Harvard University Employs AI Chatbot as CS Instructor

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June 29, 2023

Harvard University Employs AI Chatbot as CS Instructor — Image Source: Howtoai.ai

It seems that the jobs of teachers are in danger as AI continues to make advancements. Harvard University is taking bold steps in integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into its coding program. The university has announced its plan to employ an AI chatbot equipped with ChatGPT’s capabilities as an instructor in its renowned course “Computer Science 50: Introduction to Computer Science (CS50).”

According to course instructors, the AI teacher will be developed using OpenAI’s advanced GPT 3.5 or GPT 4 models. The program is set to launch in September, and enrolled students will be encouraged to utilize this AI tool.

Professor David Malan, who teaches CS50, expressed hope for the AI integration, stating, “Through AI, we can eventually approximate a 1:1 teacher-student ratio for every CS50 student, providing them with software-based tools that support their learning at their own pace and style.” He highlighted the challenge of providing personalized support to online students and emphasized the benefits of AI chatbots for both on-campus and off-campus learners.

This move comes at a time when AI tools are gaining immense popularity. OpenAI’s ChatGPT, launched in November 2022, quickly became the fastest-growing app of all time, attracting 100 million active users within two months. Users are drawn to ChatGPT’s versatility, from generating computer code to composing poetry and essays. Google DeepMind’s CEO recently announced the development of Gemini, a futuristic algorithm that can outperform OpenAI’s ChatGPT.

However, concerns over accuracy and reliability persist with AI-generated content. Google recently cautioned users that its AI-powered chatbot Google Bard may not always provide correct information.

Professor Malan recognizes these concerns and emphasizes the importance of critical thinking when interacting with AI-generated content. He encourages students to exercise their own judgment while evaluating information. Nevertheless, he remains optimistic about the future of these tools, highlighting the value of feedback from students and teachers in refining AI’s capabilities.

Harvard University’s employment as an AI chatbot instructor marks a significant milestone in integrating AI and education, paving the way for potential transformations in teaching and learning methodologies.

Celestial AI Raises $100M in Series B Funding Round

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Sahil Pawar

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June 29, 2023

Celestial AI raises $100M Series B funding round — Image Credits: Celestial AI

A $100 million Series B financing headed by IAG Capital Partners, Koch Disruptive Technologies, and Temasek’s Xora Innovation fund was announced by Celestial AI on Wednesday.

The additional funding, which increases Celestial AI’s total amount collected to more than $165 million, will be applied to expanding the company’s engineering, sales, and technical marketing divisions in order to assist the development of Celestial’s photonics platform. Currently, Celestial employs about 100 people, but founder Lazovsky predicts that figure will increase to 130 by the end of the year.

Technology experts David Lazovsky and Preet Virk, who have backgrounds in semiconductor engineering and photonics, realized several years ago that workloads for AI and machine learning would quickly run into a data movement problem. They projected that if AI models became larger than what could be stored on the die of any one memory chip, it would get harder to transfer data to and from computational devices.

They came up with an optical interconnect technique for compute-to-compute, compute-to-memory, and on-chip data transmission, which was designed by Phil Winterbottom, a former researcher at the prestigious Bell Labs. Lazovsky, Virk, and Winterbottom established Celestial AI as a firm to market the technology. The startup is now attracting significant investors.

“Compute and memory are now tightly connected,” Lazovsky said. “Whether the additional compute is required or not, the only method to add more high bandwidth memory is to add more compute. Memory disaggregation is enabled by Celestial’s technology.”

Grammy Awards Ban AI-Only Music, Encourage Human Creativity

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Amulya Reddy Avanaganti

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June 29, 2023

Grammy Awards Ban AI Music — Image Source: Whistler.ng

The Recording Academy, responsible for the renowned Grammy Awards, recently announced that only human creators would be eligible for the prestigious music event. In an effort to limit the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the industry, the academy’s updated rulebook states that “a work that contains no human authorship is not eligible in any categories.”

However, music created with AI assistance may still qualify in certain categories as long as significant human authorship is involved. To earn a nomination for album of the year, music creators must now contribute at least 20% to the album. Previously, individuals with minimal input, such as producers, engineers, or featured artists, could receive nominations.

