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Are Google’s AI supercomputers faster than Nvidia’s?

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As powerful models for machine learning continue to be the hottest topic in the tech business, Google released information about one of the company’s AI supercomputers on Wednesday, claiming it is quicker and more effective than rival Nvidia systems.

Tensor Processing Units, or TPUs, are artificial intelligence (AI) chips that Google has been developing and utilizing since 2016. Nvidia currently holds a 90% share of the overall market for AI training models and deployment.

supercomputers
Image Source: techzine.eu

As a leading innovator in AI, Google has produced several of the most significant developments in the area during the past ten years. However, some people think the company has lagged behind in commercializing its ideas, and internally, the corporation has been rushing to develop items to show it hasn’t wasted its lead, creating a “code red” situation.

Also Read: What’s Next for Users as Google Now Launcher Shuts Down?

A large number of supercomputers and a lot of processors must work simultaneously to train models, with the computers operating nonstop for weeks or months, as is the case with AI models and products like Google’s Bard or OpenAI’s ChatGPT, which are powered by Nvidia’s A100 chips.

On Tuesday, Google announced that it has developed a system with more than 4,000 TPUs connected to specialized parts intended to operate and train AI models. It has been in operation since 2020 and has been used for 50 days to train Google’s PaLM model, which challenges OpenAI’s GPT model.

The Google researchers claimed that the TPU-based supercomputer, known as TPU v4, is “1.2x-1.7x faster and uses 1.3x-1.9x less power than the Nvidia A100.” The researchers said, “The performance, scalability, and availability make TPU v4 supercomputers the workhorses of large language models.”

The H100, the most recent Nvidia AI chip, was not compared to Google’s TPU results, however, because the H100 is more modern and was manufactured using more sophisticated manufacturing techniques, according to Google researchers.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said that the findings for the company’s most current chip, the H100, were noticeably faster than those for the previous generation. findings and rankings from an industry-wide AI chip test called MLperf were published on Wednesday.

Given the high cost of the significant computing power required for AI, many in the sector are concentrating on creating new processors, hardware elements like optical links, or software innovations that will lower the required computing power.

Also Read: Can we use nearby share between Android and Windows?

The computational demands of AI also benefit cloud service providers like Google, Microsoft, and Amazon, who may rent out computer processing on an hourly basis and give startup companies credits or computing time to foster business partnerships. For instance, Google claimed that their TPU chips were used to train the AI image generator Midjourney.

Meta

Meta releases AI model that can identify items within images

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On Wednesday, Meta, the owner of Facebook, released a collection of image annotations that it claimed was the biggest ever of its kind combined with a model based on AI that can identify specific items within an image. The final dataset contains over 1.1 billion masks of segmentation from over 11 million licenced and privacy-preserving photos.

Meta
Image Source: tribune.com.pk

The organization’s research department said in a blog article that the company’s Segment Anything Model, or SAM, could recognise objects in pictures and videos even when it hadn’t seen those objects during training.

Also Read: Google Workers in London stage walkout over job cuts

SAM allows users to select objects by clicking on them or by entering text commands. Typing the word “cat” in one demonstration caused the tool to generate boxes around each of the multiple cats in a picture.

Meta noted, “Meta stated, “Our objective was to build a foundation model for image segmentation… a promotable model that is trained on a variety of data and can adapt to specific tasks, analogous to the use of prompting in models of natural language processing.”

However, in contrast to images, videos, and text, the segmentation data required to train such a model is not easily accessible online or anywhere else. So, with Segment Anything, we set out to simultaneously create a segmentation dataset of unprecedented scale and develop a general, prompt segmentation model.”

Since Microsoft-backed OpenAI’s ChatGPT chatbot became an internet hit in the fall, sparking a surge of investments and a race to dominate the area, large tech firms have been bragging about their artificial intelligence advances.

Though it hasn’t yet made a product available, Meta has teased a number of features that use the generative AI made famous by ChatGPT, which generates entirely new material rather than just recognising or categorising data like other AI.

Examples include a programme that creates surrealist films from word cues and another that turns prose into pictures for children’s books.

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According to Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg, adding these generative AI “creative aids” to Meta’s products is a top focus for this year. Internally, Meta does make use of SAM-like technologies for tasks including tagging photographs, removing objectionable information, and choosing which articles to promote to Facebook and Instagram users.

The corporation said that the introduction of SAM will increase access to that kind of technology. A non-commercial licence will be required to download the SAM model and dataset. Users who upload their own photographs to an associated prototype must also consent to use them strictly for study.

