• AI KATANA
  • Posts
  • Nvidia’s boss dismisses fears that AI has hit a wall

Nvidia’s boss dismisses fears that AI has hit a wall

Also: OpenAI opens Singapore office 🇸🇬

Author

AI KATANA
November 21, 2024

Good morning! Today’s newsletter explores pivotal advancements in AI, from Nvidia’s push to redefine the boundaries of large language models to SoundCloud’s new tools democratizing music creation. We also examine artists’ efforts to shield their work from AI misuse, the ethical debates sparked by an AI-powered “Jesus,” and the backlash against Coca-Cola’s AI-generated holiday ad. In other exciting news, OpenAI has officially opened its Singapore office, marking a significant step in expanding its presence in the Asia-Pacific region and fostering global AI innovation

Sliced just for you:

  • 🖥️ Nvidia’s boss dismisses fears that AI has hit a wall

  • ✝️ Deus in machina: Swiss church installs AI-powered Jesus

  • 🎶 SoundCloud launches new AI-powered tools to ‘democratise music creation’

  • 🧊 Coca-Cola’s ‘real magic’ holiday ad, made with artificial intelligence, sparks backlas

  • 🎨 Four ways to protect your art from AI

Nvidia’s CEO, Jensen Huang, has dismissed claims that advancements in AI have hit a ceiling, emphasizing the critical need to progress to the next LLMs. Speaking about the role of scaling laws—principles likened to Moore’s Law that have driven rapid improvements in AI performance—Huang highlighted the potential of Nvidia’s latest GPUs, dubbed Blackwells, which are optimized for both training and inference of next-generation AI models. Despite skepticism from some in the tech industry about diminishing returns and challenges in scaling AI for broad adoption, Nvidia’s financial results remain robust, with a 94% year-on-year revenue increase and expectations of further growth fueled by demand for Blackwells. Huang underlined that as AI adoption accelerates, advanced inference capabilities will become increasingly vital, positioning Nvidia at the forefront of powering these advancements.

A Swiss church in Lucerne transformed its historic Peter’s Chapel by installing an AI-powered “Jesus” avatar as part of an experimental initiative. Developed through a partnership with a local university, this multilingual AI, trained on theological texts, engaged with over 1,000 visitors during a two-month period. The AI Jesus, displayed in a confessional booth, was intended to encourage spiritual dialogue rather than mimic traditional confessions. Feedback from 230 participants revealed mixed reactions; about two-thirds found it spiritually enriching, while others criticized the AI’s responses as superficial. The initiative faced skepticism from various religious communities and raised ethical concerns about the AI’s potential to provide misguided advice. Despite its temporary nature, the experiment highlighted a growing curiosity and desire for interactive spiritual experiences, sparking discussions on integrating technology into faith practices.

SoundCloud has introduced six innovative AI-powered tools aimed at simplifying and democratizing music creation for artists and fans. These include features like “Tuney” for remixing and editing, “ACE Studio” for generating vocals and lyrics, and “TwoShot” for creating custom samples, enabling music production without traditional studio equipment or software. Tracks made using these tools are tagged to highlight the specific AI integration used. SoundCloud’s CEO emphasized the platform’s commitment to empowering creators while adhering to ethical AI use, as reflected in its alignment with the AI For Music initiative. While heralding a new era of accessible music creation, these developments also intersect with industry-wide discussions on regulating AI’s impact on music, including revenue risks and licensing challenges.

Coca-Cola’s latest holiday advertisement, “The Holiday Magic is Coming,” created using its Real Magic AI platform, has sparked significant backlash. Drawing from the company’s 1995 classic ad but replacing live-action elements with AI-generated visuals, such as polar bears, the campaign has faced criticism from artists and consumers who argue it prioritizes cost-cutting over creativity. Critics on social media and industry commentators labeled the ad as lacking emotional depth and authenticity, with some comparing it unfavorably to earlier AI experiments by other brands. While some in the AI community supported its integration as a creative tool, the broader response underscores ongoing tensions between traditional artistry and AI’s role in the creative process. This controversy highlights the delicate balance brands must navigate when leveraging AI in culturally significant campaigns.

🎨 Four ways to protect your art from AI

Amid growing concerns about the impact of AI on artistic livelihoods, several strategies have emerged to help artists protect their work from being used to train AI systems without consent. Techniques like masking an artist’s style with tools such as Glaze or Anti-DreamBooth can alter images at a pixel level, making them difficult for AI models to interpret. Platforms like Cara provide additional safeguards by incorporating “NoAI” tags to discourage data scraping. Artists can also opt out of AI training datasets through initiatives like Spawning AI’s registry. For a more aggressive approach, tools like Nightshade embed “poison” into images, disrupting future AI training efforts by altering model outputs. While these measures offer some defense, the rapidly evolving AI landscape and reliance on tech companies’ goodwill highlight the challenges in achieving lasting protections.

🛠️ AI tools updates

SoundCloud has introduced six innovative AI-powered tools aimed at simplifying and democratizing music creation for artists and fans. These include features like “Tuney” for remixing and editing, “ACE Studio” for generating vocals and lyrics, and “TwoShot” for creating custom samples, enabling music production without traditional studio equipment or software. Tracks made using these tools are tagged to highlight the specific AI integration used. SoundCloud’s CEO emphasized the platform’s commitment to empowering creators while adhering to ethical AI use, as reflected in its alignment with the AI For Music initiative. While heralding a new era of accessible music creation, these developments also intersect with industry-wide discussions on regulating AI’s impact on music, including revenue risks and licensing challenges.

💵 Venture Capital updates

Enveda Biosciences, leveraging AI for nature-inspired drug discovery, has secured $130 million in a Series C funding round led by Kinnevik and FPV, with support from investors like Lux Capital and The Nature Conservancy. The Boulder-based biotech aims to advance its pipeline of 10 drug candidates, including ENV-294, which recently entered Phase 1 trials for atopic dermatitis and inflammatory conditions. Enveda’s AI-driven platform accelerates the identification and therapeutic potential of natural compounds, operating at four times the speed of traditional methods. The new funding will support clinical progress in 2025 and 2026, reflecting Enveda’s commitment to transforming nature’s chemistry into innovative medicines.

🫡 Meme of the day

⭐️ Generative AI image of the day