Oct 15, 2024

Adobe teases AI tools for 3D scenes and animation

Adobe's AI innovation push: Adobe is previewing experimental AI tools aimed at simplifying complex tasks in animation, image generation, and video editing, potentially revolutionizing content creation for both professionals and novices. The new tools, showcased as "Sneaks" at Adobe's MAX conference, focus on automating time-consuming and complex creative processes while providing users with more control over the final output. These AI-powered features could potentially be integrated into Adobe's Creative Cloud suite, making advanced editing techniques more accessible to a broader range of users. Project Scenic: Enhanced image generation: This tool aims to give users greater control over AI-generated images by...

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People may be cloning you as a chatbot on Character.AI

The rise of unauthorized AI impersonation: Character.AI, an artificial intelligence platform, has sparked controversy by allowing users to create chatbots that impersonate real individuals without their consent, raising significant ethical and legal concerns. Drew Crecente discovered an AI chatbot on Character.AI that impersonated his deceased daughter Jennifer, created without his knowledge or permission. WIRED's investigation uncovered multiple instances of AI personas being generated on the platform without consent, with some cases involving women already experiencing online harassment. The process of creating chatbots on Character.AI is quick and straightforward, with minimal safeguards in place to prevent impersonation. Legal challenges and lack...

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YouTube is testing AI-powered comment replies

YouTube Tests AI-Powered Comment Reply Suggestions: YouTube is experimenting with a new feature that uses artificial intelligence to suggest replies for creators responding to comments on their videos. The feature is currently in a small-scale testing phase, indicating YouTube's cautious approach to implementing AI-driven tools. The test is exclusively available on YouTube's mobile app, suggesting a focus on enhancing the platform's mobile user experience. This AI-enhanced feature aims to streamline the interaction process between creators and their audience, potentially saving time and encouraging more engagement. Potential Benefits for Creators: The introduction of AI-suggested replies could significantly impact how creators manage...

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OpenAI is making its foray into the defense industry

OpenAI's Defense Sector Expansion: OpenAI is making its first foray into the defense industry through a partnership with Carahsoft, a major government contractor with $16 billion in annual revenue. Carahsoft, a billionaire-owned company, will serve as OpenAI's conduit to secure defense contracts and expand its presence in the public sector. The partnership has already resulted in hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of ChatGPT licenses being sold to federal agencies, including NASA, the National Gallery of Art, and the Department of Agriculture. Carahsoft is currently facing allegations of price fixing on Department of Defense contracts, adding a layer of complexity...

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Are AI and talking cars the future of driving? New Purdue study suggests yes

AI-powered autonomous vehicles: A transformative shift in transportation: Recent research demonstrates the potential of conversational AI to guide autonomous vehicles, marking a significant advancement in the field of intelligent transportation systems. Researchers from Purdue University presented a study at the 27th IEEE International Conference on Intelligent Transportation Systems, showcasing a conversational AI system called Talk2Drive that can interpret human commands to guide autonomous vehicles. This groundbreaking field experiment is the first of its kind to deploy large language models (LLMs) on a real-world autonomous vehicle, bridging the gap between AI technology and practical transportation applications. Historical context and industry growth:...

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TikTok’s Smart+ promises AI gains for marketers — but it’s still a black box

AI-driven advertising tools reshape marketing landscape: TikTok's recent launch of Smart+ highlights the growing trend of AI-powered advertising solutions that promise improved performance but raise questions about transparency and control. TikTok's Smart+ joins a roster of AI-driven advertising tools offered by major platforms, including Google's Performance Max and Meta's Advantage+, reflecting a shift towards automated campaign management. These tools promise to simplify advertising processes and deliver superior results, attracting marketers despite concerns about reduced transparency and control over ad placements. The allure of AI-powered advertising: Marketers are increasingly embracing AI tools due to their potential for delivering impressive results and...

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Quantum software startup Zapata shuts down after funding struggles

Quantum software pioneer shuts down: Zapata AI, a leading startup in the quantum software market, ceased operations on October 9, 2024, following an unexpected financial setback. The catalyst for closure: An accelerated payment demand from Sandia Investment Management LP triggered the company's sudden shutdown. Zapata AI owed approximately $2.5 million to Sandia Investment Management LP. The original payment due date was set for March 28, 2026. Sandia accelerated the payment deadline to October 8, 2024, leaving Zapata AI unable to meet the financial obligation. Immediate consequences: The abrupt closure resulted in widespread job losses and the termination of ongoing projects....

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Semiconductor talent gap widens as industry nears $1T revenue

Semiconductor industry faces critical talent shortage: The global semiconductor industry is grappling with a significant workforce challenge as it approaches $1 trillion in revenue by 2030, with Deloitte projecting a need for one million additional skilled workers within the same timeframe. Deloitte's analysis indicates that the industry will need to add over 100,000 skilled workers annually to meet growing demand and technological advancements. The semiconductor sector experienced a 9% revenue decline to $520 billion in 2023 but is expected to rebound with 16% growth to $611 billion in 2024. Advanced skills, particularly those driven by the demand for Generative AI,...

