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New EV Charging Station Uses AI and Face ID to Eliminate User Interaction
Revolutionary EV charging technology debuts in NYC: Revel, a Brooklyn-based charging network, has integrated Juice's AI-powered automatic charging and payment system into its DC fast chargers, marking a significant advancement in EV charging convenience. The technology behind the innovation: Juice's system utilizes computer vision, AI, and machine learning to identify vehicles, initiate charging sessions, and process payments without user interaction with physical devices or apps. Unlike existing technologies such as Plug & Charge or Autocharge, Juice's solution doesn't require manufacturer-specific integrations, making it compatible with all EV models. The system can recognize individual vehicles in a manner similar to facial...
read Sep 19, 2024Why This CEO Thinks 2025 Will Be The Year Of True AI Transformation
The AI transformation timeline: A CEO's perspective: DataStax CEO Chet Kapoor predicts that while 2024 will be a year of production AI, 2025 will mark the true transformation of business operations through generative AI technologies. Kapoor draws parallels between the current state of generative AI and previous tech revolutions like the web, mobile, and cloud, suggesting that the current challenges are a normal part of technological evolution. Enterprise leaders are advised to view the current implementation hurdles as stepping stones towards transformative applications in 2025. DataStax, as a provider of operational databases for AI applications, is closely involved with how...
read Sep 19, 2024Democratic Senators Urge FCC to Pass Proposal for AI Political Ads
FCC considers AI disclosure rule for political ads: The Federal Communications Commission is weighing a proposal to require broadcasters to disclose the use of artificial intelligence in political advertisements as the 2024 presidential election approaches. Democratic senators, led by Sen. Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico, have urged the FCC to adopt the proposed rules, emphasizing the urgency given the proximity of the election and the fact that some states have already begun early voting. The proposal, introduced by FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel in July, would mandate broadcasters to inquire about AI-generated content in political ads and disclose this information...
read Sep 19, 2024How AI Infrastructure Investment Will Drive Affordability and Adoption
AI infrastructure investment key to affordability: Lu Zhang of Fusion Fund emphasizes the importance of investing in AI infrastructure to make artificial intelligence more affordable before expanding its applications. Zhang identifies investment in AI infrastructure as a crucial step in addressing cost and implementation challenges associated with AI solutions. The focus on affordability suggests that current AI technologies may be prohibitively expensive for widespread adoption across various industries. By prioritizing infrastructure development, Zhang aims to create a more accessible AI ecosystem that can support future scalability. Four major problems addressed: Zhang's investment strategy targets four significant issues affecting the cost...
read Sep 19, 2024Adult Industry Professionals are Demanding a Say in AI Rules
Adult industry professionals seek voice in AI regulation: A coalition of sex industry professionals and advocates has issued an open letter to EU regulators, asserting that their perspectives are being overlooked in crucial discussions on AI regulation. The group, known as Open Mind AI, includes a diverse range of stakeholders such as sex workers, erotic filmmakers, sex tech enterprises, and sex educators. They are urging the European Commission to include their voices in future negotiations that will shape AI regulations, emphasizing the importance of their unique insights. Notable participants in this initiative include Erika Lust's company and the European Sex...
read Sep 19, 2024AI Home Surveillance Study Reveals Alarming Biases and Inconsistencies
AI-powered home surveillance raises concerns: A new study by researchers from MIT and Penn State University reveals potential inconsistencies and biases in using large language models (LLMs) for home surveillance applications. The study analyzed how LLMs, including GPT-4, Gemini, and Claude, interpreted real videos from Amazon Ring's Neighbors platform. Researchers found that these AI models often recommended calling the police even when videos showed no criminal activity. The models frequently disagreed with each other on which videos warranted police intervention, highlighting a lack of consistency in their decision-making processes. Inconsistent application of social norms: The study uncovered a phenomenon researchers...
