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AI’s Brain Drain: Are we Over or Under Promising?

Last week's AI developments were staggering, but their significance depends on your perspective. Everything is not as it seems...

Author

James Garner
May 20, 2024

Opinion

Last week was a great indication of the trajectory of AI within Big Tech. Two leading players in Google and OpenAI revealed their hands creating a buzz reminiscent of when generative AI first took off. The general sentiment of these releases was a mix of excitement, concern and disappointment.

As OpenAI launched GPT-4 Omni, it’s real-time multimodal capabilities have unlocked the art of the potential with new use-cases flooding in across social media. The “omni” capability OpenAI are building really feels like the AI we see in movies; more fluid, frictionless and human-like. The initial disappointment came when there was no mention of ChatGPT search - The expected competitor to Google’s dominant web search. Just recently however, OpenAI have announced a new partnership with Reddit - one of the most popular platforms for information and discussion across the internet. This partnership is indication that OpenAI are still pressing on in this direction.

Google’s reveal had some typical Google flair such as vibrant colour and its playful creative elements. However, general perception was that it felt forced and less user-focused, likely due to being thrown off by OpenAI’s opportunistic reveal a few days prior. It didn’t help that news spread on social media that when asked about Google’s latest reveal, Gemini (Google’s own model) hallucinated and misinformed users, whilst competitors models such as ChatGPT were more accurate. Google’s announcements included Gemini live, Project Astra and other powerful capabilities that will elevate the AI ground despite being overshadowed by their biggest competitors.

Tip of the Week

Embracing AI and Financial Automation

OpenAI’s launch of GPT-4o introduced impressive features, especially a voice interface that boosts productivity by allowing us to talk to machines. These bots can handle tasks like customer service and shopping.

A key challenge is how bots will manage money. Digital wallets and stablecoins, pegged to assets like the US dollar, offer a solution for reliable transactions among bots. This stability is crucial as bots begin mimicking human financial behaviour. OpenAI’s demo highlights the exciting future of AI and cryptocurrency, marking the start of a transformative journey in automation.

Graph of the Week

A recent report by Scale AI reveals that over 60% of organisations using AI have experienced enhanced process efficiency, with 59% noting improved customer experience. Nearly half of the respondents credit AI for aiding in the development of new products or services.

However, only about a third of companies have seen improvements in profit (34%) and revenue (32%), highlighting a significant area for growth. Interestingly, 8% reported no positive outcomes, and 7% have yet to implement AI. These insights underscore AI’s transformative potential, while also pointing to opportunities for further advancements in financial gains.

Quote of the Week

Watching in real time as "slop" becomes a term of art. the way that "spam" became the term for unwanted emails, "slop" is going in the dictionary as the term for unwanted AI generated content” @deepfate on x

This Week's Big Thing in the Industry

Is OpenAI’s new model an earth-shattering leap toward AGI or an incremental step in the right direction? Opinions vary. For a range of insights, AI expert Madni Aghadi compiled first-hand accounts of interactions with GPT-4o here.

Will Depue, a generative video developer at OpenAI, highlighted on X the unique aspects of GPT-4o. “It isn’t a text model with a voice or image attachment,” he said. “It’s a natively multimodal token in, multimodal token out model.”

Bindu Reddy, co-founder of AI startup Abacus, offered a more cautious perspective. She noted that while GPT-4o is impressive, it is only marginally better than previous versions. “In fact, it proves that LLMs are plateauing and that each extra point gained in MMLU [a benchmark for evaluating AI’s knowledge capabilities] is very hard to achieve.”

Suhai Doshi, founder of AI startup Playground, praised the model’s subtle touches. He was particularly impressed with its “humor, pith, intonation, [and] succinctness, creating an engaging experience that is arguably better than human.”

Entrepreneur Siqi Chen captured the sentiment of many AI experts: “This will prove to be in retrospect by far the most underrated OpenAI event ever.”

Meanwhile, Alphabet followed up with its own major AI-related announcements at the I/O event, continuing the rapid evolution in the AI landscape.

We also did our own special podcast episode, unpacking the initial reaction to the Open AI announcement which you can find below

What You Need to Know This Week

OpenAI has also announced significant improvements to data analysis capabilities within ChatGPT. These enhancements are designed to make data interpretation more accurate and efficient, providing deeper insights for users handling complex queries. The update allows ChatGPT to better understand and process large datasets, offering more precise analytics and actionable insights. This improvement is expected to be particularly beneficial for businesses and professionals who rely on data-driven decision-making. By integrating advanced data analysis features, OpenAI aims to solidify ChatGPT as a powerful tool not only for communication but also for comprehensive data management and analysis.

Together, these announcements highlight OpenAI's commitment to pushing the boundaries of AI technology, making it more accessible, versatile, and powerful for users across different sectors.

