Cloud Hosting

Each week, KHN finds interesting reads from around the Web.

FiveThirtyEight:Does Knowing Whom Others Might Vote For Change Whom Youll Vote For?When a presidential race that was supposed to be won by a mainstream moderate instead ends being captured by a far-right gadfly, you better believe pollsters are gonna get some scrutiny. But when this situation took place in the first round of French elections in 2002, bumping the incumbent prime minister from the final round, it wasnt just the failure of prediction that led to a polling protest. Instead, people were concerned that opinion polling, itself, had caused the outcome. Twenty-four years earlier, France had muzzled opinion polling, banning the publication of poll results for a week before any election out of fear that voters were following the polls, rather than the other way around. (Koerth, 12/5)

Wired:How Overexcited Neurons Might Affect How You AgeA thousand seemingly insignificant things change as an organism ages. Beyond the obvious signs like graying hair and memory problems are myriad shifts both subtler and more consequential: Metabolic processes run less smoothly; neurons respond less swiftly; the replication of DNA grows faultier. But while bodies may seem to just gradually wear out, many researchers believe instead that aging is controlled at the cellular and biochemical level. They find evidence for this in the throng of biological mechanisms that are linked to aging but also conserved across species as distantly related as roundworms and humans. Whole subfields of research have grown up around biologists attempts to understand the relationships among the core genes involved in aging, which seem to connect highly disparate biological functions, like metabolism and perception. (Greenwood, 11/30)

Undark:Unpacking The Black Box In Artificial Intelligence For MedicineIn clinics around the world, a type of artificial intelligence called deep learning is starting to supplement or replace humans in common tasks such as analyzing medical images. Already, at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, every one of the 50,000 screening mammograms we do every year is processed through our deep learning model, and that information is provided to the radiologist, says Constance Lehman, chief of the hospitals breast imaging division. In deep learning, a subset of a type of artificial intelligence called machine learning, computer models essentially teach themselves to make predictions from large sets of data. The raw power of the technology has improved dramatically in recent years, and its now used in everything from medical diagnostics to online shopping to autonomous vehicles. (Bender, 12/4)

The New York Times:The Champion Who Picked A Date To DieChampagne flutes were hastily unpacked from boxes, filled to their brims and passed around the room. Dozens of people stood around inside Marieke Vervoorts cramped apartment, unsure of what to say or do. This was a celebration, Vervoort had assured her guests. But it did not feel like one. Eleven years earlier, Vervoort had obtained the paperwork required to undergo doctor-assisted euthanasia. Since her teenage years she had been battling a degenerative muscle disease that stole away the use of her legs, stripped her of her independence, and caused her agonizing, unrelenting pain. The paperwork had returned some sense of control. Under Belgian law, she was free to end her life anytime she chose. (Addario, 12/5)

The Atlantic:Your Morning Routine Doesn't Have To Be PerfectMy mornings are the messiest part of my day. I do not rise and shine. Instead, I hit snooze on the alarm and throw the covers over my head. As I hear the early bus shuffle through my stop outside my window, my mind fills with thoughts from the night before, with to-do lists and deadlines. The alarm goes off again, and I repeat the snooze cycle twice more. By the time I roll out of bed, Im a tangle of anxiety. (Koren, 12/2)

Original post:

Longer Looks: The Psychology Of Voting; Overexcited Neurons And Artificial Intelligence; And More - Kaiser Health News

Top 10 AI Patent Applicants in China as of 2019

Source: China Industrial Control Systems Cyber Emergency Response Team Ministry of Industry and Information Technology

Baidu USA, LLC

BEIJING, Dec. 07, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Baidu, Inc. (NASDAQ: BIDU) has filed the most AI-related patent applications in China, a recognition of the companys long-term commitment to driving technological advancement, a recent study from the research unit of Chinas Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has shown.

Baidu filed a total of 5,712 AI-related patent applications as of October 2019, ranking No.1 in China for the second consecutive year. Baidus patent applications were followed by Tencent (4,115), Microsoft (3,978), Inspur (3,755), and Huawei (3,656), according to the report issued by the China Industrial Control Systems Cyber Emergency Response Team, a research unit under the MIIT.

Baidu retained the top spot for AI patent applications in China because of our continuous research and investment in developing AI, as well as our strategic focus on patents, said Victor Liang, Vice President and General Counsel of Baidu.

