Lingo Telecom has agreed to pay a $1 million fine after the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) accused the company of transmitting fake robocalls that mimicked President Joe Biden’s voice to mislead voters in New Hampshire’s Democratic primary. The robocalls, created using AI voice-cloning technology, were directed by political consultant Steve Kramer, who now faces charges from the New Hampshire attorney general.
Initially, the FCC proposed a $2 million fine against Lingo but settled for $1 million after the company agreed to implement a compliance plan to adhere to FCC rules on caller ID authentication. The following case highlights growing concerns about the use of AI in political disinformation, particularly as the 2024 elections approach.
The FCC has also proposed fining Kramer $6 million and is considering new regulations to require clear disclosures for AI-generated content in political ads across broadcast and cable media. However, the commission’s authority does not extend to the internet or social media platforms.
The UK-India Technology Security Initiative (TSI) has made notable progress since its launch, reflecting a commitment to strengthening bilateral relations and fostering economic growth through collaboration in emerging technologies. Recently, the National Security Advisors from both countries convened to establish a framework for the initiative, focusing on regulatory and licensing protocols. That meeting resulted in the formation of a bilateral task force designed to streamline communication between the Indian Ministry of External Affairs and the UK government, ensuring a cohesive approach to the initiative’s objectives.
Regarding sector-specific collaborations, discussions have commenced in key areas such as telecommunications, critical minerals, AI, quantum, health and biotechnology, advanced materials and semiconductors. The two nations are exploring the implementation of Open RAN systems to enhance telecom security and innovation.
Investment partnerships are also a significant focus of the TSI. Investment forums are being organized to attract Indian enterprises, particularly in green technology, offshore wind, and green hydrogen sectors. The initiative includes dedicated programs to empower women in technology, with funding opportunities designed to support their participation and leadership in these fields. This emphasis on inclusivity highlights the initiative’s broader goal of fostering sustainable economic development.
Moreover, the TSI is addressing global tech governance by collaborating on the establishment of digital technical standards and frameworks for internet governance and cybersecurity. This proactive approach aims to tackle emerging challenges in the digital landscape, ensuring that both countries are well-prepared to navigate the complexities of technology in a global context.
Why does this matter?
Looking ahead, plans are in place to launch initiatives focused on technology research centres, incubators, and academic partnerships. As the TSI progresses, further updates will highlight specific projects and collaborations, aligning with the goals of the India-UK Roadmap 2030.
OpenAI is pushing back against a proposed California bill, SB 1047, which aims to impose new safety requirements on AI companies. The San Francisco-based startup argues that the legislation would stifle innovation and that AI regulation should be managed at the federal level rather than by individual states. OpenAI also expressed concerns that the bill could negatively impact US AI and national security competitiveness.
The bill, introduced by state Senator Scott Wiener, seeks to establish safety standards for companies developing large AI models to prevent misuse in harmful ways, such as creating bioweapons or causing significant financial damage. The legislation has faced strong opposition from tech companies, who claim it could drive AI businesses out of California and hinder technological progress.
Despite amendments made by Wiener to address some of the industry’s concerns, including removing criminal liability for non-compliance and protecting smaller developers, major tech players like OpenAI remain opposed. OpenAI argues that the bill’s provisions could lead to a talent drain from California and disrupt the state’s leadership in AI innovation.
Wiener defended the bill, stating it requires companies to do what they’ve already committed regarding safety measures. He dismissed concerns about a talent exodus, noting that the law would apply to any company operating in California, regardless of location.
The bill will be voted on in the California State Assembly this month. If it passes, it will go to Governor Gavin Newsom, who has yet to express a clear stance on whether he will sign it into law, though he has spoken about balancing AI innovation with safety concerns.
Vietnam’s leading tech firm, FPT Corporation, has embarked on a $174 million AI project in Binh Dinh province, marking its latest advancement in the AI sector. The initiative, launched in collaboration with FPT City Danang, FPT Investment, and FPT Software, spans 93.24 hectares and will feature a state-of-the-art AI centre, an educational facility, and a supporting urban zone.
The AI centre will focus on several key areas: research, software development, digital transformation, and cybersecurity solutions. This new development would mark FPT’s commitment to expanding its role in the AI industry.
As Vietnam‘s most valuable tech company with a market capitalisation of $7.7 billion, FPT offers a broad range of AI, cloud computing, and big data services. Last year, the company reported revenues surpassing $2 billion.
In addition to this latest venture, FPT announced plans in April to invest $200 million in an AI factory utilising Nvidia’s advanced graphics chips and software, further highlighting its ongoing investment in cutting-edge technology.
Google has released new updates for Gmail building on its existing ‘Help me write’ feature. These updates will enable users to polish drafts written by users on both web and mobile devices. Additionally, there will also be ‘help me write’ and ‘refine my drafts’ shortcuts on both Android and iOS devices.
Users paying for Google One AI Premium or those who have paid for ‘Google’s Gemini add-on for Workspace’ will have access to the tools. Just by opening an empty draft, one can access the ‘Help me write’ shortcut that enables Gemini to draft texts. As long as there are 12 or more (regardless of whether it’s written by AI or Humans) words in a draft, the ‘refine my draft’ shortcut appears.
The latest addition expands Google’s array of AI offerings as it competes with Microsoft’s Copilot and ChatGPT in the race to capture market share in the AI chatbot space.
