AI: Weekly Summary

...week ending January 5, 2024

Welcome to the Saturday weekly AI summary here on ‘AI: Reset to Zero’. 

Here are some highlights from this week:

1. OpenAI ChatGPT Store Opens next week: On the heels of its successful first Developer Conference last November, OpenAI is opening its custom ChatGPT store next week. This gives third party Developers a way to provide a plethora of AI products and services to the hundred million plus users who use ChatGPT every month. This was one of the most anticipated items at the Developer conference, and its rollout will be a closely watched template for AI industry participants in 2024.

   

2. First Bids on AI Copyrights by OpenAI: Following last week’s attention getting New York Times copyright lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft, details emerged this week of OpenAI’s opening offers for AI copyright terms to some media outlets. Initial reports of offers between $1 million and $5 million a year to train its next generation GPT LLM AI models, will likely see reactions of their being on the low side. But these are the first steps in a likely lengthy negotiation process. And regulators of course are watching. More to come. 

   

3. Microsoft rolls out AI Copilot button on PCs worldwide: Ahead of CES 2024 in Vegas next week, Microsoft unveiled a ‘new AI Copilot key’ on PC keyboards via hundreds of OEMs worldwide. It’s the first big Windows keyboard change in 30 years. Notable because it gives Microsoft a potential way to bridge ‘the last mile’ to computer users worldwide, in providing its AI products and services. Needed given Apple’s direct reach into over two billion local devices worldwide. And logical given Microsoft’s all-in focus on Copilot as its AI brand going forward.

   

4. More AI related items ahead of CES 2024 in Vegas next week: More details on additional AI related announcements ahead of the Consumer Electronics Show starting in Las Vegas next week. Techcrunch highlights items by Nvidia, Samsung, and a growing roster of hardware vendors going into the conference. As I highlighted earlier this week, CES 2024 is going to see a raft of AI initiatives being baked into hardware. Software innovation on top of these budding platforms will of course take longer time to develop, and will be a keen area of AI innovation this year and next. 

   

5. US AI Regulatory Roundup for 2024: Axios has a useful roundup of upcoming US AI regulatory initiatives for 2024. Notable of course are the actions ahead of the 2024 elections, and a look at AI legislation that got enabled last year. Also an update on the White House AI Executive Act next steps this year. My additional take here with more links. 

   

Other AI Readings for weekend:

1. Supreme Court on how AI could transform courts, with comments by Chief Justice Roberts.

   

2. Initiatives by big camera companies Nikon, Sony, Canon and others on new tech to add digital AI signatures to photos. 

3. My takes on AI industry priorities and expectations for 2024 here and here.

Thanks for joining this Saturday with your beverage of choice. 

Up next, the Sunday ‘The Bigger Picture’ tomorrow. Stay tuned. 

(NOTE: The discussions here are for information purposes only, and not meant as investment advice at any time. Thanks for joining us here)