How AI Is Helping Architects Change Workplace Design

Welcome!

First up, Zaha Hadid Analytics + Insights is using AI to reshape workplace design, while the use of AI in asylum claim translation is posing serious challenges for Afghan refugees. Contrary to popular fears, current data reveals that AI has not yet caused significant job loss, and MIT researchers explore the role of AI in creative fields. On the technical front, Google is enhancing online shopping experiences with new AI features. In venture capital news, there are concerns about the possible AI bubble due to overfunding by VCs, while RevSure.AI and Deepchecks raise significant seed funding for their AI-driven solutions.

Let’s slice!

• 🏢 How A.I. Is Helping Architects Change Workplace Design

• 🇦🇫 AI translation jeopardizes Afghan asylum claims

• 🤖 AI is not yet killing jobs

• 🎨 If art is how we express our humanity, where does AI fit in?

🏢 How A.I. Is Helping Architects Change Workplace Design

Zaha Hadid Analytics + Insights (ZHAI), a division of Zaha Hadid Architects, is leveraging AI and data analytics to revolutionize workplace design. Led by architects Arjun Kaicker and Ulrich Blum, ZHAI is responding to a post-pandemic shift in workers' needs, from the traditional one-size-fits-all workspace to more personalized, adaptable environments. The team uses AI to generate a multitude of interior designs quickly, with options for workspace configurations optimized for individual needs and preferences. This transformation is supported by extensive data collection on environmental conditions and people's behaviors, leading to innovative changes like smarter desk allocation, efficient space utilization, and adaptive communal areas. Despite the effectiveness of AI-driven design, privacy concerns are raised due to the granularity of data collected. As a result, the firm emphasizes the need for safeguarding personal data and responsible use of tracking systems.

🇦🇫 AI translation jeopardizes Afghan asylum claims

The use of neural machine translation tools in immigration processes is leading to serious consequences for Afghan refugees. Machine translations of Pashto and Dari, languages spoken by Afghan refugees, are often riddled with errors that have introduced confusion into already complex immigration processes and resulted in at least one rejected asylum claim. For instance, in 2020, a Pashto-speaking refugee was denied asylum by a U.S. court due to a discrepancy in her statements caused by an automated translation tool. The demand for such translation tools is high, with a fourfold increase in requests for Afghan languages in 2022. Despite concerns and recognized risks, these tools are being actively pitched to refugee organizations. However, translation errors, particularly in Pashto and Dari, can lead to harmful distortions when drafting asylum applications. For example, the German Embassy to Afghanistan recently posted a tweet in Pashto that was ridiculed for its incoherent translation.

🤖 AI is not yet killing jobs

Despite widespread fear about AI eliminating jobs, current data doesn't support this concern. The introduction of large language models (LLMs) could impact approximately 80% of the US workforce's tasks to some degree, with sectors like legal services, accountancy, and travel agencies predicted to undergo substantial disruption. Yet, countries with the highest rates of tech usage, such as Japan, Singapore, and South Korea, have some of the lowest unemployment rates. A focus on white-collar jobs, deemed particularly vulnerable to generative AI, hasn't yet revealed a substantial impact on employment. In fact, some professions allegedly at risk from generative AI have seen their share of employment rise slightly in the past year. There's speculation that the impact of AI on jobs could simply be delayed, only affect a small number of roles, or possibly even increase job availability as it could potentially make workers more efficient. A recent UK survey found that over half of employers anticipate a positive impact on their headcount due to AI technologies within the next two years. Therefore, an AI-driven job apocalypse currently seems improbable.

🎨 If art is how we express our humanity, where does AI fit in?

A group of 14 researchers, including MIT postdoc Ziv Epstein and others, discuss the issues arising from the use of generative AI in creative fields. The researchers address the impact of AI on creative processes and highlight the need for transparency in understanding the generative methods employed by AI. They emphasize the importance of preserving the human aspect of creativity amidst the rapid evolution of AI technologies. The article also discusses the analogy of AI to previous art technologies like photography, suggesting that generative AI could serve as a new medium, evolving the nature of art. The researchers point out the need for revised copyright laws that accommodate generative AI, and the potential of AI to disrupt labor economics in creative work. The potential risk of AI-generated misinformation in the media ecosystem is also addressed. The researchers stress the need for a unified conversation about AI to address these themes and ensure the beneficial use of these technologies.

