Minecraft Just Got a Whole Lot Cooler
Microsoft recently announced they will be using the game Minecraft for Artificial Intelligence (AI). This online game uses virtual 3-D blocks to ‘mine’ and ‘craft’ unlimited resources to create your own world. Microsoft will be using AIX – platform to allow AI men to roam around Minecraft.
These men will be taught how to do tasks like build landscapes, climb up a hill, or build a robot. “You can do survival mode, you can do ‘build battles’ with your friends, you can do courses, you can implement our own games,” Katja Hofmann, leader of the project, said. This is really exciting for artificial intelligence because it allows us to create games that stretch beyond current abilities.” The technology is cheaper than using real-life scenarios and more sophisticated than their current simulations. Microsoft encourages everyone to take advantage of this platform in hope that young people will develop an interest in AI. (Source TechCrunch)
What to Say When You’ve Had Enough Virtual Reality…
Sorry, not sorry. During the SXSW Interactive Conference in Austin, Texas this past weekend, talk revolved around what’s in store for future transportation. Hyperloop, transportation tubes that transport passengers to destinations up to 700 mph, is raving about “Augmented Windows”.
The tool allows passengers to ‘look’ out of windows as a means of entertainment. Even advertising will be thrown into the mix of information presented to the riders, which would be another source of revenue the company can conveniently use. The windows will use head tracking to see where the passenger is actually looking so it can portray the screen to give you the same feeling as if you were looking outside. (Source Mashable)
GM is Gettin’ With the Times
General Motors has acquired Cruise Automation – AKA driverless revolution – to get the ball rollin’ with autonomous vehicle technology. GM has been pushing towards self-driving cars and ride-hailing services recently. They even invested $500 million in an alliance with Lyft to help develop the autonomous vehicle program and have created Maven, their very own ride service. A federal ‘rulebook’ has been released making the Feds seem unprepared for the self-driving car future. The current rules and regulations are not quite up to par with this industry, so we’ll see if everyone we’ll be singing “look ma no hands” in the near future. (Source GM)
