Bringing back jobs means using more AI, exec says

Amid concerns that robots will replace human workers at an increasingly rapid pace thanks to artificial intelligence, Microsoft's new initiative aims to fund start-ups that build AI that has a positive impact on society. To qualify, the companies must be "designed to assist humanity; be transparent; maximize efficiency without destroying human dignity; provide intelligent privacy and accountability for the unexpected; and be guarded against biases," Microsoft said in a statement. The investment expands Microsoft's start-up investing, which had previously focused on cloud companies. It comes at a time when rivals like Google, Apple and Amazon have accelerated their efforts in artificial intelligence. Of course, not all aspects of artificial intelligence have been well received by tech leaders, many of whom signed an open letter calling for AI systems that are "robust and beneficial [to society]."