Last Week in AI #19

Sound Analysis AI to Protect Elephants from Poachers

Africa’s savanna elephant population had decreased by a third between 2007-2014. Alarmed by this trend, researchers installed recorders in designated areas and used Artificial Intelligence to analyze the sounds, being able to identify which areas elephants frequent at given times of the year and also the sounds of gunshots from poachers, allowing them to deploy forces appropriately.

Read more at:NPR

Biased Medical Algorithm Favors White People

An algorithm used to determine urgency for medical care unfairly favored white people. White patients were given higher risk scores even when black patients were significantly sicker. The algorithm has since been adjusted now that it has been spotted.

Read more at:MIT Tech Review

McDonald’s Now Predicts Your Order Using AI

Spending millions of dollars on acquiring AI companies, McDonald’s now has its own McD Tech Labs where engineers work on voice-recognition software. Taking into account variables such as time, weather and even length of wait, the fast food chain now includes recommendations at the end of your order to nudge you to spend more.

Read more at: The New York Times