🗞️ AI News Recap

Hey TEDchats Fam!

Happy Monday! Ever felt like you missed the bus, only to find out it was a self-driving one? Navigating the fast-paced world of AI news can be a bit like chasing after that futuristic bus. But fear not, because our AI recap is your trusty GPS, guiding you through the twists and turns of the past week's tech tales. So, hop on board, and let's cruise through the highlights together!

🐇 QUICK BITES — THE PAST WEEK

An AI-Filled Super Bowl 2024

Super Bowl 2024 wasn't just a football clash; it was a groundbreaking showcase for innovative ads. Airing on February 11, this event attracted about 100 million viewers. The significance of the Super Bowl as the premier night for advertisers was evident, with each 30-second slot commanding a staggering $7 million. Despite not reaching the same level of AI prominence as witnessed in 2023, tech companies continued to demonstrate their innovation and prowess during the event (see 2023 ads here). That said, the top AI ads for this year included Microsoft Copilot, the BMW 5 Series, Pixel 8's Guided Frame, Etsy's AI-powered Gift Mode, and CrowdStike’s Cybersecurity.

Goody-2 — The World’s Most Responsible AI

Developed by the LA-based art studio Brain, Goody-2 is a satirical AI model that pushes ethical considerations to the extreme, earning the title of "The world's most responsible AI model" as dubbed by the studio. It is programmed to avoid discussing almost any topic, highlighting the challenges of balancing AI's usefulness with ethical responsibility. This AI model responds to all questions with evasions, emphasizing the potential ethical dilemmas in every query, thus mocking the current trend of overly cautious AI moderation (chat with Goody-2 here).

AI Mimicking Biden in Calls — Perps Caught!

In January, New Hampshire voters were targeted in a deceptive voter suppression scheme, receiving robocalls that convincingly impersonated President Biden. Urging them to abstain from voting in the primary, these AI-generated calls were traced back to Life Corporation, a Texas-based entity with a history of disinformation. Now, the Election Law Unit is issuing a cease-and-desist order to Life Corporation for violating RSA 659:40, III, which prohibits voter suppression through fraudulent, deceptive, or misleading means. This alarming incident underscores the escalating use of advanced AI in political manipulation (read more).

Brilliant Labs Launches $349 Glasses with AI Features

Brilliant Labs' latest Frame glasses combine style and technology, available for preorder at a price of $349, with the first batches set to ship on April 15. These smart spectacles come with AI-enabled functions such as visual analysis, translation, and web searching, displayed directly on the lens. Frame is open-source and compatible with additional applications, providing a versatile tool for both everyday use and tech enthusiasts. The glasses also feature options for prescription lenses and come in three colors: black, gray, and clear (see more).

Artists Can Now Sabotage AI Models to Protect Their Work

Diverse policies and processes have posed challenges for artists trying to exclude their work from databases used to train AI models. Now, artists can counter the unauthorized use of their work through tools like Glaze and Nightshade, specifically designed to modify images and render them ineffective for AI learning purposes. While the former method “simply” confuses the AI, Nightshade adopts a “poison” or “sabotage” strategy. AI models training on Nightshade-coated artwork may exhibit unpredictable behaviors, such as generating unexpected images. For instance, an image of a penguin wearing a tuxedo may be generated instead of the expected professional business attire, essentially sabotaging the model for future users. Despite being a controversial defense strategy, such tools remain relevant for artists aiming to protect their work in the AI-driven digital landscape (read more).

Bumble Releases Deception Detector™ to Combat Scams and Fake Profiles

Bumble has been actively introducing new AI-powered features, such as the 'Private Detector', which utilizes AI to automatically blur potential nude images. Now, Bumble has unveiled its latest AI tool, the Deception Detector™, aimed at combating fake profiles and scams. During tests, it successfully blocked 95% of identified spam and scam accounts, resulting in a 45% reduction in user scam reports. This feature operates with human moderators, ensuring authenticity and safety in the realm of online dating (read more).

Meta Aims to Boost AI Transparency with Stronger Labels

Led by President of Global Affairs Nick Clegg, Meta is working to establish a new transparency standard, tackling the challenge of distinguishing AI creations from human-generated content. In response to increasing user demands, Meta's strategy not only includes labeling its AI-generated content but also extending this practice to others, through collaboration with industry partners and adherence to technical standards. Utilizing advanced tools, such as IPTC metadata and invisible watermarks, Meta actively delineates AI's role in content creation (read Meta’s full announcement).

Microsoft Will Provide 2 Million Indians with AI Training

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, at a recent Mumbai event, unveiled ambitious plans to elevate India's AI landscape by training 2 million individuals by 2025 in this transformative technology. These plans will be part of the ADVANTA(I)GE INDIA initiative, which aims to address the concern that 78% of Indian workers feel they lack the necessary AI capabilities for their current tasks. With firms in India already observing an average US$3.86 return for every US dollar spent on AI projects, Nadella stresses the profound impact AI can have on productivity and economic growth (read more). Nadella will continue his tour in India over the next few days — you can stay updated with the following link.

Job Hunting Just Got Simplified with AI

Founded by Michael Yan and his co-founders, Simplify is a startup that aims to overhaul the job application process using AI. With a recent $3 million seed investment, the company focuses on streamlining job searches through automated questionnaires, job scraping, and application autofill features. It's designed to save time by reducing repetitive tasks and improving job match accuracy for applicants. The platform, conceptualized during the founders' college years, now moves closer to transforming job hunting with intelligent, efficient tools (read more).

Xensam's Groundbreaking $40M Funding

In a remarkable turn of events, Xensam, an AI-focused software asset management firm based in Stockholm, has just received a substantial $40 million investment. This impressive funding, led by London's Expedition Growth Capital, is the company's first external financial boost after an 8-year journey of self-funding. Xensam's expansion plans include breaking into the U.S. market and further developing its AI technology stack. Boasting 200 prestigious clients like Volvo's Polestar and Northvolt, the company's annual recurring revenues have been skyrocketing, growing at a phenomenal 126% annually (read more).

Colossyan Introduces AI-Driven Corporate Training Videos

Colossyan, founded by Dominik Kovacs, harnesses GenAI technology to create dynamic corporate training videos. The platform enables users to input scripts and choose from a variety of avatars, with the added capability of translating content into over 70 languages. This innovative approach aims to enhance engagement and accessibility, tackling the challenge of viewer disengagement in traditional corporate training methods. As the cherry on top, Colossyan has just secured a whopping $22 million in Series A funding (read more).

Glass AI: Elevating Smartphone Cameras to New Heights

Glass AI is revolutionizing smartphone photography with its groundbreaking AI technology. By securing $9.3 million in funding, Glass has developed an advanced AI-powered camera upgrade that significantly enhances image quality, free from the usual distortions of AI upscaling. This innovation centers around a neural image signal processor, adept at transforming mundane, noisy raw sensor data into crisp, vibrant, and finely detailed images. Unlike traditional methods, Glass AI's technology excels in correcting optical aberrations and noise while recovering intricate textures, setting a new standard in computational photography (see more).

🧰 AI TOOLBOX — RECAP

👋 UNTIL NEXT TIME

As we bring the self-driving bus to a halt, let's take a moment to reflect on the journey. We trust that our recap acted as your dependable GPS, guiding you through the stops in the fast-paced realm of artificial intelligence. What future stops await us on this technological route? Consider the possibilities, ponder the innovations, and gear up for the next ride in the evolving AI landscape.