Published Date: 30/08/2024
Catch up on select AI news and developments from the past week or so . OpenAI and Anthropic sign agreements with US government for AI testing. AI startups OpenAI and Anthropic have signed landmark agreements with the US AI Safety Institute for research, testing, and evaluation of their AI models.Google uses AI to handle tough questions at its town hall meetings. Google has introduced an AI tool, 'Ask,' to summarize questions at its TGIF meetings, replacing the previous system 'Dory.'
Plaud introduces AI wearable device for seamless note-taking. Plaud's new NotePin is an AI-powered wearable audio recorder designed to transcribe and summarize conversations, aiming to boost productivity by capturing meeting details.Google reinstates AI-generated people feature in Gemini chatbot. Google is reintroducing the ability to generate images of people using its Gemini AI chatbot, powered by the upgraded Imagen 3 model.
California advances AI safety regulation bill. California lawmakers have passed a proposal to regulate large AI models, mandating safety testing and public disclosure of protocols to mitigate risks like power grid manipulation or chemical weapon development.UK shifts AI strategy, prioritizing public sector adoption. Under budgetary pressure, the UK government is revising its AI strategy, focusing on public sector adoption over direct industry investment.
Open-source AI model CogVideoX revolutionizes video creation. Researchers from Tsinghua University and Zhipu AI have released CogVideoX, an open-source text-to-video model that generates high-quality videos from text prompts.AI data centers compete with bitcoin miners for energy resources. US tech companies are acquiring energy assets from bitcoin miners to power their expanding AI and cloud data centers, driving significant growth in electricity demand.
Google's Pixel 9 Pro shifts focus to AI with Gemini integration. Google's Pixel 9 Pro series prioritizes AI capabilities over hardware improvements, featuring the Gemini AI assistant integrated across the devices.Apple unveils AI features under 'Apple Intelligence' for iPhone. Apple is launching 'Apple Intelligence,' a suite of AI tools, including a new Siri powered by ChatGPT integration, under its upcoming iOS 18.
New technique allows custom fonts in AI-generated images. Hobbyists have discovered a method to insert custom fonts into AI-generated images using the Flux AI model, also making text in AI images more accurate.Klarna uses AI chatbots to reduce workforce size. Swedish fintech company Klarna has cut hundreds of jobs, crediting AI chatbots for handling customer service tasks traditionally performed by employees.
Platform X revises AI chatbot to curb election misinformation. Social platform X, formerly Twitter, updated its AI chatbot Grok after state officials warned it was spreading election misinformation.OpenAI backs California bill for AI content watermarking. OpenAI supports a California bill mandating the labeling of AI-generated content to enhance transparency, especially in the context of political misinformation.
Google enhances AI Studio with free Prompt Gallery. Google has launched a free Prompt Gallery in its AI Studio, offering developers a wide range of tools to experiment with the Gemini API.Google's AI transparency issues with Pixel 9 Pro spark concern. Google's lack of transparency regarding AI-generated edits on the Pixel 9 Pro, particularly with the Magic Editor tool, has raised alarm.
Google Keep's AI list-making feature expands to all Pixel phones. Google has rolled out its AI-powered 'Help me create a list' feature in Google Keep to all Pixel phones and Google One AI Premium subscribers.Google DeepMind staff urge end to military contracts. Around 200 Google DeepMind employees have called for the company to cease its military contracts, arguing that such deals conflict with Google's AI principles.
Anthropic supports revised California AI regulation bill. Anthropic, an AI startup, supports the revised California bill requiring safety testing for advanced AI models.Meta and Spotify CEOs criticize European AI regulations. Meta's Mark Zuckerberg and Spotify's Daniel Ek argue that Europe's fragmented AI regulations hinder innovation and competitiveness, suggesting that a streamlined approach would better support developers.
Q: What is the significance of OpenAI and Anthropic signing agreements with the US government for AI testing?
A: The agreements provide the US AI Safety Institute with access to new AI models from both companies and facilitate collaborative research to assess the capabilities and risks of AI technologies.
Q: What is the purpose of Google's AI tool 'Ask' at its town hall meetings?
A: The tool is designed to summarize questions at Google's TGIF meetings, replacing the previous system 'Dory,' and is reportedly used to soften the tone of difficult questions.
Q: What is Plaud's NotePin and what is its purpose?
A: Plaud's NotePin is an AI-powered wearable audio recorder designed to transcribe and summarize conversations, aiming to boost productivity by capturing meeting details.
Q: What is the significance of the California AI safety regulation bill?
A: The bill mandates safety testing and public disclosure of protocols to mitigate risks like power grid manipulation or chemical weapon development for large AI models.
Q: What is the purpose of Google's Pixel 9 Pro series?
A: The Pixel 9 Pro series prioritizes AI capabilities over hardware improvements, featuring the Gemini AI assistant integrated across the devices.