@tescomobileire launches Double Data offer for Tesco Clubcard holders. #TescoMobile #TescoClubcard

Tesco Mobile Ireland Prepay 15 customers who hold a Tesco Clubcard can now avail of a Double Data allowance of 30GB every time they top up by €15.

The Double Data deal is only available to Tesco Clubcard members giving them even greater value at no extra cost. To date, the Prepay 15 plan allows customers to keep their €15 credit while getting unlimited any network calls and 15GB data, all for 28 days. With this new benefit, Prepay 15 customers who register their Clubcard to their Tesco Mobile account will receive double data (30GB) each time they top up.

This is a great value deal for those who may have needed to top up within a month to get more data affording them time to scroll or stream their favourite shows while on the go.

Tesco Mobile Ireland customers can also earn double Clubcard points every time they pay their monthly bill or top-up their prepay phone when they register their Clubcard to their Tesco Mobile account. T&C’s apply.

Having first launched in Ireland in 2009, Tesco Mobile is the country’s largest virtual network operator with over 400,000 customers. Switching to Tesco Mobile is easy, with prepay phones in 110 Tesco stores and 34 Tesco Mobile phone shops nationwide with a dedicated Tesco Mobile expert on hand to help give detailed assistance. Customers can also sign-up online at tescomobile.ie.

Customers looking to upgrade their smartphone can look no further than Tesco Mobile with smartphones starting from as little as €39.99. Tesco Mobile stocks Samsung, Apple, Huawei, Nokia, Alcatel, TCL and Doro phones.

  • Customers who do not hold a Tesco Clubcard can sign up via Tesco.ie
  • Subsequently they can link their Clubcard to their Tesco Mobile account via the Tesco Mobile app or at My.TescoMobile.ie.
  • Please visit www.tescomobile.ie for terms and conditions.

 

Let the new Sharp party speakers turn up the heat. #Speakers #Tech #Sharp

The sun is shining, the temperature is rising, Summer is finally here, and you can’t wait to get outside and enjoy it! Whether it’s a barbecue in the garden, chilling out by the lakeside or meeting friends in the park, Sharp can provide the backing track for your Summer fun with its new PS-919 and PS-929 portable party speakers.

 

After what seems an age, the gradual relaxing of social distancing rules is cause to celebrate with our nearest and dearest and we can’t wait to experience that real party feeling again. Dance the night away with Sharp’s brand-new party speakers: PS-919 and PS-929! These high power, portable speakers both feature flashing DISCO lights and if you are lucky enough to have two, they can be paired together for True Wireless Stereo sound that makes for a next-level party!

 

The PS-919’s compact size and IPX-5 water resistance make it ideal for outdoor parties. It allows effortless music streaming via Bluetooth from a smartphone or tablet and can be used with other devices via the aux-in connection; you can even playback stored music through the USB port (which will also charge your phone). Thanks to the handy screw thread on the base, the speaker can be mounted on a tripod and with the latest lithium battery tech built-in playback is up to 14 hours – you won’t miss a beat.

 

When you want to throw the loudest party on the street, go for the PS-929. A max total output of 180 watts plus a SUPER-BASS function combine to deliver a truly thumping sound. Using the True Wireless Stereo function, you can pair two PS-929s together for an immersive stereo sound-stage which is more than twice the fun! For the complete party-solution the PS-929 includes a Microphone so you can sing-along or make that special announcement that everyone needs to hear…

 

Stacked with features, the PS-929 has 10 equaliser pre-sets to let you fine-tune the sound to your liking. Bluetooth, inputs for a second microphone or guitar, aux-in and USB (with charging functionality) provide maximum connectivity. The built-in battery offers great portability and when the juice runs low simply plug it in to the mains to keep the tunes playing and recharge – the PS-929 will definitely be the soul of your successful party!

 

For further information visit sharpconsumer.eu

 

The PS-919 and PS-929 party speakers are available for a recommended retail price of 149,00 € and 159,00 € respectively. Reviews coming soon on techbuzz..

