Paralyzed Man Regains Movement After First-ever AI-infused Surgery

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July 31, 2023

Paralyzed man regains movement after first-ever AI-infused surgery — Image Credits: The AI Cover

An American from Long Island found artificial intelligence to be a blessing in disguise. After a diving accident left him paralyzed, he was able to move and feel his body again, thanks to a surgery that connected his brain to a computer via microelectrode implants.

Keith Thomas, 45, is a pioneer patient for AI-infused surgery to treat or cure conditions like blindness, deafness, ALS, convulsions, cerebral palsy, and Parkinson’s, according to the New York Post.

According to Chad Bouton, a professor at Feinstein’s Institute of Bioelectronic Medicine, “This is the first time a paralyzed person is regaining movement and sensation by having their brain, body, and spinal cord electronically linked together. We could continue to assist millions of people worldwide, perhaps with a wider range of conditions.”

When Thomas dove into a friend’s pool in Montauk, New York, in 2020, he shattered his neck and sustained damage to some of his vertebrae. According to what was said, he was never to be able to move below his neck. He maintained his optimism, nevertheless. He told the Post, “I’m a true New Yorker and wanted everything done straight away.”

Thomas was a good candidate for the surgery because of his tenacity and love of life, according to Dr. Ashesh Mehta, director of the Institute’s Laboratory of Human Brain Mapping. As per the New York Post, Thomas underwent a 15-hour surgery during which he was conscious for a portion to converse with the medical staff.

“The procedure needed to go flawlessly. Error was not an option. There is only one proper way to do it, and a million ways it could go wrong,” Mehta continued. Since his injury, Thomas has been able to hold his sister’s hand after surgery and a one-week rehabilitation period.

MIT Introduces ‘PhotoGuard’ to Prevent AI Manipulation of Images

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Sahil Pawar

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July 31, 2023

MIT introduces 'PhotoGuard' to prevent AI manipulation of images — Image Credits: MIT

A method to prevent images from being manipulated by AI has been developed by the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL), a unit of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the United States.

The tool, called PhotoGuard, guards against improper usage of photographs by modifying pixels in a way that makes it challenging for artificial intelligence to comprehend. According to the paper, these “perturbations” are imperceptible to the human eye but are interpreted by AI.

Using an “encoder” approach, which alters the information that describes the precise position and color of pixels in an image, is one way to put this into practice. The AI is unable to comprehend what it is looking at as a result of this modification.

The second technique, referred to as a “diffusion” attack, makes the image appear to be another in the eyes of an AI. This is accomplished by using data from a different target image and changing the pixels in the source image to match that, masking the image in the AI’s vision.

Although the methods work, they aren’t yet error-proof. Cropping, flipping, or adding digital noise to the image would still allow anyone to reverse engineer it.

This occurs at a time when generative artificial intelligence is growing, raising the possibility that our photographs will be altered and used against us. This has already been demonstrated in images, from Pope Francis donning a puffy jacket to a fake Mark Zuckerberg ranting about how he rules the world.

Generative AI Tool AutogenAI for Writing Bids and Pitches Secures $22.3M

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Sahil Pawar

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July 30, 2023

Generative AI tool AutogenAI for writing bids and pitches secures $22.3M — Image Credits: AutogenAI

Blossom Capital has invested $22.3 million in London-based firm AutogenAI to help it develop its platform and increase its clientele. The startup has created a tool based on generative AI to help companies create better pitches and boost their success rates.

28 clients have already signed up with AutogenAI since it launched less than a year ago. The business, which is estimated to be worth “hundreds of millions,” uses large language models from OpenAI and other sources along with confidential structured and unstructured customer data.

AutogenAI boasts a varied clientele, including international management consultants, construction firms, facilities management corporations, and nonprofit organizations, yet it withholds particular customer names.

Users of AutogenAI’s interface can search information and produce pitches based on their prior achievements. Before being offered for contracts, the team customizes and improves these drafts. According to AutogenAI’s claims, its software can speed up the pitch writing process by 800%.

AutogenAI covers two crucial components of successful bids. First off, it does away with the requirement for a substantial budget outlay by lowering procurement expenses by about 10%. Second, the platform cuts down initial bid writing time by 70%, freeing teams to concentrate on others essential tasks.

Blossom Capital is interested in AutogenAI because of the potential ROI the solution could provide. The application can assist companies in increasing production and profitability by saving time and streamlining the proposal drafting procedure.

Netflix Faces Criticism From Writers and Actors After Posting AI Job that Pays $900K

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Sahil Pawar

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July 29, 2023

Netflix faces criticism writers actors posting AI job pays $900K — Image Credits: Netflix

As the Hollywood strikes continue, Netflix is receiving criticism for posting an advertisement for an AI job position that can earn up to $900,000 annually. The job description indicates that the Product Manager for machine learning platform role may be situated remotely on the West Coast or in Netflix’s Los Gatos, California, office.

According to the job description, this position would establish the overall strategic plan for the machine learning platform. The job description includes goals, important outcomes, and success measures that are in conjunction with engineering and in line with more general company goals.

