ai news | Wowza

Another Crazy Day in AI: AlphaChip’s role in next-gen hardware

Sep 27, 2024
3 min read

Hello, AI Enthusiasts.

Welcome to Friday night! As you wind down and reflect on your week, how did everything go for you?

Before diving into the weekend, let’s take a look at what Google is spotlighting this edition with their DeepMind, Gemini, and Workspace.

Tonight's highlight is their AlphaChip—which optimizes chip layout design, slashing the time needed from months to just hours! Make sure to also snag a free handbook to master prompting with Gemini, and explore how over 185 GenAI use cases are empowering different sectors to drive innovation and enhance productivity. 🚀

Wishing you a wonderful weekend ahead. ✨

Here's another crazy day in AI:

The AI behind next-gen chips
A free handbook to mastering prompts with Gemini
101+84 real-world GenAI use cases across sectors
Some AI tools to try out

TODAY'S FEATURED ITEM: How AI is Building Superhuman Chips

Source: Google DeepMind + Canva Mockups

What if the chips powering our devices were designed by AI?

Google DeepMind researchers Anna Goldie and Azalia Mirhoseini have introduced AlphaChip, an AI-driven tool that's transforming the way computer chips are designed.

This AI-powered method uses reinforcement learning to design chip layouts in just hours—a task that used to take months of human effort. These layouts are already being used in Google’s Tensor Processing Units (TPUs), fueling some of the most advanced AI systems today, and they’re quickly being adopted by the wider chip design industry.

Here’s what AlphaChip has made possible:

Dramatically speeds up chip layout design from months to hours.
Plays a key role in designing Google’s TPUs, which power AI models like Gemini and Imagen.
Industry leaders like MediaTek are using AlphaChip to build next-gen mobile chips.
It learns and improves with each layout, resulting in increasingly efficient chip designs.
Paving the way for AI to enhance even more stages of the chip design process.

Left: Animation showing AlphaChip placing the open-source, Ariane RISC-V CPU, with no prior experience. Right: Animation showing AlphaChip placing the same block after having practiced on 20 TPU-related designs.

The impact of AlphaChip is both impressive and far-reaching. By automating one of the most intricate tasks in chip design, it has reduced the time required to create complex layouts from months to mere hours. Since its inception, AlphaChip has been instrumental in designing multiple generations of Google’s Tensor Processing Units (TPUs), the hardware behind powerful AI models like Gemini. Major industry players, including MediaTek, have adopted this technology to enhance the efficiency of their mobile chip designs.

But AlphaChip is more than just a tool for speeding up chip design. It’s inspiring new research into how AI can optimize other stages of the chip creation process, from logic synthesis to manufacturing. As the technology advances, it’s poised to improve the performance and efficiency of chips across various sectors, paving the way for faster, more energy-efficient devices. By addressing long-standing challenges in engineering, AlphaChip shows how AI can revolutionize real-world problems in practical, measurable ways.

Read the full blog here.

OTHER INTERESTING AI HIGHLIGHTS:

A free handbook to mastering prompts with Gemini

/Google Workspace

Discover how to write effective prompts to enhance your productivity using Gemini for Workspace. This quick-start handbook offers foundational skills organized by role and use case, allowing you to master the basics efficiently. Whether you’re looking to save time or focus on high-impact work, this guide helps you harness the power of AI to streamline your daily tasks.

Read more and download the handbook here.

101+84 real-world GenAI use cases across sectors

/Brian Hall, Google Blog

Explore how top companies, governments, and startups leverage Google's AI solutions to drive innovation and enhance productivity. This comprehensive update expands on 101 use cases by adding 84 more, showcasing the versatility of generative AI across sectors like customer service, data analysis, and creative production. Notable examples include Alaska Airlines' chatbot and General Motors' AI assistant, illustrating the transformative potential of AI in real-world applications.

Another Crazy Day in AI: The intelligence age

Sep 25, 2024
4 min read

Hello, AI Enthusiasts.

It’s Wednesday night, the perfect time to reflect as we reach the week’s midpoint—how has your week been treating you so far?

