Artificial intelligence (AI) technology has transformed the consumer financial services market and how consumers interact with the financial services ecosystem. This paradigm shift has been driven by the accelerated maturation of the algorithms; the historic level of investment flooding the financial services market; the competition for market share between incumbents and new entrants; and rapid changes in consumers' preferences for digital financial products. From AI-driven chatbots to sophisticated wealth robo advisors, AI applications have clear potential to expand opportunities for consumers living at the margin. However, experts have yet to discuss the relevance of AI for consumer financial protection in earnest, including the implications of AI solutions that could better protect consumers. With traditional banks vying to maintain market share and maximize shareholder values, it's safe to say that the gold rush toward AI will only intensify.

The automation of measurement and data collection procedures, coupled with the development of vast capacity for data storage and the creation of highly sophisticated tools for analyzing and processing data, often in real time, is radically changing the world in which we live. This has prompted considerable debate, both philosophical and legal, about the right, legitimate, and proper ways to use such data. Also, since there is no absolute authority to whom we can appeal for guidance, it is important that we, the data creators, suppliers, and users, should engage with these ethical considerations. Emphasis naturally tends to be on the side of risk and protection, but we must always bear in mind the need for a proper balance between risk and benefit. Zero risk can be attained only at the cost of zero benefit, but the potential benefit from new data technologies is vast. Or, as leading data ethicists Floridi and Taddeo1 put it: "On the one hand, overlooking ethical issues may prompt ...

LAS VEGAS--Like it or not, CES has now become a car show, for the same reason we cover the automotive world now at Ars Technica. Simply put, the tech sector has taken a look at the automobile, and it sees dollar signs. Whether or not this vast annual trade show is the right way to kick off a new year (spoiler--it's not), attending CES does have some value in trend-spotting. And this year, the main trend appeared to be "the same product you saw last year, but with AI": AI-enabled TVs, AI-enabled induction cooktops, and yes, AI in cars. Take BMW--in a couple of months, in some markets, you'll be able to buy a 3 Series (or 8 Series, or X5, or Z4) that includes the company's new Intelligent Personal Assistant as a feature of the new seventh-generation infotainment system.

The current wave of virtual assistants owes a lot to a sidekick from one of the most popular video games of all time. The release of Halo: Combat Evolved in 2001 introduced Master Chief's AI partner Cortana, popularizing a lot of the common characteristics that are now shared by real-world AI helpers. Cortana was a friendly, helpful female voice in your ear, one who blurred the line between companion and digital tool. She sounded an awful lot like Siri -- and she did it a decade before virtual assistants became indispensable features of our smartphones and homes. Halo didn't invent the concept of an AI helper.

Smart appliances can make you feel like you're living in the future, but they can also just make your life generally more convenient (while you're feeling so cool). Today, you can get some smarts in one of the most important appliances of all with an AmazonBasics microwave for $42, down from a list price of $60. This microwave is made to pair with an Amazon Echo device. Once connected, it can be controlled using just your voice, with useful commands ranging from setting cook times to heating up specific things, such as coffee or popcorn. The microwave has a handy Ask Alexa button built right in, which wakes up your Echo when pressed and gets it ready for voice commands.

Gay dating app Scruff has banned images of men in underwear or swimming trunks, after it was suspended from the Google Play app store several times. Scruff said it had changed its profile picture rules after "repeated suspensions by app store distributors" but declined to specify which stores. The app was most recently suspended from Google Play in January, when it disappeared for three days. Google told BBC News it did not comment on individual apps. Several Scruff members responded to the policy change on social media, threatening to delete their accounts.

Artificial Intelligence, thanks to a myriad of dystopian literature, has always been viewed with negative connotations, even though it's still hundreds of years away before total superiority, according to some people's calculations. Despite this, in the last few years, AI, and deep machine learning have gained truly significant, commercial application. As seen in the below chart from MIT, the adoption of AI by business has been happening at a dizzying pace. A pace that is expected to continue. The reasons for this are simple and relatively cyclical in explanation.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is the study and design of algorithms that perform tasks or behaviors that a person could reasonably deem to require intelligence if a human were to do it. Broadly construed, an intelligent system can take many forms: a system designed to be indistinguishable from humans; a speech assistant such as Alexa, Siri, Cortana, or Google Assistant; a self-driving car; a recommender in an online commerce site; or a non-player character in a video game. We refer to intelligent systems as agents when they are capable of making some decisions on their own based on given goals. Machine learning (ML) is a particular approach to the design of intelligent system in which the system adapts its behavior based on data. It is the success of machine learning algorithms in particular that have lead to recent growth in commercialization of artificial intelligence. Humans are increasingly coming into contact with artificial intelligence and machine learning systems. At times it is evident, as in the case of Siri, Alexa, Cortana, or Google Assistant. It is also evident in the case of self-driving cars or non-player characters in computer games.

Editor's note: This story is the first installment in a monthly series looking at some of the biggest investments grocers and food companies are making. Previous articles sponsored by BMO Harris Bank can be found here. "Hey Google, set my alarm for 8:30 a.m. These are among the most common demands and questions for voice-controlled personal assistants and smart speakers. But once consumers say "Alexa, order me bananas, Honey Nut Cheerios and a loaf of bread," difficulties arise. Conversational commerce, as it is called, is still in its infancy across all industries, Jon Reily, vice president of commerce strategy at Publicis.Sapient, told Grocery Dive. Every retailer, from department stores to grocers, is trying to figure out how best to use it, he said. But food retailers do have an advantage, Reily noted. Unlike other verticals like clothing stores where all products need to be seen before purchasing, much of grocery shopping is replenishment of items like cereal, cat litter, ...

In a partnership with Apple, health insurance company Aetna announced Tuesday a new app and wellness program that will track and offer personalized health recommendations to its customers, and grant them the option to redeem points for gift cards or toward payments for an Apple Watch by meeting activity goals and other health-related challenges. In short, you can expect a free Apple Watch as long as you're taking care of yourself. To participate in Aetna's program, which kicks off later this spring, users will need either an iPhone 5S or newer, or an Apple Watch Series 1 or newer. The announced Attain app -- which resembles Apple's in-house apps -- will provide personalized activity goals based on your age, sex, and weight, and challenge you to engage in activities like getting more sleep. It turns your activity and challenges into points, which can be redeemed for items like gift cards should you not want to put them toward the payment of your Apple Watch.