Big Tech Shares New Opportunities for AI Training

Emerging Tech Roundup — May 3

The Quantious team’s top picks for timely trending news in the tech world.

This week in tech: Google unveiled a $75 million “AI Opportunity Fund” aimed at training workers in AI, OpenAI’s Sam Altman and other tech leaders have joined an AI safety board, Threads confirmed a bonus program for creators, GitHub introduced Copilot Workspace, Instagram is revamping its Reels recommendation algorithm to prioritize “original content,” LinkedIn officially added three games to increase user engagement, and Microsoft unveiled passkey support for all consumer accounts.

Google Announces a New $75 Million Fund to Train Workers in AI — and a New $49 Online AI Course

(Fast Company, April 26)

Google has unveiled a $75 million “AI Opportunity Fund” aimed at training one million Americans in AI skills, partnering with organizations like Goodwill and Miami Dade College to offer a $49 online AI course for free. The move comes amidst a surge in demand for AI expertise, with 72% of companies planning to invest in AI upskilling, yet only half of workers currently have access to such training. The course, “Google AI Essentials,” emphasizes foundational AI skills, best practices, and responsible AI use, reflecting the need for a widespread understanding of AI’s capabilities and limitations in the workforce.

OpenAI’s Sam Altman and Other Tech Leaders to Serve on AI Safety Board

(The Wall Street Journal, April 26)

Sam Altman from OpenAI — alongside CEOs from Nvidia, Microsoft, and Alphabet — have joined a federal advisory board aimed at ensuring the secure utilization of artificial intelligence within critical U.S. infrastructure, as part of the Biden administration’s strategy to address regulatory gaps in the rapidly advancing technology sector. According to U.S. officials, this Artificial Intelligence Safety and Security Board represents a governmental initiative to safeguard the economy, public health, and essential industries from potential threats posed by AI-driven risks.

Meta Confirms Launch of a Bonus Program for Creators on Threads

(Tech Crunch, April 29)

Meta’s Threads social network has confirmed plans to maintain its rapid growth by launching a limited-time bonus program to boost engagement. Initially available to U.S.-based creators, this program offers personalized incentives based on performance metrics, such as post views and content guidelines. It includes a minimum of 2,500 views per post and adherence to Instagram’s creator incentive terms. Eligible creators can track their earnings via a professional dashboard, with potential expansion to other regions pending the program’s success.

GitHub Previews Copilot Workspace, an AI Developer Environment to Turn Ideas into Software

(Venture Beat, April 29)

GitHub has introduced Copilot Workspace, an AI-native developer environment that aims to streamline the development process through facilitating brainstorming, planning, building, testing, and running code using natural language. While GitHub previously debuted a coding assistant, Copilot Workspace differs by assisting in completing thoughts, synthesizing code at the cursor, reducing boilerplate, and minimizing context-switching. GitHub has showcased its commitment to advancing developer tools including Copilot, incorporating upgrades like code suggestion improvements, a multi-model approach with OpenAI’s GPT-4, and rolling out an enterprise plan.

Instagram’s Algorithm Overhaul Will Reward ‘Original Content’ and Penalize Aggregators

(Engadget, April 30)

Instagram is revamping its Reels recommendation algorithm to prioritize “original content,” aiming to diminish the reach of aggregator accounts and boost smaller creators’ visibility. The changes will focus on giving creators with smaller followings a fairer chance of expanding their audience, shifting away from prioritizing accounts with more followers. While the specifics of the adjustments remain unclear, Instagram plans to roll out the changes gradually over the next few months, emphasizing the importance of providing all creators with an equal opportunity to reach new audiences.

LinkedIn Launches Gaming: 3 Logic Puzzles Aimed at Extending Time Spent on its Networking Platform

(Tech Crunch, May 1)

LinkedIn added three new games — Queens, Crossclimb, and Pinpoint — to increase user engagement, following the success of their word and logic puzzle tests earlier this year. These games, focusing on logic, trivia, and word association, can be played once a day and shared with connections, with future social features under discussion. LinkedIn sees gaming as a way to strengthen existing connections more casually.

Microsoft Launches Passkey Support for All Consumer Accounts

(The Verge, May 2)

Microsoft has unveiled passkey support for all consumer accounts, extending functionality from Windows 11 to Windows, Android, and iOS. Users can create passkeys for their Microsoft accounts, choosing from various authentication methods like face recognition and fingerprint scanning. This move marks a significant step towards a passwordless future, streamlining sign-ins across Microsoft apps and websites.