Category: Artificial intelligence

  • Google Docs Introduces AI for Easy Formatted Document Creation

    Google Docs Introduces AI for Easy Formatted Document Creation

    Google has rolled out an exciting new tool for Docs that utilizes the Gemini AI model to help users create formatted documents.

    Ease of Document Creation

    As posted on the company’s support pages (via Gadgets360), this feature allows you to request Docs to produce a variety of documents such as proposals, project trackers, document ideas, blog posts, press releases, campaign briefs, dinner party menus, newsletters, itineraries, and even more.

    To get started, users can simply click on "help me create" and provide a brief description of what they need. It is important to include at least one existing document by typing "@filename" for Gemini to generate content effectively.

    Availability and Limitations

    Currently, this feature is exclusively available in Google Workspace Alpha and the initial testing phase known as Google Workspace Labs. Google has indicated that they are gradually making this feature available, but it’s presently limited to desktop users and can only be used in new documents.

    However, there are certain restrictions. Google has pointed out that it cannot "incorporate web search results or content from your Workspace files," nor can it "generate cover or inline images of people." Additionally, it is restricted to "content extraction" from files and is unable to replicate the "structure or style" of those documents.

  • Try Grok AI Assistant for Free: Available to All Users Now

    Try Grok AI Assistant for Free: Available to All Users Now

    X has made its Grok AI chatbot available for free to everyone. We first learned about the free version of Grok last month, when X began testing it in select countries. Now, it seems that this feature is accessible all around the globe.

    Availability and Limitations

    As noticed by X user @blankspeaker, xAI’s main chatbot is now being rolled out to all users on the platform. Previously, this chatbot was only for X Premium and X Premium Plus subscribers. As anticipated, the free version has some limitations; users can ask only 10 questions every 2 hours and analyze just 3 images each day. To get more access, people will need to subscribe. These limits are much stricter compared to the free versions of ChatGPT and Claude.

    How to Access Grok

    Currently, Grok is only available through the X platform, though there are rumors of a standalone app being developed. To try it out, sign into your X account and look for the Grok tab on the left sidebar if you’re on desktop. If you’re using the mobile app, it can be found in the bottom navigation bar, third from the right.

    Competitors and Future Prospects

    For those who don’t know, Grok is a generative AI chatbot made by Elon Musk’s AI firm, xAI. While it competes directly with ChatGPT and Claude, it hasn’t received much attention due to its limited access. Launching a free tier is a positive move, but Grok still has a significant distance to cover before it can truly compete with others in the market.


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  • Evaxion Reveals AI-Driven Cancer Vaccine Concept

    Evaxion Reveals AI-Driven Cancer Vaccine Concept

    Evaxion, a frontrunner in AI-driven biotechnology, is set to participate in this year’s ESMO Immuno-Oncology Congress, where it will present its customizable cancer vaccine development system, fueled by its own AI technology. This innovative system utilizes AI to analyze patient data, focusing on a specific target: ERV tumor antigens that exhibit a shared pattern among numerous patients. In simple terms, the AI identifies antigens that induce immune responses and are common across different cancer patients, then tailors them into a vaccine suitable for various cancer types, and in some cases, for individual patients.

    Details of the Development Models

    Evaxion remains rather secretive about the specifics of its proprietary AI systems. However, the company reveals that it has created four distinct models that work together within this product. The EDEN model identifies antigens that can trigger immune responses capable of eliminating bacterial infections. OBSERV complements the patient’s existing antigens, focusing on ERVs, which are remnants of ancient immunities encoded in the human genome over time. PIONEER is designed to seek out patient-specific antigens that can be stimulated through immunotherapy. Lastly, RAVEN assesses the effectiveness of potential vaccine candidates. When combined, these models are theoretically equipped to discover the most effective immune treatment for an individual cancer patient.

    Business Strategies and Partnerships

    Evaxion refers to this system as AI-Immunology and has heavily invested in it since the company’s inception. After going public and attracting a diverse array of investors in 2021, Evaxion has secured significant partnerships with well-known pharmaceutical companies. A notable recent agreement is with American pharmaceutical giant Merck & Co., which is based on milestones and could potentially earn Evaxion over $1 billion if everything unfolds favorably. The company’s commercial portfolio currently features vaccines targeting Staph and gonorrhea, among others.

  • Google Launches PaliGemma 2 Vision-Language Models

    Google Launches PaliGemma 2 Vision-Language Models

    Google has revealed the successor to its visual-language model PaliGemma, which was introduced in May 2024. The new version, PaliGemma 2, comes in a range of sizes, featuring parameter counts from 3 billion to 28 billion, and resolution options that go up to 896px.

    Advanced Performance Features

    According to the company, this model showcases “top-tier performance in recognizing chemical formulas, musical scores, spatial reasoning, and generating reports from chest X-rays.”

