Author: mybuddypeted

Secrets Behind Building Any AI Driven Smart Service – A Software Insider’s Point of View

The combination of machine learning, deep learning, natural language processing, and cognitive computing will change the ways that humans and machines interact with our environments.  AI-driven smart services will sense one’s surroundings, know one’s preferences are from  past behavior, and subtly guide people and machines through their daily lives in ways that will truly feel seamless. This quest to deliver AI driven smart services across all industries and business processes will usher the most significant shift in computing and business this decade and beyond.

Organizations can expect AI driven smart services to impact future of work flows, IOT services, customer experience journeys, and block chain distributed ledgers.  Success requires the establishment of AI outcomes (see Figure 1).  Once the outcomes are established, organizations can craft AI driven smart services that orchestrate, automate, and deliver mass personalization at scale.

FIGURE 1.  SEVEN SPECTRUM OF AI OUTCOMES

rwang0-spectrum-of-outcomes-for-ai

Secrets To Designing AI Driven Smart Services Start With The Orchestration Of Trust

Crafting AI-driven smart services requires a shift in thinking to atomic driven smart services.   In fact, these new AI driven smart services rely on five key components:

  1. Applying digital footprints and data exhaust use AI to build anonymous and explicit profiles.
    Every individual, device, or network provides some information. That digital footprint or exhaust could come from facial analysis, a network IP address, or even one’s walking gait. Using AI and cognitive reckoning, systems can start to analyze patterns and correlate identity. That means that AI services will recognize and know individuals across difference contexts.
  2. Immersive experiences enable a natural interaction.
    Context, content, collaboration, and channels come together to all AI-driven services to deliver immersive and unique experiences to each individual.  The services will use context attributes such as geospatial location, time of day, weather, heart rate, and even sentiment – combined with what the service knows of our identity and preferences – to improve relevancy and deliver the appropriate content. Sense-and-respond mechanisms will enable collaboration among participants and machines through conversations and text dialogs. Channels include all interaction points such as mobile, social, kiosks, and in-person. The goal is natural user experiences based on identity.
  3.  Mass personalization at scale delivers digital services.
    Anticipatory analytics, catalysts, and choices interact to power mass personalization at scale.  Anticipatory analytics allow customers to “skate where the puck will be”.  Catalysts provide offers or triggers for response.  Choices allow customers to make their own decisions.  Each individual or machine will have their own experience in contexts depending on identity, historical preferences, and needs at the time. From choose-your-own-adventure journeys, context-driven offers, and multi-variable testing on available choices, the AI systems offer statistically driven choices to incite action.
  4.  Value exchange completes the orchestration of trust.
    Once an action is taken, value exchange cements the transaction. Monetary, non-monetary, and consensus are three common forms of value exchange. While monetary value exchange might be the most obvious, non-monetary value exchange (including recognition, access, and influence) often provide a compelling form of value. Meanwhile, a simple consensus or agreement can also deliver value exchange on the veracity of a land title or agreement on a patient treatment protocol.
  5. Cadence and feedback continues and AI powered learning cycle.
    Powered by machine learning and other AI tools, smart services consider the cadence of delivery: one time, ad-hoc, repetitive, subscription based, and threshold driven. Using machine learning techniques, the system studies how the smart services are delivered and applies this to future interactions.

FIGURE 2.  THE SECRET TO DESIGNING ATOMIC AI DRIVEN SERVICES

rwang0-ai-atomicservices

The Bottom Line: Artificial Intelligence Augments Humanity

Fears of robots taking over the world have been overblown.  Successful AI driven smart services will augment human intelligence just as machines augmented physical capabilities.  By enabling reduction of errors, improving speed of decisions, identifying demand signals, predicting outcomes, and preventing disasters, AI driven smart services play a key role in defining business models for block chain technologies,  IOT, customer experience, and future of work.

http://blog.softwareinsider.org/2016/11/28/mondays-musings-secrets-behind-building-ai-driven-smart-service/

Internet Industry Group Issues IoT Security Guidelines

With recent IoT-related cyberattacks, organizations and at least one government agency are now focusing on preventative security measures with another set of recommendations just released.