Tech and gaming gift ideas from new brand Lost Universe. #Tech #Gaming #Gadgets #LostUniverse

New UK-based retailer Lost Universe launches online with a vast collection of pop-culture gifts, gadgets, apparel and collectables, amid increased popularity of licensed products, placing the UK as the second largest market worldwide, according to the 2019 Global Licensing Survey.

Lost Universe aims to be the ultimate destination for licensed merchandise and on-trend pop culture items, including first-to-market products and exclusive gifts, gadgets, accessories and collectables.

The new brand is aimed at an audience of pop-culture fans and enthusiasts, as well as more widely at those interested in buying unique gifts, with plans to offer one of the largest collections of licensed merchandise, pop-culture and entertainment items – over 5,000 products are available for launch from the top franchises and brands.

The highly-anticipated online collection includes licensed products from leading franchises like Disney, Universal Pictures, Marvel,  Star Wars, Harry Potter, Game of Thrones or Jurassic Park, as well as from brands such as Nintendo, PlayStation, Xbox, Netflix, Ubisoft and more.

 

The online product range includes:

  • A quirky selection of apparel and accessoriesfrom T-shirts, sweatshirts and cosplay items, to bags, wallets, keyrings and jewellery.
  • Official pop-culture collectablesincluding action figures, pop vinyls, statues, figurines and limited edition coins from cult TV shows, films, gaming and comic books.
  • Home decorand soft furnishings such as cushions, prints and posters, bedding and throws, as well as bookends and office accessories.
  • The latest gaming tech and accessories, such as retro game consoles, gaming chairs, and merch from fan-favourites Fortnite, Super Mario, Minecraft, or Warhammer 40,000.
  • A diverse range of giftsranging from stationery, mugs, notebooks, to water bottles and advent calendars among many others.

Live and upcoming star products include:

Product number Product name Price
77275 Dragon Ball Super Gohan Super Saiyan 16cm Figure £25.00
79156 The Mandalorian Baby Yoda Pop! Vinyl £12.00
73864 Spyro 8” Cable Guy £25.00
74057 Pac-Man Mini Arcade Machine £35.00
81490 Minecraft Axe Print Backpack £30.00
71806 Nintendo Super Mario Replica Hat £12.00
75538 Marvel Avengers Wallet £15.00
Coming soon PlayStation – PS One Technical Men’s Hoodie – L £60.00
Coming soon Minecraft Light-Up Wall Torch £20.00
Coming soon Three Wise Stormtrooper 14cm (Standing) £30.00
Coming soon Pac-Man Lamp £30.00
Coming Soon X-Rocker Evo Pro 4.1 Gaming Chair £259.00

The hottest upcoming limited edition and exclusive products include:

  • Jurassic Park Silver Plated Ticket– Limited edition 5,000 worldwide
  • Back to the Future Replica Number Plate – Limited edition
  • Texas Chainsaw MassacreNecklace – Limited edition 9995
  • Super MarioPiranha Plant Desk Lamp – Exclusive
  • Marvel Logo Light – Exclusive

The new brand will offer an inclusive environment for pop-culture fans, by creating “Lost Universe Club” – a community led initiative where users can share ideas, interact and benefit from “money can’t buy” experiences, such as exclusive access to industry events, talks, and exclusive products, special competitions and offers.

“We couldn’t be more excited to launch what we hope to be an immersive ‘geekdom’ of cult and trending pop-culture merchandise, and offer the best experience possible to an inclusive community of fans and pop-culture enthusiasts. The team at Lost Universe live and breathe pop-culture and are dedicated to sourcing the most coveted products for our audience. Lost Universe will offer an exciting online experience, where pop-culture fans will be able to find everything they’re after and be the first to know about their favourite film, TV, gaming, comic book or anime merch”, says Fred Prego, Director of Marketing and E-Commerce.

Lost Universe is actively growing its online product range and exploring future plans to open a dedicated pop-up shop in a selected UK location.

Twelve South introduces the TimePorter for Apple Watch. #AppleWatch #TwelveSouth #Tech

 Twelve South today introduced the TimePorter, a compact case and charging stand for the Apple Watch. Taking inspiration from a sunglasses case, not only can the neatly designed TimePorter hold all your essential Apple Watch accessories, it also acts as a charging and display stand. Whether users are travelling and need a case for protection or simply want a storage and charging solution that won’t look out of place on a bedside table, the TimePorter is the ultimate companion for the Apple Watch.

