Alexa users can now make Skype calls
AWS Comprehend gains Custom Entities and Custom Classification for training bespoke AI models
Amazon’s neural TTS can model speaking styles with only a few hours of recordings
Exclusive
Enlight and Facetune creator Lightricks raises $60 million
Review
LG Xboom WK9 review: Boomy bass can’t make up for Google Smart Display shortcomings
Analysis
After Qualtrics’ $8 billion exit, here are 5 other Utah tech companies to watch
Hive taps a workforce of 700,000 people to label data and train AI models
Google Cloud CEO Diane Greene steps down
Google’s AI system can grade prostate cancer cells with 70% accuracy
OpenAI and DeepMind AI system achieves ‘superhuman’ performance in Pong and Enduro
AI Weekly: Microsoft’s conversational AI has come a long way since Tay
Alexa’s new Wake-on-LAN feature turns on smart devices over local networks
Rural Innovation Initiative aims to help small towns get funding for remote work spaces
Anki’s Vector gets new animations and features ahead of Alexa integration
MapAnything raises $42.5 million for location of things platform
BlackBerry to acquire AI-powered cybersecurity startup Cylance for $1.4 billion
U.S. prosecutors get indictment against Wikileaks founder Julian Assange
Exclusive
Coda’s rules-based Automations feature automates repetitive tasks
Google Cloud AI loses R&D head Jia Li
Huawei reportedly plans a voice assistant to compete internationally with Siri and Alexa
Canalys: Amazon retook smart speaker crown from Google in Q3 2018
Google makes dataset of 50 million drawings available on its cloud
Guest
Amazon’s HQ2 decision reinforces an antiquated expansion model
Automation Anywhere raises $300 million from SoftBank’s Vision Fund
Smart dashcam company Owl challenges OnStar with automatic crash response service
Alphabet closes Schaft robotics unit, roughly a year after unloading Boston Dynamics
Exclusive
Logojoy raises $4.5 million for AI-generated logos
Amazon Go competitor Standard Cognition raises $40 million to expand its cashierless store solution
Airtable raises $100 million to build out enterprise offerings
AdaSky raises $20 million to build far-infrared sensor for autonomous cars
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