How will artificial intelligence help blind people to orientate in the environment? How will AI influence the economy of the future? How can MIT neural network help psychologists to define depression? Read answers to these and other questions in our weekly digest.

Scientists develop AI that will help blind people to orientate in the streets

Researchers of the German company AiServe are developing an AI solution that can recognize the road and help to move around. The technology will help people with eyesight problems.

Using a camera and a microphone, the AI solution will receive data about the city. In such a way, it will learn to recognize pavements and corners, and with time, it will remember the disposition of the whole neighborhoods. The AI will voice precise directions giving voice commands.

The release of a production model is expected in the UK and Germany within a year.

Huawei presented AI Cube – router and smart speaker in a single device

Huawei developed a smart Huawei AI Cube with Alexa voice assistant. The device fulfils functions of a 4G router and a smart speaker.

Using the device, consumers can connect with the 4G LTE Internet and listen to music. Proprietary audio algorithm Huawei Histen ensures high quality of sound.

The embedded Alexa voice assistant helps to manage settings, consumers can use it to choose music tracks.

The release date and price of the device have not been announced yet.

Artificial intelligence will speed up economy growth

According to the research of McKinsey Global Institute, AI facilitates the increase of the global GDP by 1.2% per year. It is expected that around 70% of companies will implement the AI technology in the work processes by 2030.

Researchers suppose that the contribution of the artificial intelligence to the global economy will comprise around $13 trillion. They also report that around 70% of all companies in the world will be using at least one type of artificial intelligence technology in their activities by 2030.

MIT’s AI defines depression

Scientists of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology developed a neural network that can define depression basing on the tone of a conversation or style of writing.

To diagnose depression, psychologists used to ask patients a number of questions about mood, health, lifestyle, and their latest news. Today one neural network from MIT can manage that.

Scientists figured out that a person suffering from depression is prone to speak with a sad intonation, and the voice is more monotonous and “plain”. Therefore, they provided the neural network with the speech data of healthy people and those suffering from depression.

As a result, the neural network learned to recognize depression with 77% of success, exceeding the performance of all other models based on questions and answers.

Head of LG places a bet on AI

The CEO of LG Jo Seong-Jin reported that the company planned to become one of the major players of the artificial intelligence market. He mentioned that partnership with Google and Amazon would help the company to realize that goal.

Jo Seong-Jin said, “Thanks to the collaboration, we will be able to collect different data through our devices, so LG will become a large player in the AI technologies market”.

He informed that LG was planning to gain a benefit from the data of its partners, and later it would create its own database that would be stored on Wi-Fi devices. Thanks to that, the company will shift the focus from home appliances to the development of innovative technologies.

Stay tuned and follow the latest news on the official website of AI Conference Kyiv.