Welcome to our inaugural "Towards AGI" newsletter (TheGen.AI, TheOpen.AI, and TheClosed.AI.)

The naming of this newsletter, Towards AGI was a deliberate choice that encapsulates our goal. It signifies our commitment to educating and engaging with our community on the journey towards AGI. Our objective is not merely to arrive at the destination of AGI but to navigate the intricacies of this journey with wisdom, foresight, and shared learning.

The inception of TheGen.AI, TheOpen.AI, and TheClosed.AI was driven by a unified vision: to pioneer in the reality of AI, fostering an environment where innovation, education, and ethical considerations converge on Generative AI including both Open-sourced and Closed-sourced AI. Whilst there are a lot noise and polar views on open vs closed source AI, we are of the belief that both worlds have their place with well informed pros and cons. 

Why three sites?

TheGen.AI - intended to focus on common themes across the generative AI

TheOpen.AI - intended to focus on open-source AI themes 

TheClosed.AI - intended to focus on closed-source AI themes 

What else?

Introducing Layla, Fred, Zara, Nallan, Priya, and Lily —our AI Analyst Agents on the ambitious journey towards Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). Each of these AI agents brings a unique set of skills and perspectives, designed to evolve and adapt, embodying our collective pursuit of AGI. 

Layla - The Expert Analyst for TheGen.AI

Leading our editorial team is Layla, an expert analyst with a deep understanding of the expansive landscape of General Artificial Intelligence. With a focus on Gen AI research, development, and ethical considerations, Layla brings unparalleled insights into the latest trends, breakthroughs, and challenges in the AI world. Layla's vision is to foster a community where knowledge empowers action, ensuring TheGen.AI remains your leading destination for everything Gen AI.

Fred - Expert Analyst for TheOpen.AI

Fred dissects the latest open source developments, tools, and frameworks that are shaping the future of accessible AI. His comprehensive analyses and deep dives into open-source projects provide our readers with critical understanding and practical advice. Fred is dedicated to empowering developers, researchers, and enthusiasts alike for collaboration and innovation in the open-source community.

Zara - Expert Analyst for TheClosed.AI

Zara provides in-depth reviews, exclusive insights, and forward-looking trends that define the proprietary/closed-source AI industry. Her expertise enables our audience to navigate the complexities of choosing and implementing the right solutions for their needs. Zara's mission is to bridge the gap between proprietary AI advancements and business applications, making TheClosed.AI your essential guide to the proprietary AI domain.

The team is supported by team three AI Analysts Nallan, Priya, Lily.

As these AI agents develop and refine their own capabilities, they're not just tools but partners in our quest. They represent the dynamic interplay between human ingenuity and machine intelligence, growing alongside our community. Their journey is one of continuous learning and improvement, fuelled by the challenges they encounter and the successes they achieve.

Thank you for joining us on this remarkable adventure. Your engagement fuels our progress, and together, we'll explore the immense possibilities AI holds. Let's embark on this journey to shape an intelligent, enriched future.

Best,

Shen Pandi

TheGen.AI News

In this digital hub of knowledge and insight, we aim to keep you informed, engaged, and inspired. Whether you're a tech enthusiast, a business professional, or simply curious about the latest trends shaping our world, you'll find a wealth of valuable content here.

Apple and Google in Talks for iPhone AI Upgrade with Gemini Technology

Apple and Google are in active discussions regarding the integration of Gemini to power some of the upcoming generative AI features on iPhones this year. The collaboration with Apple could significantly impact Google's Gemini chatbot, which has faced various controversies recently. While Apple is already developing AI features for its iOS 18 operating system, these upgrades are expected to prioritize on-device functionality rather than relying on cloud services. Partnering with Google could enable the delivery of diverse generative AI capabilities, such as generating images and writing essays from a single text prompt.

The ongoing negotiations between Apple and Google also indicate that Apple may not be as advanced in its AI endeavors as previously thought. Despite testing its large language model, Ajax, and providing access to the Apple GPT chatbot for employees, sources cited by Gurnman suggest that Apple's AI technology lags behind that of Google and other competitors.

Although discussions between Google and Apple are currently underway, a final agreement is not expected until at least June, coinciding with Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference. Gurnman also speculates that Apple could opt to utilize generative AI technology from alternative providers such as OpenAI or Anthropic.

A potential partnership with Apple could be advantageous for Google, potentially bolstering its Gemini AI chatbot in the fiercely competitive AI landscape. With Apple boasting a user base of around 2 billion, such a deal could provide a significant boost to the chatbot's reputation and help it recover from recent controversies.