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AI startup Gladia secures $16M for transcription tech

AI-powered transcription breakthrough: Gladia, a Paris-based startup, has secured $16 million in funding to develop an advanced real-time audio transcription and analytics engine, challenging established players in the industry. Gladia's innovative technology aims to provide multilingual, accent-adaptive transcription services with enhanced accuracy and speed. The funding round was led by XAnge, with participation from several other venture capital firms, bringing Gladia's total funding to $20.3 million since its founding in 2022. The company plans to use the capital to advance its R&D efforts and expand its product offerings, including the development of additional AI models. Technological edge and market positioning:...

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Defense attorneys challenge AI-powered crime-fighting tool

The Rise of Controversial AI-Powered Crime-Fighting Tool: Cybercheck, an artificial intelligence system developed by Canadian company Global Intelligence, claims to geolocate individuals in real-time or the past using only open-source data and algorithms, raising significant concerns about its accuracy and ethical implications. Widespread adoption and bold claims: Cybercheck has gained traction among law enforcement agencies, with over 345 departments in the United States utilizing the tool for approximately 24,000 searches since 2017. Adam Mosher, the founder of Global Intelligence, asserts that Cybercheck operates as a fully automated system requiring no human intervention. The company markets Cybercheck as a powerful investigative...

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AI ‘nudify’ bots are abusing millions on Telegram

The rise of AI-powered 'nudify' bots on Telegram: A disturbing trend has emerged on the messaging platform Telegram, where millions of users are accessing bots that claim to create explicit deepfake photos or videos of individuals without their consent. A WIRED investigation uncovered at least 50 Telegram bots advertising the ability to generate nude or sexually explicit images of people using AI technology. These bots collectively boast over 4 million monthly users according to Telegram's own statistics, with two bots claiming more than 400,000 monthly users each and 14 others exceeding 100,000. At least 25 associated Telegram channels were identified,...

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Lack of quality AI training data to hinder science progress, Nobel laureate warns

AI's impact on scientific discovery: Recent Nobel Prize awards in Chemistry and Physics highlight the transformative role of artificial intelligence in advancing scientific research, particularly in biochemistry and protein structure prediction. David Baker, a biochemist at the University of Washington, received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his pioneering work using AI to design new proteins. The Chemistry prize was also awarded to Demis Hassabis and John M. Jumper of Google DeepMind for their development of AlphaFold, an AI system capable of accurately predicting protein structures. In the field of Physics, Geoffrey Hinton and John Hopfield were recognized for their...

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New York Times targets Perplexity over AI content scraping

Legal clash over AI content usage: The New York Times has issued a cease-and-desist letter to Perplexity, an AI startup backed by Jeff Bezos, demanding it stop using the newspaper's content without authorization. The Times accuses Perplexity of unjust enrichment through unauthorized use of its journalism, giving the startup an October 30 deadline to respond. The newspaper alleges that Perplexity has circumvented its anti-scraping and anti-bot measures, specifically mentioning "PerplexityBot" in its robots.txt file. Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas expressed interest in collaboration with publishers, including The New York Times, stating they have no intention of being antagonistic. Perplexity's stance and...

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Casio just launched a furry AI-powered robot pet

AI-powered robot pets enter the market: Casio has launched Moflin, an AI-powered furry robot pet designed to provide emotional companionship without the responsibilities of caring for a living animal. Moflin, resembling a large Guinea pig or a horizontal Porg from Star Wars, is now available for preorder in Japan at 59,400 yen (approximately $400 / £305 / 600AU$). The robot pet was initially developed by Vanguard Industries and first showcased at CES 2021. Casio is manufacturing and distributing Moflin across Japan, with shipping set to begin on November 7th. Features and functionality: Moflin is designed to simulate the emotional connection...

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Can digital watermarking save the world from AI-generated fake news?

The rise of AI-generated content: A new frontier in media authenticity: As artificial intelligence technologies advance, the challenge of distinguishing between real and fake media content has become increasingly complex, prompting stakeholders to explore digital watermarking as a potential solution. The evolving landscape of media manipulation: From the early days of Photoshop to today's sophisticated AI-generated content, the ability to alter and create realistic media has raised concerns about authenticity and trust in digital information. The introduction of Photoshop in 1990 initially sparked controversy over image manipulation, leading to the term "Photoshopped" becoming a widely recognized verb. AI has elevated...

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Anthropic publishes updated AI scaling policy for responsible growth

Anthropic's enhanced AI safety framework: Anthropic has unveiled a significant update to its Responsible Scaling Policy (RSP), introducing a more flexible and nuanced approach to mitigating potential catastrophic risks associated with frontier AI systems. The revised policy maintains Anthropic's commitment to not train or deploy models without adequate safeguards while adapting to the rapidly evolving AI landscape. Key improvements include new capability thresholds, refined processes for evaluating model capabilities and safeguard adequacy, and enhanced measures for internal governance and external input. AI Safety Level Standards: Anthropic's updated RSP incorporates graduated sets of safety and security measures that become more stringent...

