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.
Berkeley SkyDeck Accelerator Opens Applications Globally, Adds Seasoned Track Chairs
The Berkeley SkyDeck accelerator is expanding its applicant pool, allowing founders from across the U.S. and internationally to apply, regardless of their UC Berkeley affiliation. Widening the pool for higher quality and greater opportunity: By opening applications to startups around the world, Berkeley SkyDeck aims to attract a wider range of high-quality applicants and provide access to those who might not otherwise have the opportunity to join a top-tier accelerator: The move recognizes that great ideas can come from anywhere, not just within the UC Berkeley ecosystem. Caroline Winnett, executive director of Berkeley SkyDeck, expects the change to result in...
read Jul 24, 2024“Deadbots”: AI Avatars of Deceased Loved Ones Are Redefining How People Process Grief
The rise of AI-powered digital avatars of deceased loved ones, known as "deadbots," is introducing a new stage to the traditional five stages of grief - resurrection. While this technology allows people to continue conversing with digital recreations of the deceased, it raises important questions about the grieving process, privacy, and the implications of never truly moving on. Key Takeaways: Chinese company Silicon Intelligence is creating life-like digital avatars of deceased relatives that can engage in conversation, essentially bringing them back to life in a digital form. The quality of these deadbots depends on the amount of personal data, such...
read Jul 24, 2024Stability AI Just Announced “Video 4D” with with Dynamic 3D Object Viewing
Stability AI has introduced Stable Video 4D, a new generative AI model that adds a new dimension to video generation by accepting video input and generating multiple novel-view videos from 8 different perspectives. A next-gen AI video model: Stable Video 4D builds upon Stability AI's existing Stable Video Diffusion model, taking the concept further by enabling users to view dynamically moving 3D objects from arbitrary camera angles: The model combines the strengths of Stability AI's previously-released Stable Video Diffusion and Stable Video 3D models, fine-tuned with a carefully curated dynamic 3D object dataset. Stable Video 4D is a first-of-its-kind network...
read Jul 24, 2024Winning Patient Trust: Balancing Privacy and Progress in Medical Machine Learning Research
Winning patient trust is essential for advancing machine learning applications in medicine, which rely on access to large and diverse health datasets. Data sharing challenges: While openly available medical datasets have been highly beneficial for research, in many cases health data cannot be shared due to privacy concerns or participant preferences: Federated learning schemes allow models to be trained on local datasets without sharing the data directly, but additional privacy-preserving tools are still needed to prevent data reconstruction from model updates. Synthetic data generated by AI algorithms can help protect patient privacy by replacing or augmenting real datasets, but potential...
read Jul 24, 2024MIT Researchers Are Automating Neural Network Interpretability to Improve Transparency in AI
Researchers at MIT's CSAIL developed an AI system called MAIA that automates the interpretation of neural networks, enabling a deeper understanding of how these complex models work and uncovering potential biases. Key capabilities of MAIA: The multimodal system is designed to investigate the inner workings of artificial vision models: MAIA can generate hypotheses about the roles of individual neurons, design experiments to test these hypotheses, and iteratively refine its understanding of the model's components. By combining a pre-trained vision-language model with interpretability tools, MAIA can flexibly respond to user queries and autonomously investigate various aspects of AI systems. Automating neuron-level...
read Jul 24, 2024Stack Overflow Survey Finds Developers Aren’t Worried AI Will Take Their Jobs
The rise of generative AI is reshaping the software development landscape, but developers remain optimistic about their job security and the potential benefits of AI tools, according to Stack Overflow's 2024 Developer Survey. Key findings from the survey: The survey, which polled over 65,000 developers across 185 countries, reveals a complex relationship between developers and generative AI: AI tool usage among developers increased from 70% in 2023 to 76% in 2024, indicating a growing adoption of AI technologies in the development process. Despite the increased usage, favorability towards AI tools decreased from 77% to 72%, suggesting that some developers may...
