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| Here's a look at today's AI briefing: - Google expands AI-powered search.
- OpenAI pitching Sora to Hollywood.
- FTX to sell majority stake in Anthropic.
- Apple chooses Baidu for AI in China.
Beth
p/beth-duckett | |
| 1 | | Google is expanding its AI-assisted search to a small subset of U.S. users as it moves toward a more widespread public rollout. The AI search feature, called Search Generative Experience (SGE), was previously only available to people who signed up to test it. More: - The AI-generated responses, marked as "experimental," are highlighted in a green box at the top of search results.
- SGE launched to testers last May, using Google's AI to deliver responses to questions in natural language on the main search interface.
- Now, select U.S. users will get SGE responses on specific topics, even without signing up.
- Google said it's testing AI-assisted results on "complex" queries or those that draw from information across multiple web pages.
- The company wants to gather more feedback and test the public's reaction.
Zoom out: - A 2023 survey of U.S. adults revealed that nearly 40% wouldn't trust AI-powered search engines with their data privacy.
- Respondents were more likely to trust that AI could be polite and professional, and provide factual answers in search results.
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| 2 | | OpenAI plans to pitch its Sora AI video generator to Hollywood executives next week, according to Bloomberg sources. The company is meeting with studios, media executives, and talent agencies in Los Angeles to forge partnerships and encourage filmmakers to adopt Sora. More: - Sora, the Japanese word for sky, generates high-definition 60-second videos from text prompts.
- After it first launched to a limited number of creators last month, OpenAI has given some A-list directors and actors access to the video generator.
- OpenAI COO Brad Lightcap and colleagues already demonstrated Sora's capabilities during introductory talks in Hollywood last month.
- Sora is due out for a public release later this year.
Zoom out: - OpenAI said the company's strategy is to collaborate with industry and roll out AI advancements "in phases."
- This helps "ensure safe implementation and to give people an idea of what's on the horizon," a spokesperson said.
- Runway, an OpenAI competitor, said production, animation, and film studios are already using its Gen-2 text-to-video creator for previsualization, storyboarding, B-roll, and visual effects.
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| 3 | | Bankrupt crypto exchange FTX plans to sell nearly two-thirds of its shares in AI startup Anthropic to institutional investors for $884M, court filings show. ATIC Third International Investment Company, a group linked to the Mubadala sovereign wealth fund in the UAE, will purchase the largest stake for $500M. More: - Jane Street Global Trading, a quantitative trading firm where ex-FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried once worked, will buy shares worth nearly $100M, making it the second-largest buyer.
- Among the other two dozen buyers are HOF Capital and "specific funds" affiliated with Fidelity Investments and The Ford Foundation.
- FTX and Alameda, Bankman-Fried's crypto hedge fund, paid $500M for the 8% stake in Anthropic in 2021.
Zoom out: - The sales still require approval from Judge John Dorsey, who is overseeing FTX's bankruptcy case.
- The failed crypto exchange's estate has pledged to reimburse customers the full value of their holdings at the time of its collapse in late 2022.
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| 4 | | Apple has chosen Baidu's generative AI to power features on its iPhones and Macs in China, according to local media. Apple's Ernie Bot is expected to appear on the upcoming iPhone 16 this fall, as well as future versions of Mac and iPhone operating systems, China Star Market reported. More: - The WSJ previously reported that Apple was in talks with Baidu and others to use its AI technology in China.
- Apple wants a local provider due to regulations. China's cyberspace watchdog requires AI providers to gain approval before releasing their chatbots to the public.
- On Monday, China Star Market reported that Apple chose Baidu following other talks with Alibaba and a Tsinghua University AI affiliate.
- Baidu's Ernie Bot, which was approved in China last year, allows Apple to expand AI services in China without adapting its AI to local rules.
Zoom out: - Meanwhile, Apple is still in talks with Google to incorporate its Gemini model into iPhones beyond China.
- A deal could be announced this summer and involve a different partner like OpenAI.
- While Apple has been developing its own AI models, reports say they may not be advanced enough yet to power more complex AI features on Apple devices.
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| 5 | | FundGuard, an AI investment accounting platform, has secured $100M in funding from investors including Key1 Capital and Euclidean Capital. FundGuard's AI-powered software is used to manage investment vehicles, including mutual funds, hedge funds, pension funds, ETFs, and insurance. More: - The company says it uses cloud-native tech and AI to update and simplify accounting operations and workflows.
- The AI platform is designed for asset managers, asset owners, custodian banks, and fund administrators.
- Amit Pilowsky of Key1 Capital told Bloomberg that many asset managers use "outdated" software from the 1980s and 90s that lacks cloud computing and AI technologies.
Fresh funding: - FundGuard's said the latest Series C funds will go toward expanding its customer base and product innovation.
- Founded by three former members of Israel's 8200 intelligence unit, the startup has a development center in Tel Aviv and offices in Boston, New York, London, and Toronto.
- FundGuard has raised more than $150M to date.
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| 6 | | AI Events and Conferences: - Imagine AI Live '24: March 27-28, Las Vegas.
- World Summit AI Americas: April 24-25, Montreal.
- Data Innovation Summit: April 24-25, Stockholm and online.
- Rise of AI Conference: May 14-15, Berlin, Germany, and virtual.
- Enterprise Generative AI Summit West Coast: May 21-22, Silicon Valley, California.
- AI Expo Tokyo: May 22-24, Tokyo.
- Data Cloud Summit 2024: June 3-6, San Francisco.
- SuperAI: June 5-6, Singapore.
- The AI Summit London: June 12-13, London, U.K.
- 2024 IEEE Conference on Artificial Intelligence: June 25-27, Singapore.
- Ai4 2024: Aug. 12-14, Las Vegas, Nevada.
- The AI Conference: Sept. 18-19, San Francisco.
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| 7 | | QUICK HITS - Pattern released a 30-page insights report for beauty brands selling on Amazon.*
- Liz Reid, a 20-year Google veteran who previously led the company's AI search initiative, has been promoted to head of search.
- The news organization Arizona Agenda created AI deepfake videos of Republican U.S. Senate candidate Kari Lake to highlight AI misinformation threats during elections.
- Canadian assets manager Evolve Funds Group launched an AI-powered ETF, with investments in large and emerging AI companies including Nvidia, Microsoft, UiPath, and CorVe.
- Science fiction author and professor Vernor Vinge died at age 79 from Parkinson's Disease complications. Vinge introduced the idea of the "technological singularity," a point where computer-generated superhuman intelligence marks the end of the "human era," in a 1993 paper.
- Ready to get your AWS cloud spend under control? Learn how to effectively audit and reduce AWS costs today *
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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 publications including USA Today, the Arizona Business Gazette, and The Arizona Republic, where she received recognition with a Pulitzer Prize nomination and a First Amendment Award for collaborative reporting on state pension cost increases. You can reach her at Beth.Duckett@yahoo.com. | | This newsletter was edited by NO ACCOUNT ASSOCIATED WITH THE EDITOR | |
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