PicsArt Launches Artificial intelligence Generated Fonts

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March 21, 2022

Picsart Artificial intelligence Generated Fonts

World’s leading digital creation platform PicsArt announces the launch of its new end-to-end artificial intelligence-powered generated fonts.

According to the company, PicsArt AI Research (PAIR) uses AI to produce new fonts by training models on a vast dataset of selected typefaces, allowing the models to create letters, symbols, and numbers.

The development comes just after the company introduced its API, making its world-class creative tools available to businesses. This new project started in 2021 as a part PicsArt’s hackathon, which later evolved into a full-fledged AI-generated font solution.

PicsArt Gold subscribers already have access to and can use over 30 of these unique intelligence-generated fonts. The company claims that users get access to multiple new fonts on a monthly basis.

Director of AI and Machine Learning at PicsArt, Anush Ghambaryam, said that over the last ten years, they had seen a change in written communication to become more visual.

“As the demand for visual communication increases, so does the need for new and unlimited options for creation. Fonts are one of the most popular features in our entire content library, and this new technology opens the door for infinite font creation,” he added.

PicsArt claims that its technology generates hundreds of glyphs, converts them to a vectorized image, passes further quality control checks, and generates a font file in the most common font file-formats, including TTF and OTF.

Chief Scientist at PicsArt and Founder of PAIR, Humphrey Shi, said, “At PAIR, we’re on an exciting mission to innovate and develop the best AI tools and products to empower creative communication for everyone.”

United States-based all-in-one photo and video editing application PicsArt was founded by Artavazd Mehrabyan and Karim xaki Xaki in 2011. It is the world’s largest digital creation platform and a top 20 most downloaded application.

To date, the company has raised $195 million from investors like Tribe Capital, Graph Ventures, Siguler Guff & Company, and many others over five funding rounds.

Microsoft Researchers Build AI Device to help Blind Children interact

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Dipayan Mitra

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March 20, 2022

Microsoft AI Device Blind Children interact

Researchers from Microsoft have built a novel wearable artificial intelligence-powered device named PeopleLens that can help blind children interact with others easily while simultaneously boosting their confidence.

It is especially difficult for children who are born blind to interact with others as they face the challenge of raising their voice in the direction of the person they wish to interact with.

Therefore, Microsoft’s new AI device can considerably help those children get along with others.

They will be able to better understand their immediate social surroundings, communicate with others, and build confidence.

Principal Research Manager at Microsoft Research Lab located in Cambridge, Cecily Morrison, said, “The PeopleLens helps learners build a People Map, a mental map of those around them needed to effectively signal communicative intent.”

Morrison further added that the new technology informs the learner’s peers when they have been seen and can interact – a replacement for the eye contact that typically initiates a human connection.

PeopleLens comes with multiple features like identifying individuals, attention notifications from the direction of other individuals, following capability, orientation guide, and many more.

The highly competent technology uses augmented reality glasses, which get connected to mobile devices.

Users then need to register faces in the device with whom they wish to connect, as the system can only identify people whose inputs have been registered.

The AI-powered system then receives the photos and processes them using computer vision algorithms to continuously locate, identify, track, and capture the gaze directions of persons in the area.

Microsoft is looking for students aged 5 to 11 in the United Kingdom who are interested in exploring technology as part of a multistage research study.

Meta takes down deepfake of Ukraine’s President surrendering

By

Osheen Jain

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March 20, 2022

Meta Takes Down DeepFake Ukraine President

A deepfake and heavily manipulated video showing Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy surrendering has been removed by Meta. It was first placed on a Ukrainian news website by hackers Wednesday before it was debunked and removed. The one-minute-long deepfake shows the Ukrainian president appealing to his soldiers to lay down their arms in the fight against Russia and surrender.

Nathaniel Gleicher, the Head of Security Policy at Meta, explained that they have removed the content for breaking the company’s rules against “manipulated media.” It’s a form of multimedia misinformation in which a public figure is seen saying something they never actually said.

According to the Atlantic Council’s Digital Forensic Research Lab, the same video is circulating widely on Meta’s Russian counterpart, VKontakte. The same lab has also observed that a pro-Russia Telegram channel published a deepfake on Wednesday depicting Zelensky calling the country to surrender.

It is unclear who created the deepfake or where it was generated. The Ukraine government officials have been warning the country about the possibility of Russia spreading manipulated videos as part of its information warfare.

