In an age where artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping industries and influencing almost every facet of our daily lives, keeping up with the latest advancements is more crucial than ever.
Whether it’s game-changing algorithms, groundbreaking research, or controversial ethical dilemmas, AI never ceases to make headlines. But let’s face it—sifting through technical jargon and complex studies can be overwhelming.
That’s why we’ve done the heavy lifting for you. In this article, we present the top 5 AI news stories of today, distilled into easily digestible summaries. From cutting-edge innovations to societal implications, we break down what you need to know to stay informed, without the technical overload.
US Attorneys General Unite Against AI-Generated Child Exploitation
The chief prosecutors of all 50 US states are urging Congress to create a commission that examines the role of AI in child exploitation.
This comes in light of concerns over the potential use of AI to produce child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Bad actors, according to the attorneys general, can now harness AI to craft deepfakes using pictures of both abused and non-abused kids, resulting in animated, hyper-realistic images of fictional children who might bear resemblance to real ones.
The proliferation of easily accessible AI tools exacerbates this situation, simplifying the process for these malefactors.
The appeal, spearheaded by South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, boasts support from the attorney generals across the nation and four territories.
They’re collectively urging Congress to establish a body that not only investigates how AI can be exploited for child abuse but also extends existing CSAM regulations to explicitly include AI-generated content.
Although the US government is actively exploring AI-related risks, with the Biden administration emphasizing ethical AI use and the Senate holding hearings on AI regulation, there hasn’t been a comprehensive AI law.
By contrast, the European Union is progressively steering in that direction.
The letter stresses that while Congress’s current AI concerns revolve around national security and education, child safety must not be sidelined or overlooked in AI risk evaluations.
The AI market will be worth $600 billion
At the Goldman Sachs Communacopia and Tech Conference, Nvidia’s executive Manuvir Das presented an optimistic view of the artificial intelligence (AI) market. He estimated the potential market for AI to encompass $300 billion in chips and systems, $150 billion in generative AI software, and $150 billion in omniverse enterprise software, cumulatively amounting to a $600 billion opportunity.
This growth, as Nvidia terms it, is under the umbrella of “accelerated computing”.
Nvidia’s approach isn’t solely chip-centric; it revolves around the entire computing stack.
This view was echoed by Nextdoor CEO Sarah Friar, who commented that AI’s value has been amassing for years, and tools like ChatGPT have brought generative AI more into the cultural realm.
Das further emphasized that while the AI industry has witnessed significant advancements, it’s still in a nascent phase.
He contrasted traditional computing systems, which have largely remained unchanged in style over the years, with the increasing computing demands of modern businesses.
Das sees Nvidia’s role as being pivotal in making corporate functions more efficient, by providing more computing power without expanding the physical footprint.
Nvidia’s stock performance supports this vision. The company’s shares have skyrocketed by 232% this year, driven by strong earnings and their leading position in the AI domain. This growth, according to Das, is the fruition of a strategic direction Nvidia embarked upon decades ago.
Pentagon’s AI Drone Initiative
Deputy Secretary of Defense, Kathleen Hicks, has highlighted a new initiative named ‘Replicator‘.
This program aims to develop thousands of AI-powered weapons, marking a significant leap in defense technology.
The initiative’s primary goal is to rapidly gain a military edge over global competitors, especially as the U.S. seeks to counteract China’s rising influence.
Speaking at a Defense News conference in Arlington, Va., Hicks emphasized that such autonomous weapons would make defense strategies more unpredictable, efficient, and safer for personnel.
These systems would be more challenging for adversaries to predict or target and would reduce the number of soldiers exposed to direct combat.
Although some autonomous systems, like drones, are already in operation by the U.S., the ‘Replicator’ initiative would significantly scale up their development.
These new systems, as described by Hicks, would be “small, smart, cheap, and many”.
They could operate at various altitudes and execute a multitude of missions. Some might even utilize solar power.
The program won’t require additional funding or manpower. Instead, it will utilize the current budget and workforce to speed up the production and distribution of these advanced systems.
However, the development and deployment of such autonomous weapons, sometimes labeled as “killer robots,” haven’t gone without criticism.
Human rights organizations have raised concerns, stating that these systems should never operate without human intervention during combat.
To address this, the Pentagon ensures that there will always be a “human touch” before any application of force. Hicks reiterated that the U.S. has a clear policy on such systems and will uphold its ethical standards.
Hicks is directing this initiative alongside other prominent defense figures and assures that integrating autonomy into defense isn’t a new venture for the military. She stressed, “There is always a human responsible for the use of force, full stop.”
AI Chip Firm Raised $110 Million
Silicon Valley’s AI chip firm, d-Matrix, has successfully raised $110 million in investments, including a notable contribution from Microsoft Corp.
This funding achievement comes at a time when many chip startups face difficulties securing financial backing, largely due to Nvidia’s stronghold in the AI chip domain.
