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Apple and Meta have discussed AI partnership

Also: Formula 1 and Amazon aim for AI-powered ‘personalised’ race viewing

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AI KATANA
June 24, 2024

Morning!

In today’s newsletter, we explore the potential collaboration between Apple and Meta on integrating AI into iPhones, a potential game-changer in the tech world. ByteDance teams up with Broadcom to develop an advanced AI chip amidst geopolitical tensions, highlighting strategic moves to secure cutting-edge technology. We also cover Meta’s updated privacy policy on AI training data and provide guidance on opting out. Formula 1 and Amazon’s partnership introduces AI-driven personalized race viewing, enhancing the fan experience. Additionally, we delve into the psychological aspects of empathy towards AI, Google’s new AI Essentials course aimed at upskilling a global workforce, and Google’s latest AI tools for education. Lastly, we spotlight Zendesk’s new venture fund focused on AI-first startups, marking a significant investment trend in the AI sector.

Sliced:

  • 🤝 Apple and Meta have discussed AI partnership

  • 🇨🇳 China's ByteDance working with Broadcom to develop advanced AI chip

  • ⚠️ How to opt out of Meta’s AI training

  • 🏎️ Formula 1 and Amazon aim for AI-powered ‘personalised’ race viewing

  • 🧠 Can We Feel Empathy for AI?

  • 🏫 Google AI Essentials course

Apple and Meta have engaged in discussions about integrating Meta’s generative AI model into Apple’s newly announced AI system for iPhones, as reported by the Wall Street Journal. This potential collaboration comes amidst Apple’s broader strategy to incorporate technology from various AI companies into its devices, including exploring partnerships with Alphabet’s Google and other AI firms like Anthropic and Perplexity. While these discussions are still in preliminary stages and may not materialize, successful deals could expand the distribution of AI services through Apple’s platform. Apple’s AI strategy emphasizes privacy and aims to differentiate its offerings from competitors like Microsoft and Google.

ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, is collaborating with U.S. chip designer Broadcom to develop a 5-nanometer AI processor, a significant step to secure high-end chip supply amid U.S.-China tensions. This customized application-specific integrated chip (ASIC) will comply with U.S. export restrictions, and manufacturing will be outsourced to Taiwan’s TSMC. This move follows export controls on advanced U.S. semiconductors imposed in 2022, limiting China’s access to cutting-edge technology. ByteDance, which has been investing heavily in AI, including acquiring Nvidia chips and Huawei’s AI chips, aims to enhance its algorithmic capabilities for various applications, including TikTok and Douyin. This partnership with Broadcom is expected to reduce procurement costs and ensure a stable chip supply, crucial for ByteDance’s expansion in generative AI and other technologies.

Meta’s recent update to its privacy policy, effective June 26, 2024, allows the company to use data from its platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and WhatsApp, to train its generative AI models. This includes public posts, even those not posted by the user themselves. Users concerned about their data being used can adjust their account settings to private to minimize the risk. However, U.S. users currently have no foolproof way to prevent data usage due to the lack of national data privacy laws. European and UK users can more easily opt out by following specific procedures outlined by Meta, leveraging their stricter data protection regulations. These steps include navigating through account settings to submit a form objecting to the data usage.

Formula 1, in collaboration with Amazon, is introducing AI-powered personalized race viewing to enhance the fan experience. Debuting at the Spanish Grand Prix, the AI “Statbot” will provide real-time data, context, and trivia to broadcasters. This initiative aims to increase engagement by offering in-race predictions and hyper-personalized experiences, allowing fans to choose the amount of data and types of stories they want to see. Leveraging Amazon Web Services, this move is part of F1 owner Liberty Media’s strategy to grow the sport’s global appeal and maintain viewer interest amidst a competitive entertainment landscape.

Empathy for AI depends on various factors, including human likeness, emotional expression, and social responsiveness. Research shows that people generally have more empathy for humans than for AI or robots, but human-like features and behaviors in AI can enhance empathetic responses. Emotional expressions and the ability to perceive and react to human emotions build trust and connection. Positive conceptual metaphors, embodiment, agreeableness, transparency, and human oversight also contribute to fostering empathy toward AI. Designing AI with these empathic features can enhance collaboration and the perception of AI as trustworthy and dependable.

Google AI Essentials is a newly launched course by Grow with Google, designed to educate people on AI usage and applications. The course, developed by Anoop Sinha and his team, comprises five modules covering AI basics, productivity tips, effective prompting, responsible AI, and staying updated with AI advancements. It includes practical exercises, such as event organization and inbox management, and emphasizes responsible AI usage with a dedicated checklist. Available globally in multiple languages, the course requires no prior experience and aims to equip over a billion knowledge workers with AI skills. Supported by a $75 million AI Opportunity Fund, the course materials were developed collaboratively by Google experts and refined based on feedback from diverse beta testers.

🛠️ AI tools updates

Google has introduced new AI tools for its Workspace for Education, aiming to enhance the learning experience for students and educators. The key feature is Gemini, an AI tool now available to teen students using their school accounts, designed to help them learn responsibly and confidently in an AI-driven future. Gemini offers real-time support, practice materials, and feedback, and includes safety measures to prevent inappropriate content. Additional tools include Google Vids for video creation, Read Along in Classroom to support reading skills, and enhanced Classroom features for differentiated instruction and student engagement. These updates aim to prepare students for future challenges while ensuring data privacy and safety.

💵 Venture Capital updates

Zendesk has launched a global venture fund called Zendesk Ventures, aimed at investing in AI-first companies. The fund provides capital, customer experience (CX) and AI expertise, and strategic partnership opportunities to emerging companies. Initial investments include conversation AI company PolyAI and customer feedback platform unitQ. Zendesk’s focus is on supporting AI startups that solve significant business problems in the CX and employee experience (EX) space. This move aligns with similar initiatives from other tech giants like SAP and Salesforce, reflecting a growing trend of significant investment in the AI startup ecosystem despite a general decline in overall AI investment.

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