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Zuckerberg critiques closed-source AI development

In a recent interview, Mark Zuckerberg positioned Meta as a leading advocate for open-source AI, critiquing competitors for their closed-source approaches. Speaking on the YouTube channel Kallaway, Zuckerberg expressed his belief that individual companies should not monopolise AI technology to create singular products. Instead, he envisions a future with diverse AI options, supported by open-source principles.

Zuckerberg highlighted Meta’s commitment to open-source AI, emphasising the importance of empowering developers and users to contribute to and innovate within the AI ecosystem. However, some experts question Meta’s open-source claims. Amanda Brock, CEO of OpenUK, argued that Meta’s Llama model is only partially open-source due to certain commercial stipulations. Similarly, Gartner analyst Arun Chandrasekaran noted Meta’s competitive constraints that limit the openness of its models.

Meta is not alone in promoting open-source AI. French startup Mistral AI and Databricks have also made strides in this area, though their offerings include restrictions. The Linux Foundation has announced the Open Platform for Enterprise AI (OPEA) to standardise open-source definitions in AI, reflecting a broader industry movement towards clarity and true openness in AI development.

Instagram tests AI for creator interactions

Instagram is trialling a new feature called ‘AI Studio’, allowing creators to develop AI versions of themselves. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg recently revealed on his broadcast channel that the feature is undergoing an initial test phase with selected creators and users in the United States.

Zuckerberg highlighted that AI avatars from popular creators and interest-based AI models will soon appear in Instagram messaging. These AI entities are initially designed to interact within messaging threads and will be clearly marked as AI-generated.

During the broadcast, Zuckerberg demonstrated early examples featuring AI-powered chatbots developed in collaboration with creators such as the team behind the meme account ‘Wasted’ and Don Allen Stevenson III. These chatbots aim to assist creators by engaging with their followers and responding to messages on their behalf.

Creators on Instagram can initiate interactions by tapping the ‘Message’ button, prompting users to acknowledge that the responses may be AI-generated and potentially not entirely accurate or appropriate. Each AI-generated message will be prefaced with ‘AI’ and marked with a ‘beta’ tag, indicating ongoing development and testing.

Meta’s launch of AI Studio last year enabled businesses to create AI chatbots for platforms like Messenger, Facebook, and Instagram. The initiative reflects Meta’s ongoing efforts to integrate advanced AI technologies into its social media platforms, enhancing user engagement and interaction capabilities.

Why does it matter?

The IATSE’s tentative agreement represents a significant step forward in securing fair wages and job protections for Hollywood’s behind-the-scenes workers, ensuring that the rapid advancements in technology do not come at the expense of human employment.

OpenAI acquires Rockset to boost data processing and AI capabilities

OpenAI has made a pivotal advancement in the AI sector by acquiring Rockset, known for its search and analytical database technology. The acquisition is a strategic move to elevate OpenAI’s data processing and utilisation capabilities.

By integrating Rockset’s advanced infrastructure into its product suite, OpenAI aims to significantly enhance its AI tools, making data retrieval more precise and actionable. Founded in 2016 by former Meta engineers, Rockset excels in cloud-based data management, including real-time streaming data ingestion and sophisticated querying for time series, geospatial, and vector data.

Notably, its recent Approximate Nearest Neighbour (ANN) search upgrade boosts AI efficiency through rapid similarity searches across large datasets. With an acquisition valued at several hundred million dollars, OpenAI seeks to address business challenges in data integration with AI systems, thereby improving the accuracy and utility of its offerings, such as ChatGPT.

Brad Lightcap, OpenAI’s COO, highlighted customer benefits, emphasising Rockset’s ability to turn data into actionable insights. He reassured existing Rockset clients of a smooth transition, ensuring service continuity during the integration.

A strategic move like this underscores OpenAI’s dedication to enhancing AI accessibility and functionality, promising significant improvements in data-driven AI applications.

Meta may block news in Australia over licensing fees

Meta, the owner of Facebook, is contemplating blocking news content in Australia if the government enforces licensing fees, a company representative revealed during a parliamentary hearing. Meta’s regional policy director, Mia Garlick, stated that ‘all options are on the table’ to avoid paying fees, emphasising that there are many alternative channels for news content. Meta is awaiting a decision from Canberra on whether it will apply a 2021 law that allows the government to set fees for US tech giants to pay media outlets for links.