The TimePorter can hold everything needed to dress and power an Apple Watch, including the extra-long Apple charging cable, an additional Watch band, a USB charger and more. An integrated portal holds the magnetic charging disc flush with the roof of the TimePorter so users can simply slip their Watch band around the contoured leather case for charging. A built-in spool within the case feeds out just enough cable to reach the nearest power outlet and also stops it from tangling.

The TimePorter can also be used as a display stand due to its multi-angle case top that can be adjusted to give users the perfect view of incoming notifications and alerts whilst the Watch charges. For those who like to use nightstand mode whilst they sleep, just position the Watch horizontally across the TimePorter and angle to view. The magnetic charging disc will hold the watch in place.

The Twelve South TimePorter is available now for £44.99 at Amazon.co.uk.

Neos launches smart leak and smart motion kits. #Neos #NeosSmartHome #NeosSmartKit

New research released today has revealed one in three Brits (21.5 million people) have experienced a leak in the last year. With the average leak costing £632.80, this has cost the nation an eye-watering £13.6 billion. In the longer term, 44.77 million UK residents have experienced a leak in their current or past home.

The research, conducted by Neos is aiming to raise awareness of the damage that leaks from taps and pipes can cause. Many people don’t take precautions against this threat – only one in ten Brits have equipped a leak detector and 11% don’t have insurance – because it is a hidden problem that often only comes to light when it’s too late and the damage is done.

NEOS BOOST

London is the UK’s leak capital, with a shocking 81% of people experiencing a leak in their current or previous home. However, Scots are the most likely to have experienced a leak in the last year (38%). Homes in the South-West of the country are the most leak free, with nearly half (41%) of residents saying they’ve never experienced a leak from a pipe or tap.

 

Interestingly, the data also revealed people living in council housing are less likely to experience a leak – with 52% of homeowners and 55% of private renters experiencing a leak in their property, in contrast to just 42% of those living in a council house.

Including costs covered by individual’s insurers or landlords, leak repair forced Brits to cough up an average of £632.80 per incident, although the research found that it can cost individuals up to £12,000 to repair the damage. Leak victims in Northern Ireland tend to pay the most (£724.40) to fix the damage and those in the East Midlands are most likely to nab a bargain, only paying £424.70 on average. As well, while 30% of those who had experienced a damaging leak had the cost completely covered by their insurance, shockingly 24% of people ended up paying for all of the repairs themselves because they didn’t tell their insurer, perhaps because they didn’t understand their policy or feared being penalised.

 

Matt Poll, co-founder and CEO, Neos says, “Leaks in the home are an incident that many of us don’t think about until they happen. The data has proven, however, that they actually affect most of us. Try asking your friends and family about their experiences – you’ll be surprised at how many have suffered a damaging leak, and at a significant cost to the person if they don’t have insurance.”

 

He continued, “While these findings are worrying, I hope they empower people to seek out options to actively protect their homes from leak damage. Installing leak sensors means that even if a single drop of water is where it shouldn’t be, you will know straight away and be able to act before real damage is caused. There are also other simple steps you can take to protect your home, like switching off your water when you’re out for more than a day or not running water consuming devices, like washing machines and dishwashers, when you’re not home.”

NEOS CAMERA REVIEW 

Neos launched its new Smart Kits, an integrated Smart Leak Sensor Kit and Smart Motion Sensor Kit,on the 22nd July, 2020. The Smart Kits will be for sale via Amazon fend of July and via Dixons and Very in August. The products are great value, coming in at one third of the price of other industry leaders.

 

The Smart Leak Sensor Kit  is designed to detect a single drop of water, preventing small leaks from turning into big problems. It also alerts you to unexpected changes to your home with built-in temperature and humidity sensors. The Smart Motion Kit can capture movements with the Neos Smart Motion Sensor and make any household item smart, from your cat flap to the cookie jar, with its contact sensor. Both kits integrate with the Neos SmartCam, converting it into a  bridge so you can connect all your devices wirelessly and manage them from a single app to check up on your home from wherever you are in the world.

