Artificial intelligence Archives | Page 690 of 704

Google expands open source AI offerings

In a surprising departure from its usual modus operandi, Google unveiled open-source tools at its Cloud Next conference, traditionally known for closed-source offerings. This shift aims to cultivate developer goodwill and further Google’s ecosystem ambitions. Among the notable releases is MaxDiffusion, a collection of reference implementations of diffusion models tailored for XLA devices, such as Google’s tensor processing units (TPUs) and recent Nvidia GPUs.

Another significant launch is JetStream, designed to boost the performance of generative AI models, particularly text-generating ones. Limited currently to TPUs with future promises of GPU compatibility, JetStream boasts up to a threefold improvement in ‘performance per dollar’ for models like Google’s Gemma 7B and Meta’s Llama 2.

Google has also expanded its MaxText collection, adding Gemma 7B, OpenAI’s GPT-3, Llama 2, and models from the AI startup Mistral. These models, optimised for TPUs and Nvidia GPUs, are customisable and fine-tunable to meet developers’ requirements, maximising hardware utilisation for enhanced energy efficiency and cost optimisation.

Collaborating with Hugging Face, Google introduces Optimum TPU, which aims to facilitate the integration of certain AI workloads onto TPUs, particularly text-generating models. Despite its current limitations—it supports only Gemma 7B and is restricted to model running rather than training—Google promises future enhancements. The collaboration underscores Google’s commitment to democratising access to advanced AI hardware, hinting at further developments in the pipeline.

Microsoft to invest $2.9 billion in Japan’s AI sector

Microsoft announced a substantial investment of $2.9 billion over two years to bolster its cloud and AI infrastructure in Japan, marking its largest investment since its operations began 46 years ago. The investment will expand data centres and cloud computing assets and support the development of AI applications and workloads. The move underscores a broader trend among major tech firms, including Amazon and Google, to ramp up overseas expansions in response to the growing demand for AI technologies following the launch of ChatGPT in late 2022.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida expressed interest in deepening collaboration with the United States in next-generation computer chips during a business roundtable on Critical and Emerging Technologies hosted by the US Chamber of Commerce in Washington. Microsoft announced the investment before Kishida’s upcoming summit with US President Joe Biden.

Part of Microsoft’s investment will focus on skilling three million people in AI-related fields, demonstrating a commitment to developing talent and fostering innovation in Japan’s technology sector. Additionally, Microsoft plans to establish a new Microsoft Research Asia lab in Tokyo, further enhancing regional research and development capabilities. This initiative aligns with the company’s strategy to strengthen its presence and competitiveness in the global cloud computing market.

Why does it matter?

The surge in investments by tech giants like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft highlights the critical role of cloud infrastructure in supporting AI advancements. For instance, Amazon’s cloud unit directs significant investments into regions like Mississippi and Saudi Arabia, while Google is constructing a major data centre near London. In the intensely competitive landscape of cloud computing, Microsoft’s Azure, Google Cloud (Alphabet), and Amazon Web Services (AWS) remain the top three players, driving innovation and shaping infrastructure expansion to meet evolving market demands and capitalise on the AI revolution.

EU political parties sign election integrity code of conduct

The EU political parties are set to sign a new code of conduct on Tuesday, 9 April 2024, to safeguard the upcoming EU elections from foreign interference and disinformation. The initiative, brokered by the European Commission, is part of a broader effort to protect the integrity of the electoral process.

The code of conduct, overseen by Vice-President Věra Jourová, focuses on preventing the amplification of narratives led by non-EU entities that seek to undermine European values. Parties across the political spectrum, including left, socialists, centre-right, liberals, conservatives, greens, and far-right groups, are committing to proactive measures against spreading misinformation. They pledge to ensure transparency by labelling AI-generated content and not disseminating unfounded accusations or deceptive materials targeting other parties. Although this adds an extra layer of protection to the electoral campaign, the responsibility for implementation and monitoring falls on the European parties rather than national parties conducting the campaign on the ground.

Despite these commitments, the code of conduct lacks independent oversight and enforcement mechanisms instead of relying on the parties to promote compliance among their members and conduct post-election reviews. Commission Vice-President Jourová emphasised the symbolic importance of this collective commitment by European political parties to uphold the integrity of elections, urging them to adhere to ethical and fair campaigning practices in the coming months.

Why does it matter?

The agreement follows recent scandals involving European Parliament members, like Qatargate and Russiagate, and underlines the importance of defending democracy against foreign interference. While the code of conduct does not extend to national parties, it represents a significant step forward in addressing digital risks and maintaining transparency in electoral communications.

