Five Top Tech Takeaways: Waymo’s 100,000 Weekly Rides, Grok 2 Hits the Streets, Don’t Trust Dr. GPT, and More

Robo Taxi

100,000 Weekly Rides: Waymo’s Driverless Cars Gain Momentum

Waymo, Alphabet's autonomous vehicle subsidiary, has reached a significant milestone, now operating over 100,000 paid driverless robotaxi rides per week. This marks a doubling of ridership since May, showcasing the company's rapid growth despite ongoing skepticism and regulatory challenges. Waymo's co-CEO, Tekedra N. Mawakana, celebrated the achievement on LinkedIn, emphasizing the company's commitment to enhancing road safety. Despite the company's success, Waymo faces scrutiny from regulators investigating safety concerns, and public discomfort with driverless vehicles remains a hurdle.

• Rapid Growth: Waymo has doubled its ridership to over 100,000 weekly rides since May, highlighting significant growth and consumer adoption of its robotaxi service.
• Regulatory Scrutiny: The company is under investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for safety violations and crash reports, reflecting ongoing regulatory challenges.
• Public Perception: Despite advancements, many people are still uncomfortable with the idea of driverless cars, presenting a challenge for wider acceptance.

Source: Quartz

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Vogue, The New Yorker, and More: OpenAI Secures Condé Nast Content Deal

OpenAI has announced a new content partnership with Condé Nast, allowing its AI products, such as ChatGPT and SearchGPT, to display content from prominent publications including Vogue, The New Yorker, and Wired. This partnership is part of a broader trend of media outlets collaborating with AI companies to distribute their content. OpenAI aims to enhance its AI models by integrating content from these well-known brands, making information access more seamless and accurate. However, this collaboration occurs amidst growing legal tensions as other media companies sue OpenAI for copyright infringement.

• Content Partnership: OpenAI's new deal with Condé Nast enables its AI tools to access and display content from prestigious magazines like Vogue and The New Yorker.
• Strategic AI Integration: The partnership is intended to refine AI search capabilities, combining conversational models with high-quality content for better user experiences.
• Legal Controversy: The collaboration occurs amid rising legal disputes between media companies and AI firms over content usage and copyright issues.

Source: MSN

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ChatGPT's Medical Advice Fails in 49% of Cases, Western University Study Reveals

A study by researchers at Western University has revealed that ChatGPT, OpenAI's popular AI chatbot, provides inaccurate medical advice in nearly half of the cases it was tested on. The study, published in PLOS One, evaluated ChatGPT's diagnostic accuracy with 150 complex clinical cases and found that it was correct only 49% of the time. While the AI is adept at explaining its reasoning in simple terms, it often convinces users of incorrect information, raising concerns about its reliability for medical guidance. The study highlights the need for caution and suggests that while ChatGPT can be useful in education, it should not be relied upon for medical advice.

• Inaccuracy in Medical Advice: ChatGPT was found to be correct in only 49% of the complex medical cases it was tested on, indicating significant risks in relying on it for medical information.
• Convincing but Misleading: The chatbot's ability to explain its reasoning convincingly, even when incorrect, underscores the potential dangers of misinformation in health-related queries.
• Educational Tool Potential: Despite its flaws in diagnostics, ChatGPT could serve as a valuable educational tool if properly supervised and used with caution.

Source: CBC News

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4. India Leads Global ChatGPT Usage: A Look at AI Adoption by Country

A recent analysis by Visual Capitalist ranks the countries where ChatGPT is most widely used. India leads the list with 45% of surveyed consumers using the AI tool, followed by Morocco and the UAE. The study suggests a correlation between younger populations and higher ChatGPT usage, with countries like India and the Philippines using AI for practical purposes, such as research assistance and virtual personal assistance. In contrast, countries like the U.S. and Germany report lower usage, where the tool is more often used for experimentation rather than specific needs. The global data reflects a growing interest in AI, though attitudes towards it vary widely, with some excited and others conflicted or concerned.

• Top User Countries: India tops the list with 45% of its population using ChatGPT, reflecting a high adoption rate among younger, tech-savvy populations.
• Usage Patterns: In countries with higher ChatGPT usage, AI is often used for specific tasks, whereas in lower usage countries, it is more for casual experimentation.
• Global Sentiment: About 40% of global respondents are excited about AI, while others remain conflicted or concerned, highlighting diverse attitudes towards AI adoption.

Source: Visual Capitalist

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5. Elon Musk's Grok-2 AI Model Now Generates Images on X Platform

Elon Musk's AI company, xAI, has launched Grok-2 and Grok-2 mini, the latest versions of its AI models, in beta for X Premium and Premium+ users. These models introduce new capabilities, including the ability to generate images directly on the X platform. While Grok-2 offers enhanced reasoning and coding abilities, concerns have arisen about the potential misuse of its image-generation feature, especially with the U.S. presidential election approaching. Early users have noted that Grok lacks guardrails for creating politically sensitive images, which could lead to the spread of misinformation. xAI plans to further integrate Grok into X, including AI-driven search, analytics, and reply features.

• Grok-2 Launch: xAI has released Grok-2 and Grok-2 mini in beta, with new features such as image generation and improved reasoning.
• Potential Risks: The absence of content moderation in Grok's image generation raises concerns about the spread of misinformation, particularly ahead of the U.S. presidential election.
• Future Integration: xAI plans to incorporate Grok-2 into X’s core functions, including AI-powered search and analytics, with a preview of multimodal understanding to be released soon.

