Tag: OpenAI

  • OpenAI Fined €15 Million by Italy’s Data Protection Authority

    OpenAI Fined €15 Million by Italy’s Data Protection Authority

    The Italian Data Protection Authority has revealed that it has imposed a €15 million fine on OpenAI for multiple breaches of the EU’s GDPR regulations. The agency claims that the creator of ChatGPT collected personal data without a lawful reason and also failed to report a security breach that occurred in March 2023.

    Concerns About Child Safety

    Additionally, the agency pointed out that OpenAI lacked proper “mechanisms for age verification,” which could lead to children under 13 being exposed to responses that are not suitable for their level of maturity and understanding. This raises serious concerns about the safety of young users interacting with the platform.

    Required Actions by OpenAI

    The authority has mandated that OpenAI establishes a “six-month institutional communication campaign across radio, television, newspapers, and the Internet.” This campaign aims to enhance public knowledge and awareness regarding how ChatGPT operates, as well as how it collects and manages user data.

    In a response shared with Euro News, OpenAI described the ruling as “disproportionate” and expressed its intention to challenge the decision. The spokesperson mentioned that the penalty was “almost 20 times” the revenue generated by the company in Italy for the year.

    Source: Link

  • ChatGPT Web Search Now Available for All Users

    ChatGPT Web Search Now Available for All Users

    OpenAI has started to introduce ChatGPT Search to all users. This feature was first revealed on October 31, and the company made it available for paying users in November after a short testing phase.

    Gradual Rollout for Free Users

    The rollout for free users will take place gradually over the upcoming days in locations where ChatGPT is accessible. This new functionality enables the AI chatbot to look up information on the internet for inquiries and provide relevant links.

    Searching Made Easy

    For those who have set ChatGPT Search as the default search engine in their browsers, they can perform searches straight from the address bar. To initiate a search in a chat, users can click on the new web search icon, which resembles a globe, located next to the file attachment and tool selection icons in the ChatGPT input area.

    Source Citation and Links

    Each search will reference the sources used to gather information and will display pertinent links in the sidebar during chats. Users can look up anything from the latest films, television shows, current sports scores, stock prices, and much more. Additionally, ChatGPT can also automatically conduct relevant web searches according to user prompts.

    Source: Link

  • OpenAI’s ChatGPT Projects Compete with Google’s NotebookLM

    OpenAI’s ChatGPT Projects Compete with Google’s NotebookLM

    OpenAI has introduced a new feature called Projects for ChatGPT, which helps users arrange their chats and files into organized groups. This tool is designed to make it easier for users to manage multiple conversations, files, and personalized instructions for the AI all in one place.

    Availability of Projects

    This feature is currently accessible to subscribers of ChatGPT Plus, Pro, and Teams. However, those subscribed to ChatGPT Enterprise and Edu will not be able to use it until January 2025.

    Features and Capabilities

    ChatGPT Projects works seamlessly with the newly added Canvas, advanced data analysis, image generation through DALL-E, and web searches. Users can include various file types, and the AI will maintain the context of these documents while answering questions.

    The tool is capable of processing large documents, including research papers, emails, and reports. However, it does not yet allow importing files from Google Drive or Microsoft’s OneDrive. OpenAI has stated that Projects are intended for personal use only and cannot be shared with others “at this time.” Users can also transfer their existing chats into a Project.

    Comparison to Competitors

    If this sounds a bit like something you’ve heard before, that’s because it’s OpenAI’s version of Google’s well-liked research and organization tool, NotebookLM. Google has recently rolled out features like the ability to engage with AI hosts during audio summaries and a new premium offering known as NotebookLM Plus for both organizations and individuals.

    Source: Link

  • OpenAI CFO Calls Donald Trump President of the AI Generation

    OpenAI CFO Calls Donald Trump President of the AI Generation

    During a discussion at the Reuters NEXT conference held in New York, OpenAI’s CFO Sarah Frair responded to inquiries about the potential influence of President-elect Donald Trump, suggesting he might become the "president of this AI generation."

    Trump’s Timing with AI Advancements

    Frair expressed that Trump will assume office just as essential infrastructure is established for a significant advancement in AI, specifically Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). "He’ll be right there at the onset, perhaps even as we approach things like AGI," remarked Frair.

    AGI represents a theoretical AI capable of human-like reasoning and adaptable enough to tackle various tasks across multiple fields. Leading tech companies, including Google, Microsoft, Apple, and Amazon, are already heavily invested in AGI research.

    OpenAI’s Sora and Its Popularity

    OpenAI’s Sora video generator has garnered considerable interest. Initially introduced in February of this year, Sora has been launched in a limited form, with the company halting new account sign-ups due to high web traffic.

    Frair explained that the restricted access is a result of "capacity, but a lot is also about wanting to be cautious…it’s available only to a very small group of users at this time because we aim to listen and learn."