Japanese telecom giant warns of AI dangers

Japanese telecom giant NTT issued a dire warning on Monday regarding the potential hazards of unchecked AI, expressing concerns about its impact on societal trust and stability. Teaming up with media outlet Yomiuri Shimbun, NTT emphasised the need for governance over generative AI, highlighting the risk of societal collapse and even wars if left unaddressed. The joint proposal follows a collaborative study initiated in the fall of 2023 to explore the ideal governance framework for generative AI.

Citing issues with accuracy and accessibility, NTT and Yomiuri Shimbun underscored the heightened danger posed by generative AI, which is easily accessible to individuals with internet connectivity. While acknowledging the challenge of reversing AI’s proliferation, the proposal advocates for proactive measures to regulate the relationship between AI and the attention economy, particularly in critical areas like elections and security. Proposed regulations include educational initiatives on AI for students, updates to intellectual property protection, and ‘soft laws’ to identify stakeholders without a comprehensive AI data policy.

The proposal also advocates for establishing multiple AI systems in Japan to monitor each other, enabling users to cross-reference results and mitigate reliance on any generative AI product. NTT’s stance on generative AI departs from the prevailing trend in the tech industry, where most significant players actively leverage AI for various applications. While AI adoption is widespread among cloud providers and chipmakers, telecom companies like NTT are more cautious, recognising the need for comprehensive governance in navigating the AI landscape.

Trudeau Announces C$2.4 Billion Investment in AI Sector and Safety Initiatives

In an announcement made in Montreal as part of a pre-budget tour, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau unveiled a C$2.4 billion investment aimed at bolstering the country’s artificial intelligence (AI) sector. This initiative includes a substantial C$2 billion fund designed to enhance computing capabilities and technical infrastructure access.

Additionally, C$200 million will be allocated towards encouraging AI adoption in agriculture, health care, and clean technology sectors. The government is also set to launch a C$50-million AI safety institute to guard against advanced AI threats and allocate C$5.1 million for the office of the AI and Data Commissioner, reinforcing the proposed Artificial Intelligence and Data Act, Bill C-27.

This legislation, currently under committee review since September 2023, seeks to update privacy laws and impose new obligations for high-impact AI systems. This strategic investment underscores Canada’s commitment to leading in AI development and safety, highlighting a proactive approach to harnessing AI’s potential benefits while mitigating its risks.

Italy’s CDP to invest €1 billion in AI and cybersecurity

Italy’s Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP) has announced a substantial investment of €1 billion over the next five years in AI and cybersecurity through its venture capital arm. The investment aligns with the Italian government’s broader agenda, as the chair of the G7, to prioritise the impact of AI on employment and inequality, unveiled in March with the establishment of an investment fund supported by CDP to foster AI projects.

From 2024 to 2028, the fund aims to inject €8 billion into fostering innovation and competitiveness within Italy’s technology sector. Namely, CDP Venture Capital intends to allocate approximately €580 million towards startups while earmarking €300 million for companies poised for international expansion. Additionally, €120 million will facilitate technological transfer, particularly for university research initiatives.

Agostino Scornajenchi, Chief Executive of CDP Venture Capital, expressed confidence in Italy’s innovation prowess, citing its rich scientific and technical heritage. He emphasised the need for Italy to reclaim a leading role in the global economy by leveraging its strengths in innovation and competitiveness, positioning itself as a key player in the international arena.

South Korea ramps up AI chip investment

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has unveiled plans to invest $6.94 billion in AI by 2027, aiming to solidify the nation’s position as a leader in cutting-edge semiconductor chips. The commitment also includes a substantial $1.32 trillion fund for nurturing AI semiconductor firms.

The investment comes as South Korea faces pressure to keep pace with other major players like the US, China, and Japan, who are also bolstering their semiconductor supply chains through significant policy support.

Semiconductors are a crucial pillar of South Korea’s export-oriented economy. In March, chip exports reached a 21-month high of $11.7 billion, comprising nearly one-fifth of the country’s total exports. President Yoon emphasised the intense global competition in the semiconductor industry, characterising it as an industrial and national battleground during a meeting with policymakers and chip industry executives.

South Korea plans to channel investments and funding towards expanding research and development in AI chips, including artificial Neural Processing Units (NPUs) and next-generation high-bandwidth memory chips to advance its semiconductor capabilities. Additionally, the government aims to promote the development of next-generation Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) and safety technologies beyond current models.

Why does it matter?

President Yoon has set ambitious goals for South Korea to rank among the top three countries in AI technology, including chips, and secure a 10% or higher share of the global system semiconductor market by 2030. He envisions South Korea writing a new semiconductor narrative with AI chips, akin to its dominant position in memory chips over the past three decades. Despite potential disruptions like the recent earthquake in Taiwan, a key semiconductor hub, Yoon emphasised the importance of thorough preparation to mitigate uncertainties for South Korean companies.

