Google unveiled a new Pixel smartphone and other hardware devices Tuesday, all aimed at getting people even more dependent on its artificial-intelligence services. The Pixel 4 phone promises to respond to AI queries even faster than before, while a home Wi-Fi system is getting the AI features for the first time. The company also unveiled a new smart speaker and wireless earbuds, both invoking the AI-powered Google Assistant. The Assistant, akin to Apple's Siri and Amazon's Alexa, is now available on more than 1 billion devices, including ones made by other manufacturers. With Google's own products, though, the company can steer users to Assistant features even more.

Editor's note: This is the latest in an exclusive UpTech series about Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and much more as part of a partnership between YourLocalStudio.com and WRAL TechWire. Previous posts can be found by searching "Uptech" at WRAL TechWire.com. Interviews are conducted by Alexander Ferguson, CEO of YourLocalStudio.com. In this deep dive video, we hear from Dr. Chris Hazard, a unique figure in the world of artificial intelligence who draws from experience in software development, psychology, physics, economics, hypnosis, robotics, and privacy law. He has worked in and been published in a variety of fields from wireless network infrastructure as a software architect at Motorola, to psychology as part of a post-doc at NCSU, to hypnosis with the National Guild of Hypnotists, to robotics at Kiva Systems, to privacy law working with the Future of Privacy Forum.]

Editor's note: Here is the second part of our UpTech Artificial Intelligence series interview with UpTop CEO Frank Barletta. I would say candidly, speaking to people, having an open network, being comfortable sharing what you're good at and what your bad at, and being open to feedback--learning what the industry wants, learning what the technology capabilities are. There's so much that's out there that's still in its infancy that, as the technologies mature, you can apply to your business and apply to specific aspects of operations. So, it's just the desire to want to learn. A good team is also important--being open to listening to your team.

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.

In the continuation of our conversation from last week with Technologist William Ammerman, we explore how modern digital marketing is changing the way people are persuaded. We're already at a point where we are empathetically relating to our devices, and by empathetically relating to our devices, we are opening ourselves up to persuasion at a very deep level. Studies have shown that the more human-like a relationship with a device is, the more empathetic we are and the more vulnerable we are to persuasion. You have to start pondering: What does it mean that we're all talking to our devices; that we're asking these devices questions? Today, it's something simple like, you know, "show me a scary movie," and your TV providing a recommendation.

The robots are coming for your jobs, too. China's state news agency has debuted a virtual anchor designed to be able to deliver the news 24 hours a day. Xinhua unveiled its "artificial intelligence news anchor" this week at an internet conference in the eastern city of Wuzhen. "Hello, you are watching English news program. I am AI news anchor in Beijing," the computer-generated host announced in a robotic voice at that start of its English-language broadcast.

DURHAM–The CED says there are ten top reasons to attend the 2018 Tech Conference September 12-13 in Raleigh. This year's program will feature a fireside chat between artificial intelligence experts Robbie Allen of Infinity ML and Mike Capps of Diveplane discussing, "Human vs. Machine: What can machines do better?" Oliver Schabenberger of SAS will consider "How to wrap your mind around A.I." Jason Caplain of Bull City Venture Partners will moderate a panel on "National Investment Trends in Tech." IBM's Jerry Cuomo will look at "Blockchain from a global perspective." Sixty entrepreneurial companies are featured on stage and in the networking hall.

Artificial intelligence experts have announced they will boycott a South Korean research university that is looking into how to use AI for weapons, CNN and other media outlets are reporting. The university, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, started a research center that will look to create "AI-based" missiles, submarines and quadcopters by the end of this year. More than 50 leading experts penned an open letter to the university that denounced the killer technology research, Fortune reported. "At a time when the United Nations is discussing how to contain the threat posed to international security by autonomous weapons, it is regrettable that a prestigious institution like KAIST looks to accelerate the arms race to develop such weapons," the experts wrote in the letter. "We therefore publicly declare that we will boycott all collaborations with any part of KAIST until such time as the president of KAIST provides assurances, which we have sought but not received, that the center will not develop autonomous weapons lacking meaningful human control."

DURHAM – A Durham-based financial management company has raised $770,000, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Trill, which uses artificial intelligence to manage clients' finances, plans to raise an additional $1.23 million, or a total of $2 million. The company did not indicate its intentions for the raised money. Previously, NC Biz News covered other fundraising by the finance company. In October 2017, the company raised $370,000 in a push to raise $1 million.

CARY – Oliver Schabenberger, to use a military term embraced by industry, is "dual hatted." And as chief operating officer as well as chief technology officer at SAS, he serves as No. 2 to CEO and co-founder Jim Goodnight. So no one other than Goodnight has a better hands-on, inside view of the 2018 landscape and beyond for the global software firm that is one of the world's biggest big data juggernauts with an industry-leading emphasis on analytics. And a big part of that future is the Internet of Things as SAS moves to create a division focusing on IoT, which is transforming tech around the world and is forecast as a multi-trillion dollar opportunity by Cisco as well as other firms. In a Q&A with WRAL Tech Wire, Schabenberger, who was promoted to the COO in 2017 after being selected as CTO the previous year, talks about the future and several key issues facing the company.