Docker Unveils Generative AI Tools For Developers

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October 19, 2023

Docker announced two new Docker Generative AI tools called DockerAI and GenAI in its yearly global developer conference, DockerCon. These tools are expected to streamline the AI integration process for developers. Out of the two, DockerAI is getting the most attention. It is the first AI-powered tool by Docker that draws millions of engineers wisdom from its open-source community.

The aim of DockerAI is to “meet developers where they are” by assisting them in harnessing the full potential of AI and ML in their applications. It does the work by recommending context-specific suggestions that boost productivity while building applications. For example, it suggests best practices for using Docker for development.

Another highlight is the launch of GenAI in collaboration with Neo4j, Ollama, and LangChain. GenAI helps developers to get started with AI generative applications in a matter of minutes. It offers preconfigured management tools and Large Language Models (LLMs) to boost the process of developing applications. Additionally, Neo4j is the default database for this tool, which enhances model accuracy and uncovers patterns.

The GenAI is packaged with preconfigured, ready-to-code, secure LLMs from Ollama and the LangChain framework, eliminating the need to search and configure technologies from different sources. Currently, the GenAI stack is available in early access and is accessible from the Docker Desktop Learning Center or on GitHub.

The recent announcements of Docker signal its intentions to democratize the generative AI tools development industry further. With tools like DockerAI and GenAI, developers can now build modern, scalable applications by using AI models backed by Docker’s cutting-edge technology.

Making AI a crucial part of DevOps, these Docker AI tools are positioned to play a pivotal role in the future of software development and deployment.

What is the AI Action Plan Established by New York Officials to Promote Responsible Use of AI?

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Boudhayan Ghosh

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October 17, 2023

Considering the precarious situation surrounding AI, New York officials introduced a pioneering AI action plan, the first of its kind among major US cities, aiming to produce responsible AI.

On Monday, October 16, New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Chief Technology Officer Matthew Fraser officially launched the city’s first one-of-its-kind AI action plan. The plan aims to mitigate AI-related risks while equipping city government employees with the necessary tools and knowledge to harness AI technology responsibly.

The action plan includes a MyCity Portal with an integrated MyCity Business site and a citywide AI chatbot. With the help of the AI chatbot, business owners can quickly access reliable information from over 2,000 NYC business web pages, covering topics like compliance, incentives and avoiding violations and fines.

The framework also enables city agencies to leverage AI potential for improved service delivery while safeguarding the privacy of New Yorkers and addressing bias concerns.

Other plans’ details include responsible AI accusations through the establishment of AI-specific procurement standards or guidelines to aid agency-level contracting. Also, publishing an annual AI progress report to convey the city’s progress and implementation.

The plan details 37 key actions in total, out of which 29 are set to be started or completed by next year.

LinkedIn Announces to Lay Off Almost 700 of its Employees to Improve Efficiency

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Boudhayan Ghosh

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October 17, 2023

LinkedIn is going through a second round of layoffs that will see 3% of the company’s workforce leaving among their 20,000 employees.

The Microsoft-owned company on Monday decided to axe nearly 700 of its employees across its engineering, talent, and finance teams.

According to the email sent by LinkedIn to its employees, the decision is taken to ensure improved agility, accountability, transparency, and efficiency through reduced layering.

Back in May, LinkedIn laid off around 700 employees worldwide and scaled down its presence in China, citing a shaky job market and decreased demand.

LinkedIn’s parent company, Microsoft, also initiated a global workforce reduction, joining other tech giants like Meta, Google, and Amazon, resulting in more than 200,000 job cuts in the tech sector. These job cuts in the tech sector are primarily due to a global recession, an uncertain economy, and investment in artificial intelligence.

LinkedIn is heavily investing in artificial intelligence and has unveiled a range of AI-driven tools designed to assist in marketing, recruitment, and sales.

Google to Protect its Generative AI Users against Copyright Lawsuits

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Boudhayan Ghosh

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October 17, 2023

Copyright lawsuits relating to generative AI use have been the subject of legal moot points in recent times. In the wake of an ongoing legal predicament, Google has announced it will offer legal protection to generative AI users facing copyright claims.

The protection applies to particular Google software like Duet AI in Workspace, Duet AI in Google Cloud, Vertex AI Search, other Vertex AI applications, and Codey API’s.

In the official announcement by Google Cloud, the multinational company also mentioned that a certain amount of onus also lies on the users. This means if a user intentionally creates generated outputs to infringe the rights of others, the indemnity Google is offering will not be applicable.

Read More: Can AI art be copyrighted?

The two indemnities offered by Google Cloud include training data and generated outputs. According to Google Cloud, their dual generative AI indemnity protection approach ensures balanced and practical coverage for pertinent categories of potential claims.

