AI Currents

?? Welcome to the sixteeth edition of AI Currents! If you're new here or returning, a big hug HELLO ?? and THANK YOU ?? for subscribing and joining me on this AI learning journey! ??

If you're like me, it's not easy keeping up with all the latest AI news, trends, tools, books, conferences, thought leaders...

In an effort to stay AI Current, let's ride this AI wave together so we don't get swept away! ?? ?? I hope to share all kinds of AI resources curated to enhance our understanding, inspire innovation, and add a bit of FUN into our learning process! ????

Let's make this AI journey engaging and insightful together!

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Books & Articles about AI

If art imitates life, storytelling can help us better understand and cope with the shock of rapidly advancing technology. AI 2041: Ten Visions for Our Future by Kai-Fu Lee and Chen Qiufan does exactly that, using engaging short stories to illustrate how artificial intelligence might shape our world in the next twenty years.

In AI 2041, Kai-Fu Lee and Chen Qiufan explore how artificial intelligence will transform our world over the next two decades. Through ten riveting short stories and insightful commentary, they envision a future filled with both opportunities and challenges. This essential read combines imaginative storytelling with expert analysis, making it a definitive guide to understanding AI’s potential impacts.

About 50% Of Jobs Will Be Displaced By AI Within 3 Years

We need to harness AI and use all the tools so that they can be the best that they can be. ~ Kai-Fu Lee

Aside from being an author, Kai-Fu Lee is also the founder of 01.ai, an artificial intelligence research and application platform. Yi-Large by 01.AI is a high-performing, multilingual AI model that helps businesses handle tasks like customer support and content generation affordably. Its design makes it accessible for global use without the high cost of similar AI tools.

Kai-Fu Lee is also a prominent Chinese computer scientist, known for his work in artificial intelligence (AI) and technology innovation. He served as the founding CEO of Sinovation Ventures (创新工场), a venture capital firm focused on fostering Chinese technology startups. Prior to that, he held key positions at major tech companies, including Microsoft and Google, where he contributed to advancements in speech recognition and AI. Lee is also recognized for his insights on the future of technology and the competitive landscape between the US and China.

Kai-Fu Lee emphasizes the importance of following both China and the US closely because the decisions and innovations emerging from these two countries will significantly shape the future of technology, economy, and global society.

A sci-fi vision of life in 2041

For every future we wish to create, we must first learn to imagine it. By imagining the future through science fiction, we can even step in, make changes and actively play a role in shaping our reality. ~ Chen Qiufan

Chen Qiufan is a Chinese science fiction writer, columnist, and scriptwriter.

How Innovative Is China in AI?

China is rapidly innovating in AI, focusing on large language models (LLMs) and generative AI, with strong academic backing from institutions like Tsinghua University. While it leads in research volume and patent filings, it still lags behind the U.S. in translating research into impactful products. Government support and a growing ecosystem of start-ups are helping China close the gap, despite U.S. export controls aimed at limiting its access to advanced technologies.

Highlights -??

1. Rapid Growth: China is quickly advancing in AI research and start-up creation.
2. Academic Foundation: Institutions like Tsinghua University are pivotal in AI innovation.
3. Government Support: State-directed funding boosts AI development in overlooked regions.
4. Patent Leader: China surpasses the U.S. in the number of AI patents filed.
5. Investment Challenges: Although investment is increasing, the U.S. still leads in high-quality private funding.
6. Performance Gap: Chinese models are closing the performance gap with U.S. LLMs.
7. Self-Sufficiency Goals: China aims for self-reliance in AI chip production amid U.S. export controls.

AI Tools to Try

Defined.ai

Now that we've explored Chinese AI innovations, let's shift our focus to Portugal. Over the past two weeks I traveled throughout Portugal, I discovered how the country is emerging as an AI leader.

Often, our AI news is stuck in an American echo chamber, and we miss out on the incredible advancements taking place globally.

One of Portugal's AI leaders is Defined.ai, a company that provides high-quality data solutions for AI training. By offering a vast, diverse dataset covering text, audio, and image content, Defined.ai enables businesses to develop more accurate and inclusive AI models, particularly for applications like voice recognition, natural language processing, and computer vision. Users can access and customize data through Defined.ai’s marketplace, making it ideal for teams that need precise, ready-to-use datasets to accelerate their AI projects.