Neos Smart Leak Sensor Kit features:

  • 3x Leak Sensor

  • Built-in Temperature Sensor

  • Built-in Humidity Sensor

  • 1x Smart Bridge

  • Built-in battery Life Indicator

 

Neos Smart Motion Kit features:

  • 2x Open/Close Sensor

  • 1x Motion Sensor

  • 1x Smart Bridge

  • Built-in battery Life Indicator

We will have our review soon.

You can find out more about Neos and its smart home technology here: https://shop.neos.co.uk

Netflix arrives on Nest Hub and Nest Hub Max. #Netflix #Nesthub #Google

The kitchen is a popular place for smart displays in many homes, and for good reason. Whether you’re listening to music, getting the news or catching up on a popular TV show, your Nest Hub keep you entertained while you’re prepping dinner or doing the dishes. It’s also the ultimate cooking companion, with access to tons of YouTube videos ranging from cooking clips to how-to videos. And now, for the first time on any smart display, you can add watching Netflix to your list of kitchen activities: Starting today, Netflix is available on Nest Hub and Nest Hub Max.

The only display for your Netflix fix
Netflix is rolling out on Nest smart displays globally wherever the service and Nest devices are currently available. If you have a  Netflix subscription, simply link your account in the Google Home or Assistant app and you can play Netflix movies, TV shows and documentaries by using your voice. Say, “Hey Google, play Queer Eye” to start streaming instantly, or try, “Hey Google, open Netflix” to scroll through select content and start watching with a simple tap. Hands tied up while you’re cooking? Just pause, play or skip forward with a simple ask.

Hands tied up, but still want to watch? Just ask
Maybe your hands are dirty from cooking, and you don’t want to touch your screen while finding something to watch. By simply using your voice, you can stream many of the services you’re subscribed to.

The smart display with the most entertainment
Now you might even look forward to the nightly post-dinner clean up when using your Nest display as a kitchen TV: You’re also able to cast from your compatible mobile devices to your Nest Hub from streaming services like Disney+,  Prime Video and thousands of other apps that have mobile cast support by opening the streaming service’s mobile app and tapping the Cast icon.

Catching all your favorite shows on your Nest display just got a little more affordable, too: Head over to the Google Store for deals on Nest devices, that are running over the next few weeks. With so many entertainment options on your Nest smart display, your biggest challenge now might just be deciding what to watch.

Review – The Gatekeeper Halberd token. #GateKeeper #Security

The Gatekeeper Halberd token is a proximity-based 2FA technology which is a combination of the security key and password manager. This works on the principle that for a computer that is left unlocked with weak passwords ( in violation of many corporate policies on IT security ) the GateKeeper Halberd token use proximity-based authentication sensors via Bluetooth to Lock or unlock the Computer. This allows the automation of security taking the risk out of the individual user been automated. The Gatekeeper can be configured to one computer or the option to be configured to numbers as per the individual or corporate policies. Web accounts are similar in the passwords are stored on the gatekeeper centralised password manager removing the need to remember numerous passwords for 100’s of sites. The option of one time passwords is available.

Features:

The Gatekeeper can come as an individual service, as a once-off purchase for the hardware/software etc or an enterprise version:

Setup:

The setup involved using 2 different software, one for Proximity and one for the password manager, For individual use – https://gkaccess.com/downloads/ (Mac also available )

The  software is installed  with the dashboard configured,

The token option is ticked, add

Add a new device, which connects to the Bluetooth device and the Halberd token ( no need to manually enter and details )

 

 

 

This can be configured to be set up for a new user via the dashboard,  the user can be given a four to 8 digit code to use the gatekeeper. IT departments have full access to set up individuals to a computer or allow multiple staff to access one computer.

 

In the event of loss / forget a Token,  this can be configured as a loan token or factory reset of the lost token removing the option to access the computer. Additional security can be set up to include proximity & a unique pin code for a user.

 

 

GateKeeper Password Manager

This is set up via the GateKeeper desktop application to provide proximity-based access to web passwords.  This is set up as a new  extension  on the chrome browser to allow OTP to your website,

 

 

A challenge for an individual user is where they use example Facebook,  LinkedIn and require to access this, this may involve info from an OTP which would not be accessible from a temporary computer which is not connected via a Token.

