🥀Hollywood's Secret AI Affair

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Today we will discuss-

• 🤵🏻‍♂️US Senate acts to safeguard elections from AI

• ☕Microsoft asks China AI team to relocate

• 🤐Hollywood's unacknowledged AI dependency

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

All this and more - Let's dive in!

👩‍🍳What’s cooking in the newsroom?

US Senate Committee approves three bills to safeguard elections from AI threats

👨🏻‍⚖️News - The US Senate Rules Committee has approved three bills designed to protect elections from manipulation by artificial intelligence, signaling an early federal effort to address AI's role in elections. 

These bills, sponsored by Chair Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), follow similar actions taken by several states to address AI influence in state-level elections. For instance, Klobuchar highlighted that 14 states have already implemented some form of AI content labeling.

🤓Key details -

• The first bill, the Preparing Election Administrators for AI Act, received unanimous support in the committee with an 11–0 vote. This act directs the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) to collaborate with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to produce a report for election offices, outlining the potential risks of AI related to disinformation, cybersecurity, and election administration. An additional amendment requires a report on the impact of AI on the 2024 elections.

• The other two bills, the Protect Elections from Deceptive AI Act and the AI Transparency in Elections Act, were also approved by the committee, passing with a 9–2 vote.

• The Protect Elections from Deceptive AI Act would restrict the use of AI deepfakes of federal candidates in specific circumstances, particularly when used for fundraising or influencing an election.

• The AI Transparency in Elections Act would mandate a disclaimer on political advertisements that have been generated or altered by AI. However, this requirement would not apply to minor edits like color adjustments or resizing.

• However, for these bills to become law, they still need to progress through the House and gain full Senate approval. This creates a time crunch as rules regarding election-related deepfakes need to be in place before the November elections.

Microsoft offers relocation to China-based AI staff amid rising U.S.-China tech tensions

👷🏻‍♂️News - In response to increased restrictions on technology access by Washington, Microsoft has reportedly asked its cloud computing and artificial intelligence staff in China to consider relocating to other countries. 

Around 700 to 800 employees, primarily Chinese engineers, have been offered the chance to relocate to countries like the U.S., Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand, according to sources familiar with the matter.

🤔Why though? Despite strict regulations that have forced many Western tech companies out of China, Microsoft has maintained a strong presence in the country for over three decades. According to the company, China hosts its largest research and development center outside of the United States.

Moreover, Microsoft's Asia-Pacific research-and-development group consists of around 7,000 engineers, the majority of whom are based in China.

💼See also - A spokesperson from Microsoft confirmed that the company had offered an optional internal transfer opportunity to a group of employees, but did not provide specific details regarding the number or departments of those affected.

It's also worth mentioning that Microsoft's proposal for relocating workers highlights the broader impact of the escalating tech competition between the world's two largest economies. As the race intensifies, companies from both countries face the risk of collateral damage.

AI's role in Hollywood and why nobody wants to talk about it

🎞️News - In spite of recent labor actions taken to address the issue, Hollywood has already started integrating artificial intelligence into its production processes, presenting the existential threat that many had anticipated.

Behind closed doors, various aspects of production, including writers' rooms and VFX departments, have embraced generative AI tools. While some projects have faced backlash for their use of AI, many others have quietly adopted the technology.

👨🏻‍🎤What does an insider think? David Stripinis, a veteran in the VFX industry who has worked on projects like Avatar, Man of Steel, and Marvel titles, suggests that although many are using AI, they are hesitant to admit it publicly. According to Stripinis, this reluctance stems from the fear that artists, who are still essential for much of the work, may react negatively. 

David Defendi, a French screenwriter and founder of Genario, an AI software system for film and television writers, also agreed that while producers, writers, and many others are using AI, they are afraid to acknowledge their reliance on it publicly. He explained that AI is being used because it provides a competitive advantage, and those who do not use it will be at a disadvantage compared to those who do.

🎬Expected impact - According to a study of 300 industry leaders conducted in January, three-fourths of respondents stated that AI tools would lead to the elimination, reduction, or consolidation of jobs within their companies. It is estimated that nearly 204,000 positions will be affected over the next three years, with concept artists, sound engineers, voice actors, and post production workers being among the most affected. But the fact of the matter is that what many see as a threat, some view as an opportunity.

🙆🏻‍♀️What else is happening?

• Intel says its Aurora AI supercomputer ranks fastest for AI 

• Humane’s AI Pins just got a GPT-4o upgrade

• Grok arrives in Europe 

• Stability AI seeks a buyer

• US Lawmakers seek $32 billion to keep American AI ahead of China

🔖AI-based books

• The Big Nine: How the Tech Titans and Their Thinking Machines Could Warp Humanity by Amy Webb - Examines the impact of AI on society and explores the role of nine leading tech companies in shaping the future of artificial intelligence.

• Architects of Intelligence: The Truth About AI from the People Building It by Martin Ford - Features interviews with leading experts in the field of artificial intelligence, providing insights into the current state and future directions of AI research and development.

• You Look Like a Thing and I Love You: How AI Works and Why It's Making the World a Weirder Place by Janelle Shane - A fun and accessible exploration of artificial intelligence, its quirks, and its impact on society.

👩🏼‍🚒Discover mind-blowing AI tools

1. TravelAroundTheWorld - An app that allows users to take photos in famous locations around the world without leaving home ($29/month)

2. MagicProspect - An AI-powered prospecting tool designed to assist sales teams in closing deals ($10/100 credits) 

3. Dubify - A tool that allows users to translate and dub their videos in multiple languages ($34.99/month) 

4. Apollo Writes - An AI-powered platform that helps brands create blog posts and articles in their unique voice ($10 for 10 articles, 5 rewrites) 

5. Droppedhub - A platform that curates and ranks a list of expired domain names based on keyword analysis and market differentiation ($19/month) 

6. Storymage - An AI-powered tool that transforms talks, podcasts, and interviews into LinkedIn posts and long-form articles ($1000/month) 

7. SwapMyFace - A web-based service that allows users to superimpose their faces onto any picture ($9/70 credits) 

8. Excuse Generator - A fun tool that generates excuses for various situations that can be adjusted for professionalism or humor (Free)

9. Sista.AI - An AI fitness coach that helps individuals achieve their fitness goals through personalized workout plans ($8/month) 

🤹🏻‍♂️AI life hacks

• Pet adoption: Use AI-powered platforms like Petfinder or Adopt-a-Pet to find your perfect pet match based on your lifestyle, preferences, and compatibility.

• Notes: Use AI-powered apps like Google Handwriting Input or MyScript Nebo to convert your handwritten notes into digital text.

• Virtual try-on: Use AI-powered virtual try-on apps like Warby Parker's Virtual Try-On or Sephora's Virtual Artist to try on glasses, makeup, and more before making a purchase.