🗞️ AI News Recap

Hey TEDchats Fam!

Happy Monday! Have you ever had that 'Who's who?' moment when watching a soap opera you haven't seen in years? Well, the world of AI can sometimes feel like that tangled web of characters and plot twists. It's in these moments that recapping AI is like the friend who leans over and whispers, 'Don't worry, I've got your back.' So, grab your virtual popcorn, because today, we're delving into the rollercoaster of AI news over the past week!

🐇 QUICK BITES — THE PAST WEEK

A Summary: OpenAI’s CEO Drama (With Links!)

Witness the real-life drama as Sam Altman stages a remarkable comeback at OpenAI after an unexpected dismissal. Boardroom turmoil, co-founder protests, and stakeholder unrest set the stage for Altman's return. Chief scientist Ilya Sutskever's allegiance shift, combined with pressure from employees, led to an "agreement in principle" for Altman's reinstatement, restoring stability to the company.

Microsoft Addresses OpenAI Changes in Internal Memo

In an internal communication, Microsoft's Chief Technology Officer, Kevin Scott, addresses the recent leadership reorganization at OpenAI, including Sam Altman's return as CEO. The memo highlights Microsoft's ongoing commitment to its partnership with OpenAI, emphasizing a focus on continued collaboration in AI technology development despite the recent changes and challenges (read more).

Rumours of Project Q* Emerge that Could Threaten Humanity?

Despite Altman's reinstatement, tech elites, including Elon Musk, remain curious about the mysterious events leading to Altman's initial dismissal. The board's vague reasons for firing Altman and recent revelations about a potentially breakthrough AI project named Q* add to the intrigue. Prior to Altman's dismissal, several staff researchers, according to Reuters, wrote a letter to the board of directors warning of a powerful artificial intelligence discovery that they said could threaten humanity (read more). OpenAI's mission revolves around developing artificial general intelligence (AGI) for the benefit of humanity, but questions linger about the concerns that prompted chief scientist Ilya Sutskever's initial actions (see more).

ChatGPT Integration on iPhone to Replace Siri

Apple's iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max introduce a game-changing feature: the Action Button. This customizable button integrates ChatGPT's Voice capabilities, addressing limitations in traditional voice assistants. Users can replace Siri with a more advanced, AI-driven assistant by configuring their Action Buttons to launch ChatGPT's Voice feature. As showcased by OpenAI, users can simply ask, 'How many pizzas for 778 people?' and ChatGPT Voice answers (see more).

Claude 2.1: A New Contender

In a remarkable leap forward, Anthropic's latest update to its Claude 2.1 model now boasts a 200,000-token context window, outperforming OpenAI's GPT-4. This enhancement enables Claude to process extensive datasets, including whole codebases and lengthy literary works, marking a significant advancement in the large language model arena. As the AI industry continues to evolve rapidly, Claude 2.1's advanced capabilities signify a pivotal moment in the competition amongst large language models (read more).

Screenshots Released of Grok

In a move to rival existing AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Elon Musk has announced Grok, an AI chatbot integrated into X's Premium+ subscription service. In recent news, screenshots were released, offering a first preview of Grok inside the X app (see more). Grok stands out with its unique design inspired by "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy," offering a blend of wit and a rebellious streak. Unlike its contemporaries, Grok is built to address more daring and 'spicy' queries, coupled with the advantage of real-time knowledge and web browsing capabilities (read more).

AI21 Labs' Strategic Growth

AI21 Labs, a notable player in generative AI technology, secures a $53 million extension to its Series C funding, showcasing resilience and ambition in an industry currently overshadowed by OpenAI's recent upheavals. This funding boost, totaling $336 million, reflects investor confidence and marks a pivotal moment for AI21 as it continues to innovate in the realm of AI-driven language models and applications (read more).

World Photo Contest Bans AI Submissions

The World Press Photo Contest, recognizing the best in photojournalism and documentary photography, faced criticism for initially allowing AI-generated submissions. In response to backlash, the World Press Photo Foundation rolled back its AI submission guidance, excluding AI-generated images from the Open Format category (read more).

Navigating the AI Chip Crunch

China's tech giants, including Baidu and Tencent, have been proactively stockpiling high-performance GPUs in anticipation of the US chip export ban. This strategic move ensures the sustained development of advanced AI projects like Baidu's ERNIE Bot (read more). Conversely, smaller AI startups are facing significant challenges due to limited access to these crucial resources, potentially leading to a major consolidation phase within the industry.

Now You Can Ask Google's Bard For YouTube Insights

Google's Bard AI chatbot now offers a new feature: answering specific questions about YouTube video content. This update allows users to ask about details in videos, like ingredient quantities in recipes (e.g., ‘How many eggs are required?’) or locations in travel footage. Previously limited to finding videos, Bard’s enhanced functionality now includes analyzing video content for more informative responses, improving user interaction with YouTube's vast library (read more).

Neuralink’s ‘Thought to Text’ Secures $43 Million

Neuralink, the company founded by Elon Musk to develop implantable chips capable of reading brain waves, has secured an additional $43 million in venture capital, as reported in a recent SEC filing (read more). The filing reveals an expansion of its earlier funding round from $280 million to $323 million. In May, Neuralink obtained FDA approval for human clinical trials, which have already been initiated (read more).

🧰 AI TOOLBOX — RECAP 

👋 UNTIL NEXT TIME

As we conclude, we've delved into the latest in AI, decoding its evolving plot. What's next in this tech saga? How will AI transform our digital landscape? Whether you're a tech enthusiast or beginner, we're here to be your guide. Stay curious, and keep that virtual popcorn ready.