Meta Platforms Introduces Open-Source AI Tool “AudioCraft” for Music and Audio Creation
Meta Platforms has introduced an open-source AI tool called “AudioCraft” that enables users to generate music and audio based on text prompts. The tool includes three models, including MusicGen trained on proprietary and licensed music, but concerns about copyright violations arise as such AI tools rely on web-sourced data for pattern recognition. 2 August 2023 – Meta Platforms has unveiled an open-source AI tool...
Worldcoin Sets Sights on Global Expansion with Iris-Scanning Identity Technology
Worldcoin, co-founded by OpenAI’s CEO Sam Altman, is embarking on a worldwide expansion, offering its innovative iris-scanning and identity-verification technology to organizations globally. With over 2.2 million users already engaged, the initiative aims to establish a robust financial and identity community while navigating privacy concerns associated with biometric data. 2 August 2023 – Worldcoin, a pioneering venture...
Empowering Accountants for the Future: MICPA x CA ANZ Qualifying Programme
The integration of automation and AI in Malaysia’s accounting profession, as highlighted by McKinsey & Co.’s research, presents a substantial opportunity for increased efficiency. The collaborative MICPA x CA ANZ Qualifying Programme equips accountants with necessary expertise to navigate the complexities of automation and AI, ensuring they become valued advisors in Malaysia’s evolving digital landscape. Recent...
SoftBank and Symbotic Unite to Revolutionize Warehouses with AI in New Joint Venture
SoftBank and Symbotic have teamed up to create GreenBox Systems, a joint venture aimed at developing AI-powered warehouses. SoftBank will hold a 65% stake in the venture, with Symbotic owning the rest. The collaboration represents a strategic move by SoftBank to embrace the potential of artificial intelligence amid the excitement surrounding AI advancements. 24 July 2023 – SoftBank Group and supply-chain services provider...
Promoting Transparent AI Usage: Malaysia Explores Regulations for AI Applications
The Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation in Malaysia is considering regulations to govern AI applications, including labeling AI-generated content. The proposed AI Act will undergo consultations with experts and stakeholders to ensure transparency and responsible AI usage. Additionally, the legislation will focus on data privacy, accountability, cybersecurity, and public awareness about AI to foster a cautious and informed...
VCI Global and Treasure Global Unite to Launch AI-Powered Travel Platform Enhancing Tourist Experiences in Malaysia
VCI Global and Treasure Global have partnered to introduce an AI-powered travel platform in Malaysia, offering real-time travel recommendations, seamless bookings, and built-in translation for an enhanced tourist experience. With Malaysia’s digital economy predicted to grow exponentially, this collaboration comes at a pivotal moment as the travel industry anticipates a surge in tourist arrivals post-pandemic. 22 July 2023...
Elon Musk Launches xAI, a Company Aiming to Understand the Universe
Elon Musk launches xAI, a new company focused on developing an alternative to OpenAI’s ChatGPT and exploring the mysteries of the universe. The team comprises executives with backgrounds in AI from companies like Google and DeepMind, and Musk’s involvement sparks both intrigue and criticism within the industry. 14 July 2023 – Entrepreneur Elon Musk has unveiled his latest venture, xAI, a company with the ambitious...
OpenAI Faces FTC Investigation Over Potential Risks to Consumer Data and Reputations
The US Federal Trade Commission has initiated an investigation into OpenAI Inc., raising concerns about potential risks to consumer data and reputations posed by its ChatGPT conversational AI bot. This regulatory probe reflects the increasing need for ethical AI practices and responsible innovation, potentially impacting the broader AI sector. 14 July 2023 – The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has launched an investigation...
Sapphire Venture to Infuse $1 Billion into AI Enterprise Startups, Driving Global Adoption
Sapphire Venture, under the leadership of President Jai Das, intends to invest over $1 billion in AI enterprise startups, strengthening the global adoption of this transformative technology. With a strong commitment to supporting AI companies, Sapphire Venture plans to build internal infrastructure to ensure their success. 11 July 2023 – Sapphire Venture, led by President Jai Das, unveiled plans to invest over $1 billion in AI...
AI-Powered Robotic Vehicles to Revolutionize Humanitarian Aid Delivery to Conflict Zones
AI-powered robotic vehicles are set to transform humanitarian efforts by delivering food parcels to conflict and disaster zones, reducing risks faced by aid workers. The World Food Programme (WFP) plans to test these vehicles without drivers in South Sudan through the AHEAD project in collaboration with the German Aerospace Center (DLR). By leveraging AI technology, these vehicles can navigate remote areas, combining data from various...