The intention to withdraw news from its platforms mirrors Meta’s stance in Canada in 2023 when similar laws were introduced and followed by the pressure of Prime Minister Trudeau to ensure Meta complies with the Online News Act, which requires tech giants with 20 million monthly users and over C$1 billion in annual revenue to compensate Canadian news publishers.

Meta had initially struck deals with Australian media firms, including News Corp and the Australian Broadcasting Corp, but has announced it will only renew these arrangements in 2024. Australia’s assistant treasurer must now decide whether to force Meta to pay for news content, while free-to-air broadcasters like Nine Entertainment and Seven West Media are already citing revenue losses and cutting jobs in anticipation of expired deals with Meta.

In defence, Garlick explained that blocking news content would be a form of compliance with the law, stating that Meta adheres to other laws such as tax, safety, and privacy. She also defended Meta’s content moderation processes, which were managed from centres outside Australia. Addressing concerns about harmful misinformation and scams, including a lawsuit by billionaire Andrew Forrest over scam ads featuring his image, Garlick acknowledged the challenges but assured that Meta has policies and tools to combat such issues.

Meta launches AI chatbot in India, rivaling Google’s Gemini

Meta has officially introduced its AI chatbot, powered by Llama 3, to all users in India following comprehensive testing during the country’s general elections. Initially trialled on WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger, and Facebook since April, the chatbot is now fully accessible through the search bars in these apps and the Meta.AI website. Despite supporting only English, its functionalities are on par with other major AI services like ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini, including tasks such as suggesting recipes, planning workouts, writing emails, summarising text, recommending Instagram Reels, and answering questions about Facebook posts.

The launch aims to capitalise on India’s vast user base, notably the 500 million WhatsApp users, by embedding the chatbot deeper into the user experience. However, some limitations have been observed, such as the chatbot’s inability to fully understand the context of group conversations, except in direct mentions or replies. Moreover, while it cannot be disabled, users can choose not to interact with it during searches.

Despite its capabilities, Meta AI has faced criticisms for biases in its image generation, often depicting Indian men with turbans and producing images of traditional Indian houses, which Meta has acknowledged and aims to address through ongoing updates. The launch coincides with Google releasing its Gemini app in India, which, unlike Meta’s chatbot, supports multiple local languages, potentially giving Google a competitive advantage in the linguistically diverse Indian market.

Why does it matter?

In summary, Meta’s rollout of its English-only AI chatbot in India is a strategic effort to leverage its extensive user base by offering robust functionalities similar to established competitors. While it faces initial limitations and biases, Meta is actively working on improvements. The concurrent release of Google’s Gemini app sets up a competitive landscape, underscoring the dynamic and evolving nature of AI services in India.

Privacy concerns behind Apple abandoning Meta partnership, report says

In recent days, the landscape of AI integration on Apple’s devices has become a topic of discussion. Initially, it was reported that a potential partnership could involve Apple’s cooperation with Meta’s AI services. However, ‘people with knowledge on the matter’ told Bloomberg this is not the case, explaining that Apple had explored a potential partnership in March of this year, before settling on OpenAI for part of the recently announced Apple Intelligence services. Reportedly, this partnership was abandoned due to Apple’s privacy concerns. Apple has repeatedly criticised Meta’s privacy practices, making a collaboration between the two tech giants potentially damaging to Apple’s image as a privacy-focussed company.

The timing of these discussions coincides with Meta facing privacy concerns over its new AI tools in the European Union. Despite this, Meta recently rolled out these same tools in India.

Earlier this month, Apple launched its own suite of AI features under the Apple Intelligence brand, including integration in Siri. Apple partnered with OpenAI to allow iPhone users to utilise ChatGPT for specific queries. The company says Siri will always ask for your permission before connecting to ChatGPT, and give you the choice to provide it with data, like a photo, if needed for your query. “From a privacy point of view, you’re always in control and have total transparency,” said Apple senior vice president Criag Federighi. That stance underpins Apple’s strategy as it demarcates itself in the world of AI integration, balancing innovation with its core principle of user privacy.

Apple is not depending exclusively on one AI provider though. At the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), it announced its willingness to work with Google to integrate the Gemini AI model into its ecosystem. They have already partnered to train Apple’s AI. The extent of this integration remains to be seen, but it indicates Apple’s strategy of diversifying its AI partnerships.

Meta faces backlash from photographers over mislabeling real photos

Meta faced criticism from photographers after its ‘Made by AI’ label was incorrectly applied to genuine photos. Notably, a photo taken by former White House photographer Pete Souza and an Instagram photo of the Kolkata Knight Riders’ IPL victory were wrongly marked as AI-generated. Photographers have reported that even minor edits using tools like Adobe’s Generative Fill can trigger Meta’s algorithm to label images as AI-generated.

