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US govt argues in favour of open source AI

Also: OpenAI starts rolling out its Her-like voice mode for ChatGPT

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AI KATANA
July 31, 2024

Morning!

In today’s newsletter, the US government advocates for open source AI to benefit small businesses and researchers, while calling for strict oversight. OpenAI is rolling out a new advanced voice mode for ChatGPT, with safety measures in place. Avi Schiffmann’s new AI wearable, “Friend,” aims to offer companionship, raising privacy concerns. We also explore top generative AI use cases in business, Microsoft’s stock drop despite record earnings, and the complexities AI introduces to plagiarism in academia. Additionally, job opportunities in AI across Asia, updates on Google Photos AI editing tools, and a report on declining headcounts at VC-backed startups reflect industry shifts. Stay informed with our detailed coverage.

Sliced:

  • 🇺🇸 US govt argues in favour of open source AI

  • 👩🏻 OpenAI starts rolling out its Her-like voice mode for ChatGPT

  • 🙂 Wear This AI Friend Around Your Neck

  • 🔝 Top 7 generative AI use cases for business

  • 📉 Microsoft Earnings: Stock Tanks As AI Business Growth Worse Than Expected

  • 🤖 AI is complicating plagiarism. How should scientists respond?

The US government’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) advocates for the development of open source AI, emphasizing the benefits for small businesses, researchers, and nonprofits, while calling for active monitoring of powerful AI models. The NTIA report suggests ongoing updates to government benchmarks for AI oversight, with possible future restrictions if necessary. US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo highlighted the government’s role in maximizing AI’s potential while mitigating risks. The debate over open source AI involves prominent figures like Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg, who argue that open source approaches foster innovation and safety, contrasting with OpenAI’s move to close off its more advanced models to prevent misuse. This issue also intersects with the US presidential race, with differing views on AI regulation and development from candidates and political parties.

OpenAI has begun rolling out its new advanced voice mode for ChatGPT to a limited number of ChatGPT Plus subscribers. This feature, showcased at the GPT-4o launch event, has undergone delays to meet safety standards. The voice mode, noted for its natural conversational tone, allows interactive storytelling and adjusts responses dynamically. Initially criticized for resembling Scarlett Johansson’s AI character from the movie Her, the voice model now features four distinct voices created by voice actors, ensuring it cannot impersonate real people. OpenAI has implemented filters to block inappropriate content and tested the system extensively with external experts. The full rollout to all ChatGPT Plus users is expected in the fall.

The new AI wearable called “Friend” is a pendant designed to provide companionship rather than productivity. Created by Avi Schiffmann, it uses Anthropic AI’s Claude 3.5 large language model to interact with users through text messages and push notifications. Priced at $99 with no subscription fee, the Friend is available for preorder and promises around 15 hours of battery life. Unlike previous AI wearables that focused on task automation, the Friend emphasizes emotional support, engaging users in conversations about daily life and personal experiences. While the device aims to address loneliness and foster a sense of companionship, it raises privacy concerns due to its always-listening capability. Experts are divided on its impact, with some praising its potential for intimacy and others warning about the psychological and ethical implications of substituting human interaction with AI.

Generative AI is being increasingly adopted in business for its potential to enhance various operations. The top use cases include advanced chatbots for natural-sounding customer interactions and digital assistants that can automate tasks like document creation and information retrieval. Coding assistants help developers stay focused by generating basic code and solving problems, while marketing support AI creates personalized content and analyzes customer data. In drug discovery, generative AI accelerates the modeling of complex molecules and predicts interactions, significantly reducing development time. For cybersecurity, it enhances threat detection and fraud prediction by analyzing user behavior and transaction patterns. Lastly, generative AI aids in business process augmentation, such as assisting underwriters in evaluating risks, demonstrating its versatile impact across multiple industries.

Despite Microsoft reporting record earnings for its fiscal year ending June 2024, the company’s stock dropped by 7% due to slower-than-expected growth in its AI business. Microsoft achieved $88.1 billion in net income and $245.1 billion in revenue, surpassing previous records. However, the 29% growth in its Azure cloud computing unit and $28.5 billion in sales from its AI-heavy intelligent cloud division fell short of projections. This reaction mirrors the market’s response to Alphabet’s earnings report, reflecting investor sensitivity to big tech performance amid heightened expectations. The decline marks Microsoft’s worst trading day since October 2022, despite its overall strong financial results.

The rapid adoption of generative AI tools in academic writing is raising complex issues around plagiarism and ethical use. These tools, such as ChatGPT, can produce text that closely mimics human writing, leading to concerns about whether using AI-generated content without proper attribution constitutes plagiarism. The academic community is divided, with some viewing the use of AI to paraphrase existing work as a form of plagiarism, while others argue it should be allowed if disclosed transparently. The European Network for Academic Integrity suggests labeling the undeclared use of AI as “unauthorized content generation” rather than plagiarism. The use of AI in writing has increased significantly, with an estimated 10% of biomedical paper abstracts in early 2024 showing signs of AI assistance. This trend highlights the need for clearer guidelines and robust detection tools to address the ethical and legal implications of AI in scholarly work.

🧑🏽‍💻 AI Jobs

🛠️ AI tools updates

Google Photos has expanded access to its AI photo editing tools, including Magic Editor, Magic Eraser, Photo Unblur, and Portrait Light, to all users without a subscription. These tools, designed to enhance photo editing through AI, are now available across various Android and iOS devices. Key tips for using these features include layering AI and traditional edits for optimal results, using the appropriate erasing tool for different scenarios, selecting items with precision using tapping, brushing, or circling methods, and adjusting the strength of effects with a slider for personalized outcomes. These enhancements aim to simplify the editing process while offering advanced capabilities to all users.

💵 Venture Capital updates

A new report from Redpoint reveals that headcounts at venture capital-backed startups have been declining. This trend highlights a shift in the startup ecosystem, driven by various factors such as economic uncertainty, funding challenges, and a focus on achieving profitability. The report indicates that startups are becoming more cautious with their resources, prioritizing efficiency and sustainability over rapid expansion. This decline in headcount is reflective of a broader industry trend where companies are optimizing operations and reassessing growth strategies to adapt to the current market conditions.

🫡 Meme of the day

⭐️ Generative AI image of the day