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- X Begins Rolling Out Grok
In this week’s news roundup:
X Begins Rolling Out Grok
Google Admits Gemini AI Demo Was Fake
Epic Games Beat Google in an Antitrust Trial
The Internet Is Going To Become Faster
Europe’s First Pact To Regulate AI
And other news you might like…
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X Begins Rolling Out Grok
X - Image from TechCrunch
Grok, developed by xAI (Elon Musk's AI startup), has been officially launched on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. The rollout of Grok started for X Premium Plus subscribers in the U.S., who pay $16 per month for ad-free access to the social network.
Grok is underpinned by a generative model called Grok-1, trained on web data up to Q3 2023 and feedback from human assistants. Unlike other chatbots, Grok can incorporate real-time data from posts on X into its responses, potentially providing up-to-the-minute information.
Grok is described as having a "bit of wit" and a "rebellious streak," being willing to answer unconventional or "spicy" questions. Grok's responses exhibit a colloquial, first-person style, which some users find more engaging than other chatbots like ChatGPT and Bard.
Google Admits Gemini AI Demo Was Fake
Gemini Demo - Image by Google
Google recently announced the Gemini AI model with a demonstration showcasing its ability to recognize and describe images at an impressive speed. However, Google admitted in its description that the demo involved reducing latency and shortening Gemini's outputs for brevity, raising concerns about the accuracy of the showcased capabilities.
The announcement video for Gemini Pro, according to Bloomberg columnist Parmy Olson, gives the impression that Google may have actively tried to deceive the public by manipulating the footage.
Google's response to the allegations suggests that still image frames were used, and the AI model had ample time to analyze the images, indicating that the video might not accurately represent Gemini Pro's real-time capabilities.
Epic Games Beat Google in an Antitrust Trial
Illustration by Cath Virginia for The Verge
Google lost an antitrust case against Epic Games, where a San Francisco jury unanimously ruled that Google maintains a monopoly with its Google Play app store.
Epic Games, the publisher of Fortnite, sued Google and Apple for anti-competitive practices, and while it lost against Apple, the victory against Google could have significant implications for app developers and consumers worldwide.
Epic Games alleged anticompetitive practices, including "Project Hug," where Google incentivized developers not to create app stores competing with Google Play. Google allegedly offered millions in free marketing to developers in exchange for their commitment not to compete.
The Internet Is Going To Become Faster
L4S - Image from Nokia Bell Labs
A new internet standard called L4S (Low Latency, Low Loss, Scalable Throughput) aims to almost eliminate latency and has gained interest from major companies like Apple, Google, Comcast, Charter, Nvidia, Valve, Nokia, Ericsson, and T-Mobile parent company Deutsche Telekom.
The standard focuses on minimizing queuing and latency by providing quicker feedback on congestion, enabling devices to adjust data rates promptly, and maintaining high data throughput.
The standard has the potential to revolutionize the user experience by addressing latency challenges in various online activities, especially real-time applications like gaming and video streaming.
Europe’s First Pact To Regulate AI
AI Generated Image from the European Parliament Website
European negotiators engaged in nearly 24 hours of intense debate in Brussels to reach an agreement on regulating artificial intelligence. The EU's internal market chief, Thierry Breton, pushed for a quick resolution to avoid extended lobbying breaks over the weekend.
The proposed regulation includes penalties for non-compliance, with fines reaching up to €35 million ($37.7 million) or 7% of global turnover, depending on the infringement and company size. Policymakers aim to set clear guidelines and consequences for companies in the AI space.
The EU's deliberations underscore the complexity of regulating AI and the need to strike a balance between fostering innovation and safeguarding against potential harms. The agreed-upon AI Act sets the tone for future AI regulations in the Western world.
Other news you might like…
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