AI/News
Turning chaos to clarity: Our intelligent curation system analyzes thousands of sources daily — from blogs and social media chatter to podcasts and research hubs — synthesizing essential insights into plain English you can actually use.
ChatGPT Plus cost may surge 2X by 2029, experts predict
ChatGPT Plus price hike on the horizon: OpenAI's popular AI chatbot service, ChatGPT Plus, is expected to see significant price increases over the next five years, potentially more than doubling its current cost. The current monthly subscription fee for ChatGPT Plus is $20. According to internal OpenAI documents cited by The New York Times, the first price increase of $2 per month is anticipated before the end of 2024. By 2029, the monthly cost could reach $44, representing a substantial 120% increase from the current price point. Financial pressures driving the decision: The projected price hikes are largely attributed to...
read Sep 29, 2024Google paid $2.7B to lure back a single AI researcher — was it worth it?
Google's bold move in AI talent acquisition: Google's recent $2.7 billion deal with Character.AI, ostensibly for technology licensing, is widely seen as a strategic maneuver to bring AI expert Noam Shazeer back into the fold. Shazeer, who left Google in 2021 after 21 years, co-founded Character.AI, a startup allowing users to interact with chatbots roleplaying as fictional or real-world figures. The deal's magnitude highlights the intense competition and high stakes in the AI industry, with tech giants willing to invest enormous sums to secure top talent. While officially framed as a licensing agreement, industry insiders view Shazeer's return as the...
read Sep 29, 2024AI uncovers hidden archaeological sites in Arabian Desert
AI revolutionizes archaeological exploration in Arabian Desert: A team of researchers at Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi has developed a machine-learning algorithm to identify potential archaeological sites in the vast Rub' al-Khali desert, showcasing the growing role of artificial intelligence in archaeological discovery. The challenge of desert archaeology: Traditional ground surveys in the Rub' al-Khali, or 'Empty Quarter', are difficult and costly due to the harsh environment, while satellite imagery interpretation is hindered by sandstorms and dune patterns. The Rub' al-Khali spans 250,000 square miles on the Arabian Peninsula and is home to Saruq Al-Hadid, a site with evidence of...
read Sep 29, 2024A well-paid niche job market is emerging for human experts to train AI models
The evolution of AI training: The landscape of artificial intelligence development is undergoing a significant transformation, with a growing demand for highly specialized human trainers to enhance the capabilities of AI models. Companies like OpenAI, Cohere, AI21, and Microsoft are now relying on trainers with advanced degrees and specialized knowledge to improve their AI systems. This shift represents a departure from earlier AI training methods that primarily employed low-cost workers for basic tasks such as image labeling. The new approach aims to reduce errors and "hallucinations" in AI outputs by teaching concepts of fact versus fiction and incorporating expert knowledge...
read Sep 29, 2024Spigen’s new iPhone 16 case adds AI-powered camera button
New Spigen Case Enhances iPhone 16 Camera Control: Spigen has introduced the Tough Armor T (Ai) MagFit case for iPhone 16, featuring a conductive cover for the new Camera Control button, expanding their lineup of compatible cases. Product Details and Pricing: The Tough Armor T (Ai) MagFit case has an MSRP of $60 but is currently available on Amazon for $32.99. An additional 5% on-page coupon brings the price down to $31.34 with free Prime shipping. The case is temporarily out of stock on Spigen's official Amazon storefront but is expected to be available soon. Key Features of the Tough...
read Sep 29, 2024Schrödinger’s LLM: Why deriving meaning from AI requires human observation
AI-generated language models and human knowledge creation: Large language models (LLMs) have revolutionized content generation, but their role in knowledge creation is more complex than it may initially appear. LLMs produce vast arrays of potential responses and connections based on statistical associations in their training data, existing in a state of informational superposition. The output generated by LLMs is not yet knowledge, but rather a scaffold of language containing words and phrases that form potential ideas. Human interpretation is necessary to transform LLM output into concrete knowledge by reading, contextualizing, and extracting meaning from the generated text. The quantum analogy:...
