Sources are claiming that Google is working on a new smart screen device that will compete against the Amazon Echo Show. The device has been given the codename "Manhattan" internally and will come with Google Assistant and will support video calling. Information on Google's new Manhattan device was shared to TechCrunch by multiple anonymous sources. Like the Amazon Echo Show, the Google Manhattan is said to feature a 7-inch display and will have Google Assistant, YouTube and Google Photos on board. The Google Manhattan device can also function as a smart hub to control other smart home devices like Nest's cameras and thermostats.

Our love affair with Alexa, Siri and all the other speaking devices has innovators in many industries dreaming up ways to deliver similar technology to their clients or create customer experiences that capitalize on this capability. Spoken interfaces seem to be what people crave and the BBC's Research & Development professionals have jumped in full throttle to deliver the capability for a two-way spoken conversation with their listeners. The BBC's initiative is known as Talking with Machines. This project puts resources to work to "explore the possibilities of these devices and platforms in terms of content, interaction design, and software development patterns." The BBC aims to be able to support the technology that already exists as well as set the foundation for what is to come.

Microsoft is embedding Anaconda's Python distribution into its Azure Machine Learning products, the latest move by the software vendor to expand its capabilities in the fast-growing artificial intelligence space and an example of Anaconda extending its reach beyond high performance computing and into AI. The two companies announced the partnership this week at the Strata Data Conference in New York City, with the news dovetailing with other announcements around AI that Microsoft officials made this week at its own Ignite 2017 show. The vendors said they will offer Anaconda for Microsoft, which they described as a subset of the Anaconda Python distribution that is now available on Windows as well as MacOS and Linux. There will be a range of options within the Anaconda for Microsoft offering, they said. Initially, Anaconda for Microsoft will be included in Microsoft's Azure Machine Learning, Machine Learning Server, Visual Studio, and SQL Server, but there also will be additional advantages to developers.

AI technology is increasingly becoming more commonplace and available. From self-driving cars to personal assistant software such as Siri, AI will soon be a much more relevant part of our daily lives. On the surface, with all of the potential that AI has to offer, it may seem that it is in everyone's interests to continue its development and advancement. However, there are growing concerns and the over looming sentiment that the arrival of AI will surely usher in the day where us humans will be rendered obsolete – superseded by machines whose intelligence far exceed our own. How rational is this fear, though?

When Amazon first debuted the Amazon Echo smart speaker, it was the first of its kind. A speaker that responds to verbal commands? I was intrigued, but also unsure if the technology would take off. Then I bought one and fell in love. I now have 3 Echo devices--an original Echo, An Echo Dot, and the Echo Show--in various rooms in my home.

What is machine learning and how does it work? You've probably heard the buzz. The age of artificial intelligence has arrived. But that doesn't mean it's easy to wrap your mind around. Let's break down the basics of artificial intelligence, bots, and machine learning. Besides, there's nothing that will impact marketing more in the next five to ten years than artificial intelligence.

Amazon just dropped a whole bunch of Alexa-equipped gear on us, including a redesigned Echo speaker with a price tag of just $99. That's a bargain compared to the $189 price of its predecessor, but you can take advantage of Alexa's best new feature on your old Echo stuff right now, for free: Multi-Room Music is rolling out across the platform. Multi-Room Music allows you to play your tunes or talk radio (woo!) simultaneously across a variety of Echo devices on the same network. It works like a Sonos system, pumping audio to individual speakers throughout a house. Or, you can place several speakers around a really big room that's covered by the same network, a technique often used by gyms, studios, or other large spaces.

Amazon's overstuffed Echo event yesterday made one thing clear: it's not afraid of doubling down on smart speakers and its virtual assistant Alexa. The company announced a smaller $100 Echo (just as we reported in July); a $150 Echo Plus with smart hub features; and an Echo-powered alarm clock called "Spot". And that's not even including the truly strange stuff: Echo Connect, which turns your Echo devices into speakerphones for landlines; and a tiny Bluetooth button for games. As impressive as this new lineup is, it's easy to see how it could also be confusing for consumers. Which Echo device do you really need? It's hard enough to decide if you're just dipping your toes into Amazon's smart speaker world.

In an interview at Singularity University's Global Summit in San Francisco, Anita Schjøll Brede talked about how artificial intelligence can help make scientific research accessible to anyone working on a complex problem. Anita Schjøll Brede is the CEO and co-founder of Iris AI, a startup that's building an artificially intelligent research assistant, which was recently named one of the most innovative AI startups of 2017 by Fast Company. Schjøll Brede is also faculty at Singularity University Denmark and a 2015 alumni of the Global Solutions Program. "Ultimately, we're building an AI that can read, understand, and connect the dots," Schjøll Brede said. "But zooming that back into today, we're building a tool for R&D, research institutions, and entrepreneurs who have big hairy problems to solve and need to apply research and science to solve them. We're semi-automating the process of mapping out what you should read to solve the problem or to see what research you need to do to solve the problem."

Amazon unveiled their new Echo speaker to compete for consumers' money and mindshare. A link has been sent to your friend's email address. A link has been posted to your Facebook feed. Amazon unveiled their new Echo speaker to compete for consumers' money and mindshare.