Welcome to AI Weekly, where we delve into the cutting-edge and ever-evolving world of artificial intelligence and bring you concise yet comprehensive summaries of the most exciting AI developments.
Australia lags behind in AI regulation, warn experts
Experts warn that Australia is lagging behind in both artificial intelligence (AI) funding and regulation as the government considers its next steps following the Bletchley declaration in the UK last week. Australia, alongside 28 other countries and the EU, signed a declaration acknowledging the potentially catastrophic dangers of AI and emphasizing the need for safe and responsible design and development.
This declaration came just a week after the Biden administration issued an executive order requiring US companies such as OpenAI and Google to share their safety test results with the government before releasing AI models. The Albanese government launched an inquiry this year to examine potential regulations for ensuring the safe development of AI, the relevance of existing legislation, and the need for new laws.
Elon Musk unveils Grok AI chatbot
xAI, Elon Musk’s AI venture, has introduced Grok, an AI chatbot designed to compete with OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Bard. Grok is currently in its early beta testing phase, having undergone two months of training and accessible only to a limited group of users. Those interested in trying Grok can sign up for a waitlist. Grok will eventually be offered as a feature of X Premium+, which costs $16 per month.
Progress enhances Sitefinity with Generative AI capabilities
Progress, a leading provider of application development and infrastructure software, has unveiled Progress® Sitefinity® 15, equipped with generative AI (GenAI) support throughout the platform. This enables marketers to generate personalized content at scale while providing seamless data connectivity through Sitefinity Integration Hub, connecting to leading MarTech platforms for unified customer profiles. Organizations embracing digital modernization can eliminate marketing data silos, gain valuable customer insights, and deliver personalized experiences faster with Sitefinity 15.
Australia signs declaration on responsible Military AI use
Australia has joined a global initiative advocating for the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) in military operations, signing a declaration alongside 30 other countries. This declaration commits to implementing AI guardrails in weapons systems. Australia’s participation in this declaration occurred at the AI Safety Summit in the United Kingdom, attended by Defence minister Richard Marles and Industry minister Ed Husic.
Andromeda Robotics pilots AI-powered companion Robot in aged care
Australian robotics and AI startup Andromeda Robotics has commenced initial trials with aged care provider Allity (part of the Bolton Clarke Group). These trials involve Andromeda’s prototype humanoid companion robot, designed to interact with residents in a natural and conversational manner. Powered by the Chat GPT-4 AI platform, the robot can recognize residents, answer questions, and tailor conversations based on previous interactions.
AI could save Australian workforce two days per week
A HubSpot study reveals that nine out of ten Australian sales and marketing professionals have experienced increased productivity at work due to AI, while also highlighting a knowledge gap between enterprises and small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs).
Marketers in Australia estimated an average time savings of 2.9 hours per day using AI tools for content creation, while sales professionals predicted a saving of 2.6 hours per day. With a potential productivity gain of nearly two days per week, the prospect of a shorter, yet more productive workweek could become a reality. This is particularly relevant as budgets face scrutiny and national burnout levels rise.
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