Archive for the ‘Artificial Intelligence’ Category

How Artificial Intelligence is Transforming the Restaurant Industry – Fagen wasanni

Imagine walking into a restaurant and being greeted by a screen that uses artificial vision to determine your dining preferences. Based on whether youre alone, with a partner, or with family, the screen offers different menu options tailored to your needs. This is just one example of how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming the restaurant industry.

AI technology has been implemented in various ways to optimize processes and enhance the customer experience. For instance, AI can automate cumbersome tasks in the kitchen, such as real-time reservation management and voice command inventory tracking. This not only saves time but also reduces errors and improves efficiency.

In Spain, the digital transformation of the hospitality industry is well underway. According to a report by BCC Innovation and Delectatech, over 15% of the industry is digitized, and 32% is in the process of digitization. Madrid, Barcelona, the Balearic Islands, and Mlaga are leading the way in Spains digital revolution.

Startups like DynamEat and Satis.IA are paving the path for innovative AI solutions in the restaurant sector. DynamEat applies airline and hotel technologies to streamline pricing, allowing restaurants to dynamically adjust prices based on supply and demand. Meanwhile, Satis.IA uses AI-powered systems to prevent errors and train personnel, maintaining quality standards using artificial vision.

NotCo, a plant-based product startup, stands out by using AI algorithms to create perfect combinations of flavors and textures that mimic animal-based products. By using a list of vegetables, their AI algorithm called Giuseppe can create plant-based alternatives with similar taste and texture profiles.

AI also benefits customers by allowing for personalized taste and nutrition customization. Projects in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Japan use medical information gathered through DNA, microbiota, or blood tests to design special diets or nutritional supplements. This can be especially useful for individuals with allergies, intolerances, and dietary restrictions.

While the implementation of AI in the restaurant industry has brought forth benefits, it has also sparked debates about privacy. Nonetheless, experts argue that AI technologies are not invasive and that personalized attention is still highly valued by customers.

As the restaurant industry embraces AI, we can expect to see more smart restaurants like AINA Smart Restaurant in Barcelona, which uses tablets for ordering and entertainment purposes. Robots with AI capabilities are also being introduced, such as those seen in the Urban Poke chains Pokesito, which can deliver orders to tables and interact with customers.

The era of AI in the restaurant industry has arrived, transforming operations and elevating customer experiences.

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How Artificial Intelligence is Transforming the Restaurant Industry - Fagen wasanni

Artificial Intelligence Used to Create Non-consensual Nude Photos – Fagen wasanni

Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming increasingly advanced and prevalent in todays society. However, along with its many benefits, there are also potential issues that arise. One artist from Lansing, Michigan, recently fell victim to the misuse of AI technology when someone used it to create and send a non-consensual nude photo of her.

Mila Lynn, a local painter, discovered that someone online had used AI to transform a fully clothed picture of her into a nude image. Shocked by this violation of her privacy, she expressed her disbelief at being the inspiration for someone elses digital art.

Lynn explained that she had received a message from a stranger on Facebook regarding a mural painting inquiry. However, the conversation quickly took an inappropriate turn, with the person asking if she did modeling work. Lynn adamantly declined, stating that it was not something she engaged in. It was then that the person revealed they had found photos of her online.

Soon after, Lynn received the non-consensual nude photo generated by AI, which had been created using her original fully clothed picture. She expressed her frustration at not knowing what to do since she had not intentionally shared any inappropriate images.

Instances like these, where AI technology is used to exploit individuals, are unfortunately not uncommon. Experts in the AI field acknowledge the need to regulate the proper usage of this technology. One proposed solution is the implementation of watermarks or other identifying features on AI-generated images or videos to help detect authenticity.

Although Lynn is unsure who is responsible for creating the AI-generated image of her, she chose to speak out about her experience to raise awareness of the potential misuse of AI. She encouraged others who find themselves in similar situations to report it, regardless of how embarrassing it may be.

This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of vigilance and caution in the digital age. As AI continues to develop, it is crucial to find ways to protect individuals from the misuse of this powerful technology.

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Artificial Intelligence Used to Create Non-consensual Nude Photos - Fagen wasanni

Artificial intelligence in power: an old dog with new tricks – Power Technology

Nuclear science, towering 200m power plants, and millions of miles of electrical cable are some of the things making the power industry one of the most process driven on Earth. Power companies at every stage of the value chain must make decisions regarding how to best use and maintain their assets to balance supply with demand. They are therefore natural candidates for the integration of AI, which has the potential to enhance generation, transmission, distribution, and the experience for end users.

The power industry is often considered as being stuck in its ways. Not out of stubbornness, but due to the difficulty in digitally transforming age-old infrastructure and training an ageing workforce. The question is therefore how can power companies integrate AI into their business models?

AI implementation in the power industry starts with equipment. Most power plants and electricity grids typically have lifespans extending decades. Therefore, while new AI-powered equipment can act as a key enabler, most power companies simply use add-ons such as sensors, probes, meters, and thermal imaging equipment to collect real-time data, and third-party AI software to process this data. This practice is commonly known in the industry as predictive maintenance.

