AI/News
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How our choices now determine whether AI deepens or improves inequality
The digital divide persists: Despite rapid advancements in artificial intelligence and technology, billions of people worldwide still lack access to basic necessities and digital resources, highlighting the stark global inequalities in living conditions and technological access. As of 2023, an estimated 2.7 billion people remain offline, while over 3.5 billion lack reliable electricity, according to the International Telecommunication Union. One in three individuals is unable to afford a healthy diet, and one in two lacks access to basic sanitation, as reported in the 2023 Human Development Report. These statistics underscore the gap between technological progress in wealthier nations and the...
read Sep 26, 2024MIT’s Lincoln Laboratory wins 15 R&D 100 awards
Groundbreaking innovations recognized: MIT Lincoln Laboratory's fifteen technologies received 2024 R&D 100 Awards, highlighting their significant contributions to various fields of science and technology. The R&D 100 Awards, often referred to as the "Oscars of Innovation," celebrate the most impactful technologies introduced in the past year. These awards underscore Lincoln Laboratory's commitment to developing cutting-edge solutions that address critical challenges in areas ranging from human health to environmental mapping and advanced computing. Diverse applications with far-reaching impact: The awarded technologies span a wide spectrum of disciplines, demonstrating the laboratory's multifaceted approach to innovation and problem-solving. Several technologies focus on enhancing...
read Sep 26, 2024Nvidia-backed robotics startup hires AI-focused CEO to drive growth
AI-driven manufacturing gets a boost: Bright Machines, a robotic manufacturing startup backed by tech giants Nvidia and Microsoft, has appointed Chris Stori as its new CEO, signaling a strategic shift towards AI-powered production. The company, founded in 2018, aims to revolutionize manufacturing by combining AI and robotics to create flexible, multi-purpose "micro-factories" Bright Machines' technology has found success in producing data center equipment for the rapidly expanding AI market The appointment of Stori, a former Cisco executive and McKinsey veteran, comes as the company seeks to capitalize on the growing demand for AI infrastructure Industry support and funding: Bright Machines'...
read Sep 26, 2024This AI-powered smartphone has some of the best tracking in the market
Innovative smartphone gimbal enhances video quality: The Hohem iSteady V3 gimbal offers impressive AI tracking and smooth video capabilities for smartphone users, making it a valuable tool for content creators and aspiring filmmakers. Key features and specifications: The iSteady V3 is compatible with smartphones up to 7 inches wide and 12.5mm thick It weighs 420g (±5g) and can support a payload of up to 300g The gimbal offers a controllable range of -120° to 210° for pan, -195° to 135° for roll, and -35° to 45° for tilt Battery life is approximately 13 hours, or 4 hours when using the...
read Sep 26, 2024Tom Brady fooled by viral Meta AI social media hoax
Meta AI hoax fools celebrities: A recent social media hoax about Meta AI's discontinuation has managed to deceive several high-profile individuals, including NFL legend Tom Brady and actress Kristen Bell. The hoax, often referred to as a "copypasta" (a block of text that is repeatedly copied and pasted across social media platforms), falsely claimed that Meta AI was shutting down. Tom Brady, former NFL quarterback and seven-time Super Bowl champion, fell for the deceptive message and shared it, unknowingly spreading misinformation. Actress Kristen Bell, known for her roles in "The Good Place" and "Veronica Mars," also succumbed to the hoax,...
read Sep 26, 2024Blackstone CTO has this advice for AI startups selling to the finance sector
The evolving role of technology in finance: Over the past 25 years, technology has become increasingly integrated into all aspects of financial firms, transforming their operations and strategic approaches. John Stecher, Chief Technology Officer at Blackstone, highlights the shift from technology being a support function to becoming a core part of financial businesses. This evolution has led to the creation of roles like Stecher's, which span multiple areas of the company and directly impact investment strategies. Stecher's multifaceted role as CTO: As Blackstone's CTO, John Stecher's responsibilities extend far beyond traditional technology management, encompassing four key areas crucial to the...
read Sep 26, 2024AI can (mostly) outperform human CEOs, Harvard study finds
AI's potential to outperform human CEOs: Recent experiments have demonstrated that generative AI models can significantly outpace human executives in certain aspects of strategic decision-making, particularly in data-driven tasks and market optimization. A simulated experiment by Harvard in the automotive industry showed AI models achieving higher market share and profitability compared to human participants, highlighting the technology's prowess in analyzing complex data sets and iterating rapidly. AI excelled in areas such as product design and market optimization, leveraging its ability to process vast amounts of information and generate insights at speeds unattainable by human cognition. The superior performance of AI...
read Sep 26, 2024Airtable’s new AI platform transforms workplace productivity
Airtable's AI-powered enterprise platform: Airtable has launched new capabilities that transform its collaborative app-building platform into an enterprise-grade AI solution, aiming to help companies deploy AI into critical business workflows at scale. The San Francisco-based company introduced App Library, which allows organizations to create standardized AI-powered applications that can be customized across different departments. HyperDB, another new feature, enables integration of massive datasets of over 100 million records from systems like Snowflake and Salesforce. Airtable's platform is already used by major media, retail, and financial services companies to power critical operations. Addressing the AI deployment challenge: Airtable's move comes as...
