Artificial Intelligence

AI startups target corporate fear: Mounting recession anxiety is infusing accounting AI startups with cash. Long-term investor interest in AI applications will remain diverse, but startups may have to pivot.

AI catches diabetes that would otherwise go undetected: Using a single retinal image from each eye, the tech can diagnose diabetes at far earlier stages than human doctors.

Here's what you missed at Cannes so far: the future of advertising, inclusivity, and sustainability are themes that keep coming up.

As of February 2022, nearly 30% US households with Wi-Fi had an Amazon Fire TV device. More than 20% owned an Echo smart speaker, Fire tablet, or both.

The slippery AI consciousness debate: More controversy in Google’s AI team exposes the foggy world of artificial sentience. Mounting concerns about AI warrants more Big Tech accountability and transparency.

Deepfake AI training blocked at Google: Some face-altering AI models are being refused but others can still run in Google’s Colaboratory, revealing a porous approach to AI self-regulation.

Retailers take multiple approaches to inventory as supply chain woes wear on: Companies like Utz and DSW are cutting down on SKUs while Walmart and Target are stocking up early.

In the US, 56% of executives believe AI technology comes with either significant or somewhat significant potential risk. Another 19% view the risk as moderate, while 26% think the threat is minimal. No executive surveyed believes AI is entirely without risk.

Brands and retailers are adopting new technologies as they pursue supply chain optimization: Kraft Heinz, UPS, and Amazon are looking to AI, the cloud, and other tools to streamline operations.

The factory has eyes: Startup Invisible AI will deploy its computer vision analytics system in all of Toyota’s factories in North America. But the unprecedented insight could have some downsides.

Close to half of US adults believe widespread use of driverless cars would be bad for society. Meanwhile, 26% think it’d be good for autonomous vehicles to rule the roads, and 29% aren’t sure.

Add robotaxis to the list of upcoming Tesla products: Struggles with fully autonomous driving, delivering on schedule, and safety are huge roadblocks to Tesla’s robotaxi flex.

Restaurants are experimenting with robots, but customers aren’t enthused: Labor crunches and high costs are pushing fast-food chains like Chipotle and Panera Bread to adopt automation front and back of house.

As of January 2022, 35% of people ages 12 and over in the US own a smart speaker, up just 2 percentage points from the year before. That’s following an increase of 6 percentage points year over year in 2021.

Tripadvisor used conversational AI technology for a campaign executed on voice assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant with the goal of maintaining engagement during the pandemic, according to Adam Ochman, global head of marketing at Tripadvisor.

A new set of regulations on AI recommendation algorithms went into effect in China on March 1 in an attempt to introduce unprecedented oversight and inject transparency and accountability into an opaque industry. This is the first case of a major economy enforcing such sweeping rules on the machine, and the world is watching.

Matter rollout delayed because of growing adoption: More smart home manufacturers want in on the industry standard, but could delays stop larger manufacturers from releasing products?

Ford looks to become more competitive against Tesla: Ford creates a dedicated EV division while maintaining gas-powered cash cows, highlighting the need for massive changes in the automotive industry.

On today's episode, we discuss how connected TV (CTV) advertising will scale and how AI is poised to help TV advertisers. Then for "In Other News," we talk about Google curbing cross-app tracking on Android phones and what to expect from the WarnerMedia/Discovery merger. Tune in to the discussion with chief product officer at MNTN Marwan Soghaier and our analyst Paul Verna.