Meta AI Chief Yann LeCun has backed down criticism of politics, conspiracy theories, and business hype by Elon Musk lately. LeCun’s remarks were precipitated by Musk, head of Tesla and SpaceX, who rallied people to accompany his new AI company xAI.
To his followers, Musk invited to join him by stating that the mission of the new project will be “the acquisition of as much knowledge of the universe as possible, as quickly and surely as possible, no filters, political correctness, etc. ”
Statements like, I will have the project done next year put a lot of pressure on you.
Claims it can put everybody’s lives in jeopardy and that it should be stopped; it feels like a forced break from work.
Claims to uphold the pursuit of truth and knowledge, yet espouses outrageous conspiracy theories on his own media channel. “
LeCun further said, “I like Musk’s cars, rockets, solar panels, SpaceX satellite network But don’t like his vengeful politics, conspiracy theories or hype. ”
Musk then came up with the provoking question, “What ‘science’ have you done in the past 5 years?” LeCun did not let the opportunity pass and fired back with, “Over 80 technical papers published since January 2022. What about you?” Musk jabbed, “That’s nothing, you’re going soft. ”Try harder!” Now, you are talking to me as if you are my boss,” LeCun retaliated.
The exchange proceeded with Musk continuing his comment stating that LeCun was doing exactly as he was told, to which LeCun fired back saying, “You don’t seem to understand how research works. ”
This emotional conflict shows the always-existing rift within key personalities in the technology sector, especially on issues to do with artificial intelligence, research integrity, and management.
Is the Islamic State Using AI Anchors to Revolutionize Its Propaganda Efforts?
As if the future had not been problematic enough, the Islamic State (ISIS) is now employing artificial intelligence in its propaganda. One of the latest examples of the use of sophisticated technology for malicious purposes is a new project called “News Harvest. ”
The Big Picture
It is said that ISIS began using AI-generated news anchors right after the group attacked a venue hosting a Russian artist in March. One of these AI anchors recently starred in a video that was posted on a private platform associated with the group. In the 92-second video, the attack was referred to as part of a ‘fierce war’ and not as terrorism.
The SITE Intelligence Group, which focuses on tracking the activities of extremists on the internet, reports that ISIS supporters used artificial intelligence to create this broadcast. The show starts with the logo and the title, and then an AI news anchor in military attire or formal wear reads the news. These videos also contain text overlays in the form of news ticker tapes and footage of ISIS in the background. The “News Harvest” program features incidences and events that took place in different parts of the world like Niger, Cameroon, Iraq, Syria, and Nigeria.
Why It Matters
The use of AI by ISIS has enhanced their ability to make and disseminate propaganda more than before. Technological advances, such as AI, enable ISIS to create professional-looking videos rapidly and at relatively little cost, thus increasing the difficulty for tech industries to identify and eliminate these videos. ISIS supporters have even argued about whether the use of AI-created human images is permissible under Islamic law. Due to this, the recent videos have covered the faces of the AI news anchors.
Expert Opinions
According to Rita Katz, the co-founder of the SITE Intelligence Group, AI represents a new strategic shift for ISIS. She continues by saying that it enables them to disseminate information concerning their attacks within the shortest time possible and to the farthest corner of the globe. Middle East Media Research Institute’s Steven Stalinsky also notes that AI can contribute to the emergence of domestic radicalization. With easy access to propaganda and the means of creating such content, one can engage with radical organizations from the comfort of one’s home.
The Details
A “News Harvest” video aims to mimic actual news broadcasts as from such reputable sources as Al Jazeera. Some of them are real AI anchors, dressed in various outfits and claiming to present the news, tickers, and videos of ISIS operations. It shares official ISIS media output including al-Naba publications and Amaq.
What’s Next
Al-Qaeda has also considered the use of AI in propaganda as have other such groups. This means that counterterrorism strategies will be forced to adapt to a new dimension that challenges traditional approaches to moderating information through AI-generated content, which is less easily controllable and faster in its dissemination.
Terrorist teams have also now adopted artificial intelligence technology to advance their cause, and thus tackling this threat entails the development of novel strategies.
Why Are Enterprises Hesitant to Adopt Generative AI Despite Its Potential?
Chasing after the benefits of generative AI technology is becoming a challenge for many companies because of the way that costs are set. The two primary strategies that a business can adopt for pricing are quite effective, but they are accompanied by certain weaknesses.
Pay-As-You-Go Model
The pay-as-you-go model of charging companies is the most common since it will charge the clients according to their usage. Although this may appear to be quite free, it is very costly especially if the AI technology is heavily relied upon. However, for companies that are huge users of this service, the expenses pile up, which is not ideal.
Minimum Payment Model
The minimum payment model forces companies to pay a big amount at first before they begin using the technology irrespective of how often they will be using the technology in the future. This implies that businesses are required to invest an adequate amount of money first hence posing some risks to the business especially if they are uncertain of the extent of their utilization of the artificial intelligence technology.
The Dilemma
Each strategy has its own problem for companies; however, both are very effective. Considering the pay-as-you-go strategy may result in higher costs due to higher usage, which is not welcome; the minimum payment strategy requires a significant initial investment. As a result, businesses end up struggling to adequately control their costs.
Conclusion
Because of these cost issues, many companies are afraid to implement generative AI technology. They have to think deeply about which pricing model suits them best, or whether they should risk investing in better technology to deliver the improvement that customers may expect.
