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TODAY’S TOP PICKS FOR YOU

1. Harnessing the Future: OpenAI's Quest to Control Superhuman AI

2. OpenAI and Axel Springer: Pioneering AI News

3. Mistral AI: Elevating European AI Landscape with a $415 Million Boost

4. Tesla’s new Robots: Optimus Gen 2

INSIGHTS

Harnessing the Future: OpenAI's Quest to Control Superhuman AI

• OpenAI's Superalignment team focuses on developing ways to control and regulate AI systems that surpass human intelligence.

• The team uses weaker AI models to guide stronger ones, aiming to ensure AI systems behave as intended and prevent harmful outcomes.

• OpenAI is launching a $10 million grant program to support research on AI alignment, and plans an academic conference in 2025.

• Concerns about the risks of superintelligent AI are balanced by the potential benefits, but regulatory and ethical considerations are paramount.

Why it matters: This development is crucial in the wider technology landscape, as it addresses growing concerns about the ethical and safety implications of rapidly advancing AI. OpenAI's initiative underscores the importance of responsible AI development and governance, particularly as AI systems become more powerful and influential in various sectors.

OpenAI and Axel Springer: Pioneering AI News

• OpenAI and Axel Springer have formed a deal for ChatGPT to summarise news from outlets like Politico and Business Insider.

• This partnership arises amidst legal debates over AI tools using creative content for training without permission.

• ChatGPT will provide summaries, including subscriber-only content, with proper attribution and links to full articles.

• Axel Springer will supply content for training OpenAI's models, highlighting the growing integration of AI in journalism.

Why it matters: This collaboration signifies a significant step in the convergence of AI and journalism, potentially reshaping how news is consumed and accessed. It reflects a broader trend of AI's growing influence in media, balancing innovation with ethical considerations of content use and copyright.

Mistral AI: Elevating European AI Landscape with a $415 Million Boost

• Mistral AI, based in Paris, secured a significant Series A funding of $415 million, aiming to be a European rival to OpenAI.

• The company, founded by alumni from Google’s DeepMind and Meta, focuses on foundational models with an open technology perspective.

• Their first model, Mistral 7B, differs from GPT-4 and Claude 2 in approach and scope, emphasising accessible AI with open-source availability.

• Mistral AI's strategy involves engaging with the EU’s AI Act, advocating for foundational model exemptions and focusing on use case regulations.

Why it matters: Mistral AI's funding round and approach represent a major step in diversifying the global AI landscape, introducing significant European competition to the AI field. This move is vital for fostering innovation and ensuring a more balanced, globally representative AI development ecosystem.

Tesla’s new Robots: Optimus Gen 2

• Tesla's Optimus Gen 2 humanoid robot features a design upgrade, including human-like hand movements and a lighter weight.

• It boasts a 30% increase in walking speed and improved balance and control, with tactile sensing in its 11-DoF (“Degrees of Freedom”) hands.

• The robot's impressive abilities, like handling an egg delicately and dancing, are showcased in a recent video (as shown below).

• This project, just over two years old, marks rapid progress from Tesla's initial humanoid robot concept.

Why it matters: Tesla's Optimus Gen 2 represents a significant milestone in the field of humanoid robotics, showcasing advancements that could have far-reaching implications across industries, from manufacturing to personal assistance.