If data is the new oil, then it is imperative that we extract it responsibly. We offer data that we value. ~ Daniela Braga, CEO & Founder of Defined.ai

How can you use Defined.ai

If you've ever been curious about how to make AI work for you, here’s a simple way to start: Defined.ai offers datasets like the "English Spontaneous Dialogue" that anyone can use, even without a technical background.

The exercise of building a chatbot is valuable for anyone looking to enhance customer experiences, streamline communication, or explore how conversational AI can solve real-world problems.

How could you leverage the data sets from Defined.ai?

1. Language Insights: Analyze real conversations to understand common phrases and improve your understanding of spoken English.
2. Build Chatbots: Use tools like Chatfuel or FullContext to create your own chatbot that reflects natural, human dialogue patterns.
3. Customer Support: Develop more empathetic, human-like scripts for your business by learning from real conversations.
4. Voice Assistant Projects: Dive into a voice assistant project using no-code platforms like Google Teachable Machine to train an assistant on spontaneous speech.
5. Accessibility Tools: Experiment with tools that can improve speech-to-text for better accessibility.

Defined.ai gives you a real-world dataset to practice with, helping you explore conversational AI in approachable and meaningful ways.

Defined.ai Ethical AI Framework

Courses You've Got to Take

Salesforce Trailhead

If you want to learn how to use AI, you don't have to pay for expensive courses, especially if you're just starting your AI learning journey. There are plenty of FREE resources if you know exactly where to look. Salesforce is so much more than the leading Customer Relationship Management platform. It is one of many companies committed to AI Literacy that offers an entire suite of FREE courses ranging from AI Fundamentals to Data Analysis, Governance and Ethics.

??Check out Salesforce's Trailhead Salesforce's FREE online learning platofm. Customize your learning, earn points, engage in hands-on projects, and build your AI Literacy absolutely FREE to impact your business, even if you are not a Salesforce customer!

Master AI Video Creation with Colossyan ?? ??

Don't forget to check out my webinar ?? ????????????ing ???? ?????????? ???????????????? ???? ???????? 2 ??????????!???Ready to bring your content to life with AI video avatars? Join my Colossyan Webinar next ??????????????????, ???????????????? 6???? ???? 7 ???? ???????to learn how to create engaging, professional videos that save you time and help you scale your reach—effortlessly! ??

Podcasts about AI

Salesforce also has an excellent podcast called Ask More of AI hosted by Salesforce AI CEO Clara Shih. The podcast provides business leaders and professionals with an opportunity to explore questions and answers about the safe use of AI. The Salesforce AI CEO engages with industry experts to discuss AI’s transformative impact on business, covering ethical, theoretical, technical, and practical aspects.

This podcast is ideal for both seasoned leaders and newcomers to AI. New episodes drop biweekly on YouTube, Salesforce Plus, and other podcast platforms. You can also search for episodes with the hashtag #AskMoreOfAI.

Potentially Promising Prompts

GlidePrompt

GlidePrompt makes working with AI language models easier. You just enter a task, and it suggests prompts you can test across different models like OpenAI, Llama, and Claude. This lets you see which model works best for your needs, saving time and helping you get better results. Best of all you can try if for FREE!

AI in the News

Time Magazines Best Inventions of 2024

Artificial Intelligence has been given its own category in Time Magazine's Best Inventions of 2024, recognizing its growing impact on our daily lives. Google’s innovations like Notebook LM, AlphaFold, and Wing are celebrated as standout inventions for their transformative contributions.

Explore the complete list of inventions shaping our world today—and see how they promise to redefine our future as they continue to evolve.

Jarvis is Here: Take Command of Your Computer Like Tony Stark!

Google's "Project Jarvis" is an upcoming AI agent designed to automate web-based tasks within the Chrome browser. Powered by Google's next-gen AI model, Gemini 2.0, Jarvis can perform tasks like gathering research, shopping, and booking flights, making online routines easier for users. This tool is expected to work by taking frequent screenshots of a user’s screen, analyzing them, and using that information to click buttons, enter text, or execute other commands.

The project is reportedly set for a preview release in December, with an initial rollout to a limited group of testers. Unlike broader AI applications that operate across devices, Jarvis is expected to work specifically within Chrome.

