UWCISA's 5 Tech Takeaways: How AI is Shaping Investments, Policies, Legal Battles, and the Future of Work

User 726679350 · UWCISA's 5 Tech Takeaways: How AI is Shaping Investments+Policies+Legal Battles & Future of Work

Amazon Eyes Additional Multi-Billion Dollar Investment in Anthropic

Amazon.com is considering a second multi-billion dollar investment in AI startup Anthropic, maker of Claude.ai, according to a report by Reuters. This follows Amazon’s previous $4 billion investment in Anthropic, seen as a competitor to OpenAI, in 2023. Anthropic relies on Amazon’s cloud infrastructure but has shown a preference for Nvidia-designed chips over Amazon’s own server technology. The growth of Anthropic, co-founded by former OpenAI executives, has attracted significant interest, with Google-parent Alphabet also committing up to $2 billion in funding. This investment is part of Amazon’s broader AI strategy to offer early access to advanced AI capabilities to its cloud customers.

Key Takeaways:

• Amazon is contemplating a new multi-billion dollar investment in AI company Anthropic, following an initial $4 billion investment.
• Anthropic uses Amazon’s cloud but prefers Nvidia chips, indicating differing technology preferences.
• Previous funding includes a major investment from Alphabet, totaling up to $2 billion.

BYOAI: How Workers Are Adopting AI to Tackle Rising Workloads Amidst Policy Gaps

A new report from Wrike reveals that American workers are managing an increased workload, up 31% from last year, by adopting generative AI tools like ChatGPT, Co-Pilot, and Claude to boost productivity. However, only 31% of companies currently have AI guidelines in place, creating a disconnect between workers’ adoption of AI and company policies. Experts recommend that organizations establish comprehensive AI policies, including ethical training, to bridge this gap and support responsible AI usage. As companies catch up, generative AI is increasingly seen as essential for streamlining tasks and filling gaps amid rising workloads.

Key Takeaways:

• U.S. workers report a 31% increase in workload, leading many to adopt generative AI tools for efficiency.
• Companies lag behind, with only 31% having AI policies in place.
• Experts call for structured AI policies and ethical training to responsibly integrate AI into workplaces.

(Source: VentureBeat)

How OpenAI’s Voice and Search Upgrades Pave the Way for Advanced AI Agents

OpenAI has recently launched updates to its platform, including a Realtime API that supports voice features and a ChatGPT-powered search function, laying the groundwork for AI agents—advanced digital assistants capable of handling complex tasks. Two significant challenges remain: enhancing AI’s reasoning abilities and enabling seamless tool use. OpenAI’s latest model includes a “chain of thought” feature to improve reasoning, though experts note it doesn’t yet achieve true human reasoning. OpenAI aims to expand these AI capabilities across fields like law, economics, and accounting, foreseeing transformative applications.

Key Takeaways:

• OpenAI’s recent updates aim to support AI agents that could manage complex tasks using voice features and search capabilities.
• Challenges remain in developing reasoning and external tool-use abilities for AI agents.
• OpenAI plans to adapt these capabilities for fields like law, economics, and accounting to broaden its applications.

(Source: MIT Technology Review)

CanLII Sues AI Chatbot Caseway Over Copyright Concerns in Legal Data Use

The Canadian Legal Information Institute (CanLII) has filed a lawsuit against Caseway AI, a legal research chatbot, claiming copyright infringement and terms-of-service violations due to unauthorized scraping of 3.5 million legal records. CanLII argues that its legal database enhancements, such as hyperlinks and error corrections, are copyrighted. In response, Caseway claims that it did not harm CanLII’s services and that both organizations share a mission to make legal information accessible. This case is part of a larger debate about AI’s use of public data and copyright in the age of generative AI.

Key Takeaways:

• CanLII has sued Caseway AI for scraping its legal database, alleging copyright infringement.
• Caseway argues that it is working toward a shared goal of making legal data accessible.
• This case highlights ongoing copyright and data-use debates related to generative AI.

(Source: CBC News)

Parti Québécois' Push for AI Over Immigration Sparks Debate on Workforce Solutions

In response to Quebec’s labor shortages, the Parti Québécois (PQ) has proposed automation and AI as alternatives to immigrant labor. The plan targets investments in manufacturing, retail, and agriculture, taking inspiration from automation trends in countries like South Korea and Japan. Experts, however, caution that automating critical roles in fields like healthcare and education presents unique challenges and cannot fully replace the need for immigrants. Business representatives also highlight high costs, taxes, and regulatory hurdles as obstacles for small businesses aiming to adopt AI solutions. While automation could play a role in Quebec’s economy, experts conclude that it cannot be a standalone solution to the province’s labor challenges.

Key Takeaways:

• The Parti Québécois proposes automation to address labor shortages, reducing reliance on immigration.
• Experts say essential jobs in healthcare and education are difficult to automate effectively.
• High costs and regulatory hurdles make automation challenging for smaller businesses, indicating a need for balanced workforce solutions.

(Source: CTV News)

Author: Malik Datardina, CPA, CA, CISA. Malik works at Auvenir as a GRC Strategist who is working to transform the engagement experience for accounting firms and their clients. The opinions expressed here do not necessarily represent UWCISA, UW, Auvenir (or its affiliates), CPA Canada or anyone else. This post was written with the assistance of an AI language model. The model provided suggestions and completions to help me write, but the final content and opinions are my own.

Five Top Tech Takeaways: A Deep Dive into Disruption, From AI Hardware to GenAI-Powered Services

Author's Note: In this post, we explore five top tech stories, focusing on disruption and how it relates to the humane AI pin, Rabbit R1, and GenAI-powered innovations.

The humane AI pin and Rabbit R1 aim to disrupt the smartphone market, but they face challenges in delivering the convenience and functionality users demand. Disruption, as Harvard professor Clay Christensen explains in his books "The Innovator's Dilemma" and "The Innovator's Solution," is not just about introducing new technology but rather about offering a compelling product at a price point that attracts customers who have been ignored by the market. Overserved customers who find the extra features in current product lines unnecessary will gravitate towards cheaper, convenient, and "good enough" alternatives. 

HP's success with inkjet printers exemplifies the concept of disruption. Inkjet printers offered a cost-effective alternative to laser printers while outperforming dot-matrix printers in terms of quality. This innovation met the needs of users who did not require the advanced features of laser printers but sought better quality than dot-matrix printers could provide. As a result, inkjet printers successfully disrupted the market by catering to the demands of overserved customers.

GenAI-powered agents, note-taking apps, and intelligent search provide helpful features that make people's lives easier but are affordable. Take, for example, Dr. Lall's use of an AI-enabled note taker (see below). It is an excellent example of how this technology can effectively "amplify" one's effort. As I discussed in my Medium post, GenAI has the potential to be leveraged as a junior assistant, capable of drafting emails, conducting research, and performing other content-oriented tasks typically assigned to a remote virtual assistant. Consequently, these innovations can potentially disrupt the market by focusing on delivering the functionality users need at a more accessible price point.

