🔹 DeepSeek Releases Upgraded AI Model — Rivalry with OpenAI Heats Up
Chinese AI startup DeepSeek dropped its latest model, DeepSeek-V3-0324, on Hugging Face, signaling a bold leap in performance. The model boasts sharp gains in reasoning and code generation, stacking up impressively in benchmarks. Analysts see this as part of China's broader play to rival American AI leaders like OpenAI and Anthropic.
🔹 EU Lawmakers Sound Alarm on Watered-Down AI Act
As the EU's landmark AI Act nears implementation, top lawmakers are pushing back against proposals that could weaken enforcement. They're especially concerned about making guardrails for generative AI voluntary—warning it may let giants like Google and OpenAI dodge accountability. The fear? AI that spreads misinformation, influences elections, or worsens bias, without oversight.
🔹 OpenAI's Chris Lehane: “We're in a Real Race with China”
Speaking at the Axios What's Next Summit, OpenAI’s global affairs chief Chris Lehane emphasized the urgency of the U.S.-China AI race. According to him, whichever country wins will write the rules. He also criticized overly tight copyright laws in the West—arguing they could slow innovation, especially when China isn’t playing by the same rules.
🔹 Authors Slam Meta Over Use of Pirated Books in AI Training
British author Richard Osman called on fellow writers to confront Meta after reports showed the tech giant trained its AI on pirated content from Library Genesis, a Russian database housing over 7.5 million books. Outrage is mounting among creators demanding accountability and financial redress. Meta, however, continues to argue that such training falls under fair use.
🔹 Apple to Train AI Models Using Look Around Data
In a subtle but significant move, Apple will begin using blurred images from its Look Around feature in Apple Maps to train its AI systems starting this month. The data will support functions like image enhancement and environmental understanding—all while preserving user privacy through facial and plate blurring.
🔹 AI Brings Back Suzanne Somers for Her Widower
In a surreal blend of grief and tech, an AI company has recreated the late Suzanne Somers as a lifelike robot, complete with voice, mannerisms, and memories. Her husband, Alan Hamel, now interacts with the bot regularly—an emotional, if controversial, look at how AI is redefining legacy, love, and presence after death.