At a two-hour hearing in Washington, D.C. on Friday, lawmakers questioned experts on bias in artificial intelligence, the struggle to attract skilled workers, and how to navigate and regulate an increasingly data-driven financial market, Bloomberg reports.
Why it matters, per Bloomberg: "The use of algorithms in electronic markets has automated the jobs of tens of thousands of execution traders worldwide, and it's also displaced people who model prices and risk or build investment portfolios," the former head of machine learning at AQR Capital Management LLC Marcos Lopez de Prado said.
Loans for new and used cars hit a new record in the third quarter, as consumers continue to opt for cars with newer technology and higher price tags, Bloomberg reports.
Why it matters: Auto debt in the U.S. continues to grow and topped $1.32 trillion in the third quarter — up $50 billion from last year, Bloomberg notes. The number of 90-day car loan delinquencies also increased from 4.27% last year to 4.71%.
A recently released AI program that generates hyper-realistic writing has become a powerful tool for storytelling, hinting at a new genre of computer-aided creativity.
What's happening: Inventive programmers are using it to generate poetry, interactive text adventures, and even irreverent new prompts for the popular game Cards Against Humanity.
Amazon saw a record number of new subscriptions in the United Kingdom on Dec. 3-4 after it live-streamed 10 top-flight Premier League matches on its Prime Video service, The Guardian reports.
Why it matters: Amazon said the two days set records for most new sign-ups since the company launched its Prime service in the U.K. in 2007. If the company decides to bid on the rights to livestream more matches, it could prove to be a serious challenge to digital platforms Sky and BT, The Guardian notes. Amazon has the resources to challenge and outbid both companies for Premier League rights.
AI is better at recognizing objects than the average human — but only under super-specific circumstances. Even a slightly unusual scene can cause it to fail.
Why it matters: Image recognition is at the heart of frontier AI products like autonomous cars, delivery drones and facial recognition. But these systems are held back by serious problems interpreting the messy real world.
May Mobility, a self-driving electric shuttle company based in Ann Arbor, Mich., just raised $50 million in a Series B financing round led by Toyota.
Why it matters: The vote of confidence is more than financial. Toyota has also selected May Mobility as one of its partners to develop autonomous transportation-as-a-service for future mobility platforms.
Qualcomm announced its latest bid to break into the PC market on Thursday, announcing two new chips aimed at the low-end and mid-range of the notebook market. It's the latest in the company's years-long quest to expand from phones into computers.
Why it matters: Though smaller than the smartphone market in units, the PC business remains lucrative, and getting even a modest share of it would be a nice boost for Qualcomm and a considerable threat to Intel.
Cellphone-related injuries have skyrocketed over the last decade, according to a new study in JAMA Otolaryngology.
By the numbers: Nearly 40% of injuries between January 1998 and December 2017 were among people ages 13 to 29, and many of them were "associated with common activities, such as texting while walking."
Food delivery apps look to have found a sweet spot as data shows more than a quarter (27%) of Americans spend up to $50 each month on delivery.
The big picture: Competition among delivery companies is getting serious as more sign exclusive agreements with restaurants, closing the door on competition.
In a long-awaited safety report, Uber disclosed on Thursday that during 2017 and 2018, U.S. users reported nearly 6,000 incidents of sexual assault of various kinds.
Why it matters: Uber (along with rival Lyft) has been criticized over the years not only for the occurrence of sexual assault and violence on rides, but also for its handling of these incidents, including attempts at downplaying or hiding them.
