ElevenLabs has launched a new AI-powered tool that enables users to create and edit podcasts from text documents and other source materials. As reported by Ashley Carman for Bloomberg, the system can generate conversational podcasts in 32 languages using AI-voiced hosts selected from thousands of voice samples. The New York-based startup, valued at $1.1 billion …
X (formerly Twitter) has introduced a new AI image generation tool called Aurora, integrated into its Grok assistant. According to tech journalist Kyle Wiggers writing for TechCrunch, the tool became available on Saturday but was temporarily removed for some users after a few hours. The image generator can create photorealistic images and handle requests involving …
A detailed comparison between two AI language models shows that o1 Pro’s performance advantage over Claude 3.5 Sonnet may not justify its tenfold higher price for most users. Reddit user Kakachia777 conducted an eight-hour test comparing both systems across multiple tasks including complex reasoning, code generation, and scientific analysis. They found that while o1 Pro …
A website impersonating the defunct Ashland Daily Tidings newspaper has been publishing AI-generated content while stealing identities of real journalists, according to an investigation by Ryan Haas of Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB). The website emerged after the legitimate newspaper ceased operations in 2023, featuring eight purported reporters who were either nonexistent or had their identities …
Microsoft has developed a new data center cooling system that eliminates the need for fresh water consumption, according to a report by Dina Bass for Bloomberg. The innovative “closed loop” design, launched in August 2024, will replace conventional cooling methods that typically use 125 million liters of water annually per facility. The company plans to …
Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman believes artificial general intelligence (AGI) could be achievable within the next five to ten years, according to an interview with Nilay Patel from The Verge. Suleyman emphasizes that AGI should be understood as a general-purpose learning system capable of performing well across all human-level training environments, rather than as superintelligence. …
Meta has released Llama 3.3 70B, a new large language model that achieves GPT-4 level performance while running on high-end consumer laptops. The breakthrough was documented by developer Simon Willison testing the model on a 64 GB MacBook Pro M2, demonstrating capabilities comparable to much larger models like Meta’s own Llama 3.1 405B. The model …
Technology critic Evgeny Morozov, writing in Boston Review, argues for a fundamental reimagining of artificial intelligence that prioritizes human creativity and democratic values over pure efficiency. The article explores how AI development has been historically shaped by Cold War imperatives and corporate interests, resulting in systems that primarily serve bureaucratic and market-driven goals rather than …
OpenAI’s ChatGPT has marked its second anniversary since its launch in November 2022, sparking unprecedented growth in artificial intelligence development. According to Gary Grossman, EVP of technology practice at Edelman, the AI chatbot’s release led to a dramatic surge in AI startups, with current estimates suggesting around 70,000 AI companies worldwide – double the number …
Technology journalist Om Malik argues that traditional web browsers may need fundamental changes to remain relevant in an era of artificial intelligence and augmented reality. In an article published on Crazy Stupid Tech, Malik explains how his experience with Apple’s Vision Pro headset revealed the limitations of conventional browsers in immersive environments. The article details …