Jul 22, 2020

14 Posts

Upgrade for ReLU: The sin(x) activation function is an alternative to ReLU.
Jul 22, 2020

Upgrade for ReLU: The sin(x) activation function is an alternative to ReLU.

The activation function known as ReLU builds complex nonlinear functions across layers of a neural network, making functions that outline flat faces and sharp edges. But how much of the world breaks down into perfect polyhedra?

2 min read
Upgrade for ReLU: The sin(x) activation function is an alternative to ReLU.
Jul 22, 2020

Upgrade for ReLU: The sin(x) activation function is an alternative to ReLU.

The activation function known as ReLU builds complex nonlinear functions across layers of a neural network, making functions that outline flat faces and sharp edges. But how much of the world breaks down into perfect polyhedra?

2 min read
Which Shoes Go With That Outfit?: An AI with fashion sense assembles outfits.
Jul 22, 2020

Which Shoes Go With That Outfit?: An AI with fashion sense assembles outfits.

Need a wardrobe upgrade? You could ask the fashion mavens at Netflix’s Queer Eye — or you could use a new neural network. Researchers at Amazon propose Category-based Subspace Attention Network (CSA-Net) to predict and retrieve compatible garments and accessories that complement one another.

2 min read
The Power of Sleep
Jul 22, 2020

The Power of Sleep

I received a copy of Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams as a Christmas gift — back in the pre-Covid era — and finished it last weekend. This book by Matthew Walker, director of UC Berkeley’s sleep and neuroimaging lab, is a useful reminder of the importance of sleep...

1 min read
Scientific Discovery on a Roll: Scientists trained a robot arm to run lab experiments.
Jul 22, 2020

Scientific Discovery on a Roll: Scientists trained a robot arm to run lab experiments.

A mechanical lab assistant could accelerate chemistry research.What’s new: Researchers at the University of Liverpool trained a mobile robot arm to navigate a lab, operate equipment, handle samples, and obtain results far faster than a human scientist.

1 min read
Which Shoes Go With That Outfit?: An AI with fashion sense assembles outfits.
Jul 22, 2020

Which Shoes Go With That Outfit?: An AI with fashion sense assembles outfits.

Need a wardrobe upgrade? You could ask the fashion mavens at Netflix’s Queer Eye — or you could use a new neural network. Researchers at Amazon propose Category-based Subspace Attention Network (CSA-Net) to predict and retrieve compatible garments and accessories that complement one another.

2 min read
Scientific Discovery on a Roll: Scientists trained a robot arm to run lab experiments.
Jul 22, 2020

Scientific Discovery on a Roll: Scientists trained a robot arm to run lab experiments.

A mechanical lab assistant could accelerate chemistry research.What’s new: Researchers at the University of Liverpool trained a mobile robot arm to navigate a lab, operate equipment, handle samples, and obtain results far faster than a human scientist.

1 min read
The Batch: Corporate Deepfakes, Robot Chemists, Smart Boutiques, Curvy Neural Nets
Jul 22, 2020

The Batch: Corporate Deepfakes, Robot Chemists, Smart Boutiques, Curvy Neural Nets

I received a copy of Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams as a Christmas gift — back in the pre-Covid era — and finished it last weekend. This book by Matthew Walker, director of UC Berkeley’s sleep and neuroimaging lab...

10 min read
AI in Regions Rich and Poor: How companies in Africa and the Middle East use AI
Jul 22, 2020

AI in Regions Rich and Poor: How companies in Africa and the Middle East use AI

Companies in Africa and the Middle East are building AI capacity in very different ways, a new study found. AI is growing fast in both regions despite shortages of talent and data.

1 min read
Deepfakes Go Corporate: Syntheisa offers AI generated videos in 34 languages.
Jul 22, 2020

Deepfakes Go Corporate: Syntheisa offers AI generated videos in 34 languages.

The same technology that has bedeviled Hollywood stars and roiled politics is easing corporate communications. Synthesia generates training and sales videos featuring photorealistic, synthetic talking heads that read personalized scripts in any of 34 languages.

2 min read
The Batch: Corporate Deepfakes, Robot Chemists, Smart Boutiques, Curvy Neural Nets
Jul 22, 2020

The Batch: Corporate Deepfakes, Robot Chemists, Smart Boutiques, Curvy Neural Nets

I received a copy of Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams as a Christmas gift — back in the pre-Covid era — and finished it last weekend. This book by Matthew Walker, director of UC Berkeley’s sleep and neuroimaging lab...

10 min read
Deepfakes Go Corporate: Syntheisa offers AI generated videos in 34 languages.
Jul 22, 2020

Deepfakes Go Corporate: Syntheisa offers AI generated videos in 34 languages.

The same technology that has bedeviled Hollywood stars and roiled politics is easing corporate communications. Synthesia generates training and sales videos featuring photorealistic, synthetic talking heads that read personalized scripts in any of 34 languages.

2 min read
AI in Regions Rich and Poor: How companies in Africa and the Middle East use AI
Jul 22, 2020

AI in Regions Rich and Poor: How companies in Africa and the Middle East use AI

Companies in Africa and the Middle East are building AI capacity in very different ways, a new study found. AI is growing fast in both regions despite shortages of talent and data.

1 min read
The Power of Sleep
Jul 22, 2020

The Power of Sleep

I received a copy of Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams as a Christmas gift — back in the pre-Covid era — and finished it last weekend. This book by Matthew Walker, director of UC Berkeley’s sleep and neuroimaging lab, is a useful reminder of the importance of sleep...

1 min read

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