In addition to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s IoT security principles, the Broadband Internet Technical Advisory Group (BITAG) just outlined its recommendations for IoT device security.

The guidelines are intended specifically for the area of consumer-facing IoT devices, although most of the recommendations are for increased process and oversight in the supply chain of those devices.

Most of the recommendations are simply to follow current best practices that have already been established in other similar devices, like personal computers and other consumer electronics.

BITAG recommends using current best practices for software standards, device naming and addressing, security and cryptography. The group also recommends that the IoT devices industry comes together to explore the creation of a more formal cybersecurity program.

Most of these guidelines seem to be similar to the principles for IoT security that DHS recently released.

Those guidelines include incorporating security at the design phase of IoT products and services and enabling security by default through unique usernames and passwords.

However, there has yet to come a legal governance for IoT device security. Rather, the guidelines from both DHS and BITAG are recommendations for IoT device manufacturers.

Here are the IoT device security recommendations outlined by BITAG:

  • Follow current software best practices
  • Follow current security and cryptography best practices
  • IoT device communication should be restrictive, not permissive, by default
  • IoT device core functionality should work if the internet connection is disrupted
  • IoT device core functionality should work if the cloud service fails
  • Support naming and addressing best practices
  • Ship with a privacy policy that is easy to understand
  • Disclose if the device functionality can be remotely limited by the manufacturer
  • IoT device industry should establish a cybersecurity program
  • IoT device supply chain should be actively involved in addressing privacy and security

 

http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/289800/internet-industry-group-issues-iot-security-guidel.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=readmore&utm_campaign=98404

IoT interoperability: Where it stands and what comes next

The Allseen Alliance earlier this month merged with the Open Connectivity Foundation with plans to operate under the OCF name in working towards interoperability in the “internet of things” market through open source software frameworks and standards. IoT interoperability is a hot topic at conferences around the world, with the forecast billions of forthcoming IoT devices expected to be reliant on their ability to connect with each other in order to garner the most benefit, even in an industrial setting. Art Lancaster, CTO of Affinegy, told Industrial IoT 5G there has been progress in different verticals, but the growth opportunity of IoT needs to be sped up with a broad base of IoT interoperability using a consortium framework of many different companies.

Gartner predicts IoT reaching 25 billion devices and hitting $263 billion by 2020. Cisco sees it as a $19 trillion market by 2025, with an impact 10-times the internet itself. If these predictions are to come true, the current landscape must adapt to make connecting hardware, software and storage easier.

IoT ecosystems require interoperability to create seamless programmability of devices or sensors in enabling a world of connected devices. This means IoT will require standards to enable horizontal platforms that are communicable, operable and programmable across devices, regardless of make, model, manufacturer or industry. The hope is that connectivity between people, processes and things works no matter what screen type, browser or hardware is used. The reality, however, is that the IoT is fragmented and lacks interoperability.

According to a PTC blog post, this fragmentation can manifest as any of the following:

  • Different OEMs: devices or equipment that are not made by the same manufacturer can cannot integrate.
  • Different OSs: inability to run on the same operating systems.
  • Different versions or times of purchase: devices that weren’t made or purchased at the same time.
  • Different/incommunicable types of connectors or connectivity frameworks (e.g. devices).
  • Different/inconsistent communication protocol standards (i.e. rules).
  • Lack of programmability needed to connect in the first place.

Interoperability is a crucial missing piece to the progress of IoT, according to a report by McKinseytitled “Unlocked the potential of the internet of things.” The report notes:

  • Interoperability between IoT systems is critical. Of the total potential economic value the IoT enables, interoperability is required for 40% on average and for nearly 60% in some settings.
  • Currently, most IoT data are not used. For example, on an oil rig that has 30,000 sensors, only 1% of the data are examined. That’s because this information is used mostly to detect and control anomalies — not for optimization and prediction, which provide the greatest value.