read Sep 26, 2024Apple snubs EU AI agreement backed by tech giants
Apple's AI stance in the EU: Apple has declined to join a new artificial intelligence pact in the European Union, setting itself apart from major tech competitors and potentially impacting its AI offerings in the region. The voluntary AI pact, aimed at accelerating measures to control artificial intelligence, has been signed by 115 companies, including tech giants like Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI. Apple, along with Meta, is one of the notable holdouts, raising questions about the company's AI strategy and its relationship with EU regulators. This decision comes amid Apple's ongoing disputes with EU governing authorities over various issues, including...
read Sep 26, 2024AI is going to kill jobs for the poor and less educated, Duolingo CEO opines
AI's impact on job automation sparks controversy: Duolingo CEO Luis von Ahn's casual discussion of AI-driven job losses while enjoying Mexican cuisine has ignited debate about the technology's societal implications. Von Ahn acknowledged that AI-related layoffs would disproportionately affect "the poor, the less educated" both in the US and developing countries. Duolingo has already implemented AI-driven changes, cutting contractors responsible for translation phrasing in January 2023. The company's CEO claims that generative AI is accelerating content creation, making certain tasks more efficient. Duolingo's AI integration and its consequences: The language learning app has embraced artificial intelligence technology, leading to significant...
read Sep 26, 2024Mixed reality startup raises $11.2M for glasses-free enterprise tech
Breakthrough in mixed reality technology: Distance Technologies, a Helsinki-based startup, has secured $11.2 million in seed funding to advance its glasses-free mixed reality applications for automotive, aerospace, and defense sectors. The funding round, led by GV (Google Ventures) with participation from FOV Ventures and Maki.vc, comes just three months after the company's $2.7 million pre-seed round. Distance Technologies' innovative approach transforms transparent surfaces into windows for experiencing mixed reality without the need for headsets or wearable devices. The technology uses a computer-generated 3D light field that seamlessly blends with the real world, offering infinite per-pixel depth and covering the entire...
read Sep 26, 2024AI startup Runway may fund your next film if you use AI
AI startup Runway launches ambitious film fund: Runway, a generative AI company, is offering grants of up to $1 million to filmmakers who incorporate AI technology into their projects, marking a significant push to integrate artificial intelligence into mainstream filmmaking. The Hundred Film Fund aims to support the production of up to 100 short films and feature-length movies that utilize generative AI technology in storytelling. Grants will range from $5,000 to $1 million, with decisions on applications typically made within 14 days of submission. Runway is also offering up to $2 million in credits for filmmakers to use its gen-AI...
read Sep 26, 2024New trend suggests it is humans who now mimic AI in language
AI's growing influence on human language: Recent studies suggest that artificial intelligence, particularly large language models like ChatGPT, is beginning to shape how humans communicate, creating a feedback loop between AI and human speech patterns. A study analyzing over 280,000 YouTube videos from academic channels found that human language post-ChatGPT is starting to reflect AI-driven patterns. This shift marks a departure from the initial one-way street of AI learning from humans, as we are now adapting to AI's linguistic stylings. The phenomenon reveals an unprecedented dynamic where AI's structured, neutral, and efficient language is subtly infiltrating human speech, often without...
read Sep 26, 2024Kristen Bell told Meta to ‘get rid of AI’ — now she’s its voice
Meta's AI voice initiative faces unexpected twist: Kristen Bell, previously critical of AI data use, has become one of the official voices for Meta's AI chatbot, highlighting the complex relationship between celebrities and AI technology. • Meta has secured deals with high-profile actors, including Kristen Bell, to provide voices for its Meta AI chatbot.• Bell's participation comes as a surprise, given her previous public opposition to Meta's AI using her data.• In June, Bell reposted a popular Instagram message refusing consent for Meta to use her content and likeness for AI training. Celebrity concerns and misconceptions: The reposting of AI...
read Sep 26, 2024Is there really a place in the market for AI device Rabbit R1?
AI hardware struggles to gain traction: The Rabbit R1, a dedicated AI hardware device, has only 5,000 active daily users, highlighting the challenges faced by standalone AI products in a smartphone-dominated market. Rabbit founder Jesse Lyu revealed the user count at the Fast Company Innovation Festival, emphasizing the importance of shipping early for hardware startups, even with imperfect products. The R1 has received 16 over-the-air updates since its initial release, demonstrating the company's commitment to improving the product post-launch. Early negative reviews, including a harsh critique from popular tech reviewer MKBHD, did not completely derail the product's development and rollout....
read Sep 26, 2024Zuckerberg says AI is going to make phones “a lot more exciting”
AI's role in smartphone evolution: Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, envisions a future where artificial intelligence significantly enhances the capabilities and user experience of smartphones. In a recent interview with The Verge, Zuckerberg expressed his belief that AI will make phones "a lot more exciting" in the coming years. He emphasized that phone manufacturers like Apple and Google have unique opportunities to integrate AI into their devices in ways that app developers cannot replicate. This perspective suggests a potential shift in the smartphone industry, where hardware and operating system integration with AI could become a key differentiator. Manufacturer advantage in...