Ukraine’s military intelligence agency released a video about how state-sponsored deepfakes could be used to sow panic and confusion. The video shows a passable lip-sync. However, the viewers pointed out that Zelenskyy’s accent was off and that his facial movements did not appear authentic upon quick inspection.

Zelenskyy quickly counteracted the disinformation with his own messaging on Telegram, which was shot in the same selfie video style that’s characterized Zelensky’s communications. Zelenskyy also posted a video on his official Instagram account debunking the video. “As for the latest childish provocation with advice to lay down arms, I only advise that the troops of the Russian Federation lay down their arms and return home,” he said. “We are at home and defending Ukraine.”

Intel plans to Invest $36 billion for Chip Manufacturing in Europe

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Dipayan Mitra

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March 19, 2022

Global semiconductor manufacturing giant Intel announces its plan to invest $36 billion for microchip manufacturing in Europe.

This new development is a move towards making the European Union more self-reliant for manufacturing semiconductors.

According to the plan, Intel aims to establish two semiconductor facilities in Germany to boost chip manufacturing in the region.

The newly announced German fabrication facilities, according to Intel, will build chips with the company’s most advanced capabilities, and the plants are expected to open in 2027.

The plants will employ cutting-edge chip manufacturing technologies in an endeavor to develop chips with a width of two nanometers or less.

Intel’s fabs will help rebalance global silicon capacity and create a more resilient supply chain, mentioned Germany’s chancellor, Olaf Scholz.

Over the last few years, Intel has pledged to transform itself into a chip manufacturer for the world, opening its factories to manufacture chips designed by anybody willing to pay.

CEO of Intel, Pat Gelsinger, said, “This broad initiative will boost Europe’s R&D innovation and bring leading-edge manufacturing to the region for the benefit of our customers and partners around the world.”

He further added that they are committed to playing a key role in shaping Europe’s digital future over the next many decades. Along with Intel, TSMC, another semiconductor manufacturing giant, also expressed its intentions to enter the European market by opening facilities in the region.

Additionally, Intel also plans to establish R&D, manufacturing, and foundry services in Ireland, Italy, Poland, and Spain, along with a new R&D and design center in France.

Ukraine’s president just signed a law to legalize crypto

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Osheen Jain

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March 19, 2022

Last month, Ukraine’s parliament passed a bill called “On Virtual Assets” to legalize cryptocurrency. And now, Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky has signed the bill to legalize crypto in the country. The decision comes after Ukraine received million in crypto.

Since Russia’s invasion, individuals and groups from around the world have sent an estimated $100 million in crypto donations to Ukraine, including aid groups, the Ukrainian military, hacktivists, and everyday citizens.

In a post shared on Telegram, Ukraine’s Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Transformation, Mykhailo Fedorov, said the law would “bring the crypto sector out of the shadows.”

Ukraine has been preparing a framework for regulating and managing cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum. This bill will legalize crypto in Ukraine and provides a legal framework for the country to operate in a regulated crypto market.

According to Cointelegraph, Coindesk, and other digital asset-focused outlets, crypto exchanges and firms will now have to register with the government to operate legally in Ukraine. Also, the banks will be allowed to open accounts for crypto firms.

The law also empowers Ukraine’s Stock Market Commission and National Securities to determine the country’s policies on digital assets, act as a financial watchdog, and issue licenses to businesses dealing with crypto.

Big Data company Gramener Opens R&D Office in Hyderabad

By

Dipayan Mitra

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March 18, 2022

Leading big data and storytelling company Gramener opens its new research and development facility along with a 250 seater center in Hyderabad, India.

KT Rama Rao, Minister of Information Technology and Industries, inaugurated Gramener’s new development and research office on Monday.

Rama Rao also stressed the importance of data science and how it can assist governments in making decisions that benefit individuals during the launch event. The new facility is located in SLN-One West in Hyderabad’s Nanakramguda Financial District.

According to the company, it plans to double its workforce from 250 to 500 in the coming years. Gramener’s Hyderabad office will have data science resources with a combination of statistics, design, and technology to expand Gramener’s vision and give value to organizations.

Co-founder and COO of Gramener, Naveen Gattu, said, “Gramener originated in Hyderabad in 2010 as the first data science and storytelling company and soon expanded to global horizons, enhancing decision-making process in enterprises, the public sector, and nonprofits.”

He further mentioned that they are pleased to invest in Hyderabad since the city offers them access to key talent, excellent infrastructure, and entrepreneur-friendly IT policies to help them grow quickly.

