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Artificial Intelligence

AppHarvest Acquires Agricultural Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Company Root AI to Increase Efficiency

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Acquisition of Root AI and its signature robot, Virgo, bolsters company’s 
intelligent tools to produce foods sustainably
Root AI CEO Joins AppHarvest as Chief Technology Officer

MOREHEAD, Ky., April 08, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — AppHarvest, Inc. (NASDAQ: APPH, APPHW), a leading AgTech company and Certified B Corp focused on farming more sustainably using 90 percent less water than open-field agriculture and only recycled rainwater, announced today that it has acquired Root AI, an artificial intelligence farming startup that creates intelligent robots to help manage high-tech indoor farms. The acquisition of Root AI and its robotic universal harvester, Virgo, is expected to provide AppHarvest with a baseline of harvesting support working alongside crop care specialists focused on more complex tasks. AppHarvest expects the game-changing advantage of the technology to be in the data the robots can collect as they harvest, which can help evaluate crop health, precisely predict yield and optimize overall operations of the controlled environment agriculture (CEA) facility. 

“Farming as we’ve known it is broken because of the increasing number of variables such as extreme weather, droughts, fire and contamination by animals that make our food system unreliable. Indoor farming solves for many of those challenges, and the data gathered can exponentially deliver more insights that help us predict and control crop quality and yield,” said AppHarvest Founder & CEO Jonathan Webb. “One of the key challenges in agriculture is accurately predicting yield. Many downstream decisions from work scheduling to transportation to retail planning are based on that. Any deviation between projection and actual yield can result in fire drills for numerous functions to adjust for the change, and AI can help solve for that.”  

Root AI co-founder and CEO Josh Lessing will take on the role of Chief Technology Officer for AppHarvest where he will take the lead in continuing to develop the robots and their AI capabilities for the network of indoor farms that AppHarvest is building. Lessing, along with co-founder Ryan Knopf who will join AppHarvest as vice president of technology, helped establish Root AI as an early leader in employing artificial intelligence in CEA. Virgo is the world’s first universal harvester, which can be configured to identify and harvest multiple crops of varying sizes including tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and more delicate fruits such as strawberries among others.

Though Virgo can work indoors or out, the robot’s focus has been on controlled environment agriculture. Over the past three years, it has collected the world’s largest data set of tomato images to enable it to identify more than 50 varieties in multiple growing environments and at varying stages of maturity to learn how and when to harvest. 

Virgo uses a set of cameras combined with an infrared laser to generate a 3D color scan of an area to determine the work it can perform. Once it maps the tomatoes, it assesses their orientation and determines if they are ripe enough to pick. The robot can be programmed to make other quality assessments as well. The scan enables the robot to find the least obstructive and fastest route to pick the crop ahead of the arrival of the robotic arm and gripper. The robot can identify hundreds of tomatoes in a fraction of a second without having to connect to the cloud. Virgo keeps score on its success rate like a video game. A built-in feedback mechanism constantly evaluates its efficiency so it learns how to harvest any given configuration of fruit most effectively.

“A piece of food—whether that’s a tomato or a berry or a cucumber—is an outcome from many variables that are part of the growing process. Enhanced data collection for each plant through the robot can lead to insights that teach us precisely how to design better, more resilient food systems that are reliable and that produce more food with fewer resources,“ said Lessing. “Joining forces with AppHarvest is a natural fit: we want to ensure a stable, safe supply of the nutritious and healthy food that people should be eating — grown sustainably — and doing that at the scale of AppHarvest gives us the opportunity to make the greatest difference.” 

Gathering more data through AI enables growers to use real-time information to improve a number of sustainability efforts such as detecting and eliminating pests naturally, helping indoor farms successfully grow chemical pesticide-free fruits and vegetables.

AppHarvest is investing approximately $60 million, consisting of approximately $10 million in cash and the balance in AppHarvest common shares, to acquire Root AI. The Company will issue approximately 2,328,000 shares for the transaction.

Founded in 2018, Root AI is based in Somerville, Mass., and has 19 full-time employees, all of whom are expected to join AppHarvest’s technology group to help advance the mission of building a resilient and sustainable food supply.

About AppHarvest
AppHarvest is an applied technology company building some of the world’s largest high-tech indoor farms in Appalachia that grow non-GMO, chemical pesticide-free produce using 90 percent less water than open-field agriculture and only recycled rainwater while producing yields up to 30 times that of traditional agriculture on the same amount of land with zero agricultural runoff. The Company combines conventional agricultural techniques with cutting-edge technology and is addressing key issues including improving access for all to nutritious food, farming more sustainably, building a domestic food supply, and increasing investment in Appalachia. The Company’s 60-acre Morehead, Ky. facility is among the largest indoor farms in the U.S. For more information, visit https://www.appharvest.com/.