An optional additional USB Bluetooth Proximity Sensor can be supplied to allow proximity set up where the PC USB is inaccessible allowing for extended coverage set up.   

The individual user data is stored locally on the Laptop, in the event of loss of the token, the enterprise is stored on the network with a cloud version expected in the next few months.

 

Company:

Untethered Labs, Inc Gatekeeper is a USA company set up in 2015. They develop advanced wireless proximity access control solutions that act as the first line of defence for preventing unauthorized access to enterprise computers and websites.

They provide automated privileged access management solutions for a wide range of industries including healthcare, MSP/MSSPs, law enforcement, manufacturing, and finance. Their technology increases security and reduces support costs with touchless, proximity-based two-factor computer authentication, centralized enterprise password management, and auditing. They have partners in a variety of countries UK, France, Germany, and  Australia, the individual option can be purchased directly from GateKeeper,  the enterprise option is available directly or via their partner network.

 

 Overall:

The Gatekeeper Halberd token is ideal for those in a highly regulated environment while can be used in any environment which requires good security practice.  ISO27001 requires on leaving a laptop, the laptop should be locked, the proximity sensor is ideal for this as automating the process. Staff should be focussed on the day to day job not focussing on the IT department requirements for security. The ability to configure multiple workstations from one Halberd token is great allowing supervisor access to multiple systems in a controlled environment. Many articles on the web flag passwords are dead,  this product is another nail in the coffin for the traditional password allowing flexibility to use and multiple sites without the need for multiple passwords.  This is a dual-purpose device,  security to lock your PC and password protection for your websites.  Any technology that automates the cybersecurity process improves compliance, reduces support costs,  enhancing security and removing the weaker link of the human intervention is a winner.

 

https://gkaccess.com/store/

Review – The Jabra Evolve2 65. #Jabra #JabraEvolve2 #Office #Home #WFM #Tech

The Jabra Evolve2 65 came in the standard colours with their marketing giving clear details of the features of the earphones.  The packaging as with the product looks professional with the packing also defined as crafted with 100% recyclable material. The internal packing was set up as a quick user guide on the features of the individual buttons.

The headset is made of ultra-soft foam cushion covered in colour-matched silicone, ear cushion soft audio foam covered in colour-matched leatherette,  with an aluminium slider arm. The headset connects to multiple devices wirelessly simultaneous, e.g. laptop and phone,

 

Contents:

  •         Headset,
  •         Desk stand
  •         Jabra Link 380 BT adapter, 1.2m/3.9ft
  •         USB-C to USB-A cable,
  •         soft pouch for the headset (not for the stand)
  •         Warranty and warning (safety leaflets)
  • Weight – Stereo 176.4g/6.22ozThe weight is important in terms of wearing for hours, which is comfortable.

 

 

 Key features

  •         Noise-isolating design for ideal concentration: Keeps external sounds out for better work collaboration and listening experience in any environment
  •         Long battery life and improved busy light: Keep interruptions to a minimum with up to 37 hours of battery life – the integrated red LED light shows ongoing conversations
  •         Be heard and understood, wherever you are: 3 microphones, an enhanced digital chipset and the boom arm offer you the best possible audio quality
  •         This Evolve2 65 headset is MS Teams-certified with a dedicated Teams button and meets MS Teams open office requirements
  •         Warranty 2-year warranty

 

The plug-and-play experience includes these benefits:

  •         Automatic selection as the default audio device.
  •         A dedicated Microsoft Teams button to Notifications of Microsoft Teams LED flashes purple when. Microsoft Teams meeting ready to join. Microsoft Teams missed call. …
  •         Voice prompt when the user is wearing the headset.