In order for the “internet of things” to be successful, it should better promote IoT interoperability and open interfaces or APIs. Many devices focus on proprietary technology and interfaces because they view themselves as the only game in town, hurting the development and expansion of IoT.

According to Cloud Technology Partners, issues that arise around the lack of IoT interoperability with IoT-enabled devices include:

  • The inability to test APIs using common approaches and mechanisms.
  • The inability to push and pull information from devices using the same interfaces.
  • The inability to secure devices using third-party security software.
  • The inability to monitor and manage devices using a common management and monitoring layer.

To get around this, standards must be created. Interoperability between IoT is extremely complex, but the application layer is seen as the key place to get bridging technology to the layers below, according to Lancaster, who says IoT technology to write workflows still tends to be siloed, but the best place to transcend that challenge and gain broad interoperability is to work at the application layer. Wireless technologies like Z-Wave and ZigBee are at the physical networking layer, and early automation technologies put a simple interface schema for “is it on or off, what is the temperature, etc.” baked right into the radio modules. If you wanted to write ZigBee application you had to write APIs directly into ZigBee application. OCF is looking at creating standard specifications that allow for connectivity specs between each of the technologies.

http://www.rcrwireless.com/20161031/internet-of-things/iot-interoperability-tag31-tag99

Here’s what a Trump presidency means for the economy

Credit to Joe Brusuelas, Chief Economist at RSM. The post below can be found on the RSMUS.com website.

Subscribe to “The Real Economy” by clicking here: http://rsmus.com/economics/here-s-what-a-trump-presidency-means-for-the-economy.html

Changes coming for growth, taxes, infrastructure, interest rates and trade

The upset presidential election victory of Donald J. Trump and the Republican hold of the House of Representatives and the Senate signal major changes ahead in both the federal government’s approach to growth and the Federal Reserve’s approach to monetary policy. Most evident will be a return of supply-side tax cuts, large operating fiscal deficits, and a move back toward more traditional monetary policies that, over time, should lead to higher short and long-term interest rates.

Below we outline our views on the implications of a Trump presidency for economic growth, taxes and infrastructure, central bank policy and interest rates and trade.

Economic Growth

We anticipate that the Trump administration will attempt to achieve the economic equivalence of a strategic breakout with respect to the pace of economic growth. It will also seek significant reform of Dodd-Frank, which would be a boost for Wall Street, and move to inject private competition into the health care system. Because the GOP does not have veto-proof majority, the reform of regulation governing finance and health care will be quite challenging and difficult to obtain.

While there will likely be a faster pace of growth in the near term, uncertainty about the role and status of the U.S. in the global economy may combine to create longer-term issues that, ironically, act as a drag on growth.

Taxes and infrastructure

From a purely economic point of view it will be difficult to lift the long term growth trend much above 1.5 percent without significant tax reform and productivity-enhancing changes related to tax investments and improving the condition of the national infrastructure. Given the major demographic challenges associated with the aging of the baby boomers, and the gradual entry of millennials into the workforce, the underlying conditions of the post-Great Recession economy are not conducive to a quicker pace of growth unless there is major tax and entitlement reform.

With Trump’s election, forward looking managers and investors should anticipate large tax cuts, deregulation and a likely return of greater risk-taking by financial firms in an attempt to stoke a greater pace of growth in the near-term.

In our estimation, based on visits to policymakers in Washington and on Capitol Hill, the order of operations for the first two years of the Trump Administration will likely proceed in the following fashion:

First, a move to engage on comprehensive tax reform will likely be one of the primary orders of business in January 2017. We expect an attempt to craft a deal that would revolve around lower individual and business tax rates along with an end to corporate tax inversions. Under these conditions, an attempt to lower individual tax rates on the margin likely around the framework set out in the House Republican blueprint released in June of this year of 12, 25 and 33 percent would be a workable framework to put in place the most significant tax reform since 1986. We anticipate that this will take up much of first year of the administration and congressional calendar.

