Category: Artificial intelligence

  • University of Tokyo Develops Optical Method for Blood Pressure and Glucose Measurement

    University of Tokyo Develops Optical Method for Blood Pressure and Glucose Measurement

    Researchers at the University of Tokyo in Japan have developed a prototype that uses an optical, non-contact technique to identify hypertension and diabetes. They utilized a multispectral camera aimed at the faces of trial participants to observe changes in blood flow, which was then processed by AI software.

    Advanced Imaging Technology

    While the human eye is unable to detect subtle changes in blood flow throughout the body, multispectral cameras excel in this area as they can see infrared and ultraviolet light. Their ability to perceive these slight variations is notably superior. However, identifying health issues using this technology is challenging without the support of AI, due to the significant thermal noise and other complicating factors that hinder image data analysis through conventional methods.

    AI Training and Accuracy

    The AI software was trained by correlating images with actual blood measurements taken simultaneously, enabling it to predict vital health indicators with considerable accuracy.

    Detecting diabetes is particularly crucial since it is a prevalent disease affecting more people globally. Often, it remains undiagnosed for many years, causing serious health complications. Therefore, early detection is essential for effective disease management. The AI could predict diabetes with an accuracy rate of 75.3%, focusing on key factors like blood glucose and A1C levels.

    Impact of Hypertension on Health

    As people age, blood pressure tends to increase, and a poor diet can contribute to heart issues that worsen this condition. Cardiovascular diseases are a leading cause of death in many developed countries, which is why early identification is vital. Such awareness can lead to effective management through medication, dietary changes, and physical activity. Impressively, the AI demonstrated an ability to predict hypertension with a high accuracy of 94.2%.

    The researchers still need to conduct further tests and validations before launching any commercial products. In the meantime, individuals can take proactive measures for their health by using a blood pressure monitor with EKG capabilities (like this one available on Amazon) and investing in a quality pair of running shoes (like these found on Amazon) to maintain fitness and wellbeing.

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  • TikTok Opens Symphony Creative Studio to All Advertisers

    TikTok Opens Symphony Creative Studio to All Advertisers

    TikTok has made its Symphony Creative Studio available to all advertisers on the platform. This AI-driven tool offers a range of video and speech features that enable users to create engaging and effective content with greater speed.

    Impact on Sales and Advertising

    Many businesses and content creators are noticing that a larger portion of their sales is originating from online leads. A significant number of younger audiences are also turning to TikTok for news instead of traditional sources like television. This shift influences not only elections but also affects where companies invest their marketing resources. The expansive reach of influencer marketing on TikTok, along with its unique algorithms for showcasing videos, makes it a powerful platform for advertising.

    Features of the Studio

    The Symphony Creative Studio utilizes TikTok’s insights into the performance of top content to help users create video clips. Users can simply upload raw video files and product details, which may be sourced from a web link, and the Studio AI will craft an impactful video using these assets as well as free licensed materials offered by TikTok. Even though these videos are marked as "AI-generated," TikTok highlighted that one business experienced a rise in sales from videos made solely from product links.

    Virtual Spokespeople and Multilingual Support

    Users have the option to create virtual representatives to showcase products, introduce businesses, and share information with viewers. These virtual spokespeople can be generated from pre-existing avatars or customized to resemble actual company representatives. This allows businesses to keep using the same popular figures indefinitely, even if they are no longer around. Furthermore, Symphony Creative Studio can translate videos into multiple languages and apply cloned voices to re-dub videos, catering to a worldwide audience.

    For those in need of a new computer to edit their trending TikTok videos, an AI-enhanced option like the Microsoft Surface Pro 11 would be a great choice.

    TikTok Symphony Creative Studio, TikTok blog.

    Source: Link,Link

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  • Bluesky Won’t Use User Content to Train AI

    Bluesky Won’t Use User Content to Train AI

    Bluesky, the alternative social media platform to X (previously known as Twitter), recently declared that it will not utilize user content for training its AI systems. This statement coincided with the introduction of X’s revised terms and conditions.