AI in Construction and Project Delivery

  • Discover how AI is transforming back-office operations in construction, from enhancing project management to streamlining administrative tasks. This article explores the potential of AI to improve efficiency and accuracy in construction businesses. Read more

  • Explore the debate on AI's role in the UK's geospatial mapping. While AI promises advanced data handling and precision, concerns about data privacy and control are growing. Read more

  • Learn how AI is being used to quantify construction waste, promoting a circular economy. This innovative approach aims to reduce waste and enhance sustainability in the construction industry. Read more

  • Robotic AI is revolutionising tunnel construction by improving safety, efficiency, and precision. This breakthrough technology is set to transform how tunnels are built and maintained. Read more

  • AI is enhancing the ability to forecast extreme weather events, providing valuable insights for the construction industry to mitigate risks and improve planning. Read more

  • The University of Florida is creating a digital twin of Jacksonville to enhance urban planning and infrastructure management, showcasing the potential of digital twins in construction. Read more

  • Explore the advantages of VR technologies in construction, from improving design accuracy to enhancing safety training. This article delves into the benefits of integrating VR in construction projects. Read more

  • Harnham's latest whitepaper, "Demystifying AI: Bringing Order to the Chaos," explores how AI can be effectively integrated into businesses to streamline operations and drive innovation. It covers practical steps for AI adoption, addressing common challenges and misconceptions to help organisations leverage AI's full potential. Read more

Tech News

  • OpenAI integrates Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive. Interestingly, Google Drive is prioritised over Microsoft OneDrive, despite Microsoft's $10B+ investment in OpenAI.

  • OpenAI has announced improvements to data analysis in ChatGPT, enhancing its capabilities for more accurate and efficient data interpretation. This update aims to provide users with deeper insights and better support for complex queries. Read more

  • Google's Gemini update introduces Flash AI Assistant at I/O 2024, promising faster and more intuitive interactions. This new AI assistant aims to streamline user experiences across Google services with enhanced speed and functionality. Read more

  • DeepMind has also unveiled Gemini Flash, an advanced AI designed to enhance productivity and decision-making with its quick processing capabilities and innovative features. Read more

  • OpenAI has partnered with Reddit to integrate unique user-generated content into ChatGPT. This collaboration aims to enrich ChatGPT’s responses with diverse perspectives and real-world data. Read more

  • iOS 18 will introduce new ChatGPT features, thanks to Apple and OpenAI's collaboration. This integration likely brings advanced AI capabilities directly to iPhone users, enhancing Siri and other iOS functionalities. Read more

  • The New York Times reports on Apple’s integration of ChatGPT with Siri, highlighting how this partnership aims to boost Siri's intelligence and responsiveness through advanced AI. Read more

  • Sam Altman is taking his nuclear startup Oklo public to power AI ambitions, aiming to leverage nuclear energy to support the energy demands of AI technologies. Read more

  • The BBC covers the latest developments in AI, including how new technologies are set to transform various industries and impact daily life. Read more

AI Security News

Political Turmoil at OpenAI: Researchers' Departures and Concerns

In the latest episode of The Neuron: AI Explained, Pete Huang delves into the political turmoil at OpenAI. Several key researchers have left the organisation, publicly voicing their concerns. Typically, job exits are straightforward and celebratory, but these departures hint at deeper power struggles within the company. Huang discusses the reasons behind these exits and their potential impact on OpenAI's future. This situation raises questions about the balance between AI safety and capability, as well as the broader implications for the field.

Amidst this turmoil, OpenAI has announced Jakub Pachocki as the new Chief Scientist, a move aimed at stabilising and guiding the company's research direction. This comes in the wake of Ilya Sutskever, the former Chief Scientist, leaving the company, a significant change covered by The Verge.

Listen to the full episode here. Read more about Jakub Pachocki's appointment here and Ilya Sutskever's departure here.

New Tools in Tech

AI-Powered Delay Prediction by Buildots

Buildots has launched an AI-powered tool designed to predict construction delays, improving project management in the construction industry. This innovative tool uses AI to analyse vast amounts of project data, identifying potential delays before they occur.

By providing early warnings, it enables project managers to take proactive measures, ensuring projects stay on schedule and within budget. This advancement promises to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and improve overall project outcomes, making it an invaluable addition to any construction team’s toolkit. Read more

Podcasts: Must-Subscribe List

Don't miss last week's exciting episode of the Project Flux Podcast! Where we looked into some of the latest innovations in AI and their impact on the construction industry.

First, we discovered how Autodesk's new generative AI tool is set to enhance creativity and solve complex design challenges. Next, we learnt about Microsoft's latest AI work study, which reveals how AI is transforming workplace dynamics and boosting productivity.

For our main discussion, we tackled the intriguing question: Is AI underhyped?

Download Episode 7 of Project Flux now and stay ahead of the curve in AI and project delivery! Listen here.