At the heart of Trump’s tax plan is the intention to reduce taxes on pass through entitles to 15 percent, which would decisively favor the middle market which accounts for 40 percent of GDP and employs one-third the labor force. In our estimation given the fact that pass through entities account for roughly 95 percent of all firms in the economy, that this would be quite popular among the general public and Trump’s rust belt working class coalition.

Second, we think the opportunity for a bipartisan bill on a multi-year infrastructure project is ripe for passage. The glue that would hold this together would likely be parallel legislation that would seek to tax the $2.6 trillion in corporate profits being held abroad.  There is growing realization in both political parties that the infrastructure around the country has been allowed to slip into such disrepair that it has become something of a national embarrassment.

An infrastructure project probably won’t just focus on roads, bridges, ports and canals. It will likely be much broader and encompass sewage, water, broadband, hardening the energy infrastructure and cybersecurity. In fact, we suspect that the infrastructure bill will be sold as necessary for national security given the recent wave of cyber strikes on private firms and the Russian-led hack of the Democratic National Committee.

It is important to note that a robust infrastructure is not an economic panacea. It is a long-run productivity-enhancing policy that is more of a legacy issue, as opposed to something that will jump start economic activity in the near-term.

If there is no tax reform, then growth will remain decisively in the sub two-percent range. A quicker pace of growth won’t return until the demographic bulge from the millennials and generation Y take power and reform the country and economy to be better aligned with their tastes, preferences and interests.

Central Bank Policy

The initial financial shock associated with the Trump’s triumph is quickly waning. Investors in the U.S. have been conditioned over the past few years to buy on dips and using them as an opportunity to bolster quarterly returns, often around, accommodative policy out of the Fed. While, that is certainly the case in the near term, there is likely to be volatility ahead as markets begin to price in what will likely be major upcoming changes in personnel at the central bank.

The era of unorthodox monetary policy will slowly come to an end. It is almost certain that Janet Yellen will not return for a second term at the Fed, and that Trump will move to fill the two open positions on the board with allies who favor a quicker pace of rate normalization in the near-term than the dovish contingent at the Fed currently has in place.

Interest Rates

Interest rates are likely moving higher due to the return of fiscal policy via major tax cuts, which are certain to lead to larger annual operating deficits. The logic of the supply side economics that will be at the heart of Trump’s policy framework is a willingness to accept large increases in the federal deficit in return for greater growth. If Trump enacts his tax policies, growth will likely follow in the near term. During the medium term, however, due to the probability of very large operating deficits, investors will likely begin to push up long-term rates to levels that are not conducive to growth.

Trade

In our estimation, the TPP represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the middle market to be given preference in a multilateral trade treaty. It would not be any surprise if the TPP quickly becomes the last major policy debate of the outgoing Obama administration.  Given the outcome of the election, the upcoming lame duck session of congress represents likely the last opportunity for a number of years to pass multilateral trade policies that decisively favor the middle market.

It is here where the greatest risks lie. It is quite clear that Trump intends to slow down the pace of economic integration between the U.S. and its trade partners. More than half of all U.S. trade is with its North American partners, and is an important source of growth in the economy. To the extent that Trump either intends to, or can, renegotiate portions of NAFTA will define what appears to be neo-mercantilist policies that the new administration may adopt.

Because of the relative lack of substantial policy preferences set out by the Trump campaign, at the current time it’s difficult to quantify the overall economic impact from what policies do emerge. It is safe to say that it is best to avoid starting trade wars, which are always popular at the outset but end up harming everyone over the long term.

202 Million ‘Connected’ Appliances Projected; Fridge Seen As Hub Of Smart Kitchen 11/02/2016

A flood of connected home appliances is on the way.

There has been a limited number of new products and market movement recently, but that is about to change, based on a new study.

