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"Last Week in AI" including OpenAI, Stack Overflow, Apple's new Photos app, YouTube Premium, Microsoft MAI-1, Eli Lilly, Audible, Apple's M4 chip, Google's Pixel 8a, machine learning in whale communication, and more.

Last Week in AI: Episode 31

Hey everyone, welcome to this week’s edition of “Last Week in AI.” This week’s stories provide a glimpse into how AI is reshaping industries and our daily lives. Let’s dive in and explore these fascinating developments together.

OpenAI and Stack Overflow Partnership

Partnership Announcement: OpenAI and Stack Overflow have formed a new API partnership to leverage their collective strengths—Stack Overflow’s technical knowledge platform and OpenAI’s language models.

Impact and Controversy: This partnership aims to empower developers by combining high-quality technical content with advanced AI models. However, some Stack Overflow users have protested, arguing it exploits their contributed labor without consent, leading to bans and post reverts by staff. This raises questions about content creator attribution and future model training, despite the potential for improved AI models. Read more

Apple’s New Photos App Feature

Feature Introduction: Apple is set to introduce a “Clean Up” feature in its Photos app update, leveraging generative AI for advanced image editing. This tool will allow users to remove objects from photos using a brush tool, similar to Adobe’s Content-Aware Fill.

Preview and Positioning: Currently in testing on macOS 15, Apple may preview this feature during the “Let Loose” iPad event on March 18, 2023. This positions the new iPads as AI-equipped devices, showcasing practical AI applications beyond chatbots and entertainment. Read more

YouTube Premium’s AI “Jump Ahead” Feature

Feature Testing: YouTube Premium subscribers can now test an AI-powered “Jump ahead” feature, allowing them to skip commonly skipped video sections. By double-tapping to skip, users can jump to the point where most viewers typically resume watching.

Availability and Aim: This feature is currently available on the YouTube Android app in the US for English videos and requires a Premium subscription. It complements YouTube’s “Ask” feature and aims to enhance the viewing experience by leveraging AI and user data. Read more

Microsoft’s MAI-1 Language Model Development

Model Development: Microsoft is developing a new large-scale AI language model, MAI-1, led by Mustafa Suleyman, the former CEO of Inflection AI. MAI-1 will have approximately 500 billion parameters, significantly larger than Microsoft’s previous models.

Strategic Significance: This development signifies Microsoft’s dual approach to AI, focusing on both small and large models. Despite its investment in OpenAI, Microsoft is independently advancing its AI capabilities, with plans to unveil MAI-1 at their Build conference. Read more

AI in Drug Discovery at Eli Lilly

Innovative Discovery: The pharmaceutical industry is integrating AI into drug discovery, with Eli Lilly scientists noting innovative molecular designs generated by AI. This marks a precedent in AI-driven biology breakthroughs.

Industry Impact: AI is expected to propose new drugs and generate designs beyond human capability. This integration promises faster development times, higher success rates, and exploration of new targets, reshaping drug discovery. Read more

AI-Narrated Audiobooks on Audible

Audiobook Trends: Over 40,000 AI-voiced titles have been added to Audible since Amazon launched a tool for self-published authors to generate AI narrations. This makes audiobook creation more accessible but has sparked controversy.

Industry Reaction: Some listeners dislike the lack of filters to exclude AI narrations, and human narrators fear job losses. Major publishers are embracing AI for cost savings, highlighting tensions between creative integrity and commercial incentives. Read more

Apple’s M4 Chip for iPad Pro

Processor Introduction: Apple’s M4 chip, the latest and most powerful processor for the new iPad Pro, offers groundbreaking performance and efficiency.

Key Innovations: The M4 chip features a 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, advanced AI capabilities, and power efficiency gains. These innovations enable superior graphics, real-time AI features, and all-day battery life. Read more

Google’s Pixel 8a Smartphone

Affordable Innovation: The Pixel 8a, Google’s latest affordable smartphone, is priced at $499 and packed with AI-powered features and impressive camera capabilities.

Key Highlights: The Pixel 8a features a refined design, dual rear camera, AI tools, and enhanced security. It also offers family-friendly features and 7 years of software support. Read more

OpenAI’s Media Manager Tool

Tool Development: OpenAI is building a Media Manager tool to help creators manage how their works are included in AI training data. This system aims to identify copyrighted material across sources.

