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.
Element AI announces first product for the insurance market(BETAKIT)
Element AI has announced the Submissions capability for its Underwriting Partner product at InsureTech Connect 2019 in Las Vegas.
Volta and Microsoft for Startups Canada announce partnership(VOLTAEFFECT)
“This week at Innovate Atlantic in Halifax, we announced a new and uniquestartup partnership with the region’s largest innovation hub Volta – together we will help create, accelerate and further develop the startup community along with driving diversity, inclusion and underrepresented founder initiatives across Eastern Canada.”
– Adam Nanjee, MD of Microsoft for Startups Canada
Using AI to improve dentistry, VideaHealth gets a $5.4 million polish(TECHCRUNCH)
Florian Hillen, the chief executive officer of a new startup called VideaHealth, first started researching the problems with dentistry about three years ago.
Amii to help build Imperial’s AI capabilities in the oil and gas sector(BETAKIT)
The Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute (Amii) and Canadian petroleum company Imperial this week announced a two-year agreement to collaborate on the development of Imperial’s machine learning capabilities.
Microsoft has an AI coach that can critique your PowerPoint presentations(DIGITALTRENDS)
Public speaking, including the delivery of PowerPoint presentations, can be a trial. There’s the need to pace yourself, as well as to avoid reading your slides word for word. Microsoft gets that.
#ElevateAI explains the state of Canadian artificial intelligence(BETAKIT)
At Elevate AI, the best and brightest of Canada’s AI industry came together to talk about strengths, challenges, and what’s next in Canada.
Alibaba unveils Hanguang 800, an AI inference chip it says significantly increases the speed of machine learning tasks(TECHCRUNCH)
The chip, announced during Alibaba Cloud’s annual Apsara Computing Conference in Hangzhou, is already being used to power features on Alibaba’s e-commerce sites.
Geotab launches new IoT startup innovation accelerator(BETAKIT)
Geotab has announced the official launch of its smart cities and transportation accelerator program, Torque Labs.
Lunchclub, an AI relationship curator startup, raises $4M from a16z to connect professionals offline(FORBES)
Lunchclub, an offline relationship connection startup, is focused on connecting professionals with mutual relevance to one another in person.
Hopper acquires dynamic restaurant pricing app Gravy(BETAKIT)
Montreal-based travel app Hopper has acquired Gravy, a company that used data to provide dynamic pricing for restaurant customers.
Fiddler raises $10.2 million for AI that explains its reasoning(VENTUREBEAT)
Fiddler’s explainable engine, which it expects will launch in general availability next year, explains how and why models make predictions and empowers human auditors to ensure said predictions remain in line with expectations.
Element AI CEO says “I’m not leaving,” shares commercialization challenges(BETAKIT)
JF Gagné, CEO of Element AI, talked about barriers and solutions to bring AI to market, and key learnings from building the company.
Vannevar Labs comes out of stealth to bring best-in-class AI tech to national security agencies(TECHCRUNCH)
Few organizations have the complex data and analytics problems that challenge the defense and intelligence communities every single day.
Deep Genomics discovers genetic disorder treatment drug via AI(BETAKIT)
Deep Genomics, the Toronto-based AI therapeutics startup, has made the first-ever discovery of a diseases treatment and drug candidate using AI.
Commercial real estate artificial intelligence startup Okapi raises $5.5M(SILICONANGLE)
The platform includes the ability to identify anomalies and trends, gaining predictive insights into future property performance, including potential operational issues.
Video creation platform Lumen5 awarded top prize at 2019 New Ventures BC Competition(BETAKIT)
Vancouver-based video creation platform Lumen5 is the winner of the 2019 New Ventures BC Competition.
NVIDIA has created an AI-powered greenscreen for streamers(ENGADGET)
The new RTX function is coming to the OBS platform.
ODAIA raises $1.6 million to commercialize its predictive AI platform(BETAKIT)
AI-focused software-as-a-service (SaaS) startup ODAIA has raised $1.6 million in seed funding to help fuel its predictive customer analytics tool.
Kreditech, the AI-based near-prime loans platform, nabs $22M under new CEO to expand globally(TECHCRUNCH)
Valuation is not being disclosed, but as a point of reference Kreditech was valued at around €500 million in its last fundraise. Other investors in the company include Peter Thiel, Rakuten and the IFC.
Plum raises $4.2 million USD, shifts focus beyond recruitment(BETAKIT)
Plum, the Waterloo-based startup that uses AI to help organizations hire and retain talent, has raised a $4.2 million seed round.