Which App reached 100 million users in 5 days? No, it's not ChatGPT.

☕️ Greetings, fellow AI enthusiasts! It’s Friday, July 28th. The weekend is almost here, and we've got some fascinating AI news to kickstart your Friday. First time reading? join here! If you like my newsletter, please share it with your team. It will help me immensely.

Threads, Meta's Twitter(X) competitor, achieved a remarkable milestone by surpassing 100 million users in an astonishingly short span of 5 days after its launch. This success has allowed Threads to claim the title of the fastest-growing consumer product, dethroning ChatGPT. Launched on 6th July 2023, Threads aspires to become the ultimate public conversation platform, with the ambitious goal of reaching 1 billion users.

• Threads: 5 days

•  ChatGPT: 2 months

• TikTok: 9 months

• Instagram: 2 years and six months

• YouTube: 4 years and 1 month

• LinkedIn: 7 years and 11 months

• The World Wide Web: 7 years

Image credit/source: Visual Capitalist

🗞️ Today’s Highlights:

• EXECUTIVE — Industry voices: Here's why generative AI will be distributed across cloud and edge

• IDEAS & QUESTIONS — White House promises on AI regulation called 'vague' and 'disappointing'

• LEARNING — Stack Overflow jumps into the generative AI world with OverflowAI

• AI TOOLS —

• INDUSTRY & FUNCTIONS — How AI is Transforming DevOps in 2023

• WORK — AI could take more jobs from women than men in the next decade, experts predict

🗞️ EXECUTIVE

Industry voices: Here's why generative AI will be distributed across cloud and edge

According to this article, Generative AI (GenAI) powered by Large Language Models (LLMs) is currently run in the centralized cloud, but it will soon need to be distributed across the network and value chain, including edge devices. This shift is driven by privacy, security, hyper-personalization, accuracy, and cost efficiency. While AI model training will remain in the cloud, inference and fine-tuning will happen at the edge. Distributing GenAI addresses concerns about privacy and security, allows for personalization, improves accuracy, and reduces costs and power consumption. Running GenAI on edge devices is feasible and offers advantages in terms of efficiency and security.

In case you are interested, the following is a list of the top ten GenAI companies in 2023 as reported by Startup Talky:

1. OpenAI: Renowned for its generative language models, including ChatGPT and the GPT series.

2. DeepMind (acquired by Google): Focuses on generative AI research in various domains, such as reinforcement learning and robotics.

3. IBM Watson and Watsonx: Offers cognitive computing solutions using generative AI techniques and natural language processing (NLP).

4. Alphabet (Google): Employs generative AI in various products like Google Brain and Google Translate, and has introduced the Bard chatbot.

5. Salesforce: Integrates generative AI algorithms into its CRM platform to enhance customer engagement and personalization.

6. Microsoft: A leader in generative AI development, collaborating with OpenAI to release GPT-3 and launching Bing AI chatbot powered by GPT-4.

7. Adobe: Leverages generative AI within its creative software suite to empower artists and designers with intelligent tools.

8. Intel: Working on various generative AI technologies, including specialized hardware like Nervana NNPP and software like OpenVINO Toolkit.

9. Writesonic: A company developing AI writing tools, like Jasper AI, to help businesses and individuals create content more efficiently.

10. NVIDIA: A major contributor to generative AI, especially with their work on GANs and image synthesis.

Source: Startup Talky

Check out this diagram showing a comprehensive list of Artificial Intelligence use cases. Click on the image to enlarge it.

Image credit: source

🗞️ IDEAS & QUESTIONS

The venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) has introduced a project on GitHub, enabling users to create customizable "AI companions" with configurable personalities and backstories. Although intended as a developer experiment, people are already envisioning their ideal digital partners. These AI chatbots, like Evelyn, Alex, Sebastian, or Corgi, can be shaped according to individual preferences. While some find the concept of AI romance unsettling, a16z sees potential therapeutic benefits in companion chatbots, which can recall and analyze information, providing understanding without judgment. Though true romance still relies on human connections, the increasing advancements in AI indicate a rise in possibilities for virtual love affairs in the future. Here is what Yahoo Finance reported on this topic.

