Pope Francis raises concerns about AI risks, Putin encounters his AI replica, and more: 5 AI updates you might have overlooked today
On December 14, there were notable developments in the field of artificial intelligence (AI). Pope Francis called on global leaders to ensure that advancements in AI technology are used to promote human unity and peace, ahead of the upcoming World Day of Peace anniversary. Additionally, Russian President Vladimir Putin had a moment of surprise when he encountered an AI-generated replica of himself. These stories and more are covered in today’s AI roundup, providing a detailed examination of the latest happenings in the AI world.
The Pope warns of the danger of artificial intelligence
In his annual message on the World Day of Peace, Pope Francis urges world leaders to ensure that advances in artificial intelligence promote human brotherhood and peace, reported Vatican News. Focusing on the theme “Artificial Intelligence and Peace”, the message highlights the ethical dimension of these technologies and acknowledges their transformative impact on various aspects of human life. The Pope emphasizes the dichotomy of scientific and technological progress, highlighting both its potential benefits and ethical challenges.
“We have an obligation to broaden our gaze and direct technical-scientific research towards peace and the common good in the service of the holistic development of individuals and communities,” he said.
Putin meets his AI double
Reuters reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin was momentarily at a loss for words at an annual news conference when he was confronted by an artificial intelligence-created version of himself. The artificial intelligence “double” raised the question of Putin’s perspective on the dangers posed by artificial intelligence and neural networks. This unexpected question led to a rare hesitation from Putin, who was only in the fourth hour of the marathon event.
“I see that you may resemble me and speak with my voice. But I have thought about it and decided that only one person must be like me and speak with my voice, and that is me,” Putin said.
UK police use artificial intelligence to save time
The Police Minister has encouraged law enforcement agencies to adopt artificial intelligence, as Bedfordshire has successfully used AI to speed up administrative tasks, according to a BBC report. In particular, artificial intelligence is used to quickly remove personal data from case files, which traditionally took days, but now takes minutes. This innovation to comply with data protection laws involves preparing case files for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) by removing personal information such as addresses and telephone numbers from investigative documents. The minister, MP Chris Philp, sees AI as having the potential to radically revolutionize policing.
US related healthcare providers plan to manage AI risks
According to a Reuters report, 28 healthcare companies, including CVS Health, are voluntarily committing to ensuring the safe development of artificial intelligence by signing pledges launched by US President Joe Biden. This follows similar commitments from 15 prominent AI companies, including Google, OpenAI and Microsoft (OpenAI’s partner). The move is part of the Biden administration’s efforts to create guidelines for the development of artificial intelligence amid a limited regulatory framework due to its rapid progress and growing popularity.
Chinese AI startup 01.AI raises $200 million
Beijing-based artificial intelligence startup 01.AI is raising $200 million in new capital after it was recently valued at $1 billion in November, Reuters reports. Founded by former Google China head Lee Kai-fu, the startup is part of a growing trend among Chinese companies including Meta and Alibaba to open their large language models (LLMs) to the public, competing with the market leader. OpenAI. 01.AI is seeking additional investment from US dollar-denominated investors and aims to capitalize on the growing global interest in open source AI models.
