AI News

Reality Defender Secures $15 Million for AI-Driven Deepfake Detection

Shortwave, an innovative email client developed by former Google engineers, is unveiling a range of exciting new AI-powered features. These enhancements include instant email summaries right at the top of your inbox, a writing assistant that can mimic your style, and improved AI functionalities available on both iOS and Android devices. Additionally, users can now utilize multi-select AI actions for streamlined email management.

Most companies creating AI models, especially generative models like ChatGPT and Stable Diffusion, rely heavily on GPUs. The parallel processing capabilities of GPUs make them ideal for training and deploying advanced AI systems. However, there is a significant GPU shortage.

The impact of AI on individual productivity remains a topic of discussion, but companies are increasingly seeking to monetize these technologies by integrating advanced AI capabilities into their software. Last year, Microsoft made headlines with its announcement that the addition of Copilot would increase the Office 365 subscription cost by $30 per user each month. Developing and maintaining these advanced features entails significant expenses, which customers will inevitably have to shoulder.

Though overall startup funding has seen a decline, investment in AI has skyrocketed over the past year. Capital allocated to generative AI startups alone soared nearly eightfold from 2022 to 2023, reaching an impressive $25.2 billion by late December.

AI may not be targeting every job, but certain roles are definitely at risk.

The United States is currently grappling with a severe affordable housing crisis, which has worsened due to rising mortgage interest rates and limited housing inventory. This challenge is particularly pressing for low-income families.

OpenAI is introducing a new subscription plan for ChatGPT, its popular AI chatbot, specifically designed for smaller, self-service teams.

Robert Kahn has been a foundational figure on the Internet since its inception—after all, he co-created it. Like many tech trailblazers, his experience extends far beyond this singular achievement; his work anticipated concepts such as AI agents and blockchain technology. In a recent conversation, Kahn shared insights on how many challenges we face today mirror those of the '70s.

The terms “sober curious” and “mindful drinking” have gained traction in recent years, with nearly 47% of U.S. adults expressing a desire to reduce their alcohol consumption. In light of this trend, Sunnyside, an innovative app focused on promoting healthier drinking habits, has successfully raised $11.5 million in Series A funding. This round was led by Motley Fool Ventures, with significant contributions from Will Ventures and others. The new funding will be used to launch "Sunny," an AI-driven mindful drinking coach designed to enhance user support by generating tailored guidance for Sunnyside's human coaching team.

Viso Secures $9.2M to Simplify Computer Vision for Enterprises

Generative AI has become a hot topic in the robotics sector, with numerous discussions around how to leverage these emerging technologies effectively. During a recent visit to Nvidia's South Bay headquarters, I spoke with Deepu Talla, Nvidia's Vice President and General Manager of Embedded & Edge Computing, about the impact of generative AI.

Last year, Salesforce, renowned for its cloud sales software (and Slack), initiated an ambitious project called ProGen aimed at designing proteins using generative AI. This innovative research effort, detailed in a January 2023 blog post, suggested that ProGen could revolutionize the discovery of medical treatments, making the process more efficient and cost-effective compared to conventional methods.

Sam Altman, previously ousted as CEO of OpenAI amid leadership concerns, will rejoin the board after an investigation found no misconduct. The board has appointed three women members to enhance diversity. Altman’s return marks a pivotal moment as OpenAI faces scrutiny over its governance and AI ethics.

Google is updating Assistant to better handle names and context in conversations. Users can teach it to pronounce contacts' names, starting in English. It’s also revamped timer functionality for nearly perfect requests using BERT technology, enhancing contextual awareness for a more intuitive experience.