The number of connected home appliance shipments will hit 202 million units globally by 2021, up substantially from 17 million this year, according to the Smarter Kitchen, Smarter Shopping study by Juniper Research.

Smart appliances will be dominated by large vendors, unlike the smart home ecosystem that was developed by small startups, according to Juniper.

http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/288101/202-million-connected-appliances-projected-frid.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=headline&utm_campaign=97758

The Google Cast app is getting a new name and purpose

Fire up the Google Cast app – which is used to discover content to stream on Chromecast-connected TVs and speakers, and to manage them – and you’ll spot a message indicating that it’s getting a new name: Google Home.

The rebranding makes sense, as Google officially launched a new voice-activated speaker (also called Home – yup, it’s kinda messy) at its hardware launch event yesterday and will need an app to manage it.

http://thenextweb.com/google/2016/10/05/google-cast-is-getting-a-new-name-and-purpose/

OCTANE OC, MACKENZIE CORP., TEN-X, AND THE BUDDY GROUP JOIN FORCES TO PRESENT THE 4TH ANNUAL BUDDY GROUP INVITATIONAL

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

OCTANE OC, MACKENZIE CORP., TEN-X, AND THE BUDDY GROUP JOIN FORCES TO PRESENT THE 4TH ANNUAL BUDDY GROUP INVITATIONAL

 

Featuring a Unique Performance by Flock of 80’s

 

ORANGE COUNTY, CA — OCTOBER 5, 2016 —The Buddy Group, Inc. and Project Hope Alliance, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to ending the cycle of homelessness for kids in Orange County, today announced details for the Fourth Annual Buddy Group Invitational to be held on Monday, November 7, at the Aliso Viejo Country Club in Aliso Viejo, California.

 

From wacky argyle socks to rock music blasting the greens, The Buddy Group Invitational is one of the most unique and fastest growing un-golf golf events in Orange County. For the first time, this year’s event will be capped off with an outdoor concert under the stars by Orange County’s most beloved band, Flock of 80’s.

 

The format for the Invitational is a four-player best-ball with unique activities and challenges peppered across the 18-hole course. Following the tournament, players, sponsors and non-golfing invited guests will partake in a special 80’s-themed party hosted by the presenting partners and the generous sponsors (see below), as well as silent auction donors. Flock of 80’s will perform at sunset to cap off the night. While the golf event and concert are invite only, interested parties can request more information via the website. But just like past years, this event will sell out.

 

“Our events bring together brand builders, investors, inventors, and entrepreneurs who seek to Be The Exception(™) in their respective fields,” said Pete Deutschman, CEO of The Buddy Group. “By uniting our employees, clients, and partners, we will once again come together to raise awareness and funds to help Project Hope Alliance end the cycle of homelessness in Orange County. Project Hope Alliance is an amazing non-profit organization with an entrepreneurial spirit that authentically speaks to our guests and sponsors.”

 

“This is hands down one of our favorite events of the year,” said Jenny Dinnen of MacKenzie Corporation. “We always talk about wanting to work with industries and companies that we are passionate about. I would be hard pressed to find two more passionate leaders than Pete and Jennifer for moving their companies/organizations forward. We are proud to be sponsors again and look forward to this amazing event.”

 

“We’re proud to support The Buddy Group and Project Hope Alliance in their mission to end youth homelessness in Orange County, a community where our company has very deep roots,” said Ten-X CEO Tim Morse. “Ten-X is committed to investing in America’s youth and to helping preserve the American Dream, and there’s no better place to start making an impact than in our own backyard.”

“There are more than 26,000 homeless kids in Orange County,” said Jennifer Friend, CEO of Project Hope Alliance. “It is inspiring to see leaders of business, marketing, and technology come together on behalf of such an important cause.”

 

For more information about the tournament, including online registration and donations, visit invitational.thebuddygroup.com.

