Published on: April 21, 2024

Source: Yahoo Finance

AI has become an integral part of United's operations, with the airline utilizing it to coordinate various aspects of its services. From gate agents to flight attendants, United's staff uses AI-powered chatrooms to ensure flights depart on time and address any potential issues. For instance, coordinating carry-on baggage space, catering services, and seating arrangements for families.

One of the most notable AI implementations by United is its AI-generated flight delay notifications. When a flight is delayed, passengers receive a text message or an app notification explaining the reason for the delay. These messages are generated by AI algorithms, providing passengers with real-time information. Additionally, United recently introduced an AI customer service chatbot on its website, offering instant assistance to customers.

United's CIO, Jason Birnbaum, who joined the company in 2015, manages a large team of employees and contractors responsible for driving these technological innovations. Birnbaum shared his insights on the importance of AI and the need to stay ahead in the dynamic business landscape: "What I love about our business is also what you hate about the business... Now, if something happens, even for 15 minutes, not only is it all over social media, but the news trucks head out to the airport."

United is also focused on optimizing its cloud infrastructure and reducing costs. The airline has chosen AWS as its preferred cloud provider and is working towards improving cloud usage efficiency and reliability. Birnbaum commented on the current trend in cloud computing, stating, "Everybody is trying to optimize their cloud infrastructure and spend less." United's approach to cloud optimization reflects its commitment to staying at the forefront of technological advancements in the airline industry.

The airline continues to balance its use of legacy systems with new technologies, ensuring that any changes do not disrupt operations. While United has already retired many legacy systems, it plans to retain some on-premises systems for performance, privacy, and security reasons. United's strategy showcases its commitment to a seamless transition and ensuring operational stability.

In conclusion, United Airlines' adoption of AI and its focus on cloud infrastructure optimization demonstrate its dedication to enhancing the travel experience for its customers. By leveraging cutting-edge technology, United aims to streamline operations, improve efficiency, and maintain its competitive edge in the dynamic airline industry.

Published on: April 21, 2024

Source: TechCrunch

The offender, 48-year-old Anthony Dover, was convicted of making over 1,000 indecent images of children. In addition to a community order and a £200 fine, the court imposed a sexual harm prevention order, restricting Dover's access to AI generation tools without prior police permission. This includes text-to-image generators, 'nudifying' websites, and Stable Diffusion software, which have been exploited to create explicit deepfakes and child sexual abuse material.

This case comes amid growing concerns over the misuse of AI technology by sex offenders and follows recent warnings from charities and the UK government's announcement of a new offense for creating sexually explicit deepfakes without consent, punishable by fines and potential jail time.

The decision highlights the need to address the threat posed by AI-generated sexual abuse imagery and the role of tech companies in preventing its creation and distribution.

Published on: April 21, 2024

Source: The Guardian

Published on: April 21, 2024

Source: Meta AI Division

The use of AI in this context is a significant advancement, enabling the detection of fishing-related patterns and identifying vessels believed to be engaged in IUU fishing. This technology not only helps narrow down the number of vessels under suspicion but also assists in combating criminal activities associated with illegal fishing, such as human trafficking and slavery.

Global Fishing Watch's platform analyzes data points such as vessel activity, size, and engine power, as well as the type of fishing gear used. By incorporating AIS data, which is now beamed via satellite from almost every ship, the system can infer whether a vessel is likely to be fishing based on its movement and location. This is a vast improvement from traditional enforcement methods, which struggled to effectively police the vastness of the oceans.

The organization's efforts have already led to notable successes, including the interception of the MV NIKA in collaboration with Indonesian patrol boats and Interpol. Additionally, Global Fishing Watch played a crucial role in uncovering the presence of Chinese boats trawling for flying squid, which indirectly led to the stranding of North Korean fishing boats on Japan's shores.

The use of AI in ocean conservation is gaining traction, with organizations like OceanMind also employing machine-learning algorithms to map data and catch perpetrators. This technology is proving to be a game-changer in the fight against overfishing and illegal fishing, empowering authorities to make more informed decisions and plan patrols to intercept illegal activities.

Global Fishing Watch's work underscores the importance of transparency and sustainability in global fishing activities. By making their platform accessible to anyone, they are empowering individuals and organizations to take action and ensure the fair and sustainable use of our oceans and their precious resources.

Published on: April 20, 2024

Source: World Economic Forum

While AI will undoubtedly continue to have a significant impact, its current hype is expected to diminish. The trajectory of AI's integration and normalisation may follow a similar path to that of streaming services, which initially revolutionised how we accessed movies, TV shows, and music. As streaming became the norm, the market became oversaturated, and the excitement shifted to finding the next innovative service.

Similarly, as AI becomes more ingrained in our daily lives and workflows, the excitement around AI tools may wane, and the focus will shift to practical applications that provide unique value. This shift will likely impact smaller businesses and startups the most, as they navigate the challenges of a crowded market, rising costs, and potential regulatory restrictions.

The AI landscape is also facing ethical and legal concerns, including the potential for copyright infringement, plagiarism, and data privacy issues. As AI systems become more prevalent, addressing these challenges will be crucial to maintaining trust and responsible innovation.