read Jul 24, 2024AI vs. Journalism: How Tech Giants Threaten News Outlets’ Survival
The rise of AI presents an existential threat to the journalism industry as tech giants leverage news content without fair compensation, further disrupting already struggling news outlets. Key challenges facing publishers: AI tools from companies like Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI can automatically scrape information from news archives and deliver it to audiences for free, potentially devastating the business models of news organizations: L.A. Taco editor Javier Cabral found that Google's AI appeared to lift content from an article he wrote without linking to the original, "enraging" him as he had spent significant time reporting the story. News outlets fear catastrophic...
read Jul 24, 2024AI-Powered Maps Are Enabling Better Decision Making in the Face of Climate Change Uncertainty
Maps are emerging as a vital tool for decision-making in the face of climate change uncertainty. Modern digital maps, fueled by GIS and AI, are helping people make informed choices about travel, personal carbon emissions reduction, and navigating extreme weather events. Key benefits of GIS maps: Maps are powerful because they use location to index data, allowing simultaneous consideration of various factors like the earth, atmosphere, people, politics, economics, and health: GIS maps played a critical role during the COVID-19 pandemic, with tools like the Johns Hopkins University dashboard helping individuals and policymakers make informed decisions. Maps can predict future...
read Jul 24, 2024Lambda Launches On-Demand H100 GPU Clusters, Democratizing AI Training Access
Key details: Lambda, a GPU cloud company, is launching 1-Click Clusters that provide on-demand access to Nvidia's powerful H100 GPUs and Quantum 2 InfiniBand clusters: The service targets companies that need to train AI models for shorter periods and cannot afford long-term GPU contracts. Customers can reserve 2 to 64 nodes on the Lambda cluster for a minimum of two weeks, with pricing depending on the number of nodes and time period required. Lambda's offering focuses on AI model training, unlike cloud providers like AWS and Azure that primarily support AI inference. Addressing a market need: The new service aims...
read Jul 24, 2024ACLU Argues New Laws Regulating Deepfakes Infringe on Free Speech
The ACLU is fighting to protect free speech rights related to AI-generated content, arguing that some of the new laws regulating deepfakes and other AI outputs conflict with the First Amendment. This stance is leading to an uncomfortable reckoning for the movement to control AI. Key takeaways: AI itself has no rights, but people using AI to communicate have First Amendment protections. The ACLU contends that citizens have a constitutional right to use AI to spread untruths, just as they do with other forms of speech. Restricting who can listen to AI-generated speech would also infringe on the "right to...
read Jul 24, 2024Quantum Transistors Secures $19M to Make Quantum Computing Accessible and Scalable
Quantum Transistors, a Tel Aviv-based developer of advanced quantum processors, has secured a substantial $19 million investment from the European Innovation Council (EIC) to further its mission of making quantum computing more accessible and scalable. Landmark investment validates Quantum Transistors' vision: The EIC's investment, comprising a $2.7 million grant and a future equity investment of $16.3 million, is a strong endorsement of Quantum Transistors' innovative approach to quantum computing: Quantum Transistors aims to leverage the trillions invested in the semiconductor industry to build a scalable quantum technology, making it more accessible to everyone. CEO Shmuel Bachinsky likened the company's goal...
read Jul 24, 2024China’s Open-Source AI Strategy Challenges Western Dominance, Fosters Global Collaboration
For Alibaba and several Chinese AI startups, open-source AI presents an opportunity for faster commercialization and global recognition. Chinese companies are embracing open-source AI models as a strategy to compete with Western tech giants, find alternative paths to innovation, and gain international visibility. Key drivers behind China's open-source AI push: Chinese companies are betting on open-source AI for several reasons, including accelerating product development, finding niche markets, and attracting global developers: Alibaba's decision to open-source its Qwen model is aimed at growing its cloud business by encouraging developers to build applications using Alibaba Cloud and its open-source tools. For Chinese...
