Concerns about the risks and harms posed by artificial intelligence (AI) have resulted in significant study into algorithmic transparency, giving rise to a sub-field known as Explainable AI (XAI). Unfortunately, despite a decade of development in XAI, an existential challenge remains: progress in research has not been fully translated into the actual implementation of algorithmic transparency by organizations. In this work, we test an approach for addressing the challenge by creating transparency advocates, or motivated individuals within organizations who drive a ground-up cultural shift towards improved algorithmic transparency. Over several years, we created an open-source educational workshop on algorithmic transparency and advocacy. We delivered the workshop to professionals across two separate domains to improve their algorithmic transparency literacy and willingness to advocate for change. In the weeks following the workshop, participants applied what they learned, such as speaking up for algorithmic transparency at an organization-wide AI strategy meeting. We also make two broader observations: first, advocacy is not a monolith and can be broken down into different levels. Second, individuals' willingness for advocacy is affected by their professional field. For example, news and media professionals may be more likely to advocate for algorithmic transparency than those working at technology start-ups.

In his book Zero to One, Peter Thiel explores the core fundamentals that successful technology startups have in common. The takeaway: startups should embrace seven pivotal traits -- otherwise, queue red flags. This post will explore the similarities (and some of the differences) between technology startups and digital transformation, with a focus on applied AI. The intended audience includes data practitioners (DS, DE, etc.), technologists, and business executives -- as both technical and non-technical folks closely touch AI integration. TL;DR: Your applied AI project should adequately answer seven questions about its commercial viability, just like technology startups. The parallels between technology startups and digital transformation are numerous: the overarching goal is to create value through novel applications of technology.

India is witnessing a surge in deep technology investments, as specialist VCs are seeking out high-quality product and enterprise tech startups to bankroll and mentor. The startup story in India has, in the past, been defined by consumer-driven ventures like Flipkart and Snapdeal, which eventually became e-commerce giants, drawing billions in funding. Lately, however, there has been a gradual shift in that ecosystem as India's startups begin to focus on technology and product innovation, moving away from the consumer. This has led to the creation of specialist early stage funds, focused on grooming product innovation startups and headed by venture capitalists with domain expertise as well as entrepreneurial and operational experience. These specialist funds are playing a key role in co-creating scalable businesses, while bridging the funding gap between angel and series A investments in the venture capital spectrum of India.

El Camino Hospital, located in the heart of Silicon Valley, has a problem. Its nurses, tending to patients amid a chorus of machines, monitors, and devices, are only human. One missed signal from, say, a call light--the bedside button patients press when they need help--could set in motion a chain of actions that end in a fall. "As fast as we all run to these bed alarms, sometimes we can't get there in time," says Cheryl Reinking, chief nursing officer at El Camino. Falls are dangerous and costly.

Startup Boomer enable technology startups to connect, engage and acquire enterprise customers worldwide with innovative products, software and services in the areas of Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Internet of Things, Big Data, Cloud, Analytics and Blockchain etc. It also provides an opportunity to students and entrepreneurs to raise funds for their innovative prototypes, from digital investors. If you know of an obscure technology startup that can disrupt the traditional business landscape?

Shiseido Co., the Japanese firm that sells Laura Mercier cosmetics and Dolce & Gabbana fragrances, sold ¥1 trillion ($9.3 billion) worth of beauty products last year, mostly in traditional stores where customers can sample brands in person. Consumers in their teens and twenties often prefer to shop online, beyond the reach of in-store salespeople. To partner with -- and even buy up -- small startups in Silicon Valley and other tech hubs to gain expertise in artificial intelligence, augmented reality and other technologies. His ambition is to help shoppers replicate online the experience of trying on cosmetics in a store, and use data from smart devices to create personalized makeup for customers. "Particularly with the younger generation, often they don't go into the stores," Uotani said in an interview.

Joanna Glasner is a reporter for Crunchbase. Stories about seed funding often contain sappy metaphors about planting seedlings and nurturing them to maturity. In reality, it's a brutally Darwinian business: most companies fail, successful ones get diluted and exits commonly take a decade or more. That said, seed also has the highest potential returns of any investment stage. Unlike most VCs, seed and angel investors can do a lot of deals with a few million dollars.

Federico Pirzio-Biroli, the founder of London VC fund Playfair Capital, is planning to move to Africa to become an angel investor there, and the fund is closing its coworking space at Warner Yard in Clerkenwell. Playfair Capital specialises in artificial intelligence and machine learning, and has invested in well-known startups such as restaurant app Dojo, DueDil, Vinaya, Stripe, Streethub, Hassle, and Stratajet. Pirzio-Biroli told Business Insider that he worked at NGOs in Africa before becoming a technology investor, so this is a logical move for him. He says that angel investing in Africa can make a big difference to economies there, whereas London is now flooded with early stage funding for technology startups. The Playfair Capital fund isn't going to close its doors completely - instead Pirzio-Biroli is handing over control to his remaining staff and preparing to become a limited, rather than general, partner. My decision to move to East Africa was made in November.

The United Nations Children's Fund, perhaps better known as UNICEF, has recently launched a new initiative through which they will begin to invest more money into technology start-ups that have the potential to better the lives of disadvantaged and vulnerable children all over the world. The new initiative, called Innovation Fund, has put a special focus on certain technologies that have the potential to help children, which include 3D printing, blockchain, wearables and sensors, artificial intelligence, and renewable energy. UNICEF, the United Nations program that has as its mandate the promotion of children's rights all over the world, has through its Innovation initiative put its focus on progessive projects and ideas that have the potential to help their cause. As stated on their website, UNICEF Innovation is "tasked with identifying, prototyping, and scaling technologies and practices that strengthen UNICEF's work." UNICEF is currently accepting submissions from various start-ups until February 26, 2016 through their website, though there are some requirements for being considered for funding.