AI Vanguard: Neuroevolution and Other Weekly Highlights in Generative Artificial Intelligence.

March 28, 2024

As we celebrate the 25th anniversary of "The Matrix," let's delve into the latest developments from the past week in generative artificial intelligence. Our top story features:

?? Sakana AI vs. Omnipotent AGI: Exploring the Evolutionary Magic within Hive Minds

• Founded by ex-Google talents and researchers Llion Jones (co-author of the influential paper "Attention is All You Need") and David Ha (Google Brain), Sakana AI introduces an innovative technique dubbed "model fusion" that demands our immediate attention. This approach aims to replicate natural selection processes to propel the advancement of generative AI. By harnessing the collective intelligence of open-source models, it seamlessly synthesizes new foundational models by integrating components of pre-existing ones, eliminating the necessity for building from the ground up. They have pioneered three Japanese base models: EvoLLM-JP, EvoVLM-JO, and EvoSDXL-JP. This strategy emerges as a formidable contender, offering a compelling alternative to the concept of an omnipotent AGI.

https://arxiv.org/abs/2403.13187

https://github.com/SakanaAI/evolutionary-model-merge

The Three Dimensions: Pioneering Semantic Interpretation and 3D generative

• Meta, through its Reality Labs Research, has unveiled an innovative approach named SceneScript for reconstructing 3D scenes. Utilizing the Aria Synthetic Environments dataset, which is available for academic use, SceneScript conducts an object detection analysis at the 3D level. This not only enables a semantic understanding of 3D environments but also facilitates the recreation of volumes and spaces. Essentially, this innovation allows models to generate a "mental image" of actual spaces. The potential applications are astounding. To grasp the full scope of this breakthrough, I highly recommend watching the accompanying video.??

• In a separate development, Google has introduced a game-changing technique for creating 3D representations from 2D images, all without requiring knowledge of the camera's position, whether absolute or relative. This system, dubbed MELON, enables the construction of 3D models of objects using merely 4-6 images. Remarkably, MELON can reconstruct a neural radiant field (NeRF) with such minimal input. ??https://blog.research.google/2024/03/melon-reconstructing-3d-objects-from.html
• Meanwhile, Stability AI has stepped into the arena with SV3D, a groundbreaking model capable of generating 3D content from a single image. This development promises to revolutionize asset creation across various industries, including gaming, visual effects (VFX), and commerce, by significantly simplifying the process.

• And not to be outdone, Nvidia has joined the fray with the introduction of LATTE3D, a powerful tool designed to generate 3D models in near real-time. This development promises to further accelerate the creation and application of 3D models across numerous fields.

BIG-TECH Innovations

NVIDIA: Amplifying Processing Power for Robotic Advancements - Blackwell and Project GR00T

• NVIDIA has once again captured the tech world's attention with its latest announcements. The reveal of the new Blackwell CPUs/GPUs has been particularly groundbreaking. The GB200 model boasts an impressive 20 petaflops of processing power, while the Grace Blackwell Superchip is set to revolutionize LLM inference with a 30x performance enhancement, translating to a 7x increase in efficiency for LLMs like GPT-3. This marks an astounding acceleration of up to 700% over existing computational capabilities.

• Furthermore, NVIDIA has taken a bold step into the future of robotics with Project GR00T. This initiative seeks to merge AI with humanoid robotics, employing the Jetson Thor megachip, Nvidia Isaac Lab, and the potent 800 TeraFLOPS Blackwell architecture. In collaboration with Boston Dynamics, Project GR00T aims for a multimodal understanding, transcending speech and text to enable robots to replicate human movements by observation.
• In addition to these advancements, Nvidia has unveiled Earth-2, a cutting-edge digital weather platform. Leveraging generative artificial intelligence and CUDA-X microservices, Earth-2 aims to deliver high-resolution simulations. Its API focuses on forecasting extreme weather events exacerbated by climate change, potentially mitigating global losses currently estimated at $140 billion. This innovative approach underscores Nvidia's commitment to using advanced technology for critical global challenges.