MKBHD on Humane AI Pin: An Overhyped, Underdelivering Gadget

Marques Brownlee's review of the Humane AI Pin, a wearable AI gadget, exposed its primary flaw: it's not inherently flawed technology but rather a flawed concept. Despite the tech's shortcomings, such as slow processing and inaccuracy, the real issue lies in attempting to replace the smartphone with a device offering less functionality. Users aren't looking for a chest-worn gadget that can't match their phones, making the AI Pin an impractical solution that ultimately fails to deliver on its promise. The broader lesson here is that not all innovative ideas are worthwhile, and Humane's assumption that people need an alternative to smartphones was misguided.

Key Takeaways:

• Marques Brownlee criticized the Humane AI Pin for being an underwhelming alternative to smartphones with less utility and greater inconvenience.
• Despite its design team's good intentions, the AI Pin's limited features and inability to integrate with common tools like Google Calendar reveal its conceptual flaws.
• The AI Pin’s attempt to replace smartphones fell short, demonstrating that new tech ideas must address real user needs to be successful.

The Rabbit R1: Promising Concept, Disappointing Execution
The Rabbit R1, a new AI gadget priced at $199, fails to deliver on its promise of offering an advanced and practical AI assistant. The device is plagued by incorrect identifications, faulty integrations, and limited capabilities, particularly with apps like Uber and Spotify, which struggle to execute basic functions. Though its Large Action Model (LAM) is meant to simplify tasks across different apps, the current implementation is unreliable and often frustrating. While its whimsical design and quality microphone provide some appeal, the Rabbit R1 largely underwhelms, suggesting that AI gadgets still lag far behind smartphones in utility.

Key Takeaways:

• The Rabbit R1's AI capabilities, such as food and object identification, are unreliable and often incorrect.
• Integrations with apps like Uber, DoorDash, and Spotify are poorly executed and offer limited practical use.
• Despite its attractive design, the Rabbit R1 struggles to compete with the functionality and reliability of smartphones.

(Source: The Verge)

Amplification in Action: How AI is Saving Time for Family Physicians

Dr. Rosemary Lall, a family physician in Scarborough, Ontario, discovered a groundbreaking solution to the overwhelming administrative burden that nearly drove her to quit her practice. By implementing an artificial intelligence note-taking application called AI Scribe, Dr. Lall significantly reduced the time spent on mandatory patient record-keeping. The AI Scribe, developed by OntarioMD, automatically generates detailed SOAP notes during patient visits, which has drastically cut down on the after-visit paperwork and allowed Dr. Lall to focus more on patient care and less on administrative tasks.

Key Takeaways:

• Ontario doctor adopted AI Scribe to address the extensive administrative duties that were impacting her work-life balance.
• AI Scribe assists in creating SOAP notes, thereby reducing paperwork and saving time for physicians.
• The Ontario government is conducting a pilot program to integrate AI Scribe into more practices, indicating a move towards broader adoption of AI in healthcare management.

(Source: Global News)

OpenAI's Sam Altman Foresees an AI Assistant Revolution

In an interview with MIT Technology Review, OpenAI's CEO Sam Altman discussed his vision for AI tools that will significantly integrate into our daily lives, much like smartphones. He envisions AI as a “super-competent colleague” that can manage various tasks seamlessly, adapting to users' needs and learning from interactions without feeling intrusive. While he doubts that new hardware will be necessary for this paradigm shift, Altman suggests consumers might still appreciate a specialized device. He remains optimistic about overcoming the challenges of sourcing training data for future AI models and anticipates that multiple versions of AGI will excel in different areas. He hinted at ongoing development of future models but declined to disclose specifics about GPT-5's release date.

Key Takeaways:

• Sam Altman sees the "killer app" for AI as a highly capable virtual assistant that can tackle tasks independently.
• Despite the challenges in sourcing training data, Altman remains hopeful about finding new methods for advancing AI capabilities.
• Altman anticipates several versions of AGI that will vary in their abilities but did not provide a timeline for GPT-5.

(Source: MIT Technology Review)

Apple Plans to Bring AI to iOS: Intelligent Search and Beyond

Apple is preparing to introduce significant enhancements to its Safari web browser, including integrating an AI-powered tool called Intelligent Search. Set to launch with Safari 18, alongside iOS 18 and macOS 15 later in 2024, these updates aim to enhance user experience through advanced content blocking, a Web Eraser feature for removing specific webpage elements, and AI-driven content summarization capabilities. These improvements are part of Apple's broader strategy to implement more secure and efficient AI technologies in response to the growing influence of generative AI tools in the tech industry.

Key Takeaways:

• Apple's Safari 18 will feature Intelligent Search, utilizing on-device AI for advanced browsing and text summarization.
• The Web Eraser tool in Safari will enable users to selectively erase webpage content, enhancing privacy and user control.
• Apple continues to align its software capabilities with AI advancements, positioning Safari as a more competitive and secure browser option.

(Source: AppleInsider)

Author: Malik Datardina, CPA, CA, CISA. Malik works at Auvenir as a GRC Strategist who is working to transform the engagement experience for accounting firms and their clients. The opinions expressed here do not necessarily represent UWCISA, UW, Auvenir (or its affiliates), CPA Canada or anyone else. This post was written with the assistance of an AI language model. The model provided suggestions and completions to help me write, but the final content and opinions are my own.

Five Top Tech Takeaways: Canada's $2.4B AI bet, Adobe Goes Open, Training Data Shortage, Cdn SMBs Go Big on AI and Turnitin's Take on AI & Plagiarism

Canada Invests $2.4 Billion in AI

$2.4 Billion Infusion: Canada's Move to Spearhead AI Innovation and Safety

Canada is advancing its position in the global AI sector, as detailed by the Canadian government's announcement of a $2.4 billion investment package from Budget 2024 aimed at enhancing Canada's AI capabilities. This investment is intended to catalyze job growth, improve productivity, and ensure responsible development and use of AI technologies across various industries. The funds are allocated towards enhancing computing capabilities, boosting AI startups, supporting small to medium businesses with AI adoption, and establishing new institutes and programs for AI safety and workforce transition. These efforts underscore the Canadian government's commitment to maintaining Canada's leadership in AI innovation and providing high-quality job opportunities in the sector.

Key Takeaways:

• The Canadian government has announced a $2.4 billion investment to strengthen the nation's AI sector, aimed at boosting job creation and productivity.
• Investments include significant funds for computing infrastructure, support for AI startups, and programs to aid businesses and workers in adopting AI technologies.
• The establishment of a new Canadian AI Safety Institute and the strengthening of AI legislation highlight Canada's focus on the responsible and secure advancement of AI technology.
  

(Source: PM Canada)

Adobe Opts For Open: Embracing OpenAI's Tools in Premiere Pro

Adobe is exploring a partnership with OpenAI and other companies as it integrates third-party generative AI tools into its Premiere Pro video editing software. This initiative aims to enhance the software's capabilities by allowing adding AI-generated objects or removing distractions with minimal manual effort. Adobe is leveraging its proprietary AI model, Firefly while considering how to incorporate external AI technologies like OpenAI's Sora. Despite the ongoing development and lack of a set release timeline, Adobe's strategy reflects its efforts to innovate amidst a competitive landscape and a significant drop in stock value this year.

Comment:  Adobe's strategic decision to make Premiere Pro open to third-party AI video makers has enabled it to avoid the pitfalls that Apple initially faced with its closed ecosystem approach to the Macintosh. Adobe has "future proofed"Premiere Pro by allowing access to third-party AI video makers. This approach contrasts sharply with Apple's early strategy with the Mac and nearly repeated with the iPhone, which restricted third-party access, limiting system functionality and user choice. By embracing openness, Adobe has enhanced its offering to video creators who want to leverage AI-generated content. 

