Daily Archives: February 9, 2020

Taking the Freedom Out of Freelancing – Foundation for Economic Education – Foundation for Economic Education

Posted: February 9, 2020 at 8:45 am

As I headed to LAX after a recent trip to Los Angeles, my Lyft driver insisted that we stop at In-N-Out Burger so that I could enjoy one last California experience. We ate the burgers outside, as planes flew above us. My driver, a professional photographer, works for Lyft to supplement his irregular income. His story is common. Most drivers that Ive encountered in California and elsewhere drive as a side job, while also, say, working in restaurants or selling real estate.

But if Californias state government has its way, driving for Lyft or Uber wont be easy in the future. The passage of Assembly Bill 5 (AB5) aims to make contract workers, like my Lyft driver, regular employees.AB5 is well-intentioned but doesnt account for how the labor market has changed. This will bring higher pay and benefits to retained workers, but it will also increase costs, which means higher prices for customers. And if employers ultimately incur the costs of adding more regular staff, odds are that they will start to mandate when and where employees work, reducing gig-work opportunities.

Under the new law, to be permitted to hire someone as a contractorand not as an employeebusinesses must pass whats known as the ABC test, which involves proving, in court, that the contractor is free from control and direction of the hiring entity, that the contractor supplies similar services to other vendors, and that the work performed falls outside the usual course of the hiring entitys business. My Lyft driver, and many others, would be unable to satisfy those conditions.

AB5 is well-intentioned. Contract work, with its unconventional hours and pay, is risky and unpredictable, with no benefits, and the prospect of instant termination. The law originated in a 2018 lawsuit, Dynamex Superior West v. Superior Court, involving delivery employees at Dynamex. Though the company considered them contractors, they were expected to wear uniforms and supply their own cars. They sued to be recognized as employees and won, and the suit created the ABC test. Within a year, AB5 became law.

But AB5 doesnt account for how the labor market has changed. In an industrial economy, dependence on a single employer made sense, and attaining skills relevant to a single firm proved valuable. Finding other work, after all, could be difficult. But in a knowledge-oriented economy, where technology makes work easier to find and on-the-job skills are more commonly transferable across companies than in the past, independence can suit both employers and employees. Gig works flexibility also makes it valuable as a fallback, offering extra money when people might need it most.Nontraditional work relationships include a host of different arrangements.

In fact, most gig workers in the U.S. dont work full-time in this capacity. Over the past 15 years, the number of full-time contractors has been stable. According to a Federal Reserve Board survey, only 18 percent of Americans perform gig work as their primary source of income. The plurality, or 38 percent, use it to supplement income from their primary job.

Overall, 30 percent of Americans do some form of gig work, and its common across education levels. Though contract work makes up less than ten percent of household income for three-quarters of survey respondents, 45 percent consider it an important part of their income.

The Fed concludes:

The greater subjective value placed on this income may be related to its ability to smooth out unexpected changes in earnings from main jobs even if the actual amount of money earned is relatively small.

Gig works flexibility also makes it valuable as a fallback, offering extra money when people might need it most. Workers of all income levels find it valuable. Its also a helpful option for stay-at-home parents who want to keep a toe in the labor market. Turning gig work into a regular job undermines this value because it removes its most important characteristic: flexibility.

No wonder, then, that workers and employers are pushing back. Freelance journalists are mounting a challenge to AB5 after many lost jobs. Developing technology calls for better regulation of gig work, not effectively eliminating it.Uber and Lyft say that theyll continue to hire drivers as contractors, but they could face legal challenges, as some trucking companies did. The truckers prevailed in court because their business takes them across state lines.

Its true that technology is transforming the labor market, and employee protections have been reduced. But this development calls for better regulation of gig work, not effectively eliminating it. The leading Democratic presidential candidatesJoe Biden, Elizabeth Warren, Pete Buttigieg, and Bernie Sandershave all endorsed a national version of AB5. They should remember that most workers use gig work as a form of insurance. By eliminating contractors, laws like AB5 will increase risk rather than reduce it.

This article is republished from City Journal.

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Elon Musk promises to have the Neuralink brain chip in a human this year – Inceptive Mind

Posted: at 8:44 am

The device that allows the human brain to connect to a computer could be implanted in a person for the first time later this year, announced the founder of Neuralink neurotechnology company, the tycoon Elon Musk.

Last year, Musks Neuralink introduced a special microchip and flexible fiber electrodes that should allow the human brain to connect to computers or machines. At the same time, he announced that the electrodes in question would like to be implanted with a laser in the future because it is more suitable than a mechanical drill for making holes in the skull.

This crazy project of Elon Musk and his startup seems to be going well. Elon Musk said on Twitter that the Neuralink is working on an awesome new version of the companys signature device. Clearly better than Utah Array, he said contentedly.