Nadine: The AI-Powered Social Robot Revolutionizing Caregiving for the Elderly
Social robot Nadine, designed with human-like features, has the potential to assist in caring for the sick and elderly, offering continuous support compared to human carers. Nadia Magnenat Thalmann, a robot expert, believes that robots like Nadine could help address staffing shortages in care homes and provide valuable assistance to vulnerable individuals. The International Telecommunication Union conference showcased other robots...
Inflection AI Raises RM6.04 Billion from Microsoft and Nvidia to Power Consumer-Facing AI Products
Inflection AI, a startup founded by Mustafa Suleyman and Reid Hoffman, has raised $1.3 billion (RM 6.04 billion) in a funding round led by Microsoft and Nvidia. The investment values the one-year-old company at $4 billion (RM18.6 billion) and will be used to strengthen its computing power and develop a more powerful foundational model for its consumer-facing AI products, including the chatbot Pi. CALIFORNIA, 4 July 2023 –...
Fahmi Foresees Information Technology as Key Driver of Economic Growth, Stresses Importance of AI Regulation
Malaysia’s Communications and Digital Minister highlights the potential of information technology as a mainstream economic driver, emphasizing the need for legal provisions and regulatory frameworks to ensure safe and beneficial use of artificial intelligence. KUALA LUMPUR, 20 June 2023 – Malaysia’s Communications and Digital Minister, Fahmi Fadzil, recognizes the potential of turning information technology into a...
Southeast Asian Countries Forge Ahead with Guidelines on AI Governance and Ethics
Southeast Asian countries are working on developing governance and ethics guidelines for artificial intelligence (AI) to regulate its use and mitigate potential risks. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is aiming to create an “AI guide” that will strike a balance between the economic benefits and risks associated with AI. The drafting process is underway, with completion expected by the end of the year and...
Zetrix, Universiti Malaya, and CAICT Collaborate to Advance AI in Cross-Border Trade
Zetrix, a leading public blockchain platform developer in Malaysia, and Universiti Malaya (UM), the country’s premier research university, have announced a collaboration with China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT) to spearhead cutting-edge Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology. This partnership is part of an ongoing intergovernmental research collaboration between Malaysia and the People’s...
Survey Reveals Potential Impact of AI on Employee Well-being
A recent survey conducted in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, and the US has shed light on the potential effects of using artificial intelligence (AI) in the workplace. The study, led by Pok Man Tang, an assistant professor of management at the University of Georgia, suggests that employees who frequently interact with AI systems may experience increased feelings of loneliness, trouble sleeping, and even higher alcohol...
Monetary Authority of Singapore Launches Global FinTech Hackcelerator Focused on Artificial Intelligence in Finance
The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has announced the launch of the 8th edition of the Global FinTech Hackcelerator, titled “Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Finance Global Challenge.” The competition aims to generate innovative and market-ready AI solutions that can transform the financial services industry. The event is conducted in partnership with AI Singapore (AISG) and powered by Oliver Wyman. Participants from...
Alibaba Integrates Advanced AI System into DingTalk Messaging App and Meeting Assistant
Alibaba Group is incorporating its advanced artificial intelligence system, Tongyi Qianwen, into its DingTalk messaging app and meeting assistant, Tingwu. Tongyi Qianwen, developed by Alibaba Cloud, utilizes a large language model (LLM) to power interactions with the assistant. Tingwu assists users by analyzing audio and video files and generating text summaries. The integration of the LLM-based assistant aims to improve the user...
AI-powered Search Engines Revolutionize Online Search: Google and Bing Embrace Generative AI
For the past 25 years, online search has been dominated by Google, but it seems that a profound reset is on the horizon, thanks to the integration of artificial intelligence (AI). The conventional search and click method, made ubiquitous by Google, is undergoing a major transformation as AI-powered bots such as ChatGPT, Bard, and Bing redefine how millions of web users seek answers to their queries. “People are realizing that...
Artificial Intelligence Set to Power the ‘Bank of the Future’ According to New Report from Google Cloud and Mambu
Artificial intelligence will deliver personalised experiences and reshape the world of banking as we know it, according to a new report from leading SaaS banking platform Mambu and Google Cloud. The ‘Bank of the Future’ whitepaper identifies ‘ubiquitous banking’ as the next frontier in the digital financial revolution, and reveals three building blocks that will enable the future of banking: Customer-centric strategy – products...