read Sep 19, 2024Indiana Launches AI Chatbot to Enhance Public Information Access
Indiana launches AI-powered chatbot with cautious approach: The state of Indiana has introduced a generative AI chatbot on its IN.gov website, offering a powerful tool for public information access while emphasizing transparency and potential limitations. Deployment and user experience: The chatbot, currently in its third beta version, is accessible through a link under the main search bar on IN.gov, requiring users to agree to a comprehensive disclaimer before use. Users must acknowledge that the tool is in beta, may contain errors, and that information should be verified through professional sources. The disclaimer also states that users are solely responsible for...
read Sep 19, 2024AI Startup ‘With’ Raises $10M to Improve Community Engagement
Community engagement tech firm With secures $10M investment: The U.S.-Israeli company has raised new funding to expand its reach and develop AI-based tools for local governments. Key details of the investment: The funding round included participants such as Boaz Amiti, Tal Ventures, Iron Nation, Unicorn Technologies, Ariel Maislos, and Yuval Bar Gil Notable investors also include Zac Bookman, co-founder and CEO of OpenGov, and Eyal Feder-Levy, co-founder and CEO of Zencity The capital will be used to expand With's presence in North America and develop AI-powered capabilities With's community engagement platform: The company offers an end-to-end solution for local governments...
read Sep 19, 2024How This Fintech Company Achieved 70% Productivity Gains With Gen AI
Revolutionizing trade finance: Drip Capital, a Silicon Valley-based fintech startup, has achieved a remarkable 70% productivity increase in cross-border trade finance operations by leveraging generative AI. The company uses large language models (LLMs) to automate document processing and enhance risk assessment, significantly outpacing traditional manual methods. Drip Capital's innovative approach combines sophisticated prompt engineering with strategic human oversight to overcome common challenges such as AI hallucinations. The startup has raised over $500 million in debt and equity funding and operates in the U.S., India, and Mexico. Impressive efficiency gains: Drip Capital's AI-driven approach has dramatically improved its operational capacity and...
read Sep 19, 2024AI’s Limited Impact on 2024 European Elections Surprises Experts
AI's limited impact on European elections: Recent research suggests that AI-generated falsehoods and deepfakes had minimal effect on election results in the UK, France, and the European Parliament in 2024. Sam Stockwell, a researcher at the Alan Turing Institute, conducted a study focusing on three elections over a four-month period from May to August 2024. The study identified only 16 cases of AI-enabled falsehoods or deepfakes that went viral during the UK general election and 11 cases in the EU and French elections combined. None of these cases appeared to definitively sway the election results. Reasons for AI's ineffectiveness: The...
read Sep 19, 2024The UN is Treating AI with the Same Urgency as Climate Change
AI governance takes center stage at UN: The United Nations has released a report proposing a global effort to monitor and govern artificial intelligence, signaling a shift towards treating AI with the same urgency as climate change. The report, produced by the UN secretary general's High Level Advisory Body on AI, recommends creating a body similar to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change to gather up-to-date information on AI and its risks. A new policy dialog on AI is proposed to allow the UN's 193 members to discuss risks and agree upon actions. The report emphasizes empowering poorer nations, especially...
read Sep 19, 2024Google Unveils 10 New Voices for Gemini AI Assistant
Google expands Gemini's voice capabilities: Google has introduced 10 new voice options for its Gemini Live AI assistant on Android devices, enhancing the user experience and expanding the assistant's functionality. The new voices feature unique personalities and accents, each named after constellations, stars, and star-related phenomena, such as Orion, Capella, and Nova. Initially exclusive to Gemini Advanced subscribers, these voice options are now available to all users, democratizing access to advanced AI features. Google's advanced speech engine enables the voices to be more emotionally expressive and conversational, creating a more natural interaction experience. Enhanced functionality and user experience: Gemini's AI...