    Enhanced Captioning Abilities

    Additionally, it boasts long captioning functionality, offering “thorough, contextually relevant captions for images that go beyond basic object recognition to include descriptions of actions, emotions, and the overall story of the scene.”

    Accessible and Flexible Options

    The new models are designed to be a “drop-in replacement” across various sizes without the need for “significant code changes.” Pre-trained versions can be found on platforms like Hugging Face and Kaggle, available for free to anyone interested in testing them. It also provides support for several frameworks like Hugging Face Transformers, Keras, PyTorch, JAX, and Gemma.cpp.

    Google emphasizes that PaliGemma 2’s “adaptability makes it easy to fine-tune for particular tasks and datasets, allowing you to customize its functions to meet your specific requirements.”

  • Google DeepMind Genie 2: Real-Time 3D World Generator

    Google DeepMind Genie 2: Real-Time 3D World Generator

    Google DeepMind, a research branch of Google focused on AI, has introduced Genie 2, a foundational world model capable of creating "action-controllable, playable 3D environments" for fast prototyping and training AI agents.

    Advanced Capabilities

    According to the company, Genie 2 enhances the abilities of its earlier version and can produce "a vast diversity of rich 3D worlds." It’s capable of simulating interactions between objects, animations for characters, physics, and Non-Playable Characters (NPCs) along with their animations and interactions. This model can take both text and visual cues as input.

    Memory and Perspective

    Genie 2 is designed to remember elements of the world that aren’t visible to the player and can render them when they become visible again. This is akin to the Level of Detail (LOD) technique used in gaming, which adjusts the complexity of the objects and environments based on the player’s Field Of View (FOV).

    The model can create new content in real-time and keep a stable world "for up to a minute." It also offers the ability to render environments from various viewpoints, such as first-person, third-person, or isometric perspectives.

    Realistic Effects

    Additionally, it can produce sophisticated effects, including smoke, object interactions, fluid dynamics, gravity, and advanced lighting and reflections. DeepMind claims this model can facilitate the quick prototyping of fresh concepts and ideas. Users can also create and manage AI agents with straightforward prompts.

    Numerous companies are developing foundational world models that can simulate and build representations of environments. For instance, Decart’s Oasis allows users to engage with a real-time AI-generated version of Minecraft, while AI leader Fei Fei Li’s start-up, World Labs, also features a 3D generator.

    Google DeepMind’s contributions are setting a new standard in the realm of AI and simulated environments.

  • OpenAI Launches $200 Monthly ChatGPT Pro Plan for Users

    OpenAI Launches $200 Monthly ChatGPT Pro Plan for Users

    OpenAI, the organization behind ChatGPT, has introduced a new monthly subscription called ChatGPT Pro, priced at $200 (€189 or £157). They claim this subscription is designed for "researchers, engineers, and other individuals who utilize advanced intelligence on a daily basis to enhance their productivity and stay updated with the latest AI developments."

    Enhanced Model

    With the Pro plan, users will gain access to a more advanced version of the o1 model. This enhanced model utilizes additional computing power to "think longer" and deliver more precise answers, especially for inquiries related to "data science, programming, and legal case analysis."

    According to OpenAI’s evaluations, the o1 pro model outperforms the standard o1 and its preview in areas like mathematics, science, and programming tasks. Users subscribed to the Pro plan can select the o1 pro from the model selection tool within the chatbot interface.

    Waiting for Answers

    Generating answers with the o1 pro model will take a bit more time. To help with this, OpenAI has incorporated a progress bar to show users how much longer they need to wait, and you will receive an in-app notification when your answer is ready. You also have the option to switch between different chats while you wait.

    OpenAI has also revealed a grants initiative aimed at medical researchers in the United States. Initially, this program will support only ten researchers in the US, but it is expected to grow as the Pro plan expands to additional regions.

  • Arc to Dia: New AI Web Browser Plans from The Browser Company

    Arc to Dia: New AI Web Browser Plans from The Browser Company

    Arc, the beloved Chromium browser known for its innovative handling of tabs and organization, is no longer the center of excitement for Josh Miller, the CEO of The Browser Company. Instead, the startup has shifted its focus to Dia, a more mainstream product that leverages AI to simplify web browsing. Set to debut in early 2025, Dia is not just an upgrade of Arc; it’s meant to be a complete replacement.

    Features Unveiled

    In a recent presentation cleverly disguised as a recruiting video, Dia showcases three prototype demonstrations that hint at potential features of its new ‘computing environment’. One standout feature transforms the traditional insertion cursor into an AI-driven tool that can suggest text to help you “write the next line” and more. This personalized cursor can analyze the whole browser window rather than just a single text box. For instance, it can take prompts to copy Amazon links from open tabs and seamlessly add them into an email draft.

    Smart Searching

    In another demonstration by Josh Miller, he uses the address bar to locate a document by inputting only the sender and the theme. Dia efficiently locates the exact Notion document and, upon request, sends it via the chosen email client. These features utilize natural-language processing capabilities from LLMs, along with memory and autonomous actions that should be inherent to the browser.