Here, Igor Pogany walks us through the demo that Adobe has released:

Key Takeaways:

• Adobe is integrating third-party AI tools into its Premiere Pro software, potentially enhancing video editing capabilities. This includes OpenAI, Runway ML, and PikaLabs. 
• The company continues to use its AI model, Firefly while exploring collaborations with OpenAI and other AI developers.
• Despite the potential of these AI tools, Adobe faces market pressures, with its stock declining by about 20% this year.

(Source: Reuters)

Turnitin Tackles AI: Insights from 200 Million Paper Reviews

In the past year, over 22 million student papers suspected of utilizing generative AI were submitted for review, according to the latest data from Turnitin, a prominent plagiarism detection company. This development follows the integration of an AI writing detection tool by Turnitin, designed to identify AI-generated content within student work. Despite the challenges of distinguishing AI-authored content from human writing, the tool has evaluated over 200 million papers, flagging 11% as containing significant AI-generated content. This surge in AI use among students underscores the evolving landscape of academic integrity and the need for sophisticated detection tools that balance effectiveness with fairness, particularly in avoiding bias against non-native English speakers.

Key Takeaways:

• Turnitin's AI detection tool has reviewed over 200 million papers, identifying a notable percentage with significant AI-generated content.
• The tool's development highlights the growing concern over academic integrity in the era of AI, prompting the need for reliable detection methods.
• Issues of bias and the complexity of AI detection in academic settings remain significant, influencing institutions like Montclair State University to reassess their use of such technologies.

(Source: Wired)

AI Adoption Soars Among Canadian SMBs: A Look at the Numbers

A recent report by Float reveals a significant increase in artificial intelligence adoption among Canada's small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs), with 32% now subscribing to ChatGPT, up from just 14% a year earlier. This surge reflects a broader trend of integrating AI to enhance efficiency and productivity across various sectors, not only in mundane tasks but throughout entire organizations. According to Rob Khazzam, CEO of Float, this growth is not just a technological shift but a necessary evolution to extend operational budgets further. Despite general economic caution, with most companies maintaining flat spending levels, advertising expenses have notably doubled, indicating a readiness for growth. The report, which analyzed credit card transactions across 1,000 companies, also highlights a robust increase in spending among larger firms, signaling potential economic rebound.

Key Takeaways:

• AI adoption among Canadian SMBs has more than doubled in a year, with 32% now using ChatGPT.
• Businesses are applying AI broadly across functions, aiming to maximize efficiency and extend financial resources.
• Despite cautious spending in general areas, advertising expenditures have doubled, suggesting a move towards aggressive growth strategies.

(Source: BNN Bloomberg)

The Data Dilemma: AI Giants Grapple with Training Material Shortages

OpenAI has developed its Whisper audio transcription model to transcribe over a million hours of YouTube videos for training its GPT-4 model, as reported by The New York Times. Despite legal ambiguities, OpenAI pursued this method under the belief it constituted fair use. The company is exploring the creation of synthetic data to diversify its training resources further. Meanwhile, Google and Meta are also navigating the constraints of training data availability, with Google adjusting policies to expand permissible data use and Meta considering acquisitions to secure more content. These strategies highlight the intense demand for high-quality data as AI companies strive to enhance their models' capabilities amidst growing legal and ethical scrutiny.

Key Takeaways:

• OpenAI utilized a large volume of YouTube video transcripts, believing it to be fair use, to train its GPT-4 model.
• The AI industry faces a critical shortage of high-quality training data, pushing companies like Google and Meta to seek creative solutions.
• Legal and ethical challenges continue to complicate the sourcing of training data for AI models.

(Source: The Verge)

Author: Malik Datardina, CPA, CA, CISA. Malik works at Auvenir as a GRC Strategist who is working to transform the engagement experience for accounting firms and their clients. The opinions expressed here do not necessarily represent UWCISA, UW, Auvenir (or its affiliates), CPA Canada or anyone else. This post was written with the assistance of an AI language model. The model provided suggestions and completions to help me write, but the final content and opinions are my own.

Five Top Tech Takeaways: Apple's AI Gambit, Meta's Forays into AI, Canada Deals with LegalGPT, and Moody's Take on Shell Companies

 

Apple's AI Revolution: iPhone 16 to Feature Cutting-Edge Generative AI

Apple is set to integrate advanced generative AI features in its upcoming iPhone 16 series, leveraging acquisitions and internal developments to enhance AI capabilities, particularly in video compression and large language model efficiency. With significant investments in AI technology, Apple aims to run AI applications directly on iPhone hardware, reducing reliance on cloud services. This move positions Apple as a strong competitor in the generative AI space, with significant reveals expected at the Worldwide Developers Conference, including potential Siri advancements powered by a large language model.

(Source: iPhone in Canada).

Key Takeaways:

• Apple is intensifying its integration of generative AI into the iPhone 16, focusing on in-house AI capabilities and acquisitions.
• The company's goal is to enable AI applications to run directly on iPhones, minimizing cloud dependency.
• Significant advancements, including Siri's potential upgrade with a large language model, are anticipated at Apple's upcoming Worldwide Developers Conference.

Transforming the Future of Connectivity: Meta's Focus on AGI

Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, is actively entering the race to develop Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), reorganizing Meta's AI research group, FAIR, to align closer with its generative AI product teams. This move aims to leverage Meta's AI breakthroughs directly for its vast user base. Zuckerberg, facing fierce competition for AI talent and resources, emphasizes the importance of generative AI in achieving general intelligence. Meta, boasting significant computing power with a large stock of Nvidia GPUs, is focusing on open-source AI development, contrasting with other companies' more closed approaches. This strategy reflects Zuckerberg's vision of AI's role in future connectivity, blending human and AI interactions across Meta's platforms.

(Source: The Verge).

Key Takeaways:

• Meta restructures to focus on AGI, integrating FAIR with its generative AI product teams.
• Zuckerberg commits to open-source AI development amid intense industry competition for talent and resources.
• Meta's vision includes blending AI with human interaction, enhancing connectivity across its platforms.

Seven Risk Indicators to Identify Shell Companies: Moody's Latest Tool

Moody’s has developed a Shell Company Indicator to aid in detecting financial crimes involving shell companies, identifying seven key indicators of risk: outlier directorships, mass registration, jurisdictional risk, financial anomalies, dormancy, circular ownership, and outlier ages. These indicators help in identifying suspicious behaviors and patterns that may suggest the presence of shell companies, used for illegal activities like money laundering and fraud. The tool is crucial for compliance, risk analysis, and due diligence processes, especially in light of global events like Russia's invasion of Ukraine affecting jurisdictional risk flags. National legislations are also evolving to combat the misuse of shell companies, underlining the importance of tools like Moody’s Shell Company Indicator in the fight against financial crime.

(Source: Moody's).

Key Takeaways:

• Moody's data indicates a staggering 11.5 million outlier directorships, highlighting individuals with an unrealistic number of roles in multiple companies.
• The Shell Company Indicator has identified 4.2 million instances of mass registration and over 655,000 cases of company dormancy, signaling potential shell company activities.
• The tool flags more than 60,000 instances of circular ownership and over 38,000 cases involving outlier ages of beneficial owners, both critical indicators of shell company risk.

