Sean Captain

 Use of artificial intelligence in health care to grow tenfold in 5 years, say analysts—for everything from cancer diagnosis to diet tips.
(Read more about AI in healthcare on Fast Company.)

 As sensors become small and cheap, we’re creating a global network of environmental data collection to help us figure out the best ways to quickly cut emissions.
(Read about environmental sensors on Fast Company.)

With Rey, Leia, Maz, and Phasma, women have achieved equality in The Force Awakens. Data shows they’ve made less progress on this planet.
(Read more about women of Star Wars on Fast Company.)

 Smartphones and a profusion of connected gadgets will be prime hunting ground for hackers. And Apple products are not immune.
(Read about online security on Fast Company.)

 J.J. Abrams’s take on Star Wars reboots the story for a new generation, but avoids over-flattering them.
(Read about Star Wars on Fast Company.)

Real AI isn’t about building a know-it-all computer, but rather one that’s a good learner, able to sort overwhelming amounts of data, and diligently catalog recurring patterns. For example, while working with sensor readings and other flight data from airliners, AI might spot the conditions that caused a plane to burn up too much fuel, a project that IBM is already undertaking with plane manufacturer Airbus.
Read about IBM Watson on Fast Company

According to linguist and cognitive scientist Kieran Snyder, empty words in documents like job descriptions could be precisely what’s hurting diversity, by discouraging people from even applying. “Everybody hates that language, but underrepresented people hate it more, probably because it’s a cultural signifier of some kind. It sort of communicates, this is an old-boy’s network kind of company.”
Read about language and gender bias on Fast Company