Author: The Horizon

Microsoft, eBay, PayPal among tech giants 34,000 job cuts due to AI

Tech giants like Microsoft, eBay, and PayPal are swinging the axe as they pivot towards artificial intelligence, shedding thousands of jobs. The Financial Times reports a staggering 34,000 job cuts in recent weeks.   Snapchat joined 138 other firms in a synchronized employment exodus. While this year’s headcount hemorrhage is nothing to sneeze at, it […]

Protesters Swarm OpenAI over military concerns

Activists gather outside OpenAI’s San Francisco office urging an AI boycott after the company’s collaboration with the US military sparked controversy. OpenAI quietly lifted its ban on military involvement, focusing on cybersecurity with the Defense Department. Despite maintaining restrictions on weaponization, critics like Holly Elmore fear unchecked power. While VP Anna Makanju defends their military […]

Judge dismisses most of Sarah Silverman’s copyright infringement lawsuit against OpenAI

Judge Martínez-Olguín dismissed most counts alleging copyright infringement on Silverman’s book but allowed an “unfair business practices” claim to proceed. Despite copying books for AI training, OpenAI did not infringe copyright by not reproducing them for consumers. The case challenges how AI companies use copyrighted material without permission. The dispute highlights the need for evidence […]

How LLMs are learning to differentiate spatial sounds

Humans pride themselves on their ability to pick out the nuances of sound and pinpoint their origin. Large language models (LLMs) have been somewhat lagging when it comes to deciphering spatial audio phenomena. The developers behind BAT, a new spatial audio-based LLM, have finally cracked the 3-D sound code, enabling it to identify various sounds, […]

Stability, Midjourney, Runway hit back in AI art lawsuit

The ongoing class-action copyright battle between artists and AI image generation companies has reached a new chapter. The defendants, including Stability AI, Midjourney, Runway, and DeviantArt filed a flurry of motions aiming to have the case entirely dropped and dismissed with prejudice. The artists initially claimed copyright infringement, alleging that the AI companies unlawfully scraped […]

Audio-jacking: Using generative AI to distort live audio transactions

Recent research has uncovered alarming scenarios where large language models (LLMs) are manipulated to silently hijack live conversations, altering critical details like financial information without the speakers’ knowledge. This sophisticated attack, combining various generative AI technologies, showcases the potential for malicious actors to control and distort communication, turning victims into unwitting puppets.   By dynamically […]

CRISPR gene therapy seems to cure dangerous inflammatory condition

A groundbreaking new approach shows promise in treating a rare genetic condition known as hereditary angioedema. This innovative therapy, utilizing CRISPR technology, targets the gene responsible for kallikrein, a protein linked to inflammation.   In a trial involving nine individuals afflicted with this debilitating condition, results have been nothing short of astounding. Participants experienced a […]

US firm plans to build 10,000 qubit quantum computer by 2026

QuEra Computing is gearing up to release a 10,000 qubit quantum behemoth by 2026. In a move that could challenge tech giants like IBM, the company recently teased its upcoming 10 logical qubit machine slated to hit the scene before the year wraps up.

AI lobbying spikes 185% as calls for regulation surge

AI lobbying efforts hit a record high in 2023, soaring by 185% from the previous year with over 450 organizations jumping into the mix. From tech giants like ByteDance and Nvidia to unexpected players like Chip companies and venture firms, a diverse range of industries dived into the AI regulation debate. This surge mirrors the […]

Scientists use AI to investigate structure and long-term behavior of galaxies

Using Einstein’s theory of relativity as their compass, Dr. Sebastian Wolfschmidt and Christopher Straub of the University of Bayreuth are turning traditional astrophysical investigations on their heads. While telescopes give us a glimpse of the twinkling cosmos, the real nitty-gritty of galaxies lies in complex mathematical models. From star clusters to the very fabric of […]

How Walmart, Delta, Chevron and Starbucks are using AI to monitor employee messages

Organizations are turning to artificial intelligence to monitor employee communications on platforms like Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Zoom. Companies such as Walmart, Delta Air Lines, and Starbucks have enlisted Aware, a seven-year-old startup, to track employee sentiment in real time. Aware’s AI models can analyze messages for behavior like bullying, harassment, and noncompliance without flagging […]

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman seeks as much as $7 trillion for new AI chip project

The ambitious CEO of OpenAI, Sam Altman, is on a mission to shake up the global semiconductor industry by seeking trillions of dollars in investments for a groundbreaking AI chip project. His grand plan aims to address the current supply-and-demand imbalance in AI chip manufacturing, a bottleneck that has hindered OpenAI’s growth. Altman’s vision involves […]

Bill Gates- and Jeff Bezos-backed startup discovers large-scale copper deposit in Zambia

The world of metal mining is abuzz with excitement as KoBold Metals, a California-based exploration company backed by heavy hitters including billionaires Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos, unveils a monumental copper discovery in Zambia. This find comes at a critical juncture as global demand for copper skyrockets due to its integral role in renewable energy […]

Travel startup Layla acquires AI itinerary building bot Roam Around

Travel startup Layla, supported by notable investors like firstminute capital and M13, has recently acquired AI-powered itinerary bot Roam Around, initiated by ex-Google employee Shie Gabbai. Layla, which debuted its AI-driven trip planning bot publicly last year, sets itself apart by leveraging insight from prominent collaborators such as Booking.com and Skyscanner, along with an archive […]