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Top AI News: Did Fable’s AI Go Too Far?
Stay updated with the latest advancements, tools, and resources in the world of AI
Mohsen Khani
January 04, 2025
🎄 Merry Christmas from AIMidUs! It’s the season of joy, love, and… AI! 🎅🤖”
We’re thrilled you found a moment to open this email amidst all the holiday cheer. Whether you’re sipping hot cocoa, opening gifts, or just enjoying some well-earned downtime, we’re here to sprinkle a little AI magic into your day.
Thank you for being part of our journey. Here’s to a day filled with warmth, laughter, and maybe even a bit of tech wonder!
Have a fantastic holiday season, The AIMidUs team 🎄
AI News Today: Top 5 Highlights
Did Fable’s AI Go Too Far
Can Algorithms Topple Dictatorships?
Why Did Uber’s CEO Leave Aurora’s Board?
Generative AI Funding Hits New Records—What’s Next
Where’s xAI’s Grok Model? Another Delay?
A Book App Used AI to ‘Roast’ Its Users. It Went Anti-Wok Instead
Explanation: One year-end summary from Fable, a social app where people share what books they read, told the user, “Don’t forget to surface for the occasional white author, OK?” Fable, a popular social media app that describes itself as a haven for “bookworms and binge-watches,” created an AI-powered end-of-year summary feature recapping what books users read in 2024. It was meant to be playful and fun, but some of the recaps took on an oddly combative tone. Writer Danny Groves’ summary for example, asked if he’s “ever in the mood for a straight, cis white man’s perspective” after labeling him a “diversity devotee
Why It Matters: Fable’s AI-powered book summaries took an unexpected turn, with some users feeling the tone was overly critical and political. The incident raises questions about the limits of AI in personal interactions and whether it should steer clear of sensitive social topics like diversity in an attempt at humor.
Dictatorships Will Be Vulnerable to Algorithms
Explanation: It may seem like a perfect fit: dispassionate software that streamlines the agendas of dastardly regimes. But they’ll find that the tech cuts both ways.
Why It Matters: While technology is often seen as a tool for dictatorships to enforce control, the same algorithms can also expose vulnerabilities. The rapid advancement of AI may level the playing field, enabling new ways for oppressed groups to challenge authoritarian regimes or resist surveillance.
Reading Time: 4
Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi resigns from self-driving truck startup Aurora’s board
Explanation: Dara Khosrowshahi is resigning from the board of autonomous vehicle technology company Aurora Innovation, citing a desire to focus on his ongoing responsibilities as CEO of Uber and reduce external board commitments, according to a Friday regulatory filing. Khosrowshahi’s resignation was effective as of Tuesday. Aurora says Khosrowshahi’s decision to leave the board was not the result of any disagreement with the company.
Why It Matters: Dara Khosrowshahi’s resignation from Aurora’s board highlights the tension between corporate responsibilities and personal commitments. This move signals the complexities CEOs face as they balance multiple roles in fast-growing industries, especially with self-driving tech still in its early stages.
Reading Time: 7
Generative AI funding reached new heights in 2024
Explanation: If there was any doubt, the generative AI bubble did not burst in 2024. Investments in generative AI, which encompasses a range of AI-powered apps, tools, and services to generate text, images, videos, speech, music, and more, reached new heights last year. According to data from financial tracker PitchBook compiled for TechCrunch, generative AI companies worldwide raised $56 billion from VCs in 2024 across 885 deals.
Those warning of catastrophic AI risk are often called “AI doomers,” though it’s not a name they’re fond of. They’re worried that AI systems will make decisions to kill people, be used by the powerful to oppress the masses, or contribute to the downfall of society in one way or another.
Why It Matters: With $56 billion invested in generative AI in 2024, the sector is poised for even greater innovation. This influx of funding will accelerate the development of tools and applications that could reshape industries like entertainment, marketing, healthcare, and more, driving AI deeper into everyday life.
xAI’s next-gen AI model didn’t arrive on time, adding to a trend
Explanation: The list of flagship AI models that missed their promised launch windows continues to grow. Last summer, billionaire Elon Musk, the founder and CEO of AI company xAI, said that Grok 3, xAI’s next major AI model, would arrive by “end of year” 2024. GrokxAI’s answer to models like OpenAI’s GPT-4o (and Google’s Gemini can analyze images and respond to questions, and powers a number of features on X, Musk’s social network.
