AI whirlwind

...At Code Conference 2023, lessons from the AI whirlwind...

Author

Lavena Xu-Johnson
October 02, 2023

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Your Instagrams are training AI. There’s little you can do about it. The new Meta AI chatbot and image generators are just the latest examples of how Big Tech is taking your conversations, photos or documents to teach their AI.

⏰ Top 5 Headlines

Image: Walmart

🔗Link: Walmart experiments with generative AI to help people shop.

🔗Link: Facebook and Instagram will soon get a slew of AI-powered creator tools.

🔗Link: Safer brain surgery using AI possible within two years.

🔗Link: Your website can now opt out of training Google’s Bard and future AIs.

🔗Link: Apple to buck layoff trend by hiring UK AI staff.

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💬 Deeper Dives

Meta debuts new AI assistant and chatbots

Image: Meta

Personality AI Chatbots:

  • Meta introduces 28 personality chatbots on its messaging apps (Instagram, Messenger, WhatsApp).

  • Chatbots feature famous figures like Mr Beast, Snoop Dogg, Kendal Jenner, Tom Brady, and more.

  • Initial text interaction, with audio functionality expected next year.

Meta’s AI Assistant:

  • A new AI Assistant is unveiled, functioning across all Meta messaging apps.

  • Provides real-time answers and rapid image generation.

  • Collaborates with Microsoft Bing for instant web results.

  • Capabilities include answering general knowledge questions, fetching facts, internet searches, recipe finding, and more.

At Code Conference 2023, lessons from the AI whirlwind

Over the past year, AI has undergone unprecedented change, marked by the emergence of ChatGPT and a surge in AI-related controversies.

  • The landscape now includes photorealistic images, Chatbots expanding knowledge through diverse inputs, and a trend of companies labeling products as "AI" without clear standards.

  • Legal uncertainties loom, especially concerning intellectual property, with courts likely to play a pivotal role in determining the fate of AI models trained on copyrighted material.

The human element in an AI world: 

  • Amidst the AI whirlwind, the significance of human connection remains paramount.

  • Industry leaders at Code Conference emphasized that AI should assist rather than replace human creativity, highlighting the importance of genuine human relationships in a world increasingly influenced by AI.

  • Clear distinctions between humans and machines, facilitated by smart user interfaces, are crucial to navigating the ethical considerations of AI.

Privacy concerns and responsible AI practices: 

  • A key takeaway from the discussions is the importance of responsible data practices to safeguard user privacy.

  • Examples include Bird Buddy's AI camera discarding images with identifiable information and Getty's focus on creative collections to avoid unintentional acquisition of sensitive data.

  • The future of AI remains uncertain, with the need for caution highlighted, as large-scale AI systems, like new language models, can behave unpredictably. These insights from Code Conference 2023 provide a snapshot of the rapidly evolving AI landscape, encompassing legal challenges, the enduring significance of human connection, and the imperative for responsible AI practices.

What Hollywood gets right — and wrong — about real-life AI

In the realm of Hollywood's portrayal of artificial intelligence, a new sci-fi film challenges the typical narrative by depicting the United States aiming to eliminate a society of Asian androids due to perceived threats to human survival.

This narrative exploration prompts reflection on the alignment between cinematic depictions and our actual technological trajectory. The age-old theme of a malevolent AI, illustrated by Skynet in "The Terminator," continues to haunt scientific discourse, with debates over the feasibility and ethics of creating machines with human-level intelligence.

Meanwhile, the prospect of romantic relationships with AI, as seen in films like "Her," finds echoes in contemporary reality as people form emotional bonds with AI chatbots. The concept of AI grappling with existential questions, exemplified by characters in "Blade Runner," raises philosophical debates about the potential consciousness of future AI systems. On the front of AI surveillance, the futuristic vision of "Minority Report" is becoming a reality, with concerns over privacy invasion, biased algorithms, and eroded civil rights. Amidst these dystopian visions, Hollywood also presents a more optimistic view of AI, symbolized by helpful AI characters like R2-D2 and Rosey the Robot, mirroring the current integration of AI in various industries for assistance and automation. While Hollywood often exaggerates for dramatic effect, these cinematic visions continue to influence real-world discussions about AI's impact on society. 🔗Dig deeper

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🤳 Extra reads

  • 🔗Link: Disease X: How AI could help plan our response to future pandemics.

  • 🔗Link: To bring socializing back to social networks, apps try AI imagery.

  • 🔗Link: NSA starts AI security center with eye on China and Russia as general warns U.S. lead ‘should not be taken for granted’.