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Researchers use AI to create proteins that neutralize snake venom toxins
The University of Washington research team has successfully used AI to design novel proteins that can neutralize specific snake venom toxins, demonstrating a practical application of protein structure prediction technology. Research breakthrough; A team led by Nobel laureate David Baker developed artificial proteins capable of inhibiting specific toxins found in snake venom, particularly focusing on three-finger toxins common in mambas, taipans, and cobras. The research targeted two distinct types of three-finger toxins: those causing cellular toxicity and those blocking neurotransmitter receptors Current antivenoms require refrigeration and have limited shelf life, making treatment challenging in remote areas The AI-designed proteins could...
read Jan 15, 2025Meta’s new AI model can translate speech from 100+ languages
Meta has unveiled SeamlessM4T, a new AI model capable of translating speech across 101 languages, marking significant progress toward real-time language interpretation technology. Key innovation: Meta's SeamlessM4T model enables more direct speech-to-speech translation, improving upon traditional multi-step approaches that convert speech to text, translate the text, and then convert it back to speech. The model demonstrates 23% higher accuracy in text translation compared to leading existing systems While Google's AudioPaLM can handle 113 languages, it only translates into English, whereas SeamlessM4T can translate into 36 different languages The technology leverages parallel data mining to match audio with subtitles from web...
read Jan 15, 2025French woman scammed nearly $1M by deepfake Brad Pitt faces ridicule online
A French interior designer lost €830,000 in a sophisticated online scam perpetrated by fraudsters impersonating actor Brad Pitt, leading to widespread mockery and subsequent removal of a TV program about her experience. The scam's evolution: What began as an Instagram connection in February 2023 escalated into an elaborate scheme involving multiple layers of deception and manipulation. The scammers initially contacted the victim, identified as Anne, through a fake account pretending to be Brad Pitt's mother The fraudsters used AI-generated photos of Pitt in hospital beds and fake news reports to maintain the illusion of authenticity The scheme included requests for...
read Jan 15, 2025How beating China in the AI race may pose unintended risks for the US
AI competition between the United States and China has intensified as the Biden administration implements new export restrictions on advanced AI technologies, while experts warn about the risks of viewing AI development as a zero-sum game. Current developments: The Biden administration has introduced new export controls targeting high-performance computing clusters and advanced AI model weights to limit China's access to cutting-edge AI technology. The restrictions specifically focus on controlling frontier models, though enforcement mechanisms and performance thresholds remain unclear The measures build upon previous sanctions implemented during both the Trump and Biden administrations Major tech companies like Google, Microsoft, AWS,...
read Jan 15, 2025Google is making AI features free in Gmail and Docs — but increasing its Workspace prices
Google has expanded access to AI features across its Workspace suite while simultaneously increasing base subscription costs. The core change: Google is now providing its AI features in Gmail, Docs, Sheets, Meet, and other Workspace applications at no additional cost, eliminating the previous $20 per user monthly fee for the Gemini Business plan. The base subscription price for Workspace is increasing from $12 to approximately $14 per user per month Users gain access to the Gemini chatbot, which offers advanced search and information retrieval capabilities across applications The change reflects Google's strategy to compete with Microsoft, OpenAI, and others in...
read Jan 15, 2025Microsoft relaunches Copilot for business, now with pay-as-you-go AI agents
Microsoft has launched Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat, a free business AI chat service with pay-as-you-go AI agents, aiming to drive adoption of its premium Copilot offerings. Key Features and Functionality: Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat represents a rebranding of Bing Chat Enterprise and now includes access to AI agents within the chat interface. The platform utilizes GPT-4 for queries and allows users to upload files for analysis, including Word documents and Excel spreadsheets Users can create and employ AI agents through Copilot Studio, accessing both web data and work-related information via Microsoft Graph The service maintains the core chat experience while...