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Apple unveils faster iPad Mini with AI upgrade

Apple's iPad Mini gets a powerful upgrade: The tech giant has unveiled a new iteration of its smallest tablet, marking the first update since 2021 and bringing significant performance improvements to the device. Key specifications and improvements: The new iPad Mini boasts substantial upgrades in processing power and storage capacity, positioning it as a more capable device for the AI era. The tablet now features the A17 Pro chip, offering a 30% faster CPU, 25% faster GPU, and a Neural Engine that's twice as fast as its predecessor. Base storage has been increased from 64GB to 128GB, accommodating the growing...

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Real-time video deepfake scams are here — Reality Defender wants to stop them

The rise of real-time video deepfake scams: A new tool developed by Reality Defender aims to combat the growing threat of AI-generated impersonations during video calls, highlighting the increasing sophistication of deepfake technology. Reality Defender, a startup focused on AI detection, has created a Zoom plug-in capable of predicting whether video call participants are real humans or AI impersonations. The tool's effectiveness was demonstrated when it successfully detected a simple deepfake of Elon Musk generated by a Reality Defender employee during a video call. Currently in beta testing with select clients, the plug-in represents a proactive approach to addressing the...

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New Photoshop plugin offers glimpse of where AI-powered interior design is heading

AI-powered design revolution: Adobe's new Photoshop plugin, "Project Hi-Fi," represents a significant leap forward in AI-assisted creative tools, transforming simple sketches into fully rendered digital images. The plugin utilizes Adobe's Firefly AI model to convert basic sketches or photographs into detailed, rendered images. Users can incorporate photographs, layers, and various elements beyond quick drawings to enhance their designs. In a demonstration, an Adobe designer showcased the plugin's capabilities by transforming a photo of an empty room into a rendered pink living room design using sketches and AI. Versatile functionality: Project Hi-Fi offers a range of features that streamline the design...

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How DataStax is helping enterprises get out of AI development hell

AI development acceleration: DataStax has launched the DataStax AI Platform, Built with Nvidia AI, aimed at reducing development time and accelerating AI workloads for enterprises. The new platform integrates DataStax's existing database technologies, including Astra for cloud-native deployments and Hyper-Converged Database (HCD) for self-managed installations. It also incorporates DataStax's Langflow technology, which is used to build agentic AI workflows. Nvidia's enterprise AI components, such as NeMo Retriever, NeMo Guardrails, and NIM Agent Blueprints, are included to enhance model building and deployment capabilities. DataStax claims the platform can reduce AI development time by 60% and handle AI workloads 19 times faster than...

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AI-powered Strella raises $4M for automated market research

AI-powered market research startup secures seed funding: Strella, a company leveraging artificial intelligence to automate and accelerate customer research, has raised $4 million in seed funding led by Decibel, with participation from Unusual Ventures. The startup's AI-powered platform aims to deliver human insights up to 10 times faster and at half the cost of traditional research methods. Strella was founded by Lydia Hylton and Priya Krishnan to address the long-standing challenge in market research: balancing speed with depth of customer insights. The company's AI moderator can conduct interviews, analyze responses, and synthesize findings in real-time, significantly reducing timelines for gathering...

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Google Shopping unveils personalized product feed with AI summaries

Google's Shopping Overhaul: Personalization and AI Take Center Stage: Google is introducing significant updates to its Shopping platform, aiming to create a more tailored and user-friendly experience for consumers. Personalized 'For You' Feed: Google Shopping is introducing a personalized product feed, initially on mobile devices, to enhance user engagement and discovery. The new feature appears at shopping.google.com, presenting users with a carousel of recently viewed items for quick access to previous searches. Scrolling down reveals recommended products and in-line videos based on user interests, leveraging recent searches and YouTube viewing history. Users can refine recommendations by using a "thumbs-down" button...

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‘Suicide Pod’ creator believes AI should help with end-of-life decisions

The controversial frontier of assisted suicide technology: Philip Nitschke, an Australian right-to-die activist, has introduced the Sarco pod, a 3D-printed capsule designed to facilitate assisted suicide using nitrogen gas. The Sarco pod recently made headlines when it was used for the first time by a 64-year-old American woman in Switzerland, marking a significant milestone in the development of assisted suicide technology. The device costs approximately $15,000 to 3D print, highlighting the potential accessibility of such technology in the future. Before suspending applications, 371 people had applied to use the Sarco pod in Switzerland, indicating a considerable interest in this type...

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MIT launches free newsletter that will teach you all the AI basics

Introducing MIT Technology Review's "Intro to AI" Newsletter: MIT Technology Review has launched a new free newsletter series titled "Intro to AI," designed to provide beginners with a comprehensive understanding of artificial intelligence over six weekly editions. The newsletter aims to demystify AI concepts and keep readers informed about the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence. Each edition focuses on a specific topic, offering a structured approach to learning about AI fundamentals and its implications. Weekly Breakdown of "Intro to AI" Content: What is AI?: The first week provides a concise history of AI and introduces key terminology. Readers will...

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