We asked some of TechRepublic's contributing writers to offer their expertise on software, networking solutions and hardware. They weighed in on the usefulness and standout features of some of the best technology for remote work, cybersecurity, collaboration and DaaS; in addition, Matt Asay compiled a list of the most innovative artificial intelligence and machine learning companies. The following tech products and companies were deemed the best of its category. In Matt Asay's article about the eight AI and machine learning companies, he ranked Hugging Face as the most innovative. Here's what he had to say: "Hugging Face, which started as a chatbot and evolved to offer a registry of NLP models used to deliver those chatbots, is now on track to become the GitHub of ML. More than 10,000 companies use Hugging Face to privately collaborate on ML applications."

Now, more than ever, our everyday technology provides brands and advertisers with a unique window into consumer psychology. Questions around ethics, consumer rights, transparency, and data privacy are deserving of careful thought and deliberation. These issues are central to the work of Fiona McEvoy, an AI ethics writer, researcher, and speaker, based in San Francisco, California. She was named one of the 30 Women Influencing AI in San Francisco by RE•WORK and one of the 100 Brilliant Women in AI Ethics (2019 & 2020). As opposed to other business industries, why does the technology sector pose unique ethical challenges?

The world's biggest consumer electronics show was held last month and wandering around the seemingly endless stalls of emerging new products, it was impossible to avoid the claims of artificial intelligence in some form or another. Some gadgets were, of course, smarter than others. From facial recognition food bowls for your pets to handheld speech recognition and language translation devices, smart tech and self-learning algorithms abound. The actual intelligence of some smart products is debatable but the trend is undeniable.Source:Supplied Encompassing terms including deep learning, machine learning, neural networks and general artificial intelligence which seeks to build computers with a capacity to think and learn like humans, it can be hard to pin down what AI truly means. But it's clearly here to stay.

Silicon Valley should've been called Balloon Burg. America's tech industry often seems like it might pop under the slightest pressure. Now, according to The New York Times, many of these companies are looking at looming U.S. Department of Commerce export restrictions on artificial intelligence like an inflatable animal would look at a porcupine. Credit: Tartila / Shutterstock Here's the problem: Congress voted in August to limit the export of "emerging and foundational technologies" to preserve U.S. national security interests. The New York Times said that a Commerce Department proposal would restrict the export of "several categories of AI-like computer vision, speech recognition, and natural language understanding" to countries the U.S. has sanctioned in the past. Americans can voice their opinions about this proposal until January 10.

If you make a purchase by clicking one of our links, we may earn a small share of the revenue. However, our picks and opinions are independent from USA TODAY's newsroom and any business incentives. Don't scoff: smart products make life so much easier. Consider that your Amazon Alexa can help you cook, your Google Home can improve your morning routine, and your iPhone can take a better photo than a fancy camera. Why shouldn't we apply smart technology to our furry, beloved family members?

Living in New England, it seems like I can never catch a break from high utility bills. If paying your utilities hurts your wallet every month, there are a lot of different ways you can slash those bills down to a more manageable number. For one, smart home technology can help you be more efficient with both heating and cooling, as well as with water and electricity use. Here are 10 smart products that can help reduce your utility bills and put money back in your pocket. Are you forever leaving the living room light on?

This is my last weekly column for The Verge and Recode -- the last weekly column I plan to write anywhere. I've been doing these almost every week since 1991, starting at The Wall Street Journal, and during that time, I've been fortunate enough to get to know the makers of the tech revolution, and to ruminate -- and sometimes to fulminate -- about their creations. Now, as I prepare to retire at the end of that very long and world-changing stretch, it seems appropriate to ponder the sweep of consumer technology in that period, and what we can expect next. Let me start by revising the oft-quoted first line of my first Personal Technology column in the Journal on October 17th, 1991: "Personal computers are just too hard to use, and it's not your fault." It was true then, and for many, many years thereafter. Not only were the interfaces confusing, but most tech products demanded frequent tweaking and fixing of a type that required more technical skill than most people had, or cared to acquire.

Welcome to Mossberg, a weekly commentary and reviews column on The Verge and Recode by veteran tech journalist Walt Mossberg, executive editor at The Verge and editor at large of Recode. This is my last weekly column for The Verge and Recode -- the last weekly column I plan to write anywhere. I've been doing these almost every week since 1991, starting at The Wall Street Journal, and during that time, I've been fortunate enough to get to know the makers of the tech revolution, and to ruminate -- and sometimes to fulminate -- about their creations. Now, as I prepare to retire at the end of that very long and world-changing stretch, it seems appropriate to ponder the sweep of consumer technology in that period, and what we can expect next. Let me start by revising the oft-quoted first line of my first Personal Technology column in the Journal on October 17, 1991: "Personal computers are just too hard to use, and it's not your fault." It was true then, and for many, many years thereafter.

I have the opportunity to review a lot of different technology products and I tend to put them into one of three categories. First, there are those products that really impress me and make me thankful for living in the Digital Age. The second category is made up of some useful and fun tech products that aren't very original, but enjoyable. The third category includes tech products that are poorly made, unoriginal or serve no purpose. Recently, I determined I should create a fourth category after a friend asked an intriguing question. He knows I'm a techie and always testing the latest, greatest tech products and gadgets.

It is the year 2025 and I have just celebrated my 85th birthday. I still live at home. This afternoon, I got into my self-driving car and went to my great granddaughter's house for a visit. She introduced me to a group of her friends over lunch and I heard every word they said. I was a part of the conversation.