read Jan 15, 2025What’s next for agentic AI? LangChain founder explains why ‘ambient agents’ are the future
In a recent talk, LangChain founder Harrison Chase introduced the concept of ambient agents, an evolution of agentic AI that enables AI systems to run continuously in the background, monitoring and acting on events based on preset instructions. Here's what you need to know. Key innovation explained: Ambient agents represent an advancement beyond traditional AI interfaces and agentic AI by operating persistently in the background, automating routine tasks without requiring direct user interaction. Unlike conventional AI systems that respond to text prompts, ambient agents proactively monitor event streams and take action when triggered The technology builds upon LangChain's existing framework...
read Jan 15, 2025Don’t want Apple Intelligence on your new iPhone? Here’s how to disable it
Apple's latest iOS update automatically includes Apple Intelligence, a suite of AI tools that requires 7GB of storage space and can be disabled through specific settings. What is Apple Intelligence: Apple's new AI integration uses on-device processing for enhanced privacy while offering features like text rewriting, image generation, and email prioritization in core applications. The system processes data locally on the device rather than using external servers or cloud storage Core functionality includes AI-powered tools for Mail, Messages, and Photos applications The suite requires 7GB of local storage space, which remains occupied even when features are disabled Update implementation: The...
read Jan 15, 2025This North Carolina city is pioneering transparent AI implementation across municipal services
Cary, North Carolina is developing policies to increase transparency around its use of artificial intelligence in municipal operations, following discussions at a recent Town Council meeting. Key initiative details: The town of Cary, serving over 187,000 residents, aims to establish clear guidelines for AI implementation in government services. Council members Lori Bush and Carissa Kohn-Johnson proposed creating formal policies for AI use in town operations The town already has internal procedures for identifying AI usage among staff Officials want to ensure residents know when and how AI is being utilized in municipal services Current AI applications: Cary has already begun...
read Jan 15, 2025WhatsApp’s next feature may be letting you create your own AI chatbot
Meta's WhatsApp is developing a new feature that will let users create and customize AI-powered chatbots within the messaging app. What's new: WhatsApp is working on an AI Character feature that will enable users to create personalized chatbots tailored to their specific needs and preferences. The feature was discovered in WhatsApp beta for Android version 2.25.1.26 Users will be able to customize chatbots for various purposes, including productivity and entertainment WhatsApp plans to provide suggestions to help users navigate the chatbot creation process Technical details: The AI Character feature appears to be an extension of Meta's existing AI Studio capabilities,...
read Jan 15, 2025How these AI-powered finance apps are helping young adults manage tight budgets
AI-powered financial apps Cleo and Bright are marketing personalized chatbot advisers to Gen Z and millennial users while simultaneously promoting financial products and services. The core offering: Both Cleo and Bright connect to users' bank accounts to analyze spending patterns and provide automated financial guidance through conversational AI interfaces. Cleo positions itself as a financial "confidant or coach" according to CEO Barney Hussey-Yeo The apps promise to help users better understand and manage their money through AI-driven insights The technology aims to provide personalized financial advice based on individual transaction data and spending habits Revenue model and monetization: These AI...
read Jan 15, 2025OpenAI publishes policy document outlining the keys to American AI leadership
The big picture: OpenAI has released a comprehensive policy framework aimed at maintaining U.S. leadership in artificial intelligence development, with a particular focus on infrastructure investment and national security collaboration. Key proposals and initiatives: OpenAI's 15-page policy document outlines specific actions for federal and state governments to strengthen America's AI capabilities. The company emphasizes the need for significant infrastructure investment, particularly in energy systems to support the massive computing requirements of AI development A new "Innovating for America" initiative will target state governments, beginning with an event in Washington, DC hosted by CEO Sam Altman The framework calls for closer...
