Children who are chronically ill and unable to attend school can now stay connected to the classroom using the AV1 robot, developed by the company No Isolation from Norway. This innovative technology serves as their eyes and ears, allowing them to engage with lessons and interact with friends remotely. Controlled via an app, the robot sits on a classroom desk, enabling students to rotate its view, speak to classmates, and even signal when they want to participate.
The AV1 has been especially valuable for children undergoing long-term treatment or experiencing mental health challenges, helping them maintain a connection with their peers and stay socially included. In the United Kingdom, schools can rent or purchase the AV1, which has been widely adopted, particularly in countries like the UK and Germany, where over 1,000 units are active. For many students, the robot has become a lifeline during extended absences from school.
Though widely praised, there are logistical challenges in introducing the AV1 to schools and hospitals, including administrative hurdles and technical issues like weak Wi-Fi. Despite these obstacles, teachers and families have found the robot to be highly effective, with privacy protections and features tailored to students’ needs, including the option to avoid showing their face on screen.
Research has highlighted the AV1’s potential to keep children both socially and academically connected, and No Isolation has rolled out a training resource, AV1 Academy, to support teachers and schools in using the technology effectively. With its user-friendly design and robust privacy features, the AV1 continues to make a positive impact on the lives of children facing illness and long absences from school.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has introduced a social media moderation programme ahead of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024. The initiative is designed to protect players and fans from toxic online content. More than 60 players have already joined, with further onboarding expected.
To safeguard mental health and promote inclusivity, the ICC has partnered with GoBubble. Together, they will use a combination of AI and human oversight to monitor harmful comments on social media platforms. The service will operate across Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, with the option for players to use it on their own accounts.
The technology is designed to automatically detect and hide negative comments, including hate speech, harassment, and misogyny. By doing so, it creates a healthier environment for teams, players, and fans to engage with the tournament which will be held in Bangladesh.
Finn Bradshaw, ICC’s Head of Digital, expressed his satisfaction with the programme’s early success. Players and teams have welcomed the initiative, recognising the importance of maintaining a positive digital atmosphere during the tournament.
A team of researchers from the Robot Learning Lab in London has developed an innovative way to train robots using AI-generated images. The system, named Genima, fine-tunes Stable Diffusion to map out robot movements, guiding them in both virtual and real-world environments. This research is set to be presented at the Conference on Robot Learning next month.
Genima aims to improve robots’ ability to complete tasks, such as picking up objects or folding laundry. The system uses images as both input and output, helping robots better understand the tasks they’re performing and reducing errors, like moving into walls. It could revolutionise training for a wide range of robots, from mechanical arms to driverless cars.
Researchers successfully tested Genima on 25 simulated and nine real-world tasks, with average success rates of 50% and 64% respectively. While these numbers aren’t perfect, the team is optimistic that the use of video-generation AI models could boost speed and accuracy, making future applications more efficient.
The versatility of Genima is promising, with the potential to be applied to many different kinds of robots. Its ability to use image data for decision-making could lead to smarter, more capable machines in everyday life and industry.
Google is ramping up its AI efforts in India, aiming to integrate its Gemini AI model across various products to cater to the world’s most populous nation. The move, announced at Google’s 10th event in India, focuses on enhancing search, visual recognition, and language processing features, with special attention to voice commands and support for multiple Indian languages.
To further this, the company is launching its AI assistant, Gemini Live, initially in Hindi, with plans to expand support for eight more Indian languages soon. Google is also rolling out generative AI tools for search in regional languages such as Bengali, Marathi, and Telugu, alongside expanding its visual search capabilities, particularly through video-based searches, to enhance the user experience.
Google Maps is also being revamped for the Indian market, with new AI-generated summaries and improved local business discovery features. Additionally, the company has introduced several AI-powered tools for merchants, allowing them to easily build engaging online profiles and offer deals through their Google Business Profiles.
Google’s AI push in India is part of its broader strategy to tap into the country’s vast user base and help businesses thrive in the digital era. The company has proposed frameworks to enhance India’s AI adoption, estimating that AI could unlock $4 trillion in economic value for the nation by 2030.
The US Commerce Department announced its plan to allocate $100 million to promote the use of AI in developing sustainable semiconductor materials. This funding initiative is part of a broader effort overseeing $52.7 billion designated for US chip manufacturing and research, aimed at strengthening the country’s position in the semiconductor industry.
The new funding will support universities, national laboratories, and private sector companies in creating AI-driven autonomous experimentation methods. By harnessing the capabilities of AI, the initiative seeks to streamline and expedite the development of innovative semiconductor materials that are less resource-intensive, ultimately contributing to a more sustainable manufacturing process.
With the semiconductor industry facing increasing pressure to reduce environmental impact, this investment represents a significant step towards integrating advanced technologies to foster sustainable practices. The Commerce Department’s focus on AI in this sector underscores the potential for transformative advancements that can meet both economic and environmental goals, helping to secure a more resilient supply chain for the future.
