Artificial intelligence (AI) is a rapidly evolving technology that is seeping into our lives and affecting how we live, work and entertain ourselves. Everyday examples include voice-activated personal assistants, self-driving features in cars, and websites suggesting films and songs we might like based on our previous choices. Leading AI scientists are developing programs that can learn to solve complex problems without needing to be taught how. Although the technology is still in its infancy, there are expectations that these techniques will be used to develop and advance numerous fields and industries, including finance, healthcare, education, transportation and more. We have launched the Smith & Williamson Artificial Intelligence (Ai) Fund at a crucial time for the development of machine-learning technologies, which many experts believe are set to power economic growth around the world.

The venture arm of Salesforce.com is launching a $50 million fund to invest in startups employing artificial intelligence, the cloud computing firm told Reuters on Tuesday. Salesforce, whose software helps businesses sell, market and track customer activity, has been increasing its use of AI since launching its'Einstein' technology a year ago, which uses automation and data-driven features. "There's a tremendous surge in companies who are providing unique AI innovations," said John Somorjai, executive vice president of Salesforce Ventures. "We want more of those companies to do these innovations on Salesforce's platform." Salesforce revenues and income have grown rapidly in recent quarters, and it has boosted spending on research and development in the face of tough competition from rivals such as Oracle and Microsoft.

Artificial intelligence, machine learning and robotics are making some real money for stock investors, and beating the market. The Global X Robotics and Artificial Intelligence ETF (BOTZ) is up 30 percent this year and the ROBO Global Robotics and Automation Index (ROBO) is up 25 percent. "Between the tech exposure and the international exposure, that's helped the group pretty well," said Jack Ablin, chief investment officer at BMO Private Bank. The upward trend in robotics and artificial intelligence stocks is one proponents say, in the long-term, could top the so-called FANG stocks -- Facebook, Amazon.com, Each FANG stock has rallied 20 to 50 percent this year and the companies are increasingly focused on using technologies such as artificial intelligence, or AI, to develop their businesses.

Worried about a dystopian future in which AI rule the world and humans are enslaved to autonomous technology? So are billionaires (kind of). First it was the Partnership on AI formed by Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Facebook and IBM. Then came Elon Musk and Peter Thiel's recent investment in $1 billion research body, OpenAI. Now, a new batch of tech founders are throwing money at ethical artificial intelligence and autonomous systems.

The MIT Media Lab and the Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society at Harvard University will serve as the founding anchor institutions for a new initiative aimed at bridging the gap between the humanities, the social sciences, and computing by addressing the global challenges of artificial intelligence (AI) from a multidisciplinary perspective. "Artificial intelligence agents will impact every part of our lives in every society on Earth. Technology and commerce will see to that," says Alberto Ibargüen, president and CEO of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, which is among those supporting the initiative. Initially funded with $27 million from the Knight Foundation; LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman; the Omidyar Network; the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation; and Jim Pallotta, founder of the Raptor Group, the Ethics and Governance of Artificial Intelligence Fund's mission is to catalyze global research that advances AI for the public interest, with an emphasis on applied research and education. The fund will also seek to advance public understanding of AI. "AI's rapid development brings along a lot of tough challenges," explains Joi Ito, director of the MIT Media Lab.

Artificial intelligence could make major strides in 2017, as machine learning and new advances means that we can create intelligence that can pass the Turing test and outthink humans in the process. But at the same time, tech gurus are worried about the ethical complications which could result from the development of AI. The Knight Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to activities such as promoting journalism and innovation, is teaming up with tech gurus including LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman and eBay founder Pierre Omidyar to establish a fund called the Ethics and Governance of Artificial Intelligence Fund. In a press release, the Knight Foundation said that the fund will be used "to apply the humanities, the social sciences and other disciplines to the development of AI." It will work with educational institutes like MIT Media Lab and Harvard's Berkman Klein Center to ensure that technology builds ethical AIs that will benefit society.

Advances in artificial intelligence are happening in big ways, but the progress is all from the most technical minds and companies on Earth. Those in the liberal arts and humanities, however, are now thinking they need to get in on AI before it drastically changes how we live. To do AI research for the public interest from an entirely new perspective, LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman, the Omidyar Network (a philanthropic investment firm) and the Knight Foundation (which invests in journalism and arts) have put together a $27 million fund for AI research. Called the "Ethics and Governance of Artificial Intelligence Fund," it applies the humanities, social sciences and other disciplines to the development of AI. "Artificial intelligence and complex algorithms in general, fueled by big data and deep-learning systems, are quickly changing how we live and work…" reads the announcement from the Knight Foundation. "Because of this pervasive but often concealed impact, it is imperative that AI research and development be shaped by a broad range of voices--not only by engineers and corporations, but also by social scientists, ethicists, philosophers, faith leaders, economists, lawyers and policymakers."

The MIT Media Lab and the Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society at Harvard University will serve as the founding anchor institutions for a new initiative aimed at bridging the gap between the humanities, the social sciences, and computing by addressing the global challenges of artificial intelligence (AI) from a multidisciplinary perspective. "Artificial intelligence agents will impact every part of our lives in every society on Earth. Technology and commerce will see to that," says Alberto Ibargüen, president and CEO of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, which is among those supporting the initiative. Initially funded with $27 million from the Knight Foundation; LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman; the Omidyar Network; the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation; and Jim Pallotta, founder of the Raptor Group, the Ethics and Governance of Artificial Intelligence Fund's mission is to catalyze global research that advances AI for the public interest, with an emphasis on applied research and education. The fund will also seek to advance public understanding of AI. "AI's rapid development brings along a lot of tough challenges," explains Joi Ito, director of the MIT Media Lab.