Friday Focus: This Week in AI - 29 Nov 2024

Friday Focus: This Week in AI - 29 Nov 2024

Welcome to this week’s edition of “Friday Focus: This week in AI,” where we dive into the most compelling and buzz-worthy topics in the world of artificial intelligence.

AI Safety and Security

Lately, lots of people are talking about how to make sure AI is safe and doesn’t cause any trouble. In the UK, they’ve set up a new agency called LASR. This is a big deal because it means they’re really serious about stopping any security threats AI might pose. OpenAI, a big name in the AI world, is also working on ways to make AI systems safer. They’ve got something called “red teaming,” which basically means testing their AI to spot any problems before they happen.

Practical AI Applications

AI isn’t just for tech experts anymore - it’s showing up everywhere! Here are some cool places you can find AI at work:

  • Healthcare: In hospitals, especially in the neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) where tiny infants are cared for, AI is helping doctors by watching videos to detect changes in a baby’s brain. This could be a game changer for catching problems early.

  • Robotics: Robots are getting more like us! Some can now tell what kind of plant they’re touching just by using electrodes. There’s also a new tech called PanoRadar that helps robots see things using radio waves, almost like they have superpowers.

  • Finance: Big tech companies are putting more money into AI for finance. This means they’re using AI systems to do things like detect fraud or manage investments better.

  • Daily Life: AI is helping with everyday stuff too. Think of apps that plan vacations for you, suggest recipes, or even help people with dementia by assisting them in remembering things.

Generative AI in Business

Businesses are really curious about something called generative AI. This area of AI can make new things like images or text from scratch. Companies are trying to figure out how to use these AI tools to actually help their businesses. They’re looking for ways that are useful right now, not just in the future.

Ethical and Regulatory Considerations

When it comes to AI, there’s another side to think about - ethics and rules. Just this week, five important US Senators wrote a letter to the CEO of OpenAI. They want to understand more about how OpenAI is making sure their AI is safe and how they’re treating their workers. This shows that people are worried about things like AI taking jobs away from humans or making decisions that affect people’s lives.

Key Advances in Robotics

To wrap it up, here are some amazing quotes showing just how far robotics is coming along:

  • “Robots that can identify plants by ’touching’ their leaves with an electrode” - that’s about how robots are learning to “feel” what’s around them.

  • “PanoRadar: A tool giving robots superhuman vision using radio waves” - this one highlights how robots can now “see” through things, which is super cool.