Working in a country pub during lockdown inspired research into AI in rural communities. When the pandemic hit, I found myself stuck in a pub in country Queensland. The undeniably enviable position meant that in between working remotely for an AI company, I was also helping my parents navigate operating their country pub in lockdown. By morning I'd be working with talented AI engineers, then in the afternoon I'd help someone make a purchase for the first time (ever) on a bank card. And suddenly my research thesis was born – "How are our rural communities, and in particular small businesses positioned in the ever-evolving digital world?"

Tel Aviv, Israel-based Resonai aims to build the "digital square foot" and prepare the built world for its "mixed-reality" future. The company is looking to transform physical spaces into intelligent, digitally empowered environments. After successfully growing and steering the $60 million sale of Pebbles Interfaces to Meta's Oculus in 2014, Emil Alon founded Resonai in order to develop a new OS that would converge the physical, built world with emerging digital and web technologies. "Augmented reality is going to dramatically change the world we live in and the way we experience it today," he told VentureBeat. "It will require a new paradigm of ownership, accountability and privacy in a world where everything can be reshaped seamlessly for users at any given time."

Editor's note: Alexander Ferguson is CEO and founder of Raleigh and Charlotte-based YourLocalStudio.com, We speak on his growth, the future potential of applying machine learning, and his focus on team building. A pleasure to meet you Alex. Thanks very much for your time and your interest in wanting to chat with me. I started the business directly January 5th, 2015 at 8:30am. I'll never forget it ever--one of the most important dates in my life, honestly.

We are also privileged to have Assemblyman Clyde Vanel of New York State's Assembly join our discussion on the deployment of autonomous systems, AI, the future of organized labor, universal basic income, and more. Assembly member Vanel is recognized as one of the most tech savvy legislators in Albany with his proposed legislation on AI, Blockchain and Cybersecurity. BIOS: Andrew Yang is an entrepreneur and author running for President as a Democrat in 2020. In 2011 he founded Venture for America, a national entrepreneurship fellowship, and spent the last 6 years creating jobs in cities like Cleveland, Detroit, Baltimore, and Pittsburgh. When Andrew realized that new technology like artificial intelligence threatened to eliminate one-third of all American jobs, he knew he had to do something.

Uber plans to buy up to 24,000 self-driving cars from Volvo, marking the transition of the U.S. firm from an app used to summon a taxi to the owner and operator of a fleet of cars. The non-binding framework deal could offer San Francisco-based Uber a way to overcome setbacks at its autonomous driving division in Silicon Valley's race to perfect self-driving systems. Combining Volvo's cars with Uber's self-driving system builds on their nearly three-year relationship and comes as Uber's autonomous driving unit has been hit by a lawsuit over trade secrets and the departure of top talent. Uber plans to buy up to 24,000 self-driving cars from Volvo, marking the transition of the U.S. firm from an app used to summon a taxi to the owner and operator of a fleet of cars. Automakers, ride-hailing firms and tech startups have been forging loose alliances in an effort to advance self-driving technology and claim a piece of what is expected to be a multi-billion-dollar business.