AI and blockchain are proving to be quite a powerful combination, improving virtually every industry in which they're implemented. Blockchain and artificial intelligence are combining to upgrade DApp systems and UI/UX...

Researchers have achieved a breakthrough in the development of artificial intelligence by using light instead of electricity to perform computations. The new approach significantly improves both the speed and efficiency of machine learning neural networks – a form of AI that aims to replicate the functions performed by a human brain in order to teach itself a task without supervision. Current processors used for machine learning are limited in performing complex operations by the power required to process the data. Such networks are also limited by the slow transmission of electronic data between the processor and the memory. Researchers from George Washington University in the US discovered that using photons within neural network (tensor) processing units (TPUs) could overcome these limitations and create more powerful and power-efficient AI. A paper describing the research, published today in the scientific journal Applied Physics Reviews, reveals that their photon-based TPU was able to perform between 2-3 orders of magnitude higher than an electric TPU.

James Dean, who has been dead for 64 years, is set to star in an upcoming movie about the Vietnam War. According to the Hollywood Reporter, the movie, an adaptation of Gareth Crocker's novel, Finding Jack, will feature a computer-generated image (CGI) version of Dean. "We searched high and low for the perfect character to portray the role of Rogan, which has some extreme complex character arcs, and after months of research, we decided on James Dean," says Anton Ernst, one of the film's co-directors. Dean will be constructed through "full-body" CGI using archival footage from his films – he will be physically captured through the movements of an actor and voiced by another actor. The fact that the directors couldn't find an actor of this capability in an age where much so much untapped talent is available is questionable.

"With artificial intelligence, we are summoning the devil." So said Tesla chief and all-round tech titan Elon Musk back in 2014. When someone of his standing makes a statement like that, it should give pause for thought. But according to Daniel Pitchford, co-founder of AI Business, this view, while pretty common, is over-egging the situation slightly. We'll tell you what's true.

Scientists are using the popular drawing game Pictionary to teach artificial intelligence common sense. AI researchers at the Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence (AI2), a non-profit lab in Seattle, developed a version of the game called Iconary in order to teach its AllenAI artificial intelligence abstract concepts from pictures alone. Iconary was made public on 5 February in order to encourage people to play the game with AllenAI. By learning from humans, the researchers hope AllenAI will continue to develop common sense reasoning. "Iconary is one of the first times an AI system is paired in a collaborative game with a human player instead of antagonistically working against them," the Iconary website states.

"It'll automatically call police if the administration wants it to. It comes in and you see it and you can click on the video," said Christopher Ciabarra. He's describing a new technology that's based on artificial intelligence. He and Lisa Falcone are the inventors of Athena. They say it's the first A.I. security cameras used to detect guns in schools.

Recursion Pharmaceuticals (UT, USA) has announced that it will receive 12.9 million in funding for development of its next generation drug discovery platform that combines high-throughput biology and automation with the newest advances in artificial intelligence (AI). So far, the company has successfully repurposed known drugs, bioactive compounds, and shelved pharma assets in the space of rare genetic disease. With its Series A funding, Recursion hopes to scale up its venture from the exploration of dozens of targets and diseases per year to thousands. Recursion intends to continue focusing on drug repurposing and repositioning, an attractive strategy for big pharma since it leverages existing safety and efficacy data to translate discoveries into the clinic more rapidly and more economically. The company will be primarily partnering with deep technology investor Lux Capital (CA, USA), with participation from Obvious Ventures (CA, USA), Epic Ventures (UT, USA), Data Collective (CA, USA), AME Cloud Ventures (CA, USA), and several angel investors.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has become the latest law firm to adopt artificial intelligence (AI) technology after trialling its use in the firm's Manchester legal services centre. The magic circle firm has agreed a deal to work with software provider Kira Systems, which already has similar arrangements in place with DLA Piper and Clifford Chance (CC). Freshfields has been trialling a number of different AI tools over the past year, but settled on Kira because "unlike other machine learning software, it allows Freshfields' lawyers to train the algorithm to meet their specific needs," according to a statement by the firm. The software is designed to search and analyse contract text, and can also be used over a number of different areas including due diligence, general commercial, corporate, real estate and compliance. Freshfields director of legal services innovation Isabel Parker said: "Kira can be configured around our own custom provisions, using our knowledge base, ensuring that it is perfectly tailored to clients' needs. It complements our own legal expertise, and will further enhance the quality of work delivered to clients while helping to free up the legal services centre team to focus on more complex areas of work."