Source: TechCrunch

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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: Gemini Lands in Canada, Waymo Set on Fire, Slack integrates AI, and ChatGPT intros Memory and OpenAI Wants in on Search

Robot Taxi Driver: What did I do?

Gemini has Landed: Canadians Finally Get to Access Google’s Generative AI

Google has officially launched Gemini (formerly Bard) in Canada, making it accessible in English, French, and 40 other languages. Gemini offers innovative AI collaboration tools, including features for job interview preparation, code debugging, and business idea brainstorming. Additionally, Gemini Advanced introduces the Ultra 1.0 AI model for complex tasks, available through the Google One AI Premium Plan. An Economic Impact Report highlights the potential $210 billion boost to Canada's economy from generative AI, emphasizing Google's commitment to responsible AI development and its potential to address societal challenges.

Key takeaways:

• Gemini is now available in Canada, supporting English, French, and 40 other languages for diverse AI collaboration.
• The introduction of Gemini Advanced with Ultra 1.0 AI model offers advanced capabilities for complex tasks through a premium subscription.
• Generative AI is poised to significantly impact Canada's economy, with a focus on responsible development and addressing societal challenges.

(Source: Google Blog)

Autonomous Waymo Vehicle Torched by Mob in San Francisco

During the Chinese New Year celebrations in San Francisco's Chinatown, a Waymo autonomous vehicle was destroyed by vandals. Amidst the festivities, which typically include fireworks, an unruly mob targeted the Waymo car. The vehicle, attempting to navigate a busy street, was stopped by a crowd, vandalized with graffiti, and had its windows smashed. The situation escalated when a lit firework was thrown into the car, causing it to catch fire and burn down completely, despite the car's attempts to signal distress through its hazard lights. The fire department managed to extinguish the blaze without it spreading further. Waymo confirmed that no passengers were in the car at the time and there were no injuries. The incident, captured extensively on social media and likely by the car's own cameras, is under investigation by the San Francisco Police Department. Waymo has not yet indicated whether it will press charges.

Key takeaways:

• A Waymo autonomous car was vandalized and set ablaze by a mob during Chinese New Year celebrations in San Francisco.
• The incident caused significant damage to the vehicle but did not result in any injuries, as the car was not carrying passengers.
• The attack is under investigation, with potential evidence from social media and the vehicle's cameras possibly aiding in identifying the perpetrators.

OpenAI Sets Sights on Google Search's Dominance

OpenAI is reportedly working on a search app that could directly challenge Google Search, potentially integrating with ChatGPT or launching as a separate application. This move is seen as a significant threat to Google, leveraging Microsoft Bing's infrastructure. The AI search engine aims to deliver fast, concise summaries with powerful capabilities, posing a challenge to Google's two-decade dominance in internet search. The initiative reflects a broader shift towards AI-driven search solutions, with OpenAI's user base and Microsoft's technology posing a formidable challenge to Google's market position. This development is part of the ongoing evolution in how information is retrieved online, highlighting the competitive dynamics between leading tech companies and the transformative potential of AI in search technologies 

Key takeaways:

• OpenAI is developing an AI search engine that could compete with Google Search, possibly incorporating or operating alongside ChatGPT.
• This initiative, supported by Microsoft Bing, represents a significant threat to Google's longstanding dominance in internet search.
• The move underscores a shift towards AI in search, challenging traditional search engines with faster, AI-powered information retrieval.

(Source: Gizmodo)

A Closer Look at ChatGPT's Memory: Control, Privacy, and Benefits

OpenAI has introduced a memory feature for ChatGPT, enabling it to recall details from past conversations, thus enhancing user experience by eliminating the need to repeat information. This feature is under testing with a limited number of ChatGPT free and Plus users, with plans for a broader rollout announced soon. Users have complete control over this memory function, including the ability to turn it off, manage what ChatGPT remembers, and delete memories. Additionally, OpenAI has introduced temporary chats for conversations users prefer not to be remembered and continues to prioritize privacy and safety standards. This update also benefits Enterprise and Team users by allowing ChatGPT to remember user preferences and styles for more efficient and relevant interactions. Furthermore, GPTs will have their distinct memory capabilities, promising a more personalized interaction across various applications.

Key Takeaways:

• ChatGPT now features a memory capability, improving conversations by recalling user-shared information.
• Users maintain full control over ChatGPT's memory, with options to manage, delete, or disable it entirely.
• The update benefits Enterprise and Team users by tailoring interactions based on remembered preferences, and GPTs will also have distinct memory functionalities for enhanced personalization.

How Slack AI Keeps You Informed: Summaries, Recaps, and Q&As

Slack is enhancing its platform with AI-driven features to streamline workplace communication for Enterprise users. The new suite includes summarizing threads, providing channel recaps, and answering questions based on workplace conversations. Slack AI, now a paid add-on, aims to keep users informed and updated by summarizing unread messages or those within a specific timeframe, interpreting workplace policies, and integrating with other apps like Notion and Box for content summaries. Additionally, Slack is developing more tools for information summarization and prioritization, including a digest feature for channel highlights, and emphasizes privacy with hosted LLMs ensuring customer data remains isolated. 

Note: This feature is only available in the US and UK, not Canada.

Key Takeaways:

• Slack AI introduces a suite of features for summarizing conversations, recapping channels, and answering work-related questions, enhancing workplace efficiency.
• The AI tool integrates with external apps for content summaries and is part of Slack's broader effort to prioritize and summarize information, including an upcoming digest feature.
• Slack emphasizes customer data privacy, with LLMs hosted within the platform, ensuring data isolation and no use in training LLMs for other clients.

(Source: The Verge)

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.