AI in the Courtroom: Canada's First Encounter with Fake Legal Cases

A recent incident in a B.C. courtroom marks Canada's first case involving the use of artificial intelligence to create fake legal cases. (This was seen previously in the US; see here.) Lawyers Lorne and Fraser MacLean discovered that opposing lawyer Chong Ke used ChatGPT to prepare legal briefs, unknowingly submitting fictitious cases. This misuse of AI in legal proceedings has raised serious concerns about the integrity of the legal system, highlighting the potential for erroneous judgments and wasted resources. The incident has prompted warnings from legal experts and regulatory bodies, emphasizing the need for lawyers to verify AI-generated content and the potential consequences of misusing such technology in court proceedings.

(Source: Global News).

Key Takeaways:

• AI-generated fake legal cases were discovered in a B.C. courtroom, marking a first in Canada's legal history.
• The incident has sparked concerns about the reliability and misuse of AI tools like ChatGPT in legal research and documentation.
• Legal authorities and experts are warning of the serious implications and potential consequences for lawyers misusing AI technology in legal proceedings.

The Future of Smart Glasses: A Look at Meta AI's Capabilities

The Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses have introduced new AI features, including "multimodal AI" and real-time information updates. While multimodal AI, which responds to queries based on visuals, shows promise, especially in applications like real-time translations and landmark identification, its real-time information accuracy is questionable. Meta AI struggles with current events, often providing incorrect answers. Despite the potential for useful applications, the current version of Meta AI demonstrates significant limitations in reliability and practicality.

(Source: Engadget)

Key Takeaways:

• Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses now feature multimodal AI, allowing interaction based on visual inputs, useful for translations and text summaries.
• The glasses' real-time information capability is currently unreliable, often providing inaccurate responses to basic questions.
• Despite the innovative technology, the practical application and accuracy of Meta AI need significant improvement to be truly useful.

Author: Malik Datardina, CPA, CA, CISA. Malik works at Auvenir as a GRC Strategist that is working to transform the engagement experience for accounting firms and their clients. The opinions expressed here do not necessarily represent UWCISA, UW, Auvenir (or its affiliates), CPA Canada or anyone else. This post was written with the assistance of an AI language model. The model provided suggestions and completions to help me write, but the final content and opinions are my own.

Five Top Tech Takeaways: AI Aces Math Test, NYT sues OpenAI for Copyrights, Samsung's AI Phones, Meta's AI Shift, and EVs Found Frozen in Chicago

DeepMind's AlphaGeometry: A Breakthrough in AI's Math Abilities

Google DeepMind's latest AI system, AlphaGeometry, represents a significant step in AI development by successfully solving complex high-school geometry problems. This advancement, showcased in a Nature publication, indicates a new level of reasoning and planning in AI, a crucial aspect for future artificial general intelligence (AGI). Unlike current generative AI models that struggle with multi-step problems like advanced math, AlphaGeometry was trained on a large, synthetically generated dataset. Though not yet part of Google's Gemini AI model, AlphaGeometry has potential applications in educational settings and has been open-sourced to encourage widespread use and development.

Key Takeaways:

• AlphaGeometry by DeepMind solves high-school level geometry, marking a major AI milestone.
• The system overcomes a common AI challenge of multi-step reasoning and planning.
• Google open-sources AlphaGeometry, paving the way for broader AI educational applications.

(Source: BNN Bloomberg)

New York Times vs. Tech: A Legal Showdown Over AI and Copyright

The New York Times has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft, alleging copyright infringement due to the use of the Times' articles to train their large language models, which power ChatGPT and Copilot. The lawsuit claims that these AI models can produce content that either directly replicates or closely summarizes the Times' articles, impacting the publication's relationship with its readers and financial streams such as subscriptions and advertising. The complaint further asserts that these AI technologies endanger high-quality journalism by undermining news outlets' ability to protect and monetize their content. The Times argues that while the use of its content has been financially beneficial for Microsoft and OpenAI, its attempts to negotiate fair compensation have been unsuccessful. OpenAI has expressed surprise at the lawsuit, noting ongoing discussions with the Times, while Microsoft has not yet responded to the allegations. In addition to seeking damages, the Times is requesting the court to prevent the use of its content in training AI models and to remove its content from existing datasets.

Key Takeaways:

• The New York Times accuses OpenAI and Microsoft of copyright infringement for using its content in training AI models like ChatGPT and Copilot.
• The lawsuit highlights concerns about AI's impact on journalism and the financial implications for news outlets.
• The Times seeks compensation, removal of its content from AI datasets, and a halt to its future use in AI model training.

(Source: The Verge)

Galaxy S24 Series: Samsung's Bid in the AI Smartphone Race

Samsung's Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus have debuted with a focus on AI, incorporating features like search, translation, and message composition enhancements, processed mainly by Samsung's Gauss generative AI model. Despite sporting familiar designs, these models offer improvements in note organization, real-time language translation, and enhanced photo editing, powered by AI. However, some features seem derivative of existing technologies, and there's skepticism about Samsung's commitment to AI as a sustainable innovation rather than a fleeting trend. The hardware updates include a better camera system and slightly larger batteries, while retaining a design reminiscent of previous models.

Key Takeaways:

• Samsung introduces AI-focused features in Galaxy S24 series, emphasizing generative AI capabilities.
• The Galaxy S24's design remains largely unchanged, raising questions about Samsung's innovation focus.
• Skepticism exists over whether Samsung's AI integration is a true advancement or just a trend-following move.

(Source: Engadget)

Tesla Charging Woes in Chicago's Deep Freeze

In Chicago, numerous Tesla vehicles were unable to charge at Supercharger stations during an extreme cold wave, with temperatures dropping to 2F (-19C) and feeling like -20F (-29C) with wind chill. This situation led to several Teslas being towed to local service centers due to their inability to start charging. While cold weather commonly impacts both electric and gas-powered vehicles, this incident highlights a rare case where electric vehicles, specifically Teslas, couldn't charge at all. The issue underscores the challenges that extreme weather can pose for electric vehicle infrastructure and functionality. 

Key Takeaways:

• Extreme cold in Chicago led to Tesla vehicles being unable to charge at Supercharger stations.
• The severe weather resulted in several Teslas needing to be towed for service.
• This incident highlights the impact of extreme temperatures on electric vehicle charging capabilities.

(Source: Electrek)

Meta's AI Pivot: Integrating Teams, Scaling Up GPU Resources

Meta is intensifying its AI initiatives by integrating its AI research and generative AI teams and significantly expanding its GPU infrastructure, with plans to acquire around 600,000 GPUs, including 350,000 from Nvidia, by the end of the year. This move positions Meta among the leaders in technology infrastructure, surpassing Amazon and Oracle's GPU counts. Alongside this expansion, Meta has launched several AI-driven products, such as the Llama language model, AI-enabled ad tools, and a chatbot for Ray-Ban smart glasses. These efforts align with CEO Mark Zuckerberg's focus on enhancing AI capabilities to support Meta's transition towards an AR/VR-centric metaverse.

