Europe to Launch “Crash Test” Facilities for AI to Ensure Safety

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June 30, 2023

Europe launches Crash Test Center for AI — Image Source: reuter

Technology is emerging every day. But who will oversee these innovations? And what guarantees the content provided by AI tools is safe to use? To ensure the safety, usage, and misinformation spread by AI, European Union (EU) has planned to establish testing facilities for AI around Europe.

With the launch of four testing facilities across Europe on Tuesday, the project already has an investment of $240 million. These crash test centers, which are physical and virtual, will start operating next year. The test centers will also help enlighten public policy on AI and support the growth of the AI industry while taking care of these technological innovations that are trustworthy and harmless.

Where innovation emerges every day, crash centers will provide space for technology providers to test Artificial Intelligence (AI) and robotics in real-world settings within the manufacturing, food, agriculture, and healthcare sectors.

On 27^th May 2023, Ms. Lucilla Sioli, Director for AI and Digital Industry at the European Commission, highlighted the misinformation, risk, and impacts associated with AI. She explained why technology providers are expected to bring “trustworthy AI” to market and how using crash centers capabilities will help them test and validate their applications.

Meanwhile, the Technical University of Denmark is allocated to lead one of the crash test centers, and it would act as a safety filter between technology providers and users in Europe, complementing regulations such as the EU’s AI Act. Recently, the EU has taken a crucial step on the way to regulate AI that imposes new restrictions on the risk and uses of the technology. However, the European Union has always been very privacy-conscious when it comes to technology, and this one step towards crash test facilities will ensure that AI innovations are safe and trustworthy.

Microsoft Unveils Free Generative AI Skill Training Course

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Sahil Pawar

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June 30, 2023

Microsoft unveils free generative AI skill training course — Image Credits: Stock Images

Microsoft has unveiled a new AI skills project to aid individuals and groups worldwide in better understanding artificial intelligence. A new, free coursework created with LinkedIn is part of the effort, which is a part of Microsoft’s skills for Jobs programme.

Thisnew course launched by Microsoft and LinkedIn offers free introductory generative AI learning materials. Individuals will master fundamental AI principles through this new programme, including an examination of responsible AI frameworks, and will graduate with a Career Essentials certificate. This appears to be beneficial for anyone seeking a professional qualification in generative AI.

According to a recent Nasscom analysis, India has the second-largest AI talent pool in the world and is at the top of the list in terms of AI talent concentration and related skills. The demand for AI/ML big data analytics tech expertise in India still outpaces supply by 51%, even with the country’s present skill pool of about 420,000 professionals.

Microsoft is launching a new effort to assist individuals in improving in AI, claiming that AI is ready to establish a whole new way of working at a time when the velocity of information work is overwhelming human capacity to keep up. According to the tech giant, it has taught approximately 70,000 female students from Tier II and III towns in AI skills over the past two years.

“AI skills represent the third highest priority for companies’ training strategies, alongside analytical and creative thinking,” said Gunjan Patel, director and head of Philanthropies at Microsoft India. “The potential for AI to empower workers is enormous. But we must make sure that everyone is equipped with the necessary abilities. The new AI Skills Initiative is a fresh start that will build on an upcoming wave of technological innovation.”

ChatGPT Developer OpenAI Picks London for First Office Outside the US

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Suchitra Shenoy

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June 30, 2023

OpenAI London Office Announcement — Image Source: Getty Images

OpenAI, the US company behind ChatGPT, has selected London for its first international office outside of the United States. Having received multibillion-dollar backing from Microsoft, OpenAI said the focus of its London office would be on research and engineering.

The announcement comes days after UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s speech at London Tech Week, stating, “If our goal is to make this country the best place in the world for tech, AI is surely one of the greatest opportunities before us.” Mr. Sunak wants the UK to be an AI technology superpower, with London as home to a global body tasked with legislating AI.

The UK boasts a number of AI companies, including Google’s DeepMind, data analytics giant Palantir, Thought Machine, Infogrid, Builder.ai, Quantexa, OneTrust, Darktrace, and Wayve.

