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 OUR CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE WEEK'S NEWS
Terrible and saddening news has filled the airwaves recently, so we've chosen some positive stories to share with you today.

Listening to the media, self-driving cars seem like they're coming any day now...but how do they stay on the road? 3M is developing technology solutions to create "smart roads" for autonomous vehicles and increasing safety for the vehicles of the future.

Speaking of cars, auto insurance is becoming more user-friendly and the claims process is speeding up, thanks to AI innovation incorporated in apps.

Finally, despite constant chatter about robots replacing all of our jobs, there is one surprising place humans are apparently safe for now: the NYSE.

Check it out!

Talking to the Wall
Self-driving cars are a hot topic. But what about the technology outside of the vehicles themselves that will enable a safer journey and faster regulations?

Fast Company Design reports that manufacturing giant 3M is creating new types of paint for highway markings and street signs that can "talk" to autonomous vehicles. The connected roads department started in 1996 with a magnetic pavement paint that allowed sensors on snowplows to detect pavement markings under inches of snow, an important task in 3M's hometown of St.Paul, Minnesota. This year they developed similar technology for car sensors, and reflective signs with embedded information which can be read by self-driving cars such as the exact location of the vehicle or upcoming road changes. GPS is not accurate enough to tell a vehicle exactly where to position itself on a road, and a few inches off could have it drifting into oncoming traffic especially in bad weather.

3M is partnering with transportation departments around the U.S. to test its products. Tight-budgeted DOTs are struggling just to fill potholes and plow roads, so 3M is developing future vehicle products with budget, safety and cybersecurity in mind.

Ava and Mia Want to Fix Insurance
Employee Benefits Advisor magazine explored the latest developments in insurance apps using AI. The scientist interviewed predicts that AI will have a greater impact on the insurance industry than on others. One example is Snapsheet, a technology handling hundreds of thousands of virtual insurance claims every year by auto insurance carriers such as Metromile. Metromile's AI-powered claims assistant, Ava, can verify claims in seconds and quickly resolve them. Another example is an AI chatbot named Mia , that speaks in human conversations when selling insurance and answering customer questions via Facebook Messenger. AI can also be used to analyze photos to better quote an auto insurance claim, and increase customer satisfaction by eliminating long wait times on hold with a customer service call center. Other benefits for the insurance companies include reducing costs and gathering more data from customers.
Emoji Index

Buy, Buy, Buy, Cell, Cell, Cell

Started in 1817, the New York Stock Exchange is usually what the general public imagines when they think of stock traders rushing around a noisy trading floor. These NYSE traders are described as the face of Wall Street, but critics argue that humans are only kept at the exchange for marketing purposes and TV cameras, like a Disneyland for finance.

Showmanship is one of the reasons to keep humans involved in trading, Quartz reports, including the bell ringing ceremony of initial public offerings. Companies who list on the NYSE are divided as to the importance of humans involved on trading floors. Human brokers also have the advantage of using a d-Quote, which allows time to adjust or add stock orders at the end of trading, possibly the most important time of the day when news can break. Humans are also important during times of crisis, such as software errors causing losses and people on the trading floor closing down trading manually to prevent further losses.
» IN THE NEWS
Charles Thorngren, CEO of Noble Gold Investments , speaks to  TheStreet   about adding cryptocurrencies to your IRA.
» BOTTOM LINE: A Rough Road for America's Infrastructure
Our aging electricity grid is arguably one of our nation’s greatest engineering achievements, but considering its recent D+ rating by the American Society of Civil Engineers, it needs work. Business Insider reports that replacing it could cost up to $5 trillion! There’s no question of the need to invest in our energy infrastructure (the very device you’re using to read this blog depends upon it!). But debate abounds over how we begin: do we repair existing structures in attempt to preserve our existing investment, or should we double down on new, cleaner, more efficient options that could last longer?
»FEATURED CASE STUDY: CCOE
KCD PR was selected to promote the San Diego Cyber Center of Excellence (CCOE), a nonprofit organization that promotes alignment and collaboration within the cyber community.

KCD PR developed a comprehensive public relations strategy by first thoroughly understanding the nonprofit organization space, then establishing a set of measurable objectives and communications guidelines to guide the overall strategy that would help CCOE position San Diego as the hub for all things cyber-focused.