Lumian Gen AI Newsletter Issue #29

⏱️ News Flash

The 2-Minute Scoop to Keep You in the Loop

1/ Meta is all in on open source A(G)I

Mark Zuckerberg is aggressively pursuing Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), merging Meta's AI research and generative AI teams to harness a massive arsenal of 600,000 Nvidia GPUs. Without a defined AGI timeline or clear definition, he's focusing on developing broader intelligence capabilities, like in Meta's advanced Llama 3 model, and advocating for an open-source approach to AGI development. This strategic move, integral to Meta's vision for the Metaverse, positions the company at the forefront of a tech revolution, aiming to profoundly impact how billions interact with AI in daily life.

2/ Microsoft Launches Copilot Pro

Microsoft is enhancing its AI capabilities with the launch of Copilot Pro, a premium subscription of $20 per month offering advanced features for individual users, and expanding Copilot for Microsoft 365 to businesses of all sizes. This includes the introduction of Copilot GPTs for personalized AI experiences, a new mobile app, and integration into Microsoft 365 apps. These updates aim to empower users with greater productivity and creativity across devices, catering to both personal and professional AI needs.

3/ OpenAI partners with Arizona State University (ASU)

OpenAI is teaming up with Arizona State University (ASU) in a groundbreaking partnership, integrating the full suite of ChatGPT Enterprise, including GPT-4, into ASU's educational framework starting February. This collaboration will introduce personalized AI tutors and innovative AI avatars to enhance student learning, particularly in STEM subjects, marking a significant leap in the application of AI in education. This partnership, a first of its kind between OpenAI and a higher education institution, sets a precedent for the future role of AI in academia, with both parties keen to explore responsible AI integration in educational settings.

🤖 OpenAI at Davos

Visionary Perspectives on AI's Future

Our notes from the event —

• Election Anxiety Acknowledged: Sam Altman views public concern over upcoming elections as positive, indicating heightened awareness and preparedness.

• AGI's Limited Impact Prediction: Altman suggests that the advent of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) might not be as transformative as widely anticipated.

• Collaboration with US Military: OpenAI, under a revised policy, engages with the US military on non-weapon projects like cybersecurity and veteran suicide prevention, distancing itself from developing harmful tools.

• Data Partnerships Approach: OpenAI is selective about sourcing data for training AI models, preferring voluntary partnerships over legal disputes.

• Economic Benefits for Artists: A future is envisioned where artists are economically rewarded for their contributions to AI ecosystems like Dall-E, promoting creative collaboration.

• AI in Governance and Public Service: There's excitement about governments using AI to enhance public services, indicating a shift towards AI's benevolent use in governance.

• Future's Key Currencies - Intelligence and Energy: Altman identifies 'intelligence' and 'energy' as future's pivotal resources, linking AI's energy demands to potential solutions for climate issues.

🤑 Fundraising

The (AI) Intelligent Investor

• Forta raises $55M to scale parent-led autism therapy with AI

• Vicarius lands $30M for its AI-powered vulnerability detection tools

• AI Startup Sakana Raises $30 Million to Build Smaller AI Models

🤖 Nerd Out

Technical and Business Readings

• The modern AI stack by Menlo Ventures

• The immediate future of generative AI looks a bit like Facebook’s past

• AI girlfriend bots are flooding OpenAI's GPT store

😜 Meat the Creator!

Food for Thought

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Best,

Robin and Saswat