read Sep 29, 2024Opinion: AI can’t solve climate change, but here’s what it can do
AI's climate change promises: A critical examination: Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, has made bold claims about artificial intelligence's potential to solve global warming, but these assertions warrant closer scrutiny and raise important questions about the technology's current and future impact on climate change. Altman's essay suggests that AI will usher in an "Intelligence Age," leading to unprecedented prosperity and the ability to "fix the climate," but such promises are premature and oversimplify the complex nature of climate change. The argument that AI's current electricity consumption is justified by its future potential to generate clean power overlooks growing concerns about...
read Sep 29, 2024AI chip race heats up as Google and Meta upgrade models
AI model advancements reshape the competitive landscape: Google and Meta have unveiled significant updates to their AI models, while Google's AI-powered chip designer makes waves in the semiconductor industry. Google Gemini updates bring performance gains and cost reductions: Google has released new versions of its Gemini models, offering improved capabilities and more attractive pricing for developers. The new Gemini-1.5-Pro-002 and Gemini-1.5-Flash-002 models boast enhanced performance across various tasks, including a 7% increase in MMLU-Pro benchmark scores and a 20% improvement in math-related tasks. Google has dramatically reduced pricing for Gemini 1.5 Pro, cutting input token costs by 64% and output...
read Sep 28, 2024The biggest trends transforming the marketing industry
The evolving landscape of marketing: The marketing industry is undergoing rapid transformation, with new trends and technologies reshaping how brands connect with consumers and create impactful campaigns. • Strategic brand collaborations, AI-driven content creation, data-driven marketing, immersive experiences, and industry-specific innovations are emerging as key trends shaping the future of marketing. • These developments are creating opportunities for more personalized, efficient, and engaging marketing strategies that can foster deeper connections between brands and consumers. Strategic brand collaborations gain prominence: Co-branding initiatives between complementary brands are becoming increasingly popular, offering unique value propositions and memorable experiences for consumers. • The Adidas-Gucci...
read Sep 28, 2024Samsung AI chief foresees a future where AI is embedded in everything
The rise of AI integration in everyday life: Samsung's AI chief, YoungJip Kim, predicts a future where artificial intelligence will be deeply embedded in every aspect of our daily routines, marking a significant shift in technology adoption and user experience. Kim anticipates that 2025 will be a pivotal year for AI adoption, with the technology becoming more prevalent and integrated into various aspects of people's lives. The rapid evolution of AI assistants has led to heightened consumer expectations, prompting tech companies to accelerate their development efforts in this area. Samsung has been steadily incorporating AI features into its devices, with...
read Sep 28, 2024Musk’s Memphis AI hub achieves major breakthrough
Groundbreaking AI Achievement: Elon Musk's xAI has reached a significant milestone in artificial intelligence computing power, activating all 100,000 advanced Nvidia chips simultaneously at its new Memphis data center. The facility, nicknamed "Colossus," is now considered the most powerful known computer ever built, marking a major technical accomplishment for xAI. This achievement comes less than six months after the data center's construction began, showcasing the company's rapid progress in the AI field. Technical Feat Challenges Industry Expectations: The successful activation of 100,000 Nvidia H100 GPUs in a single cluster surpasses previous industry limitations and skepticism. Earlier reports had questioned xAI's...
read Sep 28, 2024HP EliteBook X tested: Powerful AI laptop or overhyped?
