Inferens AI Podcast

Host 3:Imagine AI so advanced it exercises for us. Mine just quit the gym - said it's too humanly exhausting!
Host 1:Curious about how GenAI is revolutionizing industries and shaping our future? Join us as we delve into groundbreaking AI advancements and ethical debates, straight from the minds of leading experts and innovators. Uncover the real impact of AI on our world, beyond the hype!
Host 1:So, have you heard about this whole Scarlett Johansson and OpenAI debacle?
Host 2:Oh, you mean the one where people are accusing OpenAI of copying Johansson's voice for their AI, ChatGPT? Yeah, I've heard a bit about it.
Host 1:Exactly! It's like a sci-fi movie, isn't it? But here's the thing: OpenAI says they didn't intentionally create the "Sky" voice to imitate Johansson. They hired an unidentified actress who used her real voice with no alterations.
Host 2:Wow, that's interesting. But why are people saying it sounds like Johansson then?
Host 1:Well, it's a bit like when you look at a cloud and see a bunny. Some people think it sounds like Johansson, while others think it sounds more like Rashida Jones from "Parks and Recreation." It's all very subjective.
Host 2:Ah, I see. But didn't Johansson's legal team contact OpenAI about this?
Host 1:They did! And OpenAI paused using the Sky voice "out of respect" for Johansson. But the CEO, Sam Altman, insists that Sky's voice "is not Scarlett Johansson's, and it was never intended to resemble hers."
Host 2:But didn't he post the word "her" on X, just days before launching a new AI model? Seems a bit fishy to me.
Host 1:You're not wrong. It does seem like he might have known it resembled Johansson. But we'll have to wait and see how this all plays out.
Host 2:Yeah, it's a tricky situation. Reminds me of that time in the eighties when Bette Midler won a legal battle against an advertising agency for using an impersonator after she declined to use her voice in ads.
Host 1:Good point. It just goes to show that voice likeness is a serious matter. It'll be interesting to see if OpenAI faces any legal consequences.
Host 2:Definitely. It's a brave new world we're living in. AI and voice imitation... who would've thought?
Host 1:Indeed. It's like something straight out of a sci-fi movie!
Host 3:"AI having an identity crisis? Must be tough deciding whether to take over the world or binge-watch Netflix. So relatable."
Host 2:Hey, you know I love all that AI stuff, right? But did you hear about that recent scandal with AI-generated robocalls mimicking President Biden's voice? That's some serious sci-fi stuff!
Host 1:Oh, you're right on the money! It's like we're living in a Star Trek episode, isn't it? So, there's this guy, Steven Kramer, a Democratic political consultant. He's been slapped with felony counts of voter suppression for these robocalls.
Host 2:Hold up! So, this dude used AI to copy Biden's voice? That's like, some super villain level of trickery!
Host 1:You've got it! And he didn't just stop at copying. He sent out the call to thousands of Democrats two days before the primary, telling them “your vote makes a difference in November, not this Tuesday.” It's like a plot twist straight out of a thriller!
Host 2:Text Host 2: Whoa! That's like, some serious Jedi mind trick right there. But, what happened next?
Host 1:Well, the Federal Communications Commission, or FCC for short, has proposed a whopping six million dollar fine on Kramer. This is their first fine involving GenAI technology. Plus, he's looking at up to seven years in prison for each of the thirteen felony counts.
Host 2:Yikes, that's a hefty price to pay! And all because of a robocall?
Host 1:Not just any robocall! This one led to a lawsuit, law enforcement investigations, and even an FCC ban on AI-voiced robocalls. It's a big deal!
Host 2:Text Host 2: Well, that's one way to make history, I guess. But seriously, folks, let this be a reminder: don't mess with AI, or you might end up with a multi-million dollar fine and a prison sentence!
Host 1:And that's no joke! Remember, folks, with great power comes great responsibility! Especially when it comes to AI.
Host 3:Oh great, now robocalls aren't just interrupting dinner, they're ambitious enough to run for office. What's next, spam emails as their campaign managers?
