Category: Artificial intelligence

  • Samsung Unveils Second-Generation AI Model Gauss2

    Samsung Unveils Second-Generation AI Model Gauss2

    Samsung presented the next version of its multimodal generative AI model, Gauss2, during the Samsung Developer Conference 2024. The model will come in three different sizes: Compact, Balanced, and Supreme.

    Compact Model Overview

    The Compact model is designed to be small, focusing on speed and efficiency, making it perfect for usage directly on devices by "maximizing the utilization of the device’s computing resources."

    Balanced and Supreme Models

    The Balanced model strikes a blend between performance and efficiency, tailored for various tasks that need consistency. On the other hand, the Supreme model is optimized for high performance, and Samsung claims it lowers "computational costs during training and inference processes while keeping both performance and efficiency at high levels."

    This model supports up to 14 languages, including a variety of programming languages. To enhance efficiency and performance, Samsung employs a "custom tokenizer" for the languages it supports. The company notes that the model’s processing speed "per hour is 1.5 to 3 times quicker," when compared to open-source generative AI models.

    In-House Coding Assistant

    According to Samsung, its internal coding assistant, ‘code.i,’ is currently being used by 60% of all software developers at the company.

    Samsung aims to leverage the Gauss2 model to boost productivity internally. The company "will keep extending the reach of its AI-based services throughout all product lines so users can enjoy a more convenient and pleasant daily life."

    Source: Link

  • Free AI Training Course for Teachers by OpenAI

    Free AI Training Course for Teachers by OpenAI

    OpenAI has joined forces with Common Sense Media to provide a complimentary course for educators, aiming to enhance their understanding of generative AI. Common Sense Media is a nonprofit that evaluates technology suitable for kids and families.

    Course Details

    According to a report by Reuters, the course named "ChatGPT Foundations for K-12 Educators" will explore effective practices for using AI and prompt engineering. This course is primarily focused on ChatGPT and will assist educators in learning the fundamentals of the chatbot, alongside showcasing methods for incorporating it into their teaching techniques within the classroom.

    Target Audience

    The course is designed for teachers who work with students from Kindergarten to 12th Grade and is expected to be completed in under an hour. It includes key topics such as the essentials of AI, responsible usage, data privacy, and practical suggestions for integrating AI into educational environments. OpenAI mentioned that the course was tested in around twelve school districts, where 98% of the educators reported gaining new insights for their teaching.

    Expert Insight

    Leah Belsky, who serves as the VP and General Manager of Education at OpenAI, shared with Reuters that the course aims to "put AI into the hands of every student and every teacher… and also equip them with the skills to learn how to do it responsibly and effectively." This initiative represents a significant step toward making AI tools more accessible for educational purposes.

    Source: Link,Link

  • Amazon Delays Alexa’s AI Update Due to Latency Issues

    Amazon Delays Alexa’s AI Update Due to Latency Issues

    Leaked internal documents obtained by Fortune reveal various technical issues related to the upcoming AI revamp for Alexa, Amazon’s voice assistant. A major issue is latency, which refers to the delay in how long it takes for the AI to answer a question.

    Testing Feedback and Concerns

    The latency concern is serious enough that several internal testers have rated the new assistant poorly. The average score given by testers was 4.5 out of 7, falling short of the target score of 5.5 out of 7. The team is worried that if this product is launched in its current condition, it could lead to user frustration.

    Key Issues Highlighted

    The memo states that “latency continues to be a major issue” that will need “notable improvements.” Another significant challenge is the possibility that some older Echo devices might not work with the new assistant.

    Amazon spokesperson Lauren Raemhild mentioned to Fortune, “Generative AI presents a significant opportunity to enhance Alexa for our customers.” She added, “We are diligently working to provide even more proactive and capable assistance on the more than half a billion Alexa-enabled devices already present in homes globally.”

    Challenges Faced by the Team

    The team is also encountering numerous technological and administrative challenges, such as insufficient data for training its AI model or resources being redirected to focus on Generative AI for Amazon’s cloud services. The memos indicate that the relaunch of Alexa has been postponed at least three times, with the latest date set for November 14, 2024.

    Source: Link

  • ISRO Unveils AI Model for Aircraft Tracking and Surveillance

    ISRO Unveils AI Model for Aircraft Tracking and Surveillance

    Researchers at the Space Applications Centre (SAC), part of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), have created an AI model that provides a full suite of features for monitoring airports and tracking aircraft, in addition to offering surveillance capabilities.

    Collaboration and Testing

    According to a report by The Times of India, this model was developed in partnership with an institute and has been tested in airports located in Ahmedabad, Mumbai, and Pune. The AI model makes use of the CosmiQ Works RarePlanes dataset, which is an open-source dataset for machine learning provided by CosmiQ and AI Reverie. This dataset includes both real-world and artificially created satellite images.

    Training Data Sources

    In addition to the RarePlanes dataset, the researchers trained the model using the Airbus Aircraft detection dataset and satellite imagery from Indian remote sensing.

    "A senior official mentioned to The Times of India that the deep learning models used were named YOLOv5 and YOLOv7, which are part of the You Only Look Once (YOLO) series, known for their applications in detecting aircraft within satellite images," the report stated.

    Accuracy and Future Enhancements

    The model achieved an accuracy of 94% for larger aircraft and 88% for smaller ones, with YOLOv7 proving to be the better performer in these evaluations. The research team is currently focused on enhancing the model’s features by integrating Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite data, which can assist in detecting aircraft even during severe weather events.

    Source: Link

  • Nvidia Blackwell AI Chips Overheat in Server Racks Issues

    Nvidia Blackwell AI Chips Overheat in Server Racks Issues

    Nvidia’s Blackwell AI chips might be delayed again due to overheating issues in server racks that can hold up to 72 GPUs. According to The Information (via Reuters), Nvidia has asked its suppliers to modify the design of these high-capacity racks and is collaborating with them to enhance thermal efficiency.

    Collaboration with Partners

    A spokesperson from Nvidia stated to Reuters, "Nvidia is working with leading cloud service providers as an integral part of our engineering team and process. The engineering iterations are normal and expected." This highlights the company’s ongoing commitment to address the challenges faced during development.

    Previous Delays

    This isn’t the first instance of delays related to Blackwell. Back in August, Bloomberg shared that Nvidia had to adjust the chip design to ensure it would be more compatible with the Hopper H100 data centers. This history of modifications raises questions about the stability of the release timeline.

    Concerns from Major Companies

    In March, Nvidia had assured that the new chips would be on the market by the second quarter of the year, but those plans changed due to the recent setbacks. The Information reports that companies like Microsoft, Google, and Meta are now anxious about how these delays could impact their schedules for deploying the new chips in their data centers, which may also slow down the release of next versions of their AI-based products.

    As reported by Reuters and Bloomberg, the situation remains critical for Nvidia and its partners.

    Source: Link,Link


  • 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.


    Image 1
    Image 1
    Image 1
  • 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


    Image 1
    Image 1
  • 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

  • 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

  • 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