March 3, 2023

regulation

As A.I. Booms, Lawmakers Struggle to Understand the Technology

The New York Times, 03/03/23. Lawmakers in the US are struggling to regulate artificial intelligence (AI) as technology continues to outstrip the government’s ability to keep up.

Few members of Congress understand AI. No bills have been proposed to protect people or to prevent the development of the technology’s more dangerous aspects. The Federal Trade Commission and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau are enforcing existing laws.

The European Union has been more active in regulating AI and may pass a law as early as this year, with companies that violate it facing large fines. READ MORE

search

Brave Search Integrates AI-Powered Summarizer Tool to Enhance Search Results

ZDNET, 03/03/23. Brave, a privacy-focused browser, has launched an AI-powered feature called Summarizer for its search engine. Concise and accurate answers are provided at the top of Brave Search results pages based on web search results.

The Summarizer is not based on OpenAI’s ChatGPT. Unlike generative AI models, it processes multiple sources of information on the web for a more accurate answer expressed in coherent language.

Although Brave does not believe that large language models (LLMs) can replace search as we know it, it thinks the browser is where assistant-like capabilities of LLMs will be “truly fruitful and revolutionary”. READ MORE

surveillance

Next Step in Surveillance AI: Finding Out Who Your Friends Are

Los Angeles Times, 03/03/23. “Co-appearance” or “correlation analysis” software is being marketed as part of an array of video analysis tools by Vintra. This technology can identify not only individuals but also their associates through the analysis of surveillance footage.

Some state and local governments restrict the use of facial recognition. However, no federal law that applies. The use of co-appearance searches raises concerns about violations of rights of free assembly and protections against unauthorized searches.

Experts warn of abuse in monitoring personal and political associations.The technology has already been adopted by authoritarian regimes like China. Retailers are also using the technology.

The technology raises bias concerns. It also could lead to less attention being given to those without wealth or family connections. READ MORE

agriculture

AI Tractor with 36 Cameras? I’ve Really Heard It All Now!

DIGITAL CAMERA WORLD, 03/03/23. John Deere has introduced an AI-powered tractor with 36 on-board cameras. The system targets specific weeds and reduces herbicide use.

The tractor can detect weeds from corn, soybean, and cotton crops using computer vision and machine learning. It comes with a dual chemical tank for targeted and traditional broadcast spraying.

Farmers can monitor the progress of the tractor remotely using a mobile app. While some farmers have mixed feelings about automated tractors, AI can alleviate physical strain on farmers and provide more time for other tasks. READ MORE

romance

Vows From the Heart (and From a Chatbot)

The New York Times, 03/03/23. Artificial intelligence (A.I.) is increasingly being used ito generate speeches and vows at weddings. This is raising questions about ethical boundaries.

While some believe A.I. can help those who are not tech-savvy or are terrified of writing speeches. Others believe that using A.I. for vows may be a technological bridge too far.

In the future, A.I. will be used to compare prices for wedding-related tasks, find wedding gowns based on size and cut, and even greet out-of-town guests with a custom welcome message when they land at the airport. READ MORE