The AI Times is a weekly newsletter covering the biggest AI, machine learning, big data, and automation news from around the globe. If you want to read A|I before anyone else, make sure to subscribe using the form at the bottom of this page.
TwentyBN raises $13 million CAD Series A (BETAKIT)
TwentyBN’s system enables AI to understand human behaviour, surroundings, and the full context of engagement. The funding was led by M12, Microsoft’s venture fund.
The US military wants to teach AI some basic common sense (TECHNOLOGYREVIEW)
Even the best AI programs still make stupid mistakes. So DARPA is launching a competition to remedy the field’s most glaring flaw.
Canadian government invests $25 million in Creative Destruction Lab (BETAKIT)
The government said the funding will create and maintain 125 jobs, and will involve 1,300 science-based ventures in a wider network across Canada over four years.
ServiceNow to acquire FriendlyData for its natural language search technology (TECHCRUNCH)
Enterprise cloud service management company ServiceNow announced today that it will acquire FriendlyData and integrate the startup’s natural language search technology into apps on its Now platform.
Teens kick off artificial intelligence conference in Calgary (CBC)
Artificial intelligence is pegged as the tool of the future, so it’s only fitting that two Calgary students, the future generation, are organizing a conference on the technology.
Amazon reportedly scraps internal AI recruiting tool that was biased against women (THEVERGE)
It can give you price suggestions and auto-categorize items.
RankScience raises $1.8M in seed funding (FINSMES)
The round was led by Initialized Capital with participation from Adam D’Angelo, Michael Seibel, BoxGroup, Liquid2 Ventures, FundersClub, and Jenny 8 Lee.
Google will not bid for the Pentagon’s $10B cloud computing contract, citing its “AI Principles”(TECHCRUNCH)
In a statement to Bloomberg, Google said that it decided not to participate in the bidding process, which ends this week, because the contract may not align with the company’s principles for how artificial intelligence should be used.
With a new $100 million fund, Micron plans to invest in AI startups and diversity (SILICONANGLE)
Computer chip maker Micron Technology Inc. said today it will throw $100 million at artificial intelligence startups as it seeks to create new markets for its semiconductor technology.
Apple secretly bought Danish visual effects startup Spektral last year (FORTUNE)
All those math Ph.D.s at CloudCutout got restless and trained their machine-learning software to cut out a person from moving pictures without the need for an actual Hollywood-style green screen. Now the company advertises that it can do that in real time, creating a “mixed reality.” Think Pokémon Go.
Machinify raises $10M in Series A financing (FINSMES)
The round was led by Battery Ventures, with participation from GV and Matrix Partners.