We are excited to announce OpenAI's first international expansion with a new office in London! 🇬🇧 https://t.co/jHJFFVAWD7
— OpenAI (@OpenAI) June 28, 2023

Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, stated, “We see this expansion as an opportunity to attract world-class talent and drive innovation in AGI (artificial general intelligence) development and policy.”

According to Bloomberg, OpenAI had been considering Poland or France for its first international office. However, its decision to go with London is seen as “another vote of confidence for Britain as an AI powerhouse,” as per Chloe Smith, UK Secretary for Science, Innovation, and Technology.

“We’re thrilled to extend our research and development footprint into London, a city globally renowned for its rich culture and exceptional talent pool,” said Diane Yoon, OpenAI’s VP of People.

While no details have been provided on when the office would open or how many people would be employed, they have posted four role openings, including a solution architect and security engineer.

First AI-Generated Drug Enters Phase II Trials

By

Suchitra Shenoy

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June 30, 2023

Insilico Medicine AI-generated drug — Image Source: Insilico Medicine

Insilico Medicine, the Hong Kong-based biotech startup backed by private equity giant Warburg Pincus and Chinese conglomerate Fosun Group, has begun human trials of its AI-designed drug.

Known as INS018-055, the fully generative AI drug is targeted to treat idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a chronic disease that causes scarring in the lungs. The condition is prevalent in about 100,000 people in the United States and, if left untreated, can lead to death in two to five years, according to the National Institutes of Health.

Currently, the treatments for IPF are pirfenidone and nintedanib, which may provide some relief or slow down the symptoms but don’t stop progression or reverse the damage. Some unpleasant side effects of these drugs include diarrhea, nausea, loss of appetite, and weight loss.

“There are very few options for people with this terrible condition, and the prognosis is poor,” said Insilico Medicine’s CEO Alex Zhavoronkov. Initial studies indicate that INS018_055 has the potential to address some of the limitations of existing therapies.

The drug received positive topline data in Phase I in early 2023, with international multi-site Phase I studies demonstrating consistent results, indicating favorable tolerability and safety of the AI-generated INS018_055. Shown to be generally safe and well tolerated by healthy volunteers involved in the study, the supportive data led to the initiation of the Phase II study.

A 12-week trial will include subjects diagnosed with IPF, and the Phase II study will assess the tolerability, safety, preliminary efficacy, and pharmacokinetics of the drug. Insilico also has plans to expand the testing population by recruiting 60 subjects with IPF at about 40 sites in China and the U.S.

Insilico’s chief medical officer, Sujata Rao, M.D., stated, “If our Phase IIa study is successful, the drug will then go to Phase IIb with a larger cohort of participants.” If there is a significant response to the drug, then it will be evaluated on hundreds of patients to confirm its safety and effectiveness before it can be a new FDA-approved treatment for patients with that condition.

US Government Approves World’s First Flying Car

By

Sahil Pawar

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June 30, 2023

US government approves world's first flying car — Image Credits: Alaf Aeronautics

The US government has given Alef Aeronautics’ flying car the approval to soar. According to aviation law firm Aero Law Centre, the car manufacturer declared that it has earned a Special Airworthiness Certification from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). A vehicle of this kind has never before been certified in the US.

“The FAA is actively working on its policies for electrical vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicles, as well as governing interactions between eVTOLs and ground infrastructure,” Alef Aeronautics stated in a statement. The statement said that Alef’s Special Airworthiness Certificate, therefore, limits the areas and purposes for which Alef is permitted to fly.

The flying automobile, which has its base in San Mateo, California, is entirely electric and has seating for one or two people. According to Fox News, the automobile, which costs about $300,000, can fly to avoid road accidents and over stalled traffic.

In October 2022, the business unveiled two functional full-size technology demonstrator cars as well as a full-sized sports car. Over 440 of the business’s vehicles had been pre-ordered, according to the company, from both individual and corporate consumers in January.

By the end of 2025, the corporation wants to start delivering flying automobiles to clients, according to sources. The flying automobile is being designed for use on regular urban or rural roads. It can fit into a regular-sized garage and in a regular-sized parking spot.