Rob Delaney, a comedian and actor who most recently appeared in a Black Mirror episode that explored the use of artificial intelligence to duplicate performers’ performances, criticized the new Netflix position’s high compensation in an interview.

“So $900k/yr per soldier in their godless AI army when that amount of earnings could qualify thirty-five actors and their families for SAG-AFTRA health insurance is just ghoulish,” he declared. “There is enough money for everyone; it’s only a matter of priorities, I can guarantee you, having experienced both poverty and wealth in this industry.”

Protections against artificial intelligence are a major concern during the ongoing strike by members of the Writers Guild of America and the Screen Actors Guild. The Screen Actors Guild reports that 87% of its actors earn less than $26,000 annually.

Television scriptwriter Javier Grillo-Marxuach said, “Pleading poverty while recruiting very well-paid generals for your soulless army of Silicon plagiarists is not a good look.” Unions for actors and writers are on strike for greater pay and to prevent the use of AI to substitute human likenesses in writing or acting.

PM Modi Boasts of India’s Thriving Semiconductor Industry at Semicon 2023

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Sahil Pawar

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July 28, 2023

India is acting as an excellent conductor for the semiconductor sector, according to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who compared the country to a conductor in a chip and claimed it is checking all the necessary boxes. The Prime Minister was addressing during the three-day SemiCon India 2023’s opening session, which was held at Gandhinagar, Gujarat’s Mahatma Mandir.

The event to further India’s semiconductor mission in Gandhinagar attracted more than 500 industry leaders, researchers, policymakers, government officials, and entrepreneurs, among others. Ashwini Vaishnaw, the federal minister for railways, communications, electronics, and IT; Rajeev Chandrasekhar, the union minister of state for electronics and IT; and Gujarat chief minister Bhupendra Patel were in attendance at the official ceremony.

Young Liu, chairman of Foxconn, Anil Agarwal, chairman of Vedanta Group, Mark Papermaster, executive vice president and chief technology officer of AMD, Anirudh Devgan, president and chief executive officer of Cadence, Sanjay Mehrotra, president and chief executive officer of Micron Technology, and Prabhu Raja, president of semiconductor products group at Applied Materials, were on the panel from the industry.

“People asked why invest in the semiconductor sector in India a year ago when we held the first SemiCon. The question is now, “Why not invest?” after a year,” said the PM while talking to the leaders. “You’ve pinned your hopes and aspirations on India, and India has not let you down. In the India of the twenty-first century, there are many prospects for you to grow your business because of India’s democracy and population.”

According to the PM, India was once a rising star in the electronics industry. He said India’s production in 2014 was under $30 billion. Now, according to him, India’s exports of electronics and mobile phones have increased during the past two years. The best phones are now manufactured and exported from India, which formerly imported them, to other countries.

According to him, the recently launched National Quantum Mission and the upcoming National Research Foundation Bill are both included in the entire roadmap of the semiconductor revolution. The PM further stated that the revamped engineering curriculum would aid in the recruitment of experts for the sector. The PM continued that there will be a need for roughly 1 lakh designers over the next five years, and the projects would guarantee a supply.

AI To Take More Jobs From Women Than Men By 2030: McKinsey Survey

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Sahil Pawar

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July 28, 2023

People are becoming more concerned about the possibility of various jobs being eliminated by advanced technology as a result of recent developments in artificial intelligence. According to a recent survey by the McKinsey Global Institute, the rise of automation and artificial intelligence will result in more women losing their employment by the end of the decade than men.

According to the survey, workplace automation and artificial intelligence will drive nearly eight in ten women to change jobs or go on to another organization.

Food services, customer service and sales, and office support are the sectors that automation is predicted to dwindle the most. Women occupy more low-paying occupations than males do in these industries, thus they are more likely to be impacted.

The paper notes that office support and customer service, which could lose around 3.7 million and 2.0 million jobs, respectively, by 2030, are fields where women are disproportionately represented. According to the survey, other low-paying positions, such as retail salespeople and cashiers, which are largely held by women, may also be impacted.

As a result, in order to advance to other roles and remain relevant in the workforce, women will need to broaden their skill sets. According to the survey, businesses should look for, select, and train candidates who have the aptitude to work alongside automation.

According to a Goldman Sachs research from March 2023, generative AI may affect up to 300 million employment. According to the paper, generative AI tools like ChatGPT could lead to a productivity boost over the following ten years since they can produce content and perform tasks that are very comparable to humans.

Kerala’s Minister of Public Works and Tourism Interviewed by AI News Presenter

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Sahil Pawar

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July 28, 2023

Kerala's Minister of Public Works and Tourism interviewed by AI News Presenter — Image Credits: OnManorama

Kerala’s Minister of Public Works and Tourism, P.A. Muhammad Riyas, was interviewed by an AI news presenter, marking a significant step in AI-based journalism. The interview, which was organized by Channeliam.com, represents a yet another revolutionary advancement in the use of artificial intelligence in news production.

