Aug 8, 2024

UK’s £59M AI Safety Project Attracts Top Talent

The UK government's £59 million Safeguarded AI project, aimed at developing an AI system to verify the safety of other AIs in critical sectors, has gained significant traction with the addition of Turing Award winner Yoshua Bengio as its scientific director. This initiative represents a major step in the UK's efforts to establish itself as a leader in AI safety and foster international collaboration on mitigating potential risks associated with advanced AI systems. Project overview and objectives: The Safeguarded AI project seeks to create a groundbreaking "gatekeeper" AI capable of assessing and ensuring the safety of other AI systems deployed...

read Aug 8, 2024

ChatGPT Update Brings a Big Multitasking Feature to Macs

ChatGPT Mac app update enhances multitasking: OpenAI has rolled out a significant update to the ChatGPT Mac application, introducing features that streamline workflow and improve user experience. The most notable change is the introduction of a small ChatGPT overlay that appears on top of other windows when users activate the Option-Space shortcut. This new overlay replaces the previous behavior where the full ChatGPT window would come to the foreground, potentially disrupting workflow. Users can now position the ChatGPT mini-window alongside other applications, eliminating the need for constant window switching. Data analysis capabilities expanded: The update brings improvements to ChatGPT's data...

read Aug 8, 2024

‘CIO 100 Awards’ Name These Companies as Top AI Innovators

The annual CIO 100 Awards recognize outstanding IT projects that drive business results through innovative technology implementations, showcasing the crucial role of IT in modern business success across various industries. Innovative cybersecurity solutions: Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has implemented an advanced AI and machine learning-driven cybersecurity system to enhance threat detection and response capabilities. The system leverages AI algorithms to analyze vast amounts of data, identifying potential security threats more quickly and accurately than traditional methods. By automating many aspects of cybersecurity, TCS has significantly improved its ability to protect sensitive information and maintain business continuity. This implementation demonstrates the...

read Aug 8, 2024

How to Adapt LLMs for Domain Data

The rapid advancement of large language models (LLMs) has opened up new possibilities for AI applications, but adapting these models to specific domains remains a challenge for many organizations. This article explores various methods for customizing LLMs, providing guidance for small AI product teams looking to integrate these powerful tools into their workflows. Overview of LLM adaptation approaches: The article outlines five main strategies for adapting LLMs to domain-specific data and use cases, each with its own strengths and limitations. Pre-training and continued pre-training are discussed as comprehensive but resource-intensive methods, typically beyond the reach of smaller teams. Fine-tuning, particularly...

read Aug 8, 2024

What CIOs Are Planning to Boost Enterprise AI

The big picture: AI is poised to revolutionize enterprise networking, with IT leaders identifying key areas for improvement in network management, security, and automation. Key areas of AI-driven network enhancement: IT leaders have pinpointed several critical domains where AI is expected to significantly improve network operations and management. Optimizing network performance emerged as the top priority, with 33% of IT leaders highlighting this area for AI implementation. Enhancing network security closely followed, with 31% of respondents emphasizing AI's potential in bolstering defensive measures. Increasing network automation was identified by 30% of IT leaders as a crucial application of AI technology....

read Aug 8, 2024

Google’s Upcoming Pixel 9 Will Have Major AI Upgrades

Google's Pixel 9 lineup: A RAM boost for AI readiness: The upcoming Google Pixel 9 smartphones are set to receive a significant upgrade in RAM, preparing the devices for advanced AI features while offering benefits to all users. The base Pixel 9 model is rumored to come with 12GB of RAM, a 50% increase from the 8GB in the Pixel 8. The Pixel 9 Pro and 9 Pro XL variants may feature 16GB of RAM, up from 12GB in the Pixel 8 Pro. This RAM boost is expected to benefit all users, regardless of their engagement with AI features, enhancing...

read Aug 8, 2024

Amazon Music Launches AI-Powered Discovery Feature ‘Topics’

