Tech news roundup - news from Facebook's AI blog and Tech@Facebook

This month on our AI blog, we shared some big news about our chief AI scientist, detailed a new approach for multitask Bayesian optimization, and caught up with the researchers in our AI Residency Program. And on Tech@facebook, our new blog for tech enthusiasts, we unpacked how technology is transforming the way we communicate, see the world, and help others.

Turing Award presented to Yann LeCun, Geoffrey Hinton, and Yoshua Bengio

Facebook Chief AI Scientist Yann LeCun is one of three recipients of the 2018 A.M. Turing Award, which recognizes the conceptual and engineering breakthroughs that made deep neural networks a critical component of computing. Read more on the AI blog

VIDEO: Yann LeCun on the future of deep learning hardware

Introducing DeepFocus: The AI rendering system powering Half Dome

DeepFocus is a new AI-powered rendering system that works with VR headset Half Dome to create the defocus effect that mimics how we see the world in everyday life. Learn how this effect — which blurs the portions of the scene that the wearer isn’t currently focusing on — is generated in a way that is realistic and that runs in real time. Read more on Tech@Facebook

Combining online and offline tests to improve News Feed ranking

We use a new multitask Bayesian optimization approach to improve our News Feed ranking by identifying new system configurations to be tested online. Learn how simple, miscalibrated, offline simulations accelerate improvements to the system while increasing the number of positive configurations tested online. Read more on the AI blog

Using AI to help increase blood donations

A tool developed by our engineers helps connect people interested in donating blood with local hospitals and other organizations that provide blood to those in need. The system can automatically serve the person or organization a message that explains how the feature works and invites them to participate. Read more on Tech@Facebook

Q&A with Facebook AI Residency Program members

Our AI Residency Program is a full-time, one-year research training opportunity designed to offer hands-on industry experience with machine learning research. Paired with Facebook researchers and engineers, residents like Tatiana Likhomanenko and Siddarth Karamcheti collaborate on mutually interesting problems and devise new deep learning techniques to solve those problems. Read more on the AI blog

Doin’ it for themselves: Meet the women helping to build the future of AR/VR
In honor of International Women’s History Month, we shared a few inspiring stories of the many talented women making strides to advance augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR). Learn how these product leaders, game designers, and creative directors got their start helping to build the future of AR/VR today. Read more on Tech@Facebook

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