September 28, 2018: Friday News Roundup
Greetings, roundup readers. Fair warning, this week’s edition is heavy on artificial intelligence and robots. They’re making art, monitoring health, making space history, and hiring job candidates. What could possibly go wrong?
AI-Produced Artwork Is Moving From The Fringes Into The High Art World
Auction house Christie’s is putting a portrait on the block that was created by AI, not a famous painter, and it’s expected to fetch several thousand dollars. Is this the end of “real” artists? Weren’t we led to believe technology could never replace human creativity? Art produced by algorithm raises some interesting questions.
Japan Makes History By Deploying Robots On Asteroid
Last week, Japan’s space agency successfully landed two robotic rovers on an asteroid 13 years after the first Hayabusa mission failed. The rovers are equipped with cameras that are sending color photos back to Earth. Click the link at the end for a deep dive into deep space.
Artificial Intelligence: The Robots Are Now Hiring
Automated resume-screeners are nothing new, but a new crop of machine-learning tools are going further. One vendor says its technology helps hiring managers “scan people’s social media accounts to surface underlying personality traits.” Concerns about bias understandably remain.
Why You’re Probably Getting a Microchip Implant Someday
Fortunately, this article isn’t about being monitored by your employer (though we’ve read that one before too). Instead, the microchips in question are intended to keep track of your health, despite questions as to the safety of implanting RFID technology inside the human body.
France Bans Smartphones in Schools Through 9th Grade. Will It Help Students?
We know how distracting smartphones are in the workplace, and the classroom is no different. In France, they’re taking the bull by the horns and saying “non” to students bringing their devices to primary and middle school. The education ministry hopes students will pay more attention in class and interact more.