Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 03:18pm on 19 Jan 2024,Friday Tech Today
Mark Zuckerberg, Meta CEO, faces criticism for committing to develop an open-source artificial general intelligence (AGI) system, equalling human intelligence. Dame Wendy Hall, a UN advisory member, deems the prospect "really very scary" and labels it irresponsible. Experts warn of potential harm and stress the need for robust regulation before releasing such powerful AI systems. The decision to make AGI open source raises concerns about public safety and the role of tech giants in shaping AI's future. Zuckerberg defends the move, emphasizing the importance of openness, while critics argue for international consensus in shaping AGI decisions.
Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 12:46pm on 18 Jan 2024,Thursday Tech Today
Mumbai police register an FIR against a gaming site and a Facebook page following Sachin Tendulkar's complaint about a deepfake video falsely depicting him endorsing a gaming app. The FIR, under defamation and IT Act sections, originates from Tendulkar's personal assistant. The manipulated video falsely showed Tendulkar winning money with his daughter in an online game. Tendulkar labeled it a "disturbing" misuse of technology, urging people to report such instances. The police haven't disclosed the gaming site and Facebook page owners' details yet. Tendulkar emphasizes the need for swift action against misinformation on social media.
Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 06:59am on 16 Jan 2024,Tuesday Tech Today
Abu Dhabi's MBZUAI researchers unveil AI system mimicking handwriting with just a few paragraphs. Using a transformer model, they earned a US patent for the innovative technology. While it raises potential benefits like aiding those unable to write, concerns about misuse and forgeries linger. The team emphasizes the need for careful deployment, suggesting public awareness and anti-forgery tools. Despite uncertainties, the researchers aim to apply the technology to real-world uses soon, seeking commercial partnerships. Applications range from decoding doctors' handwriting to enhancing AI models' processing of handwritten data. Challenges remain, particularly in adapting the tech to Arabic.
Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 05:26am on 16 Jan 2024,Tuesday Tech Today
Microsoft introduces Copilot Pro, a $20/month subscription bringing advanced AI features to individual users of Office apps. Extending beyond Copilot's free version, subscribers get exclusive access to AI assistance in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote on PC. Copilot Pro users enjoy priority access to the latest OpenAI models, including GPT-4 Turbo, promising faster performance during peak times. The subscription also enhances AI image creation, offering 100 boosts per day with improved quality, while regular users are limited to 15 boosts. Microsoft aims for a unified AI experience across devices, positioning Copilot Pro as a premium service for enhanced AI capabilities.
Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 02:19pm on 15 Jan 2024,Monday Tech Today
Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar pledges tighter rules under the Information Technology (IT) Act after Sachin Tendulkar raises alarm over a deepfake video promoting an online game. Tendulkar emphasizes the rampant misuse of technology and calls for reporting such content. Chandrasekhar acknowledges the threat of deepfakes and misinformation fueled by Artificial Intelligence to Indian users' safety and trust. The minister appreciates Tendulkar's tweet and vows to notify stricter IT Act rules for platform compliance. Deepfake incidents involving celebrities, including Bollywood actor Rashmika Mandanna, highlight the need for regulations to address this emerging threat.
Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 02:07pm on 15 Jan 2024,Monday Tech Today
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) predicts that artificial intelligence (AI) will influence nearly 40% of jobs, potentially exacerbating overall inequality. IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva emphasizes the need for policymakers to address this concerning trend to prevent AI from fueling social tensions. In advanced economies, around 60% of jobs could be affected, with AI enhancing productivity in some instances and replacing human tasks in others. However, low-income countries may experience less impact, highlighting the potential for AI to worsen inequality among nations. Georgieva urges comprehensive social safety nets and retraining programs to ensure an inclusive AI transition.
Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 01:27pm on 15 Jan 2024,Monday Tech Today
Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar flags concern as a deepfake video circulates on social media, falsely endorsing a gaming app. In the manipulated video, Tendulkar appears to promote the game using his daughter's example. Disturbed by the "rampant misuse of technology," he urges people to report such instances, emphasizing the need for vigilance. Tendulkar's alert sparks action from Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar, pledging tighter IT Act rules. Deepfake threats grow globally, with India combatting the issue. Tendulkar joins a rising list of personalities affected by deepfake identity fraud.
Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 06:09am on 15 Jan 2024,Monday Tech Today
Global job markets face significant changes as artificial intelligence (AI) is expected to impact 40% of jobs worldwide, warns International Monetary Fund (IMF) Chief Kristalina Georgieva. In an interview, she highlighted the dual nature of AI, posing risks to job security while presenting a "tremendous opportunity" for increased productivity. The IMF report suggests 60% job impact in advanced economies, with developing countries expecting a milder effect. Georgieva stressed the importance of assisting low-income nations to harness AI opportunities. Despite challenges, she expressed optimism for a soft landing in the global economy, emphasizing the need for AI-driven productivity growth.
Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 03:34pm on 14 Jan 2024,Sunday Tech Today
Columbia University's study challenges the uniqueness of fingerprints, revealing an AI model's ability to determine with 75-90% accuracy if prints belong to the same person. Conducted by an undergraduate student, Gabe Gua, and co-authors, the study employed a deep contrastive network to analyze 60,000 fingerprints. It discovered significant similarities in fingerprints from different fingers on the same person, upending the conventional belief in fingerprint distinctiveness. The AI tool focused on ridges' direction rather than minutiae, presenting potential applications in cold cases but requiring further comprehensive research for real forensic use.
Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 04:26pm on 13 Jan 2024,Saturday Tech Today
OpenAI, Anthropic, and Cohere, major US AI companies, engage in confidential discussions with Chinese AI experts in Geneva. The meetings, supported by the White House and governments, focus on shared concerns about AI's impact on misinformation and social cohesion. Talks, facilitated by Shaikh Group, explore AI safety risks and aim to establish international standards. Notable Sino-US collaboration amid AI competition. Future discussions planned to align AI systems with legal codes and societal norms. Chinese firms like ByteDance, Tencent, Baidu, and Google DeepMind not involved. Calls for global cooperation on AI challenges and regulations intensify.