Nearly Half (45%) of All Men Plan to Use AI to Compose Valentine’s Day Missives

A recent survey by McAfee Research highlights the complex relationship Americans have with artificial intelligence (AI), especially in the context of Valentine's Day and online dating. While a significant portion of the population expresses concern over AI's potential to spread misinformation, with 75% worried about its impact, the use of AI tools for crafting love messages on Valentine's Day is on the rise. Nearly half of all men (45%) are expected to use AI for this purpose, marking a significant increase from the previous year. Additionally, the survey, which involved 7,000 participants across seven countries, reveals a growing reliance on AI for creating online dating content, though this comes with an increased risk of encountering fake profiles and scammers.

The findings indicate a dichotomy in perceptions towards AI-generated content in dating. While nearly two-thirds of people distrust AI-generated imagery and chatbots on dating profiles, 69% reported receiving more positive responses with AI-generated content compared to their own. This suggests the effectiveness of AI in enhancing online engagement, despite the prevalent concerns. However, the emotional impact of discovering a Valentine's message was AI-generated is significant, with 57% saying they would be hurt or offended, underscoring the delicate balance between the utility and impersonality of AI in romantic contexts.

TikTok presents Boximator!

• Boximator introduces a method for generating controllable motions in video synthesis, addressing limitations in traditional text-based and image-conditioned models.

• Traditional models often fail to accurately interpret complex text prompts, leading to imperfect results like objects not moving as intended.

• Boximator allows users to select objects and define their motion by drawing bounding boxes and trajectories, simplifying the process and improving control.

• It employs two types of boxes: hard boxes for precise object selection and motion definition, and soft boxes for flexible constraints and better control.

• Boximator modifies existing video diffusion models by adding self-attention layers to encode box constraints, improving motion control and achieving state-of-the-art results in video quality and motion precision.

NVIDIA CEO: Every Cou Needs Sovereign AI

At the World Governments Summit in Dubai, NVIDIA's founder and CEO, Jensen Huang, discussed the concept of sovereign AI with the UAE's Minister of AI, His Excellency Omar Al Olama, emphasizing the significance of countries owning their data and intelligence production. Huang highlighted the importance of codifying a nation's culture, intelligence, and history into its own data, aligning with the UAE's efforts to develop large language models and enhance computing capabilities. The discussion pointed towards the UAE's ambition to transition from an energy-centric economy to a global IT hub, with Dubai being a pivotal point in this transformation.

During his global tour, which includes stops in several countries, Huang encouraged leaders not to be intimidated by AI, advocating for the integration of AI with local languages and expertise to bolster economic growth. He suggested that developing nations focus on building infrastructure to support AI, highlighting the role of NVIDIA GPUs in democratizing AI and fostering a wave of innovation across various sectors, from cloud computing to autonomous systems. Huang's vision extends to making computing technologies accessible to all, proposing that the future of programming lies in human language, effectively making everyone a programmer.

The summit also witnessed the announcement of a collaboration between Moro Hub, a subsidiary of Digital DEWA, and NVIDIA to build a green data center, further solidifying the region's commitment to AI advancement. The event featured discussions on smart mobility, sustainable development, and showcased AI advancements, concluding with a 'Get Inspired' ecosystem event that brought together developers, startups, and other stakeholders, demonstrating the UAE's proactive approach to embracing AI and its potential to revolutionize various industries.

TfL's AI Tube Station experiment is amazing and slightly terrifying

The transformation of artificial intelligence (AI) over the past decade has been profound, evident in everyday technologies and innovative trials like the one conducted by Transport for London (TfL) at Willesden Green station. This trial, aimed at combating fare evasion, utilized AI to analyze CCTV footage for various incidents within the station, demonstrating the capabilities of AI beyond simple image recognition to include detecting potential hazards, providing passenger assistance, and enhancing security through the identification of unusual behaviors or emergencies.

The system developed for Willesden Green could identify up to 77 different scenarios, though the trial focused on eleven. This AI application alerted staff to incidents such as falls, proximity to danger on platforms, and fare evasion, showcasing the potential for AI to improve safety, security, and operational efficiency. The AI was trained to recognize specific behaviors, like arms raised as a sign of aggression, and could differentiate between fare evaders and regular passengers, highlighting the technology's nuanced understanding and application in public spaces.

However, the deployment of such technology raises significant privacy and ethical concerns. While the AI's ability to enhance station management and safety is undeniable, the Orwellian implications of pervasive surveillance cannot be ignored. The TfL trial represents a microcosm of the broader conversation around AI's role in society, balancing its benefits in security and efficiency against the risks of invasive monitoring and the potential for misuse, underscoring the need for careful consideration and regulation as AI becomes increasingly integrated into our daily lives.

Other stuff

• How AI is transforming the business of advertising

• F-Zero courses from a dead Nintendo satellite service restored using VHS and AI

• ‘Better than a real man’: young Chinese women turn to AI boyfriends

• AI Needs So Much Power That Old Coal Plants Are Sticking Around

• US Patent Office: AI is all well and good, but only humans can patent things

• AI Is Starting to Threaten White-Collar Jobs. Few Industries Are Immune.

• Microsoft’s AI growth is helping its cloud business weaken Amazon’s lead

ChatGPT Tips and Tricks - Part 3: Timestamps and counters

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