Google and the Future of Machine Learning and AI at the IoT Evolution Expo

The IoT Evolution Expo is coming up fast, and we interviewed several of our speakers to get a bit of a preview of what to expect from their sessions.

Here, we spoke to Ricardo Prada, UX Director at Google, where he directs broad, multidisciplinary teams of scientists and designers, adapting future technologies to human needs and capabilities. Prada holds degrees in engineering psychology and human factors and has worked in consumer electronics, VR/AR, web services, online ads, medical devices, operations, aerospace, machine learning, and ground transportation, including self-driving cars. He will be a keynote speaker at the IoT Evolution Expo, which is taking place January 29 to February 1, 2019, in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

His keynote, “The Future of Tech - Machine Learning to Change the World,” will delve into the ways that AI and machine learning need to evolve as the IoT industry matures. Any devices coming out in the future must be able to learn over time and produce feedback. In the session, Prada will discuss how creating models and doing experimentation in design has brought us to the current state of Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence and will continue to change the world.

To hear his talk, click here to register. Use code KEN19 to receive 25% off of your Super Pass.

Here is a little preview of his thoughts:

What will be some key points you plan to hit in your session?

I'll be discussing how user interfaces will need to adapt as new sensors and AI technologies are introduced, and give examples of ways to help people understand and have control over their data.

What new insights can attendees expect to take home?

Two major themes: a) that AI advancements will require a different approach to product design, and b) that AI can augment people in ways that keep them in control.

 Can you identify a few important trends influencing your sector of the IoT which will shape the path of the industry? Why these?

One major trend is the rapid advances in ML hardware processing, as evidenced by products like Google's Edge TPU. Another is the rapid growth of sensors and massive amounts of data. A third is the noticeable lag in developing experiences that can handle the first 2 trends.

What are the biggest challenges facing the IoT? What are some important tools needed to overcome them?

Aside from general quality and ease of use issues, a major challenge is shifting from IoT as one-off products to thinking of them as a coherent, on-going complement to human activities. In other words, the product isn't done because it's in a shrink wrapped box.

Which vertical markets have the most to gain from IoT implementation? Which are leading and which are still behind the adoption curve?

While consumer products get a lot of attention, device connectivity in enterprise environments has huge potential and is currently lagging. The medical field, because of the complexity inherent in healthcare, also lags.

What session(s) (other than yours) are you most looking forward to attending at the Expo? Why?

The entire Smart Cities track is very interesting to me, including the presentation on smart government from Mayor Grant. My time at X, the sister company of Google, gave me an appreciation for the potential and massive speed bumps in connected cities. I'd love to hear the perspective of a forward-thinking mayor, including how tech companies might make adoption of new technologies easier.

Register now for the IoT Evolution Expo. Use code KEN19 to receive 25% off of your Super Pass