Author: The Horizon

Meta launches a standalone AI-powered image generator

Meta has launched Imagine with Meta, a standalone generative AI experience on the web that allows users to create high-resolution images from text prompts using natural language descriptions. The tool is free to use and generates four images per prompt, with invisible watermarks to be added for increased transparency and traceability. The move comes amid […]

Google announces the Cloud TPU v5p, its most powerful AI accelerator yet

Google has announced the launch of its new Cloud TPU v5p, an updated version of its Cloud TPU v5e, boasting faster chips and improved performance, especially in training large language models like GPT3-175B. The v5p features 2x improvement in FLOPS and 3x improvement in high-bandwidth memory compared to the v5e, making it significantly faster and […]

Apple joins AI fray with release of model framework

Apple, known for its conservative approach to AI, quietly released MLX, a machine learning framework, and MLX Data, a deep learning model library designed for Apple Silicon. These open-source tools are intended to make it easier for developers to build and run AI models efficiently on Apple’s devices.   The MLX framework was inspired by […]

AMD releases new chips to power faster AI training

AMD has announced new accelerators and processors, the Instinct MI300X accelerator and the Instinct M1300A accelerated processing unit (APU), aimed at running large language models (LLMs). These products offer better memory capacity and improved energy efficiency, positioning AMD as a significant contender in the AI chip market. AMD has partnered with Microsoft to provide MI300X […]

Liquid AI, a new MIT spinoff, wants to build an entirely new type of AI

Liquid AI, a startup co-founded by robotics expert Daniela Rus along with Ramin Hasani, Mathias Lechner, and Alexander Amini, has raised a substantial amount of $37.5 million in funding from various VCs and organizations. The startup is focused on developing general-purpose AI systems powered by liquid neural networks, which are characterized by a small, flexible […]

Google takes on OpenAI with release of Gemini model

In the fierce competition of AI technology, GPT-4 currently stands out as the most capable model, with its ability to handle large amounts of text and its relevance for enterprise needs. Despite this, Gemini, a new AI model developed by Google, presents a potential challenge to GPT-4’s dominance, particularly in the realm of AI startups […]

Google’s Gemini Turns Pixel 8 Pro Into a True AI Phone

Google is introducing new AI capabilities, including the Gemini AI model, for its Pixel 8 Pro phone. The AI features will run directly on the devices without needing an internet connection, providing functions like text summarization, smart replies, and enhanced spell check. The AI advancements are also said to be interoperable with other apps, and […]

Climate Groups to Biden: AI Will Worsen Climate Change Crisis

In an open letter to the White House, 17 prominent climate change and anti-disinformation groups expressed concerns about the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the environment. They called for an executive order mandating big tech companies to disclose the energy consumption of their AI technologies. The letter highlighted two main issues: the use of […]

Google DeepMind’s Demis Hassabis Says Gemini Is a New Breed of AI

Google has launched a new AI model called Gemini, which is integrated into the Bard chatbot. This AI model, as per Demis Hassabis, Google’s AI executive, represents a significant leap forward in the field of AI, as it is capable of processing information in various forms such as text, audio, images, and video. This multimodal […]

Mistral AI nears $2B valuation — less than 12 months after founding

Mistral AI, a French generative AI startup, is on the rise with a nearly $2B valuation less than a year after its founding. The company’s focus on building smaller language models for developers sets it apart from its competitors, targeting lower latency and costs. The recent funding round of about €450mn includes investments from Silicon […]

EnCharge raises $22.6M to commercialize its AI-accelerating chips

EnCharge AI, a startup, has raised $22.6 million in funding to commercialize its AI-accelerating chips. The company aims to provide broader access to AI for organizations by developing sustainable and cost-effective AI chips and solutions. EnCharge’s mission is to unlock AI’s full potential by enabling new AI use cases and form factors that run sustainably […]

Foretellix raises $85M to build and test scenarios for self-driving systems

Foretellix, a startup focusing on testing self-driving systems, has raised $85 million in funding for its platform. The platform aims to help train AI for autonomous vehicles to respond reliably to various scenarios. The round is led by Israeli VC 83North, with strategic backers from the automotive and chip industries. Foretellix’s customer list includes major […]

Companies using AI want human workers to ‘disappear’

In a witty, smart, and slightly lighthearted style, it seems that companies are increasingly aiming to eliminate the need for human workers by integrating advanced AI technologies. David Hsu, the CEO of Retool, discussed how AI is driving companies to seek full-on automation, with the goal of making human workers ‘disappear’ to achieve massive cost […]

Calm’s ‘It’s a Wonderful Sleep Story’ will star Jimmy Stewart’s AI-generated voice

Calm’s latest sleep story, ‘It’s a Wonderful Sleep Story,’ features an AI-generated voice of late actor Jimmy Stewart, known for his role in ‘It’s a Wonderful Life.’ The AI-generated voice was recreated by Respeecher, a Kyiv-based startup, with the consent of Stewart’s family and estate. The project has sparked discussions about the ethical and legal […]

Respell wants to help non-technical end users spin up AI-powered workflows

Startups are changing the game with AI automation, and Respell is leading the charge in helping non-technical users create AI-powered workflows. Founder Matthew Rastovac’s experience as a high school intern led him to develop a solution to automate mind-numbing tasks, and now his company is offering a platform that allows non-technical individuals to harness the […]

Kenya’s tech industry is fighting AI regulation plans

Kenya’s tech industry is in a battle against AI regulation, fearing stifled innovation and reduced investment. The proposed bill aims to regulate AI practitioners, impose license fees, and secure government funding for AI research. Critics argue that it could deter private investment, limit opportunities for young innovators, and tarnish Kenya’s ‘Silicon Savannah’ reputation. The debate […]

Microsoft Seeing AI app lands on Android to help blind and visually impaired users

Microsoft’s Seeing AI app, designed to assist blind and visually impaired users, is now available on Android. The app can identify and describe people, objects, text, and scenes, helping users navigate their surroundings. With features like text recognition, document scanning, barcode reading, scene description, people identification, and currency analysis, Seeing AI provides valuable assistance. The […]

Kyron Learning secures $14.6M to expand its conversational AI technology

Kyron Learning, an AI-based learning startup, has secured $14.6 million in Series A funding along with an $850,000 grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The funding will help further develop Kyron’s generative AI capabilities and expand its K-12 math curriculum. The platform allows students to interact with lessons using text or voice, with […]