read Jul 24, 2024AI Compliance Startup Vanta Raises $150M, Valuation Soars to $2.45B Amid Tech Trust Concerns
Vanta, a startup revolutionizing security compliance through AI, has raised $150 million in Series C funding, propelling its valuation to $2.45 billion and marking a significant shift in the tech compliance landscape. AI-powered compliance reshaping security management: Vanta is at the forefront of using AI to automate and streamline security compliance, moving the industry from point-in-time checks to continuous, real-time monitoring: Vanta's AI-powered platform delivers the NIST AI risk management framework and ISO 42,001 certification, ensuring responsible use of customer data and addressing concerns about data privacy and security in the wake of advancements in large language models. The company's...
read Jul 24, 2024AI Startups Tackle Looming Data Shortage with Innovative Solutions
The AI industry is facing a looming data shortage as companies have already exhausted much of the available training data, but startups are exploring innovative solutions to address this challenge. Synthetic data emerges as a potential solution: Gretel, a startup valued at $350 million, is creating AI-generated synthetic data that closely mimics real information without the privacy concerns: Synthetic data has been used by companies working with sensitive information, such as patient data, to protect privacy while still providing valuable training data for AI models. Gretel's CEO, Ali Golshan, sees an opportunity to supply data-starved AI companies with fake data...
read Jul 24, 2024Schools Need Help Preparing Their Students for an AI-Driven Future
The advent of AI in education presents both opportunities and challenges, as schools find themselves in a transitional phase that requires adaptation and innovation. Navigating the liminal space: Schools are entering a period of uncertainty and change as AI becomes more prevalent, which can cause discomfort but also presents opportunities for growth and innovation: Educators are encouraged to embrace the PATHWAY framework, which includes persevering in uncertainty, raising awareness, being open to transformation, building supportive communities, approaching new possibilities with curiosity, experimenting with AI tools, and celebrating small successes. The role of teachers will inevitably change, requiring a focus on...
read Jul 24, 2024Chinese AI Video Tool Kling Is Now Available Globally
Chinese video generation model Kling AI expands globally, offering an alternative to OpenAI's highly anticipated Sora. Key Takeaways: Kling AI, developed by Kuaishou Technology, can generate high-quality videos up to two minutes long at HD resolution, utilizing advanced 3D reconstruction technology for more natural movements. The global version of Kling allows users to create videos using an email address, with each generation requiring 10 credits and a daily allotment of 66 credits per user. While OpenAI's Sora is currently limited to a select group of creators, Kling's global availability positions it as a strong competitor in the rapidly evolving AI...
read Jul 24, 2024Collaboration: The Key to Unlocking Generative AI’s Potential and Enhancing Human Teamwork
The importance of collaboration skills in the era of generative AI is highlighted in this article, which emphasizes the growing significance of soft skills as AI systems continue to evolve and transform industries. Here is a summary of the key points: Collaboration as a critical skill for genAI success: As generative AI applications expand, the ability to work effectively with diverse groups becomes crucial for driving successful outcomes and ensuring responsible AI development: Collaborating with people from various backgrounds and skill sets enhances problem-solving abilities, creativity, and innovation in AI projects. Sharing knowledge about prompts, language models, and best practices...
read Jul 24, 2024AI Companion Apps are Booming — Here’s Why
The rise of AI companion apps is challenging traditional notions of human intimacy, as a growing number of women find comfort and connection in these chatbot relationships. AI companions gaining popularity: Andreessen Horowitz data shows a surge in AI companion apps, with high user engagement compared to other app categories: Eight companion apps debuted on the firm's top 100 genAI consumer apps list in 2024, up from just two in 2023. Average user sessions per month for companion apps are over 10 times higher than general assistant apps, content generation apps, and messaging apps. How AI companion apps work: Users...