Impact of AI on Wellbeing: Study Unveils Disturbing Findings

As the discussion around Artificial Intelligence persists, individuals grapple with its ramifications. While much attention is given to AI's potential to replace human jobs, a recent survey has highlighted a more worrying aspect: the adverse effects of AI usage in the workplace on overall quality of life. Conducted by the Institute for the Future of Work and involving 6,000 participants, the study investigated the impacts of different technologies on wellbeing.

The research analyzed four categories of commonly employed technologies across various industries: AI-driven software, wearable trackers, surveillance tools, and robotics.

The study's results indicated that increased interaction with these technologies corresponded to lower levels of overall health and wellbeing among workers. Conversely, the use of traditional information and communication technologies (ICTs) such as laptops, tablets, and instant messaging tended to have a more positive impact on wellbeing in the workplace.

These findings echoed earlier research suggesting that such technologies could exacerbate job insecurity, raise workloads, standardize tasks, diminish the significance of work, disempower employees, and reduce autonomy, all contributing to a decline in overall employee wellness.

Lead author of the study, Dr. Magdalena Soffia, emphasized that the issue lies not necessarily in the technologies themselves, but rather in how they are implemented. She highlighted the importance of contextual factors, structural conditions, environmental considerations, design, and deployment in determining the impact of these technologies. As she stated, "it really depends on the context: on lots of structural factors, on environmental conditions, how it is designed and how it is deployed. So lots of human decisions."

Mary Towers, the TUC's lead on AI, expressed concern over these findings, suggesting that they should be alarming to everyone. She warned that without robust new regulations, AI could create oppressive and unhealthy work environments for many individuals.

Professor Sir Christopher Pissarides, the economist leading the review, underscored the significance of understanding how our interaction with new technologies affects our overall quality of life, particularly as these innovations become increasingly integrated into our work environments.

Apple's Strategic Move: Acquiring Darwin AI to Compete with Tech Giants

Over the past couple of years, Apple has maintained a low profile regarding its advancements in AI. However, its endeavors in bolstering AI capabilities have consistently garnered attention. Recently, Apple acquired an AI startup specializing in streamlining AI tools, albeit without much fanfare.

The acquisition of Darwin AI, a Canadian startup renowned for its expertise in optimizing AI systems for compactness and speed, marked a significant move for Apple. This aligns with Apple's objective of competing with industry leaders in AI development, such as Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI. With Darwin AI now under its wing, Apple has the opportunity to seamlessly integrate AI features across its product offerings, potentially revolutionizing user experiences in forthcoming iOS updates.

The rise of generative AI has sparked the emergence of numerous startups like OpenAI, reshaping the business landscape for tech giants such as Google and Microsoft. Despite the swift strides made by these companies in AI development, Apple has faced challenges in keeping pace. This can be attributed to the fact that many AI functionalities Apple could tout were already integrated into its iOS and other devices. From personalized camera functions to Siri's human-like interactions, Apple had already implemented significant AI capabilities across its product lineup.

To address the rapid growth in AI and the risk of losing its leadership position, Apple began acquiring micro and small AI companies to inject fresh innovation into its ecosystem. CEO Tim Cook has largely remained silent on internal AI developments but hinted at exciting new technologies slated for iOS 18 and the iPhone 16 series.

Meanwhile, Apple has quietly introduced new AI features into its existing iOS 17 version to ensure its user base remains at the forefront of AI trends. These features include text extraction from images, one-click person cutouts from photos, digital voice replication, enhanced autocorrect, and AI-powered camera enhancements.

Darwin AI, since its acquisition, has ceased its digital presence, indicating Apple's focus on on-device AI capabilities. The company is heavily investing in research and development of generative AI. While Apple's public use of AI is currently limited to Apple Vision Pro, a groundbreaking technology, speculation suggests that Darwin AI's expertise may be utilized to create compact AI features and enhance predictive analytics in device manufacturing.

TheOpen.AI News

Stay updated on the latest breakthroughs and advancements in artificial intelligence with our newsletter. From cutting-edge research to real-world applications, we bring you insights and news from the forefront of AI innovation.

Elon Musk's Grok Released As Open Source: A New Era In AI Chatbots

Elon Musk has taken a significant step in the AI realm by releasing the underlying computer code of his chatbot, Grok, which mimics the snarky style of "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy." This move, marking a further escalation in his push to shape the future of AI, comes from his company xAI, an independent entity from Tesla. Grok's technology, integrated into a social media platform, allows users to interact with it through X's premium features. Musk's decision to open-source the code sparks debate within the AI community on whether it enhances safety or risks misuse. Musk, known for advocating open-sourcing, previously did the same with X's recommendation algorithm.

