This week, after vowing not to provide its artificial intelligence to militaries, OpenAI is collaborating with the Pentagon on cybersecurity, participating in DARPA's AI Cyber Challenge with tech giants. Meanwhile, Samsung's Galaxy S24 introduces generative AI for features like live translation. And gaming just got more realistic as Sony develops AI to create fantasy game personas, while Nvidia showcases interactive AI NPCs at CES 2024.

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Microsoft and Vodafone Partner on 10-Year Deal to Use AI to Transform Telecommunication

Microsoft and the UK-based telecommunications company Vodafone announced they are teaming up for a ten-year partnership to use advanced AI in their services. The world's largest company is investing $1.5 billion to improve Vodafone's customer service using Microsoft's AI tools. This includes using AI in Vodafone's digital assistant, TOBi, and giving Vodafone employees access to Microsoft's AI tool, Copilot, to work smarter and faster. The partnership also aims to develop new digital services, focusing on small businesses in Europe and Africa.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella emphasized the potential of cloud and AI technologies in improving the experiences of Vodafone's customers in Africa and Europe. Vodafone says the new artificial intelligence integrations will adhere to unbiased and ethical privacy and security policies under its established framework. Nadella spoke at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, calling the company’s partnership with OpenAI a “no-brainer” and saying that the partnership brings healthy competition to the AI space.

🤖👉 For more details on this big step in combining AI and telecommunications, Microsoft's offering of smarter ways to handle customer service, read the full article [HERE].

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Amazon Unveils AI Tool for Enhanced Product Queries on Mobile App

Amazon is introducing a new artificial intelligence tool in its mobile app to enhance customer shopping experiences. This tool, powered by generative AI, allows users to ask specific questions about products and quickly receive answers. These responses are generated by summarizing information from product reviews and listings. The AI tool streamlines the process of finding product information, reducing the need for customers to read through lengthy reviews or detailed listings. It is capable of creative responses, such as writing a haiku or describing products in unique styles, but it is not designed for conversations like OpenAI's ChatGPT.

The tool focuses solely on relevant product information and avoids unrelated queries. This development is part of Amazon's broader integration of AI into its services. The company has previously introduced AI-generated summaries of product reviews, tools for third-party sellers, and other AI services like “Q” and Bedrock. Amazon CEO Andy Jassy highlighted the transformative impact of generative AI on customer experiences and its potential to benefit society.

🤖👉 For more details on how this feature changes the shopping experience on Amazon, read the full article [HERE].

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TikTok Tests AI Song Feature That Generates Songs From a Text Description

TikTok is testing a new feature called AI Song, which generates songs from text prompts using the large language model Bloom. This tool enables users to input lyrics, and TikTok recommends AI Song to complement the post with music. The music is sourced from a pre-existing catalog in three genres: pop, hip-hop, and EDM. The feature is only available for a limited number of Creators. Initial results have been mixed, with some users creating out-of-tune songs despite auto-tuning options.

This isn't TikTok's first foray into AI-generated music; viral hits like the AI versions of Drake and The Weeknd's "Heart on My Sleeve" have already appeared on the platform. TikTok is promoting transparency around AI-created content, updating its policies to require users to disclose the use of AI in their creations. While still in its early stages, this technology offers a new avenue for creative expression and songwriting, potentially influencing the music industry.

🤖👉 For a deeper understanding of the full scope of TikTok's AI Song feature, and how this reflects a broader trend of platforms integrating generative AI features, read the full article [HERE].