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US government commission pushes Manhattan Project-style AI initiative

Also: Microsoft unveils 5 autonomous AI agents

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AI KATANA
November 19, 2024

Good morning! Today’s newsletter dives into transformative shifts in AI across industries and geographies, from ambitious U.S. government strategies to corporate AI advancements. As global competition intensifies, we spotlight groundbreaking initiatives like Meta’s business AI push, Microsoft’s “agentic AI” evolution, and Estée Lauder’s innovative use of generative AI tools. Alongside these developments, we explore how AI could reshape human evolution and highlight notable funding trends in the AI semiconductor space.

Sliced just for you:

  • 🇺🇸 US government proposes Manhattan Project-style AI initiative

  • 👩‍💼 Meta hires Salesforce’s Clara Shih to lead Business AI group

  • 🧠 Human evolution in an AI world

  • 🤖 Microsoft unveils 5 autonomous AI agents

  • 💄 Estée Lauder boosts creativity with OpenAI’s ChatGPT

A U.S. congressional commission has proposed a Manhattan Project-style initiative to advance AI systems with intelligence equal to or surpassing humans, emphasizing public-private partnerships as essential for achieving artificial general intelligence (AGI). This recommendation arises amid heightened technological competition with China, which is aggressively pursuing AGI capabilities. The commission suggests strategies like streamlining the permitting process for data centers to alleviate infrastructure bottlenecks critical for training large AI models. This aligns with recent calls from organizations like OpenAI for increased governmental investment in AI. Additional proposals from the commission aim to curtail Chinese economic advantages, including the repeal of a trade exemption for goods under $800 and heightened scrutiny over Chinese involvement in U.S. biotechnology ventures. These efforts highlight the intertwined challenges of technological leadership and national security in a rapidly evolving global landscape.

Meta has appointed Clara Shih, Salesforce’s former CEO of AI, to lead its newly formed Business AI group. This initiative aims to develop AI tools tailored for businesses using Meta’s platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp. Leveraging its Llama large language models, Meta plans to enhance advertising and content creation, potentially offering businesses tools for AI-generated ads. The approach aligns with Meta’s open-source AI strategy, focusing on improving its ecosystem rather than direct monetization through AI subscriptions. Under Shih’s leadership, the group will target increased operational efficiency and enhanced customer experiences, positioning Meta as a key player in the evolving AI business landscape.

A recent study explores how AI integration in daily life could subtly influence human evolution, particularly through interactions akin to social, predatory, or competitive relationships. Potential evolutionary effects include trends toward smaller brain sizes, changes in attention span, personality traits, and susceptibility to mood disorders. The study also examines AI’s impact on intimacy, matchmaking, and social behaviors, suggesting shifts in mating competition and cultural evolution. While predicting evolutionary changes is inherently complex, the author notes that the immediate cultural and personal effects of AI on human well-being are likely more significant than genetic shifts. The study emphasizes the unpredictable nature of evolution in a rapidly advancing AI-rich world.

Microsoft has unveiled five new AI agents at its Ignite conference, signifying a shift toward the “agentic AI” era, where systems autonomously perform tasks without human oversight. These agents, integrated into the Microsoft 365 suite, act as workplace teammates, enhancing productivity across tools like Teams, Planner, and other applications. Features include real-time note-taking, automated project management, and multilingual interpretation. Additionally, Microsoft has expanded its Copilot Studio to enable businesses to create custom agents, further promoting adaptability and efficiency. This move follows the introduction of autonomous agents in Dynamics 365 and signals growing competition in AI between Microsoft and rivals like Salesforce. CEO Satya Nadella emphasized the practical outcomes of AI innovations, aiming to drive business transformation while addressing industry challenges.

💄 Estée Lauder unleashes AI potential with Open AI's ChatGPT

Estée Lauder has partnered with OpenAI to incorporate ChatGPT Enterprise across its global operations, enabling over 240 customized AI tools to optimize workflows and enhance creativity. These tools include the Fragrance Insights GPT for analyzing consumer trends, the Clinical Trial Data GPT for extracting skincare product insights, and a Copywriting GPT for creating on-brand content across platforms. Additionally, a Vendor Snapshot Creator GPT synthesizes vendor data for streamlined operations. This integration, which aims to reduce low-value tasks, empower employees, and accelerate product development, builds on Estée Lauder’s ongoing commitment to leveraging AI for market-leading innovation. Collaborations with OpenAI and Microsoft’s Azure OpenAI Service further solidify its role in redefining beauty industry standards with generative AI.

🛠️ AI tools updates

Microsoft has introduced significant updates to its Microsoft 365 Copilot, enhancing AI-driven productivity tools for global businesses. Among the new features are Copilot Actions, which automate tasks like meeting scheduling and preparation, and SharePoint Agents, providing seamless access to project details. Teams now includes an Interpreter Agent for real-time multilingual translation, set for public preview in 2025. The Copilot Control System offers IT teams advanced tools to manage AI adoption responsibly, while the Copilot Business Impact Report provides insights into AI’s effects on sales and finance. Additionally, a Windows Resiliency Initiative enables rapid system recovery. These updates reflect Microsoft’s commitment to embedding AI across its ecosystem to streamline workflows, enhance collaboration, and maintain security, ensuring organizations stay competitive in the digital era.

💵 Venture Capital updates

Nvidia-backed AI chipmaker Enfabrica has raised $115 million in a Series C funding round led by Spark Capital, with participation from existing investors like Sutter Hill Ventures and Valor Equity. This follows the company’s emergence from stealth in 2023 with $125 million in Series B funding at a $295 million valuation. Enfabrica specializes in chips for data centers critical to generative AI workloads, complementing Nvidia’s dominant GPU solutions. The company, led by former Broadcom and Google executives, has now secured $263 million in total funding. The investment reflects growing momentum in AI semiconductor startups, with the sector receiving $2.7 billion in Q3 2024, marking a 145% increase from Q1. Enfabrica joins a wave of innovation in AI-focused hardware as demand for efficient AI computing infrastructure surges.

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