TV presenter Emma Johnston on the impact of cities on oceans Experimental architect Rachel Armstrong on interstellar travel If you believe some AI-watchers, we are racing towards the Singularity – a point at which artificial intelligence outstrips our own and machines go on to improve themselves at an exponential rate. If that happens – and it's a big if – what will become of us? In the last few years, several high-profile voices, from Stephen Hawking to Elon Musk and Bill Gates have warned that we should be more concerned about possible dangerous outcomes of supersmart AI. And they've put their money where their mouth is: Musk is among several billionaire backers of OpenAI, an orgnisation dedicated to developing AI that will benefit humanity.

Last week I attended IBM (IBM) World of Watson as both a speaker and an attendee, and today as I sit in my neighborhood Starbucks (SBUX) thinking about everything, all I can say is WOW! This was one of the most interesting, inspiring and amazing events I have ever attended. And we are still in the very early stages of Watson, Cognitive and AI. I invite you to follow me as I learn more and write more about the wonderful world of Watson, all the companies that work with it and how it will change our industries, our businesses and our lives. As a wireless analyst and columnist, I come at this world of Watson from the wireless, telecom, internet and television angle.