The training data indemnity safeguards against claims that Google’s utilization of training data in creating its generative models for a generative AI service infringes upon the intellectual property rights of third parties.

On the other hand, the generated output indemnity safeguards users against copyright acts that pertain to the content produced by users in response to prompts or other inputs they provide to Google. As per the announcement, the above-mentioned Google software is covered within the generated output indemnity.

With this announcement, Google joins Microsoft and Adobe, as both companies are offering their users legal protection against copyright infringement lawsuits.

Atlassian to Buy Video Messaging Platform Loom for $1.5 Billion

By

Boudhayan Ghosh

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October 16, 2023

Atlassian Loom $1.5 billion — Source: Atlassian

Atlassian Corporation, the Australian software company, plans to acquire the video messaging platform Loom in a deal worth $975 million ($1.5 Billion).

Founded back in 2015 by Vinay Hiremath, Shahid Khan, and Joe Thomas, Loom is primarily a video messaging platform encompassing other technological abilities, such as screen and camera recording, video editing, transcription service, and the option to share the video editing link with others.

Loom achieved a valuation of $1.53 billion in its most recent assessment, which came after a successful $130-million Series C funding round in May 2021, the same time when video messaging apps were booming due to the pandemic.

Atlassian’s expressed that they are incredibly excited about the opportunity this presents for both Atlassian and Loom customers. Through the power of the Atlassian platform, they can create seamless experiences between every tool their customers use to get work done, with async video being the latest in their toolbelt to help unleash the potential of every team.

With this merger, engineers on Jira will have the capability to visually record and document issues. Employees can also use video messaging to engage with their workforce on a larger scale.

The sales team, on the other hand, can send customized video updates to clients seamlessly within their workflows, whereas HR teams can onboard new employees using personalized welcome videos.

The deal sees Atlassian enhancing its software lineup, which already features significant work-focused collaboration tools like Jira, Confluence, and Trello.

Meta Launched AI Chatbots Embodied by Celebrities

By

Tejaswini Kasture

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October 14, 2023

Meta AI chatbot celebrities — Image Source: Meta

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has introduced AI-powered chatbots that are designed to take on the persona of famous celebrities. These chatbots likely use the likeliness or personality of celebrities to interact with the users.

These celebrities, as the AI bots, will have their own profiles on Instagram and Facebook, allowing users to delve into their unique personas. Meta has introduced more than 28 of these AI personalities on social media platforms.

For instance, Snoop Dogg, as the Dungeon Master, guides users through adventures and games. LaurDIY, or Dylan, brings a quirky DIY and craft experience, catering to the Gen Z audience. Dwyane Wade, as Victor embodies the Ironman triathlete, will motivate users to engage in their workout activities. Kendall Jenner, as Billie, will be the ride-or-die companion, and Roy Choi, as Max, share seasoned sous chef knowledge for culinary tips and tricks.

The other personalities include Charli D’Amelio as Coco, Izzy Adesanya as Luiz, Chris Paul as Perry, MrBeast as Zach, Paris Hilton as Amber, Naomi Osaka as Tamika, Raven Ross as Angie, Sam Kerr as Sally, and Tom Brady as Bru.

Zuckerberg stated that this isn’t solely about answering questions but also about entertainment. He mentioned that there are some limitations as the chatbots do not have real-time access to updated information, but this feature will be added in the coming months.

Furthermore, Meta also mentioned user interaction and feedback with AI chatbots are fundamental parts that will help them refine models. This, in return, will enhance users’ experience at a broader scale.

While Meta has aimed to attract audiences for interaction and connection with AI bots, recent videos featuring Meta AI personas created chaos as familiar celebrities were transformed into characters with different names.

Project Primrose: Adobe’s Interactive Dress Can Disrupt the Fashion Industry

By

Boudhayan Ghosh

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October 13, 2023

Adobe Interactive Dress Project Primrose

Adobe has introduced their mind-boggling “Project Primrose,” which literally brings a dress to life. The audience displayed flabbergasted reactions as the demo was given in Los Angeles at MAX Sneaks.

Adobe’s new avant-garde project might disrupt the fashion industry in the coming years. “Project Primrose” features a digital, interactive dress with embedded sensors on the fabric of the cloth. The interactive dress can change its surface design through a simple touch and body movement, displaying various patterns and animations.

Adobe teased their Project Primrose with this dress covered in reflective light-diffuser modules that brings clothing to life. pic.twitter.com/l5RMGzfKnM
— CNET (@CNET) October 12, 2023

To get into the subject’s technicality, Adobe uses innovative modules that utilize reflective light diffusion for non-emissive flexible display systems. These modules use a reflective-backed polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC), an electroactive material typically employed in smart windows applications.

