The Indie Game Awards revoked the Game of the Year award from Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 due to its use of generative AI, despite widespread use of AI in gaming. The award was given to Blue Prince, which also used AI for art assets, highlighting the performative nature of the controversy. The article criticizes the selective stance on AI use in the gaming industry and questions the moral consistency of such decisions.
Microsoft Research has identified 40 jobs most at risk of disruption from AI, particularly roles involving information processing, communication, and repetitive language tasks, such as interpreters, translators, and writers. The study emphasizes the widespread potential of AI to reshape various industries and highlights the importance of adaptation and upskilling rather than fear of job loss, as AI continues to augment human work.
Google's Gemini is a suite of advanced generative AI models developed by DeepMind and Google Research, designed to handle multimodal tasks across text, audio, images, and video. The Gemini family includes models like Ultra, Pro, Flash, and Nano, each tailored for different applications and devices. Gemini is integrated into various Google services, offering features like image generation, voice interaction, and enhanced productivity tools in apps like Gmail and Google Docs. It also supports custom chatbot creation and is available through Google Workspace and other platforms. Pricing varies based on model and usage, with some features requiring a Google One AI Premium Plan.
Generative AI is expanding beyond traditional uses like chatbots to offer innovative solutions across various fields. It can help build online brands, manage social media, clone voices, enhance oral hygiene with smart toothbrushes, assist in job applications, improve weather forecasting, develop perfumes, and even redecorate homes. These advancements demonstrate AI's growing versatility and potential to transform industries and everyday tasks.
Alexis Conneau, formerly of OpenAI and Meta, has launched WaveForms AI, a startup focused on developing advanced voice technology inspired by the film "Her," but without its dystopian elements. The company aims to create emotionally intelligent AI audio products by 2025, with $40 million in seed funding led by Andreessen Horowitz. Conneau emphasizes the importance of AI complementing human interaction rather than replacing it, and aims to avoid the pitfalls of social media by aligning AI with human interests.
Nvidia has highlighted its partnership with Accenture, the world's largest tech consulting firm, as a significant development in the AI sector. Accenture has established a new unit with 30,000 employees trained on Nvidia's AI technology, positioning it to help industries lacking in-house AI expertise. Despite generative AI contributing only 5% to Accenture's new bookings in fiscal 2024, the company is poised to benefit from the mainstream adoption of AI. However, with modest revenue growth projections for fiscal 2025, the investment potential of Accenture remains a topic of consideration.
A recent media debate about the existence of dragons has been addressed by generative AI, including ChatGPT, which suggests that dragons, as depicted in mythology, did not exist. The AI proposes that ancient cultures might have been inspired by large animals or fossils, leading to dragon myths. The article highlights the importance of questioning AI's responses, as they are based on human data and not absolute truths. It also explores how AI can be prompted to simulate belief in dragons, demonstrating the flexibility and limitations of current AI technology.
Two years after its launch, ChatGPT has not yet revolutionized daily life as anticipated, but it has significantly influenced certain fields like coding, education, and healthcare. While it has accelerated innovation and inspired new applications, it has also raised concerns about job displacement and cultural impacts. Despite its potential, generative AI remains a novelty for many, with skepticism and caution prevalent among the public. The technology's future impact is uncertain, but its allure continues to drive industry exploration for a transformative application.
Google has launched a new chess website that allows players to customize chess pieces using generative AI, specifically its Imagen 3 model. The game, which coincides with the 2024 World Chess Championship, offers limited features such as three difficulty levels and two time controls, but lacks options to review past moves or track captured pieces. Additionally, Google announced a forthcoming chess bot within its Gemini platform, set to be available in December for Gemini Advanced subscribers.
Nvidia has developed an AI audio generator called Fugatto, capable of creating unique, never-before-heard sounds from text prompts. This tool allows users to edit or generate audio, such as altering instruments or voice accents, and has the potential to revolutionize music creation. While some artists see AI as a new creative tool, there are concerns about its impact on jobs in creative industries and potential copyright infringements. Fugatto's development involved training on millions of audio samples over a year.
Nvidia has introduced Fugatto, a generative AI model designed to create unique music and audio from language prompts, capable of transforming and modifying existing sounds. While not yet publicly released due to safety and copyright concerns, Fugatto can convert musical segments into different instruments or alter vocal accents and moods. Nvidia's approach aims to revolutionize music production similarly to electronic synthesizers, though the company is cautious about potential misuse and legal issues, as seen in recent lawsuits against other AI music startups.
Nvidia has introduced Fugatto, a generative AI model designed to revolutionize sound creation for music, advertising, and gaming. Fugatto allows users to generate and modify sounds using text and audio prompts, offering capabilities like creating new music, altering voice accents, and crafting soundscapes. This tool, powered by a 2.5-billion-parameter transformer, was trained on Nvidia's DGX systems and supports multilingual and multi-accent tasks. Nvidia's stock has surged significantly, reflecting its strong performance and leadership in AI technologies.
Generative AI startup Writer has raised $200 million in a Series C funding round, valuing the company at $1.9 billion. The funding, co-led by Premji Invest, Radical Ventures, and ICONIQ Growth, will be used to enhance Writer's enterprise-focused AI platform. Writer, founded in 2020, has developed a full-stack generative AI platform with customizable products for various enterprise applications. The company has launched its own AI models, including Palmyra X 004, and focuses on AI agents and no-code development tools. Writer's client list includes major companies like Salesforce and Uber.
Ecosia and Qwant, two European search engines, are collaborating to create a European search index to reduce reliance on Big Tech, particularly Microsoft and Google. This joint venture aims to lower operational costs, foster innovation, and enhance their generative AI capabilities. The initiative, called European Search Perspective (EUP), will initially serve France and Germany, with plans to expand further. The partnership seeks to offer a privacy-first search experience and promote European tech sovereignty amid rising API costs and geopolitical uncertainties.
Netflix has announced plans to develop 'novel game experiences' using generative AI, despite recently closing its AAA game studio. Mike Verdu, now VP of 'GenAI for Games' at Netflix, revealed the initiative aims to enhance game development speed and creativity by placing AI as a supportive tool for creators. This move follows the departure of key industry talents, but Verdu emphasizes that the AI division has been in the works for some time, aiming to revolutionize player experiences.