By revising the eligibility criteria for the Grammy Awards, the Recording Academy hopes to strike a delicate balance. While AI can be used as a tool to enhance music creation, the human contribution must remain substantial and meaningful. The decision encourages artists to rely on their creativity and personal touch rather than solely depending on artificial intelligence.

The rise of AI technology, particularly since the launch of OpenAI’s ChatGPT in November 2022, has sparked concerns across various creative industries. As AI applications continue to rise, concerns arise about their potential to displace human workers in various jobs, including animation, writing, and music creation.

The Writers Guild of America (WGA) and the Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) grapple with AI’s role in creative fields. The WGA seeks to limit AI in screenwriting, while SAG actors aim to control their digital personas and secure fair compensation. The WGA went on strike in May, with AI usage as a key unresolved issue. Actors may also strike if SAG-AFTRA fails to address similar concerns. These industry organizations are navigating the complexities of AI’s impact on creativity and labor rights.

The Grammy Awards, established in 1959, have evolved into one of the music industry’s most esteemed accolades. This annual event was created to honor the accomplishments and artistic contributions of talented musicians, solidifying its reputation as a prestigious recognition over the years.

DarkBERT: New AI Trained on Dark Web to Combat Cyber Crime

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Amulya Reddy Avanaganti

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June 28, 2023

DarkBERT AI Dark Web Cyber Security — Image Source: Assetguardian

South Korean researchers have recently unveiled DarkBERT, a language model exclusively trained on dark web datasets. It was developed in collaboration between the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) and Data Intelligence Organization S2W. DarkBERT utilizes the powerful BERT framework developed by Google.

Unlike popular chatbot models like ChatGPT or Google Bard, DarkBERT has been specifically trained to analyze and interpret data from the dark web.

Researchers developed DarkBERT with the aim of improving cybersecurity measures with the dark web. They fed the AI model a large amount of data for almost 16 days, divided into two sets.

The first set consisted of “raw” data, which was unedited content found on the dark web. The second set, known as the “preprocessed” data, underwent some modifications. Certain elements commonly found on the dark web, such as victim organization names, descriptions of leaked data, and threat statements with sample data, were removed from the preprocessed set. Including raw and preprocessed data offers a comprehensive understanding of the hidden aspects of the internet while maintaining ethical considerations and privacy standards.

DarkBERT’s advanced analytical capabilities enable the detection and monitoring of data leaks, ransomware sales, illegal drug trade, and more. By delving into these hidden operations, DarkBERT provides crucial insights to cybersecurity experts, equipping them to combat online wrongdoing more effectively.

While DarkBERT remains inaccessible to the general public, the research team recognizes the importance of academic access to its dataset. Scholars can request access to DarkBERT’s data, facilitating further research and advancements in cybersecurity, all while respecting the sensitive nature of dark web materials.

As we move forward into the future, one thing remains clear—DarkBERT’s influence and impact on the fight against cybercrime is undeniable. It is a beacon of hope, driving the path toward a safer and more secure digital future for all.

Google DeepMind’s CEO Says They Can Surpass ChatGPT

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Amulya Reddy Avanaganti

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June 28, 2023

Google DeepMind CEO Gemini Surpass ChatGPT — Image Source: AITELLIGENCE

DeepMind was acquired by Google in 2014, and it showcased impressive achievements by employing reinforcement learning in mastering basic video games. In subsequent years, Google’s DeepMind made history with its AI program AlphaGo, defeating a champion player in the board game “Go” in 2016.

Demis Hassabis, the CEO of DeepMind, has recently revealed the development of Gemini, an advanced AI system that draws inspiration from the techniques used in AlphaGo. Gemini is a large language model similar to GPT-4. This groundbreaking development aims to surpass OpenAI’s ChatGPT and redefine the capabilities of language models.

Hassabis anticipates that Gemini’s development will take several months and require a substantial investment, potentially reaching tens or hundreds of millions of dollars. In April, Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, disclosed that the development of GPT-4 cost more than $100 million.

Hassabis says, “At a high level, you can think of Gemini as combining some of the strengths of AlphaGo-type systems with the amazing language capabilities of the large models. We also have some new innovations that are going to be pretty interesting.”

