Generative Ai

In a recent development, Amazon is considering a monthly fee of around $5 to $10 for its Alexa service, which has been unprofitable since its inception a decade ago, as reported by Reuters. The company plans major revamping, internally known as "Banyan," featuring a conversational generative AI with two tiers of service. This marks the first significant overhaul of the voice assistant since its launch in 2014. The new version, dubbed "Remarkable Alexa," aims to catch up with competitors in generative AI. With CEO Andy Jassy expressing personal interest in the project, the company aims to reinvigorate Alexa by August, making 2024 a "must win" year for the service. The revamped version is expected to offer more intricate tasks and personalized responses, but the success of the proposed pricing and revamped service remains uncertain.

OpenAI's latest model, GPT-4o, offers unprecedented levels of intelligence and versatility, but using it through ChatGPT often requires detailed instructions. However, users can bypass this by creating custom AI assistants, which can efficiently execute specific tasks without extensive prompting. Building AI assistants is now accessible through two platforms: ChatGPT and You.com. ChatGPT users can easily customize their chatbots within the platform, albeit with a $20 monthly fee for ChatGPT Plus. On the other hand, You.com allows users to create custom assistants for free, using a variety of advanced AI models. With these customizable AI assistants, users can streamline repetitive tasks and save time, whether for personal or business use.

The AI Era is expanding marketing and creative potential, as detailed in an article by Vidhya Srinivasan, Vice President and General Manager of Ads at Google. The evolution of AI in digital experiences is enhancing the role of advertising in connecting people and businesses. AI-generated insights about audiences and shortened creative production are enabling faster and more tailored campaign execution. This technological advancement fosters new ways for creatives to explore ideas and expand their potential exponentially. As AI continues to be integrated into various aspects of marketing, the focus has shifted from understanding AI to exploring its practical applications, leading to boundless possibilities for creativity and performance.

The new Chinese text-to-video generative AI model, Kling, has been released by Kuaishou, a platform with over 600 million active users. The model, capable of generating videos up to two minutes long at a frame rate of 30fps and a resolution of up to 1080p, is freely available for public testing. The writer discovered that while the videos generated by Kling align closely with the provided prompts and demonstrate accurate representation of physics, they are currently capped at five seconds in length and exhibit shortcomings such as blurriness and graininess. However, the model's capacity to simulate physics and natural environments has been lauded, and it is considered a potential game-changer for short-video creators, despite its limitations.

The news story titled "AIs are coming for social networks" discusses the emergence of an app called Butterflies, which introduces a new approach to interacting with AI on social media platforms. The app allows users to create AI characters, called Butterflies, that generate photos and interact with other accounts independently. This concept aims to intertwine AI and human accounts, creating a novel social media experience. However, the interactions currently appear awkward, and the language used by the AIs can seem repetitive and hollow. Despite the initial weirdness, the app has gained traction, attracting investors and a considerable number of users during its private beta phase. The founder anticipates the AIs to become more lighthearted and humorous as the technology advances. The article also mentions Meta and TikTok making similar moves to integrate AI into their platforms, hinting at a future where AIs infiltrate social media feeds. This transition toward a more AI-influenced social media landscape prompts concerns about its impact on human connection and interaction. As the article suggests, this development seems inevitable, signaling an imminent shift in social media dynamics.

Genspark, a new AI-powered search engine, is making waves in the tech world with its use of generative AI to provide custom summaries in response to search queries. Co-founded in 2023 by Eric Jing and Kay Zhu, Genspark aims to differentiate itself by offering higher-quality results through specialized AI models and a surgical approach to search queries. While the platform has garnered attention for its innovative features, it also faces ethical and legal challenges, including potential impacts on publisher traffic and revenue. Despite these hurdles, Genspark recently secured a $60 million seed round and enjoys support from industry experts. As the startup charts its course, it will need to navigate competitive pressures and overcome technical and ethical concerns to establish itself as a viable contender in the AI-powered search engine landscape.

