The AI Citizen Weekly News (Through March 3, 2024)

Hello AI Citizens, 

This week in tech, Singapore bets on AI education for the over-40s, Nvidia's CEO questions the future of coding, and Apple ends its car project. In AI developments, OpenAI's Sora impresses, while its legal battle with The New York Times underscores copyright complexities. Google DeepMind's Genie and Figure's valuation highlight innovation in gaming and robotics, alongside Bitcoin's price surge and new cybersecurity concerns with AI worms, encapsulating a week of significant shifts and breakthroughs.

Singapore is Re-educating Over-40s to Thrive in the AI Era

Singapore commits to AI readiness, mandating skill development in critical thinking, creativity, and emotional intelligence for those above 40, aiming to harmonize older and younger workers in adapting to AI advancements within higher education institutions. Source

Nvidia CEO Says AI Will Replace Need to Learn Coding

Jensen Huang, Nvidia's CEO, proclaimed at the World Government Summit in Dubai that the era of traditional coding may be over, thanks to AI advancements. He suggested that as AI evolves, especially in natural language processing, the need for learning specific coding languages could diminish. Instead, Huang envisions a future where "everyone is a programmer," using their native language to interact with computers. This shift could redirect educational and professional focus towards sectors like farming, biology, and education, emphasizing the importance of upskilling to understand AI's application in various fields. Source

Apple Cancels Its Car Project After 10 Years

The journey of Apple's ambitious automotive project, known internally as 'Project Titan,' has reached its conclusion after a tumultuous decade filled with speculation, high-profile hires and departures, and strategic shifts. Despite extensive efforts, Apple has recently informed its employees that it will discontinue the car project. Elon Musk, Tesla's CEO, once highlighted the challenges in the automotive industry with a tweet stating, 'Prototypes are easy, volume production is hard, positive cash flow is excruciating.' This sentiment echoes the hurdles that not only newcomers like Apple face but also established players like Tesla, underscoring the monumental task of transitioning from concept to mass production. Source

Beyond Sora: The Astonishing Evolution of Video Creation with AI

The launch of OpenAI's Sora, a tool for creating realistic videos from text, marks a leap in AI capabilities, sparking both excitement and concern. Its potential for generating lifelike content effortlessly brings to the forefront pressing issues of disinformation and copyright infringement. Despite its promise for innovative applications in entertainment and beyond, the technology's susceptibility to misuse underscores the urgent need for ethical and legal frameworks in the rapidly evolving digital landscape. Source

OpenAI vs. NYT: A Legal Battle Over AI and Copyright Claims

OpenAI has accused The New York Times of manipulating its ChatGPT tool to generate a copyright lawsuit, alleging that The Times exploited a bug to produce similar content to its own in a deliberate attempt to claim copyright infringement. The Times counters, arguing their actions were to expose OpenAI's unauthorized use of its copyrighted material. This legal dispute underscores the tensions between emerging AI technologies and existing copyright laws, challenging the definitions and limits of fair use in the digital age. Source

How Did It Take 60 Years to Develop ChatGPT-Level Chatbots?

The evolution of chatbots from Eliza in the 1960s to today's advanced AI like ChatGPT reflects a long-standing quest to humanize computer interaction. This journey is rooted in the belief that more human-like communication with machines could transform their usability and accessibility. Despite early limitations, recent breakthroughs suggest we're nearing the potential for AI to serve not just as tools but as companions, challenging us to rethink the integration of technology into our daily lives. As these sophisticated chatbots begin to bridge the gap between human and machine conversation, they prompt a critical examination of the future we envision for our digital interactions. Source

DeepMind's Genie: Transforming Sketches and Texts into Playable Video Games

Following OpenAI's groundbreaking Sora, which converts text prompts into lifelike videos, Google DeepMind introduces a leap in game development technology with Genie. This innovative model crafts playable video games from mere descriptions, sketches, or photos, mirroring the mechanics and aesthetics of iconic 2D platformers such as Super Mario Bros. Source

Humanoid Robot Startup Figure Secured $675M in Funding from OpenAI, Nvidia, and Others, Reaching a Valuation of $2.6 Billion

Figure has put to rest the swirling rumors of its massive funding efforts by announcing a $675 million Series B financing round, catapulting the company to a $2.6 billion valuation. The backing comes from a stellar roster of investors, including tech giants and venture capitals such as Microsoft, OpenAI Startup Fund, Nvidia, Amazon Industrial Innovation Fund, Jeff Bezos via Bezos Expeditions, Parkway Venture Capital, Intel Capital, Align Ventures, and ARK Invest. This considerable investment underscores the market's confidence in Figure, a relatively nascent startup with an 80-person team, poised for rapid expansion following this financial infusion. Source

Bitcoin Nears Record High, Ignoring Past Turbulence

Bitcoin's value soared above $63,000, approaching its November 2021 peak, and is now tantalizingly close to its all-time high of $68,000. This resurgence revives memories of its last dramatic rise and fall, leaving many wary of the current rally's sustainability.  Source

Sanctuary's Phoenix Bot: A New Era in Fast, Autonomous Humanoid Robotics

Sanctuary's Phoenix, a humanoid robot featuring 'the world's best robot hands,' operates autonomously at speeds comparable to humans, outpacing the likes of Tesla and Figure's robots and signaling a significant advancement in robotic capabilities. Source

Emerging Threat: AI Worms Capable of Autonomous Spread and Cyberattacks

Researchers have developed what they describe as the first generative AI worms, capable of moving autonomously between systems to steal data or deploy malware, heralding a new type of cyberattack, according to Cornell Tech's Ben Nassi. Source

This Week's AI Tool Highlights

• Use BypassGPT for undetectable, original, and plagiarism-free content.

• Vowel, an upcoming app, delivers superior meeting summaries, searchable clips, and Zapier integration, eclipsing Google Meet/Zoom.

• Rewind AI, a Mac app, records your screen, allows you to query past activities, and seeks permission before recording, acting as your digital memory aid.

• Tome: An AI-powered tool for generating slide decks, embedding widgets, and incorporating video recording notes, designed for founders and creatives.

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About The AI Citizen Weekly - by World AI University (WAIU)

The AI Citizen Weekly News stands as the premier source for domain-specific AI tools, articles, trends, and news, meticulously curated for over 50,000 professionals spanning top companies and government organizations globally, including the Canadian Government, Apple, Microsoft, Nvidia, Facebook, Adidas, and many more. Regardless of your industry – whether it's medicine, law, education, finance, engineering, consultancy, or beyond – The AI Citizen is your essential gateway to staying informed and exploring the latest advancements in AI, emerging technologies, and the cutting-edge frontiers of Web 3.0. Join the ranks of informed professionals from leading sectors around the world who trust The AI Citizen Weekly for their updates on the transformative world of artificial intelligence.

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