Stability AI (Open Source): Evolving with New Models Amidst Changes

• While it hasn't garnered as much attention as Sam Altman's temporal recent departure from OpenAI, Stability AI has seen significant shifts of its own. Founder and CEO Emad Mostaque has exited the company amidst a wave of resignations by key researchers, driven by financial problems.
• Despite these setbacks, Stability AI continues to innovate, notably with the introduction of MindEye2. This project aims to reconstruct visual perceptions from brain activity, utilizing functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and enhancing the dataset for each subject to produce high-quality images.

MICROSOFT: Strategic Investments and AI Innovations

• Microsoft has made a notable $650 million investment in an AI startup named Inflection, which launched PI (Personal AI) last year. This move, supported by influential figures like Reid Hoffman, Bill Gates, and Eric Schmidt, aims to weave AI models into the fabric of Microsoft Azure. Following this collaboration, notable figures from Inflection have ascended to key positions within Microsoft: DeepMind co-founder Mustafa Suleyman has been appointed to lead Microsoft's consumer AI division, while Inflection AI co-founder Karén Simonyan will serve as chief scientist.
• Furthermore, Microsoft is stepping up its game by unveiling its first AI PCs: the Surface Pro 10 and Surface Laptop 6, targeted at enterprise users. These devices, powered by Intel Core Ultra or Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite processors, are equipped with neural processing units (NPUs) to boost AI model performance.
• Highlighting the competitive landscape, Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, made statements to Business Insider about the company's positioning relative to OpenAI that have sparked significant controversy in Silicon Valley. He described Microsoft's strategy as "below them, above them, around them," showcasing a comprehensive approach to navigating the transformative effects OpenAI has brought to the tech industry.

OPENAI: Navigating Through Controversy

• This week has been tumultuous for OpenAI. In a conversation between Sam Altman and Lex Fridman, Altman's remarks made waves, highlighting the deficiencies of current AI technologies in relation to the ambitious goals set for the future. Additionally, Altman hinted at the launch of GPT-5 sometime in 2025, stirring anticipation and debate.
• There's been buzz around the OpenAI store reportedly stocking promotional products and GPT-related items that may infringe upon the company's own terms of service.
• In a lighter vein, OpenAI's promising venture into the realm of generative video was showcased by Mira Muratti and a group of select artists through SORA, offering a glimpse into the creative potentials of future technologies.

Politics and Investments: Shaping the Future of AI

• Denmark sets a new benchmark with the Novo Nordisk Foundation's unveiling of "Gefion," an AI supercomputer dedicated to expediting medical research, marking a significant leap forward in healthcare innovation.
• Saudi Arabia is keen not to be outpaced in the global AI race, establishing a colossal $40 billion fund dedicated to AI advancements, with ambitions to dominate the global stage in this sector.
• The U.S. Department of Commerce has announced a substantial $20 billion investment in Intel, aimed at augmenting the production of AI-centric semiconductors and chips. This initiative is expected to generate over 30,000 jobs and elevate the U.S. to produce 20% of the world's advanced AI chips by 2030, reinforcing its position in the tech industry.
• China has taken a step back, implementing new regulations that ban government agencies from using computers equipped with Intel or AMD processors, and devices running Microsoft's Windows OS. This move is part of the broader "Made in China 2025" strategy, aimed at boosting domestic industries and reducing reliance on foreign technology.

LEGALITY

• The backlash against the collection of biometric data is gaining momentum across Europe, with Portugal's CNPD taking a firm stand by ordering a temporary halt on the iris "harvesting" activities of WorldCoin, echoing similar concerns previously raised by Spain.
• Europe is intensifying scrutiny on tech giants, with Apple, Google, and Meta under investigation for potential breaches of the Directive on the Right of Access to Information and the Protection of Privacy (DMA), raising questions about their adherence to European privacy standards.
• In a significant move, Google has been slapped with a €272 million fine by the French regulatory body for exploiting content from news publishers without proper authorization to enhance its Gemini AI model, highlighting the ongoing tensions between tech companies and content creators.
• The U.S. Department of Justice's (DOJ) antitrust lawsuit against Apple paints the tech behemoth's dominion over iPhone users and developers as a barrier to future tech innovations, underscoring the growing legal scrutiny over tech monopolies.
• Meanwhile, Google faces a pivotal trial by the U.S. Attorney's Office, accused of unlawfully sustaining a monopoly in the online search arena, a case that could have far-reaching implications for the tech landscape.
• Tennessee has taken a groundbreaking step by becoming the first U.S. state to enact the Ensuring Likeness Voice and Image Security Act (ELVIS Act), a law designed to shield musicians from AI-driven impersonations of their voices without consent, marking a significant move towards protecting artists' rights in the digital age.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ELVIS_Act

• In Italy, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is taking a stand against the misuse of digital imagery, seeking €100,000 in damages for defamation through a civil lawsuit against two individuals accused of creating and disseminating deepfake pornographic content featuring her likeness, spotlighting the growing concerns over digital ethics and the misuse of AI technologies.