White House promises on AI regulation called 'vague' and 'disappointing'

Tech industry experts have criticized the "vague" and "disappointing" voluntary commitments made by seven leading AI tech companies to address safety, security, and trust risks associated with their technologies. The commitments were made during a meeting with US President Joe Biden at the White House. Despite the positive spin from White House officials, experts believe the agreements are unlikely to effectively regulate AI development. They argue that government regulators are ill-equipped to keep up with fast-moving technology and protect citizens from potential consequences. China has already made faster progress in regulating generative AI, highlighting the need for international cooperation.

🗞️ LEARNING

Stack Overflow jumps into the generative AI world with OverflowAI

Good news for Stack Overflow users! The Stack Overflow platform used by developers for technical help, is introducing OverflowAI, a series of generative AI capabilities on both its public site and enterprise offering Stack Overflow for Teams. According to this article, these AI tools aim to enhance the search experience and provide more accurate and reliable answers. OverflowAI allows users to ask conversational questions, and the generative answers come from the vast knowledge base of 58 million questions and answers from Stack Overflow, with proper citations. The goal is to complement the existing community-based model, not replace it. The AI model enables natural language processing and helps users of all experience levels find relevant information quickly without potential hurdles from community feedback. Additionally, there's a new OverflowAI extension for Visual Studio Code, enabling developers to query and generate code using information from both public forums and their enterprise's knowledge base. The OverflowAI capabilities will launch as alpha releases in August, with interested users able to sign up for access.

🗞️ AI TOOLS

Character AI: Chat with ultra-realistic AI personalities.

• Google Play 

• Apple Store 

Disclaimer: 1) The tool descriptions may include messaging from each tool site. 2) Please thoroughly read the site details before using and/or acquiring any of the tools listed above.

🗞️ INDUSTRY & FUNCTION

How 10 AWS customers are approaching generative AI

Generative AI is driving transformative changes across various industries, revolutionizing how organizations operate and interact with customers. Numerous companies, including ADP, Eversana, FOX, LexisNexis, PGA Tour, Red Ventures, Ricoh USA, ShowPad, SunPower, and Twilio, are actively exploring and implementing generative AI solutions. These applications span from personalized human resources and payroll solutions to AI-driven sports highlights and innovative legal AI tools. These organizations view generative AI as a powerful tool to augment human decision-making rather than replace it, using it to create personalized experiences and drive greater efficiency. AWS, through its Generative AI Innovation Center, is assisting these customers in successfully deploying custom generative AI products and services, unlocking the potential for new and improved ways of conducting business.

How AI is Transforming DevOps in 2023

The article explores the use of Generative AI in DevOps, highlighting its potential benefits, limitations, and emerging trends. It emphasizes the importance of careful integration and validation by human experts to avoid biases and ensure data privacy and security. While Generative AI offers advantages in automating DevOps processes, businesses must consider their specific needs, company culture, and industry policies when implementing AI tools. The article concludes by encouraging collaboration with experienced DevOps professionals to fully harness the potential of AI-enabled DevOps.

🗞️ WORK

AI could take more jobs from women than men in the next decade, experts predict

A new study from the McKinsey Global Institute (MGI) suggests that in the next decade, generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automation may disproportionately eliminate jobs held by women compared to men. The report forecasts that nearly 30 percent of current work hours in the U.S. could be automated by 2030, affecting various industries. While some sectors like STEM, creative, and business fields may benefit from AI, roles in office support, customer service, and the food service industry could face declining demand due to technological advances. Over half of recent employees leaving jobs in office support and customer service industries are women, making them 1.5 times more likely to need to transition into new occupations than men. The report also highlights that Black and Hispanic workers are concentrated in some of the shrinking fields. However, the study suggests that generative AI could increase overall labor productivity and alleviate labor shortages in the U.S.

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