California legislators are poised to vote on a bill, SB 1047, that aims to regulate the development and deployment of AI across the state. The bill, advanced by State Senator Scott Wiener, would require safety testing for advanced AI models that exceed $100 million in development costs or use significant computing power. Developers would need to implement a ‘kill switch’ for malfunctioning AI and face potential legal action from the state attorney general if they fail to comply. The bill also mandates third-party safety audits and protects whistleblowers.
Despite passing the state Senate with overwhelming support, SB 1047 has faced criticism from key California lawmakers, including Nancy Pelosi and Ro Khanna, who argue that it could drive AI developers out of the state and harm open-source AI projects. They believe the bill’s regulations might create an unfavourable environment for AI innovation in California.
Tech industry leaders have also expressed concerns, with companies like Google, Meta, and OpenAI opposing the bill, fearing it could stifle AI development. They argue that federal regulation would be more appropriate and worry that the bill could negatively impact open-source AI models. However, some notable AI researchers, including Geoffrey Hinton and Yoshua Bengio, have supported the legislation, highlighting the need for robust safeguards in AI development.
A recent report from research firm Arize AI reveals a dramatic surge in Fortune 500 companies identifying AI as a significant risk. Out of the 500 companies, 281—accounting for 56.2%—cited AI as a risk, marking a 473.5% increase from the previous year. The report suggests that while AI is seen chiefly as a risk factor, there are opportunities for businesses to stand out through innovation and transparency in their use of generative AI.
The media and entertainment industry is the most concerned, with 91.7% of its Fortune 500 companies citing AI risks. Netflix and Disney, for instance, highlighted potential competitive disadvantages and unsettled regulations impacting revenue and production processes. Other sectors such as software and tech (86.4%), telecommunications (70%), healthcare (65.1%), financial services (62.7%), and retail (60%) also expressed significant concerns. Conversely, the automotive, energy, and manufacturing sectors reported fewer AI-related issues, with only 18.8%, 37.3%, and 39.7% respectively recognising AI risks.
Notable companies have provided concrete examples of AI-related risks. Motorola warned that AI might malfunction or use flawed datasets, potentially harming operational results and reputation. Salesforce highlighted possible governmental scrutiny and reputational damage tied to its AI solutions, especially around human rights and privacy. The importance of AI in cybersecurity was also emphasised, noting both its potential for enhancing security and posing new threats.
The report underscores the need for consumer acceptance of AI’s benefits, with academic experts stressing that public trust is crucial. Overall, the findings indicate that AI risks are now a prominent concern for corporate America, but they also offer a chance for businesses to differentiate through proactive innovation and clear communication.
Three authors have filed a class-action lawsuit against the AI company Anthropic in a California federal court, accusing the firm of illegally using their books and hundreds of thousands of others to train its AI chatbot, Claude. The lawsuit, initiated by writers Andrea Bartz, Charles Graeber, and Kirk Wallace Johnson, claims that Anthropic utilised pirated versions of their works to develop the chatbot’s ability to respond to human prompts.
Anthropic, which has received financial backing from major companies like Amazon and Google, acknowledged the lawsuit but declined to comment further due to the ongoing litigation. The legal action against Anthropic is part of a broader trend, with other content creators, including visual artists and news outlets, also suing tech companies over using their copyrighted material in training AI models.
This is not the first time Anthropic has faced such accusations. Music publishers previously sued the company for allegedly misusing copyrighted song lyrics to train Claude. The authors involved in the current case argue that Anthropic has built a multibillion-dollar business by exploiting its intellectual property without permission.
The lawsuit demands financial compensation for the authors and a court order to permanently prevent Anthropic from using their work unlawfully. As the case progresses, it highlights the growing tension between content creators and AI companies over using copyrighted material in developing AI technologies.
These partnerships are crucial for training AI models but have sparked controversy. Some media organisations, like The New York Times, have taken legal action against OpenAI, citing copyright concerns over the use of their content. OpenAI’s COO, Brad Lightcap, emphasised the company’s commitment to maintaining accuracy and integrity in news delivery as AI becomes increasingly integral to this process.
Roger Lynch, CEO of Condé Nast, highlighted the financial pressures news and digital media faced in recent years, attributing them to tech companies undermining publishers’ ability to monetise content. He sees the partnership with OpenAI as a step toward reclaiming some of that lost revenue.
OpenAI’s introduction of SearchGPT in July, a search engine with real-time internet access, marks a significant move into territory traditionally dominated by Google. The company is actively collaborating with its news partners to gather feedback and refine the performance of SearchGPT, aiming to enhance its role in the evolving landscape of digital news consumption.
Recogni, an AI chip and software startup backed by BMW, Bosch, and Mayfield, has unveiled a new computing method that could revolutionise the efficiency of AI systems. The patented system, called Pareto, uses a logarithmic approach to outperform current methods in running large AI models, potentially making AI chips smaller, faster, and less costly to operate. This new method significantly reduces power consumption by converting multiplication operations into simpler additions, all while maintaining accuracy.
Recogni has already tested Pareto on AI models from companies like Meta Platforms and Stability AI. The company’s first chip was developed using Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co’s seven-nanometer process. Recogni is now collaborating with an undisclosed partner to make Pareto more widely accessible, with further details expected in the coming months. The startup is also considering offering its technology through data centres, allowing broader access to its innovative AI computing solution.
