Google Employees’ Concerns Over Bard, Klarna’s AI Solution and More: 5 AI Developments You May Have Missed Today

Klarna, the Swedish fintech company, has launched a new AI feature that allows users to snap pictures of desired items, instantly finding them within the app. Meanwhile, Google employees have expressed doubts about the effectiveness of the Bard chatbot. Additionally, CCC, a cloud platform catering to the insurance and automotive sectors, has introduced AI solutions for collision repairs, automating initial damage assessments and estimation processes to improve customer service.

1. Klarna presents an AI-based shopping experience

Swedish fintech company Klarna announced on Wednesday that it will release a new AI-powered feature that aims to make shopping easier. According to a Reuters report. The feature, developed with OpenAI technology, allows users to take a picture of the object they want, which will immediately appear in the company’s application. According to the company’s marketing director David Sandström, this feature recognizes almost 10 million products in different categories such as electronics, clothing, home decor and more.

2. Questions arise about the usefulness of Google Bard

Bloomberg reported Wednesday that Google employees, including product managers and engineers, are discussing the usefulness of the company’s AI chatbot called Bard. The report states that questions arise about the application’s effectiveness and whether the resources allocated to its development are worth it. In a Discord chat in July, Dominik Rabiej, senior product manager at Bard, wrote: “My rule of thumb is that I don’t trust an LLM result unless I can independently verify it. I’d like to get it to the point where you can, but it’s not there yet.”

3. The power demand of artificial intelligence can exceed the energy demand of small countries

With the recent boom in artificial intelligence, the demand for AI-related technologies may exceed that of small countries such as the Netherlands, Argentina and Sweden, PTI reported on Wednesday. A study published in the journal Joule found that the energy footprint of artificial intelligence could grow huge and electricity consumption could rise to 134 TWh per year by 2027. Alex de Vries, a researcher at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and lead author of the study, said: “It’s energy intensive, so we don’t want to put it in all sorts of things where we don’t really need it.”

4. CCC presents artificial intelligence solutions for collision repairs

CCC, a cloud platform serving the insurance and automotive industry, announced new artificial intelligence-based solutions on Wednesday. AI solutions can automate the initial damage assessment and initiate the assessment according to the release. One of the products, called the Repair Cost Predictor, uses artificial intelligence to automate the initial damage assessment, producing an instant repair cost estimate for consumers. Mark Fincher, director of product management and automotive services at CCC Intelligent Solutions, said: “These tools help garages meet the changing demands of the industry while providing exceptional service to consumers.”

5. Nexpose, a virtual showroom technology powered by artificial intelligence, was launched

Nexposai, a virtual showroom technology intended for the industrial equipment sector, was launched on Wednesday. It can combine 3D virtual visualization with artificial intelligence-based interactivity, bringing a new way for companies and manufacturers to showcase industrial products, according to the release. It also has built-in AI that provides product information and answers queries. Dave Chaffey, founding partner of Nexposai, said: “What’s revolutionary about Nexposai is the mix of tactile interactions, intelligent AI questions and answers, and potential human relationships.”