OpenAI’s Odyssey, Nvidia’s Numbers, and Amazon’s AI Ambitions
Emerging Tech Roundup — Week of November 24
The Quantious team’s top picks for timely trending news in the tech world.
This week in tech: YouTube Tests AI Tool That Clones Pop Stars’ Voices, Amazon Will Host Free ‘AI Ready’ Courses in an Effort to Attract New Talent, Scientists Find Unusual Form of Magnetism in Human-Engineered Material, Microsoft Hires Ex-OpenAI Leaders Altman and Brockman to Lead New AI Group, Scientists Successfully Printed a Robotic Hand with Bones and Tendons, Starlink-rival OneWeb Scores Approval to Launch Satellite Broadband Services in India, and Nvidia Stock Closes at All-Time High.
YouTube Tests AI Tool That Clones Pop Stars’ Voices
(BBC, November 16)
YouTube has introduced an experimental AI tool enabling users to mimic the voices of pop stars. Nine artists, including Charli XCX, Troye Sivan, T-Pain, and Sia, have permitted their voices to be “cloned” by the software, initially accessible to around 100 creators in the US for YouTube Shorts. This launch follows YouTube’s recent commitment to alert viewers about videos created with AI and the option for users to request the removal of videos using AI to simulate identifiable individuals.
Amazon Will Host Free ‘AI Ready’ Courses in an Effort to Attract New Talent
(Engadget, November 20)
Amazon is launching a free program called “AI Ready” with the goal of providing generative AI training to two million people globally by 2025. The program consists of eight free courses available on Amazon’s learning website, catering to beginners and advanced users in both tech and tech-adjacent roles. Amazon is also offering Udacity scholarships worth over $12 million to more than 50,000 high school and university students from underrepresented communities, aiming to address the shortage of qualified individuals in the rapidly expanding field of AI technology.
Scientists Find Unusual Form of Magnetism in Human-Engineered Material
(Interesting Engineering, November 20)
Researchers have discovered a revolutionary form of ferromagnetism in an artificially produced material by layering atomically thin sheets of two different semiconductor materials, molybdenum diselenide and tungsten disulfide. This moiré material exhibited a new form of ferromagnetism where the alignment of magnetic moments deviates from the conventional exchange interaction. The material’s unique properties allow for a comprehensive investigation of quantum effects in strongly interacting electrons, opening up extensive new possibilities in materials science.
Microsoft Hires Ex-OpenAI Leaders Altman and Brockman to Lead New AI Group
(Tech Crunch, November 20)
In a developing story, Microsoft has hired OpenAI co-founders Sam Altman and Greg Brockman to lead a new advanced AI research team, following Altman’s unexpected dismissal by OpenAI’s board. Altman will serve as the chief executive of the new AI group at Microsoft, and the team will include former OpenAI top talent Szymon Sidor, Jakub Pachocki, and Aleksander Madry, with more expected to join. Microsoft, which has invested over $10 billion in OpenAI and acquired almost 50% ownership, remains committed to the startup.
Scientists Successfully Printed a Robotic Hand with Bones, Ligaments, and Tendons
(Tech Explorist, November 20)
Researchers have developed a new 3D printing technology that enables the use of slow-curing plastics, leading to enhanced elasticity, durability, and robustness in printed objects. This advancement allows scientists to 3D-print intricate and resilient robots, including a robotic hand with bones, ligaments, and tendons made of different polymers in a single process. The technology inspects each printed layer for imperfections and incorporates a feedback mechanism to make precise adjustments, facilitating the seamless combination of soft, elastic, and rigid materials in 3D printing.
Starlink-rival OneWeb Scores Approval to Launch Satellite Broadband Services in India
(Tech Crunch, November 21)
OneWeb India has obtained approval from India’s space regulatory body to launch commercial satellite broadband services in the country. This makes OneWeb the first organization to receive authorization for such services in India, surpassing competitors like SpaceX’s Starlink and Reliance’s JioSpaceFiber. While the launch is contingent on spectrum allocation by the Indian government, OneWeb has secured licenses to establish two gateways in Gujarat and Tamil Nadu, aiming to provide high-speed, low-latency internet connectivity across India.
Nvidia Stock Closes at All-Time High, a Day Before Earnings
(CNBC, November 20)
Nvidia’s stock reached an all-time high, closing at $504, just ahead of its fiscal third-quarter results, where analysts anticipate over 170% revenue growth. The company’s forecast for the fiscal fourth quarter is expected to reveal an even more substantial figure, with estimates suggesting almost 200% growth. Wall Street is closely monitoring Nvidia, and any signs of waning enthusiasm for generative AI that could impact the stock’s impressive performance.