Amazon Music has introduced a new AI-powered feature called Topics, designed to enhance podcast discovery and recommendations for users. This innovation comes as streaming platforms continue to compete for listener attention in the rapidly evolving podcast market. AI-driven podcast exploration: Topics employs artificial intelligence to analyze podcast transcriptions and descriptions, identifying key subjects and generating topic tags for easy navigation. The feature creates Topic tag buttons beneath episode descriptions, allowing users to quickly find related content. By clicking on a tag, listeners can access a curated list of podcast episodes covering similar themes or subjects. This AI-driven approach aims to...

read Aug 8, 2024

Apple’s AI Strategy Prioritizes Accuracy and Safety, Leaked Prompts Show

Key discovery: Hidden prompts found in macOS Sequoia's developer beta reveal Apple's strategy to enhance the accuracy and safety of its AI features, including Smart Reply in Apple Mail and Memories in Apple Photos. A Reddit user uncovered these hidden prompts in the developer's beta for macOS 15.1, offering insights into Apple's approach to AI implementation. The prompts provide specific instructions to Apple Intelligence on how to respond, what format to use, and what to avoid, with a strong emphasis on preventing hallucinations and factual inaccuracies. Smart Reply feature guidelines: Apple's AI is instructed to identify relevant questions from emails...

read Aug 8, 2024

Global Antitrust Probes Target Nvidia’s AI Chip Dominance

Nvidia, the AI chip powerhouse, finds itself at the center of global regulatory scrutiny as authorities in the US, Europe, and China launch antitrust probes into the company's market dominance and business practices. Regulatory landscape intensifies: The US Department of Justice has initiated an antitrust investigation into Nvidia, examining its sales practices and recent acquisitions as part of a broader effort to curb alleged anticompetitive behavior in the tech industry. The probe comes on the heels of a landmark ruling against Google's search business, signaling increased regulatory attention on tech giants. Unlike other major tech companies that have faced long-standing...

read Aug 8, 2024

AI-Generated Obituary Spam Sites Exploit Grief for Ad Revenue

Obituary spam sites, fueled by AI-generated content, have become a lucrative business for ad tech companies, raising ethical concerns and causing distress to families of the deceased. This practice exploits the deaths of ordinary individuals for ad revenue, highlighting the darker side of online advertising and content generation. The rise of obituary spam: AI-powered websites are churning out inaccurate and often disturbing obituaries, targeting not just celebrities but everyday people, in a bid to generate ad revenue. Watchdog organization Check My Ads has traced the ad exchanges profiting from these spam sites, revealing a complex network of digital advertising players....

read Aug 8, 2024

‘Napkin’ Uses Visual AI to Automate Business Storytelling

Napkin, a new AI-powered tool, aims to revolutionize business storytelling by automating the creation of visual elements for presentations, pitches, and reports. The big picture: Napkin leverages generative AI to transform text inputs into customizable visuals, charts, and diagrams, streamlining the process of creating compelling business presentations. Founded by Pramod Sharma and Jerome Scholler, the creators of the educational technology Osmo, Napkin addresses the challenge of efficiently producing visual content for business communications. The tool integrates with popular platforms like Google Docs, Slides, and Canva, enhancing its versatility and ease of use for professionals. Napkin's Visual AI technology quickly converts...

read Aug 8, 2024

USAII® Brings AI Expertise to Major Cybersecurity Forum

The United States Artificial Intelligence Institute (USAII®) is set to play a significant role in the upcoming 8th Annual Physical Cyber Convergence Forum Phoenix 2024, bringing artificial intelligence expertise to a major cybersecurity event. Event overview: The Physical Cyber Convergence Forum, scheduled for August 15, 2024, at the Hyatt Regency in Phoenix, aims to bring together security thought leaders to enhance operational efficiency and foster collaboration in the cybersecurity sector. The main forum will be preceded by a pre-conference MSS Forum on August 14, 2024, hosted by PhoenixNap. This annual event serves as a platform for industry professionals to exchange...