    Automating Tasks

    The third prototype reveals Dia’s ability to automatically add items from an email to an Amazon shopping cart – a rather complicated AI challenge. In yet another demo, the browser uses a template to send personalized emails to each team member based on a list with their specific call times. In both instances, Miller suggests that the browser can be trained to handle such repetitive tasks with ease.

    Miller appears to believe that AI functionalities like these will turn the simple browser into a robust operating system through this new computing environment. Understandably, users who have been loyal to Arc are not taking this news lightly. However, if the recent updates and bug fixes are any indication, Arc might still receive some support, though new features are unlikely. With Dia on the way, The Browser Company has fully embraced AI advancements, and there’s no turning back now.

    Source: Link


  • Canadian News Outlets Sue OpenAI for Copyright Violations

    Canadian News Outlets Sue OpenAI for Copyright Violations

    A group of Canadian news organizations has filed a joint lawsuit against OpenAI, claiming that the company has unlawfully utilized their articles to develop its AI model.

    Details of the Lawsuit

    According to CBC, the lawsuit includes prominent news outlets like CBC/Radio-Canada, Postmedia, Metroland, the Toronto Star, the Globe and Mail, and the Canadian Press. They have submitted their case to the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, seeking “punitive damages” along with “payment of any profits that the company made from using news articles from the organizations.”

    Ongoing Legal Battles

    This lawsuit is just one of many that news outlets have brought against OpenAI, accusing the company of scraping their data to enhance its chatbots. OpenAI is currently facing lawsuits from The New York Times, Center for Investigative Journalism, Chicago Tribune, ANI, and a host of other organizations.

    OpenAI’s Response

    In a conversation with The Verge, Jason Deutrom, a spokesperson for OpenAI, mentioned that the company works “closely with news publishers,” ensuring proper display, attribution, and linking to their content in ChatGPT search. He also stated that they provide simple methods for publishers to opt out if they wish.

    In a collective statement, the Canadian news organizations asserted that OpenAI is “capitalizing and profiting” from their content “without obtaining permission or compensating content owners.”

    In an email to CBC, Deutrom explained that OpenAI’s models were trained on data that is publicly accessible, affirming that the company follows “international copyright principles.”

  • OpenAI’s Sora Video Generator Leaked on Hugging Face

    OpenAI’s Sora Video Generator Leaked on Hugging Face

    OpenAI revealed its new text-to-video generation model named Sora back in February. The company stated that Sora could create videos that last up to a minute and manage complex scenes involving multiple characters and movements.

    Anonymous Sharing of Sora

    Even though OpenAI hasn’t officially confirmed when it will be available to the public, a group of anonymous artists has allegedly shared the model on the Hugging Face machine learning platform. According to Techcrunch, the model was accessible for about three hours until OpenAI took it down.

    Limited Access for Users

    Not everyone was able to beat the long lines to create videos, but some users did manage to upload examples that were similar to what OpenAI had showcased. The group that leaked the model claimed they felt pressured to "inform the world that Sora is an effective tool for artists."

    Artists Voice Their Concerns

    After the leak, the group alleged that OpenAI quickly restricted access to all artists. In an open letter, they stated, "While hundreds are contributing for free, only a select few will be picked through a competition to have their films created with Sora shown — providing very little compensation that is insignificant compared to the large PR and marketing benefits OpenAI gains."

    The letter expressed the group’s desire to "denormalize" the practice of using artists as unpaid PR and R&D for "billion-dollar companies." They also urged individuals to sign a petition requesting that major brands "create a genuine path for artist expression, offering fair compensation to the creators."

    Source: Link,Link,Link,Link,

  • Runway AI Launches New Image Generation Model: Frames

    Runway AI Launches New Image Generation Model: Frames

    Runway AI, an AI research and tech company based in New York, has launched a new image creation model called Frames, which signifies “a significant advancement in stylistic precision and visual quality.”

    Focus on Stylistic Consistency

    This model seems to focus on keeping a consistent style, meaning it can create similar images while adding or removing certain details. This is an area where many other image generation models have difficulty.

    Runway claims that with Frames, users can select a style for their project “and consistently produce variations that align with your aesthetic.”

    Showcasing Stylistic Choices

    Runway presented some examples showcasing stylistic consistency with Frames on an X thread. The styles, referred to as “Worlds,” include a range from 1980s special effects, 1970s album cover art, Japanese zines, realistic digital images, landscapes, and much more.

    The generated images appear striking at first sight and keep a uniform theme and vision. Runway mentioned that it will slowly provide access to Frames within the Gen-3 Alpha of its video creation suite and Runway API.

    Applications in Media

    Runway’s video generation tools have been used in movies like Everything Everywhere All At Once, and in music videos for artists such as Kanye West. They’ve also found their way into popular TV shows like Top Gear.

    Source: Link,Link