Silicon Valley Has the Secret to Eternal Life
December 27, 2017
Walt Disney envisioned his namesake park, Walt Disney World, to be a blueprint for the city of the future. Disney was a keen futurist and was interested in new technology that could improve his studios and theme parks. His futuristic tendencies led to the urban legend that he was cryogenically frozen and will one day be revived. Disney wasn’t put on the ice, but his futuristic visions are carried out by Silicon Valley technologists seeking immortality. Quartz reports on the key to eternal life in the article, “Seeking Eternal Life, Silicon Valley Is Solving For Death.”
Death is the ultimate problem that has yet to be solved. Many in Silicon Valley, including Oracle’s Larry Ellison, are searching for a solution to prolong life with anti-aging research. Bill Maris convinced Alphabet’s Larry Page and Sergey Brin to start Calico, Google’s billion-dollar effort to cure aging. Also, cryogenics remains popular:
Other denizens of the valley pursue cryogenics or cryonics, which is the process of freezing oneself in a vat of liquid nitrogen soon after death. They do this in the hope that it will suspend them in time, preserving them for a future when science can bring them back to life. There are about 350 people already frozen worldwide with another 2,000 signed up—but yet to die.
Medical breakthroughs have already extended the US lifespan and that of other developed nations. Developing nations still have short lifespans and it draws the conclusion that wealthier people will live forever, while the poor ie quicker. It is questionable that the extra years tacked onto people’s lives are really worth it because many people spend them unable to care for themselves or in pain.
The article spins into current anti-aging research, then into philosophy about humans vs. machines and what makes a person a person. Throw in some science-fiction and that is the article in short.
Whitney Grace, December 27, 2017
There Is on Obscure Search Engine Beating Google (a Little)
December 22, 2017
Is there life out there beyond Google? Sure, there’s Bing and Yahoo, but are there any people could actually fall into a routine of using? If that’s your question, things could be looking up for your search, according to a recent Search Engine Watch story, “6 Innovative New Search Engines To Keep an Eye On.”
According to the story,
Believe it or not, there are a number of other search engines out there, still crawling the web and making their mark. Since Google has so completely dominated the “all-purpose” search engine space, many of them have moved to occupy more niche areas, like academia, or sought to distinguish themselves in other ways.
As technology continues to have a hand in most everything that we do, it’s important to be aware of the other contenders in the industry. While they aren’t likely to revolutionize SEO overnight, they’re indicative of the trends and technology currently making their way through search, which could show up on a much larger scale later on.
To those on the list, we wish you good luck. You’re gonna need it. Google has had a stranglehold on the search world for longer than anyone can remember. The only one of the engines recommended here that even stand a chance is Semantic Scholar. As Wired pointed out, this scholarly engine actually stands a great chance of succeeding somewhere Google can’t because it helps users bypass pesky paywalls for scientific journals. Wow. Keep an eye on this.
Patrick Roland, December 22, 2017
IBM Thinks It Can Crack Pharmaceutical Code with AI
December 20, 2017
Artificial intelligence has been tasked with solving every problem from famine to climate change to helping you pick a new favorite song. So, it should come as no surprise that IBM thinks it can revolutionize another industry with AI. We learned exactly what from a Digital Trends story, “IBM’s New AI Predicts Chemical Reactions, Could Revolutionize Drug Development.”
According to the story,
As described in a new research paper, the A.I. chemist is able to predict chemical reactions in a way that could be incredibly important for fields like drug discovery. To do this, it uses a highly detailed data set of knowledge on 395,496 different reactions taken from thousands of research papers published over the years.
Teo Laino, one of the researchers on the project from IBM Research in Zurich, told Digital Trends that it is a great example of how A.I. can draw upon large quantities of knowledge that would be astonishingly difficult for a human to master — particularly when it needs to be updated all the time.
It’s an absolutely valid plan, but we aren’t sure if IBM is the one to really pull off this trick. IBM trying to work in big pharma seems kind of like your uncle tinkering on his “inventions” out in the shed. We’d rather see someone whose primary focus is AI and medicine, like Certara, PhinC, and Chem Abstracts.
Patrick Roland, December 20, 2017
Quick Question: Why Not Loon Balloons, Google?