Musk claimed that (the new version) just needs to be unequivocally better than Utah Array, which is already in some humans & has severe drawbacks. Utah Array is an existing interface designed to record neural activity in the brain.

Neuralinks ambitions are really great! The main purpose of the device is to compensate for entire sections of the brain lost due to a stroke, accident, or congenital disease.

Of course, it is not yet clear what the updated concept looks like and whether it will work at all. SpaceX and Tesla chief, however, is full of optimism and enthusiasm. The potential is truly transformational for restoring brain & motor functions, he said in his tweet on Monday.

If the arrival of the first tests on the human brain is encouraging, the road is long until the actual implantation of Neuralink. In another tweet, he says: First, we need to make it super safe & easy to use, then determine the greatest utility vs. risk. From initially working to volume production & implantation is a long road.

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Elon Musk promises to have the Neuralink brain chip in a human this year - Inceptive Mind

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Schukov: The chess game continues and the West Island is a pawn – Montreal Gazette

Posted: at 8:43 am

"I don't think Montreal is lacking in political clout in Quebec," stated Qubec solidaire co-spokesman Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois. "If the price to pay for a Quebec democracy that better represents the regions and better reflects the votes of Quebecers is that Montreal loses three ridings, it is a price we at QS are ready to pay."Dave Sidaway / Montreal Gazette file photo

The beauty of chess is that it is a game of drawn out strategy whereby you virtually set traps for your opponent, calculated to remove their obstacles of resistance until a checkmate is inevitable.

Politics is arguably a chess game; thats the beastly part.

And arguably (theres a lot of arguably going on here) the proverbial bastion that is the West Island of Montreal (WIM) is a pawn in the provincial game between Quebec nationalists and in-ground federalists.

I have to hand it to the eternal nationalist movement, which has been with us since the Battle of the Plains of Abraham. Their strategy of nailing independence (ie. victory) has been remarkably progressive. Like a chess game, they first tried a quick thrust a clear referendum question. That having failed, they tried a quick cloaked version. (We will share the Canadian passport and dollar.) The fast tracks having failed, they settled down to a slow burn with lots of cloaking devices. Their checkmate scenario is best described by the London School of Economics former premier Jacques Pariseaus winning conditions. The idea is if you cant trick your opponent with some textbook moves, you take the long road and disable their board pieces little by little. The opponent loses by attrition.

After an outright separatist party (Parti Qubcois) waxed ineffectiveness over the recent years, we now have a nationalist-lite option (Coalition Avenir Qubec) which presents itself under a more inclusive marquee (ie. We will not hold another referendum, without saying, until we have winning conditions.)

But the chess game goes on, played out by more experienced bushwhackers.

Exhibit A: Garnish English schools (like pawns) one by one, having previously changed the rules of the game with Bill 101. That undemocratic bill still lingers under the cloak of French language protection despite the former concern having been proven to be solid in terms of Quebec society. But the separatists are playing for a win not a draw. I say cloak because Bill 101s contemporary purpose is to create winning conditions. (Theres that chess game again.)

Three more English schools recently closed in the east end due to (101-fabricated) low attendance of historic Anglos (as opposed to other Canadians.) Wow.

Exhibit B: The bling-restricting Bill 21. (You fill in the blanks.) Hardly a champion of Canadas cultural melting pot (versus a record-skipping one-trick tribal pony.)

And yet the chess match, like an exhausting game of Risk (the global version of territory procurement) moves too slowly for the eager vanguard of nation-wanters, so being an inventive baker its got something fresh cooking in the oven:

Exhibit C: Bill 39, the CAQ governments proposed reforms to the electoral system that the non-narcoleptic chess opposition say would reduce the island of Montreals loges in the National Assembly by three. Doesnt seem that much to complain about, huh? But remember, we are now in the long haul, pawns projected to be garnished even further until the moat is dry and the drawbridge down around Fortress WIM. Doesnt matter if the doomed seats are not in the West Island. Its the number of pieces left on the board. Montreals say in the strictest definition of provincial Quebec would be further eroded less irritants to the wanters strategic end game. And like the present use of Bill 101 and 21 cloaked. A loss to Montreal will be counterbalanced with a rural gain no matter their spare population and whether they know where Montreal the provinces economic engine is on the map.

Without being a Quebec political guru how do I know this proposal is bad?

Because Qubec solidaire co-spokesman Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois likes it:

If the price to pay for a Quebec democracy . . . (I dont know how he doesnt get struck by lightning when he says that.) . . . that better represents the regions and better reflects the votes of Quebecers is that Montreal loses three ridings, it is a price we at QS are ready to pay. (As Ace Ventura, pet detective says, Reeeeeeeeealy!

