DARPA introduces 'third wave' of artificial intelligence

The Pentagon is launching a new artificial intelligence push it calls'AI Next' which aims to improve the relationship between machines and humans. As part of the multi-year initiative, the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is set to invest more than $2bn in the programme. In promo material for the programme, DARPA says AI Next will accelerate "the Third Wave" which enables machines to adapt to changing situations. For instance, adaptive reasoning will enable computer algorithms to discern the difference between the use of'principal' and'principle' based on the analysis of surrounding words to help determine context. "Today, machines lack contextual reasoning capabilities and their training must cover every eventuality – which is not only costly – but ultimately impossible. We want to explore how machines can acquire human-like communication and reasoning capabilities, with the ability to recognise new situations and environments and adapt to them."