AI firm to develop therapies to prevent pandemics / AI robot paints Queen's portrait / STX Next acqui-hires Ermlab Software

Plus: The top AI stories you might have missed this week.

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Weekly roundup: The top AI stories you might have missed this week: Google introduced Imagen, an AI system that turns word descriptions into photorealistic images. The text-to-image generator is said to create images that appear more realistic and lifelike than OpenAI's DALL-E 2. The U.K.'s privacy watchdog fined Clearview AI $9.5M and ordered the company to delete all of its facial image data of U.K. residents. In response, Clearview confirmed it no longer does business in the U.K. and said it is "not subject to the ICO's jurisdiction." Microsoft said GitHub Copilot, the AI-powered service that suggests lines of code, will become generally available this summer. The experience will be initially free for students and open source contributors who are verified. California's DMV revoked Pony.ai's license to test its autonomous cars with a driver, citing "numerous violations" on the driving records of the company's safety drivers. Pony.ai, which does most of its operations in China, said it would investigate the issue further and continue testing in China. More than 90% of HR leaders said they plan to ramp up their AI use in at least one area, according to an Eightfold.ai survey. Most of the HR leaders said they're already using AI in some capacity, including employee records management and hiring.

The U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) has partnered with AI drug discovery company PostEra to develop antiviral therapies that could defend against pandemics. As part of the deal, the NIH has awarded $68M in initial funds to San Francisco-based PostEra. More: PostEra is pursuing the initiative alongside the charity Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative and the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in NYC. Specifically, the entities will work to develop small-molecule antiviral therapeutics to prevent the next pandemic. The award is part of a National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases project, which created nine Antiviral Drug Discovery Centers for Pathogens of Pandemic Concern. The centers will undergo research to develop antiviral candidates against COVID-19 and other viral families with the potential to cause pandemics.  BOSTON BUSINESS JOURNAL

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Ai-Da, an AI robot programmed to paint and draw, has composed an original portrait of the U.K.'s Queen Elizabeth II. The painting, titled "Algorithm Queen," was unveiled Friday ahead of the Platinum Jubilee celebrating the 70th anniversary of the Queen's ascension to the throne. More: Ai-Da, a humanoid robot devised by art specialist Aidan Meller, uses AI processes and algorithms to create her original works. She is named after Ada Lovelace, the first female computer programmer, and has facial recognition technology that analyzes images and feeds them into an algorithm that dictates the movement of her robotic arm. "Algorithm Queen" was layered and scaled to generate a multi-dimensional portrait of Queen Elizabeth. Meller said the portrait provides a marker for "how far things have come" in the life of the monarch, who was born in 1926.  THE GUARDIAN

The FDA has cleared an AI tool that can detect signs of a possible pulmonary embolism in patients. California-based RapidAI developed the software called Rapid PE Triage & Notification tool. More: The AI-enabled imaging software analyzes CT pulmonary angiograms to detect a possible central pulmonary embolism. The blood clots are found in the central arteries of the lung, and can be deadly. If detected, the system sends an alert to doctors to triage the patients more quickly. The FDA also granted clearance for RapidAI’s Rapid LVO software in 2020. That AI tool detects suspected large vessel occlusions (LVOs) in brain CT scans.  FIERCE BIOTECH

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Software development company STX Next announced plans to "acqui-hire" Ermlab Software, a Polish AI/ML software development company. Through the deal, STX Next intends to expand its AI and ML capabilities and natural language processing (NLP). More: Ermlab Software specialists in data analysis solutions to help businesses process large amounts of data and find ways to apply machine learning to their systems. STX Next, the largest Python software developer in Europe, said the acqui-hire will be " instrumental" in furthering its growth. The company will open an office in Rzeszów, Poland, and expand operations into Mexico. Under the deal terms, Ermlab Software CEO Krzysztof Sopyla will take on the role of Head of Machine Learning and Data Engineering at STX. Financial terms of the deal weren't disclosed. PCR

ICYMI: Dyson announced prototype autonomous robots capable of performing basic household tasks. To further its goals, Dyson also launched a Perception Lab focused on computer vision systems for robots to "see" their environments using cameras, sensors, and thermal imaging. More: The machines are equipped with arms to vacuum seat cushions, grasp toys, and place dishes on a drying rack. To further its robotics efforts, Dyson plans to hire 700+ engineers over the next five years in areas such as computer vision, machine learning, and mechatronics. Dyson previously said it will invest $3.45B in new technologies by 2025, including in areas like mechanical engineering, energy storage, and machine learning.  It's also building what is believed to be the largest robotics research center in the U.K. TECH TIMES

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Beth is a writer and analyst at Inside.com covering artificial intelligence and daily tech news. Since starting work at Inside, she has covered various topics including virtual reality, drones, and e-commerce. Prior to that she was a public policy and investigative reporter for The Arizona Republic, where she won a Pulitzer Prize nomination and First Amendment Award for reporting on the rising costs of pensions. Reach her at Beth.Duckett@inside.com.   Editor Aaron Crutchfield is based in the high desert of California. Over the last two decades, he has spent time writing and editing at various local newspapers and defense contractors in California. When he's not working, he can often be found looking at the latest memes with his kids or working on his 1962 Ford.

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