How Neural Networks Changed the Face of A.I.

John interviews Cade Metz, a technology correspondent at The New York Times and the author of “Genius Makers,” a book on artificial intelligence. The book focuses on neural networks, an approach whereby, given enough data, A.I. can get better at specific tasks — like recognizing speech or images — all on its own. The idea behind neural networks dates to the ‘40s and ‘50s, but it was largely abandoned for decades. Today, a few dogged researchers, along with the tech giants that act as the field’s biggest players, have made it ubiquitous. “This is the technology we now use today when we speak commands into our cell phones,” Cade says. “This is what allows self-driving cars.”John asks Cade about the earliest days of artificial intelligence; how the international nature of A.I.'s brightest teams complicates the technology’s geopolitical stakes; and why we should all start paying attention to proteomics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Om Podcasten

Ninety percent of the news out there tells you nothing about where the world is going — ten percent of it tells you everything. Every afternoon on the News Items Podcast with John Ellis, John and Rebecca Darst focus on that ten percent — news that’s interesting, important or both. The podcast is based on John Ellis’ News Items, an email newsletter that goes out to organizations including the Council on Foreign Relations, Samsung Next, and the Wall Street Journal. Tune in every Monday through Thursday afternoon to hear decades of journalistic experience packed into 20 or so minutes of insight, plus guest interviews on finance, U.S. politics, foreign affairs, science and technology. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.