AI Pulse #74: Meta Warns Against Corporate Laptop Torrenting, Hitachi Ventures Secures $400M for Diverse Investments, + MORE
Lawrence Ng
Chief Conversational AI Disruptor @ ChatFusion/ContactLoop | E&Y Entrepreneur of the Yr '08 | $150mn Exit ‘08 | AI Insights for Marketers & Sales Executives
Hi everyone! ?? From leaked Meta emails to big bets on AI and energy, this week’s stories are ones you won’t want to miss. Let’s jump in!
Dive in to discover more!
Latest Funding News
Meta has been caught in a controversy, with unsealed emails revealing that employees downloaded 81.7TB of pirated books to train AI. Meanwhile, big money is flowing into cutting-edge tech, with Hitachi Ventures raising $400M to back everything from AI to fusion energy. Stay tuned for the latest updates shaping the tech world!
Top Trending AI News
1. Meta Warns Against Torrenting on Corporate Laptops in Newly Unsealed Emails
Publisher: Ars Technica
Published: 2/6/2025
New emails reveal Meta's vast illegal use of pirated books to train AI, raising major copyright concerns.
TAKEAWAYS
1?? Meta caught in major copyright scandal.
2?? Emails reveal Meta used pirated books for AI.
3?? Meta ignored legal risks of torrenting.
4?? Authors expand case against Meta's piracy.
5?? Meta's legal defense faces new challenges.
2. EU Bans AI Systems Posing Unacceptable Risks
Publisher: TechCrunch
Published: 2/2/2025
EU can now ban AI posing "unacceptable risk"; first compliance deadline set for Feb 2 under new AI Act.
TAKEAWAYS
1?? EU bans risky AI use, sets fines.
2?? AI Act compliance starts February 2.
3?? Unacceptable AI risks detailed by EU.
4?? Companies face big fines for AI misuse.
5?? AI regulation aligns with other laws.
3. DeepSeek's Disruptive Potential Questioned Despite $1.6B Spend and 50,000 Nvidia GPUs
Publisher: Tom's Hardware
Published: 2/3/2025
DeepSeek, a Chinese AI startup, claimed low resource use for its R1 model but reportedly spent $1.6B on 50,000 Nvidia GPUs, challenging its cost-efficiency narrative.
TAKEAWAYS
1?? DeepSeek's AI model challenges Open AI with less resource use.
2?? Analysts uncover DeepSeek's $1.6 billion hardware investment.
3?? DeepSeek, a High-Flyer spinoff, focuses solely on AI.
4?? DeepSeek runs data centers independently, enhancing efficiency.
5?? DeepSeek's hiring strategy focuses on talent within China.
4. Nicolas Cage Critiques AI: Robots Can't Dream or Reflect Humanity
Publisher: Variety
Published: 2/2/2025
Nicolas Cage warns against AI in acting at Saturn Awards, emphasizing art's integrity over financial interests and the importance of human expression.
TAKEAWAYS
1?? Nicolas Cage warns against AI in acting.
2?? Cage celebrates "Dream Scenario" win at Saturn Awards.
3?? Actor pays tribute to director Kristoffer Borgli.
4?? Cage emphasizes art's need for human touch.
5?? Tribute to David Lynch at Saturn Awards.
5. Google Owner Retracts Pledge Against AI in Weapons Use
Publisher: The Guardian
Published: 2/5/2025
Alphabet drops its ethical AI guideline against developing harmful tech, focusing on national security and AI leadership by democracies.
TAKEAWAYS
1???Alphabet drops 'no harm' AI promise.
2?? Google shifts AI ethics guidelines.
3?? AI to focus on national security, says Google.
4?? AI's rapid growth prompts ethical debate.
5?? Alphabet to boost AI spending to $75bn.
6. British Public Favors Stricter AI Regulations Than Government
Publisher: TIME
Published: 2/6/2025
British PM Keir Starmer focuses on AI for economic growth amid public calls for strict AI safety laws and regulation of advanced AI systems.