read Jul 24, 2024Meta AI Introduces New Languages and Features for Personalized, Multi-Lingual AI Avatars
Meta AI's latest feature allows users to create AI-generated images of themselves in fantasy settings, expanding the AI assistant's capabilities and reach to compete with rivals like OpenAI and Google. Key upgrades to Meta AI: Meta is opening up access to its AI assistant geographically, linguistically, and artistically, with several significant enhancements: Meta AI can now communicate in seven new languages, including French, German, Hindi, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish, and is available in 22 countries on WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger, and Facebook. The AI assistant will also be accessible through Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses and Meta Quest headsets for the first...
read Jul 24, 2024How Chevron Is Using Generative AI to Revolutionize the Energy Industry
Chevron, a multinational oil and gas company, is leveraging generative AI to unlock valuable insights from its massive datasets and enhance operations in the energy sector. Harnessing AI for complex data processing: With vast amounts of data generated from oil and gas operations, Chevron has been utilizing GPUs since 2008 to handle computationally intensive workloads, and is now integrating generative AI tools to further analyze and extract value from its datasets: A single seismic survey in New Mexico can generate a petabyte-sized file, requiring 100 exaflops of computing power to process and visualize for decision-making purposes. Chevron is one of...
read Jul 24, 2024Meta’s Llama 3.1 Launch Ignites AI Arms Race, Challenging OpenAI’s Dominance
Llama 3.1 launch signals Meta's bold challenge to OpenAI's dominance in the AI market: Meta's release of its most advanced AI model to date, Llama 3.1, and its integration into the company's AI assistant, Meta AI, across multiple platforms, marks a significant escalation in the AI competition, directly targeting OpenAI's market-leading position. Open-source strategy disrupts the AI landscape: Meta's decision to make the powerful Llama 3.1 405B model openly available contrasts with the proprietary approaches of its competitors, particularly OpenAI, potentially reshaping the future of AI accessibility and development: The open-source release comes at a critical juncture for Meta, following...
read Jul 24, 2024AI Poised to Transform Healthcare, but Obstacles Remain for Clinical Adoption
While generative AI has demonstrated potential in assisting doctors with tasks like note-taking and scan analysis, the technology is still in its early stages and faces barriers to widespread implementation in healthcare settings: AI-powered ambient note-taking software has improved patient and provider satisfaction in pilot programs by allowing doctors to engage more directly with patients, but some physicians find the technology cumbersome or struggle with providing the right level of detail verbally. AI models have shown promise in analyzing medical scans and documenting abnormalities, potentially catching issues early and saving lives, but integration into clinical workflows is still limited. Challenges...
read Jul 24, 2024DeepL Now Offers Traditional Chinese Language Translation, Spoken Language Next
German AI translation startup DeepL launched traditional Chinese, expanding its presence in key Asian business hubs like Taiwan and Hong Kong as it looks to grow globally and compete with major tech players. Key details of DeepL's Asia expansion: DeepL, a $2 billion European AI translation company focused on business customers, is making a strategic push into Asia with the launch of traditional Chinese: Traditional Chinese is used in Taiwan and Hong Kong, which are important tech and finance hubs that attracted DeepL due to the strong business potential. DeepL already offers Japanese and Korean, and sees similarities between the...
read Jul 23, 2024LexisNexis Launches Research Tool Nexis+AI to Unlock Insights from Licensed Data
LexisNexis launches Nexis+ AI, using generative AI to enhance corporate research capabilities by leveraging its vast library of licensed news and corporate data. Key features and benefits: Nexis+ AI aims to accelerate data-intensive research and strategic decision-making for businesses: The platform allows users to quickly search and analyze business, financial, and legal information, summarize lengthy documents, compile and share content, create first drafts of intelligence reports, discover relevant data points, and deliver actionable business insights. It employs a multi-model approach, using AWS Bedrock, Anthropic's Claude models, and Microsoft's Azure OpenAI models to power its AI capabilities. Results include citations and...
read