The AI industry has been growing in leaps and bounds over the past few years, with several high-profile acquisitions. Qualcomm, for instance, recently acquired NUVIA, a competitor in the field of chip design. This acquisition likely will lead to more AI-based features in consumer products. And Vivint, a leading smart home service provider in North America, has developed a suite of AI-based products, including video surveillance, heating and cooling management, and door security.
The first step to AI-related technologies is machine learning. Machine learning is the process of teaching a computer system how to make predictions based on data without requiring a programmer’s assistance. Examples of companies using machine learning to improve their services include Amazon, Netflix, Spotify, and Facebook. Machine learning technologies have the potential to change the way we live, work, and play. For example, Amazon’s Alexa can automatically figure out what you’re reading right now based on your purchase history.
The United States National Science Foundation has recently announced the creation of five AI institutes, each led by a different university. The institutes will each receive $20 million over five years to further AI-related research. The University of Oklahoma in Norman will focus on improving climate forecast accuracy, while the University of Texas at Austin’s institute will study the next generation of machine-learning algorithms. The University of Colorado Boulder will explore AI applications in education, while the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign will focus on the discovery of new materials and drug synthesis.