The news anchor Pragathy was introduced by Channeliam.com recently, which used this chance to set up this unique interview. Emerging technology and Kerala’s readiness for AI advancements were among the many topics discussed throughout the session.

Channeliam.com, a digital news outlet, is a startup founded by Nisha Krishnan. This start-up, which was supported by the Kerala Startup Mission and was founded in 2016, played a key role in the planning of the whole event.

In the AI-led interview, the minister was questioned by Nisha Krishnan’s avatar, powered by generative AI capabilities. The CEO and founder of Channeliam.com, Nisha Krishnan, expressed her delight on this novel method of reporting. She praised the minister for being receptive to technological developments because this opens up more avenues for public discourse.

Such events are an evidence of how journalism and technology have converged. On March 30, India Today debuted the country’s first-ever AI news anchor known as Sana. It was followed by the introduction of Lisa, Odisha’s first news anchor launched by OTV and Soundarya, South India’s first news anchor launched by Power TV.

Australian Medical Association Calls for AI Regulations After Doctors Use ChatGPT for Medical Notes

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Sahil Pawar

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July 27, 2023

Following a warning to doctors working in hospitals in Perth about using ChatGPT to create medical notes, Australia’s top medical group has called for strict regulations and transparency surrounding the use of artificial intelligence in the healthcare sector.

In a comment to the federal government’s discussion paper on safe and responsible AI, the Australian Medical Association noted that Australia lags behind other comparable countries in the regulation of AI and that stronger rules are required to protect patients and medical professionals and to foster trust.

After it was discovered that certain staff members had been utilizing the large language model for the practice, five hospitals in Perth’s South Metropolitan Health Service were instructed in May to stop using ChatGPT to generate medical notes for patients. According to the ABC, the service’s CEO, Paul Forden, told colleagues via email that utilizing such technologies could not guarantee patient confidentiality and that it had to stop.

In order to prevent the system from causing more health inequities, the AMA also stated that patient data must be preserved and that proper ethical oversight is required.

The recent EU Artificial Intelligence Act, which would classify the dangers associated with various AI technologies and set up an oversight board, should be taken into consideration for Australia, according to the AMA. It also recommended taking into account Canada’s rules on necessity for human intervention points in AI-related decision-making.

The AMA president, Prof Steve Robson said, “We need to address the AI regulation gap in Australia, especially in healthcare where there is the potential for patient injury from system errors, systemic bias embedded in algorithms and serious risk to patient privacy.”

HDFC Ergo General Insurance Launches Center of Excellence for Generative AI

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Sahil Pawar

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July 27, 2023

A Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Generative Artificial Intelligence has been established by private sector general insurance provider HDFC Ergo General Insurance. The CoE seeks to implement generative AI-based solutions to provide highly customized client experiences.

HDFC Ergo and Google Cloud are working together to identify application cases and upskill their staff in generative AI.

According to the corporation, HDFC Ergo has been using technology as a “digital first” organisation to democratise insurance and provide customer-focused services. The partnership with Google Cloud will guarantee that its developers are using generative AI in an ethical and responsible manner.

The CoE’s goals include creating new goods and services, enhancing current workflows, reducing costs, and promoting the development of a workforce equipped for the future through opportunities for training and upskilling in generative AI technologies.

The business views generative AI as a tool to improve customer experiences and unleash untapped prospects in the insurance industry. Their dedication to implementing cutting-edge technology in order to deliver better services and research new customer groups is strengthened by this partnership, said the company.

Meta Forecasts Strong Third Quarter Revenue Fuelled by Digital Ad Growth

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Sahil Pawar

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July 27, 2023

Meta Platforms had an 11% increase in revenue to $32 billion in the second quarter after exceeding market estimates. In terms of revenue, analysts had predicted $31.12 billion. The company forecasts a positive third-quarter revenue that will surpass market forecasts.

The company’s rising ad revenues are what drive its revenues. After the publication of the quarterly results, Meta shares were flying high and rose 4% on Wednesday during after-hours trading. In comparison to analysts’ average expectation of $31.30 billion, the business anticipates sales from July through September in the range of $32 billion to $34.5 billion.

The social media behemoth, fueled by excitement surrounding cutting-edge artificial intelligence technology and an ambitious austerity drive in which it has laid off some 21,000 staff since last autumn, is still recovering from a painful 2022 crunch. The company’s shares have more than doubled in value this year as a result of the development in AI.

Additionally, after months of reduced expenditure, advertisers are now supporting those gains by investing more money in digital ads. Brands are putting their bets as the situation improves, but they are only doing so on reliable platforms like Meta and Alphabet.

The revenue increases offer comfort as Meta continues to invest more than $10 billion annually on a longer-term bet on metaverse hardware and software, while also making significant investments to improve its infrastructure and stay competitive in a developing arms race surrounding AI technology.

According to the business, legal-related expenses will cost between $88 billion and $99 billion in 2023. Additionally, the business may have to deal with higher infrastructure-related costs in 2024 in addition to an increase in payroll costs.