Catch up on select AI news and developments from the past week or so (in no particular order):
Google enhances AI in search to allow voice questions about images. Google has updated its search engine with more AI features, allowing users to voice questions about images through its Lens tool. This AI-powered feature builds on Google's efforts to create more interactive search experiences, but also raises concerns about misinformation. The update is seen as a response to competitors like ChatGPT and Perplexity, positioning Google to appeal to younger users. Importance for marketers: This development highlights the growing use of voice-activated AI in search, indicating a shift in how users interact with online content.
Nvidia releases powerful open-source AI model to rival GPT-4. Nvidia has unveiled NVLM 1.0, a multimodal large language model designed to compete with leading AI systems such as GPT-4. The model excels at both visual and text-based tasks, offering significant improvements in performance. By making the model open-source, Nvidia aims to democratize AI research and development. Importance for marketers: Open-source AI could allow smaller companies and marketing teams to harness advanced AI technologies without the massive costs associated with proprietary models, broadening innovation opportunities.
Meta avoids confirming if AI trains on photos from Ray-Ban smart glasses. Meta's Ray-Ban smart glasses, which feature AI-powered photo capture, have raised concerns over privacy as the company has not clarified whether these images are used to train its AI models. This lack of transparency comes amid increasing scrutiny over how AI models are trained on user-generated content. Importance for marketers: With growing concerns around AI privacy, marketers should be cautious about adopting AI tools without clear data use policies, as consumer trust can be easily eroded by perceived data misuse.
Microsoft adds voice and vision capabilities to Copilot AI assistant. Microsoft's Copilot has been redesigned to include voice and vision features, allowing users to interact with the AI assistant in more natural ways, such as voice commands and visual analysis of web content. These enhancements aim to make Copilot a more intuitive and helpful tool. Importance for marketers: With voice and vision integration becoming more prevalent in AI tools, marketers should consider how these technologies can enhance user engagement and provide more interactive experiences for their audiences.
MIT spinoff Liquid AI debuts non-transformer AI models. Liquid AI, an MIT spinoff, has introduced a new line of AI models that outperform traditional transformer-based models while using less memory. These Liquid Foundation Models (LFMs) are optimized for a variety of applications, offering enhanced performance with reduced computational costs. Importance for marketers: Advanced AI models that deliver better results with fewer resources could provide marketers with more efficient tools for data analysis, content generation, and other AI-powered tasks, reducing costs while improving outcomes.
California governor vetoes AI safety bill. California Governor Gavin Newsom has vetoed a bill that would have imposed strict regulations on AI companies, including legal liability for AI-related harm and the implementation of an AI "kill switch." Newsom cited concerns about the bill stifling innovation, particularly among smaller AI startups. Importance for marketers: The veto highlights the ongoing tension between AI innovation and regulation. Marketers working with AI technologies should stay informed about potential regulatory shifts that could affect their use of AI in campaigns and operations.
Amazon launches new Fire tablets with AI-powered tools. Amazon has introduced the Fire HD 8 tablet with integrated AI tools such as writing assistance, webpage summaries, and AI-generated wallpapers. These features will also be rolled out to other Fire tablets, enhancing the user experience with AI-powered functionality. Importance for marketers: The inclusion of AI in consumer devices like tablets highlights the growing expectations for personalized and efficient digital experiences, emphasizing the need for marketers to stay ahead of AI trends.
Google's Gemini Live AI expands support to more languages. Gemini Live is rolling out support for five additional languages: French, German, Portuguese, Hindi, and Spanish. The tool allows users to converse with AI in up to two languages on Android devices. Full availability is expected within the coming weeks, with more languages planned for future integration. Importance for marketers: The ability to engage with AI tools in multiple languages opens up new opportunities for global marketing strategies, enabling brands to communicate more effectively with diverse audiences.
Associated Press partners with AppliedXL to streamline federal regulation reporting with AI. The Associated Press and AppliedXL have launched Local Lede, an AI-powered tool to help local newsrooms analyze federal regulations and extract key insights for their communities. The tool simplifies complex data, allowing journalists to identify newsworthy elements quickly. Importance for marketers: AI's ability to process large datasets and extract actionable insights is a game-changer for content creators, including marketers, who need to distill complex information into relevant messaging for their audiences.
