🌐 Buckle up

Good morning. Today we're diving into the challenging world of AI's evolution, where legal debates, technological leaps, and ethical puzzles are taking the spotlight.

In today’s edition:

• Assessing AI and Copyright: Buckle up as a US Federal Judge challenges the status quo, reshaping the copyright landscape for AI-generated art. As technology races ahead, we're left pondering new angles on creativity and who gets to claim it.

• Robotaxi Pause: San Francisco's gutsy move to slam the brakes on Waymo and Cruise's robotaxi expansion has ignited a fiery conversation about progress versus the city's heartbeat. It's a tale of innovation at a crossroads.

• Google's A.I. Ventures: Imagine an A.I. whispering life advice in your ear. Google's latest adventure dances on the edge of human-tech interaction, opening doors to a realm where tech and humanity waltz in fascinating ways. It’s a moment to embrace the unknown.

Law

AI-Generated Art Cannot Be Copyrighted, Rules a US Federal Judge: United States District Court Judge Beryl A. Howell ruled that AI-generated artwork cannot be copyrighted. The ruling came in a lawsuit against the US Copyright Office by Stephen Thaler, who sought to copyright an AI-generated image made with his Creativity Machine algorithm. Thaler's attempts were repeatedly rejected, leading to the lawsuit. Judge Howell stated that copyright has never been granted to work "absent any guiding human hand," emphasizing that "human authorship is a bedrock requirement of copyright." The decision acknowledges the approaching new frontiers in copyright, where AI's role in art creation will raise challenging questions about human input. Thaler plans to appeal the case. (The Verge)

Autonomous Vehicles

San Francisco to Pause Robotaxi Program Expansion: San Francisco is urging California regulators to halt the expansion of robotaxi services from Waymo and Cruise. The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) recently approved permits for both companies to charge for their robotaxi services without the need for a human backup driver. San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu filed a motion with the CPUC, arguing that the expanded service will increase traffic and unplanned stops. Chiu also expressed concerns about the technology's readiness, citing incidents involving Cruise's self-driving taxis and a fatal accident involving a Waymo taxi. The CPUC is currently evaluating the request. (Gizmodo)

Chatbots

Google Tests an A.I. Assistant That Offers Life Advice: Google is testing new tools that could turn generative A.I. into a personal life coach, performing at least 21 different types of personal and professional tasks. These include giving life advice, ideas, planning instructions, and tutoring tips. The move marks a shift from Google's previous caution on generative A.I., as the company's A.I. safety experts had warned about the dangers of people becoming too emotionally attached to chatbots. The tools are still under evaluation, and Google may decide not to employ them. The company has also been exploring other applications, such as a helpmate for journalists and tools for the workplace, including capabilities to generate scientific, creative, and professional writing. (The New York Times)

Lifestyle

Ralph Lauren CEO Louvet Targets Young Shoppers in the Metaverse: Patrice Louvet, CEO of Ralph Lauren Corp., discusses navigating challenges in the fashion industry, including adapting to the metaverse and sustainability. He emphasizes the importance of sustainability for attracting both employees and consumers, and highlights the value of authenticity in celebrity partnerships. Ralph Lauren is investing in the metaverse to engage younger audiences, partnering with platforms like Fortnite. Louvet describes his leadership style as that of a listener and learner, willing to take measured risks and innovate. (Bloomberg)

Must Reads

• OpenAI acquires a Minecraft clone.

• Researchers use AI to predict hit songs from listeners’ heart rates.

• Speakers of different languages remember visual scenes differently.

• Hands on with the Apple Vision Pro.

• 5 conclusions from an automation expert fresh off a stint with the U.S. highway safety agency

Startups & Venture Capital

NFTs

NFT Platform Recur to Shut Down Despite $50 Million Raise and Big-Name Backers: Recur, an NFT platform, is shutting down despite raising $50 million in funding and having prominent backers. The platform aimed to offer NFTs with ongoing royalties to creators. However, challenges in attracting users and regulatory uncertainty have led to its closure. This decision underscores the volatile nature of the NFT market and the challenges faced by some NFT projects. (Decrypt)

Insurtech

Tractable Secures $65M Led by SoftBank for AI-Powered Car and Property Damage Appraisals: Tractable, an AI-powered platform for assessing car and property damage, has raised $65 million in a funding round led by SoftBank. The platform utilizes artificial intelligence to streamline the appraisal process for insurance claims related to damages. Tractable's technology aims to improve accuracy and efficiency in evaluating damage, potentially revolutionizing the insurance industry's claims assessment procedures. (TechCrunch)

AI Assistants

Moemate's AI Avatar Analyzes Your Screen with Spotty but Intriguing Results: Moemate, an AI assistant with an anime-style avatar, goes beyond traditional text-based responses by analyzing a user's entire screen. Developed by Webaverse, Moemate uses a combination of models including GPT-4 and Anthropic's Claude to answer user queries and provide insights. The avatar's ability to interpret what's happening on a PC screen sets it apart, allowing it to assist with tasks related to various open windows and applications. However, the system's accuracy can be inconsistent, sometimes delivering insightful responses and sometimes veering off-topic. Despite its experimental nature, Moemate hints at the potential for AI avatars that combine screen understanding with text generation for enhanced productivity. (TechCrunch)

Free Guides and Resources

• How to extend Unity to support four-dimensional geometry.

• Neurotechnology is the big deal of AR/VR headsets.

• 3D Gaussian Splatting for Real-Time Radiance Field Rendering.

• A Chatbot Avatar for Mental Health.

• Python for making 3D models in OpenSCAD

Classifieds

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