AI Training Approach: OpenAI uses diverse public datasets and proprietary data to train its models, collaborating with creators, publishers, and regulators to support healthy ecosystems and respect intellectual property. Read more

Machine Learning in Sperm Whale Communication

Breakthrough Discovery: MIT CSAIL and Project CETI researchers have discovered a combinatorial coding system in sperm whale vocalizations, akin to a phonetic alphabet, using machine learning techniques.

Communication Insights: By analyzing a large dataset of whale codas, researchers identified patterns and structures, suggesting a complex communication system previously thought unique to humans. This finding opens new avenues for studying cetacean communication. Read more

Sam Altman’s Concerns About AI’s Economic Impact

CEO’s Warning: Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, has expressed significant concerns about AI’s potential impact on the labor market and economy, particularly job disruptions and economic changes.

Economic Threat: Studies suggest AI could automate up to 60% of jobs in advanced economies, leading to job losses and lower wages. Altman emphasizes the need to address these concerns proactively. Read more

AI Lecturers at Hong Kong University

Educational Innovation: HKUST is testing AI-generated virtual lecturers, including an AI version of Albert Einstein, to transform teaching methods and engage students.

Teaching Enhancement: AI lecturers aim to address teacher shortages and enhance learning experiences. While students find them approachable, some prefer human teachers for unique experiences. Read more

OpenAI’s NSFW Content Proposal

Content Policy Debate: OpenAI is considering allowing users to generate NSFW content, including erotica and explicit images, using its AI tools like ChatGPT and DALL-E. This proposal has sparked controversy.

Ethical Concerns: Critics argue it contradicts OpenAI’s mission of developing “safe and beneficial” AI. OpenAI acknowledges potential valid use cases but emphasizes responsible generation within appropriate contexts. Read more

Bumble’s Vision for AI in Dating

Future of Dating: Bumble founder Whitney Wolfe Herd envisions AI “dating concierges” streamlining the matching process by essentially going on dates to find compatible matches for users.

AI Assistance: These AI assistants could also provide dating coaching and advice. Despite concerns about AI companions forming unhealthy bonds, Bumble’s focus remains on fostering healthy relationships. Read more

Final Thoughts

This week’s updates showcase AI’s transformative power in areas like education, healthcare, and digital content creation. However, they also raise critical questions about ethics, job displacement, and intellectual property. As we look to the future, it’s essential to balance innovation with responsibility, ensuring AI advancements benefit society as a whole. Thanks for joining us, and stay tuned for more insights and updates in next week’s edition of “Last Week in AI.”

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Midjourney Version 6 Enhances AI Image Generation

Last Week in AI

Hey everyone, it’s been a bit of a slow week in AI, but there’s still some cool stuff to talk about. One highlight is the Midjourney version 6 update, which is really pushing the boundaries of AI in image generation. Let’s dive into some key developments, from Apple’s iPhone AI innovations to Google Pixel’s ‘Hold for Me’, H&R Block’s AI chatbot, and of course, the Midjourney update. Each of these shows how AI is becoming an even bigger part of our daily lives.

Apple

Alright, let’s dive into Apple’s latest AI move with “LLM in a Flash.” They’re bringing big AI models, known as LLMs, straight to iPhones, which is a pretty big deal in the AI and tech world.

Here are the three key takeaways:

  1. AI Goes Mobile: Apple’s integrating large AI models into iPhones, making smart tech even smarter.
  2. Privacy and Speed: This approach means your data stays on your phone, offering quick AI responses without relying on the internet.
  3. Setting Trends: Apple’s strategy could start a new trend in smartphone tech, with AI becoming a core feature.

Why’s this important? Well, it means we get faster, on-device AI help without compromising privacy. Plus, Apple’s move might just reshape how we all use our smartphones in the future. Here is more AI stuff Apple’s working on for 2024! 🍏✨


Google

Google Pixel’s “Hold for Me” feature is a game-changer for handling phone calls, especially those lengthy hold times on toll-free numbers. Available in the US, Australia, and Canada for Pixel 3 and newer models, it’s an AI-driven assistant that waits on hold for you.

Key points:

  1. Smart Call Handling: The AI listens to your call and notifies you when a real person returns to the line.
  2. Easy to Use: Just activate it in the Phone by Google app. Plus, it offers live captions so you can see updates like queue status.
  3. Part of a Bigger Picture: It’s part of Google Pixel’s suite of call assist features, adding extra value to your Pixel experience.