Also the Liberal critic for democratic reforms doesnt like it. (Hmmm. Can it be bad for the pawns?)

I could dredge up more examples, but why bother? The writing is on the wall. The chess game is on and we should upend the board. How about a Montreal independent from Quebec?

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Schukov: The chess game continues and the West Island is a pawn - Montreal Gazette

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Cairns Cup: Humpy and Dzagnidze score convincing wins – Chessbase News

Posted: at 8:43 am

Taking risks with the black pieces can easily lead a player astray, especially when facing experienced, technically strong opponents. That is precisely what happened to the youngest player in the field Carissa Yip and the ever-entertaining Valentina Gunina, as theyrisked a bit more than they should have and were convincingly outplayed by Humpy Koneru and Nana Dzagnidze. The top players from India and Georgia thus became the first shared leaders of the 2020 Cairns Cup.

Yip took a chance by using the King's Indian Defence against Humpy, one of the most principled players in the circuit. The Indian advanced her h-pawn all the way down to the sixth rank, further hindering her rival's ability to manoeuvre in a defence that already leaves Black with a considerable space disadvantage. On move 19, Yip missed a chance to free up her army:

Master Class Vol. 12: Viswanathan Anand

This DVD allows you to learn from the example of one of the best players in the history of chess and from the explanations of the authors how to successfully organise your games strategically, consequently how to keep your opponent permanently under press

The young American played 19...f6 here, underestimating the strength of Humpy's response 20.e6. White goes for a positional pawn sacrifice, expecting to bank on the awful situation of Black's dark-squared bishop on h8, now completely boxed up by its own pawn structure (19...f6 was called for to activate the piece). The game continued 20...xe6 21.dxe6 xe6 22.c4 c7.

It must be noted that Yip's strategy did work in one regard, as Humpy spent way too much time trying to find a way to 'punish' Black's play, which left her pretty much playing on increment ten moves prior tothe control. The 32-year-old from Vijayawadafound the critical winning plan nevertheless:

White is still a pawn down, but isalso putting strong pressure on the b-pawn if that pawn disappears it is hard to imagine Black surviving with such a passive bishop. That is why Humpy needed to find 30.d2 here, planning to push the a-pawn up the board while allowing her rival to get a strongcentre after 30...f5 31.a4 fxe4 (note that going for an immediate 30.a4 is not as gooddue to 30...a8). Five moves later, White had penetrated through the b-file, gained the hapless bishop and forced her opponent's resignation.

This victory left Humpy as world number two in the live ratings, barely edging world champion Ju Wenjun but still over 80 points behind semi-inactive Hou Yifan.

Current world rapid champion Humpy Koneru | Photo: Lennart Ootes

Valentina Gunina also started off on the wrong foot. The tactical fighter won the first edition of the event with an extraordinary 7 out of 9 score. She, however, comes from having a subpar performance in Gibraltar and will need to find her groove in Saint Louis if she wants to fight for first again. She is surely capable of doing just that, as almost every single one of her games features chaotic struggles.

Against Nana Dzagnidze, Gunina played astrange-looking 9...d6 out of a Trompowsky attack. Dzagnidze noticed this questionable plan gave her chances to go for the win and carefully executed a sequence that left her a pawn to the good in the early middlegame:

Trompowsky for the attacking player

Tap into your creative mind and start the game on a fresh note. The Trompowsky (1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5) is an opening outside of conventional wisdom. Create challenges and make your opponent solve problems early on.

Georgia's number one spent 17 minutes on 13.a4, the best way to profit from Black's uncoordinated army. There followed 13...b8 14.axb5 axb5 15.xh7 and it only remained to be seen whether White would find the right path to convert her advantage.

Dzagnidze later declared that she was happy with her play and that she never felt she had lost the thread. Nevertheless, while two pawns up in what seemed to be a completely winning position for White, Gunina missed a golden chance to save a half point:

Here Dzagnidze faltered by playing 31.g2 instead of 31.h1. The idea is that after 31...h3+ 32.h1 Black can draw with the precise 32...f6, planning to hide on g7 if White gives a check, while also threatening to play ...h8 next. In this case, all White can get is a perpetual.

Of course, we cannot blame Gunina for not finding 32...f6 in her calculations with the time control approaching dangerously and after having defended a miserable position for quite a while. Dzagnidze did not need much longer to secure the victory.

Defending champion Valentina Gunina | Photo: Lennart Ootes

The first game to finish was the draw between Mariya Muzychuk, with White, and Ju Wenjun. It was a Petroff Defence in which Muzychuk could have pushed for more at some point. Meanwhile, Kateryna Lagno was outprepared in the opening by Harika Dronavalli. Lagno, playing White, met the challenge of finding solutions over the board, albeit in exchange ofa heavy investment of time on her clock. On move 36, the Russian did not have enough time to calculate a variation that would have given her chances to fight for the full point:

The Accelerated Dragon - a sharp weapon against 1.e4

After 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 g6! leads to the so-called "Accelerated Dragon Defense". On this DVD the Russian grandmaster and top women player Nadezhda Kosintseva reveals the secrets of her favourite opening.