In the future, we will continue to increase our investments into securing AI patents, especially for high-value and high-quality patents, to provide a solid foundation for Baidus AI business and for our development of world-leading technology, he said.

The report showed that Baidu is the patent application leader in several key areas of AI. These include deep learning (1,429), natural language processing (938), and speech recognition (933). Baidu also leads in the highly competitive area of intelligent driving, with 1,237 patent applications, a figure that surpasses leading Chinese universities and research institutions, as well as many international automotive companies. With the launch of the Apollo open source autonomous driving platform and other intelligent driving innovations, Baidu has been committed to pioneering the intelligent transformation of the mobility industry.

After years of research, Baidu has developed a comprehensive AI ecosystem and is now at the forefront of the global AI industry. Moving forward, Baidu will continue to conduct research in the core areas of AI, contribute to scientific and technological innovation in China, and actively push forward the application of AI into more vertical industries. Baidu is positioned to be a global leader in a wave of innovation that will transform industries.

About BaiduBaidu, Inc. is the leading Chinese language Internet search provider. Baidu aims to make the complicated world simpler for users and enterprises through technology. Baidus ADSs trade on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol BIDU. Currently, ten ADSs represent one Class A ordinary share.

Media ContactIntlcomm@baidu.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/300812be-c1a6-44c4-af8c-fbc0a0613019

Read more:

Baidu Leads the Way in Innovation with 5712 Artificial Intelligence Patent Applications - GlobeNewswire

Sarmishta Neogy, a fitness enthusiast from Delhi, uses the HealthifyMe app to log and track her calorie intake. Neogy recently upgraded from the companys free service to a paid tier, which gives her access to an artificial intelligence (AI)-based assistant called Ria.

However, Neogy says she still uses the app mostly for their recipes, tips and to document food. She found the AIs tips generic and not very helpful. The Ria service is very basic, so I dont know if I will benefit from it. For instance, if you ask Ria what is missing from my diet, it will tell you what is missing but nothing more," she added.

While HealthifyMe is not a new service, the company has been pushing the new AI assistant to its users. HealthifyMe isnt the only service to do that either. Apps such as Aaptiv and FitnessAI are also using artificial intelligence for various aspects of health training and fitness.

But algorithm-based workout and fitness plans may not work for everyone, according to both experts and users. Like HealthifyMe, the idea here is to utilize data acquired from users and experts experience to build an algorithm that can be easily accessible.

Theres no one-size-fits-all," said Ishi Khosla, practising nutritionist and author of Eating At Work. Khosla is behind Theweightmonitor.com, an algorithm-based service that utilizes her first-hand experience as a nutritionist, besides users data. One cannot oversimplify and say this is the only way to go. But they certainly create awareness and a certain sense of mindfulness."

Khosla said algorithms alone arent the answer, but a combination of algorithms and human support can be useful. She pointed out that people might need customized guidance, based on their specific needs and requirements. She likened the algorithms to clothing sizes. There are predefined sizes in the market, but some still need customized clothing for themselves.

Dr. Deep Goel, senior consultant and director of bariatric and advance laparoscopy surgery, BLK Super Speciality Hospital, agreed. Apps and algorithms are like alarm systems, he said, adding that just like alarms help you wake up, these algorithms and apps are like reminding diaries".

When it comes to nutrition and fitness, generic information doesnt benefit everyone. Khoslas WeightMonitor allows users to call nutritionists when they need real-time advice on what they should eat.

Doctors like Goel believe while it is possible to tailor nutrition charts based on peoples data, its not necessarily accurate. Goel said a lot of data is required to diagnose and decide what kind of diet a person should follow. This data may not be available at the moment, since most apps have just taken the algorithmic route.

Therefore, users should use these algorithms and apps as informational tools, rather than things they are completely dependent on.

How do you check whether the recommendations are correct?" asked Dr Bharat Agarwal, consultant of internal medicine, Apollo Hospitals, Navi Mumbai.

The outreach for making algorithmic services will be much larger, Agarwal said.

Correlating all the user data, and coming up with plans and recommendations that actually benefit a user, will take longer. Agarwal said the apps can be useful for those who dont have any medical conditions, but for those who do, a professional is always recommended.

