5 AI developments you might have overlooked today: ITIs to incorporate AI across the board, potential negative impact of AI on quality of life, and more
ITIs in India are making a significant change by incorporating ‘AI for all’ into their curriculum, benefiting students. However, a recent study warns that AI could potentially decrease quality of life. Additionally, a new AI-powered patch is helping patients with voice disorders improve their speech. In a unique case, a woman is using an AI chatbot to communicate with her deceased mother. Stay updated with these and more stories in our daily roundup.
1. ITI integrates “AI for all” into the curriculum
Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) nationwide are incorporating the ‘AI for All’ program into their curriculum, promoting AI awareness. Led by the Future Right Skills Network (FRSN) and the Directorate General for Education (DGT), the initiative aims to improve employability. It bridges the gaps between industry and academia and adapts academic programs to the needs of the industry. The FRSN, which includes Quest Alliance, Accenture, Cisco, JP Morgan and SAP Labs India, has been pursuing this effort since 2019, according to an Economic Times report.
2. According to research, artificial intelligence can reduce the quality of life
Exposure to artificial intelligence-based software, robotics and trackers can negatively affect well-being, suggests a study by the Institute for the Future of Work. Studying 6,000 people, it found correlations between these techniques and poorer health. Traditional information and communication technologies such as laptops had a positive effect. Factors such as job insecurity and increased workloads were included, raising concerns about AI’s wider societal impact on employment, The Guardian reported.
3. AI powered patch helps speech of voice disorder patients
UCLA researchers are developing adhesive patches that convert throat movements into speech for those with voice disorders. Made of a unique material, the patch converts the movements of the larynx into electrical signals that are processed by a machine learning algorithm. The accuracy is up to 94.68 percent. The Indian Express reports that expected benefits include restoring voice function and improving quality of life for individuals with functional impairments.
4. The woman “communicates” with the dead mother with the help of an AI chatbot
To “communicate” with her dead mother, Sirine Malas used the Project December tool, which enables simulated conversations with a dead person. Despite finding solace, he warns against overconfidence and highlights the possibility of unhealthy attachment. Project December’s founder reports more than 3,000 user shutdowns through the app. Sirine acknowledges the tool’s innovation, but urges caution in managing expectations, according to a NYPost report.
5. US-funded report warns of artificial intelligence threat to humanity
A US-funded report warns of the potential for artificial intelligence to threaten human existence. Gladstone’s artificial intelligence report, commissioned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, highlights the risks posed by advanced artificial intelligence by comparing them to weapons of mass destruction. In the pursuit of human-level and superhuman AI, laboratories face challenges in managing AI systems, raising global security concerns. CEO Jeremie Harris emphasizes both the opportunities for change and the catastrophic risks, CNN reports.
