AI experiments continue amidst calls for pause and rising concerns over existential risks

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1. AI experiments continue amidst calls for pause and rising concerns over existential risks

Six months ago, the Future of Life Institute (FLI) published an open letter, signed by tech leaders like Elon Musk and Steve Wozniak, calling for an “immediate pause” to large AI experiments, citing the potential existential risks to humanity. The letter highlighted concerns over the rapid advancements in generative AI, as demonstrated by apps like ChatGPT and Midjourney, and the profound societal and human risks they might pose.

Despite the urgent call, major AI companies have not pressed the pause button. Instead, the AI industry has witnessed more companies joining the generative AI race, releasing their large language models. The FLI’s letter did, however, spark widespread press coverage, a US Senate hearing, a formal reply from the European Parliament, and a renewed urgency within governments to address the rapid progress of AI.

The upcoming global summit on AI safety in Bletchley Park in the UK is anticipated to be a pivotal event, providing insights into how leaders around the world will approach AI regulation. The debate continues on the balance between innovation and regulation in AI, and whether the profound risks associated with AI advancements can be mitigated effectively.

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2. How much energy does AI use?

A study conducted by scientists from the University of California-Irvine and MIT has ignited controversy in the AI community, suggesting that generative AI models like ChatGPT consume significantly less energy compared to humans when producing text or images. The paper, published on arXiv.org, found that AI systems emit 130 to 1500 times fewer carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2e) compared to a human when producing a page of text.

However, the study’s methodology has faced criticism, with some experts arguing that comparing human footprints to life cycle assessment or energy footprints doesn’t make sense. The lack of transparency and proprietary data from tech companies pose significant challenges in accurately quantifying the environmental effects of AI. Without access to key details about hardware usage, energy consumption, and energy sources, carbon footprint estimates remain uncertain.

The debate underscores the need for open data sharing and transparent discussions on the environmental impact of AI. As AI continues to evolve, the discussions surrounding its environmental impact and the methodologies used to measure it will be crucial in shaping policies and practices to ensure sustainability in AI development.

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3. NFL and Amazon Web Services team up to revolutionize football analytics with AI

The NFL is embracing artificial intelligence in collaboration with AWS through a project called Next Gen Stats. This initiative aims to utilize intelligent algorithms and advanced data collection tools to extract meaningful data from games and decipher patterns in player performances, offering insights that go beyond traditional statistics.

Inspired by the 2023 Big Data Bowl, AWS has developed AI-powered algorithms to analyze “pressure” in football games, providing a more granular and detailed view of player behavior and game strategies. This AI-tracking technology provides valuable information that can assist scouts or coaches in player selection, enhancing the understanding of player performances and game dynamics.

The Next Gen Stats project, initiated in 2017, is a collaborative effort between the NFL, Zebra Technologies, and Wilson Sporting Goods. It represents a significant advancement in sports analytics, with ongoing projects working on automating the identification of player roles on the field, aiming to make the information gathering process more efficient and accurate.

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4. Secoda secures $14M to advance AI-Driven data search and management

Toronto-based Secoda, specializing in AI-powered data search, cataloging, lineage, and documentation, has successfully raised $14 million in a Series A funding round led by Craft Ventures. The company aims to utilize the capital to enhance its AI solutions, enabling enterprise users of varying technical backgrounds to effortlessly search, understand, and utilize company data, akin to a Google-like experience.

Secoda integrates with a myriad of business intelligence and transformation tools as well as data warehouses, establishing a single source of truth for company data. The platform employs a ChatGPT-powered assistant, allowing users to document and search their company’s unified data catalog using natural language queries, providing not just information but precise answers.

Secoda has witnessed a fivefold growth in its customer base over the last year, managing over 100 million metadata resources. The company supports 36 popular data warehouses, business intelligence tools, and productivity platforms and continues to expand its integrations based on demand and popularity.

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5. Microsoft’s Copilot AI to start rolling out

Microsoft has unveiled its plans to integrate Copilot AI across all its products, including the Edge browser, Microsoft 365 platform, and Windows, aiming to offer a unified and ubiquitous generative AI assistant. This announcement was made during Microsoft's annual event, where CEO Satya Nadella highlighted the transformative potential of AI in enhancing knowledge, productivity, creativity, and connectivity.

Copilot AI is designed to harness user work data and intelligence, providing personalized experiences and a range of functionalities. Users can leverage Copilot AI to pull data from their phones, organize desktop windows, generate playlists, and more, offering a seamless and intuitive user experience. The AI also boasts features seen in rival systems, such as the ability to shop for clothing based on pictures and summarize complicated email chains.

This updated AI is set to roll out on September 26, accompanying the new Windows 11 release. Windows 11 is poised to be a significant update, featuring over 150 new features, and is described as the biggest update since its initial release. This integration represents Microsoft's ongoing commitment to leveraging AI to enhance user experiences across its product range, offering more personalized and versatile functionalities.

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