Google introduces Quick Insert AI button on new Chromebooks. Google's new Chromebooks, including the Galaxy Chromebook Plus, feature a Quick Insert button that gives users immediate access to AI tools for writing assistance, website summaries, and media search. This button replaces the search/launcher button on select devices, offering a more seamless user experience. Importance for marketers: As AI becomes more integrated into everyday devices, marketers must adapt to the changing landscape where AI-driven content creation and quick data access are expected, providing opportunities for more efficient workflows.
AI now defeats image-based CAPTCHA with 100% accuracy. Researchers from ETH Zurich have developed an AI system that can successfully solve image-based CAPTCHA challenges with human-level accuracy. The system uses object-recognition technology to bypass security measures that were designed to block bots from accessing websites. Importance for marketers: As AI becomes more adept at defeating CAPTCHA systems, marketers should explore alternative security methods for online forms and accounts to protect sensitive data from automated attacks.
Bill Gates outlines his top concerns about AI. Bill Gates has shared his three biggest concerns regarding AI: its potential use for cybercrime, the risk of job displacement, and the rapid pace of technological change. Gates believes that while AI can provide significant benefits, it also presents risks that need to be carefully managed. Importance for marketers: Understanding the broader societal impacts of AI is crucial for marketers, as the ethical and regulatory landscape could directly influence how AI is used in marketing strategies and business operations.
EU selects experts to develop AI compliance rules. The European Union has appointed a group of AI experts to help draft the AI Act's code of practice, which will guide businesses in complying with new regulations. The code will focus on transparency and risk mitigation, with the final version expected by 2025. Importance for marketers: The AI Act's compliance requirements could impact how AI is used in marketing, particularly with regard to data transparency and the ethical use of AI-generated content, making it important for marketers to prepare for new regulations.
Samsung unveils AI-powered Galaxy Tab S10 tablets. Samsung has launched its new Galaxy Tab S10 tablets, which feature AI-powered enhancements such as improved handwriting conversion and device management. The tablets are designed to boost productivity and offer AI-driven tools to streamline user tasks. Importance for marketers: AI-powered productivity tools are becoming standard in consumer electronics, signaling the need for marketers to incorporate AI capabilities into their strategies to meet evolving consumer expectations for seamless, efficient experiences.
Human trainers now key to improving AI model accuracy. AI companies like Cohere and OpenAI are increasingly relying on human trainers with specialized knowledge to reduce errors in their models. These trainers help refine AI systems in fields such as medicine and finance, ensuring higher-quality outputs. Importance for marketers: As AI systems become more complex, marketers should recognize the role of human expertise in training AI models. This collaboration ensures more accurate AI-generated content, which is essential for maintaining trust with audiences.
Apple pulls out of OpenAI investment talks. Apple has reportedly withdrawn from negotiations to participate in OpenAI's latest funding round, which could raise $6.5 billion. The decision comes as other major tech firms like Microsoft and Nvidia remain in discussions to invest in the company. Importance for marketers: The competitive landscape of AI investments shows how critical AI technologies have become to large companies' strategies. Marketers should monitor these developments to understand how AI partnerships and investments might influence the tools they use.
UK clears Amazon's AI partnership with Anthropic. The UK's competition regulator has approved Amazon's $4 billion investment in AI startup Anthropic, allowing the partnership to proceed without further investigation. The approval marks a key step in Amazon's strategy to integrate advanced AI into its products. Importance for marketers: Amazon's investment in AI highlights the growing significance of AI technologies in e-commerce and beyond. Marketers should watch for new AI-driven tools that can enhance customer experiences and streamline business operations.
Gemini AI can now turn your messy data into fancy tables in Google Sheets. Google's Gemini AI now offers users the ability to transform unstructured data into well-organized, visually appealing tables in Google Sheets. The feature allows users to input prompts to create tables automatically, reducing the need for manual formatting. The feature will be available by mid-October across multiple Google domains. Importance for marketers: Marketers dealing with large datasets can benefit from this AI-driven feature by speeding up data organization and analysis, leading to faster decision-making and enhanced productivity.
You can find the previous issue of AI Update here.
Editor's note: GPT-4o was used to help compile this week's AI Update.
