Leo's Lightbulbsđź’ˇ

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Leo Rodman
January 20, 2025

The big news this week is the Biden quotas on AI chip sales. Essentially, there are now three markets for AI chips: US companies, companies in countries that are US allies, and everyone else. I actually think this is a good move, since we want to make sure that we’re not giving up our tech dominance as a country. However, many think this will drive “third tier” countries straight into China’s welcoming arms, accelerating China’s chipmaking growth in the long term, with only short term gains. Time will tell!

Also, both Google and Microsoft are rolling AI features into their office suites, whether people want the features or not. Initially, they both tried selling their AI features separately, but nobody was really buying them. Now, you get them “for free”, but accompanied by a price hike. As a customer of both Microsoft Office365 and Google Workspace, I haven’t really used either feature set and didn’t find them useful in testing, but I guess now that I’m being FORCED to buy them I’ll try them out… I don’t love this tactic though.

Biden administration puts quotas on global AI chip sales

While close US allies get unrestricted AI chip access, the rest of the world has numerical limits.

arstechnica.com/ai/2025/01/biden-administration-puts-quotas-on-global-ai-chip-sales

Nvidia releases more tools and guardrails to nudge enterprises to adopt AI agents | TechCrunch

Nvidia released three NIM micoservices today to its existing open source collection of AI tools and microservices.

techcrunch.com/2025/01/16/nvidia-releases-more-tools-and-guardrails-to-nudge-enterprises-to-adopt-ai-agents

Home Microsoft 365 plans use Copilot AI features as pretext for a price hike

“Classic” plans without AI or price increases are only for current subscribers.

arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/01/home-microsoft-365-plans-use-copilot-ai-features-as-pretext-for-a-price-hike

Google raises the price of Workspace plans, includes its AI features for free | TechCrunch

Google announced on Wednesday that all AI features in Gmail, Docs, Sheets, and Meet are now available to Workspace customers at no extra charge, though Google is making all AI features in Gmail, Docs, Sheets, and Meet available to Workspace customers at no extra charge, though the plan will see a $2 increase. 

techcrunch.com/2025/01/15/google-raises-the-price-of-workspace-plans-making-its-ai-features-included-for-free

A New Way to Test AI for Sentience: Make It Confront Pain

A new study shows that large language models make trade-offs to avoid pain, with possible implications for future AI welfare

www.scientificamerican.com/article/could-inflicting-pain-test-ai-for-sentience

Perplexity acquires Read.cv, a social media platform for professionals | TechCrunch

Read.cv, a social media platform for professionals that competed with LinkedIn, has been acquired by AI-powered search engine Perplexity.

techcrunch.com/2025/01/17/perplexity-acquires-read-cv-a-social-media-platform-for-professionals

ChatGPT's newest feature lets users assign it traits like 'chatty' and 'Gen Z' | TechCrunch

OpenAI is introducing a new way for users to customize their interactions with ChatGPT, the company's AI-powered chatbot.

techcrunch.com/2025/01/17/chatgpts-newest-feature-lets-user-assign-it-traits-like-chatty-and-gen-z

Solving Real-World Problems Is Key to Building Trust in AI

Google DeepMind’s Lila Ibrahim writes how organizations can improve innovation and get people more likely to embrace AI

time.com/7204661/ai-solve-problems-trust

Texas HB 1709: The AI Law Every Employer Needs To Know About

Discover how Texas HB 1709 may transform employer use of AI in hiring with new transparency, oversight, and compliance rules. Learn how to prepare for the potential September 2025 implementation.

www.forbes.com/sites/alonzomartinez/2025/01/17/texas-hb-1709-the-ai-law-every-employer-needs-to-know-about

Under new law, cops bust famous cartoonist for AI-generated child sex abuse images

Darrin Bell won a major cartooning award in 2019.

arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2025/01/under-new-law-cops-bust-famous-cartoonist-for-ai-generated-child-sex-abuse-images

OpenAI has created an AI model for longevity science

The company is making a foray into scientific discovery with an AI built to help manufacture stem cells.

www.technologyreview.com/2025/01/17/1110086/openai-has-created-an-ai-model-for-longevity-science

ChatGPT becomes more Siri-like with new scheduled tasks feature

Two distinct universes of AI tools are merging.

arstechnica.com/ai/2025/01/chatgpt-becomes-more-siri-like-with-new-scheduled-tasks-feature

Apple pauses AI notification summaries for news after generating false alerts | TechCrunch

Apple is pausing AI notification summaries for news and entertainment apps after facing backlash for generating inaccurate news alerts. In addition, the

techcrunch.com/2025/01/16/apple-pauses-ai-notification-summaries-for-news-after-generating-false-alerts

Meta to cut 5% of employees deemed unfit for Zuckerberg’s AI-fueled future

Meta plans to refill roles with top talent to pursue AI and AR ambitions.

arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2025/01/meta-says-5-staff-cut-is-critical-to-further-ai-social-media

Interest in nuclear power is surging. Is it enough to build new reactors?

Reopening old nuclear plants can only go so far.

www.technologyreview.com/2025/01/16/1110016/new-nuclear-power

Microsoft triples down on AI

A trio of AI announcements hint at what’s to come for Microsoft in 2025.

www.theverge.com/2025/1/17/24345865/microsoft-ai-announcements-2025-notepad

OpenAI is bankrolling Axios' expansion into four new markets | TechCrunch

This deal is part of a broader partnership between the two organizations and is the first time OpenAI will directly fund a newsroom.

techcrunch.com/2025/01/15/openai-is-bankrolling-axios-expansion-into-four-new-markets

Will Apple And X Join The Pack Flagging AI-Generated Images?

A consortium of tech companies has agreed to flag AI-generated images — but, so far, Apple and X remain on the sidelines.

www.forbes.com/sites/barrycollins/2025/01/17/will-apple-and-x-join-the-pack-flagging-ai-generated-images

AI means the end of internet search as we’ve known it

Despite fewer clicks, copyright fights, and sometimes iffy answers, AI could unlock new ways to summon all the world’s knowledge.

www.technologyreview.com/2025/01/06/1108679/ai-generative-search-internet-breakthroughs

More teens report using ChatGPT for schoolwork, despite the tech's faults | TechCrunch

Younger Gen Zers are embracing OpenAI's AI-powered chatbot, ChatGPT, for schoolwork, according to a new Pew survey.

techcrunch.com/2025/01/15/more-teens-report-using-chatgpt-for-schoolwork-despite-the-techs-faults

Researchers use AI to design proteins that block snake venom toxins

It’s a good example of how computer developments can be used for practical problems.

arstechnica.com/science/2025/01/researchers-use-ai-to-design-proteins-that-block-snake-venom-toxins

10 Hottest AI Jobs Of 2025, Paying Six-Figure Salaries

A recent analysis reveals the hottest AI jobs of 2025 that pay six-figure salaries and have thousands of job openings.

www.forbes.com/sites/bryanrobinson/2025/01/17/10-hottest-ai-jobs-of-2025-paying-six-figure-salaries

Intel Arc B570 review: At $219, the cheapest good graphics card

Competitive with a 4060, with 10GB RAM and a lower price (if you can get one).

arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/01/intel-arc-b570-review-at-219-the-cheapest-good-graphics-card

As Gen Z job applicants balloon, companies are turning to AI agent recruiters | TechCrunch

According to some of the latest statistics, employers are swamped by job applications. In the U.K. alone, employers running graduate training schemes

techcrunch.com/2025/01/15/as-gen-z-job-applicants-balloon-companies-are-turning-to-ai-agent-recruiters

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