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Logically Expands Its AI Operations with the Acquisition of Insikt AI

Logically Expands Its AI Operations with the Acquisition of Insikt AI

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The strategic acquisition of London-based Insikt AI by Logically The purchase of Barcelona-based AI startup Insikt AI has been announced by Logically, a pioneer in the application of AI to block harmful internet content. Through the integration of Insikt’s cutting-edge technology into its current platform, Logically hopes to improve its intelligence operations.

Increasing Capabilities Using Insikt AI

Logically Expands Its AI Operations with the Acquisition of Insikt AI

Image Source: tech.eu

Insikt AI was established in 2016 and focuses on creating machine learning models that are designed to identify and reduce hazardous content. Their Social Network Analysis (SNA) capabilities and domain-specific models have enabled governments and private businesses to assess intricate web networks and recognise new dangers. With the recent integration of Insikt’s technology into Logically Intelligence®, the company’s flagship platform, users will have access to state-of-the-art solutions for combating a wider variety of online threats, such as terrorism and extremism.

Integration of Leadership and Expertise

Jennifer Woodard and Guillem Garcia, the co-founders of Insikt, will join Logically as part of the acquisition. As VP of AI at Logically, Jennifer, a specialist in AI for counterterrorism, will lead the company with her wealth of knowledge in moral AI applications. In his new position as Head of Data Science, Guillem will leverage Deep Learning and Natural Language Processing (NLP) research to scale Logically’s data science capabilities.

Improving Detection of Internet Threats

The CEO of Logically, Lyric Jain, emphasised the importance of the acquisition by pointing out that Logically’s goal of preventing harmful online information is ideally aligned with Insikt’s creative use of AI and SNA. It is anticipated that the incorporation of Insikt’s skills will improve Logically’s capacity to identify and address attacks at an early stage, offering a strong defence against more cunning cybercriminals.

Also Read: London-Based Clearly Raises €3.9M to Target Net Zero in Supply Chains

A Novel Chapter in Intelligence Driven by AI

This acquisition demonstrates Logically’s dedication to furthering AI research while also enhancing its technological advantage. Logically is positioned to provide even more value to its clients by leveraging Insikt’s AI know-how, enabling them to manage the intricacies of the digital world while preserving free expression and halting the dissemination of damaging content.

Meta Offers Millions to Hollywood Stars for AI Voice Projects

Meta Offers Millions to Hollywood Stars for AI Voice Projects

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Hollywood celebrities seem to be in discussions to have their voices included in AI initiatives run by Meta, the digital business that created Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. Based on articles from Bloomberg as well as The New York Times, the startup hopes to create MetaAI, a virtual assistant that talks similar to Siri as well as Google Assistant, using the voices of prominent individuals.

Integration Across Multiple Platforms

Meta Offers Millions to Hollywood Stars for AI Voice Projects

Image Source: digialps.com

As part of its ambitious effort, Meta is recording the voices of celebrities to be used on its messenger and Ray-Ban Meta eyewear, among other platforms. Both parties have been unable to come to a mutually acceptable agreement during the convoluted and sporadic conversations. Present conversations recommend using the voice recordings for a specific amount of time only as opposed to forever.

SAG-AFTRA's Conflict

It has been claimed that preliminary agreements have been made between Meta and the Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA). However, stakeholder representatives support stricter restrictions: these provisions are needed to protect actors from having their jobs replaced by artificial intelligence, which has already sparked strikes in the industry. The proposed transaction can cost millions of dollars, because Meta should have paid the artists and get their permission before using their subject to AI.

Preparation of the Meta Connect Conference

Before identifying many new products for AI at Meta Connect in September 2024, Meta hoped to obtain these agreements. There are many problems at the conference, especially after Meta announced in September 2023 that Charli D \ ‘Amelio, Paris Hilton, Snoop Dogg, Tom Brady and other celebrities and others were presented.
Users, however, found the idea disconcerting as celebrities voiced fictional characters instead of themselves, therefore this attempt could have sat better with them.