OpenAI's CEO shares a transformative view for the "intelligence age" and its potential impact on technology and society. We also have an interesting article cowrote and shared by one of our study group members, exploring the intricacies of data ingestion for generative AI applications. Plus, former Google CEO Eric Schmidt's predictions about AI suggest that we will see changes that are "unimaginable" in just 3-5 years.

As you wrap up your day, take a look at these insights.

Here's another crazy day in AI:

OpenAI's CEO discusses the future of Superintelligent AI
Challenges in data ingestion for GenAI pipelines
Schmidt’s vision: everything, everywhere, all at once
Some AI tools to try out

TODAY'S FEATURED ITEM: Altman’s Bold Vision: The Intelligence Age

Source: Sam Altman, The Intelligence Age

Could we be just a few thousand days away from superintelligent AI?

Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI (the company behind ChatGPT), recently shared his thoughts on the future of artificial intelligence. In a blog post that's got everyone talking, Altman painted a picture of a future where AI doesn't just assist us—but fundamentally changes how we live and work. Samantha Kelly from CNET unpacked Altman's predictions and gives us a closer look at what he believes the "Intelligence Age" will bring.

Let's dive into the main points:

Altman believes we’re on the verge of an "Intelligence Age," where superintelligent AI transforms society.
Superintelligent AI could help solve global challenges like climate change, establish space colonies, and unlock groundbreaking scientific discoveries.
These advancements will be gradual but may ultimately feel like science fiction becoming reality.
The development of this "Intelligence Age" depends on reducing computing costs and building the infrastructure to support it.
Altman emphasizes the need to balance AI's benefits with potential risks. Without proper infrastructure, AI could become a scarce resource, potentially leading to global conflicts or only benefiting the wealthy.
Not all tech experts share Altman’s optimistic outlook. While Altman and other tech leaders see great promise, skeptics like Noam Chomsky and Rodney Brooks argue that AI may never surpass human intelligence.

Read the full blog here.

Altman's vision of the future certainly gives us a lot to think about. While the idea of AI solving major global problems is appealing, it's essential to approach these predictions with a level head. The path to superintelligent AI — if it's even possible — is likely far more complex than a simple timeline suggests.

As we consider this potential future, we must balance the promise of AI with its practical and societal implications. How will it affect jobs, privacy, and social structures? What safeguards need to be in place? These are questions that demand careful thought and wide-ranging discussion.

Whether or not Altman's predictions come to pass, one thing is clear: AI will continue to play an increasingly significant role in our lives. It's up to all of us — not just tech leaders, but also citizens, policymakers, and ethicists — to engage in this conversation. We need to think critically about how we want AI to be developed and used. The future of AI isn't predetermined; it’s something we will shape through our choices, policies, and values.

Read Altman's full blog here.

Read the full article on CNET here.

OTHER INTERESTING AI HIGHLIGHTS:

Challenges in Data Ingestion for GenAI Pipelines

/Pierre Villard on Datavolo (Source: Wowza's AI Study Group member, Caroline Holden—she actually cowrote this piece!)

Successfully launching a generative AI application requires a deep understanding of data ingestion processes, which can often be more complex than anticipated. The article emphasizes the necessity of efficient parsing and chunking to prevent AI hallucinations and ensure high-quality outputs. Key factors, such as document types and data representation, play a vital role in determining the right strategies for data handling. Moreover, compliance with privacy regulations through PII anonymization and the preservation of access permissions are critical components in managing data responsibly. Datavolo’s insights offer practical solutions to navigate these challenges and optimize the generative AI pipeline for better performance and scalability.

Another Crazy Day in AI: A top-secret AI device in the works

Sep 23, 2024
4 min read

Hello, AI Enthusiasts.

As Monday night rolls in and the first workday of the week fades into memory, it’s time to kick back with some exciting AI updates. Two visionaries—the former Apple design chief and the CEO of OpenAI—are joining forces to develop a groundbreaking AI-powered computing device!

Plus, dive into two intriguing papers on Generative AI: one on its rapid adoption and another exploring its creative and strategic capabilities through large-scale experiments.