In April, Google merged DeepMind with their primary AI lab, Brain, forming the powerhouse known as Google DeepMind. Hassabis believes that this collaboration between two influential entities will consolidate their expertise and significantly contribute to the continued advancements in the field of AI.

Hassabis also shared his perspective on the risks and benefits of AI, stating, “The recent, rapid advancements in language models have made many AI experts—including some building the algorithms—worried about whether the technology will be put to malevolent uses or become difficult to control.” However, he firmly believes in the positive potential of AI, adding, “If done correctly, it will be the most beneficial technology for humanity ever. We’ve got to boldly and bravely go after those things.”

He stated, “I can see the kinds of things we’re building into the Gemini series right, and we have no reason to believe that they won’t work.”

IBM HR Division Saves 12,000 Hours Over Past 18 Months Using AI

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Sahil Pawar

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June 28, 2023

IBM HR division saves 12,000 hours over past 18 months using AI — Image Credits; BBC

According to IBM‘s Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO), Nickle LaMoreaux, artificial intelligence has internally relieved staff members of back-office administrative tasks so they can focus on more complex tasks that require human interaction.

According to him, automating processes that previously needed managers and staff to communicate back and forth with one another has allowed IBM’s HR division to save close to 12,000 hours over the course of past 18 months.

The irony of IBM’s AI use case is that the same technology that HR utilizes to speed up routine tasks can ultimately make them obsolete. Recently, IBM announced pausing hiring as approximately 7,800 positions may be replaced by artificial intelligence (AI) in the upcoming years.

“We don’t want to hire a lot of people just to discover that a significant amount of their work is actually being replaced by artificial intelligence. We’re taking it slow. We are taking a break from some positions so that we can concentrate on hiring people for revenue-generating and product-building roles,” said LaMoreaux.

Arvind Krishna, CEO of IBM, said that AI enables firms to take on the kind of repetitive tasks most people find boring, which frees up employees to take on work of more priority. He stated that the company’s usage of artificial intelligence has reduced the number of HR employees conducting manual tasks from 700 to around 50.

Microsoft Plans to Move Windows Completely to the Cloud

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Sahil Pawar

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June 28, 2023

Microsoft plans move Windows completely cloud — Image Credits: Stock Images

Microsoft aims to migrate Windows to the cloud for consumers, in the same way that it has been doing for businesses with Windows 365. In a June 2022 internal Microsoft “state of the business” presentation, Microsoft talks of enhancing Windows 365 to enable a full Windows operating system streamed from the cloud to any device.

The presentation, which covers Microsoft’s entire gaming strategy and how it ties to other areas of the company’s businesses, has been made public as part of the ongoing FTC v. Microsoft hearing. In Microsoft’s “Modern Life” consumer section, moving Windows 11 increasingly to the cloud is cited as a long-term opportunity, along with harnessing the power of the cloud and client to enable improved AI-powered services and full roaming of people’s digital experience.

Along with Microsoft’s need to spend in partnerships for customized silicon, the notion of transferring Windows completely to the cloud for users is also presented in the presentation. Microsoft has been carrying out some of this for its Surface Pro X devices that run on ARM.

In late 2020, Bloomberg also claimed that Microsoft was considering creating its own ARM-based chips for servers and perhaps even Surface devices. Recently, there have been rumours that Microsoft may also be developing its own AI chips.

A full version of Windows is streamed to devices via the Windows 365 service. Although it has only been available to businesses thus far, Microsoft has already fully integrated it into Windows 11. Windows 365 Boot, which enables Windows 11 devices to connect straight to a Cloud PC instance at boot instead of the local version of Windows, will be included in a future update. In order to incorporate Cloud PCs into the Task View (virtual desktops) feature, Windows 365 Switch is also integrated into Windows 11.

IBM to Acquire Software Company Apptio to Bolster Cloud Offerings

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Sahil Pawar

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June 28, 2023

IBM to acquire software company Apptio — Image Credits: Apptio

In the newest deal to enhance its cloud and automation capabilities, IBM announced on Monday that it will pay $4.6 billion in cash to Vista Equity Partners to acquire the technology spend-management platform Apptio. IBM stated that it will use cash on hand to fund the purchase and anticipates that it will close in the second half of 2023.

