Infrastructure

China’s investment in AI business, infrastructure, and research could pay off big over the next decade.

Autonomous aircraft in the United Kingdom are getting their own superhighway. The UK government approved Project Skyway, a 165-mile system of interconnected drone-only flight routes.

Overhead cameras equipped with computer vision are spotting distracted drivers on the road. A system from Melbourne-based Acusensus alerts police when drivers are engaged in risky activities such as using a cell phone, not wearing a seatbelt, or speeding.

There’s a reason why artificial intelligence is sometimes referred to as “software 2.0”: It represents the most significant technological advance in decades. Like any groundbreaking invention, it raises concerns about the future, and much of the media focus is on the threats it brings.

A system from California startup SewerAI analyzes videos of underground pipes to prioritize those in need of repair.

An AI system is helping aircraft avoid bad weather, restricted airspace, and clogged runways. Alaska Airlines will route all its flights using a system from Airspace Intelligence called Flyways.

The European Union proposed sweeping restrictions on AI technologies and applications. The executive arm of the 27-nation EU published draft rules that aim to regulate, and in some cases ban, a range of AI systems.

How much processing power do various nations have on hand to drive their AI strategy? An international trade group aims to find out. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is launching an effort to measure the computing capacity available in countries around the world.

The United States has been a leader in science and technology for decades, and all nations have benefitted from its innovations. But U.S. leadership in AI is not guaranteed.