Lagno played 36.d6 and the draw was signed after 36...e3 37.xd5. The direct 36.xd5 was playable though, as White should not be afraid of the variation 36...e1+ 37.g2 f4+ 38.f2 e2+ 39.f1 c2 as she can consolidatewith 40.d8+ f7 41.d4. Easier said than done.

Finally, the last encounter to finish was Alexandra Kosteniuk versus Irina Krush. The latter got some chances against White's isolated queen's pawn, but there were always enough dynamic resourcesfor the former world champion to keep the balance.

Click or tap to select a game from the list

Harika Dronavalli and Kateryna Lagno discussing their round one game | Photo: Austin Fuller

The Reti, a flexible attacking opening

The Nimzo-Indian, the Gruenfeld and the King's Indian Defence are three incredibly uncomfortable defences to meet. This hypermodern DVD gives new ideas on how to squash these setups with sound, positional play based on double fianchetto systems.

Commentary by WGM Jennifer Shahade, GM Yasser Seirawan and GM Alejandro Ramirez

Links

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Artificial Intelligence Is Not Ready For The Intricacies Of Radiology – Forbes

Posted: at 8:41 am

Radiology is one of the most essential fields in clinical medicine. Experts in this field are specialists in deciphering and diagnosing disease based on various imaging modalities, ranging from ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computerized tomography (CT), and x-rays. Studies have shown that the use of radiology in clinical practice has exponentially grown over the years: at the Mayo Clinic, between the years 1999 to 2010, use of CT scans increased by 68%, MRI use increased by 85%, and overall use of imaging modalities for diagnostic purposes increased by 75%, all numbers that have likely continued to rise, and indicate the sheer demand and growth of this robust field.

A unique proposal that has become prominent over the last few years to help alleviate this increased demand is the introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) technology into this field. Simply put, the premise of AI as an addition to the practice of radiology is straightforward, and has been envisioned in two main ways: 1) a system that can be programmed with pre-defined criteria and algorithms by expert radiologists, which can then be applied to new, straightforward clinical situations, or 2) deep learning methods, where the AI system relies on complex machine learning and uses neural-type networks to learn patterns via large volumes of data and previous encounters; this can then be used to interpret even the most complicated and abstract images.

Variety of body scans.

However, while much of the theoretical basis for AI in the practice of radiology is extremely exciting, the reality is that the field has not yet fully embraced it. The most significant issue is that the technology simply isnt ready, as many of the existing systems have not yet been matured to compute and manage larger data sets or work in more general practice and patient settings, and thus, are not able to perform as promised.Other issues exist on the ethical aspects of AI. Given the sheer volume of data required to both train and perfect these systems, as well as the immense data collection that these systems will engage in once fully mainstream, key stakeholders are raising fair concerns and the call for strict ethical standards to be put into place, simultaneous to the technological development of these systems.

Furthermore, the legal and regulatory implications of AI in radiology are numerous and complex. There are significant concerns in the data privacy space, as the hosting of large volumes of patient data for deep learning networks will require increased standards for data protection, cybersecurity, and privacy infrastructure. Additionally, given that AI systems will act as an additional diagnostic tool that must be accounted for in the patient encounter, legal frameworks will be required to fully flush out and navigate where liability falls in the case of misdiagnosis or medical negligence. Will this become an issue for the product manufacturer, or will there be a dynamic sharing of the responsibility by multiple parties? This will depend significantly on the amount of autonomy afforded to these systems.

However, radiologists must remain central to the diagnostic process. While AI systems may be able to detect routine medical problems based on pre-defined criteria, there is significant value provided by a trained radiologist that software simply cannot replace. This includes the clinical correlation of images with the physical state of the patient, qualitative assessments of past images with current images to determine progression of disease, and ultimately the most human aspect of medicine, working with other healthcare teams to make collaborative care decisions.

Using a human brain model to interpret MRI scans.

Indeed, there are significant potential benefits to the mass integration of certain AI systems into the practice of radiology, mainly as a means to augment a physicians workflow, especially given increasing radiology demands in clinical medicine. With some reports citing an expected rise in the use of AI in radiology by nearly 16.5% within the next decade, significant complexities remain unaddressed. However, these issues will ultimately need to be resolved in order to achieve a comprehensively capable and ethically mindful AI infrastructure that can become an integral part of clinical radiology.