While the future of AI holds great promise, it is not without its challenges and uncertainties. The key for businesses and entrepreneurs will be to stay informed, adapt, and find innovative ways to utilise AI that aligns with their brand and values. Striking a balance between embracing new technology and ensuring ethical and responsible use will be essential for harnessing the true potential of AI.

Published on: April 20, 2024

Source: Los Angeles Times

Published on: April 19, 2024

Source: Artificial Intelligence News

The year 2024 is expected to be pivotal for AI, with researchers and enterprises seeking practical ways to incorporate this technology into various aspects of our lives. One notable trend is the shift towards smaller, more efficient AI models. Researchers are focusing on improving performance without increasing model size or computational resources. Techniques like UL2R and rounding techniques reduce hardware requirements and enhance efficiency, making AI more accessible on cellphones and other devices.

Multimodal AI is also making significant progress, with improvements in image recognition and language models. Multimodal deep learning enables models to discover relationships between different modalities, enhancing their capabilities.

However, with great power comes great responsibility. The rapid advancement of AI has raised ethical dilemmas and governance challenges. Bias, discrimination, privacy violations, and data misuse are among the pressing concerns. Efforts are being made to address these issues, with organizations like the Berkman Klein Center and Accenture focusing on ethical AI frameworks. As AI becomes more autonomous, striking a balance between innovation and ethical implications is crucial for its responsible integration into our lives.

Published on: April 19, 2024

Source: AI Trends

On February 15, 2024, OpenAI gave the world a glimpse of what the future of filmmaking could look like. Sora, its new text-to-video model, is capable of generating hyperrealistic videos of up to a minute in length based on simple text prompts. From woolly mammoths walking through the snow to a turtle riding a bike across the ocean, Sora brings imaginative scenes to life with stunning visual details. While the model is not yet publicly available, its potential has already sparked a frenzy of ideas and discussions within the AI community and beyond.

The capabilities of Sora and similar tools being developed by companies like Runway, Pika, and Google's Lumiere are unprecedented. By understanding the physical world and accurately interpreting props, these AI models can create complex scenes with multiple characters and specific types of motion. They can even generate videos based on still images or fill in missing frames in existing footage. The potential benefits for filmmakers are immense, particularly for independent creators with limited resources. As Anna Apter, a director who used AI in her short film '/Imagine', said, "I know how all these jobs can be threatened by AI. But I feel like it gives people who don't have big budgets — we don't have excuses anymore, you know? We can do anything."

However, the excitement around text-to-video AI is tempered by concerns over its potential misuse. With AI-generated media becoming increasingly prevalent, there are worries about its impact on society, especially during an election year and amid global conflicts. Deepfakes, misinformation, and the spread of digital disinformation are key areas of concern. The Federal Trade Commission has proposed rules to address these issues, aiming to protect consumers from impersonation fraud and the harmful effects of AI-generated content. Additionally, companies like OpenAI are collaborating with experts to test their models for potential harm and bias.

The entertainment industry is also grappling with the implications of AI. Hollywood writers and actors have gone on strike multiple times to address the threat AI poses to their livelihoods. While AI can streamline certain aspects of filmmaking, there are fears that it could replace human creativity and jobs. As AI continues to evolve, finding a balance between harnessing its benefits and mitigating its risks will be crucial.

Despite the concerns, the momentum behind text-to-video AI is undeniable. With OpenAI's Sora set to be publicly available later this year and competitors rapidly developing their own models, the future of filmmaking is here. The race is on to harness this technology responsibly and ethically, ensuring that the benefits of AI-powered video generation are shared by all.

Published on: April 19, 2024

Source: The Verge

AI-generated content, also known as deepfakes, refers to fake images, videos, or audio recordings that are created using advanced machine learning techniques. These deepfakes are often spread on social media platforms and can be extremely realistic and convincing, making it difficult for viewers to distinguish them from genuine content.

Recent examples of AI-generated content in politics include a manipulated video of CNN host Anderson Cooper shared by former President Donald Trump, as well as AI-generated images of Trump resisting arrest. Additionally, a Democratic consultant working for a rival campaign admitted to using an AI-generated robocall that impersonated President Joe Biden to discourage voters in New Hampshire's primary.

The ease of access to generative AI tools and the speed at which content can be created have lowered the bar for creating and spreading disinformation. This has led to concerns about the potential impact on election integrity, with some experts warning that it could erode trust in the information ecosystem and make it harder for journalists to disseminate accurate information.

To address these challenges, some social media companies like Meta have announced measures to flag and disclose AI-generated content on their platforms. However, other platforms, such as Twitter, have not committed to similar actions. The lack of federal legislation mandating tech companies to address this issue further complicates the situation, leaving much of the responsibility to the companies themselves.

As the 2024 elections approach, the role of AI in shaping political discourse and influencing voters is expected to become increasingly prominent. The widespread use of AI-generated content by politicians and other bad actors could have significant implications for election integrity and the public's trust in democratic processes.

Published on: April 19, 2024

Source: MIT Technology Review