Key Takeaways:

• Meta is merging its AI research and generative AI teams to bolster its AI product development.
• The company plans to amass a vast GPU arsenal, aiming for around 600,000 units, to support its AI ambitions.
• These developments tie into Meta's strategic shift towards an AR/VR-driven metaverse, as envisioned by Zuckerberg.

(Source: Reuters)

Author: Malik Datardina, CPA, CA, CISA. Malik works at Auvenir as a GRC Strategist that is working to transform the engagement experience for accounting firms and their clients. The opinions expressed here do not necessarily represent UWCISA, UW, Auvenir (or its affiliates), CPA Canada or anyone else. This post was written with the assistance of an AI language model. The model provided suggestions and completions to help me write, but the final content and opinions are my own.

Five Top Tech Takeaways: AI's 24 Billion Benchmark, OpenAI Revenue Prediction, Google's DuetAI, AI Makes Music and Microsoft's Mobile AI

AI Industry's Explosive Growth: A 24 Billion Visit Phenomenon

The AI industry has experienced remarkable growth, as evidenced by an analysis of the 50 most visited AI tools, which collectively garnered over 24 billion visits from September 2022 to August 2023. ChatGPT dominated this landscape, accounting for 14 billion of these visits, representing 60% of the total traffic. The study, utilizing data from SEMrush, revealed a monthly average growth of 236.3 million visits across these tools, highlighting the rapid expansion and interest in AI technologies. The analysis also showed a significant shift towards mobile usage, with over 63% of users accessing AI tools via mobile devices. However, there was a notable gender disparity among users, with 69.5% being male. The United States led in AI tool usage, contributing 5.5 billion visits, while European countries collectively accounted for 3.9 billion visits. The study underscores the increasing global reliance on AI tools for various applications, from chatbots to image generation.

Key Takeaways:

• The top 50 AI tools saw a staggering 24 billion visits in a year, with ChatGPT leading the pack.
• Mobile devices are the primary means of accessing AI tools, indicating a shift in user behavior.
• The United States is the leading contributor to AI tool traffic, followed by European countries.

(Source: WriterBuddy)

OpenAI's Projected Revenue Growth: Aiming for $5 Billion in 2024

OpenAI has achieved a significant milestone in its financial growth, with its annualized revenue surpassing $1.6 billion. This remarkable increase comes just two months after the company reported reaching $1.3 billion. The surge in revenue began following the launch of ChatGPT Plus, a paid version of its ChatGPT service, in February 2023. Prior to this, OpenAI's primary revenue source was through providing its AI models to developers via an application programming interface. Despite a loss of $540 million in 2022 on a revenue of $28 million, the company's sales have seen a dramatic increase. OpenAI's optimistic projections suggest that its annualized recurring revenue could reach $5 billion by the end of the year, indicating plans for launching new AI services and creating additional revenue streams. The company is also working on a new flagship large language model, GPT-5, which is expected to be more advanced than GPT-4.

Key Takeaways:

• OpenAI's annualized revenue has significantly increased to $1.6 billion, driven by the success of its ChatGPT Plus service.
• The company anticipates its annualized recurring revenue to potentially quadruple to $5 billion by the end of the year.
• OpenAI is developing GPT-5, a new and more advanced large language model, as part of its expansion and innovation in AI services.

(Source: SiliconANGLE)

From Android to iOS: Microsoft's Copilot App Widens Its Horizon

Microsoft has launched its Copilot app for iOS and iPadOS, following its recent introduction on Android. This app provides users with access to Microsoft Copilot (formerly Bing Chat), offering functionalities similar to OpenAI's ChatGPT mobile app. Users can ask questions, draft emails, summarize text, and even create images through an integration with the text-to-image generator DALL-E3. A notable feature of Copilot is that it allows access to GPT-4, the latest large language model from OpenAI, without requiring a subscription. This move signifies Microsoft's shift towards providing a standalone experience akin to ChatGPT, with the company also establishing a separate web experience for Copilot, distinct from Bing.

Key Takeaways:

• Microsoft's Copilot app is now available on iOS and iPadOS, expanding its reach to a wider user base.
• The app offers various AI-driven functionalities, including text summarization, email drafting, and image creation with DALL-E3 integration.
• Copilot provides free access to GPT-4, indicating Microsoft's commitment to offering advanced AI capabilities to its users.

(Source: The Verge)

Navigating the Capabilities of Duet AI in Google Workspace

Google's new AI workplace assistant, Duet AI, is designed to enhance productivity in professional environments. Integrated into Google Workspace, Duet AI offers functionalities such as summarizing documents, drafting reports, and replying to emails. While testing the demo version, it was observed that Duet AI could efficiently handle tasks like summarizing shorter documents and drafting emails for various scenarios. However, the tool demonstrated limitations, including generating inaccurate summaries with fabricated facts and quotes. This "hallucination" issue, common in AI systems, suggests that while Duet AI can be a helpful assistant for routine tasks, it may not be entirely reliable for critical or nuanced work.

Key Takeaways:

• Duet AI efficiently performs tasks like summarizing documents and drafting emails, enhancing workplace productivity.
• The tool occasionally generates inaccurate or fabricated information, a phenomenon known as "hallucination" in AI systems.
• Despite its potential, Duet AI should be used cautiously for important tasks due to its current limitations in accuracy.

Malik's note: Google Bard is still not available in Canada. 

(Source: Business Insider)

 

Microsoft Copilot and Suno: Revolutionizing Music Generation

Microsoft's Copilot AI, an extension of ChatGPT, has recently integrated with Suno, an AI company specializing in music generation. This collaboration allows users, regardless of their musical background, to create personalized songs using simple prompts. The process involves typing commands into Copilot, which then generates complete songs, including lyrics, instrumentals, and singing voices. While this tool is a boon for professionals to experiment with ideas and content creators on platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok, it's important to note that Suno retains commercial rights to the music produced. Therefore, these AI-generated songs cannot be used for profit-making purposes unless users subscribe to Suno's premium tier, which offers control over commercial rights.

Key Takeaways:

• Microsoft Copilot now enables users to create music effortlessly through its integration with Suno.
• The tool is accessible to anyone, regardless of musical training, and can generate complete songs from simple prompts.
• While the music created is free to use for non-commercial purposes, Suno retains the commercial rights, limiting the ability to profit from these creations without a premium subscription.

(Source: BGR)

Author: Malik Datardina, CPA, CA, CISA. Malik works at Auvenir as a GRC Strategist that is working to transform the engagement experience for accounting firms and their clients. The opinions expressed here do not necessarily represent UWCISA, UW, Auvenir (or its affiliates), CPA Canada or anyone else. This post was written with the assistance of an AI language model. The model provided suggestions and completions to help me write, but the final content and opinions are my own.

Five Top Tech Takeaways: Google's $18B Anti-Trust Woes, Hidden AI Workers, AI Beats Going to Uni, AI Executive Order and Can AI Pass Accounting?

AI's CPA Exam Woes

The Hidden Workforce Behind AI's Training.

The booming artificial intelligence (AI) industry heavily relies on a vast, often overlooked workforce that labels data. Major companies, including tech giants such as Amazon and Facebook, outsource this data labeling to crowdsourced workers in regions with low labor costs. The global data collection and labeling market, which stood at $2.22 billion in 2022, is projected to escalate to $17.1 billion by 2030. However, beneath this growth lies a stark reality: many workers face long hours, unpredictable incomes, and minimal pay for their tasks. This exploitative trend is pervasive across developing nations, prompting concerns and discussions about ethical practices in the AI training landscape.