The agreement is made at a time when businesses are reducing their technological spending due to difficult macroeconomic conditions. IBM recorded a revenue rise of less than 1% year over year in the March quarter while cutting around 3,900 jobs in the early part of the year. Recently, IBM announced pausing employment hiring as approximately 7,800 positions may be replaced by AI in the upcoming years.

The technology behemoth claimed that the acquisition of Apptio, a software-as-a-service company with over 1,500 clients and alliances with cloud providers like Salesforce and Amazon.com’s AWS, will help IBM’s Red Hat business, AI portfolio, and consulting division.

Apptio, a company situated in Seattle that was established in 2007, assists businesses in managing and comprehending their expenditures on cloud services and provides functions like IT budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis. According to analysts at UBS, Apptio’s revenue was approximately $233 million in 2018 and is projected to increase by 11%–13%.

“Going forward, we are opportunistic and looking for opportunities in the software and consulting space,” Senior Vice President Rob Thomas said in an interview. “Century-old IBM is changing its direction to concentrate on more recent AI and cloud-based services.”

Baidu Says Its Ernie AI Chatbot Outperforms OpenAI’s ChatGPT

By

Sahil Pawar

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June 28, 2023

Baidu Ernie AI chatbot outperforms OpenAI's ChatGPT — Image Credits: Baidu

The well-known chatbot, ChatGPT has been outperformed by Baidu’s most recent version of the Ernie AI model, Ernie 3.5, based on a number of important measures, said the company. This announcement was released by Baidu on Tuesday, noting the fact that Ernie 3.5 outperformed GPT-4 in several Chinese skills and had better overall ability scores than ChatGPT.

Baidu used a test by the official newspaper China Science Daily, which used datasets like AGIEval and C-Eval, to support its assertions. These benchmarks are frequently used to assess how well AI models perform. OpenAI has not reacted to Baidu’s statement yet.

A global AI boom that was ignited by the release of ChatGPT has now spread to China, prompting a rush of domestic companies to announce their own competitive technologies. With the release of its language AI Ernie Bot in March, Baidu became the first significant Chinese tech company to introduce an AI product to compete with ChatGPT.

Ernie 3.5 has been conducting invitation-only tests for the past three months. It is based on Baidu’s prior Ernie 3.0 AI model. Other well-known Chinese IT companies, such as Alibaba Group and Tencent Holdings, have followed Baidu’s lead and introduced their own AI models.

With better training and inference efficiency, according to Baidu, the new Ernie model is positioned for future iterations that will be quicker and more affordable. Furthermore, according to Baidu, the new model would accept external “plugins,” or extra apps, which improve the AI’s skills for particular scenarios. These plugins make it possible to perform functions like summing long texts and producing more precise results.

Notably, ChatGPT had already added support for plugins in March, intensifying the rivalry between Baidu and OpenAI in the AI industry.

US House of Representatives Bans Use of All AI Chatbots Except ChatGPT Plus

By

Sahil Pawar

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June 28, 2023

US House of Representatives bans use AI chatbots except ChatGPT Plus — Image Credits: HOR

The United States House of Representatives has established new restrictions that forbid the use of large language models in its offices, with the sole exception of OpenAI’s ChatGPT Plus service. This is an important step towards protecting data privacy, the house said.

The top administrative officer of the US House, Catherine Szpindor, relayed this information in a memo that highlighted recently implemented limits and cited security concerns as the primary motivator.

House offices that use the ChatGPT artificial intelligence chatbot are only permitted to use the ChatGPT Plus version of the programme, according to Szpindor. In order to secure House data, the product’s Plus version includes crucial privacy protections, she said.

No additional ChatGPT or other large language models, AI software are currently approved for use in the House, according to the memo. The memo explains restrictions on how House members may use the programme.

The software can only be used for research and evaluation, thereby preventing its integration into routine workflow. The message further forbids the provision of any private data through prompts and demands that ChatGPT Plus be utilised with all privacy options enabled.

Users of ChatGPT and ChatGPT Plus have been able to delete their conversation history and accounts since April, thanks to OpenAI, but the removed information remains on the ChatGPT servers for an additional 30 days.