The car is a low-speed vehicle, therefore it can only go at a top speed of 25 mph on paved surfaces. According to Alef’s website, the assumption is that, if a driver needs a faster route, a driver will use Alef’s flight capabilities.

Choose Generative AI Tools Carefully: Rajeev Chandrasekhar

By

Tejaswini Kasture

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June 30, 2023

Use of Generative AI tools — Image Source: govdatadownload

Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar of the State for Electronics & Technology said that the use case of Generative AI tools like ChatGPT, in particular, should be chosen and operated carefully to avoid causing any harm to users. He responded to a tweet where Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma talked about his concerns with the increasing use of ChatpGPT.

CM of Assam @himantabiswa is absolutely right – the usecases of Chatgpt in particular n AI in general shd be chosen very carefully n ONLY where theres no risk of harm to any users.

In the works is #DigitalIndiaAct that will ensure that AI platforms will be responsble to ensure… https://t.co/S5zJJWCgVc
— Rajeev Chandrasekhar 🇮🇳 (@Rajeev_GoI) June 27, 2023

In a tweet, Mr. Sarma expressed his views on how technological advancements have changed and benefited almost every sector. Further, he added concerns with the growing AI and ChatGPT-like tools, especially in the healthcare sector. Hence, he recommended regulating and carefully using these tools until they are completely verified.

Supporting the same opinions, Mr. Chandrasekhar further added in his tweet that the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) is already working on the Digital India Act. This Act will enforce that AI platforms should take complete responsibility and ensure no harm is caused to the end user, whether intentionally or unintentionally. The forthcoming Digital India Act of 2023 aims to establish regulations to protect users from growing AI-related concerns. It aims to update the existing Information Technology Act (IT Act) of 2000 by providing a strict legal framework to support India’s techade goals. The draft of the Digital India Bill will be soon released for public consultation within the next two weeks.

Microsoft and Nvidia Invest in Inflection AI’s $1.3 Billion Funding

By

Amulya Reddy Avanaganti

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June 30, 2023

Inflection AI Raises $1.3 Billion Microsoft Nvidia — Image Source: Analytics India Magazine

Inflection AI, a startup co-founded by Mustafa Suleyman and Reid Hoffman, has secured a substantial $1.3 billion in funding from investors, including Microsoft and Nvidia. The funding round attracted prominent figures from Silicon Valley and valued the one-year-old company at $4 billion.

Inflection AI specializes in developing AI products for consumers and recently introduced its chatbot named Pi. Powered by generative AI technology, like ChatGPT, Pi engages users in interactive dialogues, assisting with tasks like planning, scheduling, and information gathering.

Inflection AI, headquartered in Palo Alto, employs around 35 people and received $225 million in its initial funding round in early 2022 from investors such as Greylock, Microsoft, and Reid Hoffman. The recent $1.3 billion investment, a combination of cash and cloud credit, further strengthens Inflection AI’s position in the market.

Recently, Inflection AI released a report discussing its Inflection-1 model, which drives Pi. The company claims that its model has outperformed the majority of existing models. The company plans to utilize a significant portion of the funding to expand its computing power infrastructure. This investment will enhance the foundation model, enabling the development of a more robust and powerful AI system.

During the Collision Conference on Thursday, Suleiman stated, “We’ll be building a cluster of around 22,000 H100s, which is approximately three times more compute than what was used to train all of GPT4. Speed and scale are what’s going to really enable us to build a differentiated product.”

In addition to Microsoft and Nvidia, other participants in Inflection AI’s funding round include notable figures like Reid Hoffman, Bill Gates, and former Google CEO Eric Schmidt. Their involvement underscores the confidence in the startup’s potential to significantly impact the AI industry.

Inflection AI’s substantial funding bolsters the company’s growth and highlights the increasing importance and demand for consumer-focused AI solutions. With its innovative products and strong financial backing, Inflection AI is poised to make significant progress in AI.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella Pledges Call of Duty to 100% Stay on PlayStation

By

Sahil Pawar

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June 30, 2023

Microsoft Sony call of duty PlayStation — Image Credits: NDTV

In an effort to defend the largest video game contract in history from a regulatory assault, Microsoft‘s CEO reiterated his company’s commitment to retain Activision Blizzard best-selling Call of Duty on rival Sony’s PlayStation console.

