September 17, 2024: Salesforce Unveils Agentforce AI and Data Cloud Upgrades - Salesforce launched Agentforce AI Partner Network at Dreamforce 2024, enabling AI agents to connect with third-party systems. IBM and Google join as partners to enhance industry-specific tools and integrations. Salesforces Data Cloud has been updated to support unstructured data, improving multimodal AI app capabilities. Additional enhancements include 50 new data connectors and subsecond real-time data ingestion for critical information processing.

September 17, 2024: Roots Automation Secures $22.2M for AI Insurance Efficiency - Roots Automation raised $22.2M in a Series B round led by Harbert Growth Partners to enhance efficiency in insurance firms using its generative AI model, InsurGPT. Their Digital Coworker, built atop InsurGPT, helps transform unstructured data into actionable insights, improving decision-making in areas like premiums pricing and claims processing. The technology has yielded significant benefits, including reduced handling times and increased accuracy, helping 35 U.S. clients save costs. The funding will fuel market expansion and product development.

September 17, 2024: Workday Acquires Evisort to Boost AI Document Tools - Workday has acquired AI-powered contract management platform Evisort to enhance its finance and HR software with advanced document processing tools. The integration of Evisorts technology will help Workdays customers quickly surface and act on critical data insights. Founded in 2016, Evisorts AI modules analyze and manage documents efficiently. This acquisition follows Workdays strategic focus on AI innovation and is expected to close by Q3 FY25.

September 16, 2024: Supermaven Secures $12M from OpenAI, Perplexity Founders - AI coding assistant Supermaven, founded by Jacob Jackson, has raised $12 million in a round led by Bessemer Venture Partners with angel investors from OpenAI and Perplexity. Supermavens proprietary AI model, Babble, boasts a 1 million-token context window, enhancing code understanding and reducing errors. Despite competition and potential ethical concerns, the platform has grown significantly since its February launch, now claiming 35,000 users and $1 million in annual recurring revenue. The funding will be used to expand the team and develop Supermavens text editor.

September 16, 2024: Runway Unleashes Video-Generating API Amid Rising Concerns - AI startup Runway launched an API for its video-generating model, Gen-3 Alpha Turbo, allowing integration into third-party platforms. Priced at one cent per credit, the API demands a Powered by Runway banner. While gaining traction with partners like Omnicom, Runway faces legal controversies over its training data and competition from AI giants OpenAI, Google, and Adobe. Legal and ethical concerns around generative AI persist, with industry disruptions and job losses anticipated.

September 16, 2024: Typeface Acquires Treat, Narrato to Boost AI Capabilities - Generative AI startup Typeface has acquired AI firms Treat and Narrato to enhance its multimodal capabilities. Treat specializes in personalized photo products using customer data, while Narrato focuses on AI-powered content creation and management. These acquisitions, alongside previous purchases, aim to transform Typefaces content lifecycle solutions for enterprise clients, aligning with its focus on brand governance and privacy. Financial terms were not disclosed.

September 15, 2024: Cohere Co-founder Juggles AI and Indie Band - Cohere co-founder Nick Frosst is also the front man of the indie rock band Good Kid, which has 2.3 million Spotify listeners and recently played at Lollapalooza. Despite Good Kids success, Frosst prioritizes his work at AI startup Cohere, which is valued at $5.5 billion. Balancing both careers, the band tours while remotely working as programmers. Frosst believes music enhances his focus and intelligence, contributing to his success in AI.

September 14, 2024: OpenAI Considering For-Profit Shift in 2024 - OpenAI may revise its complex corporate structure next year to attract significant investment. Reports indicate that the AI firm is in discussions to raise $6.5 billion at a $150 billion pre-money valuation, contingent on removing profit caps for investors. CEO Sam Altman hinted at a transition to a more traditional for-profit model to appease investor frustrations, though a nonprofit component will remain central to its mission of creating beneficial AI.

September 13, 2024: Meta Resumes AI Training with UK User Data - Meta plans to use public UK Facebook and Instagram posts to train its AI, despite previous regulatory concerns. The ICO and Irelands DPC had halted these efforts due to consent issues. Meta argues for compliance under GDPRs legitimate interest clause, despite past CJEU rejections. Instead of a straightforward opt-out, users must navigate an objection form, though steps are reportedly simplified. This move aims to reflect British culture in AI models.

September 12, 2024: OpenAI Unveils Self-Fact-Checking AI Model: o1 - OpenAI launches o1, a generative AI model that fact-checks itself. Available in two versions, o1-preview and o1-mini, it uses reinforcement learning for enhanced reasoning. Despite its high cost and some limitations, o1 excels in complex tasks like legal analysis and programming. Its currently subscription-based, with wider access planned. Critics note occasional errors and hallucinations, but its performance in various benchmarks shows promise.

