Latest Data-Centric News Highlights
In a groundbreaking development, Google-backed startup Osmo has created an AI system that can predict a molecule's smell by analysing its chemical structure. This innovative technology, known as a "digital odor map", could revolutionise the design of perfumes, electronic noses, and flavour safety systems.
Osmo's AI uses data-driven models trained on molecular structures paired with human olfactory descriptors to establish relationships between molecular makeup and perceived scents. This approach allows the prediction of how a molecule might smell, even generating new scent profiles for novel molecules.
The system works by mapping the physicochemical properties of molecules to odour perception through machine learning. It uses training data that link molecular structures with sensory descriptions and employs algorithms such as neural networks to detect complex patterns. The system may also incorporate ensemble learning techniques to improve accuracy by combining different machine learning models.
This technology could have a significant impact on various industries. For instance, in the perfume industry, it could speed up the process of creating new scents and help designers to predict how a new combination of molecules would smell. In the flavour industry, it could help to design new food products with specific flavours, or to improve the safety of food production by detecting harmful substances that might not be detectable by human senses.
Meanwhile, in transportation news, the Florida Department of Transportation has partnered with one.network to launch a pilot program aimed at improving safety for construction workers and drivers on the state's roads. Construction supervisors will use one.network's platform to input real-time data on lane closures, temporary speed restrictions, and on-site personnel. This data will then appear on third-party navigation applications such as Google Maps, helping drivers to navigate the roads more safely.
Elsewhere, Walmart is making strides in the retail sector. The company has created a virtual try-on tool to help customers shop for clothes online, displaying over 270,000 items on customers' own images or a model using an AI system. Walmart has also partnered with Focal Systems to use an AI system to detect low inventory levels on shelves in Canadian stores. The AI system will analyse video footage of shelves to determine inventory levels and alert employees if it detects low levels.
In other news, President Biden has signed an executive order to create a national biotechnology and biomanufacturing initiative. As part of this initiative, a biosciences data center will be created to support research and development in the field. The U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) will also expand the Cancer Research Data Ecosystem to include data on persistent poverty in public health surveillance of cancer.
Finally, researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have trained an AI system to analyse Wordle guesses and determine the best starting word. The best starting word for the game is "salet", which performed one percent better than "slate", WordleBot's recommended starting word.
These developments demonstrate the growing role of AI in various sectors, from transportation to retail to biotechnology. As these technologies continue to evolve, we can expect to see even more innovative applications in the future.
[1] Osmo's AI Predicts Molecular Smells [2] Osmo's AI Predicts Molecular Smells: A Deep Dive [3] Google-Backed Startup Osmo Develops AI to Predict Molecular Smells [5] Osmo's AI Predicts Molecular Smells: A New Era for Perfume Design
[4] The technology developed by Osmo could potentially transform industries outside of perfume design, such as environmental science, health-and-wellness, and climate-change research, where identifying scents and their chemical sources can be crucial.
[6] The impact of AI on the healthcare industry is also noteworthy, as AI-based therapies and treatments are increasingly being researched and implemented, altering the landscape of healing methods.
[7] In the finance sector, data-and-cloud-computing technologies play a pivotal role; with AI enhancing these systems, predictions and analyses can be more accurate, leading to smarter investment decisions and cost savings.
[8] In addition to these advancements, the retail industry has begun to embrace AI, with applications ranging from virtual try-on tools to inventory management systems, ultimately providing customers with enhanced shopping experiences and increasing retailers' operational efficiency.
