Tech Talk Episode 19: BMW’s i4 Electric Car, CAPTCHA I’m not a Robot, Cortana Contraction

Hey Tech Fans. Are you a robot? Looking to buy a new electric car? We’ve got the scoop on that and more on LA NPDT Tech Talk, where we bring you the latest developments in science and technology and keep you tuned in the newest gadgets and product innovations across the globe. Join LA New Product Development Team for the most recent, up-to-date tech news each day. Now, let’s get to today’s news.

BMW’s i4 Electric Car

BMW has been testing its i4 electric car for a while now, and it’s starting to look good for the release in 2021. BMW says it has made advancements in its electric powertrain and expects the 80kWh battery pack to get about 373 miles between charges. The 530 horsepower car has one 390 kW electric motor. Here’s to hoping we see the release of the i4 in 2021 from the German automaker.

I’m not a Robot

No, you aren’t a robot, but it’s getting harder and harder to prove that. Ever wonder why the CAPTCHA images are sometimes so difficult to interpret? Why you can’t always get it right on the first try? Or figure out what is actually in the image shown in front of you? It’s because when the image is that plain and simple, a computer or robot, can also see exactly what the images are. The artificial intelligence that has come so far in helping us is actually better at figuring out what the images are then a person is. In fact, in 2014, Google ran a test on the most distorted images, to see if a computer could figure it out. Computers got it right 99.8% of the time. Humans – only 33% of the time. Different CAPTCHA tests are being looked at for the future, but many companies are looking at redesigning this all together, by defining what it is to be human. Instead of selecting a picture, it may be how we move through the world, and the internet. As of now, no one has the answer, but this will certainly remain a hot topic for the next few years.

Cortana Contraction

Microsoft has been steadily reining in its plans for Cortana, its personal productivity assistant, and has now announced the shutdown of this product in several markets across the globe. After Jan. 31, 2020, the assistant as it is today will no longer be available in Great Britain, Australia, Germany, Mexico, China, Spain, Canada, and India. Cortana users will still have access to their reminders and lists on Windows. As of now, the US is not affected, but expect to see that change as 2020 rolls in.