This week’s list of top data news highlights covers November 2, 2024 to November 8, 2024, and includes articles on using AI to recap TV shows and using satellite data to protect coastal ecosystems.
Researchers at Chongqing University in China have used a machine learning algorithm to discover three distinct subtypes of autism in men, each with unique brain structure patterns and behavioral traits. The researchers analyzed brain scans from 225 men with autism using machine learning to study gray matter networks, which helped them identify specific patterns that differentiate the subtypes. Their findings could help design more targeted autism interventions based on brain structure subtypes, which could lead to more personalized and effective treatments for individuals with autism.
The State of Pennsylvania has launched a digital tool on the state government website to centralize access to over 300 state grant programs from different government agencies. The tool allows users to filter grants by applicant type, category, deadlines, and eligibility criteria. The tool streamlines access to state grants by making it easier for small businesses, non-profits, schools, and local governments to find and apply for grants that were previously scattered across numerous agency websites.
3. Restoring Marine Ecosystems
A San Francisco-based startup called Ulysses has developed an autonomous underwater robot that can plant seagrass seeds on the ocean floor, restoring seagrass populations 100 times faster than manual planting methods. Seagrass meadows support marine ecosystems and filter ocean water but have been declining worldwide due to climate change.
Amazon has launched X-Ray Recaps, a new feature in Prime Video that uses generative AI to provide personalized text summaries of TV show episodes and seasons users have already watched. The feature analyzes video segments, subtitles, and dialogue, and generates concise recaps tailored to the viewer’s progress, ensuring there are no details from the episodes or seasons that the viewer has yet to watch. The new feature can enhance the user experience by helping viewers quickly catch up on shows, especially if a lot of time has elapsed since viewers watched previous seasons.
5. Predicting Alzheimer’s Progression
Researchers at Genentech, a San Francisco-based biotech company, have developed a deep learning model to predict how Alzheimer’s disease progresses in individuals from different demographic backgrounds. The model could help identify patterns that vary by race and sex, especially for populations traditionally underrepresented in clinical trials, allowing doctors to take preventive measures and personalize Alzheimer’s treatment.
6. Combating Counterfeit Products
A New York-based startup called Osmo has developed a tool to certify the authenticity of sneakers and other retail products by using AI to analyze the digitized smell of an item. Osmo created a scent map from 5,000 aromatic molecules, which allows the AI tool to detect counterfeit products by identifying differences in chemicals that constitute the scents of production materials. The tool can enhance counterfeit detection and help brands safeguard their reputation.
7. Protecting Coastal Ecosystems
Researchers at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology in Australia have developed a tool to help governments and civil society better monitor plastic debris on coastlines using high-resolution satellite data. The tool can accurately distinguish plastic waste from natural materials like sand and vegetation, outperforming existing detection methods. The tool can help organize targeted cleanups and better allocate resources in protecting coastal ecosystems.
8. Transforming Financial Services
Quantum Motion, a U.K.-based quantum scale-up company, has partnered with Goldman Sachs to develop a quantum algorithm that can handle large amounts of data on financial assets, prices, and transactions to perform complex calculations faster. Quantum Motion created a method that helps increase the number of qubits that quantum hardware needs to run such complex calculations, which can help process huge amounts of data in seconds.
Dating app Grindr is developing a virtual wingman that will autonomously connect users, facilitate conversations, and plan dates using AI. Each user will have a wingman, and the chatbots will use the preferences set by the user to communicate with each other, check for compatibility, and save time for users by identifying new potential dates.
A Seattle-based food and drinkware manufacturer called Stanley 1913 is using a data analytics platform from Kinaxis, an Ottawa-based software company, to track and prevent supply chain disruptions in real-time. The platform aggregates data on procurement, production, planning, and fulfillment from various sources and uses AI to identify potential risks or disruptions both for the short-term and long-term operations of the company.
Image credit: Horst Joachims