read Aug 8, 2024

How AI is Reshaping Mental Health Treatment

Technology's transformative impact on mental healthcare is expanding access, improving quality, and reshaping treatment approaches. From digital platforms to AI chatbots and virtual reality therapy, innovations are creating new avenues for support and care delivery. Digital revolution in mental health: The landscape of mental healthcare is undergoing a significant transformation through the integration of various technological tools and platforms. Digital mental health platforms now offer services ranging from video therapy sessions to self-help applications, broadening the scope of accessible care. AI-powered chatbots provide immediate responses and emotional support, offering a 24/7 resource for individuals seeking assistance. Virtual reality technology is...

read Aug 8, 2024

Why Your Business Isn’t Reaping AI’s Full Potential

AI's transformative potential in business is being underutilized, with many companies failing to grasp its full capabilities beyond cost-cutting and incremental improvements. This disconnect between individual innovators and corporate implementation highlights the need for a fundamental rethinking of business processes to harness AI's true power. The individual innovator's perspective: Creative researchers and developers are leveraging AI assistants to dramatically enhance their coding efficiency and capabilities, showcasing the technology's potential for transformative change. Individual innovators are using AI to tackle complex coding tasks, significantly boosting their productivity and expanding their creative possibilities. These early adopters demonstrate how AI can be a...

read Aug 7, 2024

Rules of Thumb for Curating a Good Training Dataset

Fine-tuning large language models (LLMs) has become a critical process in tailoring AI capabilities to specific tasks and domains. This article delves into the nuances of dataset curation for effective fine-tuning, offering valuable insights for AI practitioners and researchers. The big picture: Fine-tuning LLMs requires a delicate balance between quality and quantity in dataset preparation, with a focus on creating diverse, high-quality datasets that can effectively enhance model performance without compromising existing capabilities. The article is part of a series exploring the adaptation of open-source LLMs, with this installment specifically addressing the rules of thumb for curating optimal training datasets....

read Aug 7, 2024

UK AI Strategy Shift Sparks Debate on Global Tech Competitiveness

The UK government's recent decisions regarding AI funding have sparked debate about the country's commitment to technological advancement and global competitiveness in the field of artificial intelligence. Funding announcement and policy shift: The UK government has unveiled a £32 million investment in nearly 100 cutting-edge AI projects across various sectors, while simultaneously scrapping £1.3 billion in previously promised funding for large-scale tech and AI initiatives. The £32 million will support 98 projects spanning diverse areas such as construction site safety and prescription delivery efficiency, benefiting over 200 businesses and research organizations. This new investment comes in stark contrast to the...

read Aug 7, 2024

Copyright Office Seeks Votes for SXSW Panels on Creative Business Growth

U.S. Copyright Office seeks public support for SXSW 2025 panel proposals: The Copyright Office is calling for votes on two proposed panels for the upcoming South by Southwest (SXSW) 2025 conference, aiming to educate the creative community on copyright protection and business growth. Voting process and timeline: The public can participate in the panel selection process by voting on proposals from August 6 to August 18, 2024. Interested individuals can vote by clicking on the panel titles, creating a free account, and giving an "upvote" to the preferred proposals. The Copyright Office encourages voters to support both of their proposed...

read Aug 7, 2024

Inside the Company that Gathers High Quality Data for Major AI Companies

Turing, a staffing firm led by CEO Jonathan Siddharth, has become a pivotal player in the AI industry by pivoting from software engineer recruitment to providing specialized "human data" for major AI companies, including OpenAI, to enhance their language models' reasoning abilities and task performance. The AI data revolution: Turing's transformation highlights a growing trend in the AI industry where high-quality, specialized data is becoming increasingly crucial for advancing AI capabilities beyond what can be learned from publicly available internet data. In early 2022, OpenAI approached Turing to provide high-quality computer code data to improve GPT-4's reasoning abilities, marking the...

