AI should augment, not automate

Artificial intelligence will replace tasks rather than entire professions, according to Stanford University professor Dr. Erik Brynjolfsson. Speaking on a panel at the Global Future Councils Annual Meeting, he said that most jobs will remain safe if companies and policymakers prioritize augmentation rather than automation. Brynjolfsson described AI as a key technology that can drive …

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How useful is AI for Africa?

Artificial intelligence offers great opportunities for the development of African countries, according to a report by David Pilling and Clara Murray in the Financial Times. The example of a Google app that helps people with speech impediments illustrates how AI can solve everyday problems. AI is also being used successfully in fields such as medicine, …

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Nvidia releases powerful and open AI model

Nvidia has introduced a new AI model, Llama-3.1-Nemotron-70B-Instruct, which outperforms existing models from OpenAI and others, continuing a significant shift in its AI strategy. The model, available on Hugging Face, achieved impressive benchmark scores, positioning Nvidia as a competitive player in AI language understanding and generation. This development showcases Nvidia’s transition from a GPU manufacturer …

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Pika 1.5: AI videos with fun effects

Pika 1.5 is the latest version of an AI-powered video editing tool developed by Pika Labs, a startup based in Palo Alto, California. This platform enables users to transform static images into dynamic videos while applying a range of special effects, known as “Pikaffects”. Recent additions to the toolkit include effects such as “crumble,” “dissolve,” …

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Generative AI gets 40% of venture capital in the cloud sector

Generative AI startups are receiving 40% of all venture capital investments in the cloud sector. According to Accel’s Euroscape report, venture funding for cloud startups in the US, Europe, and Israel is projected to rise to $79.2 billion. Ryan Browne reports for CNBC that funding for the cloud industry increased by 27% year-over-year – the …

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Is Meta diluting the term Open Source?

Meta is facing criticism for labeling its AI models as “open source.” Stefano Maffulli, head of the Open Source Initiative, accuses the company of diluting the term and confusing users. According to Maffulli, Meta’s Llama models do not meet the criteria for true open-source software, Richard Waters reports for the Financial Times. Meta defends its …

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Endor Labs scores open source AI models

Endor Labs has launched a new platform to score over 900,000 open-source AI models available on Hugging Face, focusing on security, activity, quality, and popularity. This initiative aims to address concerns regarding the trustworthiness and security of AI models, which often have complex dependencies and vulnerabilities, reports VentureBeat. Developers can query the platform about model …

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Mistral unveils small models for laptops and smartphones

French AI company Mistral has introduced new generative AI models for laptops and smartphones. Known as “Les Ministraux,” the models are optimized for various applications such as text generation or collaboration with more powerful models. Kyle Wiggers reports for TechCrunch that two variants are available: Ministral 3B and Ministral 8B, both with a context window …

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Arch-Function accelerates AI agents

Katanemo has introduced Arch-Function, a collection of open-source large language models (LLMs) designed for ultra-fast function-calling tasks essential for agentic applications in enterprises. According to reporting from VentureBeat, these models operate nearly 12 times faster than OpenAI’s GPT-4 and significantly outperform offerings from other competitors, while also providing substantial cost savings. Arch-Function builds on Katanemo’s …

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Galileo evaluates AI models for business use

Galileo, an AI startup led by Vikram Chatterji, has raised $45 million in a Series B funding round, totaling $68 million since its inception three years ago. The company focuses on evaluating AI models to ensure they function effectively and do not generate incorrect information or leak sensitive data, reports Forbes. Its product suite includes …

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