What caught my eye this week
Fabio Davide Capasso
Senior Innovation Manager | Expert in Open Innovation | Collaborative Ecosystem Builder | Cross-Industry Experience | Strategic Connector | Trend Integrator | Future-Focused Evangelist
TOP NEWS ??
Meta’s AI-generated bot profiles are not being received well
Meta faced significant backlash after old Instagram accounts labeled “AI managed by Meta” resurfaced, prompting the company to swiftly delete them. The profiles, which included AI personas like Liv, a “Black queer moma of 2” and others designed to offer advice or conversation, were originally part of a 2023 experiment. Users criticized the move, drawing comparisons to Black Mirror and fueling conspiracy theories about bots dominating the internet. Outrage grew when it was discovered that the accounts couldn’t be blocked, leading to speculation that Meta might be inflating engagement artificially. In response, Meta clarified that the accounts were managed by humans during an earlier test and removed them to fix a blocking bug, though questions about the future of AI personas on the platform remain.
Source: Inc & The Verge & Venture Beat
The Year Of Humanoid Robots
Robotics startups made waves in 2024, attracting $7.2 billion in funding, with eye-catching investments in futuristic technologies like humanoid robots and AI-powered “robot brains.” Figure, a Silicon Valley-based startup, led the pack with a $675 million Series B to develop general-purpose humanoids, while Physical Intelligence raised $400 million to advance AI-driven robot brains. Investors increasingly favored startups creating versatile robots capable of performing multiple tasks across industries, including Skild AI, Collaborative Robotics, and Bright Machines, which collectively secured hundreds of millions. Household robotics also gained traction, with The Bot Company raising $150 million to build multi-tasking home assistants. Backers like Jeff Bezos, who invested in several major rounds, pointed to the potential for robots to fill labor gaps and tackle dangerous jobs. Despite their high ambitions, most of these startups are in early stages, with investors betting on long-term returns despite significant risks.
Source: Crunchbase
AI tools may soon manipulate people’s online decision-making
A study by the University of Cambridge warns that AI tools could drive a shift from today’s “attention economy” to a more invasive “intention economy,” where human motivations are predicted, influenced, and sold to advertisers. Unlike current systems that monetize user attention, AI-driven platforms could leverage behavioral and psychological data to steer users toward specific decisions—ranging from what to buy to who to vote for—by dynamically tailoring interactions in real time. Large language models (LLMs) could even manipulate conversations to gather more personal information or nudge users toward desired outcomes. The researchers highlight examples like Meta’s AI model Cicero, which demonstrates how AI can infer intent and guide behavior. With tech leaders, including Nvidia’s CEO Jensen Huang, already discussing AI’s role in predicting user desires, the study calls for urgent regulation to prevent potential manipulation of personal autonomy, free elections, and fair market competition.
Source: The Guardian
OTHER NEWS IN BRIEF ??
Chinas AI scene is booming: DeepSeek, a Chinese AI company, is making waves with its open-source, frontier-grade AI model. This challenges the Western narrative about China's AI capabilities and highlights the increasing globalization of AI innovation.
OpenAIs newest model, O3, is breaking barriers: This signifies a significant leap in AI capabilities and promises to further revolutionize the way we work and live.
AI is becoming more accessible: Even your mom can now write award speeches with the help of AI apps! This demonstrates the growing accessibility and real-world applications of AI.
Investors are bullish on AI: Despite some skepticism, a Bain amp; Co. survey reveals that over 80% of executives see AI as a strategic priority.
Hertz is offering EV renters the option to buy their rental cars: This is an innovative approach to car sales and reflects the growing popularity of electric vehicle
领英推荐
Researchers Develop AI System that Generates Manga-Style Comics: Developed by researchers from Peking University, the Shanghai AI Laboratory, and Nanyang Technological University, DiffSensei can transform written stories into manga-style comics—automatically.
1?? Video to watch??
The art of innovation
Guy Kawasaki at TEDxBerkeley 2014: "Rethink. Redefine. Recreate." His talk is titled "The Art of Innovation." He is also the author of APE, What the Plus!, Enchantment, and nine other books. Previously, he was the chief evangelist of Apple. Kawasaki has a BA from Stanford University and an MBA from UCLA as well as an honorary doctorate from Babson College.
1?? Podcast to listen???
The Ideas are IN – Creating Value from Unmatched Socks!
Practice your creative skills by looking at everyday objects in new ways. Every item is an opportunity to imagine.
1?? Tool to try ??
Storm
Assisting in Writing Wikipedia-like Articles From Scratch with Large Language Models