Google Joins O-RAN Alliance To Develop Artificial Intelligence-Powered 5G

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July 2, 2021

On Monday, Google joined the O-RAN Alliance to help develop artificial intelligence-powered 5G networks. The alliance aims to drive innovative change in the telecommunication industry by enabling hybrid and multi-cloud solutions.

In 2020 Google announced its comprehensive strategy for the telecommunications industry. Since then, it has been working closely with customers, partners, and industry bodies globally to help transform the telecommunication industry. Joining Jio and Nvidia was also a part of this strategy. And now it has united with the O-RAN alliance, a Radio Access Network (RAN) industry, aiming to enhance networks using artificial intelligence.

Employing the 5G network will make cloud, software, and network come under one platform, due to which communication service providers (CSP) encourage cloud networking in IT enterprises. With this alliance, Google Cloud’s solutions will assist CSP developers in building and scaling new applications across any environment by providing telecom platforms like Anthos to develop flexible deployment models across a wide range of RAN use cases.

Not only cloud networking but the alliance was focused on eliminating the use of various transmitters and receivers in network operation and replacing them with artificial intelligence-powered automation. Google will be working with the O-RAN alliance to enable cloud-native intelligent networks that are secure, self-driving, and self-healing in the areas of machine learning, massive data processing, and geospatial analytics to efficiently design, manage, and operate RAN intelligent controllers.

The O-RAN Alliance has more than 200 members, including SpaceX. Regardless, Google’s sign-up marks a significant milestone as Google operates one of the world’s most sophisticated networks with an extensive array of subsea internet cables. This would be an added advantage for the group to reach its goals. O-RAN alliance works with SpaceX to link its network to the StarLink constellation of low-Earth orbit internet satellites.

Facebook’s Makes Virtual Environment More Interactive With Habitait 2.0

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Manisha Kalagara

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July 2, 2021

On Wednesday, Facebook released Habitat 2.0, a virtual environment that is used to teach physical world interaction to robots. This is the better version of the original Habitat simulator released in 2019.

Training artificial intelligence models in simulation is a great way to teach robots to accomplish tasks in the real world. Virtual environments give AI the leverage of practicing the same task thousands of times without physically interacting with the real space. With this aim, Facebook initially designed Habitat in 2019, but it had the limitation of not interacting with the objects. It would know where the spoons are but couldn’t get the spoon to you. Now with version 2.0, this has been made possible.

Habitat 2.0 has simulations for various virtual spaces, such as offices, two-story homes, warehouses, and more. An infrared depth capture system that records the exact shape of every object like chairs, dishwashers, windows, and cabinets was used to make these virtual environments perfectly realistic.

Habitat 2.0 used a new data set called ReplicaCAD, which is a reconstruction of Replica, Facebook Reality Lab’s data for 3D environments. “In ReplicaCAD, previously static 3D scans have been converted to individual 3D models with physical parameters, collision proxy shapes, and semantic annotations that can enable training for movement and manipulation for the first time,” mentioned Facebook AI in their blog.

The fabrication of Habitat 2.0 was done to prioritize speed/performance over a more extensive range of simulation capabilities. For faster simulation, the platform uses a navigation mesh instead of complete ground contact for the robot’s movement. Hence the platform does not support non-rigid dynamics that cannot be meshed, such as deformable liquids, films, cloths, and ropes. This makes the Habitat 2.0 simulator twice faster than most 3D simulators. According to the Facebook AI researchers, Habitat can perform a 6-month simulation in just 2 days.

For AI researchers to work on virtual environments, Facebook developed the Habitat-Matterport 3D Research Dataset (HM3D) in close collaboration with Matterport Inc, a 3D virtual spaces creator. HM3B consists of 1,000 open-source and Habitat-compatible 3D scans of apartments, homes, offices, and many more.

Lollipop AI Launched Online Grocery Marketplace Where Users Can Build Their Own Recipes

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Dipayan Mitra

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July 2, 2021

Lollipop AI Launched Online Grocery Marketplace Where Users Can Build Their Own Recipes

Lollipop AI is a United Kingdom-based online grocery marketplace that has recently launched its public beta, where the user can build their own recipes. This artificial intelligence-powered platform enables users to prepare a meal plan from recipes.

The application automatically gathers ingredients required for the recipe and adds them to the basket. According to experts, this platform can help reduce food wastage, improve health and culinary skills.