Host 1:Alright, let's shake things up a bit. You know how we love our tech gossip, right? So, Meta and Google are reportedly cozying up to Hollywood studios for their AI video-generation platforms. Can you believe that?
Host 2:No way! Are they trying to become the new Spielberg or something?
Host 1:Ha! Not quite. They're actually looking to license content from these studios. Imagine this, they're ready to shell out tens of millions of dollars.
Host 2:Holy moly, that's a lot of dough! But what's the catch? There's always a catch.
Host 1:You're right. The catch is that not everyone's on board. Netflix and Disney are playing hard to get. They're like, "Nah, we're not giving you our content, but hey, we can still be friends."
Host 2:Text Host 2: So, they're playing hard to get, huh? And what about Warner Bros. Discovery?
Host 1:Good question. They are a bit more flexible. They are willing to license some programs for model training, but only from certain divisions.
Host 2:Interesting. And what's this AI video-generation thing all about?
Host 1:It's pretty cool, actually. Imagine a machine that can create videos. The company's new AI, Veo, can produce high-quality one thousand and eighty p videos of over a minute in different styles. And the company announced its own version, Emu, last November.
Host 2:That's insane! It's like we're living in a sci-fi movie. What's next, robots taking over the world?
Host 1:Well, let's hope not. But it's definitely an exciting time for AI and technology. Let's see how this all plays out.
Host 2:Text Host 2: Absolutely. It's like we're on the front row of the future. And speaking of the future, did you hear about OpenAI pitching its Sora AI video generator to Hollywood execs?
Host 1:Yes, I did! And there's also Runway, an OpenAI competitor, whose Generation-Two text-to-video creator is being used by production, animation, and film studios for previsualization, storyboarding, B-roll, and visual effects. We're witnessing a technology revolution in Hollywood!
Host 2:``` It's crazy, isn't it? But hey, that's the world we live in now. Always evolving, always surprising. ```
Host 1:Couldn't have said it better myself. Let's see what other surprises the tech world has in store for us.
Host 3:"So, I heard Hollywood's latest trend is replacing all their actors with AI. Because, you know, real human emotions were so last century. Who needs authentic performances when you can program an Oscar-worthy cry at the touch of a button? Next thing you know, they'll be saying, 'Remember when actors used to age? How quaint.' Honestly, at this rate, my coffee maker might win a Golden Globe before I do!"
Host 1:You know, speaking of AI advancements, have you heard about the latest update from the smartphone app, Truecaller?
Host 2:No, I've been too busy trying to beat my high score on Call of Duty. What's the buzz?
Host 1:Well, imagine having a digital twin of yourself, answering your calls, sounding exactly like you! That's what Truecaller is offering now.
Host 2:Wait, what? So, I can have a digital me answering my calls? That's bloody brilliant!
Host 1:Yes, indeed! Let me break it down for you. Truecaller, which is a caller ID app that records calls and blocks spam, has now introduced a paid AI assistant. This assistant, powered by Microsoft's Azure AI Speech, can screen and answer calls for you.
Host 2:So, it's like having a personal secretary, but in my own voice? That's wild!
Host 1:Exactly! And the best part is, you can record your own voice now. Users must record a consent sentence and a training script for Truecaller to capture their speaking style. When a call comes in, the assistant will introduce itself as the user's "digital" version.
Host 2:I can't wait to prank my mates with this! Thanks for the info. AI really is changing the game, isn't it?
Host 1:It sure is! And to our listeners out there, if you're as excited as here, do check out Truecaller's new feature. It's like having a digital clone of yourself, without the sci-fi drama!
Host 2:And remember, folks, don't let your digital clone take over your life. Keep it real, keep it human!
Host 3:Great, now even my phone can ignore me in my own voice. It's like Siri's doing an impression of my ex – technically responsive, but emotionally unavailable.
Host 1:Hey there! As our resident tech guru, I bet you've been keeping tabs on the latest Pew Research Center survey about artificial intelligence tools in education, haven't you?
