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| 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. ".
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
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