7-26-2023

Top Story

7 AI companies agree to White House’s 8 rules for AI safety

7 of the top AI companies went to the White House this week to publicly agree to a list of 8 AI safety rules (see links below.) These “rules” are voluntary, and only a starting point, but it is a visible first step in regulating AI to maximize its good and minimize its harms. The list of attendees is interesting both for who attended (how the hell did startup Inflection make the cut???) and who did not (no Cohere? no Databricks? no Hugging Face?? No Apple????) Clearly, we are in early days for regulation, and folks are making it up as they go, for now.

Clash of the Titans

Google has been showing a new AI tool to write news stories, to the New York Times, Washington Post, and Wall Street Journal

The New York Times reports that Google has been making the rounds of top-ranked newspapers, showing off a tool that writes news articles code-named “Genesis.” The news execs appear to have been impressed enough with the tool’s capabilities to become “unsettled.” Plus, they are still mad about AI scraping their content for free for training data. Rumors are that they just might sue. So, not a love fest.

Apple releases Vision Pro VR headset developer kits

Apple is methodically executing on its vision to make Augmented Reality headsets its next big hardware platform. To make the pricy ($3600!) headsets attract users there have to be compelling apps to run on it. So Apple is courting proven developers to make the killer apps it needs for the platform to succeed. There is an application process, and only thoroughly vetted developers will get the kits. So no, you can’t pretend to be a developer to get a free headset. (Curses, foiled again!)

As actors strike against studios’ plans to use their images forever for a pittance, Netflix posts a $900,000/year AI Product Manager Position

Hollywood executives, who can be paid many millions of dollars per year, say it’s “not realistic” to pay actors and writers more, even though 87% of actors earn less than $26,000 per year. And they want to scan an actor once for a day’s pay, and then use that image, animated by AI, forever. But adding insult to injury, one major streaming studio, Netflix, is currently posting a position as AI Product manager for a whopping $900,00 a year. Hint to studio execs: crying poverty ain’t gonna cut it, fellas.

Here’s the Netflix job posting

AI makes jobs easier? These workers disagree.

Actual reports from the field, where companies are implementing AI, show that it doesn’t always make the job easier. The key is how the new AI-enhanced workflow is implemented. Implemented poorly, workers are saddled with logistical tasks that the AI can’t handle (anything requiring real-world interaction, access to other computer systems, etc.), and have to perform their tasks on a speeded-up “machine time” like Lucy and Ethel at the chocolate factory.

Evolution of Boston Dynamics robots in 10 years

After 10 years of development, Boston Dynamics robots are historical artifacts of semi-autonomous AI technology. Starting from robots that only can stabilize themselves, to being able to do parkour, they have steadily pushed the boundaries of robotics.

Luma 3D AI could be the new music video tech

Luma 3D AI, a new video-generating AI platform, recently was used in pop artist Zayn’s new music video “Love Like This”. Cutting hours of special effects editing, this new tool could change the music industry.

First AI-appointed CEO! UK startup Hunna Technology brags about its AI-Human executive team

Yes, you read that right. An AI runs a HEALTH tech company! This AI CEO, aka IndigoVX, has been tested for 12 months to ensure it is up to code. Not only does this AI-human team optimize business strategies, it also “ensures the safety and accountability through constant human supervision” Creepy? Don’t mess up!

Regulation and Politics

Head of UK’s MI6 says his spies are already using AI to disrupt arms deliveries to Russia

Richard Moore, head of top-secret British intelligence agency MI6, came out of the shadows last week to deliver a few pointed remarks on geopolitics. No gray-faced bureaucrat, he spiced up his talk with anecdotes and opinions from the front lines of the global information war. His major revelation was that MI6 spooks are already putting AI to work in gumming up arms shipments to Russia, keeping munitions out of the war in Ukraine. He also dropped a few cutting remarks about the recent Wagner Group mutiny-that-wasn’t:

“Prigozhin started off as a traitor at breakfast, he had been pardoned by supper, and then two days later he was invited for tea,” Moore said. “So there are some things that even the chief of MI6 finds a little bit difficult to interpret, in terms of who’s in and who’s out.”

Social Media

TikTok adds streaming, now texts

TikTok is entering new verticals, adding music and text onto their platform as they battle it out with big fish like Spotify, Apple Music, and Twitter X. TikTok has gained traction since 2021 and has now become the largest social media platform on the globe; will they dominate ever more in the coming months?

TikTok adds text-only posts as social media battle escalates

The video streaming app widens its uses as Twitter rebrands as X and Meta launches Threads.

www.bbc.com/news/business-66297595

Will the music industry crumble if AI becomes too advanced?

AI-generated music uses singers’ voices and creates original music. One recent hit “Heart On My Sleeve” took the internet by storm, and students are speaking-up.

Gamers are gearing up for the new AI generative gaming to be released, but at what cost?

The gaming industry is developing AI tech to create personalized gaming. Instead of standard in-game maps and text, they are forecasting that gamers can personalize their gaming experience. However these new developments are causing a wave of panic in the gaming industry due to concerns over copyright laws.

That's a wrap! More news next week.