
Last Week in AI
Weekly summaries of the AI news that matters!
Latest episodes

Apr 29, 2022 • 47min
#94 - AI Driving Instructors, MASSIVE Speech Dataset, AI ’Show Stealers’, Tesla Jet Crash
Discover how GM's new patent for autonomous driving instructors could revolutionize training without human oversight. Explore the immense impact of Amazon's MASSIVE speech dataset aimed at making Alexa multilingual. Delve into ethical concerns around surveillance in South Africa and actors' pushback against AI stealing their roles. Finally, enjoy a laugh over a Tesla’s mishap involving a $3.5 million private jet—highlighting the quirky pitfalls of AI technology in action!

Apr 21, 2022 • 29min
#93 - Chip Startup Funding Doubled, Google Text+Image Search, Analog AI, Criminal Robotaxi
Venture funding for chip startups has surged, reaching $1.8 billion in recent years, driven by AI advancements. Google introduced a cool multisearch feature that blends text and images for smarter searching. Notably, a nursing robotics firm secured $30 million to aid the healthcare sector. Microsoft unveiled a tool to fix bugs in AI-generated code, while researchers are exploring an intriguing leap to analog AI chips. Plus, exciting breakthroughs in using AI to identify mosquito species spark potential health innovations!

Apr 17, 2022 • 37min
#92 - OpenAI’s DALL-E 2, Google’s PaLM, AI Intel in Ukraine, Hugging Robots
Discover the wonders of OpenAI's DALL-E 2, which transforms text into stunning art. Dive into Google's colossal Pathways Language Model capable of handling 540 billion parameters. Explore how Stanford's new algorithm could revolutionize autism diagnosis and Johns Hopkins' AI predicts heart risks years ahead. Learn about innovative uses of AI in night-vision technology and the heartening design of autonomous hugging robots, fostering emotional connections with users. Uncover the evolving role of AI across diverse sectors, from healthcare to educational experiences.

Mar 31, 2022 • 50min
#91 - DeepMind Mafia, DishBrain, PRIME, ZooKeeper AI, Instant NeRF
Explore the rise of the 'DeepMind mafia' as alumni spin off startups targeting climate and crypto. Discover Nvidia's revolutionary tech that enhances AI capabilities and its partnership with Kroger to reshape shopping. Delve into the ethical implications of AI in warfare, including facial recognition in Ukraine. Learn about innovative advances like a neural network made of biological neurons and 3D scene generation from 2D images. The discussions shine a light on the vulnerabilities facing financial institutions adopting AI amid rising cyber threats.

Mar 24, 2022 • 30min
#90 - AI for Algorithms, Chemical Weapons, Zelenskyy Deepfake, Border Control
Discover how machine learning is reshaping the building blocks of computing and the potential of robots like ElliQ to enhance elderly care. Explore the alarming news about AI generating thousands of potential chemical weapons and the implications of deepfakes in the Ukraine war. The discussion also touches on the ethical dilemmas of AI surveillance at the border. Lastly, dive into imaginative AI-generated utopias and learn about creating games with natural language using cutting-edge models.

Mar 17, 2022 • 51min
Deepfakes for Politicians, AI Propaganda, Operation Safety Net, Understanding Pigs
Discover the intriguing intersection of AI and politics with the innovative use of deepfakes in campaigns, raising questions about authenticity. Dive into the ethical implications of machine learning in propaganda creation and misinformation. Explore how AI is decoding ancient inscriptions, revealing secrets of the past. Plus, learn about an innovative study on interpreting pig calls and the emotional nuances of relationships with AI companions. The podcast serves a mix of groundbreaking advancements and thought-provoking discussions.

Mar 10, 2022 • 47min
AI-Developed Drug, AI Beats Moore’s Law, Russia’s AI Army, Baidu’s Robotaxis
Discover how GitHub is enhancing code security with machine learning. A groundbreaking AI-developed drug is set to enter trials, showcasing AI's potential in medicine. Stanford University has made waves by achieving DNA sequencing in just five hours. Explore China's impending AI regulations and the emergence of Russia's AI military technologies. Learn about innovative AI applications in wildlife conservation and Walmart's virtual fitting tool. Plus, get excited about Baidu's ambitious plan for robot taxis across 100 cities by 2030!

Feb 24, 2022 • 40min
AI flirts, controls a fusion reactor, unmasks Q, draws Pokémon
This discussion dives into the exciting world of AI innovations, starting with a voice actor that can flirt with you. It touches on DeepMind's groundbreaking ability to control superheated plasma in fusion reactors. The conversation also unearths who might be behind QAnon using linguistic analysis. On a lighter note, a new AI generates impressively creative Pokémon, while concerns about facial recognition technology and its ethical implications come to light. The episode showcases both the playful and the serious sides of rapidly evolving AI.

Feb 17, 2022 • 29min
AI for Ancient Languages, Eye Tracking for Ads, Pulpy AI Sci Fi Covers
Discover how AI is taking on illegal fishing by tracking hidden vessels. Marvel at the groundbreaking efforts to decode ancient languages that have stumped experts for a century. Delve into the innovative world of neural rendering, revolutionizing 3D experiences. Explore the ethical dilemmas of eye-tracking technology in ads with MoviePass 2.0. Uncover the biases in AI job interviews and enjoy creative experiments, including quirky AI-generated 70s sci-fi pulp cover art that combines nostalgia with technology.

Feb 10, 2022 • 31min
IBM Watson’s and ZIllow’s AI Failures, DeepMind’s Alphacode, GPT-NeoX-20B, AI Valentine’s Cards
IBM Watson suffers a major setback with critical misdiagnoses, revealing the dangers of AI in healthcare. Zillow's AI fails spectacularly in real estate, leading to the collapse of its buying initiative. Meanwhile, DeepMind introduces AlphaCode, a code-generating powerhouse that competes with human developers. Legal challenges arise as an insurance company faces a class action for misusing biometric data. On a lighter note, AI-generated Valentine's cards bring laughter, showcasing both creativity and quirky glitches in machine-generated love.