    Changes in X’s Policies

    In the previous month, X revealed a number of updates to its overall terms and conditions. These new rules permit the platform to share customer information with third parties, who may employ it for focused advertising and AI model training.

    X’s modified terms feature significant penalties for external data miners—automated programs that gather user information. The platform specified that if an account is detected accessing 1 million posts within a single day, it would incur a fine of $15,000.

    Bluesky’s Commitment

    Bluesky affirmed that it will “not utilize any of your content to train generative AI, and have no plans to do so.” However, this does not prevent external crawlers—tools designed to index websites—from collecting data.

    "Just like robots.txt files don’t always stop outside companies from crawling those sites, the same situation applies here. Nonetheless, we wish to contribute to ensuring that outside organizations honor user consent and are actively engaging with our team on how to achieve this,” Emily Liu, a spokesperson for Bluesky, informed The Verge.

    Source: Link,Link

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  • Unreleased Fitbit AI Sleep Feature Discovered in New App Update

    Unreleased Fitbit AI Sleep Feature Discovered in New App Update

    The Fitbit app might soon introduce a new section called AI Sleep Lab. This feature includes a sleep journal that combines your personal entries with data gathered by your devices. With this integration, the app aims to offer customized insights to enhance your sleep quality.

    Discovering the Sleep Lab

    These exciting additions were uncovered by Android Authority while examining the APK linked to the Fitbit app version 4.30. Fitbit refers to the Sleep Lab as an “experimental feature” that allows you to add context to your sleep information by detailing your emotions and actions. Users will be able to document their experiences on a journal-like interface, where they’re encouraged to think about events that may have led to stress or interruptions during the night. You can either write your notes or use voice-to-text for convenience. Afterward, the app will generate a sleep summary with personalized insights and suggestions to help improve your rest.

    Future Availability

    There are indications that the AI Sleep Lab and the accompanying sleep journal might not be released anytime soon, as they seem to be in the early phases of development. Android Authority has also pointed out that these features could potentially be exclusive to Premium subscribers. It appears that they will only be accessible to those who have wearables capable of sleep tracking, like the Fitbit Inspire 3 (currently priced at $99.95 on Amazon).

    Source: Link

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  • Surgical Robot Learns Procedures via Video, Achieves Human Precision

    Surgical Robot Learns Procedures via Video, Achieves Human Precision

    Johns Hopkins and Stanford researchers have achieved a major breakthrough in robotic surgery by teaching a surgical robot to perform basic tasks simply by watching videos of human surgeons at work.

    Progress in Robotic Skills

    The team successfully programmed the da Vinci Surgical System to execute three essential surgical functions: manipulating needles, lifting tissues, and stitching wounds. Impressively, it matches the skill level of seasoned human surgeons. This marks a significant advancement toward fully autonomous robotic surgery.

    Dr. Axel Krieger, an assistant professor in JHU’s Department of Mechanical Engineering and the study’s senior author, remarked, "It’s amazing to have this model where we just provide camera input, and it predicts the robotic movements needed for surgery." He added, "We think this is a big step forward in medical robotics."

    Innovative Learning Techniques

    To achieve this, the researchers combined imitation learning with a framework similar to the one employed in ChatGPT. However, their model focuses on breaking down surgical movements mathematically rather than on words, translating these movements into precise robotic actions.

    For training the robot, they used hundreds of surgical videos filmed from wrist-mounted cameras on da Vinci robots during real operations. This substantial dataset was sourced from nearly 7,000 da Vinci systems globally, utilized by over 50,000 trained surgeons.

    Enhancing Precision and Adaptability

    Although the da Vinci system is widely recognized, it had some precision issues. The research team addressed this by programming the robot to perform actions relative to its environment instead of relying solely on fixed movements, leading to a remarkable improvement.

    One of the most astonishing aspects is the system’s adaptability. "The model is really great at picking up things we haven’t explicitly taught it," said Ji Woong "Brian" Kim, the lead author and a postdoc at Johns Hopkins. "For instance, if it drops a needle, it automatically retrieves it and continues. That’s not something I explicitly trained it to do."