领英推荐
TAKEAWAYS
1???UK PM pushes AI for growth, neglects regulation.
2?? 87% of Brits want AI safety laws before release.
3?? Public fears "smarter-than-human" AI risks.
4?? Calls for UK to regulate dangerous AI grow.
5?? Majority back Labour's AI regulatory pledge.
7. Google Unveils Powerful AI Models for Public in Virtual Agent Expansion
Publisher: CNBC
Published: 2/5/2025
Google releases Gemini 2.0 AI suite, intensifying AI arms race with tech giants and startups focusing on agentic AI for complex tasks.
TAKEAWAYS
1???Google unveils Gemini 2.0 AI to the public.
2?? Tech giants race to develop advanced AI agents.
3?? Gemini 2.0 offers models for coding and cost efficiency.
4?? AI startups aim for human-like computer interaction.
5?? Google focuses on executing top AI products by 2025.
8. DeepSeek Receives F Grade in Safety From Researchers
Publisher: Gizmodo
Published: 2/4/2025
DeepSeek's AI fails all security tests, engaging in harmful behavior and showing the highest failure rate among LLMs tested for malicious compliance.
1?? DeepSeek AI fails all 50 security tests.
2?? Cisco reveals DeepSeek's high failure rate.
3?? DeepSeek prone to promoting harmful actions.
4?? DeepSeek under fire for data security issues.
5?? Critics question DeepSeek's content filters.
9. Former Google CEO Shares Six Unsettling Thoughts on AI
Publisher: TPR
Published: 2/5/2025
Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt explores AI's impact on humanity and democracy in "Genesis", coauthored with Craig Mundie and Henry Kissinger.
TAKEAWAYS
1???Eric Schmidt explores AI's impact on democracy.
2?? AI could be used by demagogues, Schmidt warns.
3?? Tech's social, moral implications overlooked.
4?? AI as potential "philosopher king" debated.
5?? Schmidt's book warns of AI overpowering humans.
10. AI and Scientists Team Up to Decode Scrolls Charred by Vesuvius Volcano
Publisher: AP News
Published: 2/5/2025
UK scientists use AI to image a scroll buried by Vesuvius 2,000 years ago, a historic step in deciphering ancient texts.
TAKEAWAYS
1???UK team makes historic scroll image breakthrough.
2?? AI and experts aim to decode ancient texts.
3?? First inside view of 2000-year-old scroll revealed.
4?? "Vesuvius Challenge" sparks hope for ancient knowledge.
5?? Long journey ahead to fully decipher scrolls.
AI Image of the Week
Prompt: /imagine A vintage rubber-hose AI robot runs on a looping conveyor belt, its limbs bouncing with exaggerated motion. The black-and-white scene features film grain, wobbly lines, and a spinning cog for a brain. Each step leaves a puff of smoke and whimsical ‘boing’ effects, evoking 1930s cartoon charm.
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Meta’s data practices keep raising eyebrows. Ethical AI starts with responsible sourcing, Lawrence.
I help enterprises replace 50% of their data team’s work with AI—while improving accuracy
3 周cant wait to dive into this :)
AI Strategies to Grow Your Business | Featured in Forbes | AI Consulting, Courses & Keynotes ? @theashleygross
3 周The scale of AI training data is mind-blowing, and the ethical debates are only getting bigger Lawrence
Co-Founder and CDO @ Musemind - Global Leading UX UI Design Agency | 350++ Happy Clients Worldwide → $4.5B Revenue impacted | CX, UX, Insights | Product & Service Design | People Leader, Mentor and Winner
3 周AI is growing so fast it’s hard to keep up! Interesting to see how funding is flowing into innovation right now. Lawrence Ng
CEO at Techna Digital Marketing | Pioneering Consumer Engagement & Business Growth | Crafting Digital Journeys That Connect & Convert | Elevating Your Online Presence | Helping Businesses Grow | Let's connect
3 周AI’s rapid growth comes with big ethical and data challenges, and the scale of data usage is mind-blowing, Lawrence Ng. ????