Apple shuts down AI team

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Today we will discuss-

• 👩‍⚖️China acquires Nvidia chips despite U.S. ban

• 🧐AI will affect almost 40% of jobs, IMF Chief says

• 🚌Apple to shut down its AI team in San Diego

• 😱9 amazing AI tools you might not have heard of

All this and more - Let's dive in!

👩‍🍳What’s cooking in the newsroom?

China defies U.S. ban, secures Nvidia chips for military and government use

🧐News - Over the past year, various Chinese military bodies, state-run AI research institutes, and universities have managed to acquire batches of Nvidia semiconductors, despite a U.S. ban on their export to China.

This revelation comes from reports by Reuters, shedding light on the challenges the U.S. faces in fully restricting China's access to advanced U.S. chips. Well, these chips are crucial for the development of breakthroughs in artificial intelligence and sophisticated military computers.

🤔Why did China defy the U.S. ban? Nvidia GPUs are unmatched for specific AI tasks, and China heavily relied on them before the 2022 ban, holding a 90% market share. While homegrown alternatives like Huawei's are emerging, they aren't yet on par, driving the demand for Nvidia tech despite the restrictions.

🎃How did the U.S. respond to this development? U.S. authorities have pledged to close export restriction loopholes, attempting to curtail access to these chips by units of Chinese companies outside China. This ongoing saga underscores the intricate challenges in controlling the flow of advanced semiconductor technology in an interconnected global market.

Chris Miller, a professor at Tufts University and the author of "Chip War: The Fight for the World's Most Critical Technology," mentioned that expecting the U.S. to completely block the export of chips is not practical. He pointed out that because chips are small, they can be easily smuggled. He further explained that the primary goal of U.S. export restrictions is to create challenges for China's progress in AI development.

IMF Chief Kristalina Georgieva warns 'nearly 40% of jobs to be impacted by AI'

📻News - A new International Monetary Fund (IMF) report paints a stark picture of the future workforce, with artificial intelligence poised to impact nearly 40% of global jobs. The impact will be uneven, with advanced economies like the U.S. and Europe bearing the brunt, with up to 60% of jobs facing potential changes.

"In most scenarios, AI will likely worsen overall inequality," warned IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, urging policymakers to proactively address this "troubling trend" to prevent social unrest. She highlighted the risk of AI further widening the wealth gap, as increased productivity among high earners fuels capital returns. To mitigate this, Georgieva stressed the need for strong social safety nets and comprehensive retraining programs for vulnerable workers.

😅 What’s more? While the possibility of AI completely replacing certain jobs exists, the more likely scenario is its complementing human work. This perspective from Georgieva aligns with ongoing discussions on AI at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where global business and political leaders are convening. Companies worldwide are increasingly investing in AI, raising concerns among employees about the future of their roles. For instance, Buzzfeed Inc. announced plans to use AI for content creation, leading to the closure of its core news department and the layoff of over 100 staff.

Lastly, the IMF's report calls for a proactive approach to navigating this complex transition.

Apple announces closure of AI division, 121 employees urged to relocate or face job loss

🤖News - Apple has made a surprising decision to shut down its team in San Diego, which had 121 employees working on making its artificial intelligence better. This team was vital for improving Siri by handling voice queries. Now, these employees have been told to move to Austin and join the Texas team that does similar work.

Well, employees expecting a local move to a new campus were instead presented with a relocation ultimatum: Texas or termination by April. While Apple touts its Texas expansion and commitment to San Diego, the abrupt shutdown and relocation demand left many feeling blindsided.

😐Is there any hurdle in relocating? The relocation prospect faces significant hurdles. Many San Diego team members lack engineering backgrounds, raising concerns about fitting into Austin's role pool. Despite the promise of applying for other positions within Apple, specifics remain shrouded in uncertainty.

To help employees with the move, Apple is giving a $7,000 payment to those who decide to relocate to Austin by the end of June. If they choose not to move, their jobs will be removed, and they'll get severance pay based on how long they worked and six months of health insurance.

Apple mostly avoided job cuts during the pandemic, unlike many other tech companies. Some retail and recruiting jobs were eliminated last April, but the recent choice of the AI team might mean that some people could leave the company.

👩🏼‍💻What else is happening?

• ‘AI girlfriends’ proliferate GPT Store hours after launch, breaking OpenAI rules

• Banking industry leader Jamie Dimon weighs in on AI, says only ‘God knows’ what the tech will do for humanity

• Back UK creative sector or gamble on AI, Getty Images boss tells Sunak

• AI, conflict, and climate change get top billing as leaders converge for elite meeting in Davos

• Anthropic researchers find that AI models can be trained to deceive

 🤩Interesting facts

• China leads the market of AI deployment, with 58% of companies in China already deploying AI.

• One of the biggest tech trends of 2023 was the low-code or no-code AI which removes the complex coding system to start a command to a computer.

• AI is expected to contribute $15.7 trillion to the global economy by 2030. This is more than the current output of India and China combined.

👩🏼‍🚒Discover mind-blowing AI tools

1. Astica - An AI-powered tool that offers cognitive APIs for voice and vision

2. Ask Abe - A helpful information assistant designed to answer legal questions based on the California Legal Code

3. PDF.ai - Transforms your documents into interactive files with advanced search and organization tools

4. Ticket AI - A Discord bot that automates customer support by using AI to answer support tickets

5. ClearGPT - An enterprise-grade platform that offers secure and customizable Large Language Models (LLMs) for businesses

6. Zeliq - An all-in-one sales solution that helps businesses increase their sales and streamline their outreach efforts

7. Krizmi - An interactive learning platform that offers auto-generated flashcards and quizzes to help students retain and test their knowledge

8. Whattopack - An AI-assisted travel packing tool that provides personalized packing insights for different destinations

9. Ask Jules - A book discovery companion that helps users find their next book and answers book-related questions

🎙️AI-based podcasts

• The ChatGPT Report by Ryan Collier and Ben Meyerhoeffer. Ideal for people who have a keen interest in ChatGPT, this podcast offers concise 10-minute episodes that delve into the various aspects of ChatGPT and the latest developments in the field. Previous conversations have revolved around subjects such as utilizing ChatGPT for resumes, and the gradual integration of AI into platforms like WordPress, among other subjects.

• AI Today by Kathleen Walch and Ronald Schmelzer. The podcast explores the relevance of AI in today's world. Previous discussions feature topics like AI system transparency, safety, security, and the fairness and bias associated with AI and data.

• Practical AI by Chris Benson and Daniel Whitenack. The podcast brings together technology professionals, business individuals, students, enthusiasts, and expert guests to engage in discussions that center around the productive and practical implementation of AI in real-world situations, making it understandable for all.