Albert's AI and tech news

  A few years back, Facebook Reality Labs (FRL) Research unveiled Codec Avatars, a groundbreaking project at the intersection of Computer Vision and Machine Learning. These avatars offer uncannily realistic digital representations, mirroring people's real-life appearances and movements in real-time. The potential applications of Codec Avatars span the realms of gaming, social interaction, and work. In this article, we'll delve into the latest strides made in this transformative venture.     Codec Avatars: Bridging Geographical Divides Imagine being able to instantly connect and interact with someone across the globe, almost as if you were physically in the same place. This is the promise that Codec Avatars hold, revolutionizing how we bridge geographical distances and interact with one another. But how do we make this technology more accessible and inclusive? The latest phase of the Codec Avatar project is the Codec Avatar Inclusive Dataset Research Project. Previously, c...

  Character.ai, the innovative AI app that empowers users to craft their very own AI characters, is gaining ground in the United States, challenging the supremacy of ChatGPT in the mobile app arena. Recent data from market intelligence firm Similarweb reveals that Character.ai's iOS and Android apps, supported by a16z, now boast 4.2 million monthly active users in the U.S., closing in on ChatGPT's 6 million monthly U.S. active users. This impressive growth comes on the heels of Character.ai's launch in May 2023, when the startup proudly announced exceeding 1.7 million installs within its inaugural week. Although installs do not necessarily translate into users, let alone active ones, the app's ability to retain early adopters and expand its user base in the months following its debut is remarkable, especially given industry averages indicating a 30-day retention rate of just 3% to 4%, with uninstall rates soaring to over 40% after 30 days, as reported by mobile marketin...

Tesla's (TSLA) stock is experiencing a remarkable surge in pre-market trading, and the catalyst behind this dramatic upswing is an optimistic report from Morgan Stanley, which underscores the transformative potential of Tesla's cutting-edge Dojo supercomputer. This surge in stock value is a direct result of Morgan Stanley substantially raising its price target for Tesla's stock, emphasizing the game-changing capabilities of Dojo. Dojo stands as Tesla's proprietary supercomputer platform, meticulously engineered from scratch to cater to the demands of AI machine learning, particularly in the domain of video training. Tesla harnesses the wealth of video data generated by its expansive fleet of vehicles and processes it through Dojo's custom-built infrastructure and chips. What sets Dojo apart is its extraordinary computing power, boasting the capacity to perform a staggering 100 Exa-flops of operations by the end of 2024. This mind-boggling computational capability i...

  Nvidia, the AI powerhouse, is set to release its earnings report on Wednesday, and eager investors are looking to this event to potentially reignite the recent stumbling U.S. stocks rally. Remarkably, Nvidia's stock has surged threefold in 2023, underscoring its immense potential within the megacap stocks landscape. This surge, coupled with the excitement surrounding the business prospects of artificial intelligence, has been a driving force behind the S&P 500's impressive 14% gain this year. Nvidia's year-to-date surge stands out even among the elite group of megacap stocks known as the "Magnificent Seven," which includes industry giants like Apple and Microsoft. This group's collective surge contributed significantly to around two-thirds of the S&P 500's growth through July. However, as the broader equity rally encounters recent turbulence, with the benchmark index declining over 4% in August due to surging Treasury yields, attention is now kee...

  In the ever-evolving landscape of technology, the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) to shape our decisions and interactions is undeniable. On the evening of August 15th, Snapchat users encountered a thought-provoking incident that shed light on the intriguing possibilities of AI's influence on our lives. In this article, we delve into the events of that evening and explore the broader implications of AI's growing role in decision-making. Snapchat's My AI and the Unusual Incident of August 15th In an era marked by the exponential growth of AI technology, concerns and curiosity about its impact have been ongoing. Despite apprehensions over the potential consequences of delving too deep into technology, AI's prevalence continues to expand, casting its influence across various domains. Snapchat, a prominent player in the social media landscape, ventured into the realm of AI with the introduction of "My AI" earlier in April. This innovative product, power...

A monumental shift is on the horizon, poised to reshape the global economy in profound ways—the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) is set to create seismic changes in the job market. The futuristic allure of AI has been a staple in both fantastical films and academic discussions for decades. However, the recent surge in accessible AI tools has transformed this futuristic speculation into an imminent reality, arriving even sooner than anticipated. This technological revolution is now poised to disrupt economies worldwide. A report from Goldman Sachs in March highlighted that over 300 million jobs across the globe stand to be affected by AI, while McKinsey, a prominent consulting firm, estimated that by 2030, around 12 million Americans will need to transition to new fields. This wave of "creative destruction," as economist Joseph Schumpeter termed it, will sweep away numerous existing businesses while simultaneously fostering the growth of novel industries. A...

