Imagine a more sustainable future, where cellphones, smartwatches, and other wearable devices don't have to be shelved or discarded for a newer model. Instead, they could be upgraded with the latest sensors and processors that would snap onto a device's internal chip -- like LEGO bricks incorporated into an existing build. Such reconfigurable chipware could keep devices up to date while reducing our electronic waste. Now engineers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge MA, have taken a step toward that modular vision with a LEGO-like design for a stackable, reconfigurable artificial intelligence chip. The design comprises alternating layers of sensing and processing elements, along with light-emitting diodes (LED) that allow for the chip's layers to communicate optically.

Large numbers of sensors, massive amounts of data, ever-increasing computing power, real-time operation and security concerns required for autonomous vehicles are driving the core of computation from the cloud to the edge of the network. Autonomous vehicles are constantly sensing and sending data on road conditions, location and the surrounding vehicles. Self-driving cars generate roughly 1 GB of data per second – it is impractical to send even a fraction of the terabytes of data for analysis to a centralized server because of the processing bandwidth and latency. Due to the high volume of data transfer, latency issues and security, the current cloud computing service architecture hinders the vision of providing real-time artificial intelligence processing for driverless cars. Thus, deep learning, as the main representative of artificial intelligence, can be integrated into edge computing frameworks.

The use of image visualization and limited recognition software in medical diagnostics started over 20 years ago. This technology had however nearly reached its performance limits when deep learning (DL) and convolutional neural networks (CNNs) were developed, heralding a step-change in the capability and performance of machine vision. This progress demonstrates that image recognition AI technology can match or even exceed human-level performance (in terms of accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity) in many disease areas and on many imaging modalities. The technical threshold for the automation of these diagnostic tasks has already been reached, laying the groundwork for commercial growth in the short and long term. This is shown in the market projections below.

Join Xilinx and TigerGraph to learn about the next-generation machine learning solutions on connected data. We will explore different practical use cases that rely on product or service recommendation and fraud detection solutions ranging from patient similarity in the health sector to anti-money laundering in the financial services industry. We will hear directly from the area and product experts so be sure to sign up now.

NexOptic Technology Corp., reports that it has made significant advancements to its cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) imaging solution. NexOptic's Advanced Low Light Imaging Solution (ALLIS) provides immediate solutions to problems that have plagued the imaging industry for decades. NexOptic's engineered AI drastically reduces image noise common to all imaging systems while improving performance in low light conditions. This is accomplished with NexOptic's expanding suite of patent-pending, deep learning algorithms. Some of the key benefits of ALLIS include: improved low-light performance; dramatic reduction in image noise; improved downstream applications (computational imaging, facial recognition); enhanced long-range image stabilization; major reduction in file sizes.

As automation and artificial intelligence continue to transform Canadian workplaces, post-secondary institutions across the country say they are working to prepare students for jobs that may not even exist yet. Climate change, data science and cybersecurity are increasingly in the spotlight at Canadian universities as they adapt their offerings to address "the needs not only of a changing marketplace but of a changing society," Paul Davidson, president of the association Universities Canada, said in a recent interview. Forecasting can prove difficult, however. "There are numbers like 50 per cent of the jobs (of the future) have not yet been defined, and so how does any organization … prepare for that kind of change?" A research paper released in 2018 showed half of Canadian jobs will be affected by automation in the next decade, and so-called "human skills" such as critical thinking and problem solving will be key to remaining competitive and resilient in an era of disruption and artificial intelligence.

This EDGEtalks speaker series will explore the growing role that Artificial Intelligence (AI) will have on the way that businesses manage their operations. It will endeavour to separate the recent AI hype from reality and provide an understanding of the ways that AI will help businesses better serve customers while operating more efficiently. The keynote address will be delivered by Mike Rhodin, former IBM SVP and founder of IBM's Watson Group. Mr Rhodin's 33-year career at IBM was infused with a passion for helping clients extract value from technology, improving business performance and simplifying the way people work. Mr. Rhodin's keynote will provide insight on the ways that Artificial Intelligence and Automation are reshaping operations, augmenting human capacity and changing the future of work.

A new research report measuring consumer attitudes around artificial intelligence (AI), respondents reveal how they feel about the growing pervasiveness of AI in society and their comfort level with rapid advances in the technology's use. The report, generated by tech consultancy Elicit, found that consumers conflicted as they weigh the benefits and risks of AI in the wake of exciting innovations in self-driving cars and robotics alongside recent news stories about intelligent personal assistants gone rogue and companies' reported misuse of personal data and predictive technologies. Elicit's CEO, Mason Thelen, explains, "AI can be a transformative way for companies to interact with their customers and deliver better experiences. But an important perspective was missing in this conversation – how consumers feel about the use of AI in their everyday lives and by companies they engage with. We thought it was important to address this and to provide that perspective to companies."

British-Canadian AI startup Crea.vision will participate in the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas to showcase their technology that will make indoor location-based services more reliable, autonomous, and hacker-proof. Home automation has moved from sci-fi movies into ordinary peoples' lives. This holiday season, one-third of Americans have plans to purchase a smart home device. While connected lights, thermostats, locks, and speakers are supposed to simplify their owner's life, too often, they complicate it instead. The need for multiple apps, voice, and screen-controlled devices limits the usefulness of the technology and increases the fear of hacking.

The University of Waterloo, Compute Canada and Compute Ontario unveiled the largest supercomputer at any Canadian university. Located at Waterloo, it will provide expanded resources for researchers across the country working on a broad range of topics, including artificial intelligence, genomics and advanced manufacturing. Named Graham, the supercomputer can handle more simultaneous computational jobs than any other academic supercomputer in Canada, ultimately generating more research results at one time. With its extraordinary computing power and a storage system of more than 50 petabytes -- or 50 million gigabytes -- Graham can support researchers who are collecting, analyzing, or sharing immense volumes of data. "Research and innovation have helped define the University of Waterloo, and will remain important priorities for our future," says Feridun Hamdullahpur, president and vice-chancellor of Waterloo.