🗞️ AI News Recap

Hey TEDchats Fam!

Happy Monday! We’re back with our regular AI news after an exciting 'ChatGPT Crash Course Week'! Your positive feedback was fantastic, and we’re thrilled that you found the tips and tricks so useful. We’re already cooking up our next course, and we’d love your input. Have a topic in mind? Just hit reply and let us know!

While we were deep into learning about prompting, the AI news world didn’t slow down. Today’s newsletter will catch you up on all the major happenings from the past week. Let’s dive in!

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🐇 QUICK BITES — THE PAST WEEK

NVIDIA's Synthetic Data Revolution

NVIDIA unveiled Nemotron-4 340B, an advanced open model family designed to generate synthetic data for training large language models (LLMs). Optimized for NVIDIA NeMo and TensorRT-LLM, this powerful tool enables developers to create high-quality training datasets across various industries, enhancing AI model performance and accessibility. The Nemotron-4 340B family includes instruct and reward models that mimic real-world data characteristics and ensure high-quality responses, making it easier for businesses to build robust, customized LLMs. Available now on Hugging Face, Nemotron-4 340B is set to revolutionize data generation for AI training (see Nvidia’s announcement).

Tesla Shareholders Sue Musk Over Competing AI Venture

Tesla shareholders have filed a lawsuit against Elon Musk for allegedly diverting talent and resources from Tesla to his new AI startup, xAI. The plaintiffs argue that Musk's actions breach fiduciary duties and violate Tesla’s code of business ethics. They are demanding Musk hand over his stake in xAI to Tesla, citing unjust enrichment and misuse of company assets. The suit, filed just before Tesla's annual meeting, underscores concerns about Musk’s dual roles and his potential conflicts of interest, especially as Tesla positions itself as a leading AI company. The plaintiffs also highlight Musk’s controversial decision to divert AI processors from Tesla to his companies, X and xAI, further fueling the allegations of resource misallocation (see the lawsuit here — it’s filled with juicy inside information).

Meta Halts AI Training Plans in Europe

Meta has paused its plans to train AI systems using data from European users, responding to regulatory pressures from the Irish Data Protection Commission and the U.K.'s Information Commissioner’s Office. This move comes amid concerns over Meta’s data handling practices and adherence to the EU’s General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR). The decision follows intense scrutiny and multiple complaints from privacy advocacy groups, highlighting the ongoing challenges tech giants face in balancing innovation with stringent data protection laws. Meta’s next steps will involve further consultations with regulators to ensure compliance and possibly a revised user-permission process (see Meta’s announcement).

Former NSA Head Joins OpenAI's Safety Committee

Retired Gen. Paul Nakasone, ex-chief of the NSA and U.S. Cyber Command, joins OpenAI's board and its new "security and safety" subcommittee. This move is aimed at addressing concerns over the rapid deployment of AI technologies without thorough risk assessments. His appointment also aims to reassure shareholders and critics about OpenAI's commitment to safety and security as the company expands its reach into government and defense sectors (see OpenAI’s announcement).

Amazon Bets Millions on AI Startups — Applications Are Open!

Amazon is stepping up its game in the generative AI space, pledging a massive $230 million to support startups. Startups in the program will also benefit from Nvidia's Inception program, providing connections to potential investors and consulting resources. AWS is adding 80 more early-stage startups worldwide using generative AI to solve complex challenges. Applications for the AWS Generative AI Accelerator are open until July 19 — you can apply here. Amazon is determined to carve out a dominant position in the AI landscape with this substantial investment, aiming to drive innovation and impact “how the world learns, connects, and does business” (see Amazon’s announcement).

Spotify Ventures into Creative Advertising

Spotify has launched its first in-house creative agency, Creative Lab, designed to help brands craft custom marketing campaigns, according to TechCrunch. This new initiative aims to leverage Spotify’s vast audience of 615+ million listeners, providing a unique platform for advertisers. In tandem with this, Spotify is testing "Quick Audio", an AI-driven tool that generates scripts and voiceovers for ads, set to debut in Spotify Ads Managers. This move not only underscores Spotify's commitment to innovative advertising solutions but also promises highly customized campaigns (read more).

