Quick links

Some of the tech news that caught my attention lately:

• Humans working for the AI: How we get ground truth for machine learning ([1])
  
  
• Deep learning helping on diagnostic medical imaging with accuracy at human level ([1] [2] [3] [4])
  
  
• BHAG from Intel: "Intel aims to deliver up to 100x reduction in the time to train a deep learning model over the next three years compared to GPU" ([1])
  
  
• Deep learning's success is mostly a lot of data paired with an algorithm that can take advantage of a lot of data ([1])
  
  
• Fun! "A software platform for evaluating and training intelligent agents across the world’s supply of games, websites and other applications ... Agents use the same senses and controls as humans: seeing pixels and using a keyboard and mouse." ([1])
  
  
• Details on Duolingo's learning algorithms, including that they found what worked best for students using A/B tests ([1])
  
  
• A rant on hype-driven development ([1] [2])
  
  
• Building finished products is hard ([1])
  
  
• "There is an optimal newness for ideas -- advanced yet acceptable" ([1])
  
  
• Massive expansion of Facebook in Seattle. Seattle is increasingly becoming a mini Silicon Valley ([1] [2])
  
  
• Andy Jassy optimistic Amazon Web Services will become a $100B business ([1])
  
  
• Detailed comparison of pricing on Google, AWS, and Azure. To summarize, it's complicated, and what your cheapest option will be depends a lot on what you're doing. ([1])
  
  
• "Google has been carbon neutral since 2007, and [in 2017] we'll be powered by 100% renewable energy as our newest wind and solar farms come online" ([1])
  
  
• Likely to see truly massive wind turbines in the near future ([1])
  
  
• "The Waffle House Index also stands for something less obvious. It is an indicator of how complex and long supply chains are — for food, for fuel, for power — and of what it takes to plan around infrastructure that can be fragile in unexpected ways." ([1])
  
  
• Xkcd: "Of course, 'Number of times I've gotten to make a decision twice to know for sure how it would have turned out' is still at 0." ([1])
  
  
• "Not one, nor two, but five major VC funds reached out about investing in Rocket AI ... The ultimate fake AI company ... AI is at peak hype, and everyone in the community knows it." ([1])