I think about [agents] as intelligent systems that show reasoning, planning, and memory. Are able to think multiple steps ahead, work across software and systems, all to get something done on your behalf, and, most importantly, under your supervision. ~ Sundar Pichai on AI agents?

A New Era of Proving Our Humanity

As we move into a future where AI agents may outnumber humans, society will need to adapt its systems. One major change could involve people needing to prove they’re human—not AI—when engaging online or in public spaces. This kind of identification could become essential as we distinguish ourselves in a world full of advanced AI agents.

Last week, Sam Altman and Alex Blania introduced the rebranding of the WorldCoin Orb project to World.

The World project aims to establish a “proof of personhood” system, using biometric scans to confirm that individuals are indeed human through a unique World ID. This system is intended to help people verify their human identity in a world where AI is increasingly present. With tools like the iris-scanning Orb, World seeks to provide a straightforward way for individuals to prove their humanity, making it easier to distinguish people from AI in both digital and real-world interactions. This identification could soon play a key role in helping humans maintain authentic representation and trust across AI-driven spaces.

The WorldCoin Orb was designed to address some of the big challenges we may face in a world where AI and automation are becoming more advanced. This device, which uses iris scans to give people a unique digital identity, anticipates two major issues:

1. Job Loss and Economic Security: With AI getting better at complex tasks, some jobs may disappear. To prepare for this shift, WorldCoin’s system links digital IDs with cryptocurrency, offering a financial framework that could support future efforts like Universal Basic Income (UBI) to help people as traditional jobs change or decline.

2. Proving Humanity in a World of AI: As AI agents become more common in our lives, it may be necessary to prove we’re human. WorldCoin’s biometric ID provides a way to verify real human identity, especially important in online spaces where AI could otherwise impersonate people.

World's Ethical Questions

Reports have surfaced of people trading irises on the black market to access WorldCoin cryptocurrency, which highlights the need for strong protections around privacy and security when dealing with biometric data.

Google: More than a quarter of new code is now AI-generated

More than a quarter of all new code at Google is generated by AI, then reviewed and accepted by engineers, said Google CEO Sundar Pichai during the company’s third quarter 2024 earnings call. It’s a big milestone that marks just how important AI is to the company.

More AI Resources

Fact Sheet: Key AI Accomplishments in the Year Since the Biden-Harris Administration’s Landmark Executive?Order

One year ago this past week, President Biden signed a groundbreaking Executive Order aimed at ensuring the United States takes the lead in harnessing the benefits and addressing the challenges of AI.

A year later, the Biden-Harris Administration has followed through on over 100 key actions from the historic AI Executive Order, staying on schedule and delivering each commitment with the goal of creating safe, secure, and trustworthy AI. ?

The U.S. AI Safety Institute is leading this charge, pushing for comprehensive testing, evaluation, and guidance to make AI safer. Soon, this effort will expand internationally with the International Network of AI Safety Institutes (AISIs) ?? launching in San Francisco on November 21st, 2024. ??

However, if another President takes office, the AISI could be dismantled and all of the progress of the last year could be lost. https://lnkd.in/exFBx_dg

This global network aims to strengthen safety practices worldwide.

Here are the Top 10 AI Safety Actions Already in Progress:

1. ?? Mandatory Reporting: Developers must report AI safety test results to the government.
2. ??? AI Safety Testing: Conducting risk assessments before major AI models are deployed.
3. ?? Risk Management Frameworks: Creating guidelines for generative and multi-use AI models.
4. ??? National Security Memorandum: Federal agencies are directed to develop secure AI systems.
5. ?? Nucleic Acid Synthesis Screening: Preventing the misuse of AI in creating hazardous biological materials.
6. ?? Task Force on Datacenter Infrastructure: Aligning data centers with national security needs.
7. ?? Transparency in AI-Generated Content: Labels and transparency protocols to identify AI-generated material.
8. ?? Combatting Deepfake Abuse: Addressing AI-generated deepfake risks with commitments from developers.
9. ??? AI Safety & Security Board: Providing guidance on secure AI use in critical areas.
10. ??? AI in Government Software Protection: Using AI to secure government networks.

Apple Intelligence is Here, But Is Siri Any Smarter?

