Drones and AI could save the insurance industry over $5 billion annually. According to the Insurance Information Institute, fraud is responsible for about 10% of loss adjustment expenses. Drones prevent this by gathering more accurate data, analyzing the data, and then storing it in an efficient manner. This prevents policyholders from claiming damages that existed before an event took place. https://www.lovelandinnovations.com/blog/drones-transform-insurance-industry/

This article is really interesting, something that comes so natural to humans requires an immense amount of “computer power”. I think this is a huge step into creating robots that will be able to learn and think for themselves. The saying practice makes perfect really plays well with this article. It’s interesting to think about what robots will be able to do when they start to learn by doing instead of knowing how to do things based off of what we programmed them to do.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/11/191104083224.htm

Two-factor authentication (2FA) allows you to add an extra layer of security to any online account that you use in hopes to make it harder for you to be hacked. Enabling 2FA is as simple as adding your phone number in order to receive a code texted to you to access your account or by just requiring security questions to be answered.

Passwords have been used for a long time and are becoming easier and easier to crack. Many people also use the same password for all of their different accounts, allowing cyber attackers to gain access all of your data very easily. So how should you take advantage of this tool? Go to all of your accounts and go to the settings to find out how you can set up 2FA for that specific account. You can also learn more about the importance of 2FA by clicking here.

A study done by Dr. Arevian from the University of California, Los Angeles (LA) and the University of Southern California, included 47 participants who were receiving treatment in a mental health facility. The study was 14 months long and the participants communicated with the AI twice per week. They were asked the same three open ended questions. What was realized, was that the Artificial Intelligence was able to identify and analyze key words and voice patterns for each participant. This could mean they could possibly identify if one person was experiencing high anxiety or depression on that day.

 

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/using-voice-analysis-to-track-the-wellness-of-patients-with-mental-illness#Talking-to-AI,-people-speak-more-freely

When it comes to running any sort of business, all assets need to be accounted for and protected. With the rapid advancement of technology, many things that used to be stored in filing cabinets are being stored online or in the cloud. Some people who do not understand the importance of hiring a company to test your network and its security, may feel that running an exercise like this is an unnecessary expense. What they do not realize is that finding flaws in security measures and fixing them can mean all the difference when facing a real cyber-attack.

Pen testing, or penetration testing, is when cyber security professionals use their knowledge of technology and hackers to experiment and discover a company’s technological vulnerabilities. A Red-Team is the proper terminology used for the professionals that try to hack a company’s systems and networks. This team is made up of people the company trusts or hired. The team tries many different things to attempt to break a company’s security and when problems arise, the team does their best to find solutions best for the company.

For all companies and even all people who rely on technology to house important information, investing in best practices in cybersecurity is a good idea. New technology is fun and exciting, but it can also be risky and dangerous. Skilled hackers can access bank information, social security numbers, and other sensitive information. It is important to take proper precautions to avoid the loss of any valuable information. Prevention methods such as Red-Team exercises are worth paying top dollar for.  Though it may seem expensive, if one chooses not to invest in cybersecurity, the result could be substantial loss in assets.

Rather than relying on countries to accurately report on the spread of outbreaks in their country organizations such as the World Health Organization and World Economic Forum can leverage AI tools such as Bluedot to track the spread of outbreaks throughout the world.

With the spread of the Wuhan virus throughout Asia Bluedot has been able to use machine-learning techniques to gather information from global news reports, airline data, and animal disease outbreaks to predict where the disease will be next. To learn more about how this technology and where the disease is headed read QZ’s article!

Artificial Intelligence has already been introduced to multiple departments of business in the world. In the job industry, it has reached marketing, sales, customer service, and a variety of other departments as well. It has had large success in this area, making consumer-usability and online experiences much more enjoyable. The next place AI is looking to dive into is the flight industry.

There is a lot of opportunities for the flight industry to expand into. These include predicting flight delays and in terms of flight pricing – AI machines will be able to calculate prices that keep their airline the most competitive, and also show customers what airline provides the cheapest flight fare.