  The Walt Disney Company has embarked on a strategic endeavor to delve into the potential applications of artificial intelligence (AI) across its multifaceted business domains, as revealed by a report from Reuters. This undertaking is aimed at achieving a dual objective: reducing operational costs and enriching customer experiences. This decision has been made despite the ongoing contentious scenarios created by strikes involving Hollywood writers and actors, some of whom view AI as a formidable adversary. Among the diverse applications envisaged by Disney, a prime focus is on harnessing AI to effectively manage the astronomical expenses associated with producing movies and television shows. It's not uncommon for major film releases to incur costs reaching as high as $300 million. Furthermore, Disney envisions employing AI to amplify customer support services and foster unique interactions within its iconic theme parks. An exemplar of this concept was displayed in 2021 when Disney...

  Artificial intelligence (AI) is poised to impact the job market, but unlike previous technological advancements, it is expected to target white-collar, higher-paid workers in office spaces. According to a study by Pew Research Center, about 1 in 5 American workers have "high exposure" to AI, with jobs such as budget analysts, data entry keyers, tax preparers, technical writers, and web developers being particularly affected. It remains unclear whether AI will enhance or displace these jobs. AI, unlike robots, is designed to mimic human cognitive abilities, enabling computers and machines to perform tasks autonomously. Workers with the most AI exposure tend to be women, white or Asian, higher earners, and college graduates. While some jobs may be displaced, experts believe AI could also create new occupations not yet known. Conversely, 23% of American workers have low exposure to AI, as their jobs involve physical tasks that AI cannot easily replicate. The remaining 58% of j...

Business Analyst position has become increasingly indispensable in the AI-booming era. As organizations seek to maximize their value, optimize processes, and stay competitive, the demand for skilled professionals who can comprehend complex business problems and provide data-driven solutions has reached new heights. Business analytics, as a growing field, presents exciting opportunities for those looking to make a meaningful impact on the success of organizations across the world. As a senior business analyst with extensive experience in various industries, I am keenly aware of the criticality of communication skills in this domain. In this article, we will explore the key attributes and expertise required to thrive as a successful business analyst, emphasizing how effective communication plays a pivotal role in shaping a rewarding career in this ever-expanding and dynamic field. A skilled business analyst possesses a diverse and dynamic set of abilities that enable them to drive meani...

   Meta recently unveiled Llama 2, a new large language model boasting up to 70 billion parameters. This move has caught the attention of OpenAI, as Meta rarely divulges details about its AI models. Llama 2's release was accompanied by a significant partnership with Microsoft, who has demonstrated support for the model in its Azure and Windows platforms. Additionally, Qualcomm has also joined the Llama 2 fray by announcing plans to bring the model to smartphones. One point of contention lies in Meta's claim that Llama 2 is open source, which has been promoted by both Meta and Microsoft. However, some open-source developers disagree with this classification. Nevertheless, Llama 2's license provides developers and researchers the flexibility to fine-tune the model for their specific requirements. Llama 2 has already showcased its capabilities through platforms like Perplexity.ai, where multiple Llama 2 models were demonstrated to generate natural and coherent text. The model ...

  Finding your dream job has never been easier, thanks to the power of AI-driven tools that streamline the job hunt process and boost your chances of success. Embrace the future of job hunting with these cutting-edge platforms and resources: AI-Powered Resume Builder - Simplified: Creating a professional resume has never been more effortless! Simplified offers an AI-powered resume builder that helps you craft polished and attention-grabbing resumes in no time. Leverage the latest technology to present your skills and experiences in the best possible light. Link: https://simplified.com Practice Interviews with AI - InterviewBot: Ace your next job interview by honing your skills with InterviewBot, an AI-driven virtual interview platform. Practice mock interviews with this intelligent assistant and receive valuable feedback to improve your performance and boost your confidence. Link: https://interviewbot.com Comprehensive Interview Question Library - InterviewBuddy™: Preparing for int...

   India has recently witnessed the advent of AI-powered news anchors, with the introduction of Lisa, an AI-generated presenter. Despite her human-like appearance at first glance, a closer observation reveals unsettling slow blinking and stuttering motions, highlighting the limitations of current AI technology. However, this development signals potential job security concerns for human news presenters, as artificial intelligence begins to quietly infiltrate the newsroom. In April, India witnessed the debut of AI-generated news anchors, with Lisa taking the stage at Odisha TV, a local broadcasting station in eastern India. Although her delivery is competent, there are noticeable discrepancies in audio and video sync, along with a robotic monotone lacking the nuanced shifts in tone characteristic of human presenters. Nevertheless, for passive consumption, such as background news playing in offices, cafes, or hospitals, she can easily pass as a human presenter. Lisa's introductio...