Introducing the HP EliteBook X: HP's latest offering in the AI PC market, the EliteBook X, is positioned as the "most powerful AI device" available, boasting impressive specifications and design features that aim to set a new standard in the industry. Impressive hardware and AI capabilities: The EliteBook X's standout feature is its AMD-powered NPU, which runs at an exceptional 55 TOPs, potentially giving it a significant edge in AI processing capabilities. The laptop's high-speed memory further enhances its performance potential, supporting HP's claim of market-leading power. While exact specifications are not fully disclosed, the combination of advanced NPU and...
read Sep 28, 2024How AI startup Veritone is using AI to enhance public safety
Veritone expands Midwest reach through strategic partnership: California-based AI company Veritone has formed a product access agreement with Illinois-based Midwest Public Safety to offer its AI-powered applications for law enforcement and judicial agencies across the Midwest region. The partnership will make Veritone's complete line of AI-powered applications available to Midwest Public Safety's clients and potential customers in the region. Key products highlighted in the deal include Veritone Investigate, a digital evidence management tool, and Veritone Redact, software for video and audio redaction. These products are designed to help law enforcement agencies streamline and better manage critical police tasks. Addressing growing...
read Sep 28, 2024AI-powered 911 tech firm Prepared secures $27M funding
Innovative emergency dispatch technology receives significant funding boost: Prepared, a company specializing in emergency dispatch technology, has secured $27 million in a Series B funding round led by prominent venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz. The funding brings Prepared's total investment to approximately $57 million since its founding in 2019. This latest round of investment demonstrates growing interest in modernizing public safety technology, particularly in the realm of 911 call responses. AI-driven enhancements in emergency response: Prepared aims to leverage artificial intelligence to improve the efficiency of 911 call responses, addressing the evolving needs of emergency dispatch centers in the mobile...
read Sep 28, 2024Maryland launches free AI training for 40,000 state workers
Maryland takes proactive stance on AI education: The state's Department of Information Technology (DoIT) has partnered with InnovateUS to offer free artificial intelligence training to all state employees, joining a growing trend of government-led AI education initiatives. Maryland's move follows similar programs launched in New Jersey and California, reflecting a broader recognition of the need for AI literacy in the public sector. The training aims to provide an overview of generative AI, best practices, and strategies to reduce risk associated with AI implementation. This initiative aligns with Maryland's efforts to foster responsible innovation and prepare its workforce for the increasing...
read Sep 28, 2024UK art exhibition questions the role of AI in photography
Portrait of a Community: Bridging Past and Future Photography: The Higgins Bedford is hosting an art exhibition titled "Community Portraits" that showcases a diverse range of photographic techniques while prompting viewers to critically examine the role of artificial intelligence in image creation. Exhibition Overview: Community Portraits features images of ordinary Bedford residents captured through various photographic methods, from traditional to cutting-edge digital technologies. The exhibition runs until February 23rd at The Higgins Bedford. It includes portraits created using cyanotype and glass-plate techniques, as well as those taken with the latest digital cameras. Organizers selected 150 images from over 1,000 submissions...
read Sep 28, 2024Strategies for leaders to overcome the AI skills gap
The AI skills gap: Perception vs reality: A recent Freshworks survey reveals a significant disconnect between business leaders' AI knowledge and their perception of AI skills within their teams, highlighting a critical challenge in AI adoption. 48% of UK business leaders consider themselves knowledgeable about AI, showcasing a growing awareness at the executive level. However, 22% of these leaders cite a lack of AI skills within their teams as a major obstacle to adoption, indicating a perceived skills gap. This discrepancy suggests that the barrier to AI implementation may be more about perception and confidence rather than an actual widespread...
read Sep 28, 2024The Hohem iSteady is a truly useful AI-powered phone camera accessory
Introducing the Hohem iSteady V3: The Hohem iSteady V3 smartphone gimbal emerges as a compelling option for mobile videographers, offering advanced features at a competitive price point. Key specifications and pricing: The iSteady V3 balances functionality with portability, catering to a wide range of smartphones and use cases. Weighing in at 420g (±5g), the gimbal is lightweight enough for extended use without causing fatigue. It accommodates smartphones up to 7 inches wide and 12.5mm thick, covering most modern devices. Battery life is impressive, lasting approximately 13 hours under normal use or 4 hours with AI tracking enabled. Priced at $129...
