Oct 1, 2024

YouTuber claims AI company stole his voice for chatbot

AI-Generated Voice Controversy Sparks Ethical Debate: YouTuber Jeff Geerling's recent experience with unauthorized AI voice cloning by electronics company Elecrow has reignited discussions about the ethical implications of AI-generated content. Geerling, a software developer with approximately 700,000 YouTube subscribers, discovered that Elecrow had used an AI-generated version of his voice in dozens of promotional tutorials without his knowledge or consent. The company's CEO apologized and promptly removed the videos after Geerling raised the issue, highlighting the swift action taken in response to the controversy. This incident is not isolated, as voice actors and celebrities like Scarlett Johansson, Tom Hanks, and...

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AI video creation transformed by Kling’s new lip syncing feature

Kling's game-changing lip sync feature: Kling, a leading AI video generator, has introduced a highly accurate lip sync feature that works even on faces not directly facing the camera, marking a significant advancement in AI video technology. The new lip sync capability is described as one of the most precise implementations in the industry, potentially opening doors to the creation of artificial actors for various applications. This feature could enable individual AI filmmakers to produce entire productions with dialogue, although the technology is still evolving and not yet on par with professional human actors. Recent updates and new features: Kling...

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AI data access breakthrough from Nvidia and VAST sparks curiosity

AI data access breakthrough: VAST Data, in collaboration with Nvidia, has introduced a novel approach for businesses to efficiently and securely utilize AI models while leveraging internal corporate information. The new product, VAST InsightEngine, aims to streamline the adoption of large generative AI models for businesses, particularly in creating chatbots that can access and interpret vast amounts of company data. This innovation addresses a significant challenge in one of the most common business use cases for AI: enabling employees to find and make sense of extensive corporate data repositories. Key features and benefits: VAST InsightEngine offers a seamless solution for...

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AI transforms repetitive document into profound podcast

AI-Generated Podcast from Repetitive Text: A Deep Dive into Meaning and Absurdity: Google's NotebookLM AI model has demonstrated its ability to create engaging content from seemingly nonsensical input, showcasing the potential of artificial intelligence to find meaning in the mundane. The experiment's origins: A Reddit user challenged Google's NotebookLM AI model to produce a podcast based on a document containing only the words "poop" and "fart" repeated multiple times. The experiment was inspired by a commenter's question about how the AI would handle less engaging or poorly written text. This test case pushed the boundaries of the AI's ability to...

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Why startups leveraging AI have an advantage over larger companies

AI integration in startups: A competitive edge: Startups are uniquely positioned to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, offering them significant advantages over established organizations in terms of flexibility, innovation, and market competitiveness. Startups benefit from a lack of legacy systems and pre-existing work processes, allowing them to integrate AI more seamlessly into their operations from the ground up. The agility of startups enables rapid experimentation, iteration, and refinement of AI applications, leading to faster innovation and potential market advantages. Smaller, more cohesive teams in startups can more effectively leverage AI expertise across the organization, ensuring that AI is integrated into...

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AI artist fumes as creations spark widespread copying

AI-Generated Art Sparks Copyright Controversy: Jason Allen, who previously won a fine arts competition with an AI-generated image, is embroiled in a legal battle over copyright protection for his work, highlighting the complex intersection of artificial intelligence and intellectual property rights. The background: Allen's image "Théâtre D'opéra Spatial," created using the AI tool Midjourney, won a fine arts competition two years ago but was denied copyright protection by the US Copyright Office. The Copyright Office ruled that the image did not exhibit sufficient human authorship to warrant full copyright protection, allowing Allen to claim credit only for specific portions he...

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AI becomes more accessible with 4 major OpenAI DevDay updates

OpenAI's strategic shift: OpenAI's DevDay 2024 conference marked a notable pivot towards empowering developers and fostering a sustainable AI ecosystem, focusing on incremental improvements rather than groundbreaking product launches. The subdued tone of the event reflected OpenAI's evolving strategy, prioritizing the refinement and accessibility of existing tools over introducing revolutionary new technologies. This approach aims to address critical industry challenges, including resource intensity and environmental impact, while promoting long-term growth and stability in the AI sector. By emphasizing developer empowerment, OpenAI is positioning itself as a facilitator of innovation rather than a direct competitor in end-user applications. Key innovations unveiled:...

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AI resurrects feared art critic for London Standard

AI-generated art criticism debuts in London publication: The London Standard, a new weekly publication succeeding the Evening Standard, has stirred controversy by publishing an AI-generated art review in the style of deceased critic Brian Sewell as part of its relaunch. The AI-written review focused on the National Gallery's current Van Gogh exhibition, aiming to showcase the paper's embrace of new technology and its "bold and disruptive" identity. This move comes at a time when the publication is reportedly laying off writers, raising questions about the ethics and implications of using AI-generated content in journalism. The AI-generated review was presented without...