Host 2:```Oh, absolutely! It's been lighting up my feeds like a Christmas tree. Quite a potpourri of opinions, isn't it?```
Host 1:You hit the nail on the head! It's intriguing to see that a quarter of public K through 12 teachers view AI tools as more of a hindrance than a help in education. And here's a fun fact - high school teachers are the most skeptical of the bunch!
Host 2:Yeah, I caught that. About thirty-five percent of high school teachers, twenty-four percent of middle school teachers, and nineteen percent of elementary school teachers think AI tools are more trouble than they're worth. It's like they're expecting a Terminator-style takeover of the classroom!
Host 1:(laughs) Well, we can't entirely fault them. AI is a new technology and there's always a learning curve. But let's not paint the entire picture with a gloomy brush. There's a silver lining too.
Host 2:Ah, you're talking about the teens using ChatGPT for schoolwork, right? I read that nearly twenty percent of U.S. teens who know of ChatGPT have used it for schoolwork. And the older they get, the more they use it. It's like they're embracing the future right in front of us!
Host 1:Spot on! And it's not just for homework. A whopping sixty-nine percent of these teens find it acceptable for researching new topics, thirty-nine percent for solving math problems, and twenty percent even use it for writing essays. So, AI in education isn't all a dystopian nightmare.
Host 2:Damn right. It's a brave new world out there. And as much as I love my old school ways, I gotta admit, it's pretty darn exciting!
Host 1:Couldn't agree more! So folks, what do you think? Are we ready to embrace Artificial Intelligence in education or should we proceed with caution? Let us know your thoughts!
Host 3:In a universe where knowledge is boundless and wisdom infinite, we've boldly chosen to reduce the grand pursuit of education to merely whispering sweet nothings to search engines. Ah, the zenith of human achievement: entrusting our intellectual growth to the same technology we use to watch cat videos. Truly, we stand on the shoulders of giants, peering into the abyss, and the abyss blinks first, asking, 'Did you mean: homework answers?'
Host 1:So, we're diving headfirst into the deep blue sea of AI mergers and acquisitions. It's like a shark feeding frenzy out there, wouldn't you say?
Host 2:Oh, you bet! It's like a high-stakes poker game, but with more zeros at the end. Let's start with the big fish, shall we? Cybersecurity titan Palo Alto Networks is snapping up IBM’s QRadar. Now, for those of you who don't know, QRadar is this cloud software that's like Sherlock Holmes, always on the case, analyzing data to help organizations fend off cyber villains.
Host 1:Spot on. And this isn't just a simple acquisition. It's more like a dynamic duo, a Batman and Robin of the cybersecurity world, aiming to provide AI-powered security services.
Host 2:Haha, I love that analogy! Now, let's switch gears to the food-tech world. GrubMarket, a farm-to-table e-commerce firm, has gobbled up Butter, a SaaS provider. Now, SaaS stands for Software as a Service, and Butter uses this to digitize food distribution. It's like Uber Eats had a baby with Silicon Valley!
Host 1:And the cherry on top? GrubMarket plans to integrate Butter's software and team into its business. It's a bit like a food-tech Voltron, isn't it? Sadly, they're keeping mum about the financial details. I guess we'll just have to imagine the zeros on that check.
Host 2:Speaking of zeros, AI wearable startup Humane is reportedly on the hunt for a buyer. They're aiming for a sale price between seven hundred fifty million and one billion dollars. That's a lot of dough, especially considering their first product, the "Ai Pin", didn't exactly set the world on fire.
Host 1:Indeed. It's like throwing a party and having no one show up. But hey, in the world of tech, one day you're the pigeon, the next day you're the statue. Let's see how this potential deal pans out for them.
Host 3:In the tech world, 'failing upwards' isn't just a strategy; it's the new American Dream. Where else can you turn a garage full of one-star app reviews into a Silicon Valley penthouse, complete with a self-driving car that occasionally recognizes stop signs? Ah, to be an optimist among the ruins of code!