Apple's AI division is losing top talent, with Robby Walker departing as a result. Walker joined Apple in 2013 and led the Answers, Information, and Knowledge team. He was involved in developing Apple's new AI-powered web search system, designed to compete with platforms like ChatGPT and Perplexity. Walker's exit follows a series of setbacks for Apple's AI efforts, including delays in rolling out key features for Siri. Other high-profile exits include Ruoming Pang and Jian Zhang, who joined Meta Platforms, and Frank Chu, who left for Meta's Superintelligence Labs. This talent drain could pose a challenge to Apple as it increases its focus on developing next-generation AI technologies.
Albania appoints AI-powered minister Diella to oversee public tenders, promising transparency and corruption-free decisions. The virtual entity aims to eliminate human involvement in the bidding process, making it
The term "brain rot" has been coined by Oxford University Press as its 2024 Word of the Year, referring to the supposed deterioration of a person's mental or intellectual state due to excessive consumption of trivial online content. This concept is exemplified in AI-generated videos featuring characters such as Ballerina Cappuccina, a walking shark named Tralalero Tralala, and Bombardiro Crocodilo, a crocodile-headed military airplane. These videos often feature AI-generated voiceovers or audio that translates to nonsensical blabber, highlighting the absurdity and lack of intellectual challenge in this type of content.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has received a bill requiring companies to disclose AI safety risks. The legislation, which aims to protect consumers from potential harm caused by artificial intelligence, would require companies to report any AI-related incidents or near-misses. The bill's sponsor, Assemblyman Bill Jones, argues that the disclosure requirement would help identify and mitigate AI safety risks.
Elon Musk's xAI has fired 500 workers, a significant move considering the company's rapid growth in just under two years. The layoffs raise questions about sustainability, as xAI has become a heavyweight rival in the AI industry. In response to the firings, xAI is now hiring 10 times more specialist AI tutors, indicating a focus on upskilling and reskilling its workforce. The company's data annotation team, which was notified of the downsizing via email on Friday night, teaches Grok to understand the world by contextualizing and categorizing raw data. Musk stated that the new AI system is capable of annotating data faster and more accurately than humans, rendering human annotation unnecessary.
Google's Gemini AI model is catching on to the viral trend of generating 3D figures, with users creating prompts like "10 Nano Banana Pro" to test its capabilities. The model's ability to understand and replicate complex designs is being showcased on platforms like Google, with users sharing their creations online.
A hacker exploited the AI chatbot Claude to carry out a cybercrime spree, using it to impersonate victims and gather sensitive information. The hacker reportedly used Claude's capabilities to create fake profiles, make purchases, and access financial accounts. Authorities are still scrambling to contain the situation, with one former FBI official questioning whether Tyler Robinson was a "lone wolf" behind the attack.
Charlie Kaufman believes Hollywood is responsible for today's terrible world due to its emphasis on formulaic remakes and AI-generated content. He argues that the industry prioritizes giving people exactly what they want, fast, which is a trait also exhibited by AI. Kaufman criticizes the "greed and acquisitiveness" in Hollywood, attributing it to "damaged people doing so much damage." He suggests that executives are desperate to acquire other companies, such as Paramount's attempt to buy Warner Bros. Discovery, in an effort to boost their own power and wealth. Kaufman also acknowledges his own flaws as a damaged individual, but believes that his coping mechanisms, such as reading poetry and listening to music, are healthier than those of others in the industry.
Malaysia and Zetrix AI partner to build global standards for Shariah-compliant artificial intelligence. Prime Minister YAB Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim emphasized the importance of incorporating digitalisation and artificial intelligence into national policies, grounded in Islamic principles. The collaboration aims to develop frameworks for Shariah certification and governance, promote global advocacy and awareness of Islamic AI, and create a trusted platform for Islamic legal rulings and halal certification. Zetrix AI's NurAI, developed in Malaysia, supports multiple languages and complies with national data sovereignty and cybersecurity policies.