Possibilities and Difficulties

Meta is moving forward with its AI goals despite the chatbot trial receiving mixed reviews. The company previously spent up to $5 million on a two-year chatbot pilot program, with varying degrees of success in terms of user engagement. Snoop Dogg’s 87.5 million Instagram followers pale in comparison to the 15,000 his chatbot Dungeon Master has amassed, illustrating the difficulty of translating celebrity appeal into engagement with AI. What’s next

Also Read: Shiv Nadar’s Success Story: The Visionary Behind HCL Technologies

It remains to be seen whether Meta’s efforts to integrate celebrity voices into its AI programs will be successful. Meta’s partnership with Hollywood could completely change the way users interact with the platform, potentially having a major impact on the digital assistant market.

 
Artificial Agency Secures $16 Million to Elevate NPC Realism in Video Games Using AI

Artificial Agency Secures $16 Million to Elevate NPC Realism in Video Games Using AI

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Artificial Agency, a firm formed by previous Google DeepMind investigators has come forth from the shadows with sixteen million dollars in funding to transform non-playable characters (NPCs) in video games with AI. The company aims to change conventional video games by rendering NPC encounters more dynamic and lifelike with gamers.

The AI Behavior Engine

Artificial Agency Secures $16 Million to Elevate NPC Realism in Video Games Using AI

Image Source: techcrunch.com

Artificial Agency’s revolutionary AI behaviour engine is intended to improve the realism of NPCs by breaking away from standard decision trees and pre-written scripts, which frequently result in monotonous and predictable NPC behaviour. Instead, the engine enables game developers to provide NPCs with a set of motivations, rules, and objectives. These features influence NPC responses to participant actions, resulting in enhanced and enjoyable gameplay interactions.

Competitive Landscape

Artificial Agency, situated in Edmonton, Alberta, joins a congested industry that includes competitors such as Inworld and Nvidia, both of which specialize on AI-generated NPC behaviours. However, Artificial Agency thinks that its innovations will quickly become indispensable in the industry.

"The conversations we often have with these studios are not about if, but about when," co-founder and CEO Brian Tanner explained. "This sort of dynamic interaction and dynamic response that our system allows is going to be table stakes in the games industry just a few years from now."

techcrunch.com

Funding and Future Prospects

The firm raised $12 million in a seed round led by Radical Ventures and Toyota Ventures, which added to Radical Ventures’ prior $4 million pre-seed financing, for a total of $16 million.  Other seed round partners comprised  Kaya, Flying Fish,  BDC Deep Tech, and TIRTA Ventures.

Despite certain reservations about the use of machine learning in games, Artificial Agencies are collaborating with several famous AAA studios to build their behaviour engine, which is expected to be widely available by 2025. Daniel Mulet, a Radical Ventures investor, pointed out that many gaming firms were attempting to construct similar technologies on their own, emphasizing the necessity for a comprehensive network.

Demonstrating Artificial Intelligent Potential

The company’s ‘ Co-founder Alex Kearney showed TechCrunch a non-player character in Minecraft powered by the behaviour engine. The NPC, Aaron, completed difficult tasks and engaged with player characters uniquely, and unscripted, demonstrating the engine’s ability to produce more lifelike and responsive NPCs.

Also Read: US Grants Up to $400 Million to Taiwan’s GlobalWafers for Semiconductor Boost

Economic considerations

Tanner determined that the demo’s artificial intelligence prediction expenses were around a dollar, a significant reduction from a hundred dollars, a year ago. With further GPU optimizations and artificial intelligence optimisations, the cost is likely to fall even more. While Artificial Agency believes AI NPCs would not raise game prices for consumers, Radical Ventures’ Mulet speculated that licensing the technology to game producers may result in increased charges for gamers.