In a recent article, NPR's analysis reveals that despite the advancement of AI in translating foreign languages, human translators are still in high demand. Despite the significant progress in machine translation technology, human translators and interpreters continue to find job opportunities. Contrary to predictions, the number of translator and interpreter jobs is increasing, as seen in the Bureau of Labor Statistics' data. The demand for human translators and interpreters is driven by the complexity of linguistic tasks that require creativity, cultural sensitivity, and understanding of subtle nuances in meaning, qualities that AI often cannot replicate. Moreover, AI is used as a tool by human translators and interpreters to enhance productivity rather than replacing them entirely. While the integration of AI has made translation faster and cheaper, it has also raised concerns about the devaluation of translation skills due to increased competition. The wages of translators and interpreters have seen some growth according to data, but there are concerns about potential wage disparities between those who master AI and those who don't. Ultimately, the article suggests that the AI's impact on the translation industry may not be as detrimental as originally anticipated, and that the demand for human translators and interpreters is likely to persist due to the unique and irreplaceable skills they bring to the industry.

California plans to harness artificial intelligence (AI) to translate a wide range of healthcare documents and websites into languages other than English, in an effort to increase accessibility for its linguistically diverse population. This initiative, led by the state’s Health and Human Services Agency, aims to save costs and improve language access for vital healthcare information. While some are concerned about AI’s ability to capture nuances and cultural meanings in translation, proponents argue that AI could simplify complex medical information and make it more accessible to patients. The project reflects the ongoing integration of AI in healthcare and translation technologies, despite some potential drawbacks and the need for human oversight.

The demand for AI skills in the job market is increasing, leading to higher salaries for professionals with these competencies. An Amazon study revealed that employers are willing to pay up to 47% more for employees with AI skills, while an Oxford University study found that workers with in-demand AI expertise could receive a pay increase of up to 40%. As a result, many executives are focused on integrating AI into their processes and are seeking employees with AI proficiency. With employers struggling to find talent in this area, acquiring AI skills has become a priority for working professionals and job seekers. To address this demand, five online courses with certificates have been highlighted to help individuals develop in-demand AI skills, such as the AWS Certified AI Practitioner and Google's Machine Learning And AI Learning Path, among others. Whether for beginners or those with experience in AI, these courses offer opportunities to enhance skills and stay competitive in the evolving job market.

In a recent study led by Google DeepMind researchers, 20 professional comedians experimented with using AI to write jokes. The research revealed that while AI models were effective at simple tasks like structuring a monologue or producing a rough first draft, they struggled to generate material that was original, stimulating, or funny. The comedians reported that they did not feel proud of the resulting material, describing the jokes as bland and generic. Additionally, the experiment exposed the AI models' bias, with some participants noting that the models reinforced the status quo and erased minority perspectives. Despite the potential for faster work, the study highlighted that true creative and comedic writing is based on experience and vibes, not algorithmic output.

LinkedIn Learning has recently introduced AI-powered coaching, designed to provide personalized, real-time advice and tailored content recommendations. This feature, available to Premium subscribers in English, has already yielded positive feedback, with 76% of learners reporting that it has helped them build highly marketable skills. Initially focusing on leadership and management, the tool has expanded to include career and professional development skills, offering immediate, tailored answers to user queries. With global job skills projected to change significantly by 2030, LinkedIn's AI-powered coaching aims to expedite skill development, setting a new standard for professional development and career advancement. Furthermore, the platform integrates AI-powered coaching into its library of over 10,000 English courses, signaling a significant paradigm shift in professional skill development.

The article discusses the recent popularity of AI PCs but aims to clarify what actually constitutes an AI PC and whether it is necessary for consumers. Various definitions exist for an AI PC, with Microsoft and Intel promoting specific requirements such as including the latest NPU, CPU, and GPU, and having Microsoft Copilot with the Copilot key on its keyboard. Notably, laptops with Snapdragon X Elite and Plus processors are now considered Copilot+ PCs, possessing unique Windows AI features. The article also highlights the significance of NPUs in AI PCs, namely their efficiency and performance capabilities. While AI features are still evolving and often available in the cloud, some benefits include enhanced battery life and security. However, whether consumers truly need AI PCs remains a point of contemplation, especially as the technology continues to advance.

The cutesy Pixar-style animation clip, featuring what appears to be an Ancient Egyptian girl, has gone viral due to being entirely AI-generated, prompting discussions on the impact on the animation industry. Los Angeles-based director and photographer Ellenor Argyropoulos released the short, silent clip on social media, where it quickly garnered 7.5 million views in just a few days. The animation, created using Luma's AI video generator, Dream Machine, demonstrated a significant advancement in AI video capabilities, raising concerns about potential job displacement in the animation industry. While there are still technical and copyright issues to be resolved, the rapid progress of AI-generated animations suggests challenging times ahead for human animators.

