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prg.ai newsletter #46

Days of AI 2024 concluded with record success, welcoming over 10,000 visitors! Now, we're excited to announce the AI Awards, welcome a new member, and seek out visionaries driving the future of AI. Explore the latest achievements in the Czech AI scene, from revolutionary agricultural methods to cutting-edge drone technology.

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🏡 What’s new at prg․ai

Days of AI 2024 was a resounding success!

With over 10 thousand visitors, nearly thousand speakers, and over 200 events across 24 cities, Days of AI 2024 brought together experts and the public alike to explore the exciting world of artificial intelligence. Held under the esteemed auspices of the President of the Republic, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of the Interior, and the City of Prague, the program offered a diverse range of workshops, lectures, and discussions. Days of AI showcased real-life applications of AI, fostered interdisciplinary dialogue, and engaged the public in discussions about the future of this transformative technology. The program highlighted how AI is contributing to various aspects of our lives, from healthcare and education to business and beyond.A highlight of the Prague program was a unique meetup with Rich Sutton, a world-renowned expert on reinforcement learning! A huge thank you to all the incredible people who helped organize Days of AI and make this year’s edition so memorable!

Days of AI and much more

In an interview for Seznam Zprávy, our Lukáš emphasized the potential of the Czech Republic in the field of artificial intelligence. With a strong background in areas such as computer vision and natural language processing, we have a chance to become a leader in AI. Lukáš points out that it is important to involve the general public in the discussion about AI. That’s why we co-organised the Days of AI, which bring AI closer to both laypeople and professionals.

The prestigious AI Awards are coming soon!

Mark your calendars! On 21 November the AI Awards 2024 will be presented at Vzlet in Vršovice. Over 100 talented individuals, companies, and organizations pushing the boundaries of artificial intelligence in the country are vying for the awards in categories such as AI in education, business, and public administration. Don’t miss the chance to see who takes home the top honors!

New members on board

EquiLibre Technologies is revolutionizing algorithmic trading by applying AI methods proven in games like poker, chess, and Go. They are developing self-learning machine learning models for trading and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in finance. ‘We are happy to support the local AI ecosystem,’ says Martin Schmid of EquiLibre. This commitment is evident in their long-standing collaboration with our community, particularly at our meetups. We are delighted to officially welcome them as a member.

Calling all visionaries in the field of AI!

In cooperation with the Centre for Artificial Intelligence of the FEE CTU, we are looking for talented researchers with a PhD who want to engage in cutting-edge research in the field of artificial intelligence. Are you interested in cybersecurity, AI security, robotics, autonomous systems or energy? Join a dynamic team and help shape the future! For more information, please visit the website.

How games are driving AI innovation

Renowned AI researcher Murray Campbell, the key figure behind Deep Blue, explored the history of AI and games at our spring prg․ai meetup. From Deep Blue’s triumph in chess to the potential of large-scale language models (LLMs), he highlighted how games serve as an important testbed for advancing AI. Campbell talked about the controlled environment that games offer for AI research, the limitations of using game AI in real-world problems, and the potential for human-AI collaboration. Watch the recording to learn more about the future of AI and gaming.

Elements of AI wins AI Act of the Year!

Elements of AI, a global online course on artificial intelligence, has won the prestigious AI Act of the Year award at the Finnish AI Gala. Elements of AI is making AI knowledge accessible to more than 1.4 million students worldwide, making a global impact on AI education, and we are the umbrella organization for the Czech Republic. The Czech version is also unique in its supplementary videos for each chapter.

Where can you meet us?

Wondering how AI will affect our future? Come to the SOCAIETY 2050 conference and discuss the impact of AI on education, productivity and security with leading experts. The conference takes place on 19 November at the Žofín Palace. As a partner of the conference, we have a 50% discount on tickets with the code “PRG”.

Our Lukáš will also take part in a panel discussion on the future of AI and ethical issues together with Alžběta Krausová, Jan Romportl and Miroslav Singer. The conference is hosted by the Czech Association of Insurance Companies and will focus on the opportunities and risks of AI and its impact on society. The conference will take place on 19 November at the CNB Congress Centre.

Science and research today cannot be done without its communication. We will present how to effectively communicate scientific knowledge at the Science Communication 2024 conference traditionally organized by the portal VědaVýzkum.cz, which we are proud to support! Our director Lukáš Kačena will be one of the speakers and will share his experience with the use of AI tools in science popularization. We look forward to seeing you on November 21st.

This year we are also part of the Week for Digital Czechia. Our Lukáš is among the experts discussing, together they will focus on key topics such as prevention, digital literacy and safety in the online world. Come and listen to inspiring lectures, join the discussion and learn about the latest trends and threats in cyberspace. The meeting takes place on 22 November at the Liechtenstein Palace.

As every year, we are a partner of ML Prague, one of the largest European conferences on artificial intelligence and machine learning. ML Prague 2025 will take place from 28 to 30 April in Prague. And right now it is launching the sale of discounted early bird tickets and registration for popular workshops, which traditionally sell out quickly. Don’t miss out!

👏 Local AI scene news that makes us proud

Robots in the hive monitor bee behaviour

A research team from AIC FEL ČVUT has developed special robots capable of monitoring bees’ natural behavior inside the hive without disturbing them. This innovative project was featured on the cover of the prestigious Science Robotics journal. The goal is to gain a better understanding of bee behavior and support ecological processes.