Ready to dive in? Enjoy your evening with these captivating insights. 💡

Here's another crazy day in AI:

A New AI Device from Two Visionaries
Paper: The Rapid Adoption of Generative AI
Creative and Strategic Capabilities of Generative AI: Evidence from Large-Scale Experiments | Discussion Paper Series
Some AI tools to try out

TODAY'S FEATURED ITEM: Jony Ive and Sam Altman’s Top-Secret Device

Image Credit: Wowza (created with Ideogram)

What happens when two tech visionaries team up on a top-secret AI computing project?

Jony Ive, the iconic designer behind Apple’s most groundbreaking products, and Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, are quietly developing a new AI-powered device that could change the way we use technology. In a report by Samantha Kelly for CNET, it’s revealed that this mysterious project aims to create a product "less socially disruptive than the iPhone," although many details are still tightly guarded.

This unique partnership brings together the design expertise of Ive’s firm, LoveFrom, and Altman’s AI leadership. While the specifics of the device are still unknown, the duo has already secured significant funding and high-profile backing from investors, including Laurene Powell Jobs.

Here's what we've learned so far:

The project details are tightly guarded, with little information available to the public.
Funding is expected to reach up to $1 billion by the end of the year.
Notable investors include Laurene Powell Jobs, widow of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs.
Ive's design firm LoveFrom is spearheading the development.
The device aims to be "less socially disruptive than the iPhone."
It enters a market where other AI gadgets have faced mixed receptions.
The concept emerged from discussions between Ive and Altman about AI's potential in computing.

This partnership has the potential to bring something truly new to the tech landscape—an AI device designed to seamlessly integrate into everyday life, rather than demand constant attention. Their focus on creating a less intrusive product feels especially relevant today, as many of us

As we await more details, it's natural to wonder about the possibilities. Could this be the device that finally allows us to harness AI’s potential without feeling overwhelmed? Could it provide a more intuitive, natural way of interacting with technology?

For now, we'll have to wait and see what emerges from this high-profile partnership. But one thing's for sure - when visionaries like Ive and Altman come together, the results are bound to be interesting.

Read the full article here.

OTHER INTERESTING AI HIGHLIGHTS:

Paper: The Rapid Adoption of Generative AI

/Authors: Alexander Bick (Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis & CEPR), Adam Blandin (Vanderbilt University), David J. Deming (Harvard Kennedy School & NBER)

This paper presents findings from a nationally representative survey of generative AI adoption in the U.S., revealing that 39% of the population aged 18-64 used generative AI by August 2024. The adoption rate of generative AI has surpassed that of personal computers and the internet, with significant usage in both workplace and home settings. The study highlights generative AI's broad application across various occupations, showing notable differences in adoption based on age, education, and income, while also noting a gender disparity in usage.

Read the full paper here.

Creative and Strategic Capabilities of Generative AI: Evidence from Large-Scale Experiments | Discussion Paper Series

/Noah Bohren (University of Lausanne), Rustamdjan Hakimov (University of Lausanne), Rafael Lalive (University of Lausanne and IZA)

This study investigates the creative and strategic capabilities of generative AI compared to a representative sample of U.S. adults. The results indicate that AI-generated ideas are perceived as more creative than those from humans, with ChatGPT performing notably better than its competitors. Interestingly, while AI enhances human creativity, the competitive pressure from AI appears to negatively impact the creativity of women. In strategic tasks, ChatGPT adapts well to opponents' moves, but humans generally outperform AI in this area.

Read the full paper here.

SOME AI TOOLS TO TRY OUT:

Solidroad - AI-powered platform for training and assessments, providing simulations and feedback for customer-facing teams.
Scenery - Collaboratively edit professional-quality videos online with this browser-based platform.
Roast your website - Evaluates your website and determines if you're in "Founder mode."

That’s a wrap on today’s Almost Daily craziness.

Catch us almost every day—almost! 😉

EXCITING NEWS:

The Another Crazy Day in AI newsletter is now on LinkedIn!!!