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AI artwork of Alan Turing sells for $1M

Also: Check out upcoming AI events across Asia and Japan

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AI KATANA
November 10, 2024

Today’s newsletter covers a range of stories highlighting AI’s growing impact across industries, from record-breaking sales in AI-generated art to major national investments in AI infrastructure. An AI-generated portrait of Alan Turing by Ai-Da Robot recently sold for over $1 million at Sotheby’s, underscoring the market’s appetite for AI-driven creativity. In Japan, a ¥2 trillion economic package aims to bolster the country’s chip and AI sectors amidst global tech competition. OpenAI is reportedly developing strategies to counter the slowdown in AI model improvements, exploring alternatives like synthetic data. NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang will discuss AI’s future with SoftBank’s Masayoshi Son at the upcoming AI Summit Japan, reflecting Japan’s strategic interest in AI leadership. Lastly, companies are increasingly using AI tools to bridge skill gaps and improve employee retention, as major corporations like Johnson & Johnson and DHL integrate AI-driven training and development solutions.

Sliced just for you:

  • 🎨 AI artwork of Alan Turing sells for $1M

  • 💴 Japan eyes ¥2 trillion for chips and AI in economic package

  • 🧠 OpenAI reportedly developing new strategies to deal with AI improvement slowdow

  • 🇯🇵 Jensen Huang to discuss AI’s future with Masayoshi Son at AI Summit Japan

  • 👩‍💻 Employers look to AI tools to plug skills gap and retain staff

An AI-generated portrait of Alan Turing, created by Ai-Da Robot, sold for over $1 million at Sotheby’s auction, marking a new milestone for AI in the art world. Titled “A.I. God,” the artwork is part of a series of 15 paintings by Ai-Da, a humanoid robot capable of producing complex visual art. The sale exceeded initial estimates, setting a record for artwork generated by a robotic artist and highlighting AI’s growing influence in the art market. Ai-Da’s creator, Aidan Meller, noted the artwork’s thematic focus on the ethical and societal implications of advanced AI, sparking dialogue on the “god-like” nature of AI technologies. This historic sale underscores the intersection of AI, art, and public discourse, particularly as it connects to Turing’s legacy in computing and AI.

Japan is preparing a ¥2 trillion aid package aimed at strengthening its semiconductor and AI sectors, reflecting a long-term strategy to bolster domestic tech resilience amid global trade tensions, particularly between the U.S. and China. The package, expected to be finalized this month, will provide sustained support for companies like Rapidus, which is advancing next-generation chip production in Hokkaido. Additionally, Japan plans to reintroduce subsidies for utility costs, extend gasoline subsidies, and offer financial aid to low-income households and small businesses. The government will fund these initiatives through new bridging bonds backed by shares in national firms such as Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp. and Japan Tobacco. This move follows three years of targeted semiconductor support totaling ¥3.9 trillion, with future assistance expected to transition gradually to private sector investment and loans.

OpenAI is reportedly developing new strategies to address a slowdown in improvements with its latest AI model, codenamed Orion. Initial tests indicate that while Orion surpasses existing models in some areas, the progress does not match the substantial advancements seen from GPT-3 to GPT-4, particularly in specific tasks like coding. To counter the challenge of limited new training data, OpenAI has established a “foundations team” to explore alternative enhancement methods. These include training Orion with synthetic data generated by AI and optimizing models during post-training. OpenAI has not confirmed any immediate plans for releasing Orion, emphasizing a strategic pivot as the company seeks ways to sustain model advancements amid diminishing gains in performance.

NVIDIA’s CEO, Jensen Huang, will join SoftBank’s Masayoshi Son at the NVIDIA AI Summit Japan to discuss AI’s transformative impact across sectors like generative AI, robotics, and industrial digitalization. Held in Tokyo on November 12-13, this exclusive event will convene experts and leaders from industries and academia to explore Japan’s expanding AI landscape, including its sovereign AI initiatives aimed at enhancing technological independence. Key sessions will examine the present and future of generative AI in Japan, with speakers like Professor Yutaka Matsuo of the University of Tokyo addressing AI’s influence on business and policy. Another panel will delve into sovereign AI’s role in Japan’s strategic tech ambitions, with insights from figures such as Takuya Watanabe of METI. The summit will also feature a workshop on developing retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) agents, showcasing practical applications of large language models. This gathering highlights Japan’s role in global AI advancements and its commitment to leading in the AI ecosystem.

👩‍💻 Employers look to AI tools to plug skills gap and retain staff

Companies are increasingly adopting AI tools to address skill gaps and improve employee retention. Organizations like Johnson & Johnson (J&J) and DHL use AI to assess workforce skills, match employees with training opportunities, and promote internal mobility, which is both cost-effective and efficient. J&J, for instance, employs a skill inference AI to evaluate and enhance workforce capabilities based on a custom skill taxonomy, helping guide decisions on hiring and career development. DHL’s career marketplace AI directs employees to relevant training, aligning staff skills with organizational needs. Bank of America leverages AI simulations for staff to practice complex conversations, improving real-world performance in a controlled setting. However, experts, including MIT’s Nick van der Meulen, highlight the limitations of AI in skill evaluation, stressing the importance of human oversight to handle the nuances in individual development. The hybrid approach balances AI’s data processing capabilities with essential human judgment to create adaptive, employee-centric learning environments.

🛠️ AI tools updates

Microsoft has introduced new AI features to the Paint and Notepad apps in Windows 11, enhancing user capabilities with tools for editing images and text. In Paint, a “generative erase” function allows users to remove unwanted elements from images, seamlessly filling in the background with related colors to blend the edited area naturally. This feature operates similarly to existing tools in Microsoft Photos, making object removal simple and effective. Notepad, on the other hand, now includes an AI-powered “Rewrite” tool that enables users to rephrase text, adjust tone, or modify length. After highlighting text, users can choose from three AI-generated rephrased versions, with options to retry for additional variations. Both features are available in preview for Windows Insider Program members and are set for broader release next year. While promising, the tools remain in testing, and some refinements are expected before the full rollout.

💵 Venture Capital updates

Saudi Arabia has launched “Project Transcendence,” a $100 billion initiative aimed at establishing the nation as a leading AI hub and positioning it to compete with other regional tech players like the UAE. Supported by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), this project will focus on building foundational AI infrastructure, attracting talent, and supporting startups. Part of the plan includes collaboration with global tech companies, with reports of Google contributing to the development of Arabic language models within the hub. Project Transcendence aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, a broader strategy to diversify its economy beyond oil by promoting sectors like e-sports and AI-driven technology, with the ambition of becoming one of the top 15 AI leaders globally by the next decade.

In 2025, AI startups seeking funding will need to focus on the “quality of revenue” rather than sheer growth metrics, according to venture capital insights from the recent TechCrunch Disrupt. Investors are looking for stable, recurring revenue with a loyal customer base that shows potential for increased spending over time. Unlike previous years, where high growth rates could secure funding, VCs like Greylock’s Corinne Riley and Renegade Partners’ Renata Quintini emphasize that startups must demonstrate customer retention and a unique, defensible market position. Additionally, many companies face tighter budgets as early-stage AI investments from large companies wane, meaning that only solutions with proven, measurable impact will continue to attract corporate clients and renewals.

🫡 Meme of the day

⭐️ Generative AI image of the day