AI topics

Gemini, Google's mobile AI assistant, is evolving to provide more natural, conversational, and intuitive assistance. Gemini Live, available in English with Gemini Advanced, offers features such as voice command and integration with various Google apps. Users can engage in mobile conversations, ask for information, and seamlessly interact with other apps. While the AI's advanced capabilities bring new potential, there are challenges such as longer execution times for simple tasks and occasional unexpected behavior. To address this, Google is introducing faster and higher-quality models like Gemini 1.5 Flash. The company also plans to enhance integrations with Google Home, Phone, and Messages. Gemini can be tried as the default assistant on Google Pixel 9, signaling the beginning of its development.

The state of California has become a focal point in the battle over regulating artificial intelligence (AI). The proposed bill SB 1047 would require developers of large AI models to conduct safety tests to mitigate the risk of "catastrophic harm" and allow human deactivation of AI if it behaves dangerously. The bill has faced opposition from industry giants and start-ups, who argue that it could stifle innovation and lack specificity. While some in the tech industry support government regulation, they advocate for federal-level regulation with greater specificity. The bill has received support from computer science researchers and legal scholars, but also criticism from industry leaders for its vague standards and potential legal implications. This legislation is considered crucial for shaping AI regulation in the US, given California's influence on laws in other states. Similar laws have been passed in Colorado and Utah, and approximately 400 AI-related bills are currently in various stages in US state legislatures.

The content discusses the Transizione 5.0, a central pillar of Italy's National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), designed to transform the country's industrial fabric. With an allocation of 63 billion euros for 2024-2025, the plan aims to incentivize Italian companies to invest in advanced technologies and reduce energy consumption, thereby improving production efficiency. It highlights the role of artificial intelligence in optimizing production processes, improving energy efficiency, and reducing waste. The plan also outlines the procedure for accessing incentives and obtaining tax deductions, emphasizing the importance of skills development in line with technological investments. It presents challenges and opportunities for Italian businesses in implementing Transizione 5.0, emphasizing the potential for significant competitive advantages through technological adoption and sustainability initiatives. The content concludes by underscoring the transformative potential of Transizione 5.0 for Italian businesses in driving a sustainable and innovative industrial revolution.

The Privacy Authority expressed approval of the Government's proposed AI bill. The Authority outlined several conditions for its support, including the introduction of a specific article ensuring compliance with personal data protection laws, amendments to address the use of AI in healthcare, and the role of the Privacy Authority in the oversight of the bill. The Authority also emphasized the need for alignment with EU data protection regulations and the inclusion of safeguards for fundamental rights. The bill's provisions for data processing, research, and AI use in various sectors were also assessed, with recommendations for enhancements to ensure consistency with data protection regulations.

The content discusses the newly published comprehensive AI strategy, outlining both positive aspects and concerns. It provides insights from various experts, such as Ernesto Belisario, Stefano da Empoli, Matteo Toso, and Antongiulio Lombardi, who delve into different facets of the strategy. Additionally, it delves into the utilization of AI for computer vision and its role in supporting business processes. The article acknowledges the strategy's completeness while also highlighting areas for improvement, such as the lack of a dedicated budget. It also covers the need for institutionalized national collaboration for the exchange of ideas and emphasizes the importance of international cooperation in the AI sphere. Lastly, it discusses how AI can support various business operations across industries.

Perplexity AI, a San Francisco-based start-up using AI for web-driven search, recently secured $250 million in funding, resulting in a seven-fold increase in monthly revenue and usage. The company, founded by Aravind Srinivas, has experienced rapid growth since the launch of OpenAI's ChatGPT in November 2022, despite facing controversies about its data collection methods. With a shift from subscriptions to advertising, Perplexity is now competing directly with industry leader Google in the $300 billion search ad market. The company's major investors and plans for revenue sharing with news publishers have raised its profile in the AI industry. Despite challenges related to web scraping and plagiarism accusations, Perplexity continues to expand its partnerships with major publishers and emphasizes the shift to advertising as the main revenue stream.

The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) in the past decade has significantly improved the processing capabilities of wearable devices, particularly through machine learning and its important branch, deep learning. These AI algorithms have been pivotal in driving this wave of AI progress.

Researchers at the University of Reading have demonstrated that ionic hydrogels can exhibit memory mechanics similar to those found in neural networks. By connecting the hydrogel to a virtual Pong game environment and using electrical stimulation to inform it of the ball's position, the researchers observed that the hydrogel was able to improve its performance over time, hitting the ball more frequently and resulting in longer rallies. This suggests that the hydrogel's physical "memory" could enable it to play Pong and potentially perform other tasks, representing a different kind of "intelligence" that could be used to develop new, simpler algorithms. The researchers plan to further investigate the mechanisms behind the hydrogel's memory and its ability to learn in future studies.

British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch, who passed away at 59, was known for founding Autonomy, a company valued at $11bn when sold to Hewlett-Packard in 2011. Despite being cleared in a US fraud case, the fallout from the sale overshadowed his technological achievements and sparked a national debate on UK citizens' extradition to the US. Lynch was recognized for his world-leading technology in machine learning and AI, as well as his ability to translate it into commercial success.

A company that used artificial intelligence to send deceptive calls to New Hampshire voters, mimicking Joe Biden's voice, has agreed to pay a $1m fine and enhance its caller identification and authentication features, as reported by US regulators. The settlement with Lingo Telecom, the voice service provider responsible for the robocalls, resolves enforcement action taken by the Federal Communications Commission, which had initially sought a $2m fine. This case is viewed as a concerning example of how AI could potentially be utilized to influence voter groups and democracy.