AI Debrief: December 15 2023

Here are the top artificial intelligence news stories of the week:

1. Google's Gemini AI Model

   • Overview: Google introduced Gemini, a cutting-edge generative AI model created by Google Brain and DeepMind. It's a direct competitor to OpenAI's GPT-4.
   • Features: Gemini is unique for its multimodal capabilities, which means it can process and understand various types of data (text, images, video, audio, programming code) seamlessly.
   • Performance: It has been reported to outperform human experts in some tests, particularly in the Massive Multitask Language Understanding (MMLU), suggesting a significant advancement in AI capabilities.
   • Challenges: However, there's skepticism about Gemini's real capabilities, especially after a promotional video was revealed to be heavily edited, raising doubts about its performance.
   • Versions: Gemini comes in three versions – Gemini Pro (incorporated into Google Bard), Gemini Ultra (being refined for release), and Gemini Nano (for mobile devices like Pixel 8 Pro)​​​​​​.

2. U.S. Financial Regulators on AI Risks

   • Concern: The Financial Stability Oversight Council in the U.S. highlighted potential risks associated with the rapid adoption of AI in the financial sector.
   • Risks: These include safety and soundness risks like cyber and model risks, and the complexity and opacity of AI tools, which could lead to biased or inaccurate results.
   • Recommendation: The council emphasized the need for deeper expertise and capacity to monitor AI innovation and usage to identify emerging risks​​.

3. Antitrust Lawsuit Against Google

   • Lawsuit Details: A class action lawsuit has been filed against Google and Alphabet in the U.S., accusing them of anticompetitive behavior that violates U.S. antitrust law, specifically the Sherman Act.
   • AI's Impact: The lawsuit alleges that Google's AI technology has harmed the bottom line of news publishers, indicating the growing influence and impact of AI on various industries​​.

4. AI in Humanoid Robots

   • Development: Agility, a robotics firm, is utilizing large language models to enable communication with humanoid robots.
   • Potential Impact: This integration of AI into robotics is considered to be a potential game-changer, offering new possibilities in how robots can interact and perform tasks​​.

5. Google's AI Tools for Developers

   • AI Studio Launch: Following the announcement of the Gemini models, Google has launched AI Studio, providing developers with tools to create apps and chatbots based on Gemini.
   • Developer-Focused Products: Google also announced Duet AI for Developers, a suite of AI-powered tools for code completion and generation, which will soon utilize the Gemini model.
   • Competitive Edge: These developments mark Google's effort to equip developers with advanced AI tools, competing with other offerings like GitHub Copilot​​​​.

These stories reflect the dynamic nature of the AI field, encompassing technological advancements, regulatory concerns, legal challenges, and the broadening application of AI across different sectors.