AI-based predictive maintenance algorithms and software can detect faults and repair them before an asset breaks down. Industrial automation companies such as Emerson, ABB, and GE are leaders in providing predictive maintenance solutions such as vibration monitoring, infrared thermography, and lubricant oil analysis.

Some of the most exciting AI developments in power come in the field of nuclear energy, which attracts attention due to its high energy density and low emissions profile. Applications of AI in nuclear fission revolve around predictive maintenance of equipment and the safer disposal of radioactive waste. However, AI has the most potential to enact change in nuclear fusion. The emerging energy source is largely still in the research & development phase, with few industry experts expecting the availability of commercial fusion reactors before 2030. Research groups often share fusion reactors, limiting the time available for experiments. AI can speed up the R&D timeline through modelling and simulations. In February 2022, DeepMind collaborated with the Swiss Plasma Center (SPC) to develop a deep reinforcement learning system for tokamak nuclear fusion simulations.

The potential for generative AI to disrupt the power industry is large, despite there currently being no prominent examples of its use.

The most natural application of generative AI in the power industry is facilitating the interpretation of the massive amounts of data coming from predictive maintenance equipment. AI algorithms are already being used to analyse this data, but generative AI capabilities like large language models can help reduce the barriers to understanding the technology for staff that lack the required skills to use existing AI systems. In July 2023, ABB and Microsoft announced a partnership to integrate Copilot, Microsofts large language model, into Ability GenixABBs IoT, analytics, and AI platform.

Unsurprisingly, generative AI has the most value at the edge of the power value chain, using natural language processing to help users make more optimized decisions about their energy consumption. Smart home energy systems currently use AI and machine learning algorithms to analyse energy usage patterns. Although no prominent generative AI models exist specifically for use in managing energy usage, the technology can reduce the barriers to educating end users on energy logistics as well as creating effective strategies for energy consumption. In this way, homeowners can reduce consumption and save money on their energy bills.

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Artificial intelligence in power: an old dog with new tricks - Power Technology

Artificial Intelligence Could Accelerate Access to COVID-19 Treatment – Pharmacy Times

Researchers from the Emory University School of Medicine and the Georgia Institute of Technology are investigating how the use of artificial intelligence (AI) could expand access and increase the efficiency of diagnoses and treatments for COVID-19.

Credit: ImageFlow - stock.adobe.com

The use of telemedicine and electronic health record (EHR) messaging increased significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the widespread availability of at-home tests allowed patients to report a positive test and start treatment without visiting their physicians office. Although this shift in health care delivery has many benefits, the researchers noted that the influx of messages without a digitized triage system can slow responses and delay access to timely treatments.

Now, the researchers say AI could help sift through these messages and streamline processes.

Were trying to take a mountain of incoming data and extract whats most relevant for people who need to see it so patients can get care faster, said senior author Blake Anderson, MD, CEO of Switchboard and an Emory primary care physician, in a press release.

The study, published in JAMA Open Network, examined how natural language processing (NLP) AI could speed up the time between a patient-initiated message, a physician response, and access to antiviral treatment for COVID-19. Building off of previously tested deep learning predictive models, the team developed a novel NLP model to classify patient-initiated EHR messages and evaluated its accuracy at 5 Atlanta-area hospitals between March 30 and September 1, 2022.

Over the course of the study, 3048 messages reported test results positive for COVID-19. The NLP model was initiated when a positive test was reported via EHR.

The study findings show that the NLP model classified patient messages with 94% accuracy. Additionally, when responses to patient messages occurred faster, patients were more likely to receive an antiviral prescription within a 5-day treatment window.

We were excited to see how NLP accurately and instantaneously triaged patient messages reporting a positive COVID-19 test and helped improve patient access to treatment, said study lead author Nell Mermin-Bunnell, a third-year student at the Emory School of Medicine, in the press release. While this model proved effective for this specific application, there are opportunities to broaden the scope beyond COVID-19 diagnoses.

The NLP model used in the study, called eCOV, was initially developed by Anderson. As more patients began using EHR to communicate with their care team, Anderson saw a need to better organize incoming messages to ease the load on clinical staff and alleviate burnout. Anderson and his colleagues conducted experiments to evaluate the models performance, and they identified an algorithm to account for the context of the message, not just keywords.

The results illustrate the power of using advanced NLP models in accurately identifying patients at risk of a certain disease in real time, said study co-author May Wang, PhD, professor, and Wallace H. Coulter Distinguished Faculty Fellow at Georgia Tech, in the press release. It showed that the speed for patient access to health care can be significantly increased.

Further analysis is needed to measure the impact of the model on clinical outcomes, according to the study authors. Even without these data, however, the researchers said it is becoming increasingly clear that AI has the potential to reshape how medicine is practiced as it is further integrated into mainstream health care delivery.