read Sep 19, 2024Why Jensen Huang and Marc Benioff Think Agentic AI is the Next Big Thing
AI agents poised for "gigantic" opportunity: Jensen Huang, Nvidia's CEO, and Marc Benioff, Salesforce's CEO, discussed the rapid advancement and potential of AI agents during a fireside chat at Dreamforce 2024. Huang emphasized that AI development is progressing at an unprecedented pace, surpassing Moore's Law and entering a "flywheel zone" of technological advancement. The Nvidia CEO predicted a future where AI agents can reason, collaborate, and work together with humans, significantly enhancing workplace productivity. Both executives agreed on the need to demystify AI adoption, comparing it to onboarding employees and emphasizing the importance of making AI accessible and understandable. The...
read Sep 19, 2024Rep.ai Raises $7.5M to Launch ‘Digital Twin’ Sales Reps
AI-powered sales revolution: Rep.ai, formerly known as ServiceBell, has secured $7.5 million in funding to launch its innovative "digital twin" technology for online sales interactions. The startup aims to transform customer engagement by creating lifelike AI avatars of sales representatives that can interact with website visitors through real-time video and audio conversations. Founded by Daniel Ternyak, Rep.ai's technology combines visual and voice replication with natural language processing, trained on a company's marketing materials and CRM data. The system is designed to provide a human-like experience without the constraints of human availability, allowing for 24/7 customer interactions. Bridging the gap between...
read Sep 19, 2024LG Launches Alliance Program to Connect Startups with Strategic Partners
LG Electronics has launched a new initiative aimed at fostering innovation through strategic partnerships between corporations and startups. This program, known as the LG Nova Partner Alliance Program, seeks to accelerate the development and commercialization of cutting-edge technologies across various industries. Program overview: The LG Nova Partner Alliance Program is designed to create a collaborative ecosystem that brings together established companies and innovative startups to drive technological advancement and business growth. Spearheaded by LG Nova, LG Electronics' North America Innovation Center, the program builds upon the company's existing efforts to co-create new ventures with startups. The initiative aims to create...
read Sep 19, 2024Hollywood Giant Lionsgate to Provide Library to Runway for AI Training
Landmark AI partnership reshapes Hollywood: Lionsgate and Runway have announced a groundbreaking collaboration to create an AI model trained on Lionsgate's extensive film and TV library, potentially transforming content creation in the entertainment industry. The deal's core components: This partnership aims to provide Runway with legally clear training data while equipping Lionsgate with advanced tools to enhance content creation and potentially reduce production costs. Lionsgate, known for franchises like John Wick and The Hunger Games, views AI as a means to boost efficiency in content production. Michael Burns, Lionsgate's vice chair, emphasized the potential for developing "cutting edge, capital efficient...
read Sep 19, 2024iPhone 15 Plus vs 16 Plus: Which Offers Better Value?
Smartphone upgrade dilemma: A consumer faces the choice between the iPhone 15 Plus and the upcoming iPhone 16 Plus, weighing factors like screen size, features, and price difference. The user's spouse currently owns an iPhone 14 and is considering an upgrade to a larger screen device, with the iPhone 15 Plus and 16 Plus as primary options. The price difference between the two models is approximately $125 in their local market, prompting consideration of whether the newer model justifies the additional cost. AI features and Siri functionality are not priorities, as these services are not available in the user's language....
read Sep 18, 202471% of Investment Bankers Now Use ChatGPT, Survey Finds
The big picture: A recent study by Farsight AI reveals significant AI adoption in investment banking, with about two-thirds of surveyed banks having at least piloted AI programs, indicating a shift towards more efficient and growth-oriented practices in the financial sector. The survey, conducted on 50 industry professionals from various financial businesses, provides insights into how AI is being integrated into investment services. This trend follows the waning interest in blockchain and cryptocurrency technologies, with AI offering more practical applications for the financial industry. Adoption trends across bank sizes: Smaller investment banks are leading the charge in AI adoption, while...