The company also plans to partner with BBC Good Food and Sainsbury’s for its future plans. The website will be free to use, along with an option of a premium subscription. Lollipop AI said that the first ten thousand users of the beta version will be given a lifetime free subscription of the premium tier.

Tom Foster-Carter, the founder and CEO of Lollipop AI, got this idea of developing an artificial intelligence-powered grocery shopping platform when he was taking care of his newborn child and had to spend hours sourcing ingredients for meals online.

In a statement, he said that this intelligent approach would save several hours a week for a typical household. Initially, the website would target health conscious individuals by providing healthy meal options to help them achieve their weight loss goals.

Recently, Foster-Carter said, “This is just the beginning. The plan is to have all your food requirements in one place. We will allow you to order your restaurant kits deliveries from us.” He also added that they would launch a cooking companion app to assist customers while cooking with the ingredients they ordered from Lollipop.

In the United States, Jupiter.co is also planning to launch a similar artificial intelligence powered platform, claiming it to be ‘groceries on autopilot.’

Tableau Adds New AI Powered Tools For Business Intelligence

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Manisha Kalagara

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July 2, 2021

Tableau today added a new artificial intelligence-powered tool to extend augmented analytics features. This was added to empower more people with the right technology regardless of their skill and role, the company says.

Researchers have found that a strong data culture can create many benefits, including increased collaboration, innovation, and measurable value like trust and accountability, irrespective of the industry or sector. To empower everyone with data visualization, Tableau took this step. Francois Ajenstat, chief product officer at Tableau, said that “Tableau’s mission has always been to help people to see and understand data. We started by introducing the self-service revolution in business intelligence, and with each product release, we want to make it even easier and more intuitive for people to solve problems with data and for organizations to become data-driven.”

The new features for augmented analytics include ask data that helps people answer business-related questions using natural language, regardless of their role and skill. It also guides users on how to ask the most relevant questions and dashboard integration for an integrated, simple, and personalized experience. Explain Data is another feature that assists in answering the ‘why’ in data with the help of robust statistical methods and machine learning to surface understandable explanations behind data points. These features are made available for Tableau Server and Tableau Online.

The added Ask Data for Salesforce feature helps salesforce users ask any query in their business in Tableau CRM using natural language and semantic search. The users can get instant answers tailored to their context in the form of insights, reports, and recommended dashboards. To filter the most critical insights from the reports, the users can use the Einstein Discovery for Salesforce Reports feature. It helps reduce the barrier to machine learning by enabling direct access to the associated Einstein Discovery story, where users can analyze further.

The Ask and Explain Data features are now available in Tableau 2021.2. Einstein Discovery for reports is only available with the Salesforce Summer ’21 release. Ask Data for Salesforce will be available early next year.

Symphony Partners With Artificial Intelligence-Powered Fintech Saphyre

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Dipayan Mitra

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July 2, 2021

Symphony Partners With Artificial Intelligence-powered Fintech Saphyre

Financial markets’ infrastructure platform Symphony has announced its partnership with fintech Saphyre to integrate patented artificial intelligence technology into pre and post-trade workflows for front, middle, and back office staff.

This partnership will create an integrated platform for real-time notifications updates for all onboarding and maintenance-related tasks and ready-to-trade statuses of allocations, trades, funds, and settlements.

Symphony’s platform has in-built end-to-end security and compliance features that centralizes communication for both internal and external workflow participants. At the same time, the in-chat notifications drive transparency throughout the process.

More than 500 market participants have already shown trust in this platform. Brad Levy, CEO of Symphony, said, “We are committed to tackle pain points in financial services workflows. This partnership with Saphyre will allow us to innovate with the front, middle and back office staff as the industry looks to revolutionize pre and post trade workflows to create a golden source for the democratization of that data.”

He further mentioned that to make a program successful requires a diversified team and interoperability between technology partners and industry participants. He also said that they are very excited to partner with Saphyre to boost the process of digital adoption in market infrastructure.

The integration of the two companies provides a scalable framework to develop a complete suite of ready to use applications. Some of their available applications in the market include ‘Ready To Trade’ (RTT), which provides real-time status per fund, per broker, per trading instrument, per market, and net asset value termination event alerts, which automatically calculates NAV termination.