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What Role Will (Or Does) Artificial Intelligence Play In Your Life? – Forbes

Posted: at 8:41 am

The role AI plays in your life is a matter of choice (but only to a certain extent).

It doesnt seem too long ago that artificial intelligence (AI) was mostly the stuff of science fiction. Today it seems to be everywhere: in our home appliances, in our cars, in the workplace, even on our wrists.

To some extent, our use of AI is still a matter of personal choice. But because AI is becoming increasing ubiquitous, we need to make a lot of conscious decisions.

Regardless of the choices we make, we need to stay educated on the evolution of this science. A thoughtful primer on this is Rhonda Scharfs bookAlexa Is Stealing Your Job: The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Your Future.

My conversation with Rhonda provides some good tips what we should know and what we can do.

Rodger Dean Duncan:AI today is similar to the introduction of the desktop computer three decades ago. Many people resisted computers and got left behind. Whats the best argument for AI today?

Rhonda Scharf

Rhonda Scharf:Artificial Intelligence is not going away. When the desktop computer was introduced in the 1980s, many people felt it was a fad, and it would disappear over time.

Hazel, a woman I worked with, was willing to bet her career on it.When the company I worked at insisted we transition to desktops or leave the company, she rolled the dice and called their bluff. She lost. She believed there was no way a company could exist without tried-and-true manual systems and that computers were a big waste of time and money.

We are in precisely that situation again.

If you can write instructions for a task so that someone can follow them, then AI can replicate those actions.

Duncan:So whats the implication?

Scharf:Not only can your company exist without you performing these tasks, it will also (eventually) be more profitable (with fewer errors) because of it.

By refusing to learn about AIand by refusing to adapt and be flexibleyoure rolling the dice that AI will not take over the tasks you currently do. Call yourself Hazel, and youll soon be out of a job.

AI is alive and well in the workplace, only many people dont realize it. Being nave and refusing to acknowledge what is right under your nose is a recipe for disaster. Take a look around at how much AI we already have in our lives. Artificial Intelligence is not going away. Adapt or become unemployed.

Duncan:Most people have grown comfortable with the idea of letting machines replace humans to do monotonous, heavy, repetitive, and dangerous tasks. But the notion of having AI make decisions and predictions about the future often evokes skepticism or even fear. What do you say to people who have such concerns?

Scharf:Movies like2001: A Space Odyessyand its AI character, HAL 9000, have planted the seeds of fear and mass destruction in our minds. We are afraid of what computers can do on their own. AI learns from its experiences and will make decisions on its owncalculated, logical, and statistically accurate decisions.

What AI doesnt do is make emotional decisions. Take AI stock trading as an example. Without any emotions involved, the robo-advisers can determine the optimal price to buy and sell specific stocks. They dont get emotionally tied into one more day and potentially lose profits. AI can evaluate millions of data points and make conclusions instantly that neither humans nor computers can do. As quickly as the market changes, AI changes its course of action based on the data.

Im not about to have AI make life-or-death decisions for me. The same way we now trust machines to handle monotonous, heavy, repetitive, and dangerous tasks, I will rely on AI to do some heavy thinking and bring me logical conclusions, quickly and efficiently.

If you don't want to be left behind, you'd better get educated on AI.

Duncan:What do you tell people who have privacy concerns about AI applications?

Scharf:The privacy concerns are real, but you gave up your privacy when you got your first mobile phone (for some this was as early as 1996). It could track you. Technically, that impacted your privacy 20-plus years ago.

Once the Blackberry was introduced in 1999, followed by the iPhone eight years later, your privacy became severely compromised. Your phone knows where you are, and it knows what youre doing. Even if you keep your Bluetooth off, your device and its apps know a lot about you.

If you wear any technology whatsoever, you are giving up your privacy. According to a 2014 study by GlobalWebIndex, 71% of people ages 16 to 24 want wearable tech. That was over five years ago before we had much wearable technology.

In the same study, 64% of internet users aged 16 to 64 said theyve either already used a piece of wearable tech or were keen to do so in the future.

Fast forward five years, and half of Americans use fitness trackers daily. More than 96% of Americans have a cell phone of some kind.

People may say they have privacy concerns, but when it comes to using technology that improves our lives, we forgo privacy for convenience.

Next: Artificial Intelligence, Privacy, And The Choices You Must Make

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These are the exact skills you need to get a job in artificial intelligence – Ladders

Posted: at 8:41 am

Artificial intelligence is all the rage, and theres good money to be made in an industry thats still largely emerging from its infancy. But, the problems that AI solves are not easy, and to work in the AI industry you will need a strong and focused set of skills.

Heres the good news: We live in a society where a shocking number of people would rather have a robot boss than a human one. We would rather be led by machines.

This means that most of us are accepting of the idea of artificial intelligence, or AI.