September 12, 2024: Googles GenAI Faces EU Privacy Probe - The Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC) has launched an investigation into Googles compliance with EU data protection laws concerning its use of personal data to train generative AI models like Gemini and PaLM2. The probe focuses on whether Google conducted a Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) as required by GDPR. Generative AIs tendency to create plausible falsehoods and use personal data raises significant privacy concerns, leading to increased regulatory scrutiny. Google has stated its commitment to working with the DPC.

September 12, 2024: Salesforce Unveils Agentforce AI Platform - Salesforce has launched Agentforce, an autonomous AI platform enabling businesses to create customizable AI agents for service, sales, marketing, and commerce tasks. These AI agents can analyze data, make decisions, and take autonomous actions, integrating seamlessly into existing workflows. With roles like service agents, sales representatives, and e-commerce assistants, Agentforce offers out-of-the-box, no-code solutions. Powered by the new Atlas reasoning engine, it handles complex tasks almost like a human. Integration with partners like AWS and Google enhances its capabilities, making it versatile for various industries.

September 12, 2024: Ireland Probes Googles PaLM 2 Over GDPR Compliance - Irelands Data Protection Commission has launched a GDPR compliance investigation into Googles PaLM 2 language model. The probe will assess if Google conducted a proper Data Protection Impact Assessment during PaLM 2s development. Concerns focus on whether public web data, including potential personal data, was appropriately handled. Google asserts its commitment to GDPR obligations and plans to cooperate with the DPCs inquiry.

September 12, 2024: OpenAIs o1 Model Excels in Reasoning and Math - OpenAIs new o1 LLM series, codenamed Strawberry, excels in reasoning, decoding scrambled texts, and acing difficult exams, outperforming earlier models like GPT-4o. The series features two models: o1-preview, noted for its high accuracy, and o1-mini, which offers cost-efficiency. Key advancements include the use of CoT (chain of thought) and reinforcement learning, contributing to superior performance in complex tasks and enhanced safety. The models are accessible through paid ChatGPT services and APIs, with plans for wider availability and higher usage limits in the future.

September 12, 2024: AI Hardware Challenges and Opportunities Explored - The AI Hardware and Edge AI Summit highlighted challenges and advancements in AI hardware. Experts from companies like Google, Meta, and AMD discussed issues such as GPU failures, the need for innovative processing solutions, and sustainable architecture. Key topics included testing for data corruption, enhancing chip performance, and improving network communications. The event emphasized AIs transformative potential and the importance of transparent, sustainable practices in the industry.

September 12, 2024: Figure Unveils Advanced Humanoid Robot - Figure has progressed significantly with its new humanoid robot, Figure 02. The robotics firm, with 130 engineers and $1.5 billion in funding, has enhanced its system integration and testing facilities. The second-generation robot, now torso-contained, is being trialed in automotive assembly with BMW and home applications. Though the consumer market remains a future goal with a target price below $20,000, current tests are promising. Figure 02, demonstrated walking and operational features, highlights substantial advancements since its predecessor, setting the stage for broader implementation in 2025.

September 11, 2024: Googles NotebookLM Adds Audio Summaries - Googles note-taking app, NotebookLM, now features Audio Overview, allowing users to listen to AI-generated summaries of their documents. This addition aims to assist users who understand content better through listening, offering explanations in conversational speech and using metaphors for complex concepts. Accessible via the apps Notebook guide, the feature, currently only in English and still in beta, can generate downloadable audio within five minutes. Despite potential inaccuracies, its a new way to engage with course readings, legal briefs, and other documents.

September 11, 2024: OpenAIs New Strawberry AI Model: Smart but Slow - OpenAI is set to release Strawberry, a smart yet slow fact-checking AI model. Integrated with ChatGPT, its adept at programming and math but takes 10-20 seconds per response, potentially alienating users accustomed to faster models. While promising for precision-critical tasks, its speed could be a drawback. Other notable AI news includes Apple launching visual search on new iPhones and partnering with Google; DeepMind unveiling AlphaProteo for protein binding; and OLMoE, a high-performing open-source language model, by AI2. The U.S., U.K., and EU signed a landmark AI safety treaty.

September 11, 2024: AI-Powered App Verse Empowers Gen Z Creativity - Verse, an iOS app, assists Gen Z in creating and publishing multimedia content through an interactive canvas and AI assistant. Founded by Bobby Pinckney and Michelle Yin, Verse has seen 200,000 creations since its launch. Unlike Canva or Wix, Verse offers a dynamic, multimodal approach, integrating elements like photos, videos, and music. It serves both personal expression and brand marketing, with plans for Android and web versions.

September 11, 2024: AI-Driven Connectly Secures $20M Led by Alibaba - Connectly.ai, co-founded by Stefanos Loukakos and Yandong Liu, leverages AI to personalize text messages for retailers, aiming to boost customer engagement and sales through platforms like WhatsApp, Instagram, and SMS. Despite surveys suggesting customer preference for human interaction, over 300 businesses use Connectlys service. Alibaba led a $20 million Series B funding, bringing Connectlys valuation to $100 million. Funds will expand their platform and increase staff.