AI Bytes Newsletter Issue #30

What’s up, nerds?! Welcome back to Edition #30 of our AI Bytes, your go-to newsletter for the latest in the artificial intelligence and machine learning space. This issue has some of the hottest developments in the AI world with the scoop on Vimeo's AI-powered video translation, a necessary look back into the ethical minefield of deepfakes, and a beautifully crafted feature on LangChain, which Mike advises is the ultimate toolkit for AI developers. Plus, we're breaking down how AI is revolutionizing the fast-food industry. So let's strap in and see what's cranking with the machines and SkyNet!

The Latest in AI

A Look into the Heart of AI

Featured Innovation
Vimeo Unveils AI-Powered Video Translation with Authentic Voice Cloning

VIMEO is finally getting involved in the AI game! The company has launched a groundbreaking AI-powered video translation solution that uses generative AI to translate video, audio, and captions into dozens of languages while maintaining the authentic nuances of the original speakers' voices. This innovative technology dramatically cuts down the time and cost associated with traditional translation processes, providing a seamless experience for global audiences. Vimeo's new feature aims to streamline various business processes, including learning and development, employee communications, and marketing, by enabling efficient content localization. Users can upload or create videos in any of over 50 languages and select from 29 translation options, with Vimeo AI delivering accurate voice matching and translation.

With this launch, Vimeo positions itself as a leader in video experience innovation, enhancing business communication, collaboration, and marketing reach. The platform's AI capabilities not only transform videos into interactive experiences but also improve customer support, boost productivity, and enhance accessibility through AI-generated captions and transcripts. Vimeo's new translation tools empower companies to reach international markets and diverse audiences effectively, showcasing the company's commitment to leveraging AI for business growth and global connectivity.

Ethical Considerations & Real-World Impact

Elon is at it again, stirring up controversy with a deepfake video he shared on X (formerly Twitter) featuring Vice President Kamala Harris. The video, originally created as a parody, depicted Harris making offensive remarks about herself and President Biden, calling her an "ultimate diversity hire" and questioning Biden's mental abilities. The issue arose when Musk reposted the video without labeling it as a parody, leading to widespread backlash.

We at Antics.tv will never get into the politics of things and won't take sides, but we wanted to bring attention to this story because it highlights the dangers and ethical considerations of deepfakes, particularly when shared by high-profile figures. Such actions can easily mislead the public and raise concerns about platforms like X's role in preventing misinformation. If not handled carefully, these situations can easily erode public trust (especially in such polarizing times) and potentially impact democratic processes. It's a reminder of the critical need for ethical standards in the use of AI, and some common sense approaches.

AI Tool of the Week - LangChain

The Toolbox for using AI effectively

Today we’re focusing on a tool for developers LangChain! LangChain is an open-source framework that simplifies building applications powered by large language models (LLMs). It acts as a comprehensive toolkit for AI developers, streamlining the process of creating useful AI applications. LangChain's main strength lies in its ability to integrate various components efficiently.

The framework excels at connecting LLMs with external data sources, memory systems, and other AI models. This makes it possible to develop a wide range of applications, from chatbots with access to real-time data to AI assistants capable of breaking down complex tasks. LangChain supports the creation of simple Q&A systems as well as sophisticated virtual agents. Its versatility makes it valuable for both experienced developers and those new to AI application development, enabling the creation of intelligent, context-aware applications with relative ease.

Check out LangChain at the link below:

Rico's Roundup

Critical Insights and Curated Content from Rico

Skeptics Corner
Byte-Sized Orders: AI's Role in the Evolution of Fast Food

Hey folks, late-night Taco Bell runs are getting a tech upgrade! Taco Bell and Yum! Brands are rolling out "Voice AI" tech to drive-thrus across the U.S. They've tested it in over 100 spots, and by the end of 2024, it'll be in hundreds more. This isn’t just a Taco Bell thing either, as fast food joints everywhere are jumping on the AI bandwagon to speed things up, make ordering smoother, and boost their bottom lines. It’s about making an attempt to have things faster and more accurate, cutting down on wait times, and easing the pressure on staff so they can focus on giving you a better experience. They’re even testing it out in KFC joints down in Australia, so it appears like they’re thinking global!

