Former Google CEO Warns of AI Misuse by Rogue States
Eric Schmidt, former CEO of Google, has expressed concerns that nations such as North Korea, Iran, and Russia, along with terrorist groups, could exploit AI to develop harmful weapons, including biological attacks. He emphasizes the need for governmental oversight to prevent such misuse but cautions against over-regulation that might stifle innovation. Schmidt supports U.S. export controls restricting the sale of advanced AI microchips to certain countries to slow adversaries' AI research.
Elon Musk Announces 'Scary-Smart' Grok 3 AI Chatbot
Elon Musk revealed that his latest generative AI, Grok 3, is outperforming rival chatbots and is slated for release by the end of the month. Described as "scary-smart," Grok 3 has demonstrated powerful reasoning and non-obvious solutions. Musk's startup, xAI, launched Grok as a competitor to OpenAI's ChatGPT. He also discussed his role in reducing federal spending through the Department of Government Efficiency and projected significant economic growth and reduced government expenditure.
AI Safety Concerns Highlighted at Paris Summit
At the recent AI Action Summit in Paris, experts like Stuart Russell from UC Berkeley and Wendy Hall from the University of Southampton raised concerns about AI safety. Despite these concerns, the summit focused on stimulating action and investment, as emphasized by U.S. Vice President JD Vance and President Emmanuel Macron. The rapid development of artificial general intelligence (AGI) by companies like OpenAI, Google DeepMind, and Anthropic has intensified worries about potential risks, including AI-enabled cyber or bioweapons attacks. Advocates are calling for global minimum safety standards, stressing that safety is crucial to the industry’s progress.
Apple Partners with Alibaba to Enhance AI Features in China
Apple has partnered with Alibaba to integrate generative AI capabilities into its products in China, aiming to boost iPhone sales in a market where it faces stiff competition from local companies like Huawei. Despite the announcement by Alibaba’s chairman Joe Tsai, analysts express doubts about the impact of this partnership on Apple’s sales, citing Chinese consumers' strong preference for local apps and cautious spending behavior. Regulatory challenges also exist, as Apple’s current AI partnership with OpenAI cannot be applied in China due to local regulations. This new development aims to address these issues, but its success remains uncertain.
Google and Poland Collaborate to Develop AI in Energy and Cybersecurity
Google and Poland have signed a memorandum to develop the use of AI in the country's energy, cybersecurity, and other sectors. This collaboration comes as Poland has reduced its dependence on Russian fuels and faces cyberattacks believed to be Russian-sponsored. Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk discussed expanding Google operations in Poland, which started in 2014 and currently house over 2,000 employees. Google is also committing $5 million over five years to train young Poles in digital skills, aiming to reach 1 million individuals. Tusk emphasized that these initiatives will enhance Poland’s security and contribute to its economic growth.
Publishers Sue AI Firm Cohere Over Copyright Violations
Several major publishers, including The Atlantic, Politico, and Vox, have filed a lawsuit against AI startup Cohere for copyright and trademark infringement. The publishers accuse Cohere of using over 4,000 copyrighted works to train its language model and displaying large portions or entire articles without driving traffic to the publishers' websites. The suit also claims Cohere delivers "hallucinated" content under publishers' trademarks, where false information is presented as being from the publishers. The plaintiffs seek damages and the destruction of all copyrighted works in Cohere's possession. This lawsuit highlights ongoing tensions as publishers' business models are threatened by AI-driven technologies. Cohere states it adheres to practices respecting IP rights and deems the lawsuit as misguided.
For more news and the latest AI developments, be sure to visit AI Assistant Store regularly.