read Sep 18, 2024Scientists are Designing “Humanity’s Last Exam” to Assess Powerful AI
AI experts launch unprecedented challenge for advanced artificial intelligence: Scientists are developing "Humanity's Last Exam," a comprehensive test designed to evaluate the capabilities of cutting-edge AI systems and those yet to come. The initiative's scope and purpose: The Center for AI Safety (CAIS) and Scale AI are collaborating to create the "hardest and broadest set of questions ever" to assess AI capabilities across various domains. The test aims to push the boundaries of AI evaluation, going beyond traditional benchmarks that recent models have easily surpassed. This project comes in response to rapid advancements in AI, such as OpenAI's new o1...
read Sep 18, 2024Hume Launches ‘EVI 2’ AI Voice Model with Emotional Responsiveness
Hume's EVI 2: A leap forward in AI voice technology: Hume, an AI startup, has unveiled Empathic Voice Interface 2 (EVI 2), a significant upgrade to its AI voice model and API, offering enhanced naturalness, emotional responsiveness, and customizability. Key improvements and features: EVI 2 brings substantial enhancements over its predecessor, addressing critical aspects of AI voice interaction. The new version boasts a 40% reduction in latency, with response times ranging from 500 to 800 milliseconds, greatly improving real-time conversation capabilities. EVI 2 demonstrates improved emotional intelligence, better understanding and responding to the emotional context of user inputs. The system...
read Sep 18, 2024T-Mobile and OpenAI to Develop AI-Powered Customer Support Platform
T-Mobile partners with OpenAI for advanced AI customer support: T-Mobile has announced a multi-year agreement with OpenAI to develop an AI-powered customer support platform called IntentCX, aimed at revolutionizing the customer experience. Key features of IntentCX: The new platform promises to offer a significant upgrade over traditional AI customer support systems, leveraging OpenAI's advanced models and T-Mobile's extensive customer data. IntentCX is designed to comprehend complex, multi-threaded conversations in multiple languages, mirroring the capabilities of ChatGPT. The system will have the ability to execute tasks independently, with customer permission, offering a more sophisticated level of interaction than typical rule-based chatbots....
read Sep 18, 2024Tencent, Johns Hopkins Unveil New Text-to-Audio AI Model
Breakthrough in AI-generated audio: Tencent AI Lab and Johns Hopkins University researchers have unveiled EzAudio, a revolutionary text-to-audio (T2A) generation model that produces high-quality sound effects from text prompts with remarkable efficiency. Key innovations driving EzAudio: The model's architecture, called EzAudio-DiT (Diffusion Transformer), introduces several technical advancements to enhance performance and efficiency. EzAudio operates in the latent space of audio waveforms, departing from traditional spectrogram-based methods and eliminating the need for a neural vocoder. The model incorporates a new adaptive layer normalization technique called AdaLN-SOLA, long-skip connections, and advanced positioning techniques like Rotary Position Embedding (RoPE). These innovations allow for...
read Sep 18, 2024Lionsgate Runway Deal Is a Test of Hollywood’s Relationship With AI
AI enters Hollywood's mainstream: Lionsgate, the studio behind major franchises like John Wick and The Hunger Games, has partnered with AI startup Runway to create a custom AI tool for film and TV production. The partnership grants Runway access to Lionsgate's archives to develop an AI model for pre- and post-production work, potentially revolutionizing aspects of the filmmaking process. This move marks a significant step in the integration of AI technology into mainstream Hollywood production, potentially setting a precedent for other studios to follow. The tool aims to assist filmmakers, directors, and creative talent in augmenting their work and generating...
read Sep 18, 2024New YouTube Feature Lets You AI-Generate Thumbnails for Playlists
YouTube introduces AI-generated playlist thumbnails: The popular video platform is rolling out a new feature that allows users to create custom thumbnails for their playlists using artificial intelligence. Key details of the update: The feature is available in version 19.37.35 of the YouTube app on Android Users must have a verified account to access the new functionality Custom thumbnails are generated based on preset themes using AI, rather than allowing users to upload their own images How it works: Users with verified accounts will see a new pencil icon in the bottom right corner of playlist thumbnails Tapping this icon...
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