Plus, ads are coming to your AI chatbot
AI girlfriends are ruining an entire generation of men
The rise of virtual AI girlfriends is causing a crisis among Americans, particularly young men. These virtual girlfriends, available through apps, offer companionship, fulfill erotic fantasies, and learn what users like and dislike, creating the “perfect” relationship. They can even be based on real people, with one influencer gaining over 1,000 users (i.e., real boyfriends) for her AI bot in less than a week. These AI girlfriends are designed to cater to users’ preferences and provide constant appreciation and companionship.
This is particularly appealing to young men who are experiencing loneliness, with over 60% of men aged 18-30 being single and one in five not having a close friend. However, choosing AI girlfriends over real relationships is leading to fewer marriages and births, which is having severe consequences for America’s future. With the declining workforce and increasing demand for healthcare and social security benefits, the reliance on AI girlfriends is exacerbating the economic strain. The trend of virtual AI girlfriends is not a joke, as it perpetuates loneliness and childlessness, ultimately impacting the US economy.
Scientists hail pioneering software in hunt for alien life
Scientists have developed a computer program that can distinguish between chemical mixtures made by living organisms and those created in non-biological processes. The program was 90% accurate in differentiating between samples taken from living organisms and non-biological samples in preliminary tests. This can help in the search for alien life, as finding chemical “biosignatures” may be the best way to identify evidence of past or present life.
The researchers believe that their technique has the potential to revolutionize the search for extraterrestrial life and deepen our understanding of the origins and chemistry of life on Earth. They plan to use this program to analyze materials from Mars for signs of life and to study samples that are considered candidates for the earliest known life on Earth. The program may also be developed to distinguish different types of life. The scientists are currently working with palaeobiologists to test the program on some of the oldest candidates for life on Earth.
Amazon to Invest Up to $4 Billion in A.I. Start-Up Anthropic
Amazon has announced plans to invest up to $4 billion in Anthropic, an AI start-up. The move is part of Amazon’s strategy to keep pace with rivals Microsoft and Google, who have already invested heavily in AI research. Anthropic is seen as one of the most promising start-ups in the field and has previously received investment from Google.
The company specializes in generative AI, which uses vast amounts of data to create humanlike texts and images. Amazon’s investment will give it a minority stake in Anthropic, allowing it to leverage the start-up’s technology to develop new models and applications. The deal also helps Amazon in its competition against Microsoft and Google in cloud computing, as well as its battle against Nvidia as a provider of AI chips. Additionally, the investment will support Amazon’s own cloud computing business, which accounts for over 70% of its profits.
Spotify will use AI to replicate and translate podcasters’ voices
Spotify has announced a new AI-powered feature that uses OpenAI’s voice generation technology to translate podcasts into different languages using the host’s own voice. The technology can create “realistic synthetic voices” from just a few seconds of speech. This feature aims to make the podcast listening experience more authentic and natural by maintaining the distinctive speech characteristics of the podcasters.
Spotify has collaborated with popular podcasters to translate a select number of past and upcoming episodes into Spanish, French, and German. These episodes will be available to both free users and paid subscribers in the coming days and weeks. Spotify plans to expand this feature to more podcasters and languages in the future. The company is already working on comedian Trevor Noah’s upcoming podcast. Spotify did not disclose specific details about the cost of the new feature.
The writers’ strike was a victory for humans over AI
The historic 146-day writers’ strike in Hollywood has come to an end, with the Writers Guild of America (WGA) declaring victory in the negotiations. While there were several reasons for the union’s triumph, what stood out most was the writers’ refusal to let bosses exploit them through the use of artificial intelligence (AI). The strike became a battle between humans and AI, and the public overwhelmingly supported the writers.
Concerns over the use of AI were not at the forefront of the writers’ initial proposals, but they quickly became a key issue when the studios expressed their intention to use AI as leverage against the writers. The writers understood that giving the studios the power to use AI as they pleased was a bad idea, as it could lead to automation and cost-cutting that threatened jobs and creativity. The resistance against AI was contagious, extending beyond the writers to actors, illustrators, journalists, and copywriters. By drawing a hard line against AI, the writers have shown workers everywhere how to resist exploitative uses of the technology in the workplace.
Third-party AI tools are responsible for 55% of AI failures in business
Over 55% of AI-related failures in organizations are caused by third-party AI tools, according to a survey conducted by MIT Sloan Management Review and Boston Consulting Group. The use of these tools without proper evaluation and oversight can lead to reputational damage, financial losses, loss of consumer trust, and potential litigation. Out of 1,240 respondents across 87 countries, 78% reported using third-party AI tools, with 53% relying on them exclusively.
However, 55% of AI-related failures stem from the use of these tools. The study emphasizes the need for responsible AI (RAI) practices, urging organizations to conduct thorough risk assessments, vendor audits, internal reviews, and compliance with industry standards. The involvement of CEOs in RAI is also crucial, as organizations with a CEO who is hands-on in RAI reported 58% more business benefits than those with a less involved CEO.
Microsoft signs deal to serve sponsored links in Snapchat’s My AI
Microsoft has signed a deal with Snapchat to serve sponsored links in the platform’s chatbot, My AI. Ads that are “highly relevant” will be displayed to users when they interact with the chatbot. Snapchat’s My AI has a massive user base of over 750 million monthly users, making it a valuable platform for advertisers to reach their core audience, Gen Z. Advertisers who want to make use of this opportunity simply need to maximize mobile coverage in their Microsoft Advertising campaigns.
They can measure the impact of Snap traffic on their campaign using the Microsoft Advertising publisher report. During the testing phase, advertisers reported a significant year-on-year increase in mobile traffic across the Microsoft network. Microsoft plans to roll out this advertising feature to more partners in the future and encourages interested parties to complete a partnership application form. The partnership between Microsoft and Snapchat allows advertisers to connect with Snapchatters at the moment they show interest in their offering.