The companies have announced the launch of other new applications very soon. CEO of Saphyre, Gabino Roche, said, “The partnership and production integration with Symphony achieves a demand that the industry has been crying for like interoperability of technology and data. The commitment, camaraderie, and excitement by both companies show in the final delivered product.”

Medidata Acorn AI Synthetic Control Arm Named “Best AI-Based Solution For Healthcare” By 2021 AI Breakthrough Awards

By

Dipayan Mitra

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July 2, 2021

Medidata Acorn AI Synthetic Control Arm Named “Best AI-Based Solution For Healthcare” By 2021 AI Breakthrough Awards

Medidata recently announced that it had been named the best artificial intelligence-based solution for healthcare by AI Breakthrough Awards in 2021.

The AI Breakthrough Awards honors excellence and recognizes innovation in a range of artificial intelligence and machine learning related categories, including artificial intelligence platforms, deep learning, health-tech, natural language processing, smart robotics, business intelligence, industry-specific artificial intelligence applications, and many more.

In this crowded artificial intelligence market during the COVID-19 pandemic situation, Medidata has revolutionized the world of clinical trials through its unique approach to external controls with its Synthetic Control Arm. It is a type of external control, which is generated from patient data during clinical trials.

We're proud to announce that the Medidata Acorn AI Synthetic Control Arm® (SCA®) has been named “Best AI-based Solution for #Healthcare” by 2021 #AI Breakthrough Awards. See the details here: https://t.co/Tit5f5ozrb #clinicaltrials #lifesciences pic.twitter.com/M5ZQy5HNVk
— Medidata (@Medidata) June 30, 2021

The main reason for the success of this solution is the vast data pool of over seven million patients, which has helped to improvise Medidata’s synthetic control arm.

Arnaud Chatterjee, Senior Vice President of Medidata Acron AI products, said, “Because patients who are seeking treatment through clinical trials have often already considered standard of care treatments and found them unpleasing, many patients view an investigational drug as an opportunity for something better, especially with rare and life-threatening diseases.”

He also mentioned that the possibility of being placed in a control group could discourage patients from participating in clinical trials. However, at Acron AI, patients are allowed more comprehensive access to potentially life-saving therapies by utilizing data and analytics capabilities.

The United States’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently given permission to Medidata for conducting a registration-based third phase of clinical trials of their groundbreaking artificial intelligence-powered technology.

Medidata is a Now York-based health tech company founded in 1999. It is a subsidiary of Dassault Systemes, which uses its 3D Experience platform to transform the healthcare industry.

GitHub’s New Copilot Programming Uses GPT-3 To Generate Code

By

Manisha Kalagara

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July 2, 2021

GitHub released a new programming assistant tool called Copilot that uses the GPT-3 algorithm to generate software code automatically. It uses context cues to suggest the code, if the users are not satisfied with the generated code, they can flip through alternatives or generate code manually.

Copilot can detect when developers start writing a snippet of code and then complete the rest of the code automatically. Github says that the tool can produce half a dozen lines of code to meet the snippet. Copilot can understand various programming languages and is compatible with any project.

Copilot not only completes the snippets but also helps with component integration and testing. Integration is only a few lines of work, but understanding the component that is being integrated takes time. Copilot does this task automatically and hence saves the overall time required. Copilot can automatically check the reliability of the applications by analyzing the code via automatically finding the open-source testing module that is suitable for assessing rather than adding it to the code base.

Copilot generates code recommendations using OpenAI’s Codex, an artificial intelligence model based on GPT-3. The codex was trained on billions of lines of open-source code from GitHub, which allowed the model to learn common code patterns that it harnessed to generate programming suggestions.

Initially, Copilot will be available at no charge in its open-source Visual Studio code editor for both cloud and local use. In the later years, Microsoft and OpenAI are planning to open access to the Codex model to help other enterprises incorporate code generation features into their products.

GOA Accused Many Government Agencies Of Using Unlawful Facial Recognition Technologies

By

Dipayan Mitra

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July 2, 2021

GOA Accused Many Government Agencies Of Using Unlawful Facial Recognition Technologies

The Government Accountability Office (GOA) of the United States recently released a ninety-two-page report, which claimed that multiple federal organizations have been using artificial intelligence-powered facial recognition technology provided by non-governmental organizations like Clearview AI. This research was done under the leadership of the GAO director for homeland security and Justice Gretta Goodwin.