In many sectors, machines have already taken over monotonous jobs. Manufacturing is a prime example. Auto and aerospace manufacturers use machines heavily in their assembly lines. In fact, machines completely transformed the way that our cars are built.

Artificial intelligence isnt just a fad. Its here to stay.

And, that means the industry will need a skilled workforce to build, test and deploy more and more artificial brains around the world. Get in early and youll stand to make a lot of money.

Not to mention help change the world.

If you are interested in a career in artificial intelligence, then youre in the right place.

Artificial intelligence attempts to mimic (and surpass) the power of the human brain using nothing but machines. Machine learning is another common term in AI.

The primary goals of artificial intelligence are:

Artificial intelligence attempts to build machines that think and reason rather than operate in a relatively confined space with pre-built routines, procedures and outcomes. Smart AI systems recognize patterns and remember past events and learn from them, making each subsequent decision smarter, logical and more organic.

AI is a giant paradigm shift in modern computing and requires a deeply scientific and logical approach to design computer systems that think and learn. In other words, build robots that arent just robots.

And believe it or not, AI capabilities are all over the place.

A few examples of artificial intelligence systems include speech recognition (available on many cell phones and smart home devices), email spam blockers, plagiarism checkers, language translation services (like Google Translate) and the auto-pilot system on airplanes.

Companies like Google, Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, Facebook, Accenture, Boeing and so many others are hiring for artificial intelligence roles. AI salaries are typically higher than average because good AI talent can be hard to find.

Artificial intelligence is everywhere in society, and the industry is growing rapidly in 2020. Here is exactly what you need to know to pursue a career in AI.

Artificial intelligence is highly scientific. After all, mimicking the human brain using machines is a very tough problem to solve, much less master. The skills that you will need to pursue AI as a career are varied, but all of them require a great deal of education, training and focus.

That said, there is a wide variety of career types available in AI and machine learning, and they range from higher-level research to low-level programming and implementation.

For example, researchers use their breadth of knowledge in theory and study to reveal new types of systems and capabilities. Researchers hypothesize new or different ways for machines to think and test their research for real-world feasibility.

Algorithm developers take AI research and transform that research into repeatable processes through mathematical formulas that can be implemented using hardware and software.

Software developers and computer scientists use those algorithms to write sophisticated pieces of software that analyze, interpret and make decisions.

Hardware technicians build pieces of equipment (like robots) to interact with the world. Robots use its internal software to move and operate.

Most careers in artificial intelligence require coursework and experience in a variety of math and science-related topics like:

Want a career in AI? Then read. A lot.

Read papers and case studies. Experiment with technologies like Map-Reduce, PHP, MySQL, Postgres and Big Data, especially if you are targeting a computer science-related career in AI. Expose yourself to as many technologies as you can.

Pro tip: Browse through AI job opportunities. Read the job descriptions and especially the requirements to get a feel for specific qualifications that you need for that job.

For example, some might need experience in low-level programming languages like Python or MatLab. Others, especially in the healthcare industry, need expertise in data services like Spark and Blockchain.

Regardless of the type of job that youre after in artificial intelligence, there is no better way to figure out the exact skills you need than to read job requisitions and stay as up-to-date in the industry as possible.

Use the Job Search tool here on The Ladders to find AI and machine learning jobs.

Though the types of careers in the AI industry are varied, most professionals in AI possess five key skills and capabilities, regardless of their individual roles.

Most AI professionals:

Are highly critical thinkers. They take nothing at face value and are naturally curious. They believe in trial and error and must test and experiment before making a concrete decision.

Like to push the envelope. AI is all about pushing the boundaries. Pegging the capabilities of hardware and software to their max, always looking for more. More ways to improve existing systems. More ideas for inventing new ways to live.

Live naturally-curious lives. Always wanting to know more, artificial intelligence pros want to know how things work. They dont just look. They observe. They dont hear. They listen.

Dont get easily overwhelmed. They understand that artificial intelligence is highly technical, but also realize that venturing into uncharted waters is difficult and mysterious. They enjoy the process rather than getting frustrated by it.

Love math and science. AI is highly technical and its a natural good fit for those who are gifted and interested in hard sciences and mathematics.

Artificial intelligence is not just about replacing the human component of the industry. Its also about making it easier to make decisions based on observable patterns, use logic and reasoning to form conclusions and build pathways to boost efficiency and production.

It is not an easy discipline, but thats also why salaries in the AI industry are much higher than average. It takes the right type of person with the right skill set to excel.

Are you the type of person whos right for a career in AI? If you have many of these skill sets, then you just might be.

