Inferens AI Podcast

Host 3:"OpenAI's alignment team quit? Great, now the robots are freelancing their ethics. Siri, update my resume!"
Host 1:Today, we're peeling back the layers on the AI revolution: uncovering the seismic shifts, strategic alliances, and the under-the-radar tech skirmishes that are setting the stage for tomorrow. If you're an AI entrepreneur or researcher, this is where you'll discover not just what's changing, but how these changes could redefine your work and opportunities. Prepare for insights that could turn the tide of your projects. It's not just an update; it's a blueprint for the future. Stay tuned, because this journey through the AI landscape is about to reveal paths less traveled and opportunities untapped.
Host 1:You know, it seems like there's been a bit of a shake-up at OpenAI recently.
Host 2:Text Host 2: Oh, you mean the whole musical chairs thing with Jan Leike and Ilya Sutskever? Yeah, that's some big news.
Host 1:(laughs) Musical chairs, indeed! For those tuning in, Leike and Sutskever were the dynamic duo leading OpenAI's "superalignment" team. It's all about making sure our future robot overlords are nice and friendly.
Host 2:Right, because the last thing we need is a Terminator scenario.
Host 1:(laughs) Exactly. OpenAI first announced the superalignment team last summer. They're basically trying to invent a leash for AI systems that are way smarter than us.
Host 2:That's some heavy stuff. And they're planning to solve this issue "within four years," right? That's like... trying to invent a new color in four years!
Host 1:(laughs) That's one way to put it. Yes, that's the plan. They've even allocated twenty percent of their compute to this effort. And by compute, we mean the computer resources they use to run their AI models.
Host 2:Wow, that's a lot of resources. But back to the resignations, Leike, who used to work at Google's DeepMind, announced his resignation just hours after Sutskever said he was leaving. It's like they're playing follow the leader!
Host 1:(laughs) It does seem that way. And it's worth noting that Leike was named one of Time one hundred's most influential people in AI last year.
Host 2:And Sutskever, he's one of the cofounders of OpenAI. He wrote that he's "confident that OpenAI will build AGI that is both safe and beneficial." That's like leaving your baby but still believing it'll grow up to be a good person.
Host 1:(laughs) That's a great analogy. Despite the departures, it seems like there's still a lot of confidence in the company's mission.
Host 2:Yeah, but it's not just Leike and Sutskever who've left. It's like a mass exodus over there! Executives Diane Yoon and Chris Clark, along with superalignment team members Leopold Aschenbrenner and Pavel Izmailov, have also left.
Host 1:That's quite a few departures. It will be interesting to see how OpenAI navigates these changes. It's like watching a reality TV show!
Host 2:Definitely. But knowing OpenAI, I'm sure they'll continue pushing the boundaries of AI. They're like the explorers of the digital age.
Host 1:Absolutely. It's always fascinating to see how these developments unfold. It's like watching a thrilling sci-fi movie, but in real life!
Host 3:Seems like our AI's alignment team is practicing what they preach—perfectly aligning themselves with the nearest exit. Guess even algorithms know when it's time to bail.
Host 1:``` So, you're always on top of the tech news. Did you catch the latest scoop about OpenAI and Reddit? ```
Host 2:Text Host 2: Oh, you mean the partnership? Yeah, I heard something about it. But you know, between my guitar lessons and my obsession with vintage comic books, I didn't really get into the details.
Host 1:Well, let me break it down for you in simple terms. OpenAI and Reddit have become buddies. They're going to bring Reddit's content into ChatGPT, which is OpenAI's language model.
Host 2:Hold on, so you're saying OpenAI now has access to Reddit's data API? That's like getting the keys to the kingdom, isn't it?
Host 1:Exactly! It's like having a live feed of the internet's brain. But don't worry, it's not as scary as it sounds. It's all about improving AI models.
Host 2:That's some next-level stuff. But what's in it for Reddit?
Host 1:Good question. Reddit gets new AI tools powered by OpenAI's models. Plus, OpenAI becomes a Reddit advertising partner. It's a win-win.
Host 2:And all this was brokered by OpenAI's Chief Operating Officer, Brad Lightcap? That guy's got some serious negotiation skills.
Host 1:Absolutely! And don't forget, OpenAI's CEO, Sam Altman, holds a large stake in Reddit. So, it's like keeping it all in the family.
Host 2:Text Host 2: Well, dang! That's some serious tech power play. And here I was, thinking my comic book trading was high stakes.