ETHICS

• Clearview AI has sparked ethical debates by amassing a staggering 3 billion images from the internet without users' consent. The company projects its database will grow to encompass 100 billion facial images within a year. With the global population around 8 billion, this equates to approximately 12.5 photos per person, raising significant privacy and consent issues.

MODELS

• GitHub has introduced the beta version of CodeQL, an AI-powered tool designed to automatically patch code. GitHub asserts that this system is capable of fixing over 67% of known vulnerabilities, potentially revolutionizing the way developers address code safety.
• Adobe is set to revolutionize ad creation with the launch of GenStudio, a platform powered by generative AI. This tool aims to simplify the process for advertisers to utilize Adobe's AI tools, like Firefly, for crafting compelling marketing campaigns.
• Apple has made strides in AI with the development of a family of multimodal models named MM1. Boasting around 30 billion parameters, these models promise significant improvements in pre-training metrics and the unique ability to generate various types of data simultaneously.

AUDIOVISUALS

• TThe BBC has ceased using AI to promote Doctor Who, responding to viewer complaints.
• The World Poker Tour (WPT) has embarked on a partnership with Papercup, a London-based dubbing company, to leverage artificial intelligence for dubbing, aiming to expand its global audience reach.

HEALTH

• An AI tool named Mia has demonstrated remarkable potential in healthcare by identifying previously undetected breast cancer symptoms in scans of 11 women during an NHS trial, showcasing the transformative impact of AI on medical diagnostics.
• In another groundbreaking development, a patient equipped with Neuralink has gained the capability to move a cursor and play chess on a computer, highlighting the significant strides being made in integrating AI with neural technologies to enhance quality of life.

THREATS AND REPLACEMENTS:

• The trend of layoffs within the tech industry, though slightly diminished from the previous year, persists. In the first quarter alone, over 50,858 layoffs were reported across 221 companies, as per Layoffs.fyi . This follows a year that saw a total of 263,180 layoffs, underscoring the ongoing adjustments and challenges within the sector.

CURIOSITIES:

• In Noordwijkerhout, The Netherlands, an intelligent robot named Theo has taken on the role of monitoring the health of tulip bulbs and flowers, showcasing the innovative use of robotics in agriculture.

• MIT has undertaken the colossal task of cataloging the myriad applications of AI, culminating in the creation of a comprehensive website: https://www.pantheon.international/almanac , a valuable resource for exploring the expansive universe of AI applications.
• Ukrainian FPV drones are demonstrating advanced automated training techniques in their attacks against Russian vehicles, highlighting the evolving role of drones in modern warfare.
• Deutsche Telekom has introduced Emma, proposing that AI personal assistants evolve into holographic avatars. This pioneering concept merges artificial intelligence with holography, promising to revolutionize our daily interactions with technology and introducing a new dimension to user experience.

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Statement on the Use of Generative AI in This Newsletter:

"In our continuous effort to enhance the efficiency and quality of our content, we strategically incorporate generative AI technologies at crucial stages of production. This includes the crafting of succinct summaries and the creation of embeddings that are integral to our machine learning algorithms, ensuring the curation of content that is both relevant and of the highest significance.

Moreover, we utilize AI for linguistic correction and for translating texts into English. This enables us to engage a worldwide audience with content that is clear, accurate, and linguistically polished. The advent of AI-driven image generation has also paved the way for innovative visual expression and the illustration of content, enriching our newsletter's appeal.

It's vital to acknowledge that, despite the pivotal role of generative AI in our workflow, the responsibility for the final selection, crafting, and editorial review of content squarely lies with our dedicated team ??. Our commitment to maintaining high standards of quality and accuracy is unwavering, as is our dedication to upholding the values of authenticity and transparency in every piece of content we deliver. "