Key Takeaways:

• Major tech companies are heavily reliant on gig workers in economically challenged regions to train their AI models.
• The global data collection and labeling industry is rapidly growing, with a projected worth of $17.1 billion by 2030.
• Workers face uncertain incomes and long hours, leading some to label it as "digital slavery."

Source: WIRED

The New Gold Rush: Young Minds Ditch College for AI Ventures.

A growing number of teenagers and young adults are leaving their college education behind to capitalize on the surging AI industry. They are lured by the promising investment wave in AI, as evidenced by more than 25% of American startup investments going to AI firms this year. The emergence of technologies like ChatGPT and the increasing value of the generative-AI applications market have emboldened many young founders to leave their studies and focus on their AI ventures.

Key Takeaways:

• A surge in AI investments has led to a trend of students dropping out of college to focus on AI startups.
• Generative AI technologies, such as ChatGPT, have revolutionized the startup landscape, enabling entrepreneurs to create solutions without needing large teams.
• While some young founders achieve success, there's an understanding that not every venture will thrive, but returning to college remains an option for many.

(Source: The Wall Street Journal)

Experts evaluate if AI can pass as an accounting professional exam

A panel of accounting experts convened to evaluate the responses of the AI system BARD to questions in fields like auditing, tax, and forensic accounting. They wanted to test the claim that AI could become an expert in these areas. The panel used Bloom's Taxonomy, a framework for learning objectives, to assess if BARD could demonstrate higher-order thinking skills. Some panelists assigned the AI a letter grade. 

Key Takeaways:

• BARD provided factually incorrect answers and only demonstrated basic recall of information for internal auditing questions.
• For tax topics, BARD gave thorough responses but could not replace a CPA's expertise and experience.
• BARD struggled with comprehension of forensic accounting and GAAS standards, often oversimplifying complex professional guidelines.

(Source: CPA Journal)

Does Google Spend $18 Billion to Keep Safari in Check?

 

A significant development in the US v. Google trial highlights the multibillion-dollar deals between tech giants Google and Apple. Based on a recent report from The New York Times, Google pays a hefty sum, approximately $18 billion, annually to Apple to remain the default search engine for Safari across Apple devices such as Macs, iPads, and iPhones.

Three Major Takeaways:

• Google's payment to Apple not only secures its primary position on Apple devices but also historically discouraged Apple from creating its own search engine. Notably, Apple has explored avenues like acquiring Bing or crafting a unique search engine, but hesitations arise from potentially antagonizing Google and losing the lucrative deal.
• Microsoft's CEO, Satya Nadella, implied that Apple maintains its alliance with Google as it could face challenges if Google decided to leverage its widely-used applications, like Gmail and Maps, to push users toward Chrome and away from Safari.
• The US v. Google trial has spotlighted the implications of Apple's agreement with Google, arguing that it promotes an anticompetitive monopoly. The idea is that any search engine partnered with Apple's vast market share would instantly gain significant influence.

(Source: The Verge)

White House Releases AI Executive Order

The White House has unveiled an extensive executive order on artificial intelligence (AI). This directive encompasses nearly all federal agencies, aiming to regulate and guide the growth of AI to safeguard the public, economy, and national security. Given the limited power of President Biden's executive branch and the unlikelihood of Congress producing new AI-related laws soon, this order is set to be the most assertive piece of U.S. regulation on this rapidly expanding industry for the foreseeable future.

Key Takeaways:

• The executive order mandates developers of high-end AI systems to disclose their safety test outcomes to the U.S. government. It also establishes rigorous standards for testing to ensure AI product safety before public release.
• To combat AI-driven deep fakes and misinformation, the Department of Commerce will create guidelines for content authentication and watermarking. This will help label AI-generated content clearly.
• Addressing concerns about AI potentially displacing millions of jobs, the order instructs the administration to draft a report on AI's potential labor market effects. It will also explore ways to bolster federal support for workers impacted by AI-induced labor disruptions.

(Source: CNBC Television)

Author: Malik Datardina, CPA, CA, CISA. Malik works at Auvenir as a GRC Strategist who is working to transform the engagement experience for accounting firms and their clients. The opinions expressed here do not necessarily represent UWCISA, UW, Auvenir (or its affiliates), CPA Canada or anyone else. This post was written with the assistance of an AI language model. The model provided suggestions and completions to help me write, but the final content and opinions are my own.

Five Top Tech Takeaways: Lawyer/GenAI Trouble (Again), FTX Insider on the Stand, Coffee Badging Explored, Adobe Strikes Back, and Quantum Computing in Canada

Robot Lawyer Getting Grilled

Generative AI on the Stand (Again): Legal Outcomes Questioned in High-Profile Case

Prakazrel “Pras” Michel, a member of the Fugees, has challenged his conviction, citing his defense's reliance on generative AI for closing arguments as a critical failure. This unprecedented use of AI, touted as a game-changer for complex litigation, backfired, with attorney David Kenner allegedly confusing case details and misquoting lyrics. While the tool's developer, EyeLevel.AI, defends its application, emphasizing its role in enhancing legal procedures rather than replacing human input, critics argue the technology's infancy and propensity for generating “hallucinations” or misleading information. The situation underscores the legal industry's rapid and potentially precarious engagement with AI, as experts warn of the need for meticulous review standards. As law firms increasingly adopt AI, this case serves as a cautionary tale, highlighting the technology's potential and pitfalls in critical legal scenarios. (Source: Yahoo Finance)

The incident serves as a good example of "abdication" when using generative AI. Professionals should instead focus on use cases that look at amplifying one's effort instead. For more, check out my post on Medium, which also includes links to previous mishaps involving lawyers, fake cases, and ChatGPT. 

From AI to Quantum: Canadian Tech Takes a Giant Leap

Bromont, Quebec, hosts one of the world's few quantum computers, specifically the IBM Quantum System One, marking a monumental stride in both scientific and commercial sectors. This exclusive installation, the only one in Canada, underscores the location's rich talent pool and expertise, particularly in artificial intelligence and quantum computing convergence. The groundbreaking technology promises to revolutionize computations, tackling more complex, multi-variable calculations unreachable by current standards, primarily benefiting logistics, sustainable development, and potentially the financial sector. While still in the exploratory phase with certain operational challenges, quantum computing is poised for substantial evolution, anticipating growth from its current 127 qubits to over a thousand, significantly minimizing error rates and enhancing computational longevity and complexity. This advancement not only cements Canada's position on the global tech stage but also beckons foreign enterprises, asserting its status as an emerging, influential hub in technology and innovation. (Source: CTV News)

FTX Unraveled: Singh’s Testimony Highlights Billion-Dollar Discrepancies

In a recent development that has rocked the financial and tech sectors, Nishad Singh, a former executive and close associate of Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF), founder of FTX, has made serious allegations in court, suggesting high-level financial misconduct within the company. Detailing his interactions with Bankman-Fried, Singh's testimony provides an insider's view of a series of alleged fraudulent activities and fiscal mismanagement that led to significant financial discrepancies within the firm.