Invitation to Elektrovalcik

FEL ČVUT invites everyone to the faculty ball, which will take place at the Slovanský dům. This is the second annual event known as the “Elektrovalčík.“

Revolutionary AI methods in agriculture

The PoliRuralPlus project, involving FIT ČVUT, introduces innovative AI methods in agriculture. This globally unique approach has the potential to significantly modernize agricultural processes and increase their efficiency.

Robotic hunter against drones

FEL ČVUT introduced a robotic “hunter” equipped with artificial intelligence designed to protect critical infrastructure from drone attacks. This technology employs advanced sensors and algorithms to detect and neutralize potential threats.

What are the current drone trends?

Why is the demand for drones and their coordination growing rapidly? What is moving the drone industry forward the most? How was the Czech startup Dronetag, the current world leader in Remote ID, founded? About all this in the podcast Ones and Zeros with Ing. Lukáš Brchl, a graduate of FIT CTU and co-founder of the startup. 

CLAIRE becomes CAIRNE

The international non-profit association for artificial intelligence, CLAIRE, is rebranding with a new name and logo – CAIRNE (pronounced “kern”). The main goal remains the same: to support and develop European excellence in human-centred, trustworthy, inclusive, and globally competitive AI.

With AI against disinformation?

FEE CTU is participating in the CEDMO 2.0 project focused on combating disinformation. The project involves collaboration with international partners and is supported by the National Recovery Plan. The aim of the project is to increase the resilience of Czech society against misinformation, especially with the help of artificial intelligence tools.

Unmanned aircraft

FEE CTU announced a collaboration with Lockheed Martin on research into highly maneuverable unmanned aerial vehicles. The project aims to advance drone capabilities across various sectors.

Delegations to the United States

Associate Professor Martin Saska from FEE CTU joined President Petr Pavel’s delegation during a visit to the United States, discussing collaboration opportunities in robotics and AI.

Book launch on artificial intelligence

CIIRC ČVUT will host the launch of the book “Why Not to Fear Artificial Intelligence,” offering insights from Czech experts on AI. The book explores potential benefits and concerns related to AI.

Testbed for industrial AI solutions

Companies have the unique opportunity to test AI solutions in testbeds located in Prague, Brno, and Ostrava. These testing environments support the application of AI in industry.

GitHub Code Reviews

Datamole’s blog discusses features that could improve code reviews on GitHub. The wish list includes better support for code approval, more helpful error notifications, and tools for faster communication between reviewers and developers. This overview highlights key needs that could enhance the efficiency of code review within teams.

Revolutionizing Document Processing with AI

Rossum introduced Aurora 1.5 and a new Copilot feature for AI-driven document processing. This update offers improved text recognition accuracy and simplifies document automation in businesses. Copilot provides assisted AI, helping users enhance workflow and efficiency.

A Platform for Smart Mobility in Czechia

The INTIQ platform focuses on supporting smart mobility and autonomous driving in the Czech Republic. Its goal is to create an ecosystem that connects industry and academic partners to jointly deliver innovative solutions for transportation infrastructure and safety.

HPE Technology Tour 2024

Hewlett Packard Enterprise is launching a series of webinars called the HPE Technology Tour 2024. This online event will showcase HPE’s latest technologies in areas such as data centers, cloud solutions, and artificial intelligence. Participants will have the opportunity to learn about new trends and innovations.

Where is AI going?

AI expert Michal Pěchouček, AIC FEE CTU, discusses OpenAI’s rapid progress and criticizes a Nobel laureate. He expresses concerns about the direction of AI research and potential risks. He also emphasizes the role of AI in improving business processes and driving positive change across industries.

OpenAI Model O1 handles math and word problems 

OpenAI has launched O1, a model excelling in math and word problems. O1 not only solves complex calculations but also understands intricate word problems with traps. Applications are expected in education, science, and industry.

Advances in Czech AI Research 

Interview with Jan Šedivý, CIIRC CTU, highlights advances in Czech AI research. It showcases current projects and achievements with the potential to impact the Czech economy and international collaboration.

Nvidia leads the chip war

Nvidia is currently leading the global chip market but faces fierce competition. Developments in this sector have implications for the tech industry and geopolitics, particularly between the US and China.

AI in modern education

Didaktikon explores the role of AI in modern education. It focuses on how technology can enhance learning, personalize education, and facilitate access to information.

🎭 Events we’re excited about

You can find all the events we find interesting in our Google Calendar.

🧩 Stuff that interests us 

Nobel Prize for AI in protein folding

The second Nobel Prize for AI this year goes to advances in protein folding. The technology has the potential to fundamentally impact biotechnology and medical research.

Mini-Series on AI

Seznam Zprávy is launching Pavel Kasík’s Mozaika, a mini-series about artificial intelligence. It explores AI’s impact across various sectors and aims to inform the public about current AI developments.

📢 Community calls

Another call by Technology Incubation

The Technology Incubation Program is supporting innovative projects from startups. It offers financial and expert assistance to help them achieve their business goals.

💼 Open job positions

Artificial Intelligence Center FEE CTU

CIIRC

EDIH CTU

ELLIS – European Laboratory for Learning and Intelligent Systems

Apify

Blindspot AI

Datamole

DNAi

ententee

Make

MAMA AI

Qminers

Recombee

Rossum

Aricoma

Dataclair.ai

EY

MSD

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