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.
Ceridian to acquire Toronto talent intelligence startup Ideal (BETAKIT)
After partnering with Ceridian for about two years, Ideal is set to become part of Ceridian as the startup looks to expand its reach and accelerate its product roadmap “with increased resources.”
IBM is acquiring cloud app and network management firm Turbonomic for up to $2B (TECHCRUNCH)
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, but according to data in PitchBook, Turbonomic was valued at nearly $1 billion — $963 million, to be exact — in its last funding round in September 2019.
Here’s why M&A activity is surging in Canada’s tech sector (BETAKIT)
BetaKit spoke to key members of the Canadian innovation ecosystem to determine why M&A activity is up, and where it’s going.
Vectra AI picks up $130M at a $1.2B valuation for its network approach to threat detection and response (TECHCRUNCH)
The company has built some specific products that have been very prescient in anticipating vulnerabilities in specific applications and services.
Attabotics, Amii, AltaML partner to develop AI solutions for supply chains (BETAKIT)
Previously, the federal government injected $34 million of additional capital into Attabotics to further develop and bring to market its robotics warehouse technologies.
AI caught a hidden problem in one patient’s heart. Can it work for others? (STAT NEWS)
AI caught a hidden problem in one patient’s heart. Can it work for others?
Archangel completes first close of $10 million to support early-stage Canadian tech startups (BETAKIT)
Archangel was initially launched last April in response to COVID-19, in order to help entrepreneurs accelerate the development and commercialization of “any solution that has urgent, national or global need.”
BlackBerry QNX, Carleton University team up to give students hands-on training in AV technology (OTTAWA BUSINESS JOURNAL)
The equipment includes software that powers BlackBerry QNX’s operating systems as well as powerful computers small enough to fit in the palm of a hand.
Large deals fuelled Calgary’s healthy 2020, but Western Canada could have an early-stage funding problem (BETAKIT)
Hockeystick tracked four deals under $250,000 in 2019 and 2020, indicating an early-stage gap.
Artificial intelligence is misreading human emotion (THE ATLANTIC)
There is no good evidence that facial expressions reveal a person’s feelings. But big tech companies want you to believe otherwise.
New report shows Montréal tech caught up to Toronto in 2020 (BETAKIT)
Venture funding in Montréal reached an impressive $1.15 billion in 2020, solidifying the city as one of the top startup ecosystems in Canada, only just behind Toronto.
Lessons from the pandemic’s superstar data scientist, Youyang Gu (MIT TECHNOLOGY REVIEW)
He made a machine-learning model in a week and ran it daily on his laptop (it only took an hour), generating remarkably accurate COVID-19 predictions.
To become more diverse, cybersecurity experts say the industry needs more mentors and problem solvers (BETAKIT)
The current approach isn’t enough to foster the diversity – or scale – necessary to fill the estimated 3.5 million cybersecurity job openings globally in 2021.