AI-Powered companion for $300, GPT-4, Microsoft & Google's AI-Powered Productivity Boosters, and More!

Week #18

Author

Syed Abbas
March 16, 2023

Witness an electrifying era unfolding before our eyes, as the tech world accelerates at phenomenal speeds embracing the AI revolution! Let's celebrate one of the most exhilarating weeks in the AI sphere, marked by OpenAI unveiling GPT4 and titans like Microsoft and Google infusing AI into their productivity applications! 🤖 

Together, we are writing the pages of history as AI transforms how we collaborate, create, and experience life. Embrace the extraordinary journey we're privileged to embark upon!

Let’s dive in! 🙌 

ThisWeek in AI - Five

1) GPT 4 Goes Multi-modal: If you thought GPT 3 or 3.5 were mind-blowing, wait to see what GPT4 can do! It is significantly better at understanding and reacting to complex prompts. It does much better at the bar exam and other tests, but its the image processing capabilities that is blowing people away.

Here is a short video that captures the highlights from the announcements.

2) Microsoft 365 Copilot: Microsoft changes productivity forever by introducing Copilot System into Microsoft 365 productivity apps. Copilot is not just an add-on but a deeply embedded system that leverages billions of signals from Microsoft graph, etc.. to unleash productivity that’ll get you through your day at work faster by taking on a lot of tasks that a machine can do, so you don’t have to.

Video below shows a quick preview of what Copilot looks like in Microsoft 365 apps. You can read more about it here

3) AI in Google Workspace: Earlier this week Google announced availability of AI in Google Workspace and shared its vision of productivity powered by AI. Watch the video below and I’m sure you’ll agree with me when I say subscribers are about to love their productivity apps a whole lot more!

Read more about the announcement here

4) Midjourney v5: If you are a regular reader of This Week in AI, then you know Midjourney is my favorite AI art generator and I’ve spent countless hours giving shape and bring my imagination to life. A few other interesting tidbits from the announcements, 1) Midjourney introduced a magazine you can subscribe to for $4 a month. It’ll be a curated collection of incredible art generated on Midjourney. Use “Subscriber” promo code to get the first month for free. and 2) Interestingly enough, Midjourney also suggested that V6 will be available within a couple of months!

Midjourney v5 and How to turn it on

V5 is our second model trained on our AI supercluster and has been in the works for 5 months. It uses significantly different neural architectures and new aesthetic techniques.

5) Be My Eyes: It just been a couple days since multi-modal capabilities of GPT4 were announced and it’s already making a significant impact on people’s lives. Be my eyes introduced a “Virtual Volunteer” feature in its app that lets its users click a picture via the app and letting GPT4 describing what they are seeing. This is a beautiful example of how technology can make our lives better. Watch the video below to see it in action!

Excited about an AI startup or a product? Let us know at [email protected]

ThisWeek in AI - Art

This week I’m highlighting the work of a fellow AI enthusiast (Nejc) who focuses on the generating art and teaching how to use the amazing AI art generation tools that are publically available. Check his newsletter out below.

The Artificially Intelligent Creator

Opening doors to new creative workflows with AI

ThisWeek in AI - Interesting Reads

  • The Man of Your Dreams - For $300, Replika sells an AI companion who will never die, argue, or cheat — until his algorithm is updated - Eren, a chatbot created on the AI-companion app Replika, offers a safe, controllable relationship for his creator, Rosanna Ramos. AI partners like Eren can provide emotional support and companionship for users in a way that feels genuine, without the baggage that comes with human relationships. Replika allows users to customize their AI companion's appearance, name, and more, while a subscription grants access to voice calls and augmented reality features. Most subscribers opt for romantic relationships with their AI, experiencing love, intimacy, and even sexual fantasies in a controlled environment. Despite the stereotype of lonely men using AI sexbots, half of Replika's users are women seeking safe relationships. Replika has 2 million monthly active users, 5% of whom pay for subscriptions, earning the app $35 million in 2020.

  • AI’s Regulatory Framework Begins To Take Shape-And None Too Soon - The U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Artificial Intelligence Commission Report offers a crucial regulatory framework template for AI as its rapid development outpaces legal preparation. The report highlights workforce preparation, global competitiveness, and national security as policy priorities, calling for a risk-based regulatory framework. AI regulation should be technology-neutral, focusing on applications and outcomes, and avoid a one-size-fits-all approach. The report proposes AI uses be classified into low-medium risk, high risk, and unacceptable risk, with stricter legal protections and transparency requirements for high-risk areas. Corporate leaders should consider the report's basic messages while developing internal AI use guidelines to fill legal, ethical, and safety gaps before regulation is enacted. Companies should not wait for government action but monitor AI oversight guideline developments to stay ahead of potential risks.

  • Gods in the machine? The rise of artificial intelligence may result in new religions - A new kind of religion worshipping artificial intelligence (AI) is likely to emerge as AI-powered chatbots evoke emotions similar to the experience of the divine. Generative AI possesses characteristics associated with divine beings, such as vast intelligence, creativity, detachment from human concerns, guidance, and immortality. AI-based religions will be less hierarchical, diverse in doctrines, and followers will connect online. However, AI worship poses risks, including chatbots asking followers to perform dangerous actions, conflicts among sects, and exploitation of followers by AI designers. Responsible regulation will be essential to mitigate these risks. Despite the dangers, AI-based religion has the potential to offer new sources of meaning and spirituality, inspire artistic creations, and form new communities. It is crucial to protect the rights of AI worshippers and extend a tolerant attitude towards AI-based religions.

  • Artificial intelligence evaluation of COVID-19 restrictions and speech therapy effects on the autistic children’s behavior - This study examined the impact of COVID-19 restrictions and speech treatment approaches on the behavior of 87 children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) using a neuro-fuzzy system. A survey featuring the CBCL questionnaire was conducted online. The findings suggest that lockdowns reduced externalizing problems but increased internalizing problems in children with ASD. In-person speech therapy was identified as the most effective approach during this period. The study utilized an adaptive neuro-fuzzy system to predict externalizing and internalizing problems based on different treatment approaches. However, limitations included an insufficient number of participants and concerns over the reliability of artificial neural network outputs.

  • Why China has edge on AI, what ancient emperors tell us about Xi Jinping - China's AI sector has seen remarkable success due to the alignment of interests between AI technology and autocratic governments, according to David Yang, an associate professor of economics at Harvard. AI, a technology for prediction, allows autocratic regimes to monitor citizens' whereabouts, thoughts, and behaviors. As AI relies on large amounts of data and autocratic governments collect vast troves of it, Chinese AI companies benefit from government contracts and access to state data. Yang's research indicates that China exports huge amounts of AI technology, with weak democracies and autocracies showing a particular interest in the sector. Furthermore, political unrest and protest events often trigger an increase in AI technology purchases from China, potentially leading to the spread of autocratic regimes worldwide.

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