As of February 2022, nearly 30% US households with Wi-Fi had an Amazon Fire TV device. More than 20% owned an Echo smart speaker, Fire tablet, or both.
Machine learning for all: Google releases new features for its Vertex AI to stay cloud competitive. It lowers barriers to entry for AI model development but also risks bad data.
Ikea risks greenwashing claims with its latest sustainability scheme: The retailer’s latest furniture concept is meant to extend an item’s lifetime, but it could work better in theory than in practice.
The slippery AI consciousness debate: More controversy in Google’s AI team exposes the foggy world of artificial sentience. Mounting concerns about AI warrants more Big Tech accountability and transparency.
Meta shifts focus away from hardware: It canceled its smartwatch, pivoted its Portal line to enterprise, and is pitching its AR glasses as developer-only tools as it shifts away from poorly selling consumer tech.
Pinterest acquires The Yes to grow its social commerce business: The platform plans to leverage the company’s AI capabilities to provide personalized shopping experiences.
Deepfake AI training blocked at Google: Some face-altering AI models are being refused but others can still run in Google’s Colaboratory, revealing a porous approach to AI self-regulation.
AI startup uses video games to help treat depression: Gamification is an immersive and friction-free way to engage patients, while AI can help clinicians arrive at a more accurate diagnosis.
Retailers take multiple approaches to inventory as supply chain woes wear on: Companies like Utz and DSW are cutting down on SKUs while Walmart and Target are stocking up early.
Watchdogs decry Amazon’s AI cameras: The ecommerce giant wants to keep tabs on its drivers, but there are other ways to promote road safety that don’t involve intrusive surveillance.
Google’s DeepMind is close to unlocking human-level AI: Gato is capable of achieving over 600 tasks, which could result in Google spinning it out, but it still needs to learn to scale.
In the US, 56% of executives believe AI technology comes with either significant or somewhat significant potential risk. Another 19% view the risk as moderate, while 26% think the threat is minimal. No executive surveyed believes AI is entirely without risk.
Clearview AI settles case with ACLU: The controversial company promises not to sell its facial recognition database to most US businesses. Continued regulatory pushback could accelerate its pivot into ID verification.
Brands and retailers are adopting new technologies as they pursue supply chain optimization: Kraft Heinz, UPS, and Amazon are looking to AI, the cloud, and other tools to streamline operations.
The factory has eyes: Startup Invisible AI will deploy its computer vision analytics system in all of Toyota’s factories in North America. But the unprecedented insight could have some downsides.
More trouble in Google’s Brain: The tech giant fired a researcher after he questioned an AI paper. It’s the latest controversial firing that’s helping erode confidence in Big Tech.
Rooting out bias in machine learning models: Arize’s Bias Tracing can benefit healthcare and financial services by mapping systems and flagging instances of bias and their root causes.
AI’s invisible hand: Skopai is the latest example of companies using AI to predict economic outcomes. However, more than a tool, AI could become an economic factor.