“A goal of this research was to provide the ‘lay of the land’ in terms of federal law enforcement’s use of facial recognition technology,” Goodwin said. But The organization found 13 of 42 government agencies surveyed do not know about all the non-government facial recognition tools their teams use; hence they cannot fully assess accompanying dangers.

Officials said, “By implementing a mechanism to track what non-federal systems are used by employees of the agencies. They will have better visibility into the technologies they rely upon to conduct criminal investigations.”

They also mentioned that by analyzing the risks of using those systems, agencies would be able to reduce privacy threats for the public and themselves. Earlier this year, a more sensitive and confidential report regarding the same issue was sent to the Congress members.

GAO inspected the ownership and use of facial recognition technology by forty-two governmental entities, which confirmed that it owns a facial recognition system. The types of activities they use the technology for, and how they track using systems owned by those outside the government.

It was revealed that many organizations, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and The Customs and Border Protection, were using non-government platforms Clearview AI and Vigilant Solutions to perform facial recognition searches illegally.

Earlier this year, the Canadian police force was also accused of violating the country’s privacy policy by using Clearview AI’s technology.

Grette Goodwin said that there are numerous ways by which artificial intelligence technologies like facial recognition can be misused. Hence, it is crucial for the government agencies to know about the technology their employees use and understand the risks associated with the use of such unauthorized platforms.

PepsiCo Uses Artificial Intelligence To Bring Products To Life

By

Manisha Kalagara

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July 1, 2021

PepsiCo introduces artificial intelligence and data analytics to bring each product to life. The AI collects and analyzes the data on potential flavor combinations and product categories, aiding the decision-making process.

Customer research plays a huge role in product release. PepsiCo uses an artificial intelligence-driven tool called Tastewise, which positions algorithms to analyze why and what the consumers are eating. Tastewise says its tool has monitored more than 95 million menu items, 226 billion recipe interactions, and 22.5 billion social posts, among other consumer touchpoints. These massive amounts of data are utilized to analyze future products.

For data-driven social predictions, PepsiCo utilizes another AI tool called Trendscop. It focuses extensively on social conversations around food in general on Twitter, Reddit, blogs, review boards, etc. The tool measures, analyze the volume and growth of product-related data by picking up relevant context from various platforms.

Not only for the product selection, but even after the product is developed, artificial intelligence and machine learning play a key role in sales and marketing. AI is also used in the quality control of targeted advertisements. Not only these, but Pepsico also mentioned that artificial intelligence is utilized in reducing water consumption in agriculture and manufacturing.
Customer relationship management is crucial for any large customer serving enterprise, natural language processing helps much effectively in registering customers’ questions, suggestions, or complaints.

Tesla To Recall 285,000 Cars To Fix Autopilot Issues

By

Manisha Kalagara

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July 1, 2021

Tesla will be recalling over 285,000 cars sold in China to address the risks associated with the autopilot feature. This decision has been voluntarily taken by Tesla after the investigation conducted by China’s vehicle safety authority, the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR).

The recall includes 211,256 locally-produced Model 3, 35,665 imported ones, and 38,599 China-made Model Ys as their autopilot system is too easily activated, leading to accidents. Tesla will be upgrading the autopilot system for the recalled cars for free.

Due to the flaw in Tesla’s autopilot systems, drivers might wrongly switch on or off the active cruise control in Model 3 or Model Y cars in certain situations like while making sharp turns that would accelerate the vehicle leading to collisions, said SAMR. Due to these ongoing issues in China.

The owners need not bring their vehicles to the service center for the update as Tesla pioneered the software updates over the internet to cars. However, the fix is still considered as a recall states SAMR after the defect investigation.

Though Tesla’s shares dropped by 2.1% on Monday, “We believe that this is Tesla China’s subtle way to make concessions with Chinese consumers and government in light of the recent PR crisis,” said Miles Qianli Dong, a research analyst at JL Warren. He also mentioned that this week’s “soft recall” shouldn’t significantly impact the companies’ sales in the future.

Despite the current issues, Tesla can still export the cars made in Shanghai all over Asia or Europe. But the company’s growth has been going through a rough road for a few months with Chinese consumers and authorities due to safety issues. Tesla has to improve its software to stay in good graces in Shanghai.