AI News Roundup

Amazon's Alexa Gets an Upgrade

The AI realm is exploding with breakthroughs this week, and we're diving deep into the epicenter of all the action. First up, Amazon's Alexa has gotten a major upgrade and now sounds more human than ever. Tick-tock is rolling out new AI labels, Microsoft is launching an AI helper called co-pilot, and Google DeepMind's AlphaFold has won a prestigious prize for its work in predicting protein shapes. YouTube creators get ready for some cool AI tools, including the dream screen feature.

Amazon's Alexa: A Cool Makeover

If you've got an Amazon smart device at home, you're in for a treat with this update. Alexa sounds more like humans; it chats more naturally, understands better, and even sounds a bit emotional at times. No more awkward pauses or robotic replies. This change is Amazon's way of stepping up its game, especially with so many chatbots out there. Everyone's talking about the power of AI these days, and Amazon wants Alexa to be at the forefront. The experts at Wired had a chat with the folks at Amazon, and they're pretty excited about where things are headed with this tech. So if you're into gadgets or just love a good chat with your voice assistant, keep an eye on Alexa. It's getting smarter and more conversational by the day.

Microsoft Introduces AI Helper: Co-Pilot

Now, Microsoft is launching a cool new AI buddy called Co-Pilot, making your tech life way easier. It's like a friendly helper on your computer, helping you find stuff, learn, and even create cool content. This AI is coming to Windows 11, Microsoft 365, Edge, and Bing, so you can chat with it pretty much anywhere. Co-Pilot makes Windows 11 super powerful. It can find files, set reminders, send emails, and help with homework. Plus, it brings fun features to apps like Paint and Photos, letting you create and edit pictures like a pro. It also makes Bing and Edge smarter too. It remembers your chats and makes searching way more convenient, helps with online shopping, and even lets you create awesome images with the integration of DALL·E3 by OpenAI. For those who create, there's a watermark feature to show it's your work in Microsoft 365. Co-Pilot brings the AI chat, making apps like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint even better, helping with documents, data slides, and emails. Lastly, for the designers, there's a special tool called Designer, and for those who love visuals, a new Gallery feature in File Explorer. And if you're into teamwork, check out Surface Hub 3 with Co-Pilot, making brainstorming a piece of cake. So get ready to welcome Co-Pilot on September 26th with a free update, whether you're on a PC, mobile, or web. It's going to be a game-changer.

Google DeepMind's AlphaFold Wins Lasker Science Prize

Next, Google DeepMind's AI program AlphaFold, led by Demis Hassabis and John Jumper, has won the Lasker Science Prize for its groundbreaking work in predicting 3D protein shapes. This big win hints at a possible Nobel Prize in the future for AI research, as many Lasker winners have previously received the Nobel. Protein folding is essential because proteins, which are life's building blocks, rely on their shapes to function correctly. While traditional methods take years to figure out these shapes, AlphaFold does it in minutes. Last year, the team shared over 200 million predicted protein structures, boosting various scientific research areas. AlphaFold was trained using 170,000 protein sequences and their known structures. In 2018, it entered the CASP competition, an event where programs predict protein structures. Although it initially faced challenges, by 2020, AlphaFold won the competition. Experts believe AlphaFold's impact on science is massive. Looking ahead, the team aims to tackle more significant challenges that can lead to large-scale advancements in science.

New AI Tools for YouTube Creators

Now, YouTube has introduced five new tools for video creators. One of the coolest features is Dream Screen. With this, you can type in a description like "Panda drinking coffee," and YouTube's AI will create a background video or image for you. This is great for YouTube shorts, where you can then add your own video on top. They're also using AI to give creators ideas on what videos to make. This new AI insights feature looks at what your audience likes and suggests video topics. Searching for the perfect song for your video? YouTube's new assistive search will use AI to help you find the right music quickly. For those who watch videos in different languages, there's an automatic dubbing tool. This lets viewers switch between the video's original language and AI-created translations in their own language. Lastly, there's a new app called YouTube Create. It's like TikTok, allowing you to edit videos on your phone with fun options like text, stickers, and voice-overs. Overall, YouTube is making it easier for creators to make and edit content with the help of AI. If you're into making videos, these tools might be worth checking out.

