Today’s Highlights:
📰 News: Github launches CoPilot Workspace which can guides users through coding projects + US Department of Homeland Security launches AI Safety and Security Board
💰 Funding: X.AI is set to raise $6Bn from Sequoia and other investors
⚡️ Top News Stories:
1.GitHub introduced Copilot Workspace, an AI-powered development environment designed to assist with coding from planning to execution.
Copilot Workspace extends the capabilities of GitHub’s AI assistant, offering real-time coding support through natural language interactions.
The platform aims to simplify complex coding tasks, promoting a seamless integration with existing developer tools and workflows.
Despite potential issues with AI-generated code, GitHub believes combining human expertise with AI will enhance software development.
2. Under Biden's directive, U.S. forms AI Safety Board with tech giants and officials to shield infrastructure and leverage AI responsibly.
Sam Altman, among other tech leaders, has joined the newly formed Artificial Intelligence Safety and Security Board, established to safeguard critical infrastructure from AI-related threats.
The board, working with the Department of Homeland Security, will advise on protective measures for various sectors like power grids, transportation, and manufacturing to mitigate disruptions from AI advancements.
The board comprises industry leaders from major tech companies such as Nvidia, Microsoft, and Alphabet, as well as public officials and academics.
The initiative responds to U.S. national-security warnings about vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure, aiming to enhance services while managing risks associated with AI integration.
The creation of the board was mandated by President Biden through an executive order on AI, emphasizing the need for oversight amid growing concerns about the technology's rapid development and potential impact.
3. Apple is exploring partnerships w/ OpenAI and Google Gemini to integrate into iOS 18, potentially transforming iPhone's capabilities w/ advanced AI features.
4. Synthesia launches 'expressive avatars' for AI videos, enhancing their platform to include avatars that adjust tone, facial expressions, and body language based on content context.
5. Meta's AI-powered ad platform malfunctions, causing rapid budget depletion and negligible returns, leading to backlash from advertisers and challenging AI automated advertising.
6. Sanctuary AI, the robotics company from Vacouver, Canada, introduced their 7th-gen of Phoenix robots, featuring significant improvements in motion, durability, and AI-driven capabilities, enhancing their performance in complex tasks.
7. Amid U.S. sanctions, Huawei leads a Chinese consortium to develop AI-focused memory chips by 2026, aiming to challenge Nvidia's market dominance.
8. Microsoft's AI-driven growth leads to a 20% profit increase, with Azure's AI services notably boosting its cloud market share.
9. The Financial Times (FT) announced a strategic partnership and licensing agreement with OpenAI to enhance ChatGPT with FT content.
10. Worldcoin, co-founded by Sam Altman, and aimed at creating digital identities through eye scans, continues to face regulatory challenges and data privacy concerns globally as it explores a potential partnership w/ OpenAI.
💰 Top Funding News:
1. OpenAI Startup Fund has secured $15M through an SPV to continue backing emerging companies in education, law, and sciences.
2. Elon Musk’s X.AI Corp is nearing a $6Bn funding round, led by Sequoia, aiming for an $18Bn valuation.