Amazon relocates machine learning tasks to its custom designed chips, away from NVidia Corp

In a development that underscores cost cutting measures adopted by Amazon.com Inc, the e-commerce giant said it has shifted some computing power for its Alexa voice assistant to its own custom-designed chips, away from chips supplied by Nvidia Corp. When consumers ask devices equipped with Alexa, including Amazon’s Echo line of smart speakers, a question…

U.S. private equity firm General Atlantic LLC and SoftBank Group Corp invests $107 million in Brazilian facial recognition startup Acesso Digital

In a statement Brazil’s facial biometrics and digital admission startup Acesso Digital said, Japan’s SoftBank Group Corp and U.S. private equity firm General Atlantic LLC are leading a $107.25 million (580 million reais) funding round. Following the investment, both, General Atlantic and SoftBank, will hold a minority stake in Acesso Digital. Founded in 2007, Acesso…

Portland’s city council bans govt and corporate use of facial recognition technology

Portland has voted for the first ever ban on facial recognition in the United States in private entities, including restaurants and retail stores, as well as in public places in the city. Portland’s city council voted to ban local government bureaus from acquiring or using facial recognition surveillance technology. Other U.S. cities which have previously…

Google win lawsuit against consumer group over its photo sharing and storage policies

The U.S. District ruled in favor of Google since the plaintiffs did not suffer any “concrete injuries.” A U.S. judge threw out a lawsuit filed by consumers against Google on the grounds of lack of “concrete injuries.” A group of consumers had claimed that Google’s photo sharing and storage service violated their privacy. U.S. District…

Foxconn relocates production of facial recognition sensors from Japan to China

These sensors are used by Apple’s iPhone X, which was launched in 2017. In a development that underscores the growing debate in Japan as to whether foreign workers should be allowed in the country midst a labour shortage,Japan’s Sharp Corp has laid off around 3,000 foreign workers, said a labor union, as the electronic giant…

SoftBank Group Corp’s Vision Fund to invest nearly $1 billion in China’s SenseTime Group Ltd

The Chinese facial recognition startup has attracted loads of investor attention so far this year. On Friday, as per a Bloomberg report, SoftBank Group Corp’s Vision Fund intends to invest nearly $1 billion in Chinese facial recognition startup, SenseTime Group Ltd. SoftBank’s Vision Fund and SenseTime are finalizing the terms of the deal and the…

SenseTime Group valued at $4.5 billion in latest funding round

The development underscores the fact that the Chinese facial recognition company is gaining strategic bulk. SenseTime Group, a Chinese facial recognition technology company, disclosed that it raised $620 million in its latest funding round which saw its valuation touch $4.5 billion. The funding round was led by Fidelity International, Hopu Capital, Silver Lake and Tiger…