Web Summit 2023: AI's Impact on Work and Gender Equality

Pivot 5: 5 stories. 5 minutes a day. 5 days a week.

1. Web Summit Highlights: AI Ethics and Gender Equality

Web Summit 2023's first day in Lisbon focused on AI's role in the workforce and gender equality in tech. Meredith Whittaker of Signal highlighted AI's potential misuse as a pretext for degrading worker conditions, while Union Square Ventures' Albert Wenger presented a more optimistic view, suggesting AI could liberate humanity from unnecessary labor.

Discussions on gender equality in tech were prominent, with Clara Chappaz of La French Tech emphasizing the need for male involvement in these conversations. The tech industry's gender imbalance was underscored, with less than 30% of tech workers being women. The summit also showcased Portugal's growing role as a tech hub, highlighting its startup-friendly environment and potential as a gateway to African and Brazilian markets.

Read the full story here 

2. Google's AI Model Surpasses Traditional Weather Forecasting

Google DeepMind's AI model, GraphCast, has made a significant leap in weather forecasting, outperforming traditional methods in a recent study. Trained on decades of data, GraphCast excelled in predicting various weather metrics, including temperature and wind, with remarkable speed and efficiency. It generated a 10-day global forecast in under a minute, showcasing its potential for rapid and accurate predictions.

Despite its advancements, GraphCast faces limitations in detail and transparency compared to conventional models. However, its energy efficiency and predictive capabilities mark a notable shift in meteorological methods, with potential for integration alongside traditional forecasting techniques.

Read the full story here 

3. Expanding LLM Capabilities: You.com’s New API Set

You.com has introduced a suite of APIs to connect large language models (LLMs) like Meta's Llama 2 to the open web, enhancing their real-time data access. Starting at $100 per month, these APIs enable LLMs to augment user queries with current internet context, improving accuracy and relevance.

The APIs offer unique features, such as an index of long website snippets, differing from standard search APIs. However, challenges remain, including localized queries and the dynamic nature of live web data. You.com aims to refine these APIs, promising more complex answers with traceable citations, potentially reshaping the generative AI search landscape.

Read the full story here

4. YouTube's New Rule: AI-Generated Videos Must Have Disclaimers

YouTube is set to implement a new policy requiring users to add disclaimers to AI-generated or manipulated videos. This rule, part of a broader initiative by Alphabet, aims to enhance transparency, particularly for sensitive content related to elections and public health crises. The policy follows a September announcement mandating prominent disclosures for election ads manipulated or generated by AI.

Violations of this policy could lead to content removal, account suspension, or loss of advertising revenue. YouTube also plans to allow requests for removing AI-generated content that simulates identifiable individuals. This move reflects growing concerns about the ethical use of AI in media and the potential for misuse in misrepresenting individuals or viewpoints.

Read the full story here 

5. Deepfake Bounties on Civitai Raise Ethical Alarms

Civitai, a prominent AI platform, has introduced a 'bounties' feature, leading to a surge in nonconsensual pornographic deepfakes. This system allows users to request specific AI-generated images, incentivizing creators with digital currency. Despite Civitai's rules against such content, enforcement appears lax, resulting in a proliferation of deepfakes, primarily targeting women, including celebrities and private individuals.

Victims face limited options for recourse, underscoring the challenge of controlling personal images in the era of generative AI. This development raises significant ethical concerns about AI misuse and the responsibilities of platforms like Civitai, which is backed by major investors like Andreessen Horowitz's a16z fund.

Read the full story here