Satya Nadella, the CEO of Microsoft, and Bobby Kotick, the CEO of Activision, were invited to testify in San Francisco federal court on Wednesday to support Microsoft’s claim that the $69 billion deal between the two businesses won’t reduce competition in the console and subscription-based game marketplaces.

After the US Federal Trade Commission was unsuccessful in its legal challenge to Meta Platforms’ acquisition earlier this year, the case offers a significant test of the agency’s power to obstruct digital mergers in court.

To maintain the Call of Duty shooter game on Sony’s gaming platforms, Nadella pledged his “100%” commitment. Phil Spencer, the head of Microsoft Gaming, also swore last week not to block the game from being played on PlayStation consoles.

The assurances were given to US District Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley, who must choose whether to delay the Microsoft merger, which has a deadline for completion of July 18 while the FTC’s legal challenge to the blockbuster transaction plays out.

Amazon’s Autonomous and Electric Zoox Expands Testing in Vegas

By

Tejaswini Kasture

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June 30, 2023

Amazon’s Autonomous Electric Vehicle Zoox Vegas — Image Source: Zoox

Technology giant Amazon has kick-started its driverless robotaxi business, Zoox, with test drives on the street of Las Vegas with the company’s employees.

The vehicle is a whole new form of conveyance to make public transportation simple, cleaner, and safer. It is a compact, all-electric four-wheeler that seats up to four people. Zoox can travel up to 35 miles per hour without fuel, steering wheels, or pedals.

Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of Zook, Jesse Levinson informed that Zoox’s headcount has increased from 1,900 to 2,200 at the beginning of the year. They are also expecting to maintain a similar rise in headcount throughout the year.

He further added Amazon-owned Zoox autonomous robotaxi would only be functioning on the Vegas Strip once done with the testing, which is one step away from their commercial launch. Moreover, he mentioned they are planning to hire employees in the city, specifically for maintaining and charging the electric robotaxi.

Currently, Zoox is being tested for handling traffic lights, intersections, and driving speeds of upto 35 miles per hour.

In Feb 2023, Zoox completed rigorous testing on private roads in California and already has approval from the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to operate its robotaxi on the state’s public roads. It is the first purpose-built autonomous, self-certified to the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS), permitted vehicle on California public roads.

Similarly, the company follows all the regulations from the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles that permits Zoox to test drive robotaxi on Vegas roads. The company has yet to open up its autonomous electric robotaxis to the public.

OpenAI Introduces Bing Search to ChatGPT on iOS

By

Sahil Pawar

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June 30, 2023

OpenAI introduces Bing Search to ChatGPT iOS — Image Credits: AD

OpenAI announced the availability of its ChatGPT for iOS users last month. The company has now revealed that its chatbot will also be able to access the internet through Bing Search, expanding its capabilities even further.

Currently, the new function is only accessible to ChatGPT Plus subscribers, who pay a $20 monthly subscription fee. The release states that users can now use Browsing to obtain detailed answers and up-to-date information on news and events that go beyond the model’s initial training data.

Users must enable Browsing in the “new features” settings area in order to test it out. Then select “Browse with Bing” from the drop-down option after selecting GPT-4 in the model switcher. Finally, users are able to get above the 2021 knowledge cutoff for chatbots. Earlier, ChatGPT plugins were added to the browser interface to accomplish this.

Additionally, the organization has improved search history. Users can now more easily and conveniently browse their previous conversations. While OpenAI’s site promises ChatGPT for Android users, there is currently no ChatGPT software for Android users to download yet.

Furthermore, users will be able to create and share ChatGPT discussions using shared links, according to a statement from OpenAI. The chat can be viewed or copied by the recipients if they want to continue it. The next several weeks will see the rollout of this feature to all users, which is currently undergoing Alpha testing with a small sample of users.