amazon Amazon Workers Urge Bezos to Halt Police Face Recognition Sales A group of Amazon employees is demanding that CEO Jeff Bezos stop selling facial recognition technology to law enforcement agencies. The workers warn the software will harm marginalized communities and urge the company to drop Palantir from its cloud servers.
uber Police Report Finds Uber Safety Driver Streamed Show Before Fatal Crash A newly released police report reveals that the Uber safety driver involved in a fatal self-driving car crash is streaming a television show on her phone. Authorities state that the tragic collision is entirely avoidable if the driver pays attention to the road.
intel Intel CEO Krzanich Resigns Over Policy Violation, CFO Swan Takes Over Intel forces out CEO Brian Krzanich after an investigation confirms a consensual relationship with an employee in violation of the company's non-fraternization policy. Chief Financial Officer Robert Swan steps in as interim leader while the board searches for a permanent replacement.
microsoft Microsoft Acquires AI Startup Bonsai to Boost Cloud Offerings Microsoft purchases Bonsai, a startup specializing in reinforcement learning, to enhance its Azure cloud platform. The acquisition supports Microsoft's ongoing strategy to commercialize artificial intelligence for enterprise customers.
microsoft Microsoft Acquires AI Startup Bonsai to Boost Azure Autonomous Systems Microsoft acquires Berkeley-based Bonsai to advance its reinforcement learning capabilities and integrate them into the Azure cloud platform. The deal aims to make artificial intelligence development more accessible to developers of all skill levels.
amazon Investors Demand Amazon Halt Police Facial Recognition Sales A group of Amazon investors representing billions in stock urge the company to stop selling its Rekognition facial recognition software to police due to legal and ethical concerns.
boston dynamics Boston Dynamics SpotMini Robot Dog Demonstrates Door-Opening Skill A new video from Boston Dynamics shows a modified SpotMini robot dog successfully opening a door for another robot. The impressive demonstration highlights the advanced capabilities of the compact, electric machine.
microsoft Microsoft Restructures AI Division to Double Engineering Efforts Microsoft reorganizes its artificial intelligence division in a major push to double its engineering capacity. The strategic shift aims to accelerate the development and deployment of AI technologies across the company's products.
amazon Amazon Introduces Alexa Blueprints to Enable Custom Skill Creation Amazon launches a new feature called Alexa Blueprints that allows everyday users to build personalized Alexa skills without any coding knowledge. The system provides pre-made templates for custom games, trivia, and household guides.
facebook Big Tech Companies Pour Record Funds Into Washington Lobbying Efforts Major technology giants like Facebook, Amazon, Apple, and Google are breaking records with their massive lobbying budgets in the nation's capital. These companies invest heavily to influence legislation and navigate increasing regulatory scrutiny.
microsoft Microsoft Pledges $25 Million to Expand Accessibility Through Artificial Intelligence Microsoft launches a new five-year, $25 million initiative to develop AI tools that assist people with disabilities. The program focuses on accelerating the development of smart technologies to improve daily living and workplace inclusion.
apple Apple WWDC 2018 Highlights Seven Major Machine Learning Advancements Apple focuses heavily on machine learning at WWDC 2018, introducing tools that empower developers and enhance user experiences across its ecosystem. These updates range from improved natural language processing to innovative computer vision capabilities.
microsoft Microsoft Acquires AI Training Startup Bonsai to Strengthen Enterprise Tools Microsoft purchases Bonsai, a machine learning startup specializing in training autonomous systems, to expand its artificial intelligence capabilities. The acquisition aims to help developers build industrial AI applications more efficiently.
microsoft Microsoft Workers Demand Cancellation of ICE Contract in Open Letter A group of Microsoft employees publishes an open letter urging CEO Satya Nadella to end a controversial contract with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The protesters express strong ethical concerns regarding the agency's practices.
artificial intelligence Major AI Facial Recognition Systems Show Significant Gender and Racial Bias A new MIT and Stanford study reveals that commercial facial-analysis software struggles to accurately identify the gender of dark-skinned women, with error rates reaching nearly 35 percent compared to less than one percent for light-skinned men.