Monday, October 17, 2016

Artificial and Social Media Intelligence

A campaign by the Sydney Morning Herald saved the monument from destruction and it was re-located to the Royal Botanic Gardens in 1943, where it replaced an iron fountain.
Almost 70 years later, philanthropists John and Patricia Azarias​ saved the monument once more, forming the Lysicrates Foundation to help fund its restoration by NSW Government stonemasons.
NSW Property Minister Dominic Perrottet said government stonemasons completed the painstaking work on the monument's damaged friezes following a $200,000 investment as part of the minister's Stoneworks Program.
Restored Lysicrates​ Monument unveiled at Sydney's Royal Botanic Gardens  


What was Dada? A school that embraced paradox, chance, irony, and humor. It sought to free people from the insanity of the times... Ruski Da Da 

“The ACLU of California has obtained records showing that Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram provided user data access to Geofeedia, a developer of a social media monitoring product that we have seen marketed to law enforcement as a tool to monitor activists and protesters. We are pleased that after we reported our findings to the companies, Instagram cut off Geofeedia’s access to public user posts, and Facebook has cut its access to a topic-based feed of public user posts. Twitter has also taken some recent steps to rein in Geofeedia though it has not ended the data relationship. Further steps are required if these companies are to live up to their principles and policies by protecting users of all backgrounds engaging in political and social discourse. So today the ACLU of California, the Center for Media Justice, and Color of Change are calling on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to commit to concrete changes to better protect users going forward. Read our letters here and here.”
Via The White House: “Summary: A new report from the Administration focuses on the opportunities, considerations, and challenges of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Under President Obama’s leadership, America continues to be the world’s most innovative country, with the greatest potential to develop the industries of the future and harness science and technology to help address important challenges. Over the past 8 years, President Obama has relentlessly focused on building U.S. capacity in science and technology. This Thursday, President Obama will host the White House Frontiers Conference in Pittsburgh to imagine the Nation and the world in 50 years and beyond, and to explore America’s potential to advance towards the frontiers that will make the world healthier, more prosperous, more equitable, and more secure.  Today, to ready the United States for a future in which Artificial Intelligence (AI) plays a growing role, the White House is releasing a report on future directions and considerations for AI calledPreparing for the Future of Artificial Intelligence. This report surveys the current state of AI, its existing and potential applications, and the questions that progress in AI raise for society and public policy. The report also makes recommendations for specific further actions. A companion National Artificial Intelligence Research and Development Strategic Plan is also being released, laying out a strategic plan for Federally-funded research and development in AI. Preparing for the Future of Artificial Intelligence details several policy opportunities raised by AI, including how the technology can be used to advance social good and improve government operations; how to adapt regulations that affect AI technologies, such as automated vehicles, in a way that encourages innovation while protecting the public; how to ensure that AI applications are fair, safe, and governable; and how to develop a skilled and diverse AI workforce. The publication of this report follows a series of public-outreach activities spearheaded by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) in 2016, which included five co-hosted public workshops held across the country, as well as a Request for Information (RFI) in June 2016 that received 161 responses. These activities helped inform the focus areas and recommendations included in the report…”

FASTER, PLEASE: Scientists have figured out how to help nerve fibres repair themselves ...

REDUCING TESTOSTERONE LEVELS RAISES RISK OF DEMENTIA