😱Microsoft exposes AI exploiters

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Today we will discuss-

• 🚨Microsoft, OpenAI warn of hackers weaponizing AI

• 🚀Google's AI to map methane leaks from space

•  👎🏻Romantic AI chatbots fail privacy test

• 🤩11 amazing AI tools you might not have heard of

All this and more - Let's dive in!

👩‍🍳What’s cooking in the newsroom?

Microsoft, OpenAI claim U.S. enemies are using their Gen AI tools to improve cyberattacks

🙀News - On 14 February, Microsoft and OpenAI revealed that hackers have been using large language models such as ChatGPT to enhance and optimize their cyberattacks. 

In newly published research, Microsoft and OpenAI exposed groups from Russia, North Korea, Iran, and China that were using tools like ChatGPT to study targets and plan cyberattacks.

🙆🏻‍♀️Highlights from the report include - 

• Microsoft reported that hackers working on behalf of Russia's military intelligence agency, the GRU, used AI models to research satellite and radar technologies related to the conflict in Ukraine.

• Chinese state-backed hackers were also seen experimenting with large language models, using them to inquire about rival intelligence agencies, cybersecurity issues, and notable individuals.

• Microsoft noted that North Korean hackers used AI models to generate content, likely for use in spear-phishing campaigns.

• The software giant added that Iranian hackers also used AI models to write more convincing phishing emails, at one point using them to generate code for avoiding detection by antivirus applications.

• On a positive note, OpenAI and Microsoft highlighted that the hackers' use of their AI tools was still in its early stages and hadn't led to any major breakthroughs yet. Nonetheless, both companies have taken action by shutting down all accounts and assets associated with these hacking groups.

Google to use AI to track methane gas leaks from space

🛰️News - Google has partnered with the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) for a satellite project that will use Google's AI tools to collect data on global methane levels.

The satellite, known as MethaneSAT, will monitor methane emissions, which, according to the International Energy Agency, are responsible for 30% of the global temperature rise due to their heat-trapping properties, making them one of the most pressing climate challenges of our time.

😀What is AI's role here? Once in space, MethaneSAT will use its software and spectrometers to detect methane by measuring different light wavelengths. It will identify concentrated methane emissions and areas where the gas disperses.  Additionally, using Google's AI image detection tools, MethaneSAT will create a comprehensive global map of oil and gas infrastructure, pinpointing locations prone to leaks, such as pump jacks and storage tanks.

🤔How helpful will this be though? While not a solution to global warming on its own, the project's data will help assess the role of the oil and gas industries in the increase of global methane emissions, which is a crucial first step in the fight against climate change. 

AI girlfriends and boyfriends can't be trusted with your data, study finds

🫢News - Yesterday was the first Valentine's Day since the AI boom. Unfortunately, for those turning to AI dating chatbots for companionship, a new report by the Mozilla Foundation brings troubling news: these AI chatbots are not your friends and can be a big threat to privacy.

As part of its research, the Mozilla Foundation reviewed 11 romantic AI chatbots and found that the majority don't do a good job of protecting users' personal information, and many even share or sell the information without obtaining user consent.

🥀 Here's the lowdown on what you should remember -

• The report found that many romantic AI chatbot companies prioritize profit over user privacy and safety, and fail to disclose how their AI models work. 

• Despite claims of improving mental health, these apps lack transparency and accountability, making empty promises and disregarding security standards.

• Moreover, many apps lack basic security measures, such as encryption, and offer weak password options. 

• Additionally, users often lack control over their data, with many apps not allowing the deletion of personal information or treating conversations with AI as software property rather than private communication.

🙆🏻‍♀️In conclusion - The report underscores the concerns about the reliability and risks of romantic AI chatbots, advising users to approach them with caution and scrutiny.

👩🏼‍💻What else is happening?

• US-India Business Council launches Artificial Intelligence Task Force

• Japan’s ruling party pushes for AI legislation within 2024

• Google to set up new Artificial Intelligence hub in France

• Slack AI is here, letting you catch up on lengthy threads and unread messages

• Nokia unveils AI assistant for industrial workers

👩🏻‍🏫Interesting facts about AI

• Researchers at Stanford University developed an AI algorithm capable of predicting death with 90% accuracy. Trained on electronic health records (EHRs) of several patients, the AI is designed to identify patients at higher risk of death within 3-12 months.

• Roboticists have developed a new technique that involves using an fMRI scanner to create images of human thoughts. The AI is programmed to analyze these brain snapshots and compare them with images from other volunteers.

• In China, the teenage population is increasingly engaging in romantic relationships with AI as a means to combat anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues, reaffirming the country's 'lonely economy' title.

👩🏼‍🚒Discover mind-blowing AI tools

1. GameGuide - An information tool designed to assist gamers in various video games by providing comprehensive and concise information (Free)

2. Video2Recipe - A tool that easily converts cooking videos into step-by-step recipes (Free, $9/month) 

3. MagicSchool.ai - Designed to assist educators in various tasks, such as lesson planning, differentiating instruction (Free)

4. Audioatlas - Allows users to find the most suitable music from a vast global database of over 200M songs (Free) 

5. Frontdoor - An AI knowledge assistant that helps users capture and organize information from the web (Free, $10/month) 

6. TurboSite - Allows users to effortlessly create beautiful landing pages without any design experience (Free, $9/month) 

7. GrapeGPT - Helps users select the perfect wine by providing personalized recommendations based on the user's taste preferences (Free)

8. Watermelon - An all-in-one automated customer service tool powered by GPT-4 ($100/month) 

9. Gliglish - An AI-based language teacher that helps users improve their fluency in various languages (Free, $17/month) 

10. GPT Lab - Allows users to create custom AI companions for various purposes, such as life coaching, career coaching, or writing assistance (Free)

11. Jobscan - A job search tool that helps job seekers optimize their resumes for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) (Free, $29.99/month) 

🎧AI-based podcast

• Concerning AI by Brandon Sanders & Ted Sarvata. This is a thought provoking podcast that delves into the philosophical aspects of AI and its profound impact on present-day society and the future, offering a unique perspective on the potential of the technology.

• Bot Love by Anna Oakes and Diego Senior. This podcast explores the subject of intimacy between humans and chatbots, delving deep into what such connections can look like by analyzing the relationships of diverse individuals' with their AI companions.

• The Bot Canon by Hannah Keefer. It explores the intriguing outcomes of AI co-writing. The episodes, basically, discuss the intersection of artificial intelligence and storytelling. Topics covered include the use of AI in fiction, the ethical implications of AI, and the future of storytelling.

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