read Jan 15, 2025Opera adds AI-powered widget to iOS browser
Opera has released a major iOS update featuring new AI-focused widgets and expanded access to its AI assistant Aria for iPhone and iPad users. What's new: Opera's latest iOS browser update introduces customizable Home Screen widgets and makes its AI assistant Aria available to all users, even without signing in. New widgets provide one-tap access to key features including Private Mode browsing and Aria AI interactions Long-press functionality on widgets reveals additional shortcuts The update removes the login requirement for using Aria AI features AI capabilities and limitations: Aria offers both text and voice-based interactions while incorporating advanced image generation...
read Jan 15, 2025Not every creator doesn’t want their content scraped by AI — here’s why
A growing trend of deliberate content creation aimed at influencing AI training data has sparked discussion about the most effective platforms and methods for ensuring content inclusion in future AI models. Current landscape; The practice of "writing for AI" represents a strategic effort by content creators to have their thoughts and beliefs incorporated into AI training datasets. LessWrong is widely recognized as a platform likely to be included in AI training data scraping efforts Twitter/X's content may primarily benefit specific AI models like Grok, limiting broader influence Questions remain about the effectiveness of personal blogs and technical configurations for ensuring...
read Jan 15, 2025DJI’s newest drone collapses into a truly portable size and comes with AI features
DJI has unveiled its latest drone, the Flip, featuring a compact foldable design and advanced camera capabilities targeting the vlogger market. Product Overview: The DJI Flip introduces a unique combination of portability and professional-grade features in a sub-250g drone platform. The drone incorporates a 48MP CMOS sensor (1/1.3-inch) capable of recording 4K HDR video at 60FPS Slow-motion capabilities allow for 4K recording at 100FPS Flight time extends beyond 30 minutes on a single battery charge Six AI-powered shooting modes enable autonomous self-filming capabilities [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="666"] Image credit: Android Authority[/caption] Design Innovation: The Flip's standout feature is its revolutionary...
read Jan 15, 2025Google Cloud’s new AI platform equips retailers with revolutionary new tools
Google Cloud has unveiled a comprehensive suite of AI-driven retail solutions ahead of NRF 2025, designed to address industry challenges including rising costs, supply chain issues, and customer personalization demands. Core technology introduction: Google Agentspace will be the centerpiece platform, combining AI agents with Gemini's reasoning capabilities and enterprise-grade search functionality. The platform enables retail employees to use natural language queries for accessing product and operational data Vertex AI Agent Builder allows retailers to create custom AI agents for specific needs NotebookLM for enterprise focuses on improving employee productivity through enhanced data access Search capabilities enhancement: Vertex AI Search for...
read Jan 15, 2025Inside Meta’s race to do anything necessary to beat OpenAI
OpenAI and Meta are engaged in a high-stakes competition to develop advanced AI systems, with internal Meta documents revealing controversial data acquisition strategies. The core revelation: Meta executives discussed using pirated content from Library Genesis (LibGen), a book piracy website, to train their AI models while attempting to conceal this usage. Internal communications show Meta's primary objective was to match GPT-4's capabilities by any means necessary Company leadership viewed LibGen's content as "essential" for achieving state-of-the-art performance Executives discussed removing copyright information and metadata from training data to avoid legal complications Strategic considerations: Meta's internal deliberations highlight the growing challenge...
read Jan 15, 2025Hallucinations: How GSK is tackling one of AI’s biggest hurdles in the name of drug development
GSK is implementing advanced computational strategies to address AI hallucinations - when AI models generate incorrect information - in their drug development and healthcare applications. The core challenge: AI hallucinations pose significant risks in healthcare settings, where accuracy and reliability are crucial for patient safety and drug development outcomes. Healthcare applications of AI require exceptional precision as errors can have serious consequences for patient care and drug development GSK applies generative AI to multiple critical tasks including scientific literature review, genomic analysis, and drug discovery The company has identified hallucinations as a primary technical challenge requiring innovative solutions Key technological...
