Unlike many valuable resources, real-time data is both abundant and growing rapidly. But it also needs to be handled with great care. That was one of the key takeaways from an online workshop produced by Science Business' Data Rules group, which explored what the rapid growth in real-time data means for artificial intelligence (AI). Real-time data is increasingly feeding machine learning systems that then adjust the algorithms they use to make decisions, such as which news item to display on your screen or which product to recommend. "With AI, especially, you want to make sure that the data that you have is consistent, replicable and also valid," noted Chris Atherton, senior research engagement officer at GÉANT, who described how his organisation transmits data captured by the European Space Agency's satellites to researchers across the world.

Applying artificial intelligence and other advanced digital technologies in the real economy isn't a job for tech nerds. Instead, Europe needs more people who can combine a deep knowledge of industry sectors with some expertise in data analytics. That was the verdict of guests at a Science Business roundtable on digital skills, hosted by Sorbonne University's Center for Artificial Intelligence (SCAI) in Paris on 23 January 2020. The event was part of a series of events and publications by Science Business as part of its Digital Skills project. Conversations about AI's impact on the labour market often assume it will create jobs for a small elite of tech nerds, while destroying many more conventional roles.

Israel is no stranger to innovation. Widely acknowledged as a Startup Nation, Israel has focussed exceptional levels of time and effort on building a ripe environment in which new tech companies can flourish. Towards the end of the 2010s, it became clear that there was a national push towards the development of Artificial Intelligence startups within urban hubs like Tel-Aviv. AI is set to generate revenues in excess of $10 billion over the coming years, and as a result, AI-based investments have been surging. In fact, as much as 37% of the capital raised in recent years was reserved for AI companies, according to Science Business.