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Artificial Intelligence Market Size Worth $390.9 Billion by 2025: Grand View Research, Inc. – Yahoo Finance

Posted: at 8:41 am

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The global artificial intelligence marketsize is expected to reach USD 390.9 billion by 2025, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The market is anticipated to expand at a CAGR of 46.2% from 2019 to 2025. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is considered to be a revolutionary technological development and its integration across a host of applications is one of the key factors driving this market. Advances in image and voice recognition are driving the growth of the regional market. Improved image recognition technology is critical in enhanced drones, self-driving cars, and robotics.

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Key suggestions from the report:

Read 100 page research report with ToC on "Artificial Intelligence Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Solution, By Technology (Deep Learning, Machine Learning), By End Use (Advertising & Media, Law, Healthcare), And Segment Forecasts, 2019 - 2025" at: https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/artificial-intelligence-ai-market

The two major factors fueling market growth are emerging Artificial Intelligence technologies and growth in big data espousal. Rising prominence of Artificial Intelligence is enabling new players to venture into the market by offering niche application-specific solutions. Furthermore, companies are engaging in industry consolidations in a bid to gain competitive advantages. For instance, in January 2017, Microsoft Corporation acquired Maluuba in order to advance in the deep learning and AI landscape. Existing solution providers are innovating their product portfolio to include both hardware and software solutions.

North America held the dominant share in the global AI market in 2018 thanks to the availability of high government funding, presence of leading players, and strong technical base. Asia Pacific, however, is anticipated to overtake North America to emerge as the leading regional market by 2025, registering the highest CAGR. This can be attributed to rapid improvements in information storage capacity, high computing power, and parallel processing, all of which have contributed to the swift uptake of Artificial Intelligence technology in end-use industries such as automotive and healthcare.

AI has the potential to reduce the burden on clinicians and provide an efficient tool to workforces for accomplishing their tasks in a better way. For instance, AI voice-enabled symptom checkers can better access a situation and assist patients to the emergency department when immediate treatment is required. Artificial Intelligence is expected to resolve around 20% of unmet healthcare demands.

Grand View Research has segmented the global Artificial Intelligence market based on solution, technology, end use, and region:

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Artificial Intelligence Market Size Worth $390.9 Billion by 2025: Grand View Research, Inc. - Yahoo Finance

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FDA Authorizes Marketing of First Cardiac Ultrasound Software That Uses Artificial Intelligence to Guide User – FDA.gov

Posted: at 8:41 am

For Immediate Release: February 07, 2020

Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized marketing of software to assist medical professionals in the acquisition of cardiac ultrasound, or echocardiography, images. The software, called Caption Guidance, is an accessory to compatible diagnostic ultrasound systems and uses artificial intelligence to help the user capture images of a patients heart that are of acceptable diagnostic quality.

The Caption Guidance software is indicated for use in ultrasound examination of the heart, known as two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography (2D-TTE), for adult patients, specifically in the acquisition of standard views of the heart from different angles. These views are typically used in the diagnosis of various cardiac conditions.

Echocardiograms are one of the most widely-used diagnostic tools in the diagnosis and treatment of heart disease, said Robert Ochs, Ph.D., deputy director of the Office of In Vitro Diagnostics and Radiological Health in the FDAs Center for Devices and Radiological Health. Todays marketing authorization enables medical professionals who may not be experts in ultrasonography, such as a registered nurse in a family care clinic or others, to use this tool. This is especially important because it demonstrates the potential for artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies to increase access to safe and effective cardiac diagnostics that can be life-saving for patients.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, killing one out of every four people, or approximately 647,000 Americans each year. The term heart disease refers to several types of heart conditions. The most common type is coronary artery disease, which can cause heart attack. Other kinds of heart disease may involve the valves in the heart, or the heart may not pump well and cause heart failure.

Cardiac diagnostic tests are necessary to identify heart conditions. Among them are electrocardiograms (more widely known as an EKG or ECG), Holter monitors and cardiac ultrasound examinations. The software authorized today is the first software authorized to guide users through cardiac ultrasound image acquisition. The Caption Guidance software was developed using machine learning to train the software to differentiate between acceptable and unacceptable image quality. This knowledge formed the basis of an interactive AI user interface that provides prescriptive guidance to users on how to maneuver the ultrasound probe to acquire standard echocardiographic images and video clips of diagnostic quality. The AI interface provides real-time feedback on potential image quality, can auto-capture video clips, and automatically saves the best video clip acquired from a particular view. Importantly, the cardiologist still reviews the images for a final assessment of the images and videos for patient evaluation.

The Caption Guidance software currently can be used with a specific FDA-cleared diagnostic ultrasound system produced by Teratech Corporation, with the potential to be used with other ultrasound imaging systems that have technical specifications consistent with the range of ultrasound systems used as part of the development and testing.

