Lifelong learning will power next generation of autonomous devices

Look up “lifelong learning” online, and you’ll find a laundry list of apps to teach you how to quilt, play chess or even speak a new language. Within the emerging fields of artificial intelligence (AI) and autonomous devices, however, “lifelong learning” means something different—and it is a bit more complex. It refers to the ability of a device to continuously operate, interact with and learn from its environment—on its own and in real time.