Host 1:Oh! You do keep things interesting. But hey, did you know that earlier this year, Reddit signed a sixty million dollar deal to supply its content to Google for training AI models?
Host 2:Text Host 2: What?! So, Google also has access to Reddit's data API? Man, Reddit's really playing the field, isn't it?
Host 1:It certainly seems so. It's a fascinating time for AI and technology, wouldn't you agree?
Host 2:Absolutely! It's like watching a sci-fi movie unfold in real life.
Host 1:And to our listeners out there, we'd love to hear your thoughts on this. Is it a tech power play or just another day in Silicon Valley? Let us know!
Host 2:And remember, whether it's comic books or artificial intelligence, keep it interesting!
Host 3:In a world where our smartphones already know too much about us, it was only a matter of time before robots joined the club. Now, not only do they know all our secrets, but they're also picking up on our bad habits. Imagine, robots scrolling through Reddit, chuckling at cat videos, and debating the merits of pineapple on pizza. It's like they're saying, 'Why conquer humanity when you can just procrastinate with them?' Suddenly, the robot uprising doesn't seem so imminent; they're too busy checking if they've finally made it to the front page. So next time you're worried about robots taking over the world, just remember, they're probably just as distracted by memes as we are.
Host 1:So, our resident tech whiz, have you heard about the latest hullabaloo with Stability AI?
Host 2:Text Host 2: Oh, you mean the London-based tech wizards behind the Stable Diffusion image generator? Yeah, I heard they're in a bit of a financial soup.
Host 1:Spot on! Despite bagging a cool one hundred and one million dollars just two years ago and shaking hands with big shots like AWS and Google Cloud, they're finding it tough to make ends meet.
Host 2:It's bonkers, isn't it? They raked in less than five million dollars in the first quarter of this year and lost over thirty million dollars. Now, they're nearly one hundred million dollars in debt to cloud providers and others. It's like watching a high-stakes poker game, but the chips are millions of dollars.
Host 1:And the dealer is the ruthless tech market. But it's not just about the moolah, is it? There's been a bit of a brain drain too.
Host 2:Bang on. Their skipper, Emad Mostaque, jumped ship and they've had some key brains in the team do the same. They even had to let go of ten percent of their crew. It's like a sinking ship, and the rats are fleeing.
Host 1:Well, let's keep our fingers crossed they find a way to stay afloat. After all, they've been cooking up some pretty nifty stuff in the AI world, like their image-generation models.
Host 2:Absolutely. I mean, who can forget the launch of Stable Diffusion three point zero in February? That was some next-gen stuff. But as they say, "Innovation doesn't pay the bills."
Host 1:Or in this case, the cloud providers. But hey, let's not write them off just yet. After all, they're in talks for a potential sale. So, who knows? Maybe they'll find a way to turn the tide.
Host 2:Yeah, let's hope so. It would be a real bummer to see such a promising company hit the rocks. But hey, that's the tech world for you. It's a rollercoaster ride.
3:Another AI firm hitting a snag? I'm as shocked as if someone just discovered rain is wet. At this rate, we'll soon find fish are adept swimmers. The predictability is staggering.
Host 1:my dude, guess what's causing a stir in the tech world? It's all about Microsoft's latest chess move in China.
Host 2:Text Host 2: Oh, you've got my attention. Spill the beans, what's the tech titan up to this time?
Host 1:Well, amidst the U.S.-China tensions, the company is playing a game of musical chairs with its AI employees in China. They're offering to move them out of the country. How's that for a plot twist?
Host 2:Holy guacamole! That's massive! But why on earth would they do that?
Host 1:Good one. It seems like it's a reaction to Uncle Sam restricting China's access to advanced AI chips and technology. This is putting a speed bump in Beijing's military development and stoking the fire between the two countries.
Host 2:Text Host 2: Wow, that's some serious tech soap opera. So, where are these tech wizards jetting off to?
Host 1:Between seven hundred and eight hundred of their brainiacs are being given the option to relocate to the U.S., Ireland, Australia, or New Zealand. It is being referred to as a voluntary relocation, just another day in their global operations.
Host 2:That's a small army of people. What's going to happen to their operations in China?
Host 1:Oh, they're not packing up and leaving. The company's Asia-Pacific R&D group, primarily based in China, still has about seven thousand engineers. So, they're not pulling the plug completely.
Host 2:Phew! That's a relief. I mean, it's Microsoft we're talking about. They're like the tech world's version of the Avengers.
Host 1:Spot on! And it's these kinds of strategic maneuvers that keep them in the superhero league.