Google

Google workers in London stage walkout over job cuts

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Following a dispute regarding layoffs, hundreds of Google workers organized a protest at the company’s London offices on Tuesday.

Google’s parent company Alphabet revealed in January that it would be laying off 12,000 workers globally, or 6% of its total workforce.

Google
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The decision was made in the midst of a wave of layoffs sweeping corporate America, especially in the tech industry, where companies have so far fired over 290,000 employees since the year’s beginning, according to tracking website Layoffs.fyi.

Also Read: UBS to cut up to 30% of the global workforce

The trade union Unite, which has hundreds of Google workers in the UK as members, claimed that the company had disregarded employee complaints. According to Unite regional officer Matt Whaley, “Our members are clear: Google needs to listen to its own advice of not being evil.

They and Unite will not back down until Google allows workers full union representation, engages properly with the consultation process, and treats its staff with the respect and dignity they deserve.”

Speaking anonymously out of concern for retaliation, a Google employee who was present at the walkout told Reuters that discussions with company management turned out to be “extremely frustrating.” He stated, “It has been difficult for those involved. We have a redundancy process for a reason so that employees can make their voice heard,” they said. But it feels as if our concerns have fallen on deaf ears.”

In many European countries, Google’s top management has held layoff discussions in accordance with local labor laws. Employee representatives claimed that Google had rejected their suggestions to limit job cuts, and employees at the company’s Zurich branch in Switzerland conducted a walkout akin to this one last month.

A representative for Google stated, “As we said on January 20, we’ve made the difficult decision to reduce our workforce by approximately 12,000 roles globally.

We know this is a very challenging time for our employees. In the UK, we have been constructively engaging and listening to our employees through numerous meetings, and are working hard to bring them clarity and share updates as soon as we can in adherence with all UK processes and legal requirements.”

Also Read: Google Drive now caps the number of files you can create

In the UK, Google has a workforce of over 5,000 employees. The Sundar Pichai-led corporation said it was ready for “a different economic reality” and that the CEO accepted “full responsibility” for the choices that resulted in the layoffs when it announced them in January.

In an effort to prepare for a global economic slowdown, a number of other tech firms, including Microsoft, Twitter, and Meta, among others, have fired thousands of employees. Apple Inc. reportedly cut staff within particular corporate store teams earlier this week, signaling a change in the way the company handles layoffs.

Google Now Launcher

What’s Next for Users as Google Now Launcher Shuts Down?

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A decade after its launch, the Google Now Launcher comes to an end. Google debuted the Nexus 5 in 2013 along with a brand-new launcher called the Google Now Launcher.

Prior to being made available to all Android 4.1+ devices through the Play Store in 2014, it was first known as the Google Experience Launcher.

Google Now Launcher
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The main advantage was easy to access to Google Now cards, which was combined with a simple, stock-like experience that mirrored Google’s design preferences.

Also Read: Can we use nearby share between Android and Windows?

In 2017, the tech juggernaut revealed that this would no longer have access to Google Now because OEM partners already had it.

The Nexus 5X and 6P were the final mobile devices that Google launched that featured this and included the Now on Tap feature. Almost conclusively ending the Google Now experiment, Google released its final security upgrade for that hardware in 2018.

Despite receiving numerous upgrades via the Google app, the business is now concentrating on Google Assistant. It is currently displaying a message stating that Google will formally shut down the service by end of April, according to an earlier report by 9to5Google. The gadget’s launcher will then switch to the default launcher.

When most Android skins were still lacking in many areas, the Google Now Launcher was praised by Android phone users because it typically provided a smoother and more intuitive experience along with a cleaner UI.

In other words, it’s a little bit depressing news in a strangely nostalgic manner, but it’s also a loss that won’t be felt by many. The very small number of people who continue to use Google Now Launcher can only do so if they decide never to update their Google app again. However, if users continue to use the launcher, they are likely not getting updates at all.

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Despite this, it was unique at the time due to its dedicated home page for displaying Google Now info cards. Later, this idea developed into the Google Discover interface found on many modern Android smartphones. Along with these features, the launcher provided fast access to search features and app recommendations.

The old launcher isn’t really relevant anymore, though, because of the launch of the Pixel Launcher, the popularity of Google Assistant in place of Google Now, and a plethora of other launcher choices. But even so, Google Now Launcher had a successful tenure.

Google

Google Drive now caps the number of files you can create

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As previously disclosed by Ars Technica and CNET, Google has put a restriction on the number of files you can upload and save to Google Drive. Even though you paid for more storage, the firm announced to The Verge that the update enabled users to generate a total of 5 million items in Drive. Google, however, quickly undid the adjustment and promised to come up with an alternative.

