This Week in AI

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LinkedIn Co-founder’s AI Startup is Taking on Cancer

LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman has launched Manas AI, a biotech startup using AI to speed up cancer drug discovery.

The company is focusing first on breast cancer, prostate cancer, and lymphoma, aiming to cut down the time it takes to find and test new treatments. Hoffman believes AI can break long-standing barriers in medical research and bring life-saving medicines to patients faster.

Manas AI’s co-founder – and cancer researcher and best-selling author – Siddhartha Mukherjee described the company’s mission as a bold effort to “drastically reduce the time and cost” of bringing new treatments to patients.

The company has already raised $25 million in funding from General Catalyst, Greylock, and other investors, with Hoffman personally backing the venture.

DeepSeek Beats ChatGPT to Claim #1 Spot on US Play Store

Chinese AI lab DeepSeek has quickly risen to the top of the app charts. Its chatbot app is now the No. 1 free app on both the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.?

Since launching in mid-January, DeepSeek has racked up over 1.2 million downloads on Android and 1.9 million on iOS, with total installs likely crossing 5 million, according to Play Store estimates.

The surge in popularity comes after DeepSeek introduced a series of open-source AI models designed to compete with major players like OpenAI, Meta, and Google – but at a fraction of the cost.?

While OpenAI reportedly spent billions on its models, DeepSeek claims to have built its AI chatbot for just $5 million.

The company claims its models were trained with significantly less funding and weaker AI chips, yet they still rival the best on the market.

DeepSeek's long-term success depends on whether it can reach ChatGPT’s scale – currently estimated at 300 million weekly users.

AI-Generated “Thai PM” Addresses Tourist Safety Concerns

Thailand is using AI to address concerns about tourist safety. The Thai government released a video featuring an AI-generated version of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra speaking fluent Mandarin, despite not speaking the language in real life.?

In the video, posted on the government’s official Facebook page, the AI-generated PM directly addresses rising fears among Chinese tourists, sparked by reports of scams and human trafficking near the Thai-Myanmar border.?

She emphasizes that “Thailand’s government prioritizes the safety of all tourists” and extends a warm invitation for Chinese travelers to visit during the Lunar New Year celebrations.

As governments embrace AI translation technology, this innovative approach could help break down language barriers, enabling more direct and accessible communication between world leaders and global citizens.

The US Copyright Office Issues Verdict on AI’s Creative Rights

The US Copyright Office has made its stance on AI-generated content clear: no human creativity, no copyright.?

In Part 2 of its AI and copyright report, the agency ruled that AI-generated works can only be copyrighted if a human meaningfully shaped the final output.?

Simply providing a prompt isn’t enough. There must be clear creative input in selecting, arranging, or modifying the AI’s output.

The report, based on public feedback, concludes that no new laws are needed to protect AI-generated content.?

While AI can assist in the creative process, the Copyright Office warns that granting full copyright protection to machine-generated works would weaken the purpose of copyright law.

Can Robots and Humans Work Together Safely?

As more companies introduce humanoid robots into warehouses and factories, safety concerns are becoming harder to ignore.?

Figure AI is addressing this issue with its newly announced Center for the Advancement of Humanoid Safety, an in-house division focused on ensuring robots can operate safely alongside human workers.

Leading the initiative is Rob Gruendel, a former Amazon Robotics safety engineer, who highlighted the need for formal safety standards.?

While past warehouse automation relied on caged robots or safety vests to protect workers, humanoid robots – designed to move freely – bring new risks that require updated safety protocols.

Figure AI has already partnered with an OSHA-recognized testing lab to certify its robots for industrial use. The company also plans to release quarterly safety reports detailing how its robots detect humans, pets, and obstacles to prevent accidents.

Until next time! The future awaits.?

Ayesha ??