Forward-Looking Statements 
Certain statements included in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements generally are accompanied by words such as “believe,” “may,” “will,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “expect,” “should,” “would,” “plan,” “predict,” “potential,” “seem,” “seek,” “future,” “outlook,” and similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. All statements, other than statements of present or historical fact included in this press release, regarding AppHarvest’s future financial performance, as well as AppHarvest’s growth plans and strategy, ability to capitalize on commercial opportunities, future operations, estimated financial position, estimated adjusted EBITDA, revenues and losses, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management are forward-looking statements. These statements are based on various assumptions, whether or not identified in this press release, and on the current expectations of AppHarvest’s management and are not predictions of actual performance. These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as, and must not be relied on as, a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction, or a definitive statement of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and will differ from assumptions. Many actual events and circumstances are beyond the control of AppHarvest. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including those discussed in the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-252964) filed with the SEC by AppHarvest on February 10, 2021 under the heading “Risk Factors,” and other documents AppHarvest has filed, or that AppHarvest will file, with the SEC. If any of these risks materialize or our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements reflect AppHarvest’s expectations, plans, or forecasts of future events and views as of the date of this press release. AppHarvest anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause its assessments to change. However, while AppHarvest may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, AppHarvest specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing AppHarvest’s assessments of any date subsequent to the date of this press release. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed upon the forward-looking statements.

MEDIA CONTACT: Travis Parman, [email protected] 
INVESTOR CONTACT: Matt Chesler, CFA, [email protected]
IMAGE/VIDEO GALLERY: Available here

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ddc83eaa-4466-407e-ab37-9bc31286e71d

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Artificial Intelligence

Sasken and JOYNEXT forge strategic partnership to accelerate innovation and expand global footprint

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BANGALORE, India, April 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Sasken Technologies Limited, a leading provider of product development and digital transformation services, and JOYNEXT, a respected Tier1 player in the automotive industry, announced a strategic partnership to collaborate on the development and launch of cutting-edge platforms for both in-vehicle systems (navigation, digital cockpit and 5G telematics) and off-vehicle cloud and digital services leveraging emerging technologies for the automotive industry.

Sasken and JOYNEXT will leverage their complementary expertise, global presence, and strong ecosystems to deliver innovative and integrated solutions to the automotive industry. This collaboration will enable faster time to market with the best IPs and provide unparalleled support throughout the product development process. By combining JOYNEXT’s proven advanced automotive solutions with Sasken’s innovative automotive hardware and software capabilities, including chip-to-cloud cognitive engineering, connected car solutions, optimised edge computing solutions, computer vision, generative AI, and cybersecurity, the partnership aims to address the complex needs of the automotive market while delivering enhanced customer experiences.
“We are excited to collaborate with JOYNEXT, as their automotive industry expertise aligns perfectly with Sasken’s ambition to maintain a leadership position in the global automotive market,” said Mr. Abhijit Kabra, CEO, Sasken Technologies. “By leveraging our respective strengths, we can provide unique value to our customers and accelerate technological advancements in the automotive industry.”
The partnership began with a multi-year collaboration focused on automotive software maintenance for navigation and ASPICE compliance. It also includes the definition and implementation of enhancements for new products to keep pace with evolving Software Defined Vehicle (SDV) architectures. Sasken will drive the initiative to address EV challenges such as range anxiety, compatibility with navigation ecosystem players, increasing driver confidence by incorporating real-time data on charging points, driving terrains and integration with ADAS systems. Proprietary algorithms will optimise battery range for safer, more efficient journeys.
“We at JOYNEXT are excited to join forces with Sasken,” said Stavros Mitrakis, CEO of JOYNEXT. “By leveraging Sasken’s strong hardware and software capabilities and our extensive automotive domain knowledge, we will be able to develop solutions that not only address today’s challenges, but also anticipate the needs of the future. We are confident that this partnership will enhance our product offering and enable us to deliver more innovative, safer, and more enjoyable driving experiences to our customers.”
The aim of the partnership between Sasken and JOYNEXT is not only to push the boundaries of product innovation, but also to ensure that products reach the market more efficiently, equipped with the latest technology and tailored to meet the ever-changing demands of consumers.
About Sasken:
Sasken is a specialist in Product Engineering and Digital Transformation providing concept-to-market, chip-to-cognition engineering R&D and Digital Transformation services to global leaders in Automotive, Semiconductor, Transportation, Industrials, Consumer Electronics, Enterprise Devices, SatCom and Telecom industries. For over 30 years and with multiple patents, Sasken has transformed the businesses of 100+ Fortune 500 companies, powering more than a billion devices through its services and IP. For more information, visit www.sasken.com 
JOYNEXT – WE CONNECT FUTURE
JOYNEXT is a leading AutoTech company, the Automotive Connectivity Business Unit of Joyson Electronics. Headquarters in China, JOYNEXT marks our global presence in Germany, Poland, France, US, Japan, etc. We develop technologies for intelligent connected vehicles and provide a highly personalized mobility experience that is empathic, safe, and adaptable. Our 1,500+ employees work at 7 R&D centers, 3 global manufacturing locations, and 4 customer canters around the world.
For more than two decades, JOYNEXT has been working as the development partner and system supplier of renowned car manufacturers and established long-term partnerships with various well-known OEMs. Our intelligent cockpit and smart connectivity products are equipped in millions of vehicles worldwide, complemented by our capabilities in developing autonomous driving technologies and software products, which lay a solid foundation for the cockpit and driving fusion facing the era of Central Computing Units.
Balancing innovation with sustainability, we are committed to contributing to industry transformation together with our eco-partners, such as Microsoft, HUAWEI, Qualcomm, Horizon Robotics, Black Sesame, Elektrobit, and QNX to deliver a smarter driving experience for end users. www.JOYNEXT.com
Media Contact:Rekha Sahay GhoshHead of Marketing & CommunicationsE: [email protected]: +91 080 6694 3009
Sasken Technologies Limited139/25, Ring Road, Domlur, Bengaluru 560071, IndiaT: +91 80 6694 3000, E: [email protected]: L72100KA1989PLC014226 | www.sasken.com
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Artificial Intelligence