Google
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“We recently rolled out a system update to Drive item limits to preserve stability and optimize performance,” said Google in a tweet. “While this impacted only a small number of people, we are rolling back this change as we explore alternate approaches to ensure a great experience for all.”

Source: theverge.com

Also Read: UBS to cut up to 30% of the global workforce

There was a 5 million file limit, but it only related to the number of files you could create in Drive, not to the total number of files that could be shared with your Drive. In other words, if the files weren’t all your creation, you might have had more than 5 million of them in the system.

Ross Richendrfer, a Google representative, first claimed that the modification was made to ensure high performance and dependability and that it would assist stop misuse of the company’s systems. Richendrfer stated that if you exceed the limit, you will be notified and can approach Google customer support to resolve the situation.

While it would seem ludicrous for a single person to upload 5 million files, some people have exceeded that figure. A customer with 7 million documents in Drive claims, in a Reddit post seen by Ars Technica and CNET, that Google abruptly stopped allowing them to add new files in February, even though they had not yet reached the 2TB storage limit they had paid for.

Several additional users claim to have experienced the file restriction at approximately the same time and that they originally thought it to be a bug on Google’s problem tracker website.

An individual with 2TB of capacity and an aggregate file size of over 400KB would exceed their file cap before when they went out of storage space, as was noted in the Reddit thread. Secondly, unless they choose to reduce their documents into zip folders, some customers may be spending even more space than they utilize.

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User responses suggest that Google may not have informed those who would be affected by the new restriction ahead of its deployment, leaving them scrambling to transfer or reduce files once the policy took effect.

While it does indicate that shared Workspace folders can store a total of 400,000 files, it doesn’t appear that Google changed its Google One or Workspace help sites to notice the limit. Google could have at least provided those who do with a proper warning, even if the bulk of users probably don’t have 5 million data held in Drive.

ChatGPT

Why is ChatGPT banned in Italy?

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Italy is the first Western nation to block the sophisticated chatbot ChatGPT.

The model, developed by US start-up OpenAI and backed by Microsoft, raised privacy concerns, according to the Italian data protection body. With “immediate effect,” the authority said it was going to ban OpenAI and launch an investigation. OpenAI assured the BBC that it adhered to privacy rules.

ChatGPT
Image Source: bbc.com

Since its debut in November 2022, ChatGPT has been used by millions of users. Utilizing the web as it existed in 2021 as its information repository, it can imitate other writing styles and respond to queries in a manner that is natural and human-like.

Also Read: Netflix Might Be Putting Its Video Games on TVs

ChatGPT was introduced to Bing last month after Microsoft invested billions in it. Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook will all have a form of technology integrated into them, according to the company.

Concerns have been raised about the possible downsides of artificial intelligence (AI), including the threat it poses to employment and the spread of bias and false information.

Elon Musk and other prominent tech figures called for the suspension of these AI systems earlier this week amid concerns that the race to create them was spiraling out of control. In addition to blocking OpenAI’s chatbot, the Italian watchdog declared that it would look into whether it met with the General Data Protection Regulation. The GDPR sets rules for the collection, use, processing, and storage of personal data.

The watchdog reported a data breach affecting user interactions and payment details in the app on March 20. It claimed that there was no legal justification for “the mass collection and storage of personal data for the purpose of training the algorithms underlying the operation of the platform”.

The app “exposes minors to absolutely unsuitable answers compared to their degree of development and awareness,” according to the statement, because there are no means to verify the users’ ages.

Due to the same worries, Bard, Google’s competing artificial intelligence chatbot, has since become only accessible to particular users above the age of 18. OpenAI was given 20 days by the Italian data protection authority to respond to the watchdog’s concerns or face a fine of up to €20 million or 4% of yearly revenues.

As for the ban, the Irish Data Protection Commission informed the BBC that it is coordinating with all EU data protection agencies and plans on keeping up with the Italian authority to understand the reasons behind their decision.

Also Read: Can we use nearby share between Android and Windows?

The UK’s independent data regulator, the Information Commissioner’s Office, told the BBC that it would “support” advances in AI but was also prepared to “challenge non-compliance” with the data protection regulations.

The ban, according to Dan Morgan of cybersecurity rating service SecurityScorecard, highlights the significance of regulatory compliance for businesses doing business in Europe.

Many nations, such as China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia, have already banned ChatGPT.