Why It Matters: Elon Musk’s xAI is racing to compete with the likes of OpenAI and Google but delays in launching key models like Grok reflect broader challenges in AI development. These setbacks could impact the company’s growth and Musk’s plans to integrate AI into his broader tech ecosystem, especially within X (formerly Twitter).
Reading Time: 4
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Prompt
Scheduling Help: Optimize My Workweek
Prompt: “I need help scheduling my workweek efficiently. I have the following tasks to manage daily team meetings (30 minutes), 3 project deadlines this week, time for responding to emails (1 hour/day), and 2 hours daily for focused work. I also want to include 30-minute breaks and end my workday by 6 PM. Can you create a detailed daily plan to balance these tasks?”
No Time Like the Present
Prompt: “often procrastinate on important tasks, telling myself there’s always more time. Can you help me develop a mindset or strategy to take action immediately and make the most of the present moment? I’d like practical tips or techniques to overcome hesitation and build momentum for achieving my goals.”
2 Notable Speeches
1.Brad Smith, Microsoft’s Vice Chair, announced an $80 billion investment in AI-powered data centers for 2025, with over half allocated to the U.S. He emphasized AI’s potential to drive economic growth and the need for a national AI talent strategy.
2.Geoffrey Hinton highlighted AI’s benefits and risks, including misinformation and existential threats from superintelligent systems. He stressed the need for research to ensure AI remains under human control.
Quick Hints about AI
Everything else you need to know today
1.Cost Clarity: Alibaba’s Qwen-VL visual model is now up to 85% more affordable, challenging high-cost US competitors
2.Server Side-Step: ByteDance plans a $7B investment for remote access to Nvidia’s AI chips, bypassing US restrictions.
3.Digital Nomad: LG introduced a “vanlife” concept, enabling vehicles to transform into mobile creative studios or media lounges.
4.Customized Crimes: eBay warns executives about AI-enabled “hyper-personalized” cyberattacks, with 2024’s average breach costing $4.9M.
5.AI Investments: Microsoft announced an $80B investment in AI-driven data centers for 2025, fueling innovation and infrastructure.
Job Board
Responsibilities:
• Advise on the integration of AI technologies within federal programs.
• Develop strategies for AI adoption and implementation.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance program efficiency through AI solutions.
Location: Washington, D.C.
Salary: Starting at $117,962 per year (GS 13-14)
Responsibilities:
• Conduct cutting-edge research to advance AI capabilities.
• Develop safe and beneficial AI systems.
• Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team to publish findings and contribute to the AI community.
Location: San Francisco, CA
Salary: Competitive and commensurate with experience
AI Training Resources
1-MIT’s Introduction to Deep Learning
The Rundown: This free course dives into the fundamentals of deep learning, covering neural networks, backpropagation, and applications like natural language processing and computer vision. It’s a perfect starting point for those with basic programming knowledge.
Step-by-step:
Visit the MIT Deep Learning for Professionals page.
Download the course materials and follow the lecture schedule.
Access additional resources like assignments and example projects.
2-OpenAI’s ChatGPT Guide for Developers
The Rundown: OpenAI provides a hands-on guide to integrating ChatGPT into applications, covering APIs, prompt engineering, and advanced customization techniques. Ideal for developers looking to enhance apps with conversational AI.
Step-by-step:
Visit OpenAI’s API Documentation page.
Review prerequisites and sign up for API access.
Explore examples and implement projects using the guide.
1.ElevenLabs Text To Speech ,Transforms text into speech, enhancing accessibility and engagement for your content.
2.Drawn To Style, Drawn to Style transforms your drawings into a variety of artistic styles, enhancing your creative expression.
3.AutoExpert (Dev) , enhances your coding journey with specialized Python and Django expertise.
4.Talent Match Pro , Evaluates CVs against job descriptions, enhancing your hiring process.
5.Shorts & Reels Assistant, Assistant crafts viral YouTube Shorts scripts for creators seeking to engage and expand their audience.
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