It's impossible to read about technology today without running headfirst into artificial intelligence (AI) and the topics under its umbrella: autonomous driving, machine learning, deep learning, ethics/law/regulation, military applications, healthcare, FINTECH, and even customer experience. At that second level, it's startling how much one encounters China and its extraordinary investments in artificial intelligence. Chinese advancements are fascinating, but for me, at least, also downright worrisome -- what I'll call my "fascinated skepticism". Please enjoy the articles below as you head into the weekend. China's Swarms of Smart Drones Have Enormous Military Potential I don't care for swarms of insects or Hitchcock-inspired birds, let alone swarms of miniature drones.

Autonomous Driving's Godfather and Tech Investors Say the World is Ready for Flying Cars Sebastian Thrun, often considered the brainchild of autonomous driving, is ready to take to the air and flying cars. I can't envision a future of highways [and being] stuck in cars. I envision a [future] where you hop in a thing, go in the air, and fly in a straight line. I envision a future where Amazon delivers my food in the air in five minutes. The air is so free of stuff and is so unused compared to the ground, it has to happen in my opinion.