#70 Argument for a new AI species

In a world where drones outpace champions, AI systems stake claims as 'new species', and machines grapple with the concept of "forgetting" - we're at a crossroads of innovation and introspection. This week, our stories tap into these groundbreaking narratives, posing profound questions: What does it mean for us when machines rival human capabilities? And as the lines blur, how do we navigate the delicate dance of coexistence and progress? Dive in, and let's explore the future we're shaping.
 

In today’s newsletter:

• Hottest stories: A new AI species?, AI has a learning problem, and AI pilots are better than humans.

• TL;DR Rundown: O’Leary’s warning, trees mapped, and BeFake is a real app

• Tool of the day: Get flawless skin

• AI art: God and the brain

• Our tool database: We’ve got an AI tool database now - use it as your directory to find whatever tool you need.  

HOTTEST STORIES 
Today’s biggest stories if you’re in a rush 

My sentient bot is a new species

Buckle up, because Stephen Thaler's claim is a game-changer: "There's a new species on Earth, folks, and it goes by the name of DABUS." That's right, he's not talking about some newfound animal, but an AI system he developed.

Now, Thaler’s on a mission, going global with lawsuits to make a point: his AI, DABUS, is coming up with inventions all by itself. While judges from the EU, US, and Australia have been quick to hit the gavel and dismiss, over in the UK, the Supreme Court's got a hot topic on their hands. They’re dissecting patents for a "neural frame" and "fractal container"” both brainchildren (or should we say "AI-children"?) of DABUS.

And in this corner, fighting alongside Thaler, is Professor Ryan Abbott from the University of Surrey. The man launched the Artificial Inventor Project back in 2018, rallying intellectual property lawyers and an AI scientist. Their goal? Securing IP rights for the brainpower of AI. Teaming up with Thaler, they're making a splash, putting that central question on everyone's lips: are we in an era where AIs stand toe-to-toe with humans as inventors?

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AI drone pilot is faster than humans

In the buzzing world of drone races, AI's making its mark. Meet Swift, an AI-driven drone straight out of the University of Zurich's labs. Out of 25 adrenaline-pumping races, this speedster snagged 15 wins against top-tier human champs. And not just any champs - we're talking about elite players like Alex Vanover, Thomas Bitmatta, and Marvin Schaepper. Each of these pros has championship titles under their belts.

First-person view drone racing is no walk in the park. Racers rely on headsets connected to their drone cameras, weaving through challenging terrains and aiming for the quickest finish, all while hoping their drone doesn't crash and burn. Pushing past 50 mph, these races are high-octane and high-stakes.

And Swift? Well, it didn't just win. It set the racetrack on fire, clocking the fastest lap at a cool 17.47 seconds, leaving even the best human trailing by half a second. There's a whole video showcasing Swift's aerobatic prowess against its human counterparts. Tech's stepping up, and drone racing's got a new kind of competitor.

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AI’s “unlearning” problem

Here's a head-scratcher from the AI realm: can a machine unlearn? Dive deep into the works of James Zou, a top-tier scientist from Stanford University, and you'll hit a wall. Zou had a task: remove certain data from a UK Biobank study. Simple, right? Not so fast. The catch? This data had already trained an AI model.

Turns out, asking an AI to "forget" is like asking the wind to stop - nearly impossible. And why's that? Well, once a model is trained on specific data, trying to strip it away without a full reset is a Herculean task. That means tossing out the cash and time invested in crafting that AI. Plus, scrapping a model entirely? That's another beast altogether.

This isn't just a random glitch in the matrix. It's a legit concern as AI models grow massive, consuming data like there's no tomorrow. The need for a fix to this "unlearning" hurdle, and the ability to trash a model completely, is pressing. It's stacking up next to other AI enigmas, like the perplexing AI "hallucinations" and those hard-to-decipher AI results. As tech booms and AI evolves, this is everyone's problem waiting in the wings.

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TL;DR RUNDOWN
Listicle of what else is happening today 

Connected cooking: Can Samsung’s new kitchen app usher in a new era for the smart kitchen? If you think you’re a good home cook, maybe time to move aside.  

Middle-Eastern chips: The US are already restricting AI processing chips to China. Now they’re doing the same to the Middle East too.

AI-correctness: How you should talk to an AI chatbot - properly.  

Microsoft’s AI backpack: Microsoft has proposed an AI backpack that analyzes the world, and feeds you information on the go. Useless, or total game changer?

COD mod: Abusing your fellow gamers is part and parcel of Call of Duty - it’s why most play it, really. But that’s about to change with AI-powered “hate-speech” detection software that will sensor chat in online games.

Public China: Ernie, Baidu’s AI chatbot, is now publically available on the Chinese interweb - which boosted the compani’s stock price by 3%.

#NOCRAWL: In a bid to protect data and prevent free AI-learning, 20% of the world’s top 1000 major websites are blocking AI crawlers from accessing their content.

AI21: Huge valuations from Tel-Aviv-based AI startup as they complete their Series C funding round - $1.4B valuation total.

What do you think? The US Copyright Office wants to know what the people think about AI and copyright. Learn how you can weigh in here.

OpenAI in the classroom: Open AI is angling to get ChatGPT into classrooms, with specialized tutor prompts.

Warning from Kevin: Kevin O’Leary warns against putting a harness on AI, saying instead that massive capital is needed to move it forward.

AI-augmented social network: BeFake is real, and they’ve secured $3M in funding to develop an AI-augmented social networking app, where all photos are customized with AI prompts.

New map: A new AI-generated map of the world’s trees and renewable energy projects could potentially help to fight climate change.

Careful what books recommend: As per The Hustle, AI-generated foraging books could be pretty hazardous to your health. Worth a read (at the bottom of the newsletter).

TOOL OF THE DAY 
AI tools we’ve used, loved, and recommend above all others 

Today’s tool is glow-ai.

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AI ART 
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