Conclusion

Artificial Agency’s artificial intelligence behaviour engine is a big development in developing lifelike NPCs, promising to alter the game experience. As the company works to improve its technology and partner with large studios, it places itself at the vanguard of the game industry’s future evolution.

 
China Says US Targeting of AI Not Helpful for Healthy Development

China Says US Targeting of AI Not Helpful for Healthy Development

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China has expressed significant resistance to U.S. efforts that target investments in artificial intelligence (AI) within its territory, claiming that these moves could cause splits in the world and impede the advancement of AI technology. China’s U.N. Ambassador Fu Cong made this declaration on Monday in response to the U.N. General Assembly’s passage of a resolution that was written by China and intended to improve international cooperation on AI capacity-building.

US Draft AI Investment Regulations

China Says US Targeting of AI Not Helpful for Healthy Development

Image Source: foxnews.com

Citing possible risks to U.S. national security, the United States this month unveiled proposed regulations that would forbid or require notification of certain investments made in China in the fields of artificial intelligence and other technologies. 

These actions are part of a larger campaign to keep US knowledge from supporting China’s technological innovations and positioning it as a dominating player in international markets.

China's Resolute Reluctance

Ambassador Fu Cong stated their position is that these sanctions are not right. He underlined that American measures do not support the development of an inclusive and equitable economic climate and urged Washington to change course. According to Fu, the limitations would lead to inconsistent norms and regulations, which would fracture global governance in addition to impeding the development of AI technology.

Encouraging a Collaborative Enterprise Environment

The international community is urged to guarantee a just, transparent, inclusive, and non-discriminatory business environment throughout the lifecycle of AI systems, according to a recently adopted U.N. resolution that was drafted by China. 

In order to develop safe, secure, and reliable AI technology, international cooperation is essential, as this resolution emphasizes.

"We don't believe that the U.S. government's position or decision will be helpful to the healthy development of AI technology, and will, by extension, divide the world in terms of the standards and rules governing AI," Fu said, emphasizing the significance of international unity in AI governance.

reuters.com

Also Read: Biden Administration Invests $504 Million to Develop 12 Nationwide Tech Hubs

An Appeal for Reversal

In response to an executive order that President Joe Biden signed in August of last year, the U.S. Treasury Department published these proposed regulations. This executive order is part of a larger strategic effort to protect American technological leadership and stop vital knowledge from being transferred to China, which might increase its technological might.

China’s call for lifting the U.S. limits on AI investments underscores the need for a more coordinated and cooperative approach to the development and regulation of AI technology, even while the debate over these investments rages on. The result of this geopolitical struggle will probably influence how international AI governance develops in the future.

 
Meta Introduces AI Chatbot Across Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram in India

Meta Introduces AI Chatbot Across Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram in India

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Meta has announced the formal rollout of its generative Artificial Intelligence (gen AI) chatbot, Meta AI, for users in India. Following successful tests earlier this year, the AI-powered assistant is now being gradually introduced on WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook (including the Messenger app). The complete rollout is expected to be achieved before this weekend, allowing all users across these platforms to access the advanced capabilities of Meta AI.

Introducing Meta AI: A New Digital Assistant

Meta Introduces AI Chatbot Across Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram in India

Image Source: yourstory.com

Meta AI is powered by the latest iteration of the Large Language Model Meta AI, known as Llama 3. This advanced AI engine enables the chatbot to comprehend complex user queries and provide real-time, easily understandable information. Its capabilities extend beyond basic responses, offering features such as trip planning assistance and text-to-image generation.

For instance, users planning a monsoon getaway can simply mention @Meta AI in a group chat and request a trip itinerary for a specific destination. Within seconds, the chatbot can generate detailed travel plans, suggesting activities, accommodations, and local attractions, making group planning both efficient and enjoyable.

