AI News

AI has already introduced us to some bizarre demonstrations, and, my friends, the strangeness is just beginning. As the tech world plunges headlong into the uncanny valley, boundaries are blurring, and things are set to become even more unusual.

Standing in line is an experience most people dread. My recent two-hour queue to enter a nightclub in unseasonably cold weather was a stark reminder of how frustrating it can be. Fortunately, there's a startup aimed at changing that.

A coalition of leading cancer care institutions has come together to harness the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) to revolutionize cancer treatment. With a substantial investment of $40 million from prominent tech partners, the Cancer AI Alliance (CAIA) represents a significant advancement in precision medicine.

If you’re passionate about the latest gadgets and technology, this year’s product conferences have been a real treat for you.

The head of Slack, Denise Dresser, has shared that the company is transforming its business chat platform into a comprehensive “work operating system.” This shift includes integrating AI applications from Salesforce, Adobe, and Anthropic to position Slack as more than just a messaging tool. But do users really want this change? And if so, would they be willing to pay a premium for these new features?

This week in the AI landscape, synthetic data has taken center stage.

At the MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) on Wednesday night, an innovative technology enabled fans to shop for their favorite artists' styles in real-time as they appeared on screen.

Adobe is set to unveil its groundbreaking AI model for video generation in just a few months. The company has announced that features powered by the Adobe Firefly Video model will be accessible before the end of 2024 on the Premiere Pro beta app and through a dedicated website.

In September, California Governor Gavin Newsom reviewed 38 AI-related bills, among which was the highly debated SB 1047, recently passed by the state legislature for his final approval. On Sunday, he vetoed SB 1047, effectively concluding California's controversial attempt to prevent AI-related crises. However, he signed over a dozen other significant AI bills into law this month. These laws tackle critical issues in artificial intelligence, including AI risks, the misuse of deepfake technology, and Hollywood’s creation of AI replicas of deceased actors.

OpenAI experienced significant leadership changes this week as Chief Research Officer Bob McGrew and Research VP Barret Zoph announced their departures just hours after CTO Mira Murati revealed her own exit. CEO Sam Altman shared the news of these resignations in a post on X on Wednesday evening, alongside plans for leadership transitions.

The European Commission has unveiled the inaugural list of over 100 signatories to the AI Pact, an initiative aimed at encouraging companies to make “voluntary pledges” regarding their approach to deploying artificial intelligence (AI).

Microsoft made headlines last week by partnering with Constellation Energy to reactivate a nuclear reactor at Three Mile Island, marking a significant move to address the rising energy demands of its data centers. This strategy stands in stark contrast to the decline of nuclear power, which has seen seven reactors decommissioned in the United States over the past decade, with only two new ones brought online. Meanwhile, the global landscape for data centers has expanded rapidly, exceeding 10,000 facilities, half located in the U.S. As cloud computing continues to flourish, the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) projects that energy consumption in this sector could surge between 29% to 166% by 2030.

Airtable has officially announced its acquisition of Dopt, a startup dedicated to enhancing product onboarding experiences for new users in other startups. This strategic move follows Dopt's recent rollout of innovative features that integrated AI-based assistance tools into various services—key factors that contributed to Airtable's decision to bring Dopt on board. The acquisition concluded at the end of last month, with Dopt's services scheduled to cease on August 15. The talented team from Dopt will join Airtable’s AI division.

After the successful launch of a generative AI tool for its corporate workforce in August, Walmart is now extending this innovative technology to enhance the shopping experience for its customers. In a recent demonstration, a Walmart spokesperson explained the company's plan to incorporate generative AI across all stages of shopping—from initial search and discovery to the final purchase. Exciting new features set to roll out include a shopping assistant, generative AI-driven search capabilities, and an interior design tool.

Competition for AI talent is fierce, particularly as ByteDance seeks PhD candidates in areas like machine learning and computer vision, offering competitive salaries and cash compensation for stock options. ByteDance leads recruitment efforts in China, focusing on hybrid skills and practical experience. Other firms like Tencent also target elite candidates amid a talent shortage in large model technology.