Yahoo’s AI News Summaries Have Launched!

Yahoo has launched AI-generated summaries on its newly redesigned Yahoo News homepage, aiming to offer visitors a quick way to catch up on the latest headlines without reading full articles. This follows recent AI updates to Yahoo Mail and the Yahoo News app, indicating a broader push to integrate AI across its services. Leveraging technology from its acquisition of Artifact, Yahoo's new AI features promise enhanced user experiences, although it remains to be seen if these innovations will attract a new audience to its platform. The AI summaries are currently in a limited testing phase on a small percentage of article pages, with a full rollout expected in the future (see Yahoo’s announcement).

LinkedIn Promotes AI for Job Hunting with New Tools

LinkedIn is making job hunting easier with a suite of new AI-powered tools. From generating cover letters and improving resumes to personalized learning and advanced search functionalities, LinkedIn is leveraging AI to streamline the job application process and enhance user experience. The platform now supports conversational prompts for job searches and offers AI-powered expert advice for Premium subscribers. With these innovations, LinkedIn aims to transform professional networking and job hunting, making it more efficient and user-friendly (see LinkedIn’s announcement).

Elon Musk Drops Lawsuit Against OpenAI

Elon Musk has unexpectedly withdrawn his breach of contract lawsuit against OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman. In February, Musk accused OpenAI of abandoning its mission to create AI for humanity’s benefit and breaching an alleged "Founding Agreement" (see Musk’s lawsuit here). OpenAI responded by asserting that Musk’s claims were baseless and motivated by his desire for absolute control, further complicating the billionaire's tumultuous relationship with the AI research firm he helped establish. Interestingly, Musk withdrew his lawsuit just one day after publicly threatening to ban Apple devices from his companies if they integrate OpenAI's technology due to security concerns. Despite the lawsuit's dismissal, Musk still has the option to refile (see Musk’s official dismissal here).

Here’s the Top News Apple Announced at Its 2024 Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC24):

June 10, 2024 – June 14, 2024, at Apple Park (California) — Find Apple’s event summary here. You can also watch several videos from the event here.

• Apple Unveils ‘Apple Intelligence’ in Partnership with OpenAI: Apple has officially launched Apple Intelligence, offering a highly personalized AI experience. This includes a partnership with OpenAI, allowing ChatGPT and other OpenAI models to be integrated into Apple features, products and apps. Siri, for example, receives a significant generative AI update, making it more natural and personal. Apple Intelligence will be free for users and available in beta this fall as part of iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia in the U.S. However, its features will be limited to the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max, as well as iPads and Macs with M1 or newer chips.

• Let’s Focus on iOS 18 — iPhone’s Most Intelligent Software Update: Currently in Beta and rolling out later this year, iOS 18 offers a range of intelligent features. New customization options allow for app and widget arrangement, text effects, app locking and hiding, and iMessages over satellite for extra connectivity. Apple’s Messages app now supports RCS (as opposed to SMS or MMS), enhancing communication with Android users, and includes a new message scheduling feature.

• Apple's AI Features for Developers: New tools for developers aim to boost app revenues and promote apps, including win-back offers and a new commerce API. Apple revealed how developers could incorporate Apple Intelligence into their software, with new AI features being added to existing SDKs for image generation and Siri prompts.

• Apple Watch Activity Rings Pause: WatchOS 11 offers powerful health and fitness insights, along with more personalization. Importantly, the Apple Watch now includes a long-requested feature — the ability to pause activity rings, providing flexibility for users during illness or travel.

• Apple TV+ InSight: A new InSight feature on Apple TV+ provides viewers with actor names and song titles during shows and movies, akin to Amazon’s X-Ray technology. What sets it apart is its ability to identify songs playing in TV shows or movies and seamlessly add them to your Apple Music playlist.

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👋 UNTIL NEXT TIME

Thanks for catching up with us on the latest in AI. Stay tuned for more exciting updates and don’t forget to send us your course suggestions!

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