Microsoft to double size of Montreal research lab to bolster machine learning and deep learning tech

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau discussing Canadian expansion and AI at Davos

“Montreal is really one of the most exciting places in AI right now,” said Jennifer Chayes, a technical fellow and managing director of Microsoft Research New England, New York City and Montreal.

Microsoft announced plans to significantly expand its Montreal research lab, starting with the hire of renowned artificial intelligence expert, Geoff Gordon as the lab’s Research Director.

The expansion comes as Montreal is becoming a worldwide hub for groundbreaking work in the fields of machine learning and deep learning, which are core to AI advances. Upcoming plans include doubling the size of Microsoft Research Montreal within the next two years, to as many as 75 technical experts. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella today in Davos to discuss Microsoft’s plans for the Montreal Research lab and Montreal’s AI ecosystem.

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Samsung touts its wearable devices as options to fulfill healthy New Year's resolutions

Samsung wants to be at the forefront of the fitness tracking phenomenon, specially since studies show that one in three consumers is using some kind of fitness tracker or smartwatch to keep tabs on their health and progress.

The company is pushing some of its solutions as great adjuncts to Samsung smartphone users wanting to make a conscious effort of fulfilling their commitment to health.  Below are the products Samsung that aid fitness tracking.

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Apple's Tim Cook makes first visit to Canada, surprises students in Apple Store

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

Apple CEO Tim Cook made his first visit to Toronto, Canada. Cook surprised students at the popular Apple Store in the Eaton Centre, one of the country's busiest malls. The unnanounced visit took staff, customers and students by surprise. Cook also thanked app developers, who were running a coding clinic for their contributions to the Apple ecosystem.

The students in question were a class of Grade 7 Students in Toronto's east end who were programming robots dancing on tables using Apple's Swift Playgrounds app on the iPad. Apple opened its Everyone Can Code initiative late last year and this focuses on making technology accessible so virtually anyone can create apps and solutions.

Canada is an extremely important market for us. We have a great team in Canada," Cook said in an interview with The National Post.

There are 120,000 Canadian jobs directly related to Apple's iOS and App Store ecosystem, the company said.

Visit Microsoft and SteelCase Creative Spaces where creative environments meet the latest tech

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

Toronto- We got a tour of the new Microsoft and SteelCase Creative Spaces in the heart of toronto's business district to get a better look at the future of the workspace designed to complement the changing landscape in Canada.

The event featured a panel discussion with Microsoft, SteelCase and Ipsos leaders as well as a tour of the facilities designed to improve productivity by fostering creativity as well as collaboration. The Microsoft and SteelCase Creative Spaces merge Microsoft Surface hardware and various solutions with a variety of traditional and innovative meeting and work spaces.

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