YOKOHAMA Nissan Motor Co Ltd and Renault SA are open to partnerships with other companies to equip their vehicles with sophisticated technology as automakers race to develop the cars of the future, the pair's connected vehicles chief said.

Recently I was having a text conversation with a colleague, who shared a FedEx tracking number with me. I launched the Google Assistant and swiped up on the screen to reveal what it had found, and behold there was a link to track the package. The Google Assistant supercharges what was once known as Google Now on Tap, a feature that never felt as useful as promised. But Google's smarts with this area appear even better, so you ought to try the Assistant out more often to see what it uncovers. Just long-press on the home button (or say "OK Google") and swipe up. If there's something on the screen Google recognizes, it will give you context about it.

Digital technologies and advanced analytics have the potential to create the Invisible Bank of the future. Powered by artificial intelligence (AI) and activated by voice, virtual banking assistants can become an integral part of our daily lives. Banking today is becoming less and less a place you go, and more something that is hidden from view behind digital banking and commerce apps. Once an account is opened at a bank or credit union, there is less need to stop into a branch, since functions like deposits, borrowing, payments and transfers can be done without personal interaction through online and mobile devices. According to a new report published by KPMG, "Meet Eva – Your Enlightened Virtual Assistant and the Future Face of the Invisible Bank", technologies like Apple's Siri, Amazon's Alexa or Samsung's Viv will enable an even greater shift in banks and banking by 2030.

Bank of America announces an AI-powered bot to help customers make smarter decisions Monday at the Money 20/20 conference in Las Vegas, Bank of America's president of retail banking, Thong Nguyen, announced an artificially intelligent bot to help customers make smarter decisions, according to CNBC. Named Erica, the bot uses artificial intelligence and predictive analytics to learn your personal spending habits and offer helpful advice. For example, Erica might send someone a predictive text: "Michelle, I found a great opportunity for you to reduce your debt and save you 300." Erica is designed to not just be a virtual assistant, but each customer's "personal advocate," said Bank of America head of digital banking Michelle Moore. It can tell you about your spending habits, if you spend more than usual on a certain product or category of products, some opportunities to reduce debt or save money, and if your credit score took a dip. Links and videos are also provided to users so they can better understand terms like FICO score.

Apps have helped people share their homes, cars and technical skills. But stuff -- specifically, the kind that spends most of the year in garages, closets and sheds -- hasn't proved as easy to share. Rather than own stuff you'll seldom use, the start-up offers on-demand rentals. Joymode delivers a package of beach chairs, blankets and sand toys. Want to have a backyard movie night on a whim?

NEW YORK: Artificial intelligence programs have beaten chess masters and TV quiz show champions. Two exchange operators have announced plans to launch artificial intelligence tools for market surveillance in the coming months and officials at a Wall Street regulator tell Reuters they are not far behind. Executives are hoping computers with humanoid wit can help mere mortals catch misbehavior more quickly. The software could, for instance, scrub chat-room messages to detect dubious bragging or back slapping around the time of a big trade. It could also more quickly unravel complex issues, like "layering," where orders are rapidly sent to exchanges and then canceled to artificially move a stock price.

Logitech says it will release a new Alexa skill this week that renders its Harmony Hub-based universal remote controls (e.g., the Harmony Elite or the Harmony Companion) compatible with Amazon's Alexa digital assistant. So if you own an Amazon Echo and one of these Harmony remotes, you'll soon be able to add your entire entertainment center to the list of devices you can control with your voice. This Alexa skill wasn't available for to test at the time of this writing, but Logitech's press release indicated that Harmony Hub users would be able to choose from 270,000 devices to include in voice-activated Harmony Activities, as Logitech refers to its control scripts. In addition to TVs, set-top boxes, and A/V receivers, Logitech's Hub can also control many smart-home devices, such as smart light bulbs, motorized window shades, and even smart entry locks. Harmony Activities are essentially scripts that you define to control the devices you've previously enrolled into the remote's app.

When email first became popular twenty-some odd years ago, the conventions for writing email didn't exist. A species of notes like the ones you pass to your BFF in class? I expect if I could dredge up those first 100 electronic messages I sent, I'd find some fairly stilted language--and definitely no emoticons. We were all just getting the hang of a new communications platform, and it took some time for us to collectively arrive at the rules of engagement (which invariably changed over time). A growing number of people use an AI assistant to schedule meetings or manage their finances or help find flights, but it's still a small set (we're working on that).

A new update to the Google's Cast app rebrands it as Google Home. The update makes the app compatible with the Google Home hardware and the 4K-capable Chromecast Ultra. The company has also changed the icon -- it now has the shape of a house in Google's signature blue, yellow, green and red color scheme. Unlike other Android 7.1 Nougat icons, the Google Home icon is not rounded. The app, which was formerly called Chromecast, is now Artificial Intelligence- and smart home-compatible.

Alexa now (officially) works with Logitech's Harmony Hub, meaning it's a lot easier to get voice control over your home entertainment and automation devices. After you enable the Alexa skill on an Amazon Echo, Dot or other supported device, you'll be able to start and stop Harmony Activities, change channels and control devices using the AI assistant. Simple commands include "Alexa, turn on Netflix," or "Alexa, turn on my TV." You also get a certain amount of programmability, thanks to Logitech's Activities. If you say "Alexa, turn on my evening activity," the bot will trigger a prearranged sequence that can involve entertainment as well as home automation devices.