AI Bytes Newsletter Issue #25

Welcome to the 25th edition of the AI Bytes Newsletter! We’re excited to have you with us as we explore the latest advancements and trends in artificial intelligence. This issue is packed with exciting news, including ASUS’s bold AI innovations unveiled at Computex 2024 and thought-provoking discussions on the ethical implications of AI content use. Plus, don’t miss our spotlight on the Hemingway Editor, a fantastic tool for enhancing your writing. Whether you're a tech enthusiast, a creative professional, or just curious about AI, we’ve got something for you. Sit back, enjoy, and let’s journey through the fascinating world of AI together!

The Latest in AI

A Look into the Heart of AI

Featured Innovation: ASUS Goes All-In on AI - Computex 2024 Rundown

Hey there, tech enthusiasts! Grab your popcorn (or maybe your thermal paste?) because ASUS just dropped a bomb at Computex 2024, and it’s all about AI. Seriously, they’re slapping AI on everything but the kitchen sink. Actually, I wouldn’t be surprised if they announced an AI-powered kitchen sink next year. Let’s dive into this AI extravaganza!

Ubiquitous AI: Incredible Possibilities

ASUS has unveiled its new strategy. It has a mouthful of a name: “Ubiquitous AI, Incredible Possibilities.” In simpler terms, it means they're cramming AI into every part of their business. From cloud servers to your laptop, ASUS wants AI everywhere. It’s like they’re playing a game of “Where’s Waldo?” but replace Waldo with AI chips.

Copilot+ PCs: Your New AI Sidekick

Remember when having a dual-core processor was cool? Well, now it’s all about NPUs (Neural Processing Units). ASUS is rolling out a whole lineup of Copilot+ PCs. They have NPUs that can do 45+ TOPS (Trillion Operations Per Second). That’s a lot of operations, folks. The PCs use AI to promise better privacy. Your data stays local. They also promise improved efficiency. They can predict when you’ll need a coffee break. And they promise enhanced performance. They’ll finish your Excel formulas before you can say “VLOOKUP.”

The Zenbook S 16: Thin, Light, and Probably Smarter Than Me

ASUS showcased the Zenbook S 16, and it’s so thin (1.1 cm) and light (1.5 kg) that it might actually float away if you’re not careful. It has an AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor. It also has up to 50 TOPS NPU. The laptop is ready to handle your AI work. It may also write your next novel.

ProArt Series: For When Your Creativity Needs an AI Boost

For all you creative types out there, ASUS unveiled new ProArt laptops. The P16, PX13, and PZ13 models come with fancy AMD Ryzen AI processors and NVIDIA GPUs. They’ve also thrown in some AI-powered software like StoryCube. It's for organizing your memes... I mean, your important media files. They also include MuseTree for when you need AI to kick-start your creativity.

TUF Gaming Laptops: Because Gaming Needs AI Too, Apparently

Not to be left out, the gaming division introduced the TUF A16 and A14 laptops. They are packed with AMD Ryzen AI processors and NVIDIA GPUs. These bad boys are ready to predict your noob moves before you make them. Maybe they’ll even play the game for you while you grab a snack!

The NUC of the Future is Here Today

ASUS is also bringing AI to the small form factor world with their 2024 AI NUC lineup. These mini PCs are perfect for when you want big AI power in a tiny package. It’s like having a supercomputer that can fit in your lunchbox!

ASUS’s Green Dream

Amidst all the AI hype, ASUS took a moment to remind us that they care about the planet too. They aim for 100% renewable energy in their global operations by 2035. They aim for net-zero emissions by 2050. It’s nice to know that while our future AI overlords are being built, at least they’ll be eco-friendly.

Wrap-up

So there you have it, folks. ASUS is going all-in on AI, and they’re not subtle about it. From ultra-thin laptops to beefy servers, everything’s getting an AI upgrade. The future is here, and apparently, it needs a lot of neural processing units.

Stay tuned for next year when ASUS inevitably announces AI-powered toasters. Until then, may your computations be swift and your AI assistants be obedient!

If you’ve seen a game changing innovation and want to share it with us, hit us up at [email protected]!

Ethical Considerations & Real-World Impact: Microsoft’s AI boss thinks it’s perfectly okay to steal content if it’s on the open web

Microsoft’s AI boss, Mustafa Suleyman, seems to think it’s a-okay to snag any content that’s out there on the open web. Yes, you heard that right. According to him, anything you publish online is up for grabs – a concept he boldly termed as “freeware.” Now, hold on a second. Let’s dissect this.

“No, Andrew Ross Sorkin. AI companies are not stealing the world’s IP”, Suleyman responded on CNBC. “I think that content already on the open web is under a social contract. That contract, since the ‘90s, has been that it is fair use. Anyone can copy it, recreate with it, reproduce with it. That has been freeware, if you like, that’s been the understanding."

Well, isn’t that convenient? This is especially true now. Microsoft, with OpenAI, is neck-deep in lawsuits. The suits claim they’ve been stealing copyrighted stories to train their AI. It’s almost like he’s trying to preemptively defend their actions by redefining what’s legal.