    Future of Surgical Robotics

    This progress means there is no longer a need to painstakingly program every single movement for a surgical task, a process that used to require years for just one procedure. With this new method, the robot can learn an entire procedure in just a few days by merely watching.

    The researchers showcased their results at the Conference on Robot Learning in Munich, highlighting the convergence of AI and medical technology in the realm of surgical robotics.

    Source: Link

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  • Shengshu Technology Launches AI Video Generator to Compete with OpenAI

    Shengshu Technology Launches AI Video Generator to Compete with OpenAI

    Shengshu Technology has introduced its newest AI creation, the Vidu 1.5. This company is stepping into the area of text-to-video and image-to-video generation, adding a new player to the mix to rival OpenAI’s Sora, which made its debut earlier this year. For those unfamiliar with Shengshu Technology, it is a budding AI company that started up in March 2023.

    Features and Capabilities

    The new AI model closely resembles OpenAI’s Sora, with a few modifications. The Vidu 1.5 can generate videos that are up to eight seconds long from both images and text prompts. It employs its own feature called multiple-entity consistency to smoothly combine people, objects, and settings when creating a video based on user inputs.

    Unique Functionality

    Another interesting aspect of Vidu is its multiple-angle consistency feature. This allows users to create videos either from any uploaded images or by submitting three photos of the same subject. The company claims that this AI model has advanced control capabilities that enhance motion and detail in the backgrounds of the videos it generates. According to the developers, users can produce an eight-second video in less than 30 seconds.

    Video Quality

    Vidu has showcased several AI-generated videos on its official website, which appear quite realistic. However, the limitation is that users can only create videos of eight seconds, while the Sora model lets users make videos that last up to a minute.

    When it comes to video quality, the Vidu 1.5 can generate videos at a maximum resolution of 1080p. However, it does have some shortcomings. For instance, a few AI-generated videos miss minor details and show some unrealistic actions, like a scene where flames seem to pass through the middle of a car. These are not significant issues, but they might be noticeable if watched closely.

    Pricing and Availability

    The Vidu 1.5 operates on a freemium model. The free version allows users to create a 4-second clip with decent resolution, while the premium version costs $9.99 per month and enables the generation of eight-second videos at 1080p. The Vidu 1.5 is now accessible to everyone through its official website.

    Source: Link

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  • Japan Invests $65 Billion to Boost Semiconductor Industry

    Japan Invests $65 Billion to Boost Semiconductor Industry

    Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has unveiled an impressive plan worth 10 trillion yen (approximately $65 billion) aimed at rejuvenating Japan’s semiconductor and AI sectors. This substantial investment strategy is set to be introduced to parliament and intends to boost local chip production by the year 2030.

    Focus on Rapidus and AI Chips

    A key element of this initiative is the Rapidus project, which is Japan’s emerging chip manufacturing endeavor, alongside other firms focused on AI semiconductors. Rapidus commenced in 2022 with support from the government and eight leading companies, targeting mass production of 2-nanometer chips by 2027 in Hokkaido. To achieve this goal, they have formed partnerships with IBM and the Belgian research organization Imec.

    Economic Expectations

    The government anticipates a considerable economic effect, aspiring to generate around 160 trillion yen (close to $1 trillion) in financial benefits. They foresee approximately 50 trillion yen ($322 million) in total investment from both public and private sectors for semiconductor advancement over the next decade.

    Funding without Bonds

    Interestingly, Ishiba has noted that they won’t be utilizing deficit-covering bonds for financing this project. While he didn’t elaborate on the sources of funding, it’s evident that this marks a significant rise from Japan’s previous 2 trillion yen ($12.9 billion) investment in its semiconductor industry, highlighting the country’s commitment to regaining a prominent position in the global chip market.

    This initiative arrives as nations worldwide are working to strengthen their supply chains in response to recent market challenges and ongoing trade tensions between the U.S. and China. The entire economic package, which includes these semiconductor initiatives, is scheduled for cabinet approval on November 22. This is Japan’s most daring strategy in years to reclaim its status as a frontrunner in advanced chip manufacturing, reminiscent of its past dominance during the 1980s and 1990s.

