Dean Mai

I specialize in identifying disruptive, core technologies and strategic technology trends in early-stage startups, research universities, government sponsored laboratories and commercial companies.

In my current role, I lead sourcing of strategic technology investment opportunities and managing Dyson’s diligence and outreach processes, specifically in the U.S., Israel and China.

I write here (sporadically) on the convergence of science and engineering, with broader adopted interests in novel disruptive technologies, cognitive psychology, human-computer interaction (HCI), philosophy, linguistics and artificial intelligence (AI).

All tagged machine learning

Jan 11
Jan 11 Edge computing and the Internet of Things: Investing in the future of autonomy

artificial intelligence

One of the most ubiquitous technological advancements making its way into devices we use every single day is autonomy. Autonomous technology via the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) algorithms enables core functions without human interference. As the adoption of ML becomes more widespread, more businesses are using ML models to support mission-critical operational processes. This increasing reliance on ML has created a need for real-time capabilities to improve accuracy and reliability, as well as reduce the feedback loop.

Jan 2
Jan 2 Artificial neural networks and engineered interfaces

artificial intelligence, robotics

The need to express ourselves and communicate with others is fundamental to what it means to be human. Animal communication is typically non-syntactic, with signals which refer to whole situations. On the contrary, human language is syntactic, and signals consist of discrete components that have their own meaning. Human communication is enriched by the concomitant redundancy introduced by multimodal interaction. The vast expressive power of human language would be impossible without syntax, and the transition from non-syntactic to syntactic communication was an essential step in the evolution of human language. Syntax defines evolution.

Mar 4
Mar 4 Understanding the theory of embodied cognition

artificial intelligence

Embodied cognition is a research theory that is generally all about the vast difference of having an active body and being situated in a structured environment adept to the kind of tasks that the brain has to perform in order to support adaptive task success. Herein the team if referred as the existence of a memory system that encodes data of agent’s motory and sensory competencies, stressing the importance of action for cognition, in such way that an agent is capable to tangibly interact with the physical world. The aspects of the agent's body beyond its brain play a significant causative and physically integral role in its cognitive processing. The only way to understand the mind, how it works, and subsequently train it is to consider the body and what helps the body and mind to function as one.