Aside from ticket pricing and flight delays, AI can also give pilots a glimpse into the fastest route available for flights, making overall flight time and flight routes the most efficient. It can also assist flight staff with crew scheduling, given a specific algorithm to discover the best schedule for everyone – thus maximizing their time, and keeping their employees content.
https://www.mindtitan.com/case/artificial-intelligence-in-aviation-and-travel/

I’m sure we have all felt it before. You check your Instagram or Snapchat to see all of your friends are out and about while you’re at home, “Netflix and Chillin'” with your pals Ben & Jerry, feeling major FOMO. Social media has created a heightened awareness of what everyone else is doing, making us more aware of everything we aren’t. This is what creates that feeling of FOMO (fear of missing out). We can all agree that social media represents the highlighted, glamorous aspects of our lives. No one is going to post a photo of themselves spiraling in the Strozier library at 2 AM during finals week; they are going to post a throwback picture of themselves on the beach with the caption “Wish I was here instead of studying!” Despite the fact that we are all aware of this, we still find ourselves comparing our lives, looks and content to others on these platforms. We mindlessly scrolls for hours, many of us far past our bedtimes, seeking some sort of instant gratification. Instead we are left with a low self-esteem, lack of sleep and FOMO.

This is a large factor in the increase of anxiety and decrease in happiness seen among young adults today. Take a look at what Rhys Edmonds, and science, has to say about the way social media affects how we view ourselves, others and our experiences.

https://www.centreformentalhealth.org.uk/blog/centre-mental-health-blog/anxiety-loneliness-fear-missing-out-social-media

Several days ago, internet of things company Sonos issued a statement stating that its older, “legacy” speakers would stop receiving software updates beginning in May. Sonos speakers communicate through the internet to allow all speakers to be connected and play the same audio from music, podcasts, or videos. This announcement meant that those who owned legacy speakers would not be able to use them alongside newer speakers, and once updates ceased, these speakers would be bricked and would no longer be functional. Long time users were outraged and let their anger be known on the companies own user forums, prompting a response from Sonos CEO Patrick Spence.

In an open letter, Spence apologized by saying “We heard you. We did not get this right from the start.” He continued by stating that old Sonos gear will continue to function as usual, but it will not receive any new features. He also pledged to keep old gear up to date in terms of bug fixes and security issues for as long as the company could. He concluded by stating that Sonos was working on a way to enable new and legacy gear to continue to work on the same network.

The CEO also stated that if the company runs into “something core to the experience that can’t be addressed, we’ll work to offer an alternative solution and let you know about any changes you’ll see in your experience.”

This situation comes at a time when many users are expressing their frustration with the current state of internet of things products and their manufacturers. Users purchase these products to ease their lives, but are instead forced to spend more money to keep products working through pointless subscriptions and unnecessary upgrades that make older products unfunctional. This Sonos saga is just another example of internet of things products failing its users.

https://www.theregister.co.uk/2020/01/24/sonos_support_legacy_speakers/

This week I found an article that displayed the function that social media plays in teenagers roles, and how it affects their lives. While there are many downsides of social media, and we will get to those in a moment, there are a few upsides. The article states that social media can create positive; teens who struggle with social skills, anxiety, or have difficulty making friends benefit greatly from social media. Also, when it comes to being in a marginalized group, it’s easier to find like-minded people who can relate to you, if you aren’t surrounded by them in real life.

But on the other hand, the downsides to social media are double. This article states that there can be many negative effects that teenagers have to deal with daily due to social media use. Cyber-bullying, comparison, fake friends, and focusing too much on “likes” are all issues that we see as a result of excessive social media use in teens. These issues dig deeper than surface level, and really take a toll on teenager’s mental health and the way they perceive themselves.

The writer of the article finishes by stating that “there’s a happy medium in here somewhere” and encourages teenagers and to learn how to have a healthy balance between social media and real life engagement. I think that this is good advice, because too much of anything is bad; everything has to be taken in moderation.

Link: https://www.psycom.net/social-media-teen-mental-health

Sophie Rhoads, ser18b.