The significance? “Hold for Me” frees you from being stuck to your phone while waiting. It’s an exclusive Pixel feature, making it a standout reason to choose or love Google’s phones. It’s like having a personal assistant who handles the waiting, so you can focus on other things. Here’s how it works. 📱✨

For more Google AI related updates, check out Google’s Bard Meets Gemini.


H&R Block

H&R Block has introduced AI Tax Assist, a smart AI chatbot, to their paid DIY tax software. It’s designed to make tax filing simpler and more efficient.

Key Points:

  1. Tax Help at Your Fingertips: The chatbot answers tax-related questions, functioning like a digital tax expert.
  2. Human Expert Backup: It connects users to human tax experts for more personalized advice, blending AI convenience with human expertise.
  3. Reliable and Safe: Trained on H&R Block’s extensive tax law library, it offers trusted advice, with a team monitoring its accuracy.

The significance? This launch signifies a big move in digital tax prep, offering a blend of AI efficiency and human accuracy. It’s part of a growing trend, as seen with Intuit’s TurboTax also adopting AI. With such innovations, managing taxes could become much less daunting for many. 🤖💼📈


Midjourney

Midjourney’s release of version 6 marks a notable advancement in AI-powered image generation. This new version brings enhanced realism and the ability to generate legible text within images, alongside a fresh prompting method.

Key Points:

  1. Improved Realism: V6 steps up the game in creating more lifelike and high-quality images.
  2. Text Generation: A standout feature is its capacity to include readable text in images, expanding its creative possibilities.
  3. New Prompting Method: Users can explore different styles and approaches with an innovative way to guide the AI’s image creation.

While currently in the alpha stage and requiring specific commands to activate, V6’s release is significant in the AI art world. Despite missing some features from its predecessor (which will be added in future updates), it’s seen as a major leap forward, even amidst growing competition and legal challenges in the AI art space. 🎨🤖💻

Final Thoughts

In wrapping up, remember, even in a slow week, AI continues to evolve and surprise us, like with the impressive Midjourney V6. I hope this roundup gives you a good glimpse into the exciting world of AI. Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and happy holidays! Stay tuned for more AI updates, and keep exploring this amazing tech world. 🎄✨🤖

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Stunningly realistic AI-generated image by Midjourney V6

Midjourney’s Latest Version 6 Update

Midjourney’s newest update, Version 6 (alpha) is creating quite a buzz in the AI image generation scene. Let’s dive into what makes V6 the talk of the town.

Meet Midjourney V6: A New Era of AI Art

Sharper, More Realistic Images: V6 isn’t just an update; it’s a game-changer. It brings to the table enhanced realism in image generation. We’re talking about visuals that blur the lines between AI art and reality.

Text Generation Game Strong: Ever wanted legible text in your AI-generated images? Well, V6 heard you. This feature adds a new layer of creativity, opening doors for more intricate and meaningful artwork.

New Prompting Method: Midjourney knows one size doesn’t fit all. That’s why V6 introduces a fresh way to prompt the AI, giving artists more control and flexibility in their creations.

Navigating V6: The Alpha Adventure

How to Access: V6 still wears its ‘alpha’ badge, which means it’s a work in progress. To get your hands on it, you’ll need to use specific commands. It’s like having an exclusive pass to the future of AI art.

What’s Missing, For Now: Every masterpiece has its initial sketches. V6 is no exception. It currently lacks some features from the previous version, but don’t worry, updates are on their way.

The Road Ahead for Midjourney

Continual Evolution: Midjourney isn’t stopping here. V6 is just the beginning. With ongoing updates and new features in the pipeline, the journey of AI art is set to reach new heights.

Rising Above Challenges: Sure, the road to innovation isn’t without hurdles. V6 steps into a competitive landscape, facing its share of legal challenges. But, it stands as a testament to the relentless evolution of AI art.

In Conclusion

Midjourney’s V6 is more than an update; it’s a statement. It’s about pushing boundaries and redefining what AI can create in the art world. As we witness this significant progression, it’s exciting to imagine what the next chapter of AI art will look like.

Stay tuned to see how Midjourney continues to revolutionize AI art, one pixel at a time! 🎨🤖

Also, check out Midjourney’s Niji here.

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