REFERENCE

Emory, Georgia Tech use artificial intelligence to accelerate access to COVID-19 treatment. News release. Emory University. July 11, 2023. Accessed July 12, 2023. https://news.emory.edu/stories/2023/07/HS_JAMA_AI_EHR_study_11-07-2023/story.html

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Artificial Intelligence Could Accelerate Access to COVID-19 Treatment - Pharmacy Times

Artificial Intelligence, Virtual Reality, Haptics, Robotics, and Display … – PR Newswire

Contributors to the SIGGRAPH Emerging Technologies, Immersive Pavilion, and VR Theater Demonstrate These Advancements and Evolution of Technology

CHICAGO, July 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ --SIGGRAPH 2023, the premier conference and exhibition on computer graphics and interactive techniques, marks its 50th year of breakthroughs and innovation by highlighting the development of emerging technologies over the years. This year's contributions will showcase the developments in virtual reality, artificial intelligence, haptics, robotics, and display technologies. The 50th annual conference runs 610 August 2023 in person in Los Angeles, with a companion Virtual Access component.

SIGGRAPH conferences often launch experimental developments and projects that then are utilized by the mainstream in the day-to-day. These technologies evolve to become more complete and ready to deploy in real-life applications. Scientists, engineers, artists, designers, programmers, researchers, and inventors, among others, conceive of innovations that have the potential to shift the way consumers work, socialize, and play in mixed reality and shared spaces.

"Technology is important to the SIGGRAPH community, and we have always worked to be the catalyst for technological advancements that improve and enhance the way people live," said Dr. Mashhuda Glencross, SIGGRAPH 2023 Emerging Technologies Chair. "As technology shifts to change the way in which we interact with computer generated environments, data, and people, our community responds and amazes with more innovation. Historically, these emerging technologies and developments that are first shown at SIGGRAPH have had major impact in the real world, and I expect no less with this year's Emerging Technologies contributions."

Advancements in display technologies is a key focus of SIGGRAPH 2023 Emerging Technologies installations, with developments in virtual reality headsets, near-eye displays, and an AI-mediated video conferencing system. The "AI-mediated 3D Video Conferencing" project by Michael Stengel et al., is a 3D video conferencing system that can reconstruct and autostereoscopically display a life-sized talking head using consumer-grade computer resources and minimal capture equipment. A virtual reality head-mounted display that can achieve near retinal resolution, supporting a wide range of eye accommodation and matching the dynamics of eye accommodation is showcased with the "Retinal-resolution Varifocal VR" installation from Yang Zhao et al. The "Neural Holographic Near-eye Displays for Virtual Reality," from Suyeon Choi et al., has the ability to produce full 3D depth cues, correct for visual aberrations, and lower power consumption. A prototype holographic display, the installation will demonstrate how Neural Holography algorithms have taken significant strides toward unlocking this potential.

The Immersive Pavilion celebrates the evolution of augmented, virtual, and mixed realities, and makes the connection between past, present, and future advancements. This year's content demonstrates the opportunities for collaboration and more immersive storytelling and connecting emotionally in a different reality. With "Heightened Empathy: A Multi-user Interactive Experience in a Bioresponsive Virtual Reality," by Mark Armstrong et al., users are immersed in a VR representation of each other's emotional states while also reflecting this to the audience. The three modes are designed to stimulate cognitive, emotional, and compassionate empathy. From Ke-Fan Lin et al., "Actualities: Seamless Live Performance With the Physical and Virtual Audiences in Multiverse" is a seamless live performance provided for on-site and online audiences synchronously, allowing virtual and physical audiences to interact with each other in the multiverse. Both audiences are part of the performance and can influence the visual showing on the screen or personal devices.

The SIGGRAPH 2023 VR Theater strives to create memorable experiences in a world of immersive storytelling through its jury-selected short-form works. The VR Theater presents the creations from those working in a medium without walls or frames. This year's showcase includes "Lustration," from executive producer Nathan Anderson, a four-part animated series that follows a group of characters from both the real world and afterlife. Viewers can actively explore the environment while watching the illustrative art style, different camera angles with changing scenes, and perspectives that keep the viewers engaged. From director Charuvit Wannissorn, "Luna: Episode 1 Left Behind" is an interactive VR story about a robot and a little girl trying to survive an AI apocalypse. With a branching narrative and creative use of voice, the story utilizes a unique facet of VR where the audience embodies a character to feel like a part of the story.

Learn more about how SIGGRAPH 2023 is demonstrating the evolution of technology by reviewing Emerging Technologies, Immersive Pavilion, and VR Theater content on the full program. For more information about the conference, opportunities, or to register to attend in person or online, go to s2023.SIGGRAPH.org/register.

About ACM, ACM SIGGRAPH, and SIGGRAPH 2023ACM, the Association for Computing Machinery, is the world's largest educational and scientific computing society, uniting educators, researchers, and professionals to inspire dialogue, share resources, and address the field's challenges. ACM SIGGRAPH is a special interest group within ACM that serves as an interdisciplinary community for members in research, technology, and applications in computer graphics and interactive techniques. The SIGGRAPH conference is the world's leading annual interdisciplinary educational experience showcasing the latest in computer graphics and interactive techniques. SIGGRAPH 2023, the 50th annual conference hosted by ACM SIGGRAPH, will take place live 610 August at the Los Angeles Convention Center, along with a Virtual Access option.

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