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Samsung opens AI research centre in Toronto (BETAKIT)
Samsung Research is looking to strengthen the company’s AI capabilities by expanding its global AI research.
Salesforce Recommends: Customer Service Agents, meet your new sidekick — the chatbot (SALESFORCE)
“Optimize the customer experience around the technology to ensure you meet expectations and maybe even deliver a few ‘wow’ moments along the way.”
Microsoft acquires conversational AI startup Semantic Machines to help bots sound more lifelike (TECHCRUNCH)
“With the acquisition of Semantic Machines, we will establish a conversational AI center of excellence in Berkeley to push forward the boundaries of what is possible in language interfaces,” wrote Microsoft AI and Research CTO David Ku.
Microsoft is creating an oracle for catching biased AI algorithms (TECHNOLOGYREVIEW)
As more people use artificial intelligence, they will need tools that detect unfairness in the underlying algorithms.
Baidu spins out its global ad business to sharpen its focus on artificial intelligence (TECHCRUNCH)
Baidu said it will set up a new global business unit around its AI-powered services, allowing the services to work more closely with Baidu’s AI labs, which include locations in Silicon Valley and Seattle.
UPPlift announces winners piloting smart city technologies across Toronto (BETAKIT)
The selected companies will receive $25,000 from the Independent Electricity System Operator.
Etsy selects Toronto as the site of the company’s first international machine learning centre (MOBILESYRUP)
Etsy currently has two other machine learning centres — one in Brooklyn and the other in San Francisco.
Alibaba’s newest initiative aims to make Hong Kong a global AI hub (TECHCRUNCH)
Alibaba is teaming up with SenseTime to launch a not-for-profit AI lab in Hong Kong in a bid to make the city a global hub for AI. The aim is to “advance the frontiers of AI,” which includes helping startups commercialize their technology, develop ideas and promote knowledge sharing in the AI field.
Trudeau touts Canada’s AI credentials at MIT tech gathering (CANADIANBUSINESS)
Trudeau has become a kind of marketer-in-chief for Canada’s tech economy ambitions, explaining the basics of machine learning as he promotes a national plan and government investments to “secure Canada’s foothold” in AI research and education.
Riminder raises $2.3 million for its AI recruitment service (TECHCRUNCH)
The company has been building a deep learning-powered tool to sort applications and resumes so you don’t have to.
Dooly.ai raises $2 million to automate admin tasks for sales teams (BETAKIT)
The round was led by ScaleUP Ventures, with participation from Panache Ventures, Pallasite Ventures, and New Avenue Capital.