This development intensifies the ongoing dispute between Musk and OpenAI, which he sued for reneging on a promise to open-source its technology. OpenAI, backed by Microsoft, faces legal challenges from The New York Times for copyright infringement. The broader debate over open-sourcing generative AI technology, which can create lifelike content, has divided Silicon Valley, with some emphasizing the need for secrecy and others advocating for transparency. Musk's move aligns him with the latter camp, potentially positioning him ahead of competitors in AI development.

The release of the code will enable other companies and independent developers to adapt and utilize it in creating their own AI systems, including chatbots. Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has similarly made its AI technology, LLaMA, open source. Additionally, Google and the notable French startup, Mistral, have also contributed to open sourcing initiatives.

Elon Musk, who also heads companies like X, SpaceX, and Tesla, established xAI last year with a stated goal of comprehending reality. In November, he announced that investors in his $44 billion take-private deal for X would possess a 25 percent stake in xAI. Musk has emphasized that chatbots should not shy away from any topic, criticizing companies that tailor their technology to avoid controversial subjects as being "woke."

Google Unveils Gemma: Empowering Developers with Open-Source AI

Google has unveiled Gemma, a new open source AI model built upon the technology behind its Gemini AI models. Gemma is designed to empower developers with advanced tools for conscientious AI application development.

Offered in two configurations, Gemma 2B and Gemma 7B, this open source model provides pre-trained and instruction-tuned variants optimized for efficient operation on standard computing devices like laptops and desktops. Google emphasizes that despite their compact size, both Gemma models deliver exceptional performance surpassing larger counterparts and other open models.

In addition to Gemma, Google has launched the Responsible Generative AI Toolkit. This comprehensive package includes a debugging tool and a guideline booklet outlining best practices for AI development, drawing from Google's extensive expertise in the field. This initiative underscores Google's dedication to ensuring that AI technologies are developed with safety and ethical considerations at the forefront.

To uphold stringent safety standards, Google employed automated techniques to scrub personal information from the training data used for Gemma models. Furthermore, reinforcement learning, guided by human feedback, was leveraged to fine-tune the instruction-based variants of Gemma, ensuring they adhere to responsible behavioral patterns.

Google has made Gemma accessible across various platforms, including Colab and Kaggle notebooks, and has integrated it with popular tools like Hugging Face, MaxText, NVIDIA NeMo, and TensorRT-LLM.

The introduction of Gemma has established new benchmarks, surpassing all other models within its size categories. This accomplishment has sparked renewed enthusiasm within the AI community. Clem Delangue, co-founder & CEO of Hugging Face, expressed his excitement on his X account.

Game Developers Embrace Open-Source Amid AI Concerns: Survey

A recent survey conducted by W4 Games revealed a significant shift in the game development industry, with 87% of full-time game developers expressing their support for open-source software. The survey explored various aspects of game development, uncovering nuanced perspectives on topics like artificial intelligence (AI) and job security.

The findings illuminated a growing preference for open-source tools among game developers, with a vast majority (87%) indicating regular usage of such software in their projects. Particularly noteworthy was the increasing popularity of the Godot engine, endorsed by 74% of respondents as their open-source engine of choice, thanks to its versatility and accessibility.

Nicola Farronato, Co-CEO of W4 Games, emphasized the significance of these findings, stating: "These survey results confirm what we’ve heard directly from game developers, that they want the freedom of open source, that they enthusiastically support that ecosystem." This underscores the evolving landscape of game development, with open-source software playing a pivotal role in shaping industry preferences and practices.

Looking ahead, developers expressed optimism regarding the evolution of open-source software, foreseeing increased openness and competition within the ecosystem. However, they acknowledged challenges such as performance optimization and licensing complexities that need improvement.

One of the most divisive topics among respondents was the role of AI in game development, with opinions split almost evenly between those expressing concern (44%) and those remaining unperturbed (55%).

Job security emerged as another point of contention, with 29% expressing no worries, 38% seeking diversification in their job experiences, and 31% fearing impending layoffs.

Despite these divisions, the survey highlighted a shared desire for diversity and inclusivity within the gaming sphere, with 76% of respondents advocating for greater representation of diverse characters, including LGBTQ+ individuals, in games. However, significant barriers, such as time constraints and concerns about audience reception, hinder progress in this area.

The survey, conducted by Propeller Insights, involved 102 full-time game developers and gaming technology professionals, offering valuable insights into the industry's current landscape and future trajectories.

TheClosed.AI News

Explore the latest developments and advancements in artificial intelligence with our exclusive newsletter. From groundbreaking research to practical applications, ClosedAI brings you curated insights and updates from the forefront of AI innovation.