Nvidia’s combined strength in hardware and software has reportedly deterred investors from betting on other startups, as informed by sources to Reuters.
Singapore’s Temasek spearheaded this Series B funding round, with contributions from Playground Global, a venture firm located in Palo Alto, California, and Microsoft.
CEO Sid Sheth expressed confidence in the investment, emphasizing that their backers have a deep understanding of what’s required to grow a semiconductor venture.
Sheth began the fundraising journey around a year ago, and before this round, d-Matrix had amassed $44 million.
The company specializes in creating chips tailored for generative AI applications, such as ChatGPT.
They utilize “in-memory compute” technology, which facilitates efficient execution of AI codes. This method not only conserves energy but also optimizes data processing for generating AI outputs.
Contrasting its approach with Nvidia, d-Matrix focuses on the “inference” segment of AI processing. The company doesn’t directly compete with Nvidia, who is known for developing tech for training expansive AI models.
Playground partner Sasha Ostojic expressed confidence in the company’s advancements, highlighting their breakthroughs in computer architecture and low-power requirements. Their tech also promises the lowest latency rates in the industry.
Microsoft sees potential in d-Matrix’s chips, committing to evaluate them for its operations once launched next year.
As for the business’s revenue outlook, d-Matrix anticipates earnings below $10 million this year, mainly from clients acquiring chips for assessment. However, the company projects substantial growth, expecting annual revenues between $70 million to $75 million in two years, achieving a break-even point.
Forza Motorsport 8’s AI Revolutionizes In-game Racing Dynamics
The forthcoming release of Forza Motorsport 8 (FM8) boasts a significant leap in AI capabilities compared to its predecessors.
In contrast to Motorsport 7, where the AI followed just three pre-defined lines around tracks, FM8’s AI drivers adapt dynamically to factors like weather, tire grip, and specific vehicle performance metrics.
Other racing games, like Milestone S.r.l’s MotoGP series, have previously tapped into learning AI, enhancing gameplay. However, FM8’s improved AI promises to deliver a more realistic racing experience.
Motorsport 7 and Horizon 5’s AIs, limited in their capability, had issues like full-throttle or brake-only mechanisms and followed a limited number of racing lines.
These constraints meant that they couldn’t serve as a genuine learning tool for players aiming to improve.
Historically, the AI’s limited skills also impacted car performance ratings. For instance, when players upload a new tune for a vehicle, the AI simulates it to establish its new rating.
However, given the AI’s unusual driving style, human players often extracted more from the car than what the ratings indicated.
This inconsistency shaped the Forza online gameplay, with players hunting for underrated car tunings to gain an advantage.
In contrast, FM8’s AI, thanks to its reinforced learning, completes approximately 26,000 laps on every circuit, roughly translating to a full month of continuous racing on the same track.
This rigorous training allows these Drivatars to choose from 19 different lines per track based on the car and conditions, making them not just opponents but also invaluable learning tools.
They don’t merely follow these 19 routes – they’ve discovered them, evolving without any human intervention.
This AI enhancement could also refine car performance ratings. If AI can now race more like humans, ratings derived from their simulated laps could be more precise and reliable.
The revelation of FM8’s AI capabilities has significantly piqued interest. Beyond its visuals and game mechanics, the promise of smarter, more adaptive AI opponents positions FM8 as a game-changer in the world of sim racing.
With this level of AI advancement, FM8 promises a heightened racing experience, urging players to step up their game as the new Drivatars already have a month’s worth of training ahead.
New Principles for AI development
Twenty-five international organizations, comprising news and publishing entities, are urging stakeholders in artificial intelligence (AI) to uphold intellectual property rights.
Representing a vast number of creative professionals, this group, inclusive of News Media Canada, publicized a list of global AI principles on Wednesday.
These guidelines touch upon aspects like intellectual property, transparency, fairness, accountability, and safety.
The aim is to address the challenges and implications posed by the rapid strides AI has made, notably generative AI systems.
The principles emphasize that AI developers need to maintain transparency, especially where publisher content is part of training datasets.
The creators of this content should be compensated appropriately, and their content shouldn’t be accessed or utilized without explicit permission.
Moreover, it’s pivotal to attribute the content rightfully to its original creators.
Backing these principles are various organizations globally, including those from Colombia, Finland, Japan, Brazil, Hungary, and Korea.
This comes during a period where society and governments are trying to understand and regulate fast-evolving AI systems.
ChatGPT by OpenAI, known for its human-like interactions, was a significant catalyst in this evolution, inducing tech giants like Google to innovate in this domain.
However, many express concerns regarding AI. Geoffrey Hinton, a key figure in AI, has highlighted potential risks like biases, fake news, job losses, and even existential threats.
Over a thousand tech experts, including individuals from Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft, and Steve Wozniak, have similarly voiced apprehensions, suggesting a six-month halt on training AIs surpassing the capabilities of GPT-4.