read Sep 28, 2024Skydio unveils new docking station for its X10 AI drone
Skydio's game-changing drone technology: Skydio, a leading drone manufacturer, has unveiled its latest innovation, the Dock for X10, a groundbreaking docking station designed to revolutionize autonomous drone operations. The Dock for X10 is specifically engineered to work seamlessly with Skydio's X10 drones, enabling them to be stationed virtually anywhere and enhancing their autonomy and scalability. This new docking station represents a significant leap forward in drone technology, potentially transforming various industries that rely on aerial data collection and surveillance. Robust design for extreme conditions: The Dock for X10 is built to withstand harsh environments, making it suitable for a wide...
read Sep 28, 2024AI implementation dilemma: Buy, build, or partner for success?
The GenAI strategy landscape: Organizations are grappling with the decision to buy, build, or partner as they develop generative AI applications and services, with a mixed approach emerging as the most common strategy. According to a KPMG survey, 79% of organizations are either buying/leasing technologies (50%) or employing a combination of building, buying, and partnering (29%). Only 12% of organizations are opting to build GenAI solutions entirely in-house, citing cost savings, customization needs, and intellectual property protection as key reasons. Todd Lohr, principal and U.S. technology consulting leader at KPMG, emphasizes the importance of finding the right balance between building...
read Sep 28, 2024Inside China’s plan to make AI watermarks happen
China's ambitious AI watermarking initiative: China's Cyberspace Administration has drafted a new regulation aimed at clearly distinguishing between real and AI-generated content, marking a significant step in the global effort to manage the proliferation of artificial intelligence in media. The regulation, drafted on September 14, outlines a comprehensive approach to labeling AI-generated content, including explicit watermarks on images, notification labels on videos and virtual reality content, and morse code sounds for audio. Implicit labeling methods are also proposed, such as including "AIGC" (AI-Generated Content) mentions and encrypted information about content producers in metadata. The initiative goes beyond similar regulations, like...
read Sep 27, 2024How machine learning is helping to predict the next epidemic
The evolving landscape of epidemic forecasting: The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the critical importance of accurate and timely epidemic forecasting for decision-makers across various sectors, prompting significant advancements in data-driven computational approaches. The emergence of new data sources, including symptomatic online surveys, retail and commerce data, mobility information, and genomics data, has expanded the scope and potential of epidemic forecasting. These novel data streams enable more sophisticated and nuanced predictions, allowing for a more comprehensive understanding of disease spread and potential interventions. Key methodological advances: Machine learning and data-centric approaches are at the forefront of recent developments in epidemic forecasting,...
read Sep 27, 2024How to remain competitive in the emerging AI job market
AI's transformative impact on technology careers: The rise of artificial intelligence is reshaping the technology landscape, requiring professionals to adapt their skills and approach to remain relevant in this evolving field. Dr. Susan Athey, chief scientific advisor to Keystone Strategy and economics professor at Stanford University, offers insights into the changing dynamics of the tech industry due to AI advancements. AI is making technology infrastructures and applications more efficient, delivering results more quickly and with less complexity in maintenance and coding. The convergence of various industry investments, including modular code and high-performing optimization routines, is now yielding significant benefits. Shifting...
read Sep 27, 2024China to require mandatory labeling of AI-generated content
China's ambitious AI content labeling initiative: The Chinese government has drafted a new regulation aimed at implementing mandatory labeling and tracking of AI-generated content, signaling a significant shift in the country's approach to artificial intelligence governance. The proposed regulation, drafted in March 2024, would require AI providers in China to add explicit labels and encrypted metadata to all AI-generated content. Social media companies operating in China would be obligated to scan for these watermarks and display appropriate labels on AI content shared on their platforms. The new rules would also mandate that social media platforms provide additional information to help...
read