These energy-efficient, non-emissive materials can be customized to various shapes and effectively scatter light, something that was displayed during the project primrose demo.

Project Primrose wasn’t the only experimental idea showcased at Sneaks, as various other projects, such as Project Stardust, Project Fast Fill, and Project See Through, all revolving around AI, captivated the audience’s attention.

Adobe’s latest experiments give a glimpse of the vast and fast-changing world of generative AI and how big industries are amalgamating it within their creative headspace. Project Primrose is one such example where the surface of the dress is becoming a canvas for digital creatives and not just fashion designers.

Walmart Will Soon Launch the Perfect AI Shopping Assistant Tool Powered by Generative AI

By

Boudhayan Ghosh

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October 13, 2023

A few years ago, the concept of online shopping was introduced, causing some foreseeable skepticism among people. Now, Walmart plans to use AI to create the perfect shopping assistance, yet another example of how AI enters an individual’s everyday life.

Walmart plans to revolutionize shopping experiences with three main features: AI-powered shopping assistance, a generative AI search bar, and an interior design tool.

With this upcoming shopping assistance, customers will have a more interactive shopping experience. The AI can answer questions, recommend products tailored to individual needs, and give details about specific items.

Generative AI actuates Walmart’s search bar tool, which helps customers by answering their specific sets of questions. Walmart’s search tool grasps what a shopper is looking for and displays an array of items that match the query.

Walmart is also incorporating augmented reality technology (AR) to create interior design assistance that will help users decorate their homes. To get started, a user needs to upload a photo of their rooms, and the AI will capture the images of all the items within the space. Customers can then chat with the virtual assistant to seek advice on redesigning their room. Thanks to its spatial understanding, the AI proposes where to place new items in the room.

The Malayalam Film Industry is Making a one-of-a-kind Story Based on Artificial General Intelligence

By

Boudhayan Ghosh

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October 13, 2023

Artificial General Intelligence AGI Monica AI Story — Source: Shutterstock

India is creating its own Ex Machina, a futuristic film named Monica, An AI Story, themed around concepts like Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) by the Malayalam film industry.

In recent times, the Malayalam film industry has been breaking new ground, whether it be the dichotomy between man and animal in Jose Pellissery’s Jellikettu that received worldwide critical acclaim or sci-fi fantasies like “Nine” and “Kunjappan Ver 5.35”, the southern-most state of India is raising the standards high.

As per recent news, director EM Ashraf is directing Monica, an AI Story, which revolves around an AGI played by an American-born social media influencer and entrepreneur named Aparna Mulberry.

Read More: AI Movies That You Should Not Miss

The film will supposedly use cutting-edge AI technologies to ratify the overall avant-garde subject matter, and if the rumors are true, it’s already oozing Black Mirror vibes.

But what exactly is an AGI? There isn’t a practical example, as AGI is still a concept. However, there is a theoretical definition. AGI, which is considered a strong AI, aims to replicate diverse human cognitive capabilities in software.

Basically, an AGI, if presented with an unfamiliar task, should be able to figure out a solution, just like a human. The ultimate goal of an AGI is to enable the system to perform any task that a human can do. Metaphysical abilities such as intuition, creativity, sensory perception, and abstract thinking are some of the things an AGI could perform.

ElevenLabs Creates a Tool That Translates Speeches in 20 Different Languages

By

Boudhayan Ghosh

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October 12, 2023

ElevenLabs, a voice AI research and deployment company, has released its most ambitious product yet. The American startup has successfully created AI Dubbing, a tool for translating speech into more than 20 different languages, including long-form content.

According to ElevenLabs, AI Dubbing maintains the original emotion, tonality, and other subtle elements of the voice and simultaneously translates it into a different language within minutes.

ElevenLabs CEO Mati Staniszewski said, “We have tested and iterated this feature in collaboration with hundreds of content creators to dub their content and make it more accessible to wider audiences.” He further added, “We see huge potential for independent creative such as those creating video content and podcast all the way through to film and TV studios.”

The tool is also easy to use; a user needs to create a new project, pick the source and target languages, and upload the content file. AI Dubbing then automatically determines the number of distinct voices in the content and starts working. Once finished, a user can download the file and use it.

Notably, the final translation of the speech happens through a speech synthesis tool called Eleven Multilingual v2, a software responsible for translating speeches in various languages.

We are living in a world where everything connects to everything else. If we were to achieve singularity, whether it will happen through “language” or “translation of language” remains a matter of introspection. In a world where only a handful of individuals speak English, an AI tool that “translates” validates diversity and authenticity.