    Prioritizing Safety in AI Development

    "There are instances where we will proceed a bit more slowly to ensure we are continually prioritizing safety," Frair added.

    Discussing Elon Musk, who has voiced his disapproval of OpenAI’s for-profit model, Frair noted that they trust Musk as a competitor, stating that he "will prioritize the national interest and engage in fair competition."

    The Future of AI Agents

    Frair also predicts an increase in AI agents being deployed soon. These agents are independent bots designed to perform specific tasks autonomously, without needing human oversight.

    "I believe we will witness significant activity surrounding agents next year, and I think many will be astonished at how quickly this technology arrives," Frair shared with Reuters.

    Source: Link

  • Google Urges FTC to Block Microsoft’s OpenAI Cloud Partnership

    Google Urges FTC to Block Microsoft’s OpenAI Cloud Partnership

    Google has requested the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to look into Microsoft’s exclusive cloud service deal with OpenAI. The Information, as reported by Reuters, indicates that this discussion took place while the FTC was probing Google about Microsoft’s business practices as part of a wider investigation.

    Microsoft and OpenAI’s Growing Partnership

    The alliance between Microsoft and OpenAI started back in 2019 when Microsoft made an initial investment of one billion dollars, which has now surged to $13 billion. In return for this investment, Microsoft gained exclusive rights to provide hosting for OpenAI’s services on its cloud platform. Notably, Microsoft intervened to prevent the ousting of Sam Altman last year.

    Shift from Non-Profit to For-Profit

    OpenAI was founded in 2015 as a non-profit research organization, but things took a turn with the establishment of OpenAI Global in 2019, which operates as a for-profit branch.

    According to a report from The Financial Times, OpenAI may be thinking about dropping a clause related to Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) in their agreement, which would have limited Microsoft’s access to more advanced models in exchange for additional investments. Recently, OpenAI rolled out a subscription plan priced at $200, named ChatGPT Pro, aimed at researchers and engineers.

    Impact on Competitors

    Competing companies in the cloud market, such as Google and Amazon, find themselves having to rent Microsoft’s servers, even if they are mainly focused on utilizing OpenAI’s technology. Microsoft’s rivals argue that this could lead to higher costs for consumers.

    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,

  • OpenAI Accused of Deleting Evidence in Copyright Lawsuit

    OpenAI Accused of Deleting Evidence in Copyright Lawsuit

    In recent legal documents submitted by The New York Times regarding its lawsuit against OpenAI, it has been claimed that the AI company unintentionally erased crucial evidence. This evidence was gathered by the newspaper’s legal team over a span of more than 150 hours.

    Data Recovery Issues

    The documents indicate that OpenAI was able to retrieve most of the data, however, the folder organization and file names were irretrievably lost. Consequently, the data that was recovered does not allow for an understanding of how the news articles from the plaintiffs were incorporated into the training sets for the AI model.

    OpenAI’s Response

    Jason Deutrom, a representative from OpenAI, communicated to Wired that the company does not agree with the claims made in the lawsuit. He mentioned that they will be providing a formal response shortly. The New York Times initiated the lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft in December of the previous year, claiming that the AI firm utilized its articles to enhance its AI models.

    Accusations of Copyright Infringement

    The lawsuit asserts that millions of articles from The New York Times were used to train automated chatbots, which now rival the news organization as a trusted source of information. It argues that both companies should be held liable for "billions of dollars" due to the "illegal copying and use of The Times’ uniquely valuable works."

    Source: Link,Link,Link,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

  • OpenAI Faces Challenges in Collecting Training Data for Models

    OpenAI Faces Challenges in Collecting Training Data for Models

    OpenAI appears to be facing a challenge in enhancing the performance of its upcoming AI models. The company’s next significant model, "Orion," is said to be lagging in certain tasks when compared to its earlier models.

    Advantages in Language Tasks

    While "Orion" excels in language-related tasks like translation and text generation, it has not performed well in areas such as coding. This inconsistency raises concerns about its overall effectiveness in diverse applications.

    Challenges with Training Data

    A report from The Information (cited by Gadgets360) indicates that there are difficulties in collecting training data for these new models. Additionally, running this model in data centers is more costly than operating GPT-4 and GPT-4o.

    The improvement in quality is also not as pronounced as the advancements seen when moving from GPT-3 to GPT-4. OpenAI has formed a foundations team to tackle the training data issue, but it remains uncertain whether they will gather sufficient data in time for the model’s launch.

    Broader Industry Trends

    OpenAI isn’t alone in experiencing minimal performance improvements. Other companies like Anthropic and Mistral are also witnessing only slight advancements with each new release. One proposed strategy for boosting performance is to continue training the model after its initial release through fine-tuning, although this is merely a temporary fix rather than a sustainable solution.

    Gadgets360, The Information