THIS IS A MUST WATCH! ?? ?? ??

The latest iPhone update is packed with AI-driven enhancements designed to make your everyday experience smoother, smarter, and more intuitive. However, these new enhancements will be rolled out over the next few months.

?? Writing Tools ??: These tools are now available nearly everywhere you type, allowing you to rewrite, proofread, and summarize text right within the app you're using.

• Rewrite ??: Suggests different versions of your text so you can choose which flow or wording suits you best.
• Proofread ??: Highlights grammar fixes and language refinements, helping to polish your writing.
• Summarize ??: Select any text to generate a high-quality summary instantly.

?? Siri Gets an Upgrade ????: Siri has a new look and feel, with a glowing light around the edge of your screen when you interact.

• Enhanced Responsiveness ?: Siri now animates based on the sound of your voice and lets you keep scrolling or typing while it responds.
• Type to Siri ??: You can double-tap at the bottom of the screen to type instead of speak when making a request.
• Richer Understanding ??: Siri now has improved language understanding and can follow along even if you stumble over words or change your mind mid-sentence.
• Conversational Context ??: Siri remembers what you said earlier in the session, making follow-up questions more seamless.
• Product Knowledge ??: Get detailed answers about features and settings on your Apple devices.
• Voice Enhancements ???: Siri sounds more natural, expressive, and clear, improving the overall interaction experience.

?? Photos and Clean Up ????:

• Photo Search ??: You can find photos and videos simply by describing them—AI makes searching effortless.
• Clean Up ??: Remove distractions and unwanted elements in your photos with just a tap.
• Memory Movies ??: Create memory movies by simply describing the story you want to see—AI brings your moments to life.

?? Smarter Notifications ????:

• Notification Summaries ??: Easily catch up with a glanceable summary of the most important information.
• Reduce Interruptions ??: A new 'Focus' feature ensures only the most urgent notifications get through, minimizing distractions.
• Smart Reply ??: In Mail and Messages, suggested responses make replying faster and easier.
• Priority Messages ??: The system intelligently prioritizes messages that need your attention, displaying them at the top of your inbox.
• Transcription Summaries ?????: Automatically summarize transcriptions from your call recordings or audio notes, making information easier to digest.

?? AI-Aided Accessibility ????:

• Hearing Test ??: Scientifically-validated hearing test results are available from the comfort of your home, using your AirPods.
• Hearing Aid Feature ????: Provides personalized, clinical-grade sound assistance for users with mild to moderate hearing loss, applied across music, videos, and calls.
• Hearing Protection ??: Helps minimize exposure to loud noises in different environments, enhancing your listening experience safely.

Have You Tried the New ChatGPT Features?

1. Have you tried searching through your conversation history in ChatGPT?

You can now search old conversation threads by clicking the magnifying glass icon at the top of the screen.

2. Have you noticed a blue dot on your ChatGPT conversations?

The blue dot on a ChatGPT conversation indicates that the conversation contains new or unread messages. It serves as a visual cue to help users quickly identify conversations they haven’t fully reviewed yet. Once you open or read the conversation, the blue dot typically disappears.

3. Have you used the forward slash in ChatGPT?

Typing a forward slash / will bring up a menu where you can generate an image, SEARCH the web and get resource links, or switch to the advanced reasoning model.

Check out OpenAI's article Introducting ChatGPT SEARCH fresh off the presses!

Gemini for Google Maps

Here are the top 5 advantages of the Google Maps updates with Gemini, with emojis added for emphasis:

1. Curated Inspiration ??: Get AI-powered ideas for activities and locations, making planning more spontaneous and fun.

2. Enhanced Navigation ??: Better lane guidance, crosswalk details, and road sign recognition for stress-free driving.

3. Weather Alerts ???: Real-time updates on weather disruptions keep your routes safer.

4. Immersive View Expansion ??: Explore places with 3D AI-driven views for more engaging virtual tours.

5. Improved Parking Assistance ???: Easily locate parking spots and get detailed walking directions after parking.

For more, check [Google Maps Gemini Updates]

Thank you for reading friends! ?? Stay tuned for next week's edition of AI Currents keeping you currently informed about all things AI! ??

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RIDE THE AI WAVE; DON'T GET SWEPT AWAY! ?? ??