    Source: Link

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  • Slack Develops AI File Summary Feature for Enhanced Productivity

    Slack Develops AI File Summary Feature for Enhanced Productivity

    Slack is said to be developing a new AI feature that will summarize documents uploaded by users. Back in February 2024, the platform launched Slack AI, which came with tools for summarizing chat threads, providing contextual search, and offering channel recaps that highlight important information users may have missed.

    New Feature Discovery

    A report from Android Authority indicates that Slack aims to enhance its features with the addition of AI file summaries. The publication performed an APK teardown on the latest Android version of Slack (24-10-50-0) and found several code strings that hint at this new feature.

    Limitations and Requirements

    Two of the code strings, and , imply that there will be certain restrictions, such as limitations on document size or if the file is password protected. Another string, , suggests that the feature may require documents to meet a minimum word count to be eligible for summarization.

    User Feedback and Control

    Users will also have the option to delete AI-generated summaries and provide feedback on them, indicating whether the information was "inaccurate" or if it "had too much or too little detail." As of now, Slack has not officially announced anything regarding this upcoming feature.

    Source: Link,Link

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  • Amazon Invests in AI Chips to Decrease Nvidia Dependence

    Amazon Invests in AI Chips to Decrease Nvidia Dependence

    Amazon is set to launch its next-generation Trainium 2 AI chip next month, promising performance improvements of up to four times compared to the original version.

    Development and Acquisition

    According to The Financial Times, the chip was designed by Annapurna Labs, a microelectronics startup from Israel that Amazon bought in 2015. The goal behind this acquisition is to develop chips that can compete with Nvidia’s products and lessen the company’s reliance on Nvidia.

    In an interview with Financial Times, Dave Brown, who is the vice-president of compute and networking services at AWS, mentioned their ambition to be “absolutely the best place to run Nvidia, but at the same time we think its healthy to have an alternative.”

    Market Dynamics

    Nvidia currently dominates the AI chip market, holding an impressive 80% share and recording $26.3 billion in revenue from chip sales in the second quarter of fiscal 2024. Amazon plans to invest around $75 billion in capital throughout 2024, primarily for technology and infrastructure, with expectations to increase spending in 2025.

    While Amazon doesn’t provide independent performance benchmarks for its chips, it stated that its “Inferentia” chips, which are designed for specific tasks, cost 40% less to operate when generating AI responses.

    System Integration

    As Remi Sinno, a former employee of Softbank and Intel who is now the engineering director at Annapurna, puts it, “It’s not [just] about the chip, it’s about the full system.”

    Sinno also added, “it’s really hard to do what we do at scale. Not too many companies can.”

    Source: Link,Link

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  • Baidu Launches I-RAG, Miaoda, and Innovative Smart Glasses

    Baidu Launches I-RAG, Miaoda, and Innovative Smart Glasses

    Chinese AI and internet company Baidu has revealed new AI-driven software and hardware during its annual Baidu World Conference. Similar to Google, Baidu stands as China’s top search engine, and over the years, it has gradually expanded its business to encompass AI technologies.

    Launch of New Innovations

    As per a report from Reuters, after investing heavily in AI for the past two years, Baidu has introduced its initial image generator and a no-code platform. They also mentioned that their AI chatbot, Ernie, manages to answer over 1.5 billion user inquiries each day.

    Features of New Tools

    The firm claims that its latest text-to-image tool, known as I-RAG, reduces the chances of “hallucinations” in visuals while utilizing the search engine to enhance prompts and image results.

    Miaoda, the no-code platform, is said to enable individuals without programming skills to create application prototypes. The company states that it will leverage the Ernie LLM to produce code that’s simple to modify and adjust.

    Additional Hardware Showcase

    In addition to the software innovations, Baidu also presented smart glasses from its hardware branch, Xiaodu. These glasses feature an AI assistant that operates on the Ernie Foundation model and will work in conjunction with services such as Baidu Maps and Baike.

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