🤔 Will AI make the Headlines?

Also: Possible Big Funding for Humanoid Robots

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Evolving AI
January 31, 2024

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Welcome, AI enthusiasts

Welcome to today’s edition of our newsletter. NYT is exploring generative AI in journalism, starting by assembling a new team. Will AI make the headlines in the future? Figure AI, known for their humanoid robots, is in talks with Microsoft and OpenAI for a big funding round, while Nightshade astonishes with over 250,000 downloads in 5 days. Let's dive in!

In today’s insights:

  • Will AI make the Headlines?

  • Possible Big Funding for Humanoid Robots

  • Tool for Artists to Prevent AI Misuse Surprisingly Popular

Read time: 5 minutes

🗞️ LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

Source: Mark Lennihan/AP, File

Evolving AI: The New York Times is gearing up to integrate AI in its newsroom, focusing on enhancing reporting and presentation.

Key Points:

  • NYT building a team for AI integration in journalism.

  • Roles include engineers, designers, and editors.

  • Firm on maintaining human-led journalism.

Details:

The New York Times is stepping into the future with a new team dedicated to exploring generative AI in journalism. Headed by Zach Seward, the initiative aims to harness AI for innovative reporting and content presentation. The team, a blend of engineering, research, and design talent, will prototype AI applications, working closely with news, product, and technology groups. Despite embracing AI, the Times remains committed to its core principle: journalism crafted by expert human journalists. This move reflects a growing trend in media, with other giants like Axel Springer and the Associated Press also exploring AI's role in news production. However, the Times' journey with AI hasn't been smooth, marked by legal challenges and concerns over content scraping and revenue impacts.

Our Thoughts:

This move by the Times highlights a significant shift in journalism. AI's role in news production poses both opportunities and challenges. Can AI enhance journalistic quality and efficiency without compromising the authenticity and trust that human journalism upholds? Furthermore, is this one of the first cases of “if you can’t beat them ‘em, join ‘em” cases in AI? The New York Times is currently engaged in a lawsuit against OpenAI concerning the use of copyrighted work, a topic we discussed in this newsletter. Time will tell, but these are certainly interesting developments that could give us a sneak peek into the future as more companies start to implement AI into their operations.

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Evolving AI: Figure AI, a startup in humanoid robotics, is in talks with Microsoft and OpenAI for major funding.

Key Points:

  • Figure AI discussing $500 million funding with Microsoft and OpenAI.

  • Potential investments include $95 million from Microsoft, $5 million from OpenAI.

  • Company previously raised $70 million in early 2023.

Details:

Spearheading the humanoid robotics revolution, Figure AI's recent funding initiatives are pivotal. The company, which began in 2022, is strategically negotiating a substantial $500 million funding round with Microsoft and OpenAI, building on a $70 million investment secured earlier in 2023. This influx of capital is crucial for advancing their project – developing AI-driven robots tailored for high-risk tasks in warehouses. Their strategy hinges on a subscription-based model, making these cutting-edge robots accessible and updatable for businesses. The vision is clear: roll out these robots in commercial settings within two years, setting the stage for wider adoption in the next five years.

Why It Matters:

Figure AI's pursuit of substantial funding from tech titans like Microsoft and OpenAI is more than a financial milestone; it represents a transformative leap in industrial automation. This influx of capital will not only fuel the development of advanced humanoid robots but also reflects the growing confidence in AI's role in practical applications. By democratizing access to robotic technology through a subscription model, Figure AI is poised to redefine workforce dynamics in sectors reliant on manual labor, particularly in high-risk environments. This venture, if successful, could mark the beginning of a new chapter in the symbiosis of human and robotic collaboration.

Evolving AI: Nightshade, a tool for artists to prevent AI misuse of their work, astonishes with 250,000 downloads in just 5 days.

Key Points:

  • Nightshade, developed at the University of Chicago, disrupts AI models from using artworks without consent.

  • The tool alters images at the pixel level, confusing AI algorithms.

  • It's a response to concerns about AI training on unlicensed data.

Details:

Nightshade operates by subtly changing artwork details, making them misinterpreted by AI. For example, an AI might see a purse instead of a cow in an altered image. This "poisoning" of data aims to make AI training on unlicensed artwork less viable, encouraging proper licensing. The overwhelming response crashed university servers, prompting the addition of mirror download sites. The team's earlier tool, Glaze, has seen over 2.2 million downloads since April 2023.

Why It Matters:

This massive interest in Nightshade reflects a growing concern among artists about AI's impact on intellectual property. It highlights the tension between technological advancement and creative rights. The enthusiastic reception suggests a strong desire for control and recognition in the digital art world. As AI continues to evolve, the balance between innovation and artistic integrity remains a critical conversation.

💡 Tip of the Day

As Nightshade takes a significant leap forward, let's explore some background information provided by its creators to understand how it works.

🎯 SNAPSHOTS

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