December 16, 2017
I read “Google Is Using Light Beam Tech to Connect Rural India to the Internet.” I understand. But the question just hangs there like a hot air balloon on a still day:
Why not use the vaunted Loon balloons?
I have an idea or two. What do you think about cost, complexity, and the weather? Yep, weather. As in weather balloons.
Does this pop the loon balloon big idea or just shine light on a loon balloon?
Stephen E Arnold, December 16, 2017
Bye-Bye Silicon Valley Monopoly
December 14, 2017
Silicon Valley is a technology epicenter and used to be synonymous with modern innovation, but that is no longer the case. CNBC reports that, “Billionaire Investor Peter Thiel: Silicon Valley’s Monopoly On Big Growth Tech Companies Is Over.” Peter Thiel is a famous Silicon Valley investor. He helped launch PayPal, was an early investor in Facebook and Airbnb, and he also launched Palantir Technologies. As one of the top Silicon Valley insiders, he said that:
‘I have been investing in the technology space — entrepreneur and investor over the past 20 years in Silicon Valley — and within the area of IT, it has for the last 10, 15 years in the US and the world been extremely centered on Silicon Valley,’ Thiel says, speaking at the Future Investment Initiative in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Thursday. ‘I think there are a lot of reasons for that, but the question is, ‘Where is the growth going to happen the next 10 years?’ And what I would tend to think is that it will be more diversified from just Silicon Valley.’
Thiel continued that technology startups can be built anywhere, you just need the right people, money, and the right governance structures. He was surprised that so many technology businesses popped up in Silicon Valley, but that happened because of the number of mentors and entrepreneurship concentrated in one area. Innovators went where the action was happening. It is similar to how actors go to Hollywood and writers head to New York City.
Thanks to Silicon Valley, technology has changed the world, so the next venture company can be located anywhere. Take a guess about where the next big technology might be or if it will be spread out along the grid.
Whitney Grace, December 14, 2017
China Has an AI Police Station and That Is Not a Good Thing
December 12, 2017
The wave of things artificial intelligence can do is amazing. In China, they are even handling law enforcement with intelligent machines. While this might be a boon for efficiency, people like Stephen Hawking are not happy. We learned more from the Sanvada article, “Check Out The Artificial Intelligence-Powered Police Station in China.”
According to the story:
Recently China announced the opening of an AI-powered police station in Wuhan illustrating its plans to fully incorporate artificial intelligence as a functional part of its systems.
But the most interesting turn comes later, stating:
Artificial intelligence may not yet be up to the task. After all, not every case in the designated area will relate to car or driving related issues. Artificial intelligence has yet to be proven to have the capability of solving complex disputes. It may not use of all of the facts or comprehend the intricate dynamics of human relationships or the damage which can be caused to people whether it is in the case of molestation or rape and hence, may not have the sensitivity to deal with such scenarios.
We love the multitude of uses for AI but have to agree with the skepticism of Sanvada. One of the smartest people on the planet also agrees. Stephen Hawking recently commented that “AI could be the worst event in human history.” Let’s hope he’s not right and let’s hope wise guidance proves that AI police stations stay a novelty in the world of AI.
Patrick Roland, December 12, 2017
Big Data and Search Solving Massive Language Processing Headaches
December 4, 2017
Written language can be a massive headache for those needing search strength. Different spoken languages can complicate things when you need to harness a massive amount of data. Thankfully, language processing is the answer, as software architect Federico Thomasetti wrote in his essay, “A Guide to Natural Language Processing.”
According to the story:
…the relationship between elements can be used to understand the importance of each individual element. TextRank actually uses a more complex formula than the original PageRank algorithm, because a link can be only present or not, while textual connections might be partially present. For instance, you might calculate that two sentences containing different words with the same stem (e.g., cat and cats both have cat as their stem) are only partially related.
The original paper describes a generic approach, rather than a specific method. In fact, it also describes two applications: keyword extraction and summarization. The key differences are:
- the units you choose as a foundation of the relationship
- the way you calculate the connection and its strength
Natural language processing is a tricky concept to wrap your head around. But it is becoming a thing that people have to recognize. Currently, millions of dollars are being funneled into perfecting this platform. Those who can really lead the pack here will undoubtedly have a place at the international tech table and possibly take over. This is a big deal.
