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| Here are today's top AI stories: - Google cuts ties with AI firm Appen.
- Apple scales back autonomy level for future EV.
- Google to launch new genAI features in Chrome.
Beth
p/beth-duckett | |
| 1 | | Alphabet has ended a multimillion-dollar contract with Appen, the AI firm that helped to train its search algorithm, Bard chatbot, and other AI services. Appen employs roughly 1 million remote contractors worldwide to manually review and label data to power and improve AI systems. More: - Google notified Australia-based Appen this week that it would end the contract following a strategic review process.
- In a filing, Appen said it had "no prior knowledge" of Google's contract termination, which takes effect in March.
- About a third of Appen's business revenue comes from Alphabet. That amount reached $82.8M in the 2023 financial year.
- The end of the contract will affect at least 1,000 subcontracted employees, according to the Alphabet Workers Union.
Zoom out: - Google, along with Microsoft, Apple, Meta, and Amazon, has historically generated 80% of Appen's revenue.
- According to CNBC, companies pursuing generative AI, particularly for search, have shifted away from Appen and more toward spending money on Nvidia AI chips.
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| 2 | | Apple could launch a downgraded version of its first self-driving electric vehicle as early as 2028, according to Bloomberg. Apple has reportedly scaled back its "Titan" electric car project from Level 4 (full automation in certain scenarios) to Level 2+ (partial automation). More: - The downgrade would make Apple's EV more like Tesla's Autopilot-equipped cars.
- Apple's car could have basic self-driving features like braking/accelerating assistance but would still require the driver to pay attention at all times.
- The company could still sell a car with Level 4 autonomy sometime in the future, according to Bloomberg.
Zoom out: - Over a year ago, Bloomberg reported that Apple originally wanted to introduce the car with no steering wheel or pedals but decided that level of technology wasn't feasible yet.
- At that time, it was reported that the consumer model was expected to sell for under $100,000 and feature an Apple custom processor for AI capabilities.
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| 3 | | Google is launching three new generative AI features in its Chrome web browser. The tools include an AI-powered tab organizer, an experimental writing assistant, and a browser theme generator. More: - For "Tab Organizer," Google's AI will recommend classifications for open Chrome tabs.
- Clicking "Organize Similar Tabs" will automatically group the open pages by topic.
- Meanwhile, the text assist tool will help users draft text like Google reviews or social media posts. Users can click on "Help me write" for the feature to suggest text.
- Lastly, a "Customize Chrome" button will trigger AI to generate a theme for the browser's visuals.
How to use: - To turn on the features, Chrome users must click an "Experimental AI" toggle on the Settings page.
- The Tab Organizer and theme creator will roll out to U.S. users this week. The writing assistant will be included in February's Chrome update.
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| 4 | | Nearly 60% of U.S. consumers believe companies should be legally required to disclose when they're using AI technology, according to a Zetwerk survey. The manufacturing services firm polled 813 American consumers and 189 B2B managers about their views on AI in business. 
What the numbers show: Of the consumers polled, 68% favored businesses voluntarily disclosing their AI use, while 59% supported mandatory legal AI disclosure. Political views influenced opinions, with Republicans twice as likely as Democrats to oppose disclosure mandates. More: Broken down by sector, 69% of consumers believe companies should legally disclose AI use in healthcare, the highest of any category. Additionally, 56% support disclosing AI in workplace health and safety monitoring, which may reflect concerns about privacy and worker rights. 
Why it matters: Consumers are becoming more cautious about the trustworthiness of AI for business applications, with an understanding that AI is imperfect, Stephanie Martinez of Zetwerk told FOX Business. "Consumers have also raised flags about how their data and privacy are impacted by the use of AI," she added. Martinez stressed that businesses should focus on transparency and ethical AI practices as they adapt to the changing AI landscape, saying that credibility depends on "striking a cohesive balance between innovation and integrity in business practices." | | | |
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| 5 | | Corporate travel firm TravelPerk has raised $104M in funding to fuel its growth and invest further in AI and automation. The SaaS platform relies on AI to automate back-end tasks for business travel, such as surfacing the best prices for flights. More: - Legacy competitors have typically relied on human travel agents to do this work manually, TravelPerk CEO Avi Meir told CNBC.
- But technology is how companies can scale today, he said.
- TravelPerk has been integrating AI across its product stack and automating back-office manual processes, according to Meir.
- "It's less sexy than having a chatbot, but it's worth it," he said.
- In 2023, TravelPerk's revenue and gross profit surged by over 70% and 90%, respectively, with annual booking volumes nearing $2B.
Fresh funding: - TravelPerk's latest round, led by SoftBank Vision Fund 2, is an extension of its "D-1" funding round, bumping up its valuation to $1.4B.
- The fundraising will help TravelPerk improve customer experience, launch new services, and expand its AI-driven product automation.
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 | AI and technology writer | | Beth is a contributing editor and writer of Inside's AI and Tech newsletters. She has written for notable publications like USA Today and the Arizona Business Gazette. During her time as a public policy reporter at The Arizona Republic, she received recognition with a Pulitzer Prize nomination and a First Amendment Award for her collaborative reporting on pension cost increases. Beth also authored a book on the solar photovoltaic industry in 2016. You can reach her at Beth.Duckett@yahoo.com. | | This newsletter was edited by Aaron Crutchfield | |
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