Specific allegations by Singh include:

• Misappropriation of FTX customer funds by Alameda, another company under Bankman-Fried.
• A staggering $13 billion debt from Alameda to FTX, with an inability to repay $8 billion of this amount.
• Alameda was operating with insufficient collateral, often falling short by as much as $10 billion.
• Unchecked excessive spending by Bankman-Fried, including lavish investments and endorsement deals totaling over $1 billion.
• Investments into ventures perceived as non-beneficial and toxic to FTX and Alameda's culture.
• Manipulation of financial data, such as creating back-dated transactions to falsify FTX's revenue figures.
• Use of a code feature, “allow_negative,” for inappropriate internal transactions.
• Singh's involvement in shady transactions at Bankman-Fried's behest, including transfers to obscure accounts and back-dating token transfers to deceive regulatory bodies.
• Political donations made from Singh's accounts without his direct consent, highlighting a lack of financial control among company executives.
• Emotional and mental duress leading to suicidal ideation for Singh during the company’s collapse.
• Singh’s candid courtroom revelations depict a scenario of betrayal, intimidation, and a flagrant abuse of power and trust within the upper echelons of FTX, raising grave concerns about corporate governance in rapidly growing tech companies.

 As noted in The Verge's original piece, Singh was one of many to turn on SBF: "On November 20th, 2022, Singh had his first meeting with prosecutors. Of the inner circle, Wang cooperated first. Singh was second. Ellison was third." Source: The Verge)

"Coffee Badging": A Clever Hack or a Career Hazard?

"Coffee badging" is a term that has gained traction in the corporate world, referring to the practice of employees briefly appearing at the office, only to leave shortly after. As companies increasingly require employees to return to the office, some workers, rather than defying these mandates, have chosen to abide by them in the most minimal way possible. They may appear on days when few colleagues are around, leave early, or barely show up at all. This is akin to students signing attendance sheets and then skipping lectures. While it may seem like a clever hack to the return-to-office system, there are potential pitfalls. Keith Styrcula, CEO of Glasstower Digital, notes that face-to-face time and office politics can be as crucial as merit in the corporate world. A recent survey by KPMG revealed that nearly two-thirds of U.S. CEOs expect employees to work full-time in offices within three years, and 90% would reward those who frequent the office with favorable assignments and promotions.

Key Takeaways:

• "Coffee badging" refers to the act of briefly showing up at the office and leaving soon after.
• While it may seem advantageous in the short term, long-term consequences could include missed opportunities and promotions.
• A KPMG survey found "almost two-thirds said they envision employees working in offices full-time three years from now, and 90% said they’ll reward office goers with favorable assignments, raises and promotions. ".

Source: The Wall Street Journal

AI-Powered Video Editing: Adobe Strikes Back

Adobe recently showcased its innovative generative fill feature named "Project Fast Fill" at the MAX conference. This feature, powered by artificial intelligence, can effortlessly add or remove objects in videos. It offers capabilities like changing clothing accessories on moving people or erasing tourists from video landscapes. This new feature operates similarly to Google’s Magic Editor but is designed for videos instead of still images. With the advancement of Adobe’s updated Firefly AI models, Project Fast Fill can also modify colors in still photos by merely inputting a text prompt. Although currently experimental, past trends indicate that such features eventually become available to Creative Cloud users.

Key Takeaways:

• Adobe's "Project Fast Fill" allows users to add or remove objects in videos using AI.
• Adobe is striking back at its competition: the feature works similarly to Google's Magic Editor but is designed for video content.
• Adobe is expanding its AI editing technology to other areas like video, audio, and 3D design, introducing features like voice translation and 3D object posing

(Source: The Verge)

Author: Malik Datardina, CPA, CA, CISA. Malik works at Auvenir as a GRC Strategist who is working to transform the engagement experience for accounting firms and their clients. The opinions expressed here do not necessarily represent UWCISA, UW, Auvenir (or its affiliates), CPA Canada or anyone else. This post was written with the assistance of an AI language model. The model provided suggestions and completions to help me write, but the final content and opinions are my own.

Five Top Tech Takeaways: Writer's Get Concessions on AI, FTX's Auditor Sued by the SEC, Windows 11 goes AI, and Dalhousie's Battery Discovery

The Pen Is Mightier than the Robot

The Pen is Mightier Than the Robot? Writers Draw the Line with AI

Hollywood writers, after one of the longest labor strikes in history, have secured a significant victory over the implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) in the film and television industry. The Writers Guild of America (WGA) managed to strike a deal with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, establishing strict guidelines on how AI can be used in the industry. The contract doesn't ban AI but imposes limitations to ensure that the technology remains under the control of the workers and doesn’t replace them.

The deal prohibits studios from using AI to write or edit scripts and from treating AI-generated content as "source material" that could be assigned to screenwriters for adaptation at lower fees and lesser credit. The contract allows AI to be used as a tool but ensures it doesn’t undermine writers' roles or reduce their wages. It maintains that AI is complementary to humans and should be under the control of the writers, not the studios. If writers adapt output from AI models, it will still be considered an original screenplay. Studios are also required to disclose any use of AI in providing material to the writers. While writers can choose to use AI as a research tool, they cannot be forced to use it. (Source: Guardian)

FTX Auditor Under Fire: SEC Sues Prager Metis for Independence Violations

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has initiated a lawsuit against accounting firm Prager Metis for purported violations pertaining to auditor independence, citing the incorporation of indemnification provisions in engagement letters during December 2017 to October 2020. Prager Metis is contending the allegations, asserting that the contested provisions never influenced the quality of their audits nor were enforced. The firm was associated as an auditor for the FTX Group; however, the SEC clarifies that the accusations are not related to any FTX matters. The SEC aims to secure an injunction and penalties against Prager Metis, with the investigation currently in progress. (Source: Reuters)

Blockchain Meets AI-enabled Entertainment: A New Era of Content Creation with Story Protocol

Story Protocol, developed by entrepreneur Seung Yoon Lee, is a groundbreaking blockchain-based platform aspiring to reconfigure the $2.3 trillion entertainment and media industry. The integration of artificial intelligence in content creation acts as a catalyst for this initiative, allowing exponential growth in fan-generated content and posing challenges to traditional copyright frameworks, thereby making a system like Story Protocol essential. The platform allows creators to manage, collaborate, and set terms of licensing and remuneration through Ethereum-based smart contracts, optimizing interactions and transactions between creators and fans, and enabling fans to influence and monetize their contributions. With substantial backing, including a $54 million investment led by Andreessen Horowitz, Story Protocol heralds a shift in intellectual property management and content production in an era dominated by AI innovations and fan-driven content. (Source: Forbes)

A Leap in Battery Efficiency: Dalhousie University's Tape Discovery.

