Moral compass: Microsoft is launching a new program to support research for using artificial intelligence to help people with disabilities, The New York Times reports. Satya Nadella, its chief executive whose adult son has cerebral palsy, has written about how his son’s disability has made him more empathetic. The move was another boost for Microsoft’s image as a moral compass in the tech world. When compared to Facebook and Google, Microsoft has avoided public criticism of their ethics, and its top executives advocate for protecting consumer privacy. Read the full story.
Even faster: The next generation of wireless technology could change how businesses operate and slash hardware expenses, according to a group of IT leaders called ONUG. 5G, the next step after 4G LTE, would allow businesses to put more on the cloud and keep even less in the office, The Wall Street Journal reports. Only a handful of companies in the U.S. and Asia are expected to start using 5G this year because it would mean an overhaul of current cellular radio antennae, and computer companies haven’t built devices or programs that could take advantage of it. Read the full story.
Charged up: One in five Americans say their next car will be an electric car, an increase over 15% last year that could be in part from an uptick of long-range electric car models being introduced and increasing gas prices, according to a recent AAA survey. USA Today reports the survey found that fewer drivers are as worried about running out of electricity than before, 58% compared to 68% in 2017. Battery-powered cars are still only a small fraction of the auto industry. Although sales increased 24% last year, compared to 2016, only 104,000 electric cars were sold in the U.S. in 2017. Read the full story.