Chief Revenue Officer of Gramener Matt Ferry mentioned that the company is looking forward to expanding into the North American market as it sees great opportunities, and the newly established facility in Hyderabad will help the company in meeting the demands of North America.

Canvass AI Now Available in the Microsoft Azure Marketplace

By

Dipayan Mitra

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March 18, 2022

Artificial intelligence-powered platform designed for the industrial manufacturers, oil, and gas companies Canvass AI is now available in the Microsoft Azure Marketplace.

Users across the globe will now be able to use the Microsoft Azure Marketplace to quickly deploy the Canvass AI platform and speed their AI time to effect.

Canvass AI plans to boost the adoption of artificial intelligence in the industrial sector by making the platform available on Azure marketplace, which is an online store that provides applications and services for use on Azure.

Canvass AI is a no-code artificial intelligence software that allows industrial engineers to enjoy the benefits of AI without requiring data science knowledge.

General Manager of Microsoft Azure Platform, Jake Zborowski, said, “Through Microsoft Azure Marketplace, customers around the world can easily find, buy, and deploy partner solutions they can trust, all certified and optimized to run on Azure.”

He also mentioned that they are excited to add Canvass AI’s solution to the Azure Marketplace’s growing ecosystem. Canvass AI, which is available as an AI Software-as-a-Service platform on Microsoft Azure, gives users all the tools they require to apply, scale and operationalize AI throughout their operations.

According to the company, its customers have reported using Canvass AI to successfully operationalize AI use cases and accelerate time-to-value by 4x. Interested users can check out the pricing plans of Canvass AI on the Microsoft Azure Marketplace.

Canada-based artificial intelligence firm Canvass AI was founded by Courtney Deinert, Humera Malik, and Steve Kludt in 2016. To date, the company has raised $13 million from investors like BDC Venture capital, Yamaha Motor Ventures & Laboratory Silicon Valley, Gradient Ventures, and many others over three funding rounds.

CEO of Canvass AI, Humera Malik, said, “Launching on the Microsoft Azure Marketplace ensures that industrial companies worldwide can access Canvass AI and immediately drive impact across their operations.” She further added that Canvass AI customers are reaping the benefits of artificial intelligence and Industry 4.0 because of their no-code AI platform.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg Hints at Instagram’s Ambitions for NFT Marketplace

By

Preetipadma K

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March 17, 2022

instagram nft meta — Image Credits: Analytics Drift Design Team

Nonfungible tokens or NFTs are slowly becoming mainstream and there is no stopping. After Twitter allowed its users to customize their Twitter profile so that they can show off the NFTs they own in a hex-shaped profile picture on their Twitter account, Instagram might follow similar pursuit. Mark Zuckerberg said during a session at South by SouthWest that NFTs will be introduced to Instagram in the “near term.” While the Meta CEO and founder didn’t go into great detail, he said that non-fungible tokens will be integrated into the company’s photo and video sharing app if the Instagram team worked out some technical issues.

Zuckerberg said, “I’m not ready to kind of announce exactly what that’s going to be today. But over the next several months, the ability to bring some of your NFTs in, hopefully over time be able to mint things within that environment.”

Famously known for wearing the same grey t-shirt every day, Zuckerberg cited his personal purchasing habits as the rationale for expanding Instagram’s role as a shopping platform, stating that “probably most of the stuff that I wear, I probably bought through an Instagram or Facebook Shops or ads.”

This is not the first time there are rumors about Instagram venturing into the world of NFTs. Last year, Instagram’s CEO Adam Mosseri stated that the company was actively studying NFTs, but that no official announcements had been made. It was earlier reported that Facebook and Instagram teams were working on NFT integrations in January. According to the reports, development has been made on features that allow you to use an NFT as a profile and mint NFTs on the platform, as well as conversations about building a marketplace. When Zuckerberg verified the rumor, he was taking part in a conversation about the Metaverse and the changing environment of digital culture. He spoke about topics like NFTs and the potential, you know, long-term, and expressed his hopes that your avatar’s clothing in the Metaverse can be minted as an NFT and taking “it between your different places,” during the hour-long conversation.

