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🌍 Google.org Drops $20M for AI-Driven Science - LINK

• Google.org, the philanthropic arm of Google, has announced a $20 million commitment to support researchers leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) for scientific advancements. This initiative aims to fund projects that apply AI to address complex scientific challenges, fostering innovation and accelerating discoveries across various fields.

• This recent commitment builds upon Google.org's previous efforts to promote responsible AI development. In September 2023, Google.org established a $20 million fund to provide grants to think tanks and academic institutions developing AI expertise. The inaugural grantees of this fund included organizations such as the Aspen Institute, Brookings Institution, and Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, among others.

• Additionally, in March 2024, Google.org launched a $20 million generative AI accelerator program to support nonprofits developing AI-powered tools for social impact. This program included 21 nonprofits at its inception, providing them with funding, technical training, and mentorship to advance their AI initiatives.

🛍️ Perplexity’s U.S. Pro Users Can Now Shop Smarter with AI - LINK

• Perplexity now offers U.S.-based Pro subscribers tools like "Buy with Pro" for seamless in-platform purchases with saved details, product cards for quick reviews, and free shipping.

• The new "Snap to Shop" feature allows users to upload product images and get instant AI-driven details, similar to Google Lens, exclusive to Pro members.

• Retailers can now share product info on Perplexity, boosting their visibility and gaining insights into shopping trends to enhance recommendations.

🤖 ElevenLabs Rolls Out AI Agent Tools - LINK

• Developers can select from over 3,000 lifelike voices to tailor agents' speech, enhancing user engagement.

• The tools support the incorporation of advanced language models, ensuring agents comprehend and respond appropriately to user inputs.

• Developers can configure transcription parameters to accurately capture and process user speech, improving interaction quality.

💸 iLearningEngines Loses $250K to Hackers - LINK

• iLearningEngines, an AI company, suffered a cybersecurity breach where a threat actor accessed its network, misdirected a $250,000 wire payment, and deleted several email messages. The stolen funds have not been recovered.

• Upon discovering the breach, iLearningEngines activated its cybersecurity response plan, launched an internal investigation, and hired a forensic firm and external advisors. The breach has been contained, but the company faces ongoing risks including potential litigation and regulatory scrutiny.

• The incident is a case of business email compromise (BEC), a significant global cybercrime issue. The breach adds to iLearningEngines' existing challenges, including allegations of artificially inflating revenue figures and a recent class action lawsuit, potentially impacting its operations, customer trust, and investor confidence.

🕶️ Meta’s AI-Enhanced Ray-Bans Hit Europe - LINK

• Meta has started rolling out certain AI features to users of its Ray-Ban Meta AR glasses in France, Italy, and Spain, allowing users to invoke Meta’s AI assistant using their voice to get answers to general questions in French, Italian, Spanish, and English.

• The current update does not include multimodal features, such as the ability to get information about what is in the view of the glasses’ camera, which are available in the U.S., Canada, and Australia. However, Meta plans to bring these features to more countries in the future.

• The rollout is part of Meta's efforts to comply with Europe's complex regulatory system, including the AI Act and GDPR. The company has faced challenges and regulatory scrutiny regarding its use of user data for AI training, leading to temporary halts and revisions in their opt-out processes.

• 🍎 Apple says Mac users targeted in zero-day cyberattacks - LINK

• 🖥️ Windows comes to the Meta Quest - LINK

• 🚫 Microsoft built a PC that can’t run local apps - LINK

• 📘 OpenAI releases a teacher’s guide to ChatGPT - LINK

• 🛒 Google Lens can now check prices and inventory when shopping in the real world - LINK

📖 Artificial Unintelligence: How Computers Misunderstand the World

If you enjoyed the humor and accessibility of You Look Like a Thing and I Love You" by Janelle Shane, you’ll love Artificial Unintelligence by Meredith Broussard. It’s a sharp, witty look at why computers often fail to understand the real world, blending tech insights with relatable, laugh-out-loud examples. Perfect for anyone curious about AI’s quirks and pitfalls without getting too technical!