read Sep 26, 2024Google Photos may soon narrate memories with Gemini AI
AI-powered narration coming to Google Photos: Google is preparing to integrate its Gemini AI chatbot into the Memories feature of Google Photos, potentially offering users AI-generated narration for their photo collections. The latest version of Google Photos for Android contains hidden code referencing Gemini, suggesting an upcoming AI-enhanced feature for the app's Memories slideshows. Currently, Memories slideshows are accompanied by music, but the new feature would add AI-generated narration to recap the photos and videos. The feature is not yet active, but was partially enabled by Android Authority during their code analysis. Potential implications for user experience: The introduction of...
read Sep 26, 2024AI now responds to patient queries in MyChart
AI-assisted patient communication: Healthcare providers across the United States are adopting an AI tool within MyChart, a popular patient portal, to streamline responses to patient inquiries. Approximately 15,000 doctors and assistants from 150 healthcare systems in the US are utilizing this AI-powered feature to compose messages to patients. The AI tool, which uses GPT-4 technology (a version compliant with medical privacy laws), generates pre-written responses based on the patient's question, medical records, and medication list. Medical professionals have the option to accept, edit, or discard the AI-generated messages before sending them to patients. Disclosure and patient awareness: The use of...
read Sep 26, 2024Natural language search in iOS 18.1 actually works thanks to Apple Intelligence
Apple Intelligence enhances iOS 18.1 Photos app: The upcoming iOS 18.1 update introduces significant improvements to the Photos app, with natural language search emerging as a standout feature among the new Apple Intelligence capabilities. Key updates to Photos in iOS 18.1: Clean Up feature for removing unwanted objects from photos On-demand Memory movie creation Natural language search functionality Search functionality transformation: The new search feature in iOS 18.1's Photos app represents a significant leap forward in user experience and functionality. Previous versions of the Photos app limited users to simple, single-object searches with mediocre results The Apple Intelligence-powered search now...
read Sep 26, 202498% of small firms now use AI to ‘punch above their weight’
AI adoption surges among small businesses: A recent US Chamber of Commerce survey reveals that 98% of small firms are utilizing at least one AI-enabled technology platform, with 40% specifically employing generative AI tools. The adoption of generative AI tools among small businesses has nearly doubled from 23% last year to 40% this year, indicating a rapid increase in AI implementation. OpenAI's ChatGPT now boasts over 1 million business users, highlighting the growing popularity of AI tools in the business sector. Jordan Crenshaw, senior vice president of the US Chamber's Technology Engagement Center, notes that AI allows small businesses to...
read Sep 26, 2024London newspaper revives legendary art critic with AI
AI resurrection of renowned art critic: The Evening Standard, a historic London newspaper, is planning to revive the late Brian Sewell, one of Britain's most feared and revered art critics, using artificial intelligence. Sources indicate that AI Sewell has been assigned to review The National Gallery's new Vincent van Gogh exhibition, "Van Gogh: Poets and Lovers." The initiative was reportedly discussed at the highest levels of the Standard, including consultation with Lord Lebedev, the newspaper's proprietor. Dylan Jones, editor-in-chief of the Standard, did not respond to requests for comment on the matter. Newspaper's digital transformation: The AI revival of Sewell...
read Sep 26, 2024Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Plus features leaked in video ad
Samsung's Galaxy Tab S10 Plus unveiled: A leaked video advertisement offers a glimpse into the features and capabilities of Samsung's upcoming flagship tablet, showcasing AI-powered functionality and design similarities to its predecessor. Key features and AI integration: The leaked ad highlights the Galaxy Tab S10 Plus's focus on artificial intelligence capabilities, demonstrating the tablet's potential to enhance user experience and productivity. The video showcases AI-powered features such as Circle to Search and Sketch to Image, leveraging the S Pen's capabilities to transform simple doodles into more complex artwork. A dedicated Galaxy AI button on official keyboard cases is revealed, indicating...
read Sep 26, 20245 key tech trends reshaping video games
The evolving landscape of video game technology: The video game industry is experiencing significant shifts driven by five key technological trends that are shaping game development and player experiences. Machine Learning and AI, VR/AR, Cloud Gaming, Livestreaming, and User Generation are emerging as the primary technological forces influencing the future of video games. These advancements are not only changing how games are created but also how they are marketed, distributed, and experienced by players. Machine Learning and AI: Enhancing performance and streamlining development: Machine learning and AI technologies are being leveraged to improve game resolution and streamline content creation processes....
read Sep 26, 2024AI legal startup hit with $193,000 FTC fine in tech crackdown
AI company faces legal consequences: DoNotPay, a company claiming to offer the "world's first robot lawyer," has agreed to a $193,000 settlement with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for misleading consumers about its AI-powered legal services. The settlement is part of Operation AI Comply, a new FTC initiative aimed at cracking down on companies using AI to deceive or defraud customers. DoNotPay claimed its AI could replace human lawyers and generate valid legal documents, but the FTC found these claims were made without proper testing or evidence. The company allegedly told consumers they could use its AI service to sue...
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