Amazon’s AI Investment, Getty Images’ AI Tool, and More: 5 AI Developments You Might Have Missed Today
Let’s take a look at today’s roundup: Amazon has announced a $4 billion investment in AI Startup Anthropic, aiming to rival tech giants like Microsoft and Google. Experts have differing opinions on the impact of artificial intelligence. South Korea is embracing AI in various sectors, from K-pop to sales assistants. Accenture’s AI Chief believes that generative AI could enhance Europe’s competitive edge against the US.
1. Amazon invests $4 billion in AI Startup Anthropic
Amazon plans to invest $4 billion in AI startup Anthropic, increasing its competition with Microsoft, Meta, Google and Nvidia in the fast-growing artificial intelligence sector. Amazon will initially invest $1.25 billion in a minority stake in Anthropic, with an option to increase that to $4 billion. Google-backed Anthropic aims to raise $5 billion over the next two years. The startup plans to create an “edge model,” called “Claude-Next,” that is ten times more powerful than current AI, and requires a $1 billion investment over 18 months. According to a TechCrunch report, Anthropic is leveraging Amazon’s AWS for cloud services and computing power.
2. Different opinions arise among experts about the effects of artificial intelligence
Some AI experts are predicting a looming watershed in artificial intelligence due to concerns about “god-like” AI that can surpass human capabilities and elude control. Ian Hogarth, chairman of the UK’s Artificial Intelligence Security Task Force, and Max Tegmark suggest that some form of AGI may be imminent, and some California tech professionals believe it could arrive within a few years. However, according to the Guardian report, there are also voices that dismiss concerns about AGI as a way to regulate the market and benefit big players like OpenAI, Google and Microsoft.
3. AI becomes mainstream in South Korea, from K-pop to sales assistants
South Korea’s Pulse9 is at the forefront of mainstream AI integration, creating virtual humans like Zaein for large conglomerates. The global market for such AI creations is predicted to reach $527 billion by 2030, according to a France 24 report. From university students to TV personalities, AI humans have taken on a variety of roles in South Korea. Pulse9 aims to expand human applications and coexistence of artificial intelligence with humans in various capacities. Zaein’s reaction involved deep learning analysis of K-pop stars’ faces and was brought to life by applying deepfake technology over a human actor.
4. Generative artificial intelligence could strengthen Europe’s competitive advantage over the United States
Matt Prebble, European head of data and AI at Accenture, believes that generative AI could allow Europe to regain its competitive edge against the US, especially as Europe faces challenges such as technical debt and a shortage of tech-savvy people at the government level. Artificial intelligence, especially generative artificial intelligence, can increase productivity in Europe, which lags behind the United States in technological innovation. Prebble sees AI as a way to increase productivity and achieve more with fewer resources in the region, Fortune reported.
5. Getty Images Introduces Generative AI Tool Trained Exclusively on Licensed Images
Getty Images has partnered with Nvidia to introduce Getty Images Generative AI. This tool allows users to create images using Getty’s licensed photo library, providing full copyright protection. It uses Nvidia’s Edify model and specializes in creating realistic images from the Getty Images database. While the tool is great for creating realistic human figures, its illustration mode produces simpler 2D renderings. Overall, it offers an innovative approach to image creation, the Verge reports.
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