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.
Miovision acquires Pittsburgh firm Rapid Flow to bolster its traffic management systems (BETAKIT)
Rapid Flow represents Miovision’s second acquisition of a traffic management software provider, following its acquisition of Arizona firm Traffop in July last year.
Intel plans thousands of job cuts in face of PC slowdown (BNN BLOOMBERG)
The layoffs will be announced as early as this month, with the company planning to make the move around the same time as its third-quarter earnings report on Oct. 27, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the deliberations are private. The chipmaker had 113,700 employees as of July.
IP expert Peter Cowan tapped to head Intellectual Property Ontario (BETAKIT)
Cowan has been working as IPON’s head since least late summer, multiple sources confirmed to BetaKit. Those sources, who asked to remain anonymous as they’re not allowed to speak publicly on the matter, noted that Cowan has been taking meetings with members of the ecosystem for several weeks.
With New Crackdown, Biden Wages Global Campaign on Chinese Technology (THE NEW YORK TIMES)
In conversations with American executives this spring, top officials in the Biden administration revealed an aggressive plan to counter the Chinese military’s rapid technological advances.
Quandri raises $2 million CAD to automate time-consuming, repetitive tasks for insurance industry (BETAKIT)
Vancouver-based Quandri experimented with the idea of providing bots-as-a-service to small and medium-sized businesses in a bunch of different sectors before landing on insurance a year and a half ago.
Volkswagen to take 60% stake in $2 bln tech JV with China's Horizon Robotics (REUTERS)
The carmaker will invest $1 billion in Horizon Robotics and a further 1.3 billion euros ($1.26 billion) in the joint venture, with the transaction to be completed in the first half of 2023.
VMware launches new AI centre in Montréal (BETAKIT)
The newly announced VMware Next G-AI Research and Innovation Centre aims to advance research in cloud, networking, and AI technologies to support the development of 5G and 6G networks.
AI tools fail to reduce recruitment bias – study (BBC)
"There is growing interest in new ways of solving problems such as interview bias," the Cambridge University researchers say, in the journal Philosophy and Technology.
The use of AI is becoming widespread – but its analysis of candidate videos or applications is "pseudoscience".
Shinydocs, Encircle, Proto receive cumulative $7.5 million from FedDev Ontario (BETAKIT)
From this funding, Shinydocs secured $4 million, Encircle received $2.1 million, and Proto Research got $1.4 million (all numbers CAD). According to FedDev Ontario, this investment will help these companies enhance their technologies and increase sales, with an expectation that it will lead to the creation of 75 jobs across the Kitchener-Waterloo region.
Rise of delivery robots leaves drivers fearful of job losses (REUTERS)
“Delivery companies already treat their workers like robots so it’s not surprising that they are showing more and more interest in automation,” said Ahmed Uhuru Hafezi, from the Couriers Branch of the Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB).
Alberta tech CEOs sign letter claiming restrictions over “software engineer” title hampering province’s talent gains (BETAKIT)
Companies and startups have written Premier Danielle Smith protesting the “aggressive position” the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA) has taken over the title of software engineer.
The some 30-plus signatories of the letter contend that APEGA is unnecessarily regulating the designation of software engineer and has made the position subject to “onerous, restrictive, and unnecessary certification requirements.”