Google's AI Chatbot Bard Gets a Big Update

Next, Google's AI chatbot Bard recently got a big update and seems to be outpacing OpenAI's chat GPT. So what's the buzz about? Firstly, Bard can now connect with Google apps like Gmail, Drive, and YouTube. Imagine asking Bard to pull an email or suggest a trip route without hopping between apps. It's your new digital buddy that can read your emails, help draft responses, or even find documents in your Drive. Planning a trip? Bard can pull flight info, show maps, and even suggest travel videos. If you're stressing over getting the wrong info, Bard has this cool new "Google it" feature. Just give it a click, and it will double-check its answers straight from the web. And hey, you can even customize how Bard chats with you, whether you like it short and sweet, long and detailed, funny, or straight to the point. The best part? It isn't just for English speakers anymore. It now speaks over 40 languages and is available in more than 230 places worldwide. So more people can use it for learning, translations, and exploring global topics. Comparing Bard with chat GPT, Bard's integration with Google tools, its fact-checking feature, and multi-language support give it a strong edge.

OpenAI's New Tool: DALL·E3

Next, OpenAI's new tool, DALL·E3, is a game-changer in turning words into images. It's the latest version and much better than its previous one, DALL·E2. It even beats other popular tools like Mid-Journey and Stable Diffusion XL in quality and design. What's cool is it works with chat GPT, so you can easily ask for tweaks in your images. But DALL·E3's journey started back in 2021, improving with each version. It uses a method called latent diffusion to make these images. Yet, there are concerns. Artists worry about AI copying their styles, leading to copyright issues. Big names like John Grisham are even suing OpenAI. So OpenAI has set some rules for DALL·E3. It can't make certain types of content or copy a living artist's style. They're also building a tool to see if DALL·E3 made a picture. However, it's not all smooth sailing. There are still debates on who owns AI-made images and how to protect original art.

AI-Created Digital Coin: AstroPEPEx

A developer used AI to create and launch a digital coin named AstroPEPEx in just one day, and it brought in 12 million dollars. This wasn't a random name; actually, Chat GPT picked it after studying popular coin names. The developer, known as Croissant F on Twitter, combined Chat GPT with a script to make the digital coin automatically. The AI used information from top tokens on Uniswap and data from CoinMarketCap and CoinGecko. Some test coin names included InUverse and Quantum Pepe, similar to famous coins like Dogecoin. After naming the coin, Chat GPT teamed up with DALL·E to design the coin's image. The cool part? Once the coin is made, the AI doesn't own it. All the coin supply is put on Uniswap, a trading platform, with some Ethereum added. This idea was inspired by a digital artist named Rhett Mankind, who made a coin called Turbo, which became worth over 50 million dollars. But the new method uses even less human help. Croissant F said the AI wrote the contract code and plans to make an easy-to-use platform so others can make coins. Many have already tried it, and it's expected to become even more popular.

Understanding Chicken Emotions with AI

Next, researchers in Japan, led by Professor Adrian David Chalk from the University of Tokyo, have developed an AI system that they say can understand the emotions of chickens by listening to their clucks. This technology, named Deep Emotional Analysis Learning, uses advanced algorithms to interpret emotions like hunger, fear, and excitement in chickens. The more it listens, the better it gets at understanding the birds. To test the AI, scientists studied sounds from 80 chickens with the help of animal experts. They linked these sounds to specific emotions. The results were promising, but the team notes that different chicken breeds and environments might affect the AI's accuracy. Also, chickens communicate in other ways like body language. Although the research is yet to be reviewed by other experts, it's an exciting step in understanding animals better. Chalk believes that knowing how animals feel can help create a better world for them. This AI breakthrough might soon be used for other animals too.

CEOs' Views on AI

And finally, a recent survey by online education platform edX reveals that 49% of CEOs believe AI could take over most of their tasks, and 47% think it might be beneficial. The poll involved 1,600 U.S workers, including top executives and non-executive employees. Anant Agarwal, the founder of edX and a professor at MIT, says many executives see AI as a game-changer, potentially even bigger than the internet. While AI could manage routine tasks, certain essential CEO qualities like creativity, teamwork, and vision can't be easily replaced by machines. However, AI's impact isn't limited to CEOs. The survey indicates that by 2025, nearly half of the current workforce's skills might become irrelevant, and many aren't ready for this shift. While only 20% of non-executives feel AI could replace their roles, top executives are actively seeking employees proficient in AI. A significant 87% of them find it hard to hire AI-skilled workers. Interestingly, only 24% of employees are learning AI skills at their present jobs, and 39% are considering leaving their job for better AI training opportunities, especially among Gen Z. Agarwal's advice? Worry less about AI replacing your job and more about colleagues with better AI skills outpacing you.

That concludes this week's AI news. If you enjoyed this blog, don't forget to hit the like button and subscribe to my channel to stay updated on all the latest AI news and developments. Thanks for tuning in, and I'll catch you in the next one!