 

Battery, Charging

The unit came with a Desk stand charger USB A which can be plugged in a standard USB charger or direct to a Laptop.  The headset has 2  gold contacts for the desk stand, alternatively, a USB C charging lead  ( as supplied with most modern Android phones ) can be used. A full charge can provide 37 hours of battery life in 90 minutes. A fast charge of 15 minutes can provide 8 hours of battery life.  While the Desk stand charger is ideal to store and charge the headset, this is an item not used as on the few occasions when the battery was getting low ( as advised on the phone app ) connecting to a power brick with a standard USB C charger cable meant the headset did not need to be removed from its primary purpose. The battery life of 37 hours is great with the option to shut down if not used within the app functionality.

 

Setup:

On the Jabra Evolve2 65, slide and hold (3 seconds) the on/Off/Pairing switch in the “Pairing” position until the LED flashes blue and the Jabra Evolve2 65 announces pairing mode. On your Android device, go to Apps, Settings, Connections, Bluetooth. Ensure Bluetooth is turned On. Your Android device will automatically search for available devices. When the name of your product appears on-screen, tap it to start pairing. When pairing is complete, your Jabra Evolve2 65 is ready to use with your mobile device. If you need to pair a second device, or if the initial pairing fails, restart the pairing process from the beginning.

 LED colours and behaviours.

 

App

Download the Jabra Sound + app for the phone as the setup in the standard for android,

 

Laptop / PC

The Jabra Link Bluetooth adapter can be plugged directly into the USB port as Jabra device is pre-paired in the box. The Jabra Link Bluetooth adapter supports plug-and-play functionality, without needing to install separate software drivers on the computer.

 

Teams calls

The Evolve2 models that are certified for Microsoft Teams support Microsoft Teams as a plug-and-play experience. The plug-and-play experience includes these benefits:

  •         Automatic selection as the default audio device.

A dedicated Microsoft Teams button to:

  •         Notifications of Microsoft Teams LED flashes purple when
  •         Microsoft Teams meeting ready to join
  •         Microsoft Teams missed call
  •         Microsoft Teams voicemails
  •         Microsoft Teams LED flashes green with an incoming Microsoft Teams call
  •         Invocations
  •         Answering incoming Microsoft Teams calls
  •         Opening the meeting “pre-join” screen
  •         Open missed calls screen
  •         Open Microsoft Teams voicemail screen
  •         Bring up Microsoft Teams client from the background
  •         Voice prompt when the user is wearing the headset

 

 

Niggles

Slight niggles were noticed on the boom mic which can be obtrusive when not in use listening to music, the boom mic cannot be disconnected or removed. On receipt of 2 calls e.g. from a laptop teams call and mobile call, the answering can be confusing in terms of the buttons to press, this takes practice to become familiar with the buttons like any other new product I guess.Most modern products as such are the same be it on one side or the other and no removable or detachable. 

 

Overall:

The Jabra Evolve2 65 is quality in the physical feel of the headset, the software is tried and tested from previous models and works well. The core function of making and receiving calls via your phone or Laptop worked easily, The added featured of mute, physically moving the mic to mute or unmute, other standard features we typically expect worked well. It is also a viable product for personal music but Jabra excell here in other areas with the 85H Evolve 2 85  which Jim is testing right now and so far has been more than impressed with these as a hybrid answer or their latest True Wireless the elite active 75t which is tough to beat, with Jabra products they both suit our needs in the environments we both work in which sees different scenarios and some similar and Jabra products fit the bill perfectly and fulfil our needs and more when it comes to quality and features. 

The software provides options for bass depth and clear treble for music, the office functionality in terms of  Microsoft Teams and the consistency in call quality and connection provides a  seamless experience. The Jabra does the simple thing right, connection to multiple devices simultaneously, provided clear call quality and audio experience,  another quality product from a quality company,  A pearl of audio communication experience.

 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Jabra-Evolve2-Wireless-Headset-USB/dp/B086KBXB3G

The Jabra Evolve2 65 was supplied to us by Jabra with no preview or copy approval and no compensation was provided. You see our reviews the same time the brands we work with do. Additional text and unboxing video by Jim O Brien.

AI and the reverse arc of digitalisation. #AI #ComtradeDigital

By Boris Cergol, Head of AI at Comtrade Digital Services

Over the past few years, digitalisation has been a buzzword for many companies, as they try to take advantage of new technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), cloud environments, and machine learning, to improve operations, centralise data, and enhance customer engagement. If you are interested in the last one, be sure to check out the best online machine learning courses around”.