This isn’t Meta’s first foray into the crypto world. In 2019, the company announced plans to launch “Libra” (later renamed to “Diem”), a USD-pegged stablecoin that failed owing to regulatory licensing issues and community opposition. Following criticism from US Senators Sherrod Brown and Brian Schatz, some initial members of the so-called Libra Association quit the initiative within months of its launch. Meta eventually sold the cryptocurrency project for $200 million in January, and Zuckerberg’s comments on NFTs suggest he’s hoping for a breakthrough in the blockchain industry. Although Silvergate Capital bought the project, several former Meta personnel are currently attempting to resurrect the open-source stablecoin by establishing their own network.

Senator Jones introduces bill to ban tech mergers over $5 billion

By

Osheen Jain

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March 17, 2022

Senator Warren Introduces PAMA Bill to Stop Big Tech Mergers

Senator Elizabeth Warren and Mondaire Jones (House Representative) have introduced Bicameral Legislation in their respective congressional chambers to ban large technology mergers effectively. Warren has long made it clear that she’s no fan of Big Tech and her latest legislation proves it. According to her and House Representative Mondaire Jones’s bill, the Prohibiting Anticompetitive Mergers Act (PAMA) would make it illegal to pursue mergers that are worth more than $5 billion or provide market shares beyond 25 percent for employers and 33 percent for sellers.

With PAMA, the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) would be able to ban most anticompetitive mergers, break up harmful mergers, reject deals without court orders. Antirust regulators will get more power to halt and review mergers with this bill. They could ban unions with companies with track records of antitrust violations or other “corporate crime” instances in the past decade.

Crucially, PAMA would include procedures for reviewing past mergers and breaking up future “harmful deals” that allegedly hurt competition. Despite approving similar tech mergers earlier, the Federal Trade Commission has signaled a willingness to split up tech giants like Meta. With PAMA, it’ll become easier to unwind such acquisitions and force brands like Instagram and WhatsApp to operate as separate businesses.

However, this act isn’t entirely focused on tech, but Warren clarified that industry was a target. Earlier, she cautioned the FTC on Amazon’s proposed buyout of MGM Studios and even challenged Lockheed Martin’s attempt to buy Aerojet Rocketdyne.

If PAMA becomes law, it will ban huge deals like the Amazon-MGM union (worth over $8.4 billion), Microsoft’s Activision deal ($68.7 billion), and relatively modest acquisitions like Google’s planned buyout of Mandiant ($5.4 billion). Tech firms would essentially have to focus on acquiring ‘small’ companies and forego deals meant to exert dominance in a given market or expand market share.

However, PAMA will face some obstacles before reaching President Biden’s desk. The first is that both the House and Senate bills have no Republican cosponsors. Even if the bill clears the House, the Senate bill could fail unless the sitting Democrats support it.

You.com launches YouWrite, an AI-powered writing tool powered by OpenAI

By

Osheen Jain

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March 17, 2022

You.com has launched YouWrite, a new tool that uses OpenAI’s GPT-3 model to generate snippets for documents when given a prompt. Socher, CEO/founder of You.com, says that this new tool is a personal AI writer. You.com is a search engine that leverages natural language processing and artificial intelligence to understand search queries, parse them into different languages, and rank results. It was launched by Bryan McCann and Richard Socher just a few months ago.

You.com co-founder and CEO Richard Socher claim that the company uses technology to help people “live better and more productive lives.” The platform summarises search results from web pages and is extensible with built-in search apps, so users don’t have to leave the results page. This new tool, called YouWrite, leverages OpenAI’s GPT-3, an AI system that can generate human-like emails, recipes, poetry, movie script, short stories, and more.

Users can type a query like “How to write an essay,” and also specify the length (e.g., paragraph), tone (e.g., persuasive), the audience (e.g., students, teachers, or marketers), and the content of the text (e.g., “two paragraphs on the Cold War”). YouWrite will generate the content according to the specified information.

Socher demonstrated how YouWrite could write paragraphs explaining ‘why dogs are awesome’ or a boilerplate rejection letter for a job candidate in a demo.

However, there’s a risk of the system becoming susceptible to bias and toxicity because language systems such as OpenAI’s GPT-3 learn to “write” by analyzing vast chunks of text from websites, including problematic sources that advance misinformation, conspiracy theories, racism, ageism, sexism, and ableism. Socher claims that YouWrite can prevent problematic outputs using filters and other techniques, like human feedback, on the backend.

YouWrite could also detect when its output might contain sensitive content, such as references to violence, and append a warning label. YouWrite will be free to start, but users who generate more extended outputs will eventually have to pay for the service.