This week in the world of artificial intelligence, OpenAI announced the opening of a new office in Japan and the rollout of a custom GPT-4 model optimized for translating and summarizing text in Japanese. This move is significant as Japan has more relaxed copyright laws for AI developers compared to other countries. Meanwhile, Google unveiled its new AI chip, Axion, which offers better performance and energy efficiency than existing options, giving the tech giant an edge in the AI arms race.
Concerns around ethics and law in AI have been raised following reports of AI-generated pornographic images of students and the distribution of child sexual abuse material. AI companies like OpenAI, Stability AI, and Anthropic have started reporting such material to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The U.S. Department of Justice is also investigating potential antitrust violations among AI companies backed by tech giants like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft.
Amazon is using AI to reduce packaging waste by determining the best type of packaging for items being shipped. This AI model has saved the company 500,000 tons of packaging per year. In the realm of humanoid robotics, Figure founder Brett Adcock envisions a future where AI-powered robots perform various tasks, including those unsafe for humans. Figure recently secured $675 million in funding from Microsoft, Nvidia, OpenAI Startup Fund, and Jeff Bezos, making Adcock a billionaire.
Microsoft announced a $1.5 billion investment in G42, an Abu Dhabi-based company developing AI products across various sectors. This investment strengthens ties between the U.S. and the UAE in the race to advance AI applications. Additionally, Collaborative Robots raised $100 million for its collaborative robots, or “cobots,” which use large language models like GPT-3.5 and GPT-4 to interact with humans.
Saudi Arabia’s generative AI accelerator, Gaia, has faced challenges in fulfilling promises to founders participating in the program. While the kingdom aims to create 300 new AI startups in three years, some founders have not received government grants and investment as expected. The program’s future cohorts are on hold until more funds are raised. The AI Index report by Stanford University’s Human Centered Artificial Intelligence lab revealed insights into the growing number of generative AI models launched in 2023.
Lastly, the AI Pin from AI company Humane received scathing reviews for its performance and functionality. Despite being marketed as a personal assistant, the device failed to live up to expectations. It’s considered a misfire in the world of AI products, especially given the company’s high-profile backers and significant venture capital funding. As the AI landscape continues to evolve, challenges around ethics, regulation, and product development will shape the future of AI technology.