However, in reality, this transition into the virtual or digital world isn’t without its challenges. One common problem for organisations is bridging the gap between the implementation of AI or data science and the delivery of a real business value.

In fact, when the data scientist role emerged, it was a sort of “unicorn” role because these individuals were expected to not only manage the technology infrastructure and build AI models, but also translate data into actionable predictions and communicate effectively with more business-minded colleagues. 

Mixed results in the beginning

Of course, some companies had more success than others in terms of the AI application. Typically, larger companies with the economies of scale have done better, as have technology companies and those working in ecommerce or finance where the use and value of AI is more straightforward.

Many small businesses, who decided to embrace such technologies, have probably been disappointed with what they got out of it, especially considering the amount of hype surrounding it. 

Boris Cergol, Head of AI, Comtrade Digital Services

Therefore, the question became: how can AI have a bigger impact in the real world, spreading beyond the confines of the digital, to provide greater value to a wider circle of businesses and people?

Key enablers of AI

There are a number of enablers that are having an impact on the success rate of AI, the first of which is computing power. To date, it has already enabled a Deep Learning revolution and, since 2012, computing power has increased 300,000 times. Taking the ImageNet dataset as an example, the time needed to train a network to perform image classification has gone from 10 hours in 2017 to 88 seconds in 2019! 

As well as having more compute available and this process being more cost-effective, the efficiency of algorithms is also increasing exponentially. Again, compared to a model in 2012, computing the same task today with the newer algorithms takes 44 times less compute.

Data is another strong enabler of AI and significant progress is being made in relation to overcoming the issue of data labelling within Deep Learning – because there’s so much data and not that much of it labelled, supervised models have been unable to make use of it, resulting in the need for data labellers. However, self-supervised models are addressing this as they are now able, in circumstances where there is a large amount of data and one data point is removed, to guess what has been removed based on the remaining data. 

Auto Machine Learning (Auto ML) methods are also on the rise, helping to automate classic data science research and acting as a strong driver in terms of a real-world AI application. In fact, in some circumstances, end users are already directly interacting with Auto ML models. The delivery of ML on the edge devices is another exciting area of development which supports AI implementation: for example, WeWalk′s canes for visually impaired people, designed to give users more independence.

Ethical considerations will inevitably arise

Ethics can often be an obstacle to AI ad ML implementation. What happens with all the data? If different users are accessing the same model, what is the impact on privacy? Does the payoff of using AI for health purposes justify the use of data? How can we combat AI being intentionally used for deception? And so on…

Take Generative Adversarial Networks (GAN) as an example. These networks can generate images that are representative of training set data and then a second network tries to determine if the image is from the set or fake. By competing against each other, in the end, the generator learns how to create images that look like they were from the training set. While it has the potential to be used in retail and cosmetics to digitally show consumers what an outfit or makeup product might look like on them – a sort of virtual “try-on” experience – it could also be used in advertising to deceive the audience. Another instance is using digital avatars or deep fakes to build a fake persona on social networks. 

For the most part though, AI is being used for the right reasons and is generating some impressive results. One area in particular is natural language processing, which has led to the next generation of chatbots that are much more receptive and customer-friendly than before. 

So, what comes next?

In the future, there’s a strong possibility that each of us could have a digital companion which would have a large amount of data on us, but use it to watch over us and be the ultimate example of a supportive AI (which, to date, includes creations such as the shoe that monitors sports performance).

There are also signs that we aren’t far away from unsupervised reinforcement learning or imitation within robotics. In the not-too-distant future, there is potential for robots to learn like children do – by witnessing their behaviours, playing around with them and, accordingly, adapting how they act. 

Undoubtedly, there’s a great deal of research and development needed in the area of the real-world application of AI, but progress is certainly being made and models are being put to good use in a range of industries, including healthcare. 

As the well-known researcher Jürgen Schmidhuber recently said: “Although the real world is much more complex than virtual worlds, and less forgiving, the coming wave of real world AI or simple real AI will be much bigger than the previous AI wave, because it will affect all of production, and thus a much bigger part of the economy”.