read Jan 15, 2025AI supercomputer predicts this team to win Super Bowl LIX
NFL supercomputer analysis predicts the Detroit Lions will secure their first-ever Super Bowl appearance and victory, potentially ending their 60-year championship drought by defeating the Kansas City Chiefs. Key predictions: BetVictor Canada's AI supercomputer analyzed regular-season records, winning streaks, schedule strength, and playoff experience to forecast Super Bowl LIX outcomes. The Detroit Lions have a 20% chance of reaching the Super Bowl, second only to the Kansas City Chiefs at 25% In a head-to-head matchup, the Lions are favored to win with a 52% probability over the Chiefs' 48% The Baltimore Ravens and Philadelphia Eagles are each given an 18%...
read Jan 15, 2025Need help with your AI GTM strategy? This OpenAI leader is offering office hours
Event Overview: OpenAI's GTM Leader Maggie Hott will host an in-person Office Hours session focused on go-to-market strategies for artificial intelligence companies. The session is scheduled for January 30th at 5:30 PM Pacific time at SHACK15 in San Francisco The event is specifically targeted at early-stage founders building AI companies Attendees can submit questions during registration that will be incorporated into the Q&A portion Key Topics: The session will address common mistakes founders make when developing go-to-market (GTM) strategies for AI companies. Discussion will cover critical areas including hiring practices Pipeline building strategies will be examined Pricing strategies for AI...
read Jan 15, 2025Google’s Gemini AI can now process video and image simultaneously — here’s why it’s important
Google's Gemini AI has achieved simultaneous processing of multiple visual streams through an experimental application called AnyChat, marking a significant advancement in AI visual processing capabilities. The breakthrough explained: Through AnyChat, Gemini can now process live video feeds and analyze static images at the same time, a capability previously thought impossible in AI systems. AnyChat creator Ahsen Khaliq revealed that this functionality exists within Gemini's API but hasn't been implemented in Google's official applications The system can maintain conversational coherence while handling multiple visual inputs simultaneously This capability stands in contrast to other AI platforms like ChatGPT, which must disable...
read Jan 14, 2025Mississippi looks to modernize its tech with AI and cloud services
Mississippi recently launched an AI Innovation Hub and announced plans for a Cloud Center of Excellence as part of a comprehensive technology modernization initiative across state agencies. Strategic priorities for 2025: The Mississippi Department of Information Technology Services (ITS) has identified five key technology priorities for the year, with procurement modernization leading the agenda. A new Procurement Advisory Council with 30 state agency representatives will work to streamline procurement processes The state is creating an AI Innovation Hub through partnerships with Amazon Web Services and the Mississippi Artificial Intelligence Network Plans are underway to establish a Cloud Center of Excellence...
read Jan 14, 2025Wyze’s new AI-powered cameras turn security footage into text notifications
Wyze has launched an AI-powered feature that generates detailed text descriptions of security camera footage for its users. What's new: Wyze's Descriptive Alerts feature provides detailed text summaries of motion events captured by its security cameras, going beyond basic motion detection notifications. The system can describe specific details like colors and actions, such as noting the color of a delivery person's hat or describing vehicles in view Alerts provide contextual information about events occurring in the camera's field of view Users receive these descriptions as notifications, reducing the need to manually review security footage Service details and availability: The new...
read Jan 14, 2025OpenAI appoints BlackRock executive to board
OpenAI has expanded its board of directors by appointing Adebayo "Bayo" Ogunlesi, a prominent BlackRock executive and infrastructure investment leader. Strategic appointment timing: The addition of Ogunlesi to OpenAI's board comes at a crucial moment as the company considers transitioning from a nonprofit to a for-profit structure. Ogunlesi currently serves as chairman and CEO of Global Infrastructure Partners, an investment fund He also holds the position of senior managing director at BlackRock, one of the world's largest asset management firms OpenAI board chair Bret Taylor emphasized Ogunlesi's proven ability to navigate complex commercial environments and drive organizational success Leadership implications:...
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