IDnow bridges the AI-human divide with new expert-led video verification solution

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New VideoIdent Flex elevates trust with a human touch in the face of rising fraud and the closing of physical bank branches
LONDON, April 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — IDnow, a leading identity verification provider in Europe, has unveiled VideoIdent Flex, a new version of its expert-led video verification service that blends advanced AI technology with human interaction. The human-based video call solution, supported by AI, has been designed and built to boost customer conversion rates, reduce rising fraud attempts, increase inclusivity, and tackle an array of complex online verification scenarios, while offering a high-end service experience to end customers.

The company’s original expert-led product, VideoIdent, has been a cornerstone in identity verification for over a decade, serving the strictest requirements in highly regulated industries across Europe. VideoIdent Flex, re-engineered specifically for the UK market, represents a significant evolution, addressing the growing challenges of identity fraud, compliance related to Know-Your-Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) processes and ensuring fair access and inclusivity in today’s digital world outside of fully automated processes.
Empowering businesses with flexible human-based identity verification
As remote identity verification becomes more crucial yet more challenging, VideoIdent Flex combines high-quality live video identity verification with hundreds of trained verification experts, thus ensuring that genuine customers gain equal access to digital services while effectively deterring fraudsters and money mules. Unlike fully automated solutions based on document liveness and biometric liveness features, this human-machine collaboration not only boosts onboarding rates and prevents fraud but also strengthens trust and confidence in both end users and organisations. VideoIdent Flex can also serve as a fallback service in case a fully automated solution fails.
Bertrand Bouteloup, Chief Commercial Officer at IDnow, commented: “VideoIdent Flex marks a groundbreaking advancement in identity verification, merging AI-based technology with human intuition. In a landscape of evolving fraud tactics and steady UK bank branch closures, our solution draws on our decade’s worth of video verification experience and fraud insights, empowering UK businesses to maintain a competitive edge by offering a white glove service for VIP onboarding. With its unique combination of KYC-compliant identity verification, real-time fraud prevention solutions, and expert support, VideoIdent Flex is a powerful tool for the UK market.”
Whereas previously firms may have found video identification solutions to be excessive for their compliance requirement or out of reach due to costs, VideoIdent Flex opens up this option by customising checks as required by the respective regulatory bodies in financial services, mobility, telecommunications or gaming, to offer a streamlined solution fit for every industry and geography.
Customisable real-time fraud prevention for high levels of assurance
VideoIdent Flex has a number of key features and benefits:
Customisable: Pre-defined configurations to meet specific industry requirements and regional regulations.Expert-led: High-quality live video verification conducted by trained identity verification experts, ensuring accuracy, reliability, and compliance for high levels of assurance.Extensive document coverage: Support for a wide range of documents, facilitating global expansion and inclusivity.Real-time fraud prevention: Advanced fraud detection capabilities, including AI-driven analysis and manual checks, combat evolving fraud tactics and help protect against social engineering fraud, document tampering, projection and deepfakes, especially for high-risk use cases and goods.Verification of high-risk individuals: Reviewing applications from high-risk persons, such as Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs), high-risk countries; or assessing where fraud might be expected with real-time decisions, without alerting suspicion.Bouteloup concluded: “Identity verification is incredibly nuanced; it’s as intricate as we are as human beings. This really compounds the importance of adopting a hybrid approach to identity – capitalising on the dual benefits of advanced technology when combined with human knowledge and awareness of social cues. With bank branches in the UK closing down, especially in the countryside, and interactions becoming more and more digital, our solution offers a means to maintain a human relationship between businesses and their end customers, no matter their age, disability or neurodiversity.   
