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What’s happening in AI right now

The Great AI On-Device Race

Are your earbuds about to become your new best friend? Recent developments suggest we're on the cusp of a significant shift in how AI integrates into our daily lives, moving beyond internet enabled chatbots to far more intimate delivery devices such as headphones and glasses.

AI Gets Up Close and Personal

Google's plans to expand its Gemini AI assistant to audio devices like earbuds and headphones marking a notable step towards more pervasive AI integration. This move, revealed through code findings in the Google app, could transform how we interact with AI assistants, making them “literally whisper in our ears” throughout the day.

But Google isn't alone in pushing AI into more personal spaces. A startup called Friend is developing an AI-powered wearable pendant designed to provide constant companionship. Using Anthropic's Claude 3.5 Sonnet AI model, the $99 device aims to offer conversation and emotional support through an “always-listening” interface.

These developments raise intriguing questions about the future of human-AI interaction:

1. How will constant AI companionship impact our social relationships and mental health?

2. What are the privacy implications of always-on AI devices worn on our bodies?

3. Will these intimate AI assistants enhance or detract from our daily experiences?

Big Tech Doubles Down on AI Device Integration

While startups explore more niche applications, tech giants are working to embed AI more deeply into their existing ecosystems. Apple's upcoming AI features for iPhones, iPads, and Macs reveal a focus on enhancing productivity and user experience across its devices. Features like AI-powered email management, text generation, and photo organization aim to streamline common user tasks while prioritizing  privacy and on-device processing.

Samsung, not to be outdone, is considering bringing its Galaxy AI suite to mid-range smartphones. This move could more broadly disseminate advanced AI capabilities potentially setting new expectations for what even budget-friendly devices can do.

The Hardware Advancements Enabling this Next Device Wave

The push for more sophisticated on-device AI is supported by rapid advancements in hardware. Samsung's mass production of ultra-thin, high-capacity 12nm-class LPDDR5X DRAM chips is a prime example. These chips, designed specifically to support on mobile device AI processing offer improved performance and efficiency in a smaller package.

Meanwhile, companies like Groq are scaling up AI infrastructure to meet the growing demand for processing power. Groq's recent $640 million funding round and plans to deploy over 108,000 of their Language Processing Units (LPUs) by Q1 2025 highlight the massive investments being made in AI hardware. Much of this is beginning to worry prominent Wall Street investors such as Elliot Management, warning that many proposed AI use cases themselves may prove to be economically unfeasible, technically flawed, or environmentally unsustainable

Implications for Businesses and Consumers

As AI becomes more ubiquitous and personalized, businesses and consumers alike will need to adapt:

1. App developers may need to rethink their strategies, potentially integrating with AI assistants rather than competing against them.

2. Privacy-focused companies could find new opportunities in developing secure, AI-resistant spaces or devices.

3. Mental health professionals might need to consider the impact of constant AI companionship on their patients' well-being.

4. Consumers will need to become more discerning about which AI integrations truly add value to their lives.

News roundup

The top stories in AI today.

FUTURE OF WORK

Jobs are changing — are you?

• Human power skills crucial for AI project success in 2024.

• Democratizing AI red-teaming for safer generative applications

• Stuart Russell discusses AI advancements, risks, and safety measures at Paris AI Safety Breakfast.

• Global AI ethics require balancing universal principles with local cultural norms.

• Urgent need for comprehensive AI policies to mitigate risks and foster responsible innovation

NEW LAUNCHES

The latest features & products in AI innovation.

• Runway's Gen-3 Alpha upgrade allows users to anchor AI-generated videos with custom start and end images

• Meta unveils specialized network architecture for large-scale AI training

• Zoom launches AI-powered document tool to compete with Microsoft and Google

• New AI technique drastically reduces neural network size while maintaining accuracy

• New AI model achieves high EQ score, advancing empathetic conversations.

GADGETS

Computers, phones, wearables & other AI gizmos.

• Google's Gemini AI may expand to earbuds and headphones, enhancing audio capabilities.

• Samsung begins mass production of ultra-thin DRAM chips for on-device AI in mobile devices

• Google Play Store to introduce AI-generated app review summaries

• Apple's new AI system promises smarter devices and enhanced privacy through on-device processing

FUNDRAISING

Who’s getting that bread?

• Groq raises $640M to expand AI inference capabilities with innovative Language Processing Units.

• Jeff Bezos invests $1 billion in AI startups, through family office Bezos Expeditions

• Hedra AI Raises $10M to Empower Video Creators

F-AI-LS

Blunders, bloopers & face plants.

• Elon Musk sues OpenAI again alleging betrayal of original mission for profit.

• Apple's AI email filter mistakenly prioritizes phishing scams, raising security concerns.

• Leaked documents reveal Nvidia's extensive plan to scrape video content from YouTube and other platforms

WELLNESS

The future of healthcare & AI’s Health Effects

• How to Safely Incorporate AI in Healthcare

• How AI Is Detecting Hidden Heart Attack Risk in CT Scans

• How AI-Powered Mindfulness is Enhancing Contact Centers

• AI Companions Raise Addiction Concerns/Calls for Regulation

• AI Emerges as Controversial New Path to Altered States of Consciousness

FINANCE & ECONOMICS

Economics + the movers & shakers on Wall Street.

• Tech stock plunge raises doubts about AI industry's profitability and future amid market turbulence.

• Elliott Management questions AI hype and Nvidia's soaring valuation, citing practicality concerns.

• AI and crypto markets plummet as unexpected economic data sparks investor retreat

• Will AI Disruption Necessitate Universal Basic Income? Experts Weigh

AI research changing the world

The latest breakthroughs and most pivotal papers — broken down in language anyone can understand.

Anthropic Research Reveals Surprising AI Bias Patterns, Paving the Way for Fairer Decision-Making

Imagine a world where AI makes unbiased decisions across society, from loan approvals to hiring processes. While we're not there yet, new research from Anthropic brings us a step closer to this reality – with some unexpected twists. As AI increasingly influences high-stakes decisions, understanding and mitigating its biases isn't just an ethical imperative; it's a business necessity that could reshape industries and redefine fairness in the digital age.

The study, which evaluated AI decision-making across 70 diverse scenarios, uncovered surprising patterns of both positive and negative discrimination. Contrary to expectations, the AI showed favorable bias towards women, non-binary individuals, and racial minorities in many situations. However, it consistently discriminated against older applicants.

Perhaps most importantly, the research demonstrated that simple prompt-based interventions could significantly reduce these biases without compromising the AI's decision-making ability. This finding opens up new possibilities for creating fairer AI systems that could revolutionize everything from financial services to human resources.

The AI tool we’re loving right now

The best way to get AI literate? Try the tools!

Algorithmic artistry

What’s on in the world of AI art & entertainment.

Duke University’s Nasher Museum of Art recently conducted a pioneering experiment, leveraging artificial intelligence to curate an art exhibition from its extensive collection. The museum employed a large language model, similar to ChatGPT, to select and organize artworks for display.

This week on the podcast

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