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5 AI prompts to validate your business ideas instantly

Validating business ideas with AI: A strategic approach: Entrepreneurs can leverage ChatGPT, an advanced language model, to assess the viability of their business concepts before launching, potentially saving time and resources while increasing chances of success. ChatGPT can assist in various aspects of business idea validation, from defining unique value propositions to analyzing market conditions and gathering customer feedback. This AI-powered approach complements traditional validation methods, offering quick insights and helping entrepreneurs refine their ideas more efficiently. While AI tools provide valuable guidance, they should be used in conjunction with real-world testing and expert advice for comprehensive validation. Defining the...

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North Korean hackers are using AI to infiltrate workplaces

AI-powered impersonation threatens workforce security: Recent developments in artificial intelligence have enabled sophisticated impersonation techniques, posing significant risks to companies' hiring processes and overall security. North Korean threat actors lead the charge: State-sponsored hackers from North Korea are at the forefront of this emerging threat, using a combination of deepfake technology and stolen American identities to infiltrate organizations. The FBI warned in May 2022 about North Korean IT workers posing as non-North Korean nationals to gain employment and fund weapons development. By October 2023, the FBI issued additional guidance on identifying deepfake job candidates, citing red flags such as reluctance...

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Startup aims to pay YouTubers for AI training data

A new frontier for content creators: Calliope Networks, an AI-focused content licensing startup, is pioneering a program called "License to Scrape" that aims to revolutionize how YouTube creators can monetize their content when used for AI training. The program seeks to bridge the gap between YouTube creators and AI companies, allowing content creators to be compensated when their videos are used to train artificial intelligence systems. Unlike platforms such as Reddit, YouTube has not yet established formal agreements with AI companies for content scraping, creating an opportunity for third-party solutions. Calliope Networks' CEO, Dave Davis, envisions the program as a...

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Microsoft Paint adds AI-powered fill and erase tools

AI-powered image editing comes to Microsoft Paint: Microsoft is introducing new AI-powered features to its Paint and Photos applications, bringing advanced editing capabilities typically associated with professional software to everyday users. The update includes Generative Fill and Generative Erase tools for Paint, allowing users to add or remove objects from images using a brush-like interface. These features are similar to tools found in Adobe Photoshop, potentially reducing the need for more complex image editing software for some users. The new tools build upon the previously announced Cocreator feature for Paint, which generates images based on text prompts and reference sketches....

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5 ways to boost your brain power in the age of AI

The AI-human intelligence balance: In an era dominated by artificial intelligence, it's crucial to recognize and nurture the unique capabilities of the human brain, which possess qualities that AI cannot replicate. The human brain's multidimensional capacity includes aspirations, emotions, thoughts, and sensations, which are beyond the scope of AI's data processing abilities. While AI excels at speed and efficiency, it lacks the depth of human experience and the ability to find personal meaning in information and tasks. Neuroscience-backed strategies for brain optimization: By leveraging insights from neuroscience, individuals can enhance their cognitive abilities and maintain a competitive edge in an...

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Nvidia enhances digital humans with new plugins for Unreal Engine 5

Nvidia enhances digital human realism with new Unreal Engine 5 plugins: Nvidia has released a suite of tools and plugins aimed at improving the creation and deployment of AI-powered digital human characters within Unreal Engine 5, marking a significant advancement in game development and interactive applications. Key features and improvements: Nvidia introduced on-device plugins for Nvidia Ace, a suite of digital human technologies, to facilitate easier development of AI-powered MetaHuman characters on Windows PCs. The company unveiled an Audio2Face-3D plugin for Autodesk Maya, enabling AI-powered facial animations that synchronize lips and facial movements with audio speech. A new Unreal Engine...

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74% of workers blame employers for the AI skills gap

AI skills gap widens as workers seek training: Recent survey data reveals a significant disconnect between employees' desire to learn AI skills and the quality of training programs offered by their organizations. The big picture: With AI expected to transform 92% of IT jobs, workers are eager to adapt but face challenges in accessing effective training opportunities. 35% of employees lack confidence in their current skill set for their roles 41% express concerns about job security due to skills gaps AI and machine learning (ML) are identified as the most critical skills gap by 43% of respondents Surprising confidence among...

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Reconciling SoftBank’s AI strategy with the Vision Fund’s investment in OpenAI

SoftBank's dual AI approach: SoftBank Group is pursuing a multifaceted strategy in the artificial intelligence space, with distinct focuses for its core business and its investment arm. The company's main AI strategy centers on downstream applications of generative AI technology, targeting companies that can leverage these advancements in practical, market-ready solutions. In contrast, SoftBank's Vision Fund has made a notable investment in OpenAI, a leading developer of foundational AI models and technologies. This bifurcated approach allows SoftBank to participate in both the development of core AI technologies and the commercialization of AI-powered products and services. Strategic implications: The distinction between...