Pete Souza and others have expressed frustration at being unable to remove these labels, suspecting that specific editing processes may be causing the issue. Meta’s labelling approach is also affecting photos with minimal AI modifications, leading to concerns about the accuracy and fairness of such labels. Photographer Noah Kalina argued that if minor retouching counts as AI-generated, the term loses its meaning and authenticity.

In response, Meta stated it is reviewing feedback to ensure its labels accurately reflect the amount of AI used in images. The company relies on industry-standard indicators and collaborates with other companies to refine its process. Meta’s labelling initiative, introduced to combat misinformation ahead of election season, involves tagging AI-generated content from major tech firms. However, the exact triggers for the “Made with AI” label remain undisclosed.

Meta and Anthropic in AI deal talks with Apple

Meta Platforms, Facebook’s parent company, is in talks to integrate its generative AI model into Apple’s newly announced AI system for iPhones. The integration comes as Apple plans to incorporate technology from various AI companies into its devices. There are also reports that Apple is considering a partnership with Google, its long-time search partner.

Additionally, Apple is exploring partnerships with other AI companies, including in regions like China, where OpenAI’s ChatGPT is banned. AI startup Anthropic has been discussing bringing its generative AI to Apple Intelligence with Apple. Though Meta and Anthropic have not commented, and Apple has not responded to requests for comment, these talks, if successful, could significantly expand the reach of these AI technologies.

The financial details of these potential deals remain unclear, but they could involve AI companies selling premium subscriptions through Apple Intelligence. AI search startup Perplexity is also discussing with Apple the incorporation of its generative AI technology. Apple recently announced its AI strategy, aiming to integrate the new Apple Intelligence technology across its apps, including Siri, and differentiate itself from competitors by emphasising privacy.

Meta and Google adopt different approaches to election-related query restrictions in India

As India’s elections conclude and the new government commences its term, Meta has removed restrictions on election-related queries through its Meta AI chatbot. Users can now access information about election results, politicians, and officeholders. Initially, Meta had limited such queries, directing users to the Election Commission’s website for information on politicians, candidates, and political parties. While Meta hasn’t issued an official statement, this move aligns with the company’s ongoing efforts to refine its AI models.

Meanwhile, despite launching its Gemini AI app in India, Google maintains restrictions on election-related queries as part of a global policy. The company directs users to Google Search instead of providing direct responses through Gemini AI. These restrictions were implemented earlier this year in response to elections worldwide. However, it remains to be seen when Google will lift these restrictions, particularly in countries where elections have concluded and new governments are in place.

Why does it matter?

The differing approaches of Meta and Google highlight the complexities surrounding AI chatbots and political queries. While Meta temporarily restricted queries during the Indian elections, Google maintains global restrictions. The decisions underscore companies’ challenges in managing AI outputs, especially amidst concerns about bias and misinformation. Other AI chatbots like ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot also exhibit varied responses to political queries, reflecting the broader scrutiny developers face in ensuring the integrity of AI-driven platforms.

Meta to face US lawsuit by Australian billionaire over scam crypto ads on Facebook

A US judge has denied Meta Platforms’ attempt to dismiss a lawsuit filed by Australian billionaire Andrew Forrest. The lawsuit accuses Meta of negligence for allowing scam advertisements featuring Forrest’s likeness, promoting fake cryptocurrency and fraudulent investments, to appear on Facebook. Judge Casey Pitts ruled that Forrest could proceed with claims that Meta’s actions breached its duty to operate responsibly and that Meta misappropriated Forrest’s name and likeness for profit.

Meta had argued that it was protected under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which typically shields online platforms from liability for third-party content. However, the judge determined that Forrest’s allegations raised questions about whether Meta’s advertising tools actively contributed to the misleading content rather than simply hosting it neutrally.

Forrest alleges that over 1,000 fraudulent ads featuring him appeared on Facebook in Australia from April to November 2023, resulting in millions of dollars in losses for victims. The lawsuit marks a significant step, challenging the usual immunity social media companies claim under Section 230 for their advertising practices. Forrest is seeking compensatory and punitive damages from Meta.

The following decision follows Australian prosecutors’ refusal to pursue criminal charges against Meta over similar scam ads. Forrest, the executive chairman of Fortescue Metals Group, considers the judge’s ruling a strategic victory in holding social media companies accountable for fraudulent advertising.