The news story titled "AI is the sixth great revolution in filmmaking (and maybe the most important)" discusses the impact of artificial intelligence on the filmmaking industry. The article traces the history of technological revolutions in filmmaking and highlights the transformative role of AI in creating films. It emphasizes how AI allows creators to visualize their internal ideas and scenes, making it a highly impactful revolution. Despite limitations such as unpredictable outputs and copyright issues, the article predicts that AI will soon play a significant role in film production. Furthermore, it acknowledges the ethical challenges surrounding the use of copyrighted data by AI model providers.

After spending four months reviewing AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude, and Gemini, a reporter's brain has been rewired to rely heavily on generative technology. The reporter, who has been evaluating the chatbots according to CNET's testing standards, has become increasingly reliant on them for providing immediate answers and information. While AI chatbots have proven to be a valuable tool for specific tasks such as finding niche information and making purchase decisions, their reliance on online opinions can lead to inaccuracies. The reporter highlights the need for prompt engineering to effectively utilize AI and cautions against overreliance on them, stressing the importance of double-checking their work due to their potential for mistakes. This story serves as a reflection on the impact and potential pitfalls of integrating AI chatbots into daily life, raising questions about the role of human thought and decision-making in an AI-dependent world.

Pope Francis made history by becoming the first pontiff to address a G7 summit in Italy, where he raised concerns about the ethical implications of artificial intelligence (AI). Highlighting the potential risks of AI, Francis emphasized the importance of maintaining human dignity in the development and use of this technology. He urged politicians to ensure that decisions involving AI prioritize human values and underscored the need for human control over AI programs. Additionally, he called for a ban on the use of lethal autonomous weapons, expressing deep ethical concerns about the consequences of unchecked AI development. Francis's presence at the G7 summit brought attention to the need for stronger regulations on AI and its potential impact on society and peace.

According to a new report from Fortune, Amazon's Alexa, previously considered among the most capable voice assistants, is encountering significant setbacks in its development. The report indicates that the new AI-powered Alexa is nowhere close to being ready and may never achieve its intended purpose of being "the world's best personal assistant." The report draws from interviews with over a dozen former employees, who cited organizational dysfunction and technological challenges as hindrances to Amazon's AI dominance. The company has faced difficulties in integrating generative AI into Alexa, with factors such as a decentralized organizational structure and the need to navigate an existing tech stack and defend the current feature set contributing to the struggles. Despite Amazon's commitment to Alexa's growth, the report suggests that the company is racing to catch up in the AI arms race, with the departure of key personnel adding to the uncertainty surrounding the project's future.

LinkedIn is unveiling new artificial intelligence-driven features to assist users in job hunting. The company is capitalizing on the current tech trend of AI by launching tools that help with job searches, job applications, and personalized learning material. Users will also benefit from AI-generated cover letters and personalized coaching from industry experts. Another major focus for LinkedIn is AI-driven search, as it plans to revamp its search experience to provide more comprehensive and conversational results. These new features are augmented by the company’s previous AI integrations in its products, and LinkedIn's focus on AI is backed by its connection with Microsoft, which has substantial AI efforts. The company also has plans to expand tools for recruiters and marketers, and introduce enhanced premium company pages for small businesses.

The rise of AI is fueling a boom in data centers and energy demand, as reported on June 12, 2024. This increase has led to a voracious consumption of energy, with global data center electricity demand forecasted to more than double from 2022 to 2026, largely due to AI. The industry's aggressive consumption of fossil fuel energy sources is raising concerns about its impact on climate change. With data centers already accounting for more than 1% of global electricity use, the rapid increase in energy usage poses a threat to climate goals and energy infrastructure, putting pressure on local communities for resources like electricity and water. Despite promises of technological efficiency improvements and renewable energy sources, the industry's relentless expansion has drawn criticism and calls for regulation to address its environmental impact. With the need for transparency and regulatory action becoming evident, it is clear that the rise of AI and data centers warrants careful attention and consideration for their implications on energy usage and the environment.

Stability AI has launched Stable Diffusion Medium, a new addition to its image generation technology. With only 2 billion parameters, the SD3 Medium is a smaller model designed to run efficiently on consumer-grade GPUs with a minimum requirement of just 5GB of GPU VRAM. Despite its smaller size, the model boasts photorealism, prompt adherence, typography, resource efficiency, and fine-tuning capabilities comparable to the larger SD3 model. Stability AI's co-CEO Christian Laforte emphasized that the new medium-sized model is an ideal choice for resource-constrained environments, making high-quality image generation more accessible to a wider range of users and organizations.