Seaweeds can grow very fast at rates more than 30 times those of land-based plants. Because they de-acidify seawater, making it easier for anything with a shell to grow, they are also the key to shellfish production. And by drawing CO2 out of the ocean waters (thereby allowing the oceans to absorb more CO2 from the atmosphere) they help fight climate change. https://theconversation.com/how-farming-giant-seaweed-can-feed-fish-and-fix-the-climate-81761
In the largest agriculture-tech funding round in history, vertical farming startup "Plenty" attracted US$200 million. Some experts say the investment could make the indoor farming industry more viable as a whole.
Instead of growing greens outdoors, the farm grows its food on glowing, LED-lit 20-foot-tall towers inside a former electronics distribution center in South San Francisco. The towers don't require pesticides or natural sunlight.
The technique is called indoor vertical farming. Food grows on trays or hanging modules in a climate-controlled, indoor facility. The process is revolutionary. Certain types of food could be produced year-round, anywhere, in a small space.
http://www.businessinsider.com/food-investment-vertical-farming-2017-8/
Facial recognition has existed for decades, but only now is it accurate enough to be used in secure financial transactions. The new versions use deep learning, an artificial-intelligence technique that is especially effective for image recognition because it makes a computer zero in on the facial features that will most reliably identify a person. Technology from Face++ is already being used in several popular apps. It is possible to transfer money through Alipay, a mobile payment app used by more than 120 million people in China, using only your face as credentials. Meanwhile, Didi, China?s dominant ride-hailing company, uses the Face++ software to let passengers confirm that the person behind the wheel is a legitimate driver. https://www.technologyreview.c
The tone of a conversation can drastically affect its emotional intent - conveying sadness, aggression or happiness through nuanced changes in pitch and intonation. While many of us may pick these up naturally throughout life, some people find this particularly difficult. An AI with the ability to navigate through nuanced social cues could lead to an improvement in the quality of life for these people. This can already be done with a Samsung Simband, a wearable device which collects and displays this information. http://www.wired.co.uk/article/mits-artificial-intelligence-could-solve-social-miscommunication
Kang Health uses artificial intelligence to help you identify health issues early. Users enter their age, gender and the symptoms they are experiencing and the system mines through search results of similar cases from people with the same demographic data and symptoms. It offers you the typical diagnoses, or suggests you require medical assistance. Although the technology is mining predominantly user-generated information, Kang Health employ two full-time doctors to validate the information coming in to ensure its accuracy. The service also allows you to store your medical history and lifestyle for higher quality results. www.kanghealth.ai
