#1 Until now, voice assistants (such as Siri), using speech recognition technology, have been able to answer user questions or perform specific tasks. They operate based on voice commands. However, what about people who would like to use such assistants but cannot speak? Researchers at Cornell University have created a device called SpeeChin. It is a necklace that is used to recognize whispers but can also be used by mute individuals. The device can identify commands spoken quietly or not at all – based on images showing neck and facial skin movements captured by an IR camera attached to the neck. More information can be read here.
#2 The artificial intelligence has been created that can detect dead cells 100 times faster than humans. Until now, scientists have had to manually mark under a microscope which cells are alive and which are dead. Doing this manually is a slow, expensive, and sometimes error-prone process. Using the power of artificial intelligence, the research team is now working to extend the technology toward predicting the future – identifying damaged cells before they even begin to die. You can read more information here.
#3 In the United States, the Democratic Party has introduced a bill called the Algorithmic Accountability Act, which aims to hold technology companies accountable when algorithms are biased. Concerns about algorithm bias arise especially when algorithms are used to make important decisions. The bill would force audits of artificial intelligence systems, and the results would be reported to the Federal Trade Commission. A public database would be created, which would allow for verification of decisions made and give individuals a sense of certainty. You can read more information here.
#4 Meta has unveiled an artificial intelligence supercomputer, the AI Research SuperCluster (RSC), which is expected to be the fastest in the world. Although the computer is not yet fully complete, researchers have already begun using it to train models of natural language processing and computer vision. The RSC is expected to be fully built by mid-2022. Meta is expected to use the RSC to conduct advanced research to identify malicious content on its platforms – using actual data from those platforms. You can read more information here.
#5 Researchers at the RIKEN Guardian Robot Project in Japan have created a baby android named Nikola that can convey six basic emotions – happiness, sadness, fear, anger, surprise, and disgust. Facial expressions are generated by the moving “muscles” of Nikola’s face. The goal of the project is to build an android that can help people, especially those who live alone and need support and care. You can read more information here.
#6 A new study by researchers at MIT and Massachusetts General Hospital suggests that artificial intelligence systems will be able to help anesthesiologists in the operating room. A team of neuroscientists, engineers, and physicians demonstrated a machine learning algorithm for continuously dispensing anesthetic drug. It is supposed to do this better than more traditional software, and also match real anesthesiologists. Advances in the algorithm increase the likelihood that computers will be able to keep patients unconscious without giving them more medication than necessary, allowing anesthesiologists to attend to other duties that fall within the operating room. You can read more information here.
Author: Agata Konieczna