🛠️ AI tools update

Google allows you to virtually try on clothes with a new AI shopping feature

Google has announced two new features for online shopping, aiming to bring the fitting room experience to the digital sphere. The first, a virtual try-on for apparel, uses generative AI to show how clothes would look on a wide variety of real models, representing different skin tones, body shapes, sizes from XXS-4XL, ethnicities, and hair types. It addresses a common problem where online shoppers often feel unrepresented by model images and dissatisfied when purchased items look different on them than expected. U.S. shoppers can now virtually try on women’s tops from various brands, and the feature will expand to include men's tops later this year. The second feature, guided refinements, helps shoppers fine-tune their product choices based on inputs like color, style, and pattern, offering options from stores across the web. Google believes that these AI-based advancements will continue to enhance online shopping experiences, making them more helpful and enjoyable.

Early feedback on OpenAI’s code interpreter

💵 Venture Capital updates

VCs Will Destroy AI

The article from Analytics India Mag argues that VCs are overhyping and overfunding AI startups, which could ultimately lead to the destruction of AI. This pattern has been observed previously in the crypto, blockchain, and metaverse sectors. AI technology, which has been around for decades, recently entered the mainstream, making it a target for VCs who are now massively funding AI companies. This situation has been likened to the second dot-com boom. Despite this, the author emphasizes that AI is just a technology, and the overblown expectations and heavy investment could lead to another bubble, similar to those seen in the crypto and blockchain sectors. The article also criticizes major companies like Morgan Stanley and influencers like Marc Andreessen, who have been promoting AI as a massive economic opportunity and a tool to "save the world," respectively. The author warns against this unmeasured optimism, arguing that it could lead to a destructive bubble in the AI sector.

RevSure.AI Closes $10 Million Seed Round

RevSure.AI an AI-driven pipeline acceleration company, has raised an additional $6M in a seed funding round, bringing the total seed funding to $10M. This round was co-led by Neotribe Ventures and Innovation Endeavors, with participation from Operator Collective and Correlation Ventures. The funding will be used to advance pipeline generation for B2B companies, specifically for product development, engineering, AI technology, scaling customer acquisition, and bolstering the go-to-market strategy. Since its launch, RevSure.AI has been instrumental in helping companies like BigID, Zeotap, and SnapLogic predict, generate, and accelerate their pipelines. The platform offers real-time, AI-powered insights that identify bottlenecks and provide recommendations to optimize resource allocation and increase ROI. Its unique combination of data normalization and predictive AI has earned it recognition as an essential tool for marketing leaders. As a cross-border venture-backed company operating in the US and India, RevSure.AI is committed to reducing uncertainty around revenue funnel conversations for B2B companies and helping them boost qualified opportunities in their pipelines.

Machine Learning Startup Deepchecks Raises $14M In Seed Funding

The machine learning startup Deepchecks has secured $14 million in seed funding to continue the development and testing of its solution, which allows for continuous testing of machine learning models from development through production. The company also offers an open-source version of its solution that has been downloaded more than half a million times and is being used by major industry players like Amazon Web Services, Booking.com, and Wix. The funding round was led by New York-based VC fund Alpha Wave Ventures, with participation from Israeli early-stage investors Hetz Ventures and Grove Ventures. Deepchecks was founded three years ago by Philip Tannor and Shir Chorev, who have both held leading positions in AI research and witnessed first-hand the potential and challenges of AI algorithms. The startup's funding comes at a time when the machine learning market is projected to increase from $26 billion in 2023 to $226 billion by 2030.

🫡 Meme of the day

⭐️ Generative AI image of the day

Before you go, have a look at how web3 and AI are intersecting. Blockchain developer platform Alchemy releasing AI-powered tools for web3 builders.