Impact Lab – Page 700 – A Laboratory of the Future Human Experience

The world’s first AI exchange-traded fund is set to run in Canada

November 6, 2017

Today’s artificial intelligence (AI), most experts will agree, is still far from what’s called a general AI — one that can perform any task human beings are capable of. Yet, despite limitations, AIs have become rather powerful — at least enough to beat human beings in their own games, or even to take over performing certain tasks in a number of industries. In Canada, AI is gearing up for a new role: Horizons ETFs Management, Inc. is preparing to launch the Horizons Active A.I. Global Equity ETF on November 1.

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Bitcoin, Blockchain, Economy, Money Talk

Most Americans remain blissfully unaware of the blockchain revolution

November 3, 2017

With the cryptocurrency market cap now estimated to be in the hundreds of billions of dollars and a sort of familiar frenzy kicking into overdrive, here’s another reminder that widespread adoption by the U.S. public has not yet materialized.

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brain hacking, brain-computer interfaces, brains

DARPA scientists unveil brain device that boosts learning by 40 percent

November 2, 2017

A brain device that can increase learning by up to 40 percent has been revealed by scientists funded by the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency (DARPA). While the device was originally tested on macaques, researchers said it could be a cheap and non-invasive way of “altering functional connectivity in humans” in the future.

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AI, Business, Shopping

The checkout line’s death knell

November 2, 2017

Machine vision AI is going to change everything about shopping.

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Alternative Transportation, bicycle, Ecological Products, Electric Vehicles

Chainless 4-wheeled hybrid electric bike concept is “self-charging”

November 2, 2017

The Hybrid Module Mobility concept isn’t pedaled directly, but instead employs a pedal-powered alternator for riders to partially recharge its batteries.

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Analysis, Economy, Employment

Report: These are the fastest-declining jobs in the U.S.

December 14, 2017

As technology overtakes every industry, the business forecast for jobs like typists, watch repairers, and postal workers over the next decade is bleak, according to a Bloomberg report citing Labor Department data.

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Business, Future, Latest Trend

8 innovative industries that will really boom in 2018

November 1, 2017

Lots of different fields, from medicine to marketing and tech to leisure, are poised to achieve breakthroughs and revolutions next year.

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Breakthrough Thinking, Healthcare, Inventions, Life Skills, Science & Technology News

For decades, the blind have used canes to get around. Now a special wristband gives them a ‘sixth sense.’

November 17, 2017

Sunu has developed a wristband that emits a silent, high frequency sound and vibration to alert the visually impaired of obstacles within their environment.

Continue reading… “For decades, the blind have used canes to get around. Now a special wristband gives them a ‘sixth sense.’”

AI, Artificial Intelligence

Saudi Arabia grants citizenship to humanoid robot (VIDEO)

October 30, 2017

Saudi Arabia has become the first country to grant citizenship to a robot. The lucky machine is Sophia the Humanoid, who was designed to look like Audrey Hepburn.

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China, Environment, government

China launches 8,000 water clean-up projects worth $100 billion in first half of 2017

October 30, 2017

SHANGHAI (Reuters) – China launched nearly 8,000 water clean-up projects in the first half of 2017 with projected total investment of 667.4 billion yuan ($100 billion), the environment ministry said on Thursday.

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Alternative Transportation, Automobiles, Uber

Using only Uber or Lyft is cheaper than owning a car for 25% of Americans — here’s how to know if you apply

October 29, 2017

Ridesharing services like Uber and Lyft free up millions of Americans from having to own a car to get around. An analysis of the all-in costs of car ownership show that ridesharing alone could be more cost-effective in the long run.

The future will most likely be a mix of both ridesharing and ownership, since people still derive great value from having their own car.

Continue reading… “Using only Uber or Lyft is cheaper than owning a car for 25% of Americans — here’s how to know if you apply”

Bitcoin, Blockchain, Economy, Finance

Why your bank hates you for loving bitcoin

October 29, 2017

Bitcoin has been around since 2009, but it really wasn’t until recently that it finally hit the mainstream consciousness of investors and the general public. As of this writing 1 bitcoin is now worth over $5,600 USD. And its meteoric rise doesn’t look to be abating any time soon. Its potential to reshape how we understand and use money is real. But the big question is why are banks and governments so steadfastly against it?

Continue reading… “Why your bank hates you for loving bitcoin”