Microsoft announces new AI hub in London

Microsoft has unveiled plans for a new AI hub in London, signalling a significant investment in advancing AI research and development. The initiative, part of the newly formed Microsoft AI organization, aims to pioneer language models and infrastructure advancements while fostering collaboration with AI teams and partners like OpenAI.

Jordan Hoffmann, an esteemed AI scientist and engineer with a track record of innovation at companies like Inflection and DeepMind, will lead Microsoft AI London. Hoffmann will be joined by a team based in Microsoft’s London Paddington office, tapping into the rich pool of AI talent in the UK.

The announcement comes with a commitment to long-term investment in the region, with Microsoft AI actively seeking top AI scientists and engineers to join the hub. Job openings will be posted in the coming weeks, focusing on individuals passionate about tackling complex AI challenges and driving impact at scale.

The rise of GenAI: Adecco group’s findings on workplace transformation

The Adecco Group’s comprehensive survey of 30,000 workers in 23 countries presents new findings on the anticipated changes due to AI adoption, particularly generative AI (GenAI) in the workplace.

Key findings from the survey highlight a generally positive outlook towards GenAI among workers, alluding to a ‘honeymoon phase’, with 70% already utilizing GenAI at their workplace. However, despite the widespread use, less than half of the employees are doing so with guidance from their employers. This indicates a gap in access to GenAI training and adoption, particularly affecting employees without a degree, highlighting an education divide.

However, a notable 57% of workers expressed a desire to receive AI training, suggesting a significant opportunity for employers to enhance their workforce’s skills.

However, the successful integration of AI into the workforce is contingent upon a proactive approach towards employee upskilling and training. Adecco Group’s CEO, Denis Machuel, emphasizes the importance of equipping current employees with the skills necessary to navigate the AI-driven landscape, rather than solely relying on external recruitment for AI expertise. This strategy is supposed to mitigate the disruptive impact of AI on employment and to leverage AI’s potential to enhance productivity and innovation within organizations.

Notably, generative AI emerges as a double-edged sword. While it promises efficiency and innovation by automating routine tasks, it also poses a threat to job security for roles susceptible to automation. This technological leap prompts a reevaluation of job roles, with a significant portion of senior executives anticipating smaller workforces as a direct consequence of AI adoption.

The survey reveals that over the next five years, AI’s influence will significantly impact job structures across various industries, potentially leading to a net reduction in workforce sizes for many companies. This paradigm shift isn’t confined to the tech sector alone; industries ranging from defence to healthcare are predicted to undergo profound changes due to AI integration.

Adecco’s findings resonate with the broader trends identified in the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report, which projects that AI and automation will redefine job roles, necessitate new skill sets, and catalyze the transition to a more knowledge-intensive economy.

Microsoft reveals Chinese groups use AI content to undermine US elections

Microsoft Corp. has identified Chinese groups using social media and AI-generated images to incite controversy and gain insights into American perspectives on divisive issues during the election year. According to a report by Microsoft, these groups have spread conspiratorial content, such as blaming the US government for the 2023 wildfires on the Hawaiian island of Maui. The disinformation campaign involved posts in 31 languages, alleging that the US government intentionally caused the blaze, accompanied by AI-generated images of burning coastal roads.

The investigation into the Maui wildfires is ongoing, with a focus on whether power lines owned by Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc. may have sparked the flames. Microsoft noted that these fabricated images demonstrate how Chinese government-affiliated groups are adopting new tactics to advance geopolitical priorities through disinformation and cyberattacks. However, it remains to be seen whether AI has significantly amplified the effectiveness of these efforts.

Microsoft’s report suggests that the accounts responsible for spreading this disinformation are likely operated by the Chinese government or entities aligned with state interests. Despite these findings, the Chinese Embassy did not respond to requests for comment, which is consistent with the government’s denial of involvement in such activities. Researchers have noted the use of AI to create convincing images and manipulated videos, although Microsoft’s assessment suggests that the impact of such content in influencing audiences remains limited.

Why does it matter?

Since last fall, Microsoft has observed a gradual increase in social media accounts linked to China disseminating inflammatory narratives. These influence campaigns have targeted Taiwan’s election and exacerbated rifts in the Asia-Pacific region. On Taiwan’s election day, a Chinese-associated propaganda group reportedly used an AI-generated audio recording to imply an endorsement from Terry Gou, owner of Foxconn Technology Group and former presidential candidate, for another candidate.

Microsoft’s efforts coincide with US government warnings about Chinese hacking groups targeting critical infrastructure, including communications and transportation systems. Microsoft has also been subject to criticism in a recent US government report regarding its response to suspected Chinese cyberespionage campaigns.