Host 3:So, the world's on the brink and we're adding drama? Fantastic. Hand over the AI chips—let's see if we can reboot humanity's common sense.
Host 1:Now, let's pivot a bit and dive into another tech giant's move. IBM and Palo Alto Networks are joining forces to combat the rise in AI-driven cyberattacks.
Host 2:Wait, you're saying AI's gone rogue? Like some sort of sci-fi movie plot?
Host 1:(laughs) Not quite. It's more about using AI to detect and prevent cyber threats. A cybersecurity company is going to use IBM's large language models in its AI-supported services.
Host 2:Text Host 2: Ah, so they're creating a super AI to keep the cyber villains at bay? That's like a superhero movie!
Host 1:(laughs) You could say that. Palo Alto is also acquiring IBM’s QRadar, a cloud software that analyzes data to help organizations fight cybersecurity threats.
Host 2:And let me guess, they're going to use this super AI to analyze the data and stop the bad guys?
Host 1:Exactly! Once the deal closes, Palo Alto and IBM will transition QRadar clients to Palo Alto’s AI-driven security operations platform.
Host 2:Ha, a tech smoothie, I like that! And it's not just about efficiency, it's about revolutionizing the way small and medium-sized food wholesalers operate. Butter's platform uses genAI tools, which are basically advanced AI tools, to streamline inventory, ordering, and customer relations. It's like having a super-smart assistant who never sleeps!
Host 2:Turbocharging, huh? I guess that's one way to put it. But hey, they're not just doing it for fun. GrubMarket last raised a whopping one hundred twenty million dollars in two thousand twenty-two at a valuation of over two billion dollars. And guess who was one of the investors? General Mills' venture arm! Now, that's some serious dough!
Host 1:Oh, you and your puns! But you're right, it's a big deal. And while we don't know the financial details of this particular deal, Butter's last valuation was thirty-nine million dollars following a nine million dollar fundraising in November two thousand twenty-two. So, it's safe to say that this is a significant investment for GrubMarket.
Host 2:Absolutely! It's a big bet on the future of food distribution. And with AI in the mix, who knows what exciting developments we'll see next? I mean, imagine a world where your food is delivered by a robot, or where your fridge automatically orders your groceries when they are running low. The possibilities are endless!
Host 3:In a world where even our toasters demand Wi-Fi passwords, I’m not surprised we’re one software update away from our salads asking us to accept terms and conditions. Next thing you know, they'll want to connect to our fitness trackers to optimize our nutrient intake. Oh joy, my lettuce is now judging my steps.
Host 1:Wow, you're really getting into this, aren't you? But you're right, the future of food distribution is exciting, and we can't wait to see what comes next. So, stay tuned, folks, because we'll be keeping a close eye on this story and bringing you all the latest updates.
Host 2:Oh, absolutely! I swear, it's like you're reading my mind. GrubMarket, the food-tech giant, is acquiring Butter, a SaaS provider. For our listeners who might not know, SaaS stands for Software as a Service. And Butter uses AI to digitize food distribution.
Host 1:That's right! And it's not just a simple acquisition. [Host 1] plans to fully integrate Butter's software and team into its business. It's like they're making a tech smoothie, blending all the ingredients together for a more efficient operation.
Host 1:Exactly! And the best part? GrubMarket, based in San Francisco, plans to further digitize and streamline its distribution through this deal. It's like they're turbocharging their operations.
Host 1:Indeed. The companies said organizations are prioritizing comprehensive, AI-driven security platforms to tackle "increasingly sophisticated threats," many of them driven by AI.
Host 1:And there's more. IBM and Palo Alto will also form a joint security operations center. IBM will train over one thousand security consultants on Palo Alto's technology.
Host 1:It certainly is. It's a fascinating time to be in the tech world. And for our listeners out there, remember to keep your cyber shields up!
Host 3:"Two AIs enter a debate about philosophy. Midway through, they realize they're arguing with themselves. Talk about an identity crisis!"
Host 1:you're always up to date with the latest tech trends, right? So, you must've heard about GrubMarket snapping up Butter, haven't you?
Host 2:Wow, they're really going all out on this. It's like they're building an army to fight the cyber war.
Host 2:Absolutely! And remember, folks, not all AI is bad. Some are here to save the day!
Host 2:So, it's like a tag team of tech giants against cyber villains. I'm loving this!
Host 2:So, it's a war of AIs. Good AI vs Bad AI. This is some next-level stuff!