This Week in AI: Dec 13th, 2023

In this episode, the team, consisting of Beth, Robert, Eran, Andy, Jyunmi, Brian,and Karl, discussed the most intriguing AI news from the past week. The discussions range from legislative developments in AI to advancements in AI models and their practical applications.

Key Points Discussed:

1. European Union's Comprehensive AI Rules:

   • The EU has negotiated the world's first comprehensive AI rules.
   • Discussions revolved around the penalties for AI violations, including financial implications for big tech companies and the potential impact on startups.
   • The rules aim to balance regulations for major companies and open-source projects.

2. Advancements in AI Models:

   • Mistral, an open-source model comparable to GPT-3.5, was released, showcasing the trend towards smaller, more efficient AI models.
   • Microsoft announced the release of PHI-2, a compact model that can run on mobile devices.
   • The trend indicates a future of on-device AI assistance and multimodal capabilities.

3. DNA Data Storage:

   • Innovations in using DNA for data storage were discussed, highlighting its potential for immense storage capabilities.
   • The technology could revolutionize data storage, moving beyond traditional binary systems.

4. Chatbots in Medical Diagnostics:

   • A study revealed the effectiveness of chatbots in assisting physicians with probabilistic diagnostics, improving medical outcomes.

5. General World Models by Runway:

   • Runway announced the development of general world models, which could significantly enhance AI-based video and film production.
   • This technology may soon integrate with digital twins and infrastructure projects.

6. AI in Fast Food Drive-Thrus:

   • A revelation that some AI drive-thrus are backed by human labor in the Philippines, raising questions about the authenticity of AI implementations in the industry.

7. Essential AI's Enterprise Focus:

   • Essential AI, focusing on enterprise data analysis and workflow automations, raised significant funding, indicating a growing interest in AI for enterprise solutions.

8. Leonardo's Expansion into Enterprise:

   • The Australian company Leonardo, known for character development in games, is expanding into enterprise applications.

9. Midjourney's Move off Discord:

   • Midjourney, an image generator, is transitioning from Discord to a dedicated website, starting with creators who have made over 10,000 images.