2024-03-09 Saturday Special

Good morning from OWITH.ai: the podcast that gives you only what's important to hear in AI and tech world.U.S. lawmakers are attempting to ban TikTok again with a new bipartisan bill called the "Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act" (PAFACAA). The bill aims to force parent company ByteDance to sell TikTok, but China has made it clear that they will not allow a sale. The bill faces opposition due to concerns about free speech and popular opinion, as a third of American adults and a majority of younger demographics use TikTok. The bill's sponsors claim it is focused on foreign control, not speech regulation, but critics argue it would violate the First Amendment rights of millions of Americans. The bill's constitutionality is in question, with arguments for and against its legality, as well as concerns about the political implications of banning a popular app in an election year.The Middle East is positioning itself as the future of cryptocurrency, with countries like Dubai and Abu Dhabi establishing themselves as digital asset hubs. Sovereign wealth funds from Saudi Arabia and the UAE are investing in top U.S. crypto-focused venture firms, attracting companies to set up offices in the region. Despite concerns about human rights abuses and regulatory challenges, the Middle East is aggressively pursuing blockchain technology to leapfrog Western countries. However, there are questions about real use cases and consumer adoption in the region, as well as the risks of inviting a volatile industry to set up shop.Julie Sweet, the CEO of Accenture, has focused on creating a learning culture within the company. She announced an acquisition of an online learning platform, Udacity, to help build and scale this culture. The platform, called Accenture LearnVantage, uses AI to identify skills gaps and deliver personalized learning experiences. The company plans to invest $1 billion in this platform over the next three years. Sweet believes in upskilling employees to be ready for the technological transformations in business, such as cloud data and AI. She emphasizes the importance of continuous learning and encourages managers to engage in learning activities with their teams regularly.The author expresses concern about the increasing use of generative AI in writing and the potential impact on human creativity and jobs. They reflect on the history of technological advancements and the changes they have brought about, emphasizing the importance of resisting the loss of writing and creativity to AI. The author urges readers to use their influence to steer the future away from a world where human writing is overtaken by AI-generated content. They encourage readers to continue writing and creating in order to preserve human expression and artistry in the face of advancing technology.Elon Musk has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, claiming that the organization has deviated from its original mission as a nonprofit dedicated to creating AGI for the benefit of humanity. Legal experts believe Musk's case is weak, but it raises important questions about defining AGI and commercializing AI. The lawsuit prompts discussions on intelligence, AI capabilities, and societal implications. While Musk's lawsuit may not succeed in court, it sheds light on crucial issues in AGI development and commercialization.

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