Robot takeover stalls in worst slump for AI funds on record

(Bloomberg) — Chalk one up for the humans. Hedge funds that use artificial intelligence and machine learning in their trading process posted the worst month on record in February, according to a Eurekahedge index that’s tracked the industry from 2011. The first equity correction in two years upended their strategies as once-reliable cross-asset correlations shifted. While computerized programs are feared for their potential to render human traders obsolete, the AI quants lagged behind their discretionary counterparts. The AI index fell 7.3 percent last month, compared to a 2.4 percent decline for the broader Hedge Fund Research index. The slump even surpassed…

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VHacks: Inside the Vatican's First-Ever Hackathon

This is the Holy See of the 21st century.

HQ Trivia gives largest prize yet: $25,000, no sharing allowed

HQ Trivia, a live quiz game played twice a day on smartphones for, has always with one big caveat: cash prizes were split among several winners. Because of this and varying pot sizes, actual payouts have ranged from a few thousand dollars to a few cents. Last night was different. For the first time, HQ didn’t split its prize. Instead of stopping at 12 or 15 questions like usual, host Scott Rogowsky kept on going until there was just one winner, which happened at question 18. The $25,000 dollar pot went to a single winner, by the alias of maelkins1.…

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This serial entrepreneur wants to disrupt peer-to-peer lending, using blockchain

In Hollywood, you’re practically nothing if you’re not a triple threat. If you can’t sing, act and dance, you can pack your bags. Similar to Hollywood, to succeed in the business world, you need to have a multitude of skills. From intelligence to trustworthiness, there’s seemingly an inordinate number of things one needs to master. For most, this is a tall order. For others, though, it seems second nature. Alex Mashinsky is one of those people who seems to be born for business success. Regardless of the project, the client or the industry, Mashinsky seems to come out on top…

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Philips introduces its first outdoor Hue lights

Philips Hue is a popular smart home lighting system, so it was only a matter of time before the company extended to the outdoors. Today, Philips announced its new outdoor range, which extends the light bulb system's smart features from within the hom...

Twilio launches Flex, a fully programmable contact center

 Earlier this year we reported that Twilio was going to launch a full contact center solution called Flex on March 12 — lo and behold, today is March 12 and Twilio today announced the launch of Flex at the Enterprise Connect conference in Orlando. Flex brings together virtually every part of the existing Twilio infrastructure and platform for developers that already power nearly 40… Read More

L’Oréal's Skinceuticals system makes lab-grade serums just for your skin

The rise of beauty tech has brought about hyper personalized care. From smart salons that cater to your hair type and color, to makeup you can apply virtually before buying, the use of tech in the cosmetics industry is designed to better address indi...

Why stress isn’t such a bad thing for young, inexperienced entrepreneurs

Running a successful business poses numerous challenges. From acquiring the necessary startup capital to making time outside of a separate full-time job, the hurdles you face each take a psychological toll. The result is stress — and stress is an enemy. Managing it becomes a challenge unto itself. But there is another way to think about this problem. What if stress were good? Or, more accurately, what if it were not the bad thing we’ve all come to fear? Fortunately, for those of us in the entrepreneurial world, there are solid reasons why this might be true! Stress means you’re…

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YouTube makes art out of ads at SXSW

Unless it's during the Super Bowl, chances are not many actively look forward to watching ads. But the main reason people do enjoy those is because brands design them to have a cultural effect, rather than just feel like a simple product pitch video....

Spotify needs your help tagging and sorting tunes

Music streaming services can be frustrating if you're an avid listener, since your definitions may not line up with theirs. They may lump trance, techno and drum-and-bass into a generic "dance" category, for instance. Spotify, at least, knows it need...