“VideoIdent Flex is designed from the ground up for organisations that cannot depend on a one-size-fits-all approach to ensuring their customers are who they say they are. In a world where fraud is consistently increasing, our video capability paired with our experts adds a powerful layer of security, especially for those businesses and customers that require a face-to-face interaction.”
About IDnow
IDnow is a leading identity verification platform provider in Europe with a vision to make the connected world a safer place. The IDnow platform provides a broad portfolio of identity verification solutions, ranging from automated to human-assisted from purely online to point-of-sale, each of them optimized for user conversion rates and security.
In 2021, IDnow acquired the French market leader for identity technology, ARIADNEXT, and the German identity Trust Management AG, enabling IDnow to offer its customers one of the broadest identification solutions through a single, integrated platform.
The company has offices in Germany, United Kingdom, and France and is backed by renowned institutional investors, including Corsair Capital and Seventure Partners. Its portfolio of over 900 international clients spans a wide range of industries, and includes leading international players, such as UniCredit, Telefonica, Sixt, Crédit Agricole, BNP, and Munich Re, as well as digital champions like N26, Solarisbank, Younited Credit, BoursoBank, Klarna and Tier mobility.
Press contact IDnowKatherina [email protected]+49 89 41324 6030
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Artificial Intelligence

MYCOM OSI Launches AInsights Availability in AWS Marketplace

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LONDON, April 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — MYCOM OSI, a leading independent provider of Network Assurance and Service Experience Assurance solutions to some of the world’s largest communications service providers (CSPs), announced today that AInsights, is now available in AWS Marketplace, a digital catalog with thousands of software listings from independent software vendors that make it easy to find, test, buy, and deploy software that runs on Amazon Web Services (AWS). 

AInsights application offers predictive AI-based insights, combined with a comprehensive Data Fabric that powers Big Data Lakes with normalized network and service data. This critical enhancement to MYCOM OSI’s EAA suite enables CSPs to continuously predict the performance of their network and services, and to proactively identify and resolve problems before they impact their customers. This is specifically essential for the delivery and the assurance of high reliability and low latency 5G enterprise services.
The MYCOM OSI AInsights application is available as part of its SaaS offering operated on Amazon Web Services (AWS) as well as the CSPs’ hybrid cloud architecture. With this, MYCOM OSI customers and partners will benefit from high scalability and low-error predictive data insights from the network and its services in near real-time. AInsights’ replicable data models can be applied to different network functions for a deeper 360-degree network view. A factory approach using Open APIs enables intelligent data to be consumed seamlessly by any component of the CSP ecosystem.
AWS customers will now have access to AInsights, enabling predictive operations and assurance of CSP networks, directly within AWS Marketplace. This provides AWS customers with the ability to streamline the purchase and management of AInsights application within their AWS Marketplace account. 
“We are delighted to offer AInsights’ unique AI-driven insights to communications service providers to support their growth and transformation plans through AWS Marketplace,” said Mounir Ladki, President and CTO at MYCOM OSI. “With AInsights, CSPs can rapidly move from reactive to predictive assurance and operations of their networks and services. By accessing AInsights in AWS Marketplace, customers can quickly take their first step in achieving benefits of predictive AI-based insights to automate network operations and maximize customer experience.”
AInsights is now generally available in AWS Marketplace. Please visit https://aws.amazon.com/marketplace/pp/prodview-p4ikrghvc24dq for more information.
For information on MYCOM OSI and its Service Assurance offerings please visit www.mycom-osi.com. To arrange a discussion with MYCOM OSI, click here or contact the team at [email protected], +447719820492

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