In its review of this device application, the FDA evaluated data from two independent studies. In one study, 50 trained sonographers scanned patients, with and without the assistance of the Caption Guidance software. The sonographers were able to capture comparable diagnostic quality images in both settings. The other study involved training eight registered nurses who are not experts in sonography to use the Caption Guidance software and asking them to capture standard echocardiography images, followed by five cardiologists assessing the quality of the images acquired. The results showed that the Caption Guidance software enabled the registered nurses to acquire echocardiography images and videos of diagnostic quality.

The FDA is dedicated to ensuring medical device regulation keeps pace with technological advancements, such as todays marketing authorization. This February, the FDA is hosting a public workshop titled Evolving Role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Radiological Imaging and seeks to discuss emerging applications of AI in radiological imaging, including AI devices intended to automate the diagnostic radiology workflow, as well as guided image acquisition. Discussions will also focus on best practices for the validation of AI-automated radiological imaging software and image acquisition devices, which is critical to assess safety and effectiveness.

The FDA reviewed the device through the De Novo premarket review pathway, a regulatory pathway for low- to moderate-risk devices of a new type. Along with this authorization, the FDA is establishing special controls for devices of this type, including requirements related to labeling and performance testing. When met, the special controls, along with general controls, provide reasonable assurance of safety and effectiveness for devices of this type. This action creates a new regulatory classification, which means that subsequent devices of the same type with the same intended use may go through FDAs 510(k) premarket process, whereby devices can obtain marketing authorization by demonstrating substantial equivalence to a predicate device.

The FDA granted marketing authorization of the Caption Guidance software to Caption Health Inc.

The FDA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, protects the public health by assuring the safety, effectiveness, and security of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines and other biological products for human use, and medical devices. The agency also is responsible for the safety and security of our nations food supply, cosmetics, dietary supplements, products that give off electronic radiation, and for regulating tobacco products.

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FDA Authorizes Marketing of First Cardiac Ultrasound Software That Uses Artificial Intelligence to Guide User - FDA.gov

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Global Forecast on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the Freight Transportation Industry (2020 to 2025) – Disruptive Impact of AI on Freight…

Posted: at 8:41 am

The "Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the Global Freight Transportation Industry, Forecast to 2025" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

This study analyses the key trends and applications of artificial intelligence in the freight transportation industry by mode of transport i.e. road, rail, air, and ocean freight transportation. This research also analyses the disruptive impact of artificial intelligence on freight transportation business operations and discusses its adoption prospects until 2025.

Market Insights

With increased trade flow, the fleet population in freight transportation has become denser, and expectations of customers have evolved beyond recognition, resulting in complex transport operations, requiring operational flexibility from freight operators. Human errors in operations, underutilized assets, low workforce productivity, inefficient operational planning, inability to match supply with demand, and trimmed profit margins are key prevailing concerns with freight operators.

The emergence of digital technologies and the rapid technological advancements in digitization have transformed the business and operational landscape of the global freight transportation industry. It is essential for freight operators to embrace such operational complexity and evolve by adopting technologies to turn complexity into an advantage.

Today, the world is connected more than ever, and the growth of data generation has been exponential with smart devices and process automation. Data-driven insights help freight operators move forward and gain a competitive advantage over their peers. Artificial intelligence enables freight operators to harness data more effectively for actionable insights.

Artificial intelligence-powered systems in conjunction with other digital technologies such as internet of things and big data analytics utilize data to its full potential to anticipate events for freight operators, aiding them to avoid risks and create innovative solutions. Machine learning algorithms based on neural networks powered by artificial intelligence would unlock multiple benefits for companies operating in the freight transportation industry.

AI brings changes to the supply chain with autonomous vehicles, helping fleet operators reduce operating cost with and fuel consumption and plan optimized routes for service. The freight operators that are enhancing their capabilities with artificial intelligence are reaping its benefits by increasing efficiency with predictive intelligence. Artificial intelligence also enriches the relationship between the shipper and carrier with personalized service offerings.

Advanced sensor fusion with artificial intelligence supports the integration of smart infrastructure and operating assets and the freight operators in the development of connected freight ecosystem, aiding autonomous fleet management. The transformation of the logistics industry due to artificial intelligence is imperative in the near future; however, the readiness and openness of freight operators for an AI-based data-driven environment will determine how well this industry copes with challenges.

Key Topics Covered:

1. Executive Summary

2. Research Scope and Methodology

3. AI in Logistics Industry

4. AI in Freight Forwarding

5. AI in Freight Transportation

6. Stature of AI Adoption in Freight Transportation

7. Growth Opportunities and Companies to Action

8. The Last Word

Companies Mentioned

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/nusb51

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200207005450/en/

Contacts

ResearchAndMarkets.comLaura Wood, Senior Press Managerpress@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900

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Global Forecast on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the Freight Transportation Industry (2020 to 2025) - Disruptive Impact of AI on Freight...

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