Now, not everyone's had smooth sailing with AI in fast food. Wendy's has seen some wins, but McDonald's has had to dial back after some bumps in the road. It’s just a testament that throwing AI into the mix can get tricky, and there is no one-size-fits-all solution. This Voice AI rollout is just one piece of Yum! Brands' larger digital puzzle, as they’re also bringing in digital menu boards, and their own point-of-sale system, Poseidon. Their digital sales are skyrocketing, showing just how important these changes and channels are becoming for them.

A consideration here is that the introduction of AI in drive-thrus could mean fewer jobs for people, especially in roles that are easy to automate. This has folks worried, particularly for those who count on these jobs. Companies will need to figure out how to handle this by maybe retraining staff or offering new roles. And, then there's the whole data privacy thing. Voice AI collects your voice data, which means companies have to be super careful about how they store and use it. Realistically speaking, nobody wants their voice data getting hacked, so this is a major deal and consideration for implementation of these systems. Another thing to watch out for: biases in the AI. If the system's training data is skewed, it might not treat everyone fairly, which will cause even bigger headaches for the companies, so they will need to make sure they’re training these systems on diverse data to avoid any unfair treatment.

For Taco Bell and Yum! Brands, the big win here is efficiency, as well as addressing staffing issues that I think we can all agree are being realized more and more nationwide. With AI taking orders, things are expected to move faster and smoother...in theory anyway. That should mean fewer mistakes and more customers served, which is good for business and will make for a more consistent experience. Sure, some traditional roles may be reduced, but there could be new opportunities in maintaining and overseeing AI systems, managing digital interfaces, and providing customer support. Employees might need to develop new skills, moving from hands-on tasks to more tech and customer-focused roles.

For customers, it's all about speed and accuracy, right? Less waiting and fewer mistakes can make a trip to Taco Bell even better (its only what happens after consumption most take issue with…but I digress). But if the AI isn’t perfect, it could get frustrating, especially if it can’t handle different accents or languages well. As Yum! Brands and others dive into AI, they’ve gotta think about more than just the tech. They need to be upfront about how they’re using AI, tackle worries about jobs, and make sure these systems are accurate, fair, and secure. How they handle all this could really affect how people see them and whether customers stay loyal, as well as how society at large views adoption of AI systems and streamlining processes in workplaces. In the end, as AI continues to reshape industries, the importance of ethical leadership and responsible innovation will only grow.

Must-Read Articles

Mike's Musings

AI Tip - Accessing Meta’s Llama 3.1 405b without breaking the budget.

👋 Hey Everyone!

Last week, I was looking at some of the videos on Llama's new 3.1 models, and I was asking myself, "Wow, this is really great, and I love that they've come a long way with this technology, but is this really useful to a regular person?" I'm not going to go out and buy a new computer just to run Llama's new model, right? These models are coming out all the time.

So, I did a little bit of research, and I found that Perplexity Pro actually offers Llama 3.1 (the "big boy," the 405 billion parameter version) with their subscription. I figured out that I could use that, so I started playing around with it for a pretty low cost—it's like $20 bucks a month. I think there's even a free trial, so that's my tip of the week!

Check it out at https://www.perplexity.ai/pro!

Mike’s Favorites

The Real state of the AI Job Market

Alright, let's talk about the AI job market for a sec. You hear all this hype like, "Oh man, you're gonna make 300K a year as a prompt engineer" or "Netflix has this 800K a year job in AI." But reality is a whole different ballgame…

I stumbled across this video by YT: @godago where they interview a machine learning engineer, and it really breaks it down. If you wanna get the real scoop, definitely give it a watch. I've dropped the link below.

OpenAI releases “Advanced Voice” (for.. some of us)

OpenAI has finally released Advanced Voice to a limited number of subscribers. This has been a long time coming! I don't have access to it, but some people do, and we're starting to see videos like the one below come out!

This initial limited release likely indicates that access will gradually expand to more users over time. As "Advanced Voice" becomes more widely available, it could potentially enhance the AI voice experience for many of us. Personally, I'm quite excited about this development and consider it one of the most promising upcoming features.

If you’ve got something you think I’d like, hit me up at [email protected] 

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Thanks to our listeners and followers! Continue to explore AI with us. More at Artificial Antics (antics.tv).

Quote of the week: "When companies find that they can make a task 1,000 times cheaper through technology like AI, their instinct is not always to revel in the cost savings. They're likely to invest in executing that task 10,000 more times.” - Andrew Ng