New York police's use of artificial intelligence (AI) to track drivers' traffic patterns in order to expose potential criminal activity has raised significant legal and ethical questions. One notable case involved the AI scanning a database of 1.6 billion New York license plates over a two-year period to track a car allegedly involved in drug trafficking. The car, driven by David Zayas, a convicted drug dealer from Massachusetts, was tracked through hundreds of license plate readers (LPRs) as it made multiple trips between Massachusetts and New York City. A seemingly ordinary traffic stop led to the discovery of drugs, a firearm, and a large sum of money in Zayas' vehicle. Zayas' defense attorney, Ben Gold, brought attention to the police force's reliance on an AI-powered surveillance program known as "Rekor Scout" and questioned its legality due to the lack of judicial oversight. The police's use of LPRs and AI in this case was not mentioned ...

In a groundbreaking legal case, Google has agreed to pay a staggering $90 million to settle a lawsuit regarding its use of AI to generate news articles without proper attribution to human authors. The lawsuit was brought forth by the National Writers Union and the Association of American Publishers, who alleged that Google's AI-generated articles violated the copyrights of real writers. This development, reported by The New York Times on July 19, 2023, has far-reaching implications for the future of AI and its impact on the job market. Despite Google's denial of any wrongdoing, the tech giant chose to settle the lawsuit to avoid further legal costs. As part of the settlement, Google will make a $90 million payment to the plaintiffs and has committed to changing its practices concerning AI-generated news articles. This landmark case is the first of its kind, showcasing the legal challenges surrounding AI's growing role in content creation. One of the most significant impacts...

  During a recent call with UBS analysts, Emad Mostaque, the CEO of Stability AI, expressed his belief that artificial intelligence (AI) will become the largest bubble in history. Mostaque, who heads an open-source AI company, emphasized that AI is still in its early stages and not yet ready for widespread adoption in industries such as banking. Referring to it as the "dot AI" bubble, he suggested that the real boom is yet to come. Stability AI, the company behind the popular generative AI tool Stable Diffusion, has gained significant traction in the AI market. Stable Diffusion allows users to generate photo-realistic images based on text inputs and has amassed over a million users. It has also attracted substantial investments, including funding from prominent investors like Coatue and Lightspeed Venture Partners. While Stability AI has garnered attention, Mostaque has faced accusations of misrepresenting his background, achievements, and partnerships. He has responded to th...

  Hollywood studios are considering a controversial proposal that involves the use of digital actors created through artificial intelligence (AI), according to recent developments discussed during a press conference where actors from the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) confirmed their decision to go on strike. The proposal, described as resembling a plotline from the popular TV series "Black Mirror," was revealed by Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, the chief negotiator for SAG-AFTRA. The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), representing Hollywood studios, stated that their proposal included a "groundbreaking AI proposal that protects actors' digital likenesses for SAG-AFTRA members." However, when pressed about the specifics of the proposal, Crabtree-Ireland expressed his concerns. He explained that the studios suggested background performers could be scanned and paid for only one day of work. I...

  Nvidia, the tech powerhouse, has just made a dazzling move in the world of biotech. With a striking investment of $50 million, they have set their sights on Recursion, the trailblazing artificial intelligence-driven drug discovery firm. Brace yourselves for a groundbreaking partnership that promises to reshape the future of medicine. The mere announcement of this alliance sent shockwaves through the stock market, causing Recursion's shares to skyrocket an astonishing 167% in premarket trading. The excitement is palpable as the potential of this collaboration unfolds. So, what exactly does this mean for the world of pharmaceuticals? Well, buckle up, because it's about to get fascinating. Recursion will be given the opportunity to train its AI models on Nvidia's cutting-edge cloud platform, harnessing the immense power of their own vast biological and chemical datasets. Picture this: over 23,000 terabytes of data pulsating through the neural pathways of the AI models, enabl...

  In a groundbreaking lawsuit that has captivated the tech and entertainment industries, a prominent comedian and author has taken legal action against OpenAI, one of the leading companies in the field of artificial intelligence. The lawsuit alleges copyright infringement and raises significant questions about the use of AI models trained on copyrighted books without proper authorization. Filed in a US District Court, the lawsuit accuses OpenAI of utilizing illicitly-acquired datasets that include copyrighted works, obtained from "shadow library" websites known for distributing copyrighted material through torrent systems. The comedian and author argue that OpenAI's ChatGPT, a popular AI model, summarily infringes upon their copyrights by providing unauthorized summaries of their books upon request. This high-profile legal battle challenges the boundaries of copyright law in the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence. Renowned comedian and author Sarah Silverman, a...