🪟 MAI-1

🧵 In today's edition:

• 🪟 MAI-1

• 🤖 X gon’ give it to ya (summarized)

• 🫥 What is Apple hiding?

• 🛠️ AI Tools to Check Out

• 🤑 AI Fundraising News

• 🐦 Tweet Post of the Day

🪟 MAI-1

BIG news out of the Microsoft camp yesterday: 

According to a report from The Information, Microsoft is training a massive new LLM called MAI-1 that intends to rival the largest models from Google and OpenAI. 

The effort is being led by Mustafa Suleyman, the former co-founder of Google's DeepMind AI research unit, whom Microsoft recently poached to head its new consumer AI division.

Here’s the scoop: 

• MAI-1 will be "far larger" than Microsoft's previous open-source models, with around 500 billion parameters (still smaller than GPT -4's 1 trillion parameters).

• Microsoft could preview MAI-1 as soon as its Build developer conference later this month.

• The model's exact purpose is still undecided and will depend on its performance during training. However, it shows Microsoft's ambitions to develop large AI models in-house rather than solely relying on OpenAI.

• Microsoft is devoting significant computing resources like Nvidia GPUs and data to train MAI-1, highlighting the intensive investments required for cutting-edge AI development.

Overall: The move comes at a great time, as it allows Microsoft to challenge AI leaders like Google while reducing dependence on partners like OpenAI as the AI race intensifies among tech giants.

Read more: Reuters

🤖 X gon’ give it to ya (summarized)

X, the artist formerly known as Twitter, is now using Elon Musk's AI chatbot Grok to power a new feature called Stories that summarizes trending news stories on the platform's Explore tab. 

TL;DR: 

• The good: Premium X subscribers will see AI-generated summaries at the top when tapping into trending topics. These summaries provide an overview of key discussions around the news story, allowing users to quickly catch up on viral news without endlessly scrolling.

• The not-so-good: Grok's summaries are based solely on X's conversations instead of actual news articles. This could potentially lead to misinformation if viral narratives on X distort facts and figures.

Overall: Providing access to Grok aims to increase X Premium subscriptions, as the AI chatbot can answer queries using real-time X data. Elon Musk views this as a significant differentiator from other AI assistants.

The Stories feature also reflects a broader trend of AI-powered news summarization. However, X's approach of summarizing social commentary rather than source material is new and controversial. 

Read more: TechCrunch

🫥 What is Apple hiding?

Since the beginning of this AI craziness, people have questioned what Apple, one of the most well-capitalized tech companies in the world, has been doing to establish a foothold in the space. 

While Apple has remained relatively tight-lipped about its AI initiatives, they have been conducting extensive research and development behind the scenes.

Apple's activities include:

1. Negotiating with OpenAI and Google for AI features and developing its own large language model, Ajax.

2. Focusing on streamlining large language models for efficiency, potentially enhancing Siri's offline capabilities.

3. Researching ways for Siri to understand natural conversations and contextual inquiries, enhancing AI for health monitoring and creative tools.

4. Working on Ferret, a multimodal AI for enhanced app interaction, potentially improving accessibility.

Overall: While most of this is just research, Apple's CEO has teased big AI announcements coming at WWDC 2024. The work points to an AI-powered overhaul that could completely transform how we use iPhones and other Apple devices.

Read more: The Verge

🛠️ AI Tools to Check Out

• Babs AI: Easily translate speech from one language to another while preserving your rhythm, tone, and expression. Check it out!

• Input AI: Create your own bots and AI assistants - GPT style. Check it out!

• Voice Swap: Easily transform your vocals to match the style of our chart-topping singers. Check it out!

🤑 AI Fundraising News

• Opmed.ai raises $15M in Series A funding to provide a healthcare optimization engine that utilizes AI and network science to enhance healthcare scheduling and resource allocation, starting with operating rooms.

• Stella Automotive AI raises $19.7M in Series A funding to providers of automotive AI technology that helps auto dealers deliver a customer experience via telephone, chat, and web.

🐦 Tweet Post of the Day

It’s always interesting to see how tech leaders think about new entrants before they become big 🤔