Now, I’m no lawyer, but I do know that in the US, the moment you create a work, it’s protected by copyright. No need to apply for it, and publishing it online certainly doesn’t strip you of those rights. Fair use isn't an informal agreement. It's a legal doctrine determined by courts. It balances what's copied, why, how much, and the impact on the original work's market.

Suleyman also made a curious statement about humanity:

“What are we, collectively, as an organism of humans, other than a knowledge and intellectual production engine?”

I get the sentiment, but let’s be clear: intellectual property still holds value and rights. Even his nod to robots.txt as a barrier for web scraping is shaky. It’s more of a guideline than a legal shield.

So Suleyman and others in AI might push the boundaries of “fair use” to train their models. But, the debate is far from settled. Courts will ultimately decide how these lines are drawn. Until then, be cautious about what you believe. This is about the "freeware" status of your online content.

AI Tool of the Week - Hemingway Editor

The Toolbox for Navigating the AI Landscape

This week’s tool is the Hemingway Editor, we found this tool from a YouTuber (@TheNerdyNovelist) who had much good to say about it. We checked it out and after using it to help with the newsletter this week, we are impressed!

If you’ve got a suggestion on tools we should check out, email us at [email protected] and let us know.

Rico's Roundup

Critical Insights and Curated Content from Rico

Skeptics Corner | Zuck’s Latest PR Stunt: Dissing ‘God-like’ AI While Peddling His Own Flavor

Oh boy, here we go again. Meta’s head honcho, Mark Zuckerberg, is back on his soapbox, this time taking potshots at his AI competitors. In a recent YouTube chat, Zuck had the audacity to accuse others of trying to “create God” with their closed-source AI. Rich, coming from the guy who wanted to connect the world and ended up with a privacy nightmare, right?

Zuckerberg, in his infinite wisdom, declared, “I find it a pretty big turnoff when people in the tech industry talk about building this ‘one true AI.’ It’s almost as if they kind of think they’re creating God or something… that’s not what we’re doing.” Sure, Zuck. You’re just creating a totally benign, not-at-all invasive AI that’ll make our lives oh-so-much better.

Our fearless leader envisions a world with a “variety of AIs” catering to our every whim. How thoughtful! And wouldn’t you know it, Meta’s got just the thing: AI Studio software for making AI avatars on Instagram. Because if there’s one thing the world needs more of, it’s AI-powered influencers cluttering up our feeds.

But hold your horses, folks. Before we crown Zuckerberg the champion of open-source AI, let’s not forget the elephant in the room. Word on the street is that Apple gave Meta the cold shoulder when it came to AI collaboration. Could it be that Zuck’s sudden love for open-source is just sour grapes? A way to stick it to the cool kids who won’t let him sit at their table?

And let’s not overlook Meta’s conveniently timed push into smart glasses. Zuckerberg’s painting a rosy picture of a future where we ditch our smartphones for his fancy eyewear. Because nothing says “privacy” like having Meta’s tech literally on your face, right?

Look, Zuckerberg’s vision of multiple AIs sounds great on paper. But let’s be real - this is the same guy who turned “connecting people” into a data-mining bonanza. Will Meta’s AI really be the open, user-focused utopia he’s promising? Or is it just another way to keep us all locked into Zuckerberg’s digital playground?

Here’s the bottom line, folks: Keep your BS detectors on high alert. Meta’s open-source AI push could be a game-changer, or it could be just another chapter in the “How to Monetize Everything” playbook. Time will tell if Zuckerberg’s really championing the little guy or just finding new ways to keep us all under his thumb.

Stay skeptical, my friends. In the world of tech, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Must-Read Articles

Mike's Musings

AI Tips

Essential Tips for Using AI Tools Effectively

Hey folks! Writing can be hard, add AI tools into the mix and things get even more difficult. Here are some tips we've found to help:

Combine AI with Human Creativity

AI tools are excellent for generating drafts and ideas, but human oversight ensures the content remains authentic and engaging. Always review and refine AI-generated content to add your personal touch and critical insights. When in doubt, use the 10-80-10 strategy:

Iterative Editing

Use AI for initial drafts and subsequent edits. Tools like Grammarly (link in comments) can enhance grammar and style, while Hemingway (link in comments) can simplify complex sentences. This iterative process helps produce polished and clear content.

Understand AI’s Limitations

AI tools can sometimes produce content that lacks depth or misses context. Always fact-check and contextualize AI-generated content to ensure accuracy and relevance.

Optimize your workflow

Integrate AI tools into your content creation workflow to save time and increase efficiency. Use AI for brainstorming, drafting, and even editing, but always give the final touch to maintain your unique voice and style.

By combining AI with human creativity, embracing iterative editing, and understanding AI’s limitations, you can enhance your content creation process and produce high-quality, engaging content.

Mike’s Favorites

Pika Labs - Adding Sound Effects to AI Videos

This isn’t brand new, but I’m really liking how Pika added the ability to add sound effects to your gen AI videos! See demo below:

Quote from Jason Calacanis 

The All-In Podcast had a segment the other day about what it’s going to take to stand out from the pack and thrive in a future where automation is omnipresent. I found this was really fitting. As a previous manager used to tell me “Sometimes, it’s the intangibles that are worth the most”.

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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: “It’s not about what you can do with AI. It's about what you should do with AI“ - MT