Patrick Roland, December 4, 2017
Canada Socks It to the USA Again
November 28, 2017
The US loves making fun of Canada and Canadians take it in stride. While Canadians brush off the teasing, they feel a smug sense of superiority, especially when they get something the US does not. These include a less embarrassing national leader, the metric system, and now the city of the future. The San Francisco Gate reports that “Larry Page’s Urban Innovation Unit Picks Toronto For First Digital Neighborhood.”
This does not come as a surprise, especially if you work in the technology or entertainment industries. Along with other advantages, Canada rewards technology innovations and film crews with tax incentives and other cost-saving laws. Toronto is Canada’s biggest city and Larry Page talked the city officials into building the city of the future along Lake Ontario’s shore. Alphabet Inc. and Waterfront Toronto are working side by side to develop a high-tech community that includes green technologies, self-driving transport, and construction techniques that will lower housing costs.
Unknown to many, Toronto is home to a thriving startup boom and the deal has been in talks for a decade:
Sidewalk Toronto will dedicate $50 million to planning the project, which will begin with a new neighborhood called Quayside and eventually extend into the Eastern Waterfront, more than 800 acres in one of North America’s largest undeveloped urban parcels. Google’s Canadian headquarters will relocate to the development from the west end to support the project.
It is hard to imagine a US city doing something similar to Toronto. Most city governments would want to be paid, instead of giving money to this big of a project.
Whitney Grace, November 28, 2017
It Is Time Our Tech Giants Went on a Goodwill Tour
November 22, 2017
As our tech giants pull in more cash, it’s time they gave more back to society. But how? That’s the central question of a fascinating Business Week article, “Hate Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Google? Get in Line.”
According to the story:
All of the sudden our tech giants find themselves in a PR pickle: They are posting record earnings and seem unstoppable in business, but they desperately need to convince the public they’re not scarier than a pack of velociraptors on meth.
The story partially follows California congressional candidate, Ro Khanna, who thinks he has some answers for these hated behemoths.
Khanna wants the tech giants to see this moment as an opportunity—“a chance to respond to the challenges facing our country,” he wrote. “The hope is that they will answer the nation’s call to advance the common good, from expanding job opportunity to communities across the country to ensuring that online platforms do not contribute to polarization or misinformation.
This is a chance for those behemoths to really make an impact on something other than their pocketbooks. Perhaps, these businesses like Amazon and Facebook, which are obsessed with the real-time operation can extend that to charitable deeds. To see a real-time charitable impact, like this would likely surge giving.
Patrick Roland, November 22, 2017
Solve BI Woes with This Listicle
November 20, 2017
Business intelligence is a key component in any business that wants to be competitive, turn a profit, and make themselves a known entity. The problem, however, is betting your business intelligence plan off the ground. CIO shares the top, “Three Reasons Your Business Intelligence Adoption Has Stalled.” Old-fashioned BI plans relied heavily on putting technology at the forefront and having a dedicated staff to manage it. The traditional model has changed because everyone in an organization can have access to the same type of technology that once was specialized.
The problem with implementing a BI plan is more than likely than the company culture. The first problem is that employees (and everyone) are resistant to change. Forcing employees to use new technology not only creates conflict, but there is also the problem with data literacy. It usually takes a lot of training sessions to get everyone’s skills on par.
Another problem is that some companies rely too heavily on their gut instinct that confirmed data:
BI leaders spend a disproportionate amount of time trying to convince instinct-based decision-makers that analytic insight beats intuition. Unfortunately, this rarely changes deep-rooted beliefs and has little-to-no impact on the use of BI. Consequently, BI teams are better served engaging leaders who understand the value of analytics and are willing and able to influence business process change. Top-down support from organizational leaders to challenge the status quo, and push for business process transformation, is mandatory for success. It will quickly become evident to senior leaders which of their key decision-makers are furthering – or hindering – the organization’s BI and analytic adoption goals.
The third problem is that organizations implement a BI plan, usually around an IT project, and once it is rolled out and on the go, nothing else is done with it. Companies think that once a BI plan is in place, then it will not need to evolve in the future. A fluid mentality, rather than a check-box one is how organizations will have successful BI deployments.
Whitney Grace, November 20, 2017
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