Experts expect that it will take at least a couple of years for algorithmic services to be truly dependable. There is no way to quantify how much efficiency a consumer is deriving from them at the moment and. given that most are paid services, its important to know exactly what you are paying for.

Read this article:

Artificial intelligence-based fitness is promising but may not be for everyone - Livemint

As Ursula von der Leyen took office as the new President of the European Commission this week, she said her administration will prioritise two issues above all: guiding Europe through the energy transition in response to climate change, and guiding it through the digital transition in response to new technologies.

On the latter, she has her work cut out. Digitalisation is making things possible that were unthinkable even a generation ago, she told the European Parliament ahead of her approval last week.

To grasp the opportunities and to address the dangers that are out there, we must be able to strike a smart balance where the market cannot. We must protect our European wellbeing and our European values.In the digital age, we must continue on our European path.

Many MEPs understand that the European path wants to be in contrast to that of America, which has had a light-touch approach to regulating the internet and digital technology. Brussels has stepped into that regulatory vacuum with laws and standards such as the General Data Protection Regulation that are now affecting the whole world.

At a EURACTIV event on Friday in Brussels, experts were divided over how aggressive von der Leyen should be in regulating artificial intelligence and data usage in order to protect European citizens.

We need to be careful when we set the regulation so it doesnt stifle innovation, said Kristof Terryn, group chief operating officer at Zurich Insurance. The insurance industry is becoming heavily involved in artificial intelligence, where it is using algorithms in many areas, including loss prediction and claims handling.

This innovation could be stifled if EU regulation becomes too onerous. We keep talking about the risks of AI, but there are massive benefits as well, he said. As an example, he pointed to new technology in Japan which can automatically and immediately compensate people affected by an earthquake.

The EU should be careful that it only regulates the applications of AI that are deemed risky, not all of it, he said.

Eline Chivot, a senior policy analyst at the Centre for Data Innovation, agreed. There are worrying signals that the EU is falling behind the US and China in technology development only 20% of European SMEs demonstrate digital intensity, she said. Ethical discussions shouldnt sidetrack us from the competitiveness discussion.

But Jennifer Baker, a digital rights activist and EU privacy policy correspondent for IAPP, said for her, civil rights and data protection are far more important than companies profits.

She said there are major questions not being tackled, which are already affecting citizens without their knowledge, such as who owns the data and how AI systems process it, and how bias and discrimination are being embedded into these systems.

We dont even know how many of these things are already out there because theres been a rush to make profits, she noted.

Wojciech Wiewiorowski, the acting European Data Protection Supervisor, said that his office is taking data protection very seriously and that it will be essential that the EU defines exactly what AI is and which types of applications could cause harm.

Transparency is important, he said. If you include bias, we need to know that the system operates that way.

The bias is being built in by humans, said Baker. The best way to combat bias is to eliminate bias from society, she said. Right now we have the chance to tackle the bias before its hardwired into AI.

There have already been reports of AI systems used in policing showing bias against minorities. Questions have arisen about situations where a self-driving car heading for a crash needs to choose which car, biker, or pedestrian, it should swerve into a situation where bias might dictate it hits an older person instead of a younger person.

The reason were talking about bias is because it reflects our own bias as human beings, and thats difficult to accept, said Chivot. But sometimes bias is a good thing. She cited as an example when AI might be used to select vulnerable populations for a medical study or disease treatment.

Some on the panel felt that the EUs efforts to deal with AI specifically so far for instance, a high-level groups guidelines published earlier this year have been underwhelming. Theres not a lot to disagree with there, they say they dont want bias and want human beings at the centre, said Baker.

When you flip these statements on their head, its utterly ridiculous. We want bias? We dont want humans at the centre?

Wiewiorowski said he liked the document but agreed it can be difficult to precisely define what ethics are. I dont know the definition of ethics but I think we can all agree that there is something we can call general ethics.

As Ursula von der Leyen begins her term, technology industry stakeholders are going to be closely watching the Commission to see which direction it will go in regulating these developing technologies and usage of data. But if her speech to the European Parliament last week is anything to go by, it appears she is not afraid to plough through with regulation.

For us, the protection of a persons digital identity is the overriding priority, she told MEPs. We have to have stringent security requirements and a unified European approach.

[Edited by Zoran Radosavljevic and Samuel Stolton]

Continue reading here:

Should the EU embrace artificial intelligence, or fear it? - EURACTIV