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Why bigger isn’t always better when it comes to AI models

The efficiency revolution in AI: Researchers are challenging the "bigger is better" paradigm in artificial intelligence, demonstrating that smaller models can achieve impressive results with far fewer resources and a reduced carbon footprint. The Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence (Ai2) has developed Molmo, a family of open-source multimodal large language models that outperform much larger competitors while using significantly fewer parameters. Ai2's largest Molmo model, with 72 billion parameters, reportedly outperforms OpenAI's GPT-4o (estimated to have over a trillion parameters) in tests measuring image, chart, and document understanding. A smaller Molmo model, with just 7 billion parameters, is said to...

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AI video startup Runway just released another big update

Runway's Turbo model upgrade: A leap in AI video generation: Runway has significantly enhanced its AI video generator with new features and improved performance in its Turbo model, marking a substantial advancement in the realm of AI-driven video creation. Key new features: Vertical video creation capability, catering to popular platforms like YouTube Shorts, Instagram Reels, and TikTok Video-to-video functionality, enabling the application of AI effects to existing video clips Clip extension options for lengthening video content Lip-syncing technology to match audio with generated video "Edit time" feature allowing for speed adjustments, clip reversal, and trimming Performance improvements: Faster generation speed...

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The coolest thing about smart glasses isn’t AR — it’s AI

Smart glasses evolve beyond AR: The latest developments in smart glasses from major tech companies are shifting focus from augmented reality (AR) to artificial intelligence (AI) integration, promising a more seamless and intuitive user experience. Meta (formerly Facebook) unveiled its Orion AR glasses prototype at a recent developer conference, showcasing advanced holographic functions and gesture controls. Snap introduced new Spectacles, while Google and Apple are also rumored to be developing their own smart glasses. The high production cost of Meta's Orion glasses, reportedly $10,000 per unit, indicates that the technology is still in its early stages. AI integration emerges as...

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10 AI tools transforming competitor analysis in 2024

AI-Powered Competitor Analysis: A Game-Changer for Businesses: The integration of artificial intelligence into competitor analysis tools is transforming how companies gather and leverage market intelligence, offering faster, more comprehensive insights than ever before. • Competitor analysis has become crucial for businesses to stay ahead in today's rapidly evolving markets, with AI tools streamlining the process and enhancing decision-making capabilities. • These AI-powered tools can analyze vast amounts of data from various sources, providing businesses with actionable insights into their competitors' strategies, strengths, and weaknesses. Top AI Tools Reshaping Competitor Analysis: The market offers a diverse range of AI-powered solutions, each...

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AMD unveils energy-efficient Epyc chips for high-performance devices

AMD's New Frontier in Embedded Computing: AMD has launched its Epyc Embedded 8004 Series processors, marking a significant advancement in high-performance, low-power computing for the embedded market. The new processors are designed for compute-intensive embedded systems, offering exceptional performance for demanding workloads while maximizing power efficiency. These processors are particularly suited for networking systems, routers, security appliances, enterprise and cloud storage, and industrial edge applications. The Epyc Embedded 8004 Series is the first in AMD's embedded portfolio to integrate "Zen 4c" cores, setting a new standard for platform efficiency and innovation. Performance and Efficiency Gains: The AMD Epyc Embedded 8004...

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The top AI highlights from September 2024

AI's accelerating impact on business and society: Artificial intelligence continues to advance rapidly, with significant developments in adoption rates, performance capabilities, and economic impact. Generative AI adoption is outpacing both the internet and personal computers, with nearly a quarter of working-age Americans using it weekly. AI companies are reaching $30 million in annualized revenue more than three times faster than traditional enterprise SaaS firms, according to Stripe data. OpenAI's new model o1 is resetting expectations of what problems can be solved, potentially changing the calculus of what's possible for organizations. AI's role in scientific research and creativity: AI tools are...

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Here’s when all of Apple’s new AI features are coming

Apple's AI push with iOS 18.1: Apple is set to launch its initial foray into AI features, collectively known as Apple Intelligence, with the release of iOS 18.1 expected in mid-October 2024. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports that the official release of iOS 18.1 is anticipated around mid-October, bringing the first wave of Apple Intelligence features to compatible iPhones. The public beta of iOS 18.1 is already available, allowing users to test some of the new AI-powered capabilities. Staggered release for key features: Several highly anticipated Apple Intelligence features will not be included in the initial iOS 18.1 release, instead arriving...

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CGI-animated home renovation videos have taken TikTok by storm

The TikTok home renovation phenomenon: A peculiar trend of CGI-animated extreme home renovation videos has taken TikTok by storm, captivating users with their absurd premises and robotic narration. These videos often feature outlandish scenarios, such as renovating a home for "a billion children," and are narrated by an AI voice that repeatedly uses terms like "galvanized square steel." The trend originated on Bilibili, a Chinese video platform similar to YouTube, where the main character is known as "Big John" rather than "Little John" as seen in the TikTok versions. Initially intended to satirize housing issues in densely populated Chinese cities...

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