Daily AI NEWS - July 27, 2024
AI, Tech Giants, Safeguards

OpenAI is launching a new search tool called SearchGPT, directly challenging Google's dominance. This prototype integrates AI to provide natural language summaries alongside traditional webpage links, potentially addressing the issue of AI-generated junk content in web searches.

The tool aims to offer fast and timely answers with clear sources and is currently available to a limited group of users and publishers. Those interested in accessing SearchGPT must join a waitlist, signaling a strategic move against Google's AI efforts like Gemini.

Apple has committed to a set of voluntary AI safeguards established by President Joe Biden's administration, joining other tech giants in a move to ensure responsible AI development (via Bloomberg).

FTC Chair Lina Khan endorsed open AI models, stating that they are more likely to promote competition in the industry. She emphasized the potential benefits of open-weight models for innovation and competition.

Sam Altman outlined four steps for a US-led "global coalition" to prevent China from dominating AI. He emphasized that the future of AI must be democratic to ensure positive societal impacts.

Huge AI investments are costing some workers their jobs as companies change their spending priorities. Billions of dollars have flowed into AI companies, but it's still unclear if returns on this investment will ever be able to match the hype.

Artificial intelligence software reduces productivity and harms the working environment, according to a study from the freelance platform, Upwork. AI hype train is still running at full tilt despite ambiguities around profitability.

SAG-AFTRA has announced a strike for performers under its Interactive Media Agreement, affecting around 2,600 video game voice actors and motion capture performers working with companies like Activision, Electronic Arts, and WB Games. This move comes after talks for a new contract with major game studios broke down.

Union members are pushing for A.I. protections, emphasizing the need for safeguards against artificial intelligence usage that could impact their roles and compensation. Hollywood's video game performers voted to initiate the strike, marking another significant labor action within the entertainment industry.

The strike, which began on Friday, underscores growing concerns among video game performers regarding the fair and ethical implementation of AI in their work. The SAG-AFTRA members are determined to secure stronger AI protections in the next Interactive Media Agreement.

Anthropic's ClaudeBot web crawler has aggressively hammered iFixit’s website, seemingly violating the repair company’s Terms of Use in the process.

iFixit CEO Kyle Wiens asked AI company Anthropic why it was clogging up their server bandwidth without permission. "Do you really need to hit our servers a million times in 24 hours?" Wiens wrote on X. "You're not only taking our content without pa…