How AI will turbocharge misinformation — and what we can do about it

Hello!

Today's round-up brings you a variety of thought-provoking pieces on the evolving AI landscape. We'll delve into the rise of AI-fueled misinformation and the measures being explored to combat it. In a recent interview, Google's DeepMind CEO rebuts the claim that Google has 'no moat' in the AI industry. Meanwhile, the public perception of AI paints a complex picture, with a recent survey revealing mixed feelings and increased nervousness around the technology. Generative AI's impact on gaming development isn't all sunshine and roses, highlighting both its efficiencies and potential downsides. For art enthusiasts, we'll discuss the best AI art generators of 2023, and for entrepreneurs, we bring you the latest funding updates. Finally, a major boost for UK tech startups is on the horizon as the government plans to unleash a whopping $64 billion from pension funds for investments.

Sliced and ready to consume:

• 🚨 How AI will turbocharge misinformation — and what we can do about it

• 🤖 That Google memo about having ‘no moat’ in AI was real — and Google’s AI boss disagrees with it

• 😬 AI is making the world more nervous

• 🎮 How generative AI is making gaming development more efficient

🚨 How AI will turbocharge misinformation — and what we can do about it

Experts warn of an imminent rise in AI-fueled misinformation. As generative AI becomes increasingly prevalent, it could potentially account for over 99% of all online content, escalating the challenge of content moderation. "News sites" featuring AI-created content of questionable quality have already appeared, and these systems can inadvertently amplify conspiracy theories. University of Washington's Kate Starbird points out three main ways generative AI could exacerbate misinformation: producing content that seems reasonable but lacks accuracy, enabling disinformation campaigns with cheap and easily created content, and providing a new target for manipulators seeking to influence these models' outputs. The issue is complicated further by the various forms and motivations behind misinformation. However, strategies to combat AI misinformation include implementing provenance markers to track content's origins, introducing regulations, leveraging AI for detection, and enhancing media literacy. Tech companies are striving to adapt existing policies and develop new techniques to manage the challenges posed by AI-generated content.

🤖 That Google memo about having ‘no moat’ in AI was real — and Google’s AI boss disagrees with it

In response to a recently leaked memo suggesting that Google has 'no moat' in the AI industry, Demis Hassabis, the CEO of Google's DeepMind, expressed disagreement with the memo's conclusions in an interview with The Verge. The memo, reportedly written by a Google researcher, claimed that open-source AI models, which are faster, more customizable, and more capable, are overshadowing tech giants like Google and OpenAI. However, Hassabis remains optimistic about Google's future in the AI realm, asserting that the competitive spirit of Google's researchers, combined with the recent merger of the Google Brain and DeepMind teams, which he leads, will facilitate significant breakthroughs and enable Google to maintain its pioneering role in the industry.

😬 AI is making the world more nervous

A recent Ipsos Global Advisor survey, conducted in 31 countries, reveals mixed perceptions towards AI with nearly as many adults being nervous (52%) about AI as those excited (54%). Despite the proliferation of AI applications, the understanding of what products and services use AI hasn't significantly increased. The survey also highlighted a divide between AI-enthusiastic emerging markets and AI-wary high-income countries. While AI is expected to profoundly change daily life in all surveyed countries, there is a significant concern about its impact on employment. Interestingly, two-thirds of the respondents claim a good understanding of AI, but only half know which products and services employ it. This global study, with participation from 22,816 adults, reveals that while AI's prevalence is increasing, consumer awareness of its role in everyday technologies is not keeping pace, leading to mixed feelings and increased nervousness about its impact.

🎮 How generative AI is making gaming development more efficient

Generative AI is making waves in the gaming development sector, notably enhancing efficiency in various areas such as storyline writing and real-time response to gameplay. Casino gaming is one such area where AI has been integrated, although its role is not in predicting game outcomes but enhancing operational aspects. Generative AI can improvise and adapt to situations, and while it's still far from responding instantly to gameplay prompts, the industry's continuous investment promises rapid progress. Its potential to take over mundane tasks such as generating dialogue allows game writers to focus on character development and more creative aspects of storytelling. However, the adoption of AI does come with potential downsides, including a risk of loss of human creativity, and the need for robust regulations to prevent any misuse or uncontrolled advancements.

🛠️ AI tools updates

The best AI art generators in July 2023

As artificial intelligence continues to impact various sectors, its use in arts and mainstream media has notably increased. The top AI art generators of 2023 can easily craft detailed and realistic artwork based on simple text prompts, a stark evolution from the Dall-E mini meme machine of 2022. Industry leaders such as Adobe Firefly have integrated tools like Google Bard to further enhance AI-generated art. This article discusses the best AI art generators of 2023, taking into account factors like cost, output quality, user-friendliness, and versatility, demonstrated by having each tool generate an image of a bear battling a dragon.

💵 Venture Capital Updates

Pano AI Raises $17M in growth Funding

San Francisco-based Pano AI, a provider of AI-managed solutions for active wildfire detection, has raised $17M in a growth funding round led by Valor Equity Partners and featuring contributions from Salesforce Ventures, T-Mobile Ventures, and the 5G Open Innovation Lab, among others. This boosts Pano AI's total funding to $45M. The capital will be deployed to enhance the firm's AI wildfire detection technology, bolster talent acquisition, and expand its market presence in high fire-risk regions of North America and Australia. Pano AI, currently active in six U.S. states and two Australian states, uses AI, mountaintop cameras, satellite feeds, 5G connectivity, and modern cloud software to provide real-time data for swift wildfire response. The company also announced the expansion of its executive team, including Ryan White, an ex-Amazon and Meta executive.

Britain to unleash $64 billion in pension funding for tech startups after missing out on Arm IPO

The UK government has announced plans to unlock up to £50 billion ($64 billion) from pension funds for investments in early-stage tech startups, in a bid to bolster economic growth and counter criticisms of the country being less appealing for technology ventures. These plans include an agreement with large defined contribution pension providers to allocate 5% of default fund assets to unlisted equities by 2030, which could potentially raise average earners' pension pots by up to 12%. Finance Minister Jeremy Hunt also proposed the creation of an "intermittent trading venue" for trading shares of unlisted companies, providing an alternative route for capital raising. This move comes amidst declining confidence in the UK as a technology hub, with the recent decision by chip design firm Arm to list in the US rather than the UK exacerbating concerns.

🫡 Meme of the day

⭐️ Generative AI image of the day

Before you go, check out why everyone is mad about New York’s AI hiring law.