read Aug 7, 2024

OpenAI Backs AI-Enabled Creative Tools With $60M Opal Investment

OpenAI's strategic investment: OpenAI, the artificial intelligence powerhouse, is leading a substantial $60 million funding round for Opal, a company previously known for its high-end webcams. The investment signals OpenAI's interest in expanding its influence beyond software and into the hardware domain, particularly in AI-enabled devices. Opal, while continuing its webcam business, is pivoting towards developing AI-enabled devices marketed as "creative tools." The funding round demonstrates OpenAI's confidence in Opal's potential to innovate at the intersection of hardware and AI technology. Opal's strategic pivot: The webcam company's shift towards AI-enabled creative tools represents a significant evolution in its business model...

read Aug 7, 2024

Adobe Releases AI-Powered Version of Journey Optimizer for B2B Marketing

AI-enhanced B2B marketing: Adobe has launched a new version of its Journey Optimizer, specifically designed to supercharge B2B marketing efforts through the use of generative AI. The B2B version of Adobe Journey Optimizer (AJO B2B) aims to help enterprises identify and persuade key decision-makers for large purchases. This tool addresses the common challenge faced by sales and marketing teams in reaching the right people who make purchasing decisions for software or hardware. AJO B2B enables brands to reach the right person and personalize their sales pitch effectively. Key features and capabilities: Adobe Journey Optimizer B2B is built on top of...

read Aug 7, 2024

Google’s New Pixel Weather App Promises AI-Powered Forecasts

The new Pixel Weather app, currently available for manual sideload, offers a comprehensive suite of weather-related features and is expected to officially launch with the Pixel 9 before rolling out to other Pixel devices via the Play Store. Key features and functionality: The native Pixel Weather app provides users with real-time weather information and forecasts for their current and saved locations, along with customizable notifications and interactive weather cards. Users can receive timely precipitation notifications and daily weather forecast updates to stay informed about changing conditions. The app allows for rearrangeable weather cards, giving users the flexibility to prioritize the...

read Aug 7, 2024

AI Startup Aims to Transform $759 Billion Government Contracting Industry

AI startup Sweetspot has secured $2.2 million in seed funding to revolutionize the government contracting process, aiming to make the $759 billion industry more accessible through its AI-powered platform. The big picture: Sweetspot's innovative approach to government contracting combines a comprehensive search engine with user-friendly software, positioning itself as a "TurboTax for government contracts" in a traditionally complex and opaque industry. The startup offers a search engine covering federal, state, and local contracts, alongside software to assist companies in applying for and tracking progress in the federal procurement process. Sweetspot's service is available at two price points: $720 per year...

read Aug 7, 2024

Can Google Translate and Google Gemini Coexist?

The translation landscape at Google: Google currently offers two distinct translation services - its traditional Google Translate and the newer AI-powered Gemini chatbot - each with its own strengths and potential for future development. Google Translate, a longstanding service, recently expanded its capabilities by adding support for 110 new languages, leveraging the company's PaLM 2 AI model. The Gemini AI chatbot, part of Google's broader artificial intelligence initiatives, has demonstrated impressive translation abilities, often producing more fluent and natural-sounding results compared to Google Translate. The coexistence of these two services raises questions about their future integration and the potential evolution...

read Aug 7, 2024

Audible Introduces AI-Powered Search Feature

Audible, the Amazon-owned audiobook and podcast platform, is introducing an AI-powered search feature called Maven, marking a significant step in enhancing user experience and content discovery within its vast library of audio content. Maven's core functionality: Maven employs natural language processing to interpret user queries and provide tailored audiobook recommendations based on specific criteria or preferences. The AI-powered search tool can understand and respond to complex queries like "I'm looking for an uplifting fiction novel with a female protagonist," demonstrating its ability to process nuanced search parameters. This feature aims to simplify the process of finding relevant titles across Audible's...

read