As the European Union implements the world’s first comprehensive regulations on artificial intelligence (AI), human rights groups are raising alarms over exemptions for AI use at Europe’s borders. The EU’s AI Act, which categorises AI systems by risk level and imposes stricter rules for those with higher potential for harm, is set to take full effect by February 2025. While it promises to regulate AI across industries, controversial technologies like facial and emotion recognition are still permitted for border and police authorities, sparking concern over surveillance and discrimination.
With Europe investing heavily in border security, deploying AI-driven watchtowers and algorithms to monitor migration flows, critics argue these technologies could criminalise migrants and violate their rights. Human Rights activists warn that AI may reinforce biases and lead to unlawful pushbacks of asylum seekers. Countries like Greece are testing ground for these technologies and have been accused of using AI for surveillance and discrimination, despite denials from the government.
Campaigners also point out that the EU’s regulations allow European companies to develop and export harmful AI systems abroad, potentially fueling human rights abuses in other countries. While the AI Act represents a step forward in global regulation, activists believe it falls short of protecting vulnerable groups at Europe’s borders and beyond. They anticipate that legal challenges and public opposition will eventually close these regulatory gaps.
Bank of Montreal (BMO) has appointed Kristin Milchanowski as its chief AI and data officer, effective October 15. Formerly with EY, Milchanowski will lead the bank’s AI initiatives, focusing on data, robotics, and analytics. This new role builds on BMO’s ongoing investments in AI, aiming to enhance data management and governance while fostering a culture of innovation.
The financial sector views AI as a major opportunity, with potential uses like streamlining compliance tasks and enhancing customer service. However, integrating AI brings challenges, especially for firms managing sensitive data. Analysts suggest that AI-driven solutions could simplify processes and improve data-driven decision-making across the industry, offering significant benefits to financial services.
As AI adoption expands, US regulators seek public feedback to ensure these technologies foster fair and equitable access to financial services. Earlier this year, Morgan Stanley emphasised AI’s transformative potential, noting it could save financial advisers up to 15 hours of work per week, highlighting the significant impact AI could have on the industry.
Microsoft has announced plans to invest €4.3 billion over the next two years to expand its artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud infrastructure in northern Italy. The tech giant’s investment will establish the ItalyNorth cloud region as one of Microsoft’s largest data hubs in Europe, serving both the Mediterranean and North Africa. The move marks Microsoft’s largest-ever investment in Italy and is expected to significantly strengthen the country’s digital presence in the region.
Microsoft’s Vice Chair and President, Brad Smith, discussed the investment with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who welcomed the project, seeing it as a key development for Italy’s role in the Mediterranean’s digital landscape. This initiative follows broader discussions between the Italian government and global investors, including BlackRock, which is also looking at potential investments in data and energy infrastructure.
The surge in demand for AI and cloud services across industries, from gaming to e-commerce, is driving Microsoft’s global expansion efforts. In partnership with BlackRock, Microsoft had already launched a $30 billion fund aimed at AI-focused data centers and related infrastructure, initially targeting the U.S. and its partner countries.
Equinix has announced a joint venture with Singapore’s GIC and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, aiming to raise over $15 billion to expand its hyperscale data centres in the US. This initiative comes at a time when the demand for data centres is surging due to the increasing deployment of AI technologies across various industries. Hyperscale data centres are crucial for major tech companies like Amazon, Microsoft, and Google, providing the extensive computing power and storage necessary for their operations.
The newly formed joint venture will greatly expand Equinix’s hyperscale data centre program by enabling the purchase of land for new facilities and adding more than 1.5 gigawatts of capacity. GIC and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board will each hold a 37.5% equity stake in the venture, while Equinix will retain a 25% share. Additionally, the partnership plans to leverage debt to increase the total available investment capital.
Equinix has experienced robust growth recently, prompting the company to raise its annual core earnings forecast. With a keen eye on expansion, particularly in Southeast Asia, Equinix has already acquired three data centres in the Philippines this year and continues to explore opportunities in the high-growth region. The new partnership with GIC underscores Equinix’s commitment to scaling its operations in response to the rising demand for data centre services.
Ello, an AI reading companion designed to help children struggling with reading, has introduced a new feature called ‘Storytime’. This feature enables kids to create their own stories by choosing from a range of settings, characters, and plots. Story options are tailored to the child’s reading level and current lessons, helping them practise essential reading skills.
Ello’s AI, represented by a bright blue elephant, listens to children as they read aloud and helps correct mispronunciations. The tool uses phonics-based strategies to adapt stories based on the child’s responses, ensuring personalised and engaging experiences. It also offers two reading modes: one where the child and Ello take turns reading and another, more supportive mode for younger readers.
The Storytime feature distinguishes itself from other AI-assisted story creation tools by focusing on reading development. The technology has been tested with teachers and children, and includes safeguards to ensure age-appropriate content. Future versions of the product may allow even more creative input from children, while maintaining helpful structure to avoid overwhelming them.
Ello’s subscription costs $14.99 per month, with discounted pricing for low-income families. The company also partners with schools to offer its services for free, and has recently made its collection of decodable children’s books available online at no cost.
