Summary: In our recent article on "5 Types of Recommenders" we failed to mention Indicator-Based Recommenders. These have some unique features and ease of implementation that may be important in your selection of a recommender strategy. A few weeks ago in the midst of our series on recommenders we published an article "5 Types of Recommenders" in which we offered our view on the primary types of recommendation engines. We got a very nice comment from Ted Dunning suggesting that we'd missed an important one, Indicator-Based Recommenders. If you ever get a note from Ted Dunning you should pay attention.

Your message has been sent. There was an error emailing this page. Nucleus is a family communication device that connects you with the people you love, whether they're downstairs or across the country. Make audio and video calls by simply asking Alexa. Designed with the kids and Grandma in mind, making it easier than ever to set up and just say "hello."

Never mind," I cursed, looking down on the poorly formed monstrosity that gazed back at me with a singular pulsing eye. This was not my trusty Google Assistant, with whom I shared a deep logistical and day-planning-based bond. This thing barely looked like the AI to which I was accustomed and -- even then -- only in passing. This alien program appears to have eaten my digital assistant and started wearing its skin -- and I'm about to spend the next week having it organize my life. "Cortana" came to reside in my Nexus 6P via a Google Play Store download, but it soon took over nearly all of the system's support functions.

WHEN the first printed books with illustrations started to appear in the 1470s in the German city of Augsburg, wood engravers rose up in protest. Worried about their jobs, they literally stopped the presses. In fact, their skills turned out to be in higher demand than before: somebody had to illustrate the growing number of books. Fears about the impact of technology on jobs have resurfaced periodically ever since. The latest bout of anxiety concerns the arrival of artificial intelligence (AI).

Google is rolling out a flurry of products in Indonesia. Chief among the new additions are YouTube Go and Google Assistant. The announcements (made at its second annual Google for Indonesia event) tie into the web giant's plan to get its apps to the "next billion" internet users. Until now, this strategy has mainly focused on India. But, it seemed inevitable that Google would expand its reach to more emerging (mobile-first) countries.

Amazon's Echo Dot is the most cost-effective way to add voice-activated control to your smart home. There's an Alexa skill for just about every smart-home platform, DIY or custom installed, and second-generation Echo Dot's cost just $50 each. I have six deployed in my own house, connected to a Vivint Smart Home system. The Vaux speaker dock changes that and delivers a bonus: A rechargeable battery that lets you take Alexa all over your house--and out onto the porch, too. The Vaux costs $50, so it and an Echo Dot still cost less than Amazon's own portable Alexa solution, the Amazon Tap. The Vaux's speaker not only sounds better than the Tap, it doesn't force you to press a button to get Alexa's attention like the Tap does.

Fintech is a lucrative yet quite saturated market. In order to stay competitive, businesses should keep track of the emerging trends and be able to capitalize on them before their competitors do. Artificial intelligence is currently among the most promising fintech trends. Leading financial brands such as Capital One, MasterCard, as well as hundreds of startups have set the pace for the adoption of virtual financial advisors. If you want to stay ahead of your competition or simply explore the opportunities for AI in fintech, then this article is for you.

Learn more about how to implement AI at the Artificial Intelligence Conference, September 17 - 20, San Francisco, CA. It has been seven years since Apple unveiled Siri, and three since Jeff Bezos, inspired by Star Trek, introduced Alexa. But the idea of conversational interfaces powered by artificial intelligence has been around for decades. In 1966, MIT professor Joseph Weizenbaum introduced ELIZA--generally seen as the prototype for today's conversational AI. Decades later, in a WIRED story, Andrew Leonard proclaimed that "Bots are hot," further speculating they would soon be able to "find me the best price on that CD, get flowers for my mom [and] keep me posted on the latest developments in Mozambique."

Apple has been building data centers powered by renewable energy across the US for some time, now, with facilities in North Carolina, Arizona and Reno. The tech company plans to build it's latest data center -- a 400,000 square foot facitlity -- in Waukee, Iowa by 2020. Construction should begin early next year with the resulting center aimed at supporting users of Apple's online services in North America. "Our new data center in Iowa will help serve millions of people across North America who use Siri, iMessage, Apple Music and other Apple services -- all powered by renewable energy," said Apple CEO Tim Cook in a statement. Apple says that the center will add 550 construction and operations jobs in the Des Moines area.

AI-powered virtual assistants are dedicated pieces of software that implement machine learning and natural language processing to communicate with users. AI-powered virtual assistants can directly help your sales team close more deals by providing them information during a sales call. By analyzing browsing and purchasing patterns, interests, and other relevant demographics, you can qualify prospects and show your sales team where each prospect is located within the buyer's journey. Although developing and perfecting an AI-powered virtual assistant takes time, you can increase your sales conversion rates if you implement it correctly.