 

The Buddy Group Invitational 2016 Partners include:

Presenting Partners: The Buddy Group, OCTANe OC, MacKenzie Corporation and TEN-X.

 

Sponsors: Google, Signature Analytics, Top-End Motorwerks, Adorn Premiums, Pentel of America, Prosum, SpaGirl Cocktails, LootCrate and Lynx Grills.

 

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About The Buddy Group

The Buddy Group is evolving what it means to be an agency by focusing on the experience of an ever-evolving connected consumer. Driven by forethought, The Buddy Group shapes how audiences or segments think about brands and products by creating for the future. The Buddy Group offers strategic research, user-experience planning, and award-winning creative and development execution services to brands including Dell, Zodiac Aerospace, Edwards Lifesciences, Stacked, Ladera Ranch, Mozilla, and Pentel of America. Founded in 2005, The Buddy Group’s team of experts are located in Irvine, California, where they leverage their in-house experiential and content soundstages — DotLot™. For more information, visit thebuddygroup.com.

About Octane

OCTANe drives technology industry growth and innovation in Orange County by connecting ideas and people with resources and capital. Its members represent Orange County technology executive leaders, entrepreneurs, investors, venture capitalists, academicians, and strategic advisors, all working together to fuel innovation in the OC. The organization has helped more than 800 companies via the LaunchPad™ SBDC accelerator. LaunchPad™-certified companies have received more than $1.7 billion in investment and equity exits. OCTANe annually welcomes more than 7,000 people to its programs and events. More than 2,000 business leaders throughout the Orange County region are OCTANe members. For more information, visit www.octaneoc.org.

 

About Ten-X

Ten-X is the nation’s leading online real estate transaction marketplace and the parent to Ten-X Homes, Ten-X Commercial, and Auction.com. To date, the company has sold 244,000+ residential and commercial properties totaling more than $41 billion. Leveraging desktop and mobile technology, Ten-X allows people to safely and easily complete real estate transactions online. Ten-X is headquartered in Irvine and Silicon Valley, California, and has offices in key markets nationwide. Investors in the company include Google Capital and Stone Point Capital. For more information, visit Ten-X.com.

 

About MacKenzie Corporation

MacKenzie Corp. is a family-run firm with over 30 years of experience in partnering with clients to make them stronger and more profitable by strategically and creatively using data analytics and research. Success is achieved by uncovering detailed stories within data sets, making analytic results palatable, relevant, and useful to decision makers. At our core we are Curious, Creative, and Customer-Centric in our approach to all matters. Curiosity drives us to ask questions others do not. Creativity reveals trends, opportunities, and threats that others do not see. In being customer-centric, we always put the customer first because we truly care about their success. The only way we achieve success is through the success of our partners. For more information, visit www.mackenziecorp.com

 

About Project Hope Alliance

Founded in 1989, Project Hope Alliance is ending the cycle of homelessness in Orange County, one child at a time. The nonprofit organization supports homeless students and their families, meeting the unique academic and psychosocial needs of these children via a two-generational approach targeting innovative rapid rehousing and education programs. Since 2012, Project Hope Alliance’s Family Stability Program has worked with over 150 families to end homelessness by moving more than 700 parents and children into permanent housing with financial independence. Project Hope Alliance is located at 1954 Placentia Avenue, Suite 202, Costa Mesa, CA 92627. For more information, contact Suzy Gardner at suzy@projecthopealliance.org or 949-791-2714, or visit www.projecthopealliance.org.

 

“Twitter could be the next Mozilla”

“Twitter could be the next Mozilla” @pauliooj https://medium.com/swlh/twitter-could-be-the-next-mozilla-e788e3bfd841

Today, the Mozilla Foundation is a core player on the open web. As a non-profit, it provides an important balance against the interests of the three giant corporations — Google, Apple and Microsoft — that own the other remaining web browser engines. Mozilla also develops many other projects, some unsuccessful and frankly lacking purpose (Firefox OS), some offering important solutions to hard technical problems (the Rust programming language).