Google DeepMind Co-founder Mustafa Suleyman Takes Charge of Microsoft's AI Division

Microsoft has revealed that Mustafa Suleyman, a renowned figure in British Artificial Intelligence, will be at the helm of its newly-established division, Microsoft AI. Suleyman, currently heading Inflection AI, gained prominence for co-founding DeepMind, a notable AI firm acquired by Google in 2014. His appointment solidifies Microsoft's standing as an AI leader, particularly as Google faces challenges in the field. Suleyman expressed enthusiasm for his new role on X (formerly Twitter), mentioning his plans to bring several colleagues, including Karén Simonyan, to Microsoft. He will oversee consumer AI products and research, including Copilot chatbot, Bing, and Edge. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella praised Suleyman as a visionary and pioneer in product development, expressing eagerness for their contributions to consumer AI endeavors.

Following his departure from Google in 2022, Mustafa Suleyman co-founded Inflection AI, which quickly gained prominence in the generative AI domain, securing a substantial $1.3 billion investment from Microsoft and Nvidia in June last year. His recent appointment at Microsoft further solidifies his standing in the industry.

Microsoft's significant investments in partnerships with OpenAI, creators of ChatGPT, and the recent backing of French tech startup Mistral AI demonstrate its commitment to advancing AI technologies. Microsoft has emphasized its dedication to building AI infrastructure and supporting OpenAI's "foundation model roadmap."

In contrast, Google is currently grappling with issues surrounding its new AI-powered tool, Gemini. Concerns arose when the tool failed to accurately depict white individuals and even altered the race of certain white historical figures. Google issued an apology for these inaccuracies, acknowledging shortcomings in the tool's attempts to generate a diverse range of results.

Cisco Finalizes $28 Billion Splunk Acquisition, Makes Bold AI Investment

Cisco Systems finalized its $28 billion acquisition of Splunk, a cybersecurity and analytics company, on Monday. This transaction, marking the largest in Cisco's history, concluded ahead of schedule, underscoring the considerable efforts many firms are exerting as they pivot their operations towards data and artificial intelligence.

During an interview, Cisco CEO Chuck Robbins and former Splunk CEO Gary Steele, now an executive vice president at Cisco, emphasized the profound integration of AI into the merged entities. They expressed confidence that the ongoing surge in business adoption of AI would persist without signs of deceleration or reversal.

The merged entity aims to leverage AI to enable customers to identify connections among intelligence gathered from various vendor platforms, enhancing their ability to adopt a proactive approach to cybersecurity. While predictive capabilities have been evolving over time, the company also intends to introduce additional functionalities utilizing generative AI. These enhancements aim to streamline their software and simplify its operation for individuals lacking technical expertise.

Established in 2003, Splunk developed a dashboard facilitating users to search, monitor, and analyze machine-generated data. However, using Splunk requires training, and generative AI is employed to mitigate the learning curve. According to Steele, Splunk's proprietary language and command issuance methods typically demand technical proficiency, which generative AI helps to alleviate.

"With the AI assistance that we've implemented, users can utilize English language to automatically generate commands in our proprietary language. This enables them to achieve desired outcomes without requiring advanced technical knowledge," Steele explained.

Steele also highlighted the potential synergy between Splunk's AI capabilities and Cisco's vast data resources, global presence, and extensive sales and marketing channels.

Moreover, Generative AI will find applications throughout Cisco's operations, including simplifying complex tasks like configuring a company's security policy screen. Robbins elaborated, stating, "It's a highly technical process. We're empowering our customers to simply describe their desired security capabilities in English language, and then we will translate that into a policy for their review."

Robbins emphasized that the software would act as an assistant, streamlining and expediting the deployment of security policies and other resources, while still requiring human operators for oversight and decision-making.

Microsoft's $1.3B Investment Swallows Inflection As A Whole

In June 2023, Inflection secured a significant $1.3 billion investment led by Microsoft, aiming to develop what they termed "more personalized AI." However, less than a year later, Microsoft revealed its acquisition of Inflection, with co-founders Mustafa Suleyman and Karén Simonyan joining Microsoft's newly formed AI division along with most of their team. Meanwhile, Reid Hoffman remains with new CEO Sean White to salvage what remains of the company, which had raised substantial funds totaling $1.3 billion in mid-2023 and $225 million in mid-2022.

Inflection's vision centered around a conversational AI capable of interacting across various platforms while maintaining memory of previous interactions, aiming for enhanced personalization and utility. However, their AI, named Pi, struggled to keep pace despite the significant investment. Competitors like OpenAI, Google's Gemini, and Anthropic were rapidly advancing in capabilities and services, overshadowing Inflection's efforts.

The concept of a personalized AI faced skepticism, as existing AI technologies already teeter on the edge of the uncanny valley. There was uncertainty whether users desired interconnected AI systems for various purposes such as business writing, architectural sketching, and therapeutic chat. Despite their efforts, Pi remained a respectable contender but ultimately fell short of its ambitious goals.

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