Creative Features: From Digital Art to Fun Memes

One of the standout features of Meta AI is its ability to generate images from text descriptions, powered by the Emu image synthesis model. This Imagine feature allows users to create various forms of digital art effortlessly. Whether it’s designing themed invitations for a child’s birthday party or crafting unique digital artwork, Meta AI makes it easy.

Users can also use Meta AI to generate fun memes or transform ordinary 2D photos into animated or brush-painted artworks. This versatility provides a platform for users to explore their creativity and share their creations instantly on social media.

Impact on User Engagement

The introduction of Meta AI is set to enhance user engagement across Meta’s platforms by providing both functional and creative tools at users’ fingertips. The AI’s ability to deliver tailored travel suggestions, design custom digital art, and facilitate creative social media interactions reflects Meta’s commitment to integrating advanced AI technologies into everyday digital communication.

Also Read: Prajogo Pangestu: Building a Billion-Dollar Empire in Indonesia

As Meta AI continues to roll out across India, users can look forward to exploring its diverse capabilities, making their online interactions more dynamic and enjoyable. The phased introduction ensures a smooth transition, with all users expected to have access to the new AI assistant shortly, promising an enriched digital experience across Meta’s suite of apps.

EU Finalizes World’s First Major Law Governing Artificial Intelligence

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In a landmark decision, European Union member states on Tuesday gave their final approval to the AI Act, the world’s first major legislative framework designed to regulate artificial intelligence. This pioneering law sets comprehensive rules for the use and development of AI technologies, aiming to balance innovation with essential safeguards.

“The adoption of the AI Act is a significant milestone for the European Union,” stated Mathieu Michel, Belgium’s Secretary of State for Digitization. “With the AI Act, Europe emphasizes the importance of trust, transparency, and accountability when dealing with new technologies while ensuring that this fast-changing technology can flourish and boost European innovation.”

The AI Act introduces a risk-based regulatory approach, categorizing AI applications according to the level of risk they pose. Applications deemed “unacceptable,” such as social scoring systems, predictive policing, and emotional recognition in schools and workplaces, are outright banned. High-risk AI systems, including those used in autonomous vehicles, medical devices, financial services, and education, will undergo stringent scrutiny to protect public safety and fundamental rights.

Impact on U.S. Tech Giants

The new regulations are expected to have profound implications for companies worldwide, especially for major U.S. tech firms that operate within the EU. Matthew Holman, a partner at the law firm Cripps, highlighted the unprecedented nature of the AI Act. “The EU AI Act is unlike any law anywhere else on earth,” he explained. “It establishes a detailed regulatory regime for AI for the first time.”

Holman noted that U.S. technology companies have been closely monitoring the development of this legislation. “There has been substantial investment in public-facing generative AI systems, and these companies will need to ensure compliance with the new, sometimes onerous, requirements,” he added.

The EU Commission will enforce the law, with potential fines for non-compliance reaching up to 35 million euros ($38 million) or 7% of a company’s annual global revenue, whichever is higher. The necessity for updated legislation became clear after the launch of OpenAI’s ChatGPT in November 2022, which exposed gaps in existing laws concerning advanced AI capabilities and the use of copyrighted material.

Implementation Process

Despite its adoption, the AI Act’s stringent requirements will not be implemented immediately. Dessi Savova, a partner at Clifford Chance, pointed out that the restrictions on general-purpose AI systems, which include generative AI technologies, will begin 12 months after the Act comes into force. Furthermore, currently available generative AI systems, such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Google’s Gemini, and Microsoft’s Copilot, will benefit from a 36-month transition period to achieve full compliance.

Also Read: Sonos Enters Headphone Market with $449 Ace Model

“Agreement has been reached on the AI Act, and now the focus must shift to its effective implementation and enforcement,” Savova commented. This phased approach aims to give companies sufficient time to adapt to the new regulations, ensuring a smooth transition while maintaining the integrity and safety of AI innovations within the EU.

This new legislative framework marks a significant step in global efforts to regulate AI, setting a precedent that could influence future policies worldwide.