UPP News: What's new in the AI field?

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1. Morph Studio lets you make films using Stability AI-generated clips.

Source: Techcrunch

Morph Studio, led by co-founder Xu Huaizhe, has unveiled Morph, an innovative AI filmmaking platform.

By integrating Stability AI-generated video clips, Morph empowers users to craft captivating films seamlessly. Central to Morph's ethos is its emphasis on community collaboration, providing a platform where users can share ideas and workflows. Morph's intuitive storyboard interface allows users to input text prompts for various scenes, simplifying filmmaking. The platform's partnership with Stability AI ensures access to high-quality video clips generated by cutting-edge AI models.

With a focus on continuous improvement, Morph aims to stay ahead of the curve by incorporating user feedback and evolving with the needs of content creators. Initially known for AI-generated memes, Morph has expanded its focus to film production, recognizing the growing importance of visual storytelling. Through its advanced AI capabilities and collaborative community, Morph offers a powerful yet accessible platform for creators to explore new creative possibilities in the digital age.

2. Alibaba staffer offers a glimpse into building LLMs in China.

Source: Techcrunch

Chinese tech companies are actively working to bridge the gap with OpenAI, as evidenced by their efforts to develop large language models (LLMs) akin to ChatGPT.

Researchers on both sides of the Pacific are experiencing similar work routines, as observed through a recent post by an Alibaba researcher mirroring one from OpenAI. Their schedules, characterized by long hours and intense focus on model development, reflect the high level of dedication in China's LLM space.

Despite the demanding workload, employees have a palpable drive to match or surpass Silicon Valley standards. This intense work ethic is prevalent not only in tech giants like Alibaba but also in startups such as 01.AI. As these firms roll out their LLMs, competition in the Chinese market intensifies, with various contenders competing with dominance.

Alibaba, in particular, is investing in both internal development and external startups to gain an edge. Notably, Alibaba's multilingual approach, exemplified by the release of SeaLLM for Southeast Asian languages, showcases its ambition to establish a unique position in the LLM space and expand its influence beyond China. Through initiatives like SeaLLM and strategic acquisitions, Alibaba is positioning itself as a formidable player in the global AI landscape.

3. Former Twitter engineers are building Particle, an AI-powered news reader.

Source: Techcrunch

Particle.news, spearheaded by former Twitter engineers Sara Beykpour and Marcel Molina, is poised to revolutionize news consumption with its innovative AI-driven platform. This startup promises users a personalized news reading experience, offering concise summaries sourced from a diverse array of publishers. Unlike traditional news aggregators, Particle's approach prioritizes fairness by ensuring equitable compensation for authors and publishers, setting it apart in the competitive landscape of AI-powered news apps.

Despite its potential to reshape the news industry, Particle faces concerns regarding its impact on publishers' revenue streams. The use of AI-generated summaries could potentially reduce traffic to publishers' websites and affect their ability to monetize through advertising. However, Particle's experienced team and commitment to innovation position it as a frontrunner in addressing these challenges and navigating the evolving digital news landscape.

With plans to launch a mobile app and implement stringent source vetting processes, Particle demonstrates its dedication to meeting the evolving needs of digital news consumers. Supported by investors like Ev Williams and Scott Belsky, Particle is well-equipped to make a significant impact in AI-driven news aggregation, offering users a unique and engaging news reading experience.

4. Microsoft partners with Mistral in a second AI deal beyond OpenAI.

Source: The Verge

Microsoft has announced a significant multiyear partnership with Mistral, a French AI startup valued at €2 billion. This collaboration signifies Microsoft's strategic interest in furthering its AI capabilities, particularly within the domain of language processing. As part of the partnership, Microsoft will acquire a minor stake in Mistral, cementing its commitment to leveraging Mistral's innovative AI technologies.

Under the agreement, Mistral's cutting-edge language models will be integrated into Microsoft's Azure AI platform, expanding the platform's offerings to include Mistral's unique AI solutions. This integration will provide Azure users with access to Mistral's open and commercial language models, enhancing the platform's capabilities and catering to a broader range of AI applications.

A highlight of Mistral's offerings is the introduction of its latest AI model, Mistral Large, designed to compete with industry-leading models like OpenAI's GPT-4. Mistral Large boasts impressive performance on standard benchmarks and is poised to revolutionize the landscape of AI-driven language processing. Additionally, Mistral is rolling out Mistral Small, optimized for improved latency, and introducing Le Chat, a conversational chatbot powered by Mistral's AI technologies.

5. Windows is getting its own Magic Eraser to AI-modify your photos.

Source: The Verge

Microsoft has unveiled a new feature called Generative erase, integrated into the Windows Photos app, which employs AI to remove objects from images selectively. This functionality allows users to seamlessly eliminate unwanted elements such as photobombers or distracting objects, enhancing the overall quality of their photos. Notably, Generative erase represents Microsoft's expansion into AI-driven image editing, adding to the suite of AI-powered tools available to Windows users.

Unlike similar features found in smartphone cameras like those of Google Pixel or Samsung Galaxy devices, Generative erase is tailored for Windows PCs, making it accessible across various Windows operating systems. It will be available not only on Windows 11 but also backported to Windows 10, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of devices without necessitating hardware upgrades.

Currently, Generative Erase is undergoing testing and is accessible to Windows Insiders across different channels. Microsoft encourages users to update their Photos app to the latest version (2024.11020.21001.0 or higher) to access this new feature. However, details regarding whether AI-edited photos will be distinguished with metadata or watermarks remain unspecified, leaving users curious about the potential impact on the authenticity and integrity of their edited images.

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