Week of [11/04/24]

The latest Agile AI newsletter updates every week.

Overview - Recent AI developments reflect global momentum in adopting, regulating, and advancing AI across sectors. The UK and Ireland are focusing on AI legislation and workforce training, while companies like OpenAI and Perplexity AI continue to push boundaries with advanced search tools and substantial funding rounds. Industries from fast food to pharmaceuticals are increasingly integrating AI to enhance efficiency and reduce costs. With discussions on AI superintelligence and AGI breakthroughs by 2025, leaders in AI underscore the importance of responsible growth and careful management of emerging capabilities.

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1. UK to Legislate Against AI Risks

• The UK government plans to introduce legislation within the next year to address AI risks, transforming voluntary AI testing agreements into legally binding codes and establishing an independent AI Safety Institute. This initiative aims to mitigate potential AI threats and ensure citizen protection.

2. OpenAI Launches ChatGPT Search Tool

• OpenAI has released an AI search update for ChatGPT, enabling live information retrieval from the web and competing with other AI search tools. This feature is currently available to ChatGPT Plus and Teams subscribers, with plans for broader access.

  
  

3. Perplexity AI Secures $500 Million Funding

• AI-powered search startup Perplexity is finalizing a $500 million funding round, tripling its valuation to $9 billion. The company aims to establish revenue-sharing partnerships with publishers amid legal challenges over content usage.

4. Wendy’s Expands AI Drive-Thru System

• Wendy’s plans to roll out its AI system, Wendy’s FreshAI, developed with Google Cloud, to more locations in 2025. The system aims to reduce order errors and improve the drive-thru experience, including processing orders in Spanish.

5. Irish Government Invests in AI Training

• Ireland’s government is training civil service workers in AI as part of a strategy to position the country as a leader in smart technology. Despite concerns about job displacement, officials believe AI will augment rather than replace jobs.
  

6. Pharmaceutical Industry Embraces AI

• Pharma companies are increasingly adopting AI for drug discovery and design, aiming to reduce the time and cost of bringing drugs to market. AI models can predict molecular behavior and improve clinical trials, potentially generating significant economic benefits.

7. OpenAI CEO Predicts AI Superintelligence

• OpenAI CEO Sam Altman suggests that AI superintelligence could emerge within the next decade, leading to unprecedented technological progress and global prosperity. He emphasizes the need for careful management of AI’s development.
  

8. The New Yorker Explores AI in Politics

• An recent article in The New Yorker discusses the rise of automation in American politics, highlighting the use of data-driven campaigns and AI, and its impact on public trust and democratic values. The piece examines the concept of an “artificial state” where political discourse is mechanized.

9. MIT Collaborates on AI-Enhanced Turbomachinery Design

• MIT is part of a multi-university team pursuing AI-enhanced design tools and high-throughput testing methods for next-generation turbomachinery, funded by DARPA. The collaboration aims to integrate AI into engineering processes for improved efficiency.
  

10. OpenAI CEO Predicts AGI Breakthrough by 2025

• Sam Altman recently expressed confidence in achieving Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) within the next few years, targeting 2025. He noted that while challenging, the path forward is clear, signaling OpenAI’s commitment to advancing AI capabilities toward human-like understanding across diverse tasks.