Researchers at Dalhousie University have discovered a new way to extend the battery life of most laptops and cellphones by identifying a power-drainage flaw. The standard lithium-ion batteries use polyethylene terephthalate (PET) tape to hold its components together, which can dissolve due to a chemical reaction in the battery, causing charge depletion without sending out an electrical current—a phenomenon called self-discharge. The researchers have found that replacing PET tape with chemically stable polypropylene (PP) tape can decrease self-discharge by up to 70% and increase battery life by up to 10%. Polypropylene tape, having stronger chemical bonds, is more stable and costs about the same as PET tape, offering a simple and cost-effective solution for manufacturers. (Source: CBC)

Windows 11 Update: Microsoft Goes Big on AI
Microsoft’s latest update to Windows 11 brings a suite of AI-powered enhancements and features aimed at creating a more intuitive and versatile user experience. Here's a condensed overview:

• Windows Copilot: Acts as an AI-powered digital assistant, integrating many parts of Windows, controlling settings, launching apps, and answering queries.
• AI-Enhanced Paint: Equipped with Photoshop-like features, it supports transparency, layers, and an AI image generator called “Paint Cocreator,” which creates images based on text prompts and selected styles.
• Upgraded Snipping Tool: AI allows for text extraction and redaction from images and sharing in other apps, with automatic redaction for sensitive information.
• AI-Powered Photos App: Offers a background blur option that auto-identifies the background, enabling customization of blur intensity and areas to be blurred.
• Improved Windows Backup App: Facilitates seamless migration to new devices by backing up existing settings to the cloud
• Windows 365 Integration: Incorporates Windows 365 Cloud PCs, enabling direct boot and switch between local desktop and Cloud PC within Windows 11.
• Dev Home for Developers: Offers an efficient setup for Windows dev machines, utilizing Windows Package Manager to install necessary tools and apps and configuring coding environments in the cloud.

These features are rolling out progressively, with availability to all users anticipated in the coming months, and further advancements are expected in the Windows 11 2023 update. (Source: TheVerge)

Author: Malik Datardina, CPA, CA, CISA. Malik works at Auvenir as a GRC Strategist who is working to transform the engagement experience for accounting firms and their clients. The opinions expressed here do not necessarily represent UWCISA, UW, Auvenir (or its affiliates), CPA Canada or anyone else. This post was written with the assistance of an AI language model. The model provided suggestions and completions to help me write, but the final content and opinions are my own

Five Top Tech Takeaways: MBAs vs AI, Bitfinex Hacker Comes Clean, and Big Open AI and Google Bard Updates

Strategy.ai 

EY Unveils Fruits of $1.4 Billion Artificial Intelligence Investment: 

Consulting firm EY has invested $1.4 billion in artificial intelligence and developed its own large language model, EY.ai EYQ, marking the latest in a series of substantial AI investments by professional services companies. EY plans to train its 400,000 employees on AI and will continue to refine its AI model, focusing on ensuring privacy and data security. This investment follows similar commitments from peers like KPMG, Accenture, PricewaterhouseCoopers, and Deloitte, reflecting a broader trend in the industry. The firm aims to alleviate uncertainties surrounding AI implementation and offer comprehensive solutions, addressing the growing demand for AI strategies among corporate technology leaders. The EY.ai platform embeds AI in new and existing products, providing a structured path for effective AI deployment at scale.

Tech Entrepreneur Admits to Being Hacker in $4.5 Billion Bitcoin Heist: 

Ilya Lichtenstein, a tech entrepreneur from New York, has confessed to orchestrating one of the largest crypto heists in history, involving the theft of bitcoins now valued at billions of dollars from crypto exchange Bitfinex in 2016. Lichtenstein and his wife, Heather Morgan, pleaded guilty to conspiring to launder the stolen digital currency and defrauding the U.S. The stolen bitcoins, initially worth about $71 million, have surged in value to $4.5 billion. Federal prosecutors have recovered over $4 billion of the stolen funds, and Lichtenstein is cooperating with the government to recover the remaining amount. Despite their criminal activities, the couple maintained a high profile, with Morgan even writing a column for Forbes and pursuing a career as a rapper under the name Razzlekhan. (Do note that her music is terrible and cringe-worthy.)  Lichtenstein faces up to 20 years in prison, while Morgan faces up to five years for each of her two charges. (Source: WSJ)

Generative AI Outshines Wharton MBAs in Idea Generation

A study conducted at the Wharton School compared the innovative idea generation of MBA students to ChatGPT, a large language model. The study found that ChatGPT could generate ideas more quickly and, on average, of higher quality than the students. When market tested, the average purchase probability of a human-generated idea was 40%, while it was 47% for untrained ChatGPT and 49% for trained ChatGPT. When considering only the top 10% of ideas, 35 out of 40 were created by ChatGPT. This suggests that generative AI models like ChatGPT can be a valuable source of innovative ideas, shifting the bottleneck in the innovation process to evaluating rather than generating ideas. The study advocates for a collaborative approach where AI serves as a co-pilot to human innovators, ensuring a thorough exploration of possible solutions. (Source: WSJ)

AI Foundation Models: UK Government's Initial Report 

The UK government has published an initial report on AI foundation models (FMs).  FMs are pivotal in transforming industries, offering enhanced products, services, and breakthroughs in various domains. The document emphasizes the importance of competition, adherence to consumer and competition laws, and considerations for safety, data protection, and intellectual property rights.  It emphasizes the need for responsible AI practices to ensure ethical use and mitigate potential risks. The report provides a framework for policymakers, researchers, and industry stakeholders to navigate the complex landscape of AI. It also advocates for a collaborative approach involving leading FM developers, innovators, government, and regulators, with an update on principles and adoption due in early 2024 (Source: UK Government, Engadget).

OpenAI's ChatGPT Updates:

OpenAI has introduced several new capabilities to ChatGPT. Users can now interact with ChatGPT through both text and voice, allowing for more dynamic conversations. Additionally, ChatGPT has gained the ability to perceive visual information, enhancing its utility.

OpenAI has also introduced DALL-E 3, a significant improvement from DALL-E 2. This new version can generate higher quality images from the same prompts, providing better visual representations. This feature is available through the ChatGPT Plus subscription, which costs $20 a month. Subscribers will have exclusive access to this advanced feature.

DALL-E 3 can also generate letters, a significant accomplishment for AI image generators. It has overcome previous limitations, now being able to accurately generate images of fingers and hands, which had been problematic. Furthermore, it excels in text-based prompting, putting it ahead of the competition, including models like Mid Journey. (OpenAI, OpenAI)

Google's Bard Updates:

Google's Bard has received a massive update, enhancing its chatbot capabilities.  The updates include integration with Google’s suite of tools like YouTube, Google Drive, and Google Flights, allowing users to ask Bard to plan trips with real flight options or summarize documents from Google Drive. Bard can now communicate in multiple languages and has new fact-checking capabilities, allowing users to verify the accuracy of its responses with a “double check” button, highlighting areas where Google Search results confirm or differ from the chatbot’s statements. This feature aims to counter AI “hallucinations,” where the AI makes confident but incorrect statements. Users can also link Gmail, Docs, and Google Drive to Bard for personalized assistance, with the assurance that their personal information will not be used for training Bard or for targeted advertising. The updates reflect Google's ongoing efforts to advance consumer-facing AI technologies and enhance user interaction with generative AI across its services.

Canadians should note that Google Bard is currently not available in Canada, and there is no indication of when it will be released in the country. (Source: Google, CNN, BNN)

 

Author: Malik Datardina, CPA, CA, CISA. Malik works at Auvenir as a GRC Strategist who is working to transform the engagement experience for accounting firms and their clients. The opinions expressed here do not necessarily represent UWCISA, UW, Auvenir (or its affiliates), CPA Canada or anyone else. This post was written with the assistance of an AI language model. The model provided suggestions and completions to help me write, but the final content and opinions are my own.