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Welcome to the newest edition of FindBiometrics’ AI update. Here’s the latest big news on the shifting landscape of AI and identity technology:
![AI Update: There's a Joke in Here Somewhere...](https://findbiometrics.com/wp-content/uploads/DALL·E-2024-02-01-17.25.10-A-robot-with-a-confused-and-slightly-embarrassed-expression-stands-on-a-comedy-stage-holding-a-microphone.-The-audience-in-front-of-the-stage-is-visi-300x171.png)
OpenAI has announced that its technology is only “mildly useful” for making biological weapons. It’s the result of the company’s first study from its safety preparedness team, which essentially asked a group of biology experts and researchers to research information about creating bioweapons using a version of ChatGPT, while another group used the plain old internet. The AI team ended up having a slight edge.
Astera Labs is preparing to go public. The company specializes in semiconductor solutions designed to remove bottlenecks in high-performance computing systems, such as AI applications. The Information reports that the planned IPO is backed by Morgan Stanley and JPMorgan Chase, and could value the company at $4 billion.
The Department of Defense has added Chinese chipmaker Yangtze Memory Technologies Co. and the facial recognition firm Megvii to a blacklist. The Pentagon’s Section 1260H comprises a list of companies accused of supporting China’s People’s Liberation Army. It is meant to warn allies of potential security threats, and restricts companies on the list from access to certain DoD contracts.
Jack Altman has raised $150 million for a venture capital fund that will invest in early-stage, enterprise-focused startups, including those working in AI. Jack is the younger brother of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, and recently stepped down from a position as CEO of the HR startup Lattice.
Google has lost another AI researcher, with Ioannis Antonoglou departing to launch a startup focused on AI agents, which are designed to perform complex tasks such as booking flights. The news comes shortly after Google lost three other AI scientists who reportedly got fed up with the tech giant’s bureaucracy and went off to start a music-focused AI company.
South Korean startup Rebellions Inc. has raised $124 million in a Series B funding round led by the telecom KT Corp. and featuring Pavilion Capital, Shinhan Venture Investment Co., and KT Cloud Co. The firm is working on a next-gen AI chip specifically designed to run large language models, and it now has a valuation of more than $650 million.
Another South Korean chipmaker, SK Hynix, has selected Indiana for the site of its next packaging plant. The company specializes in high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips, which are important components in Nvidia GPUs. The FT reports that the move is in response to US subsidies aimed at onshoring the AI supply chain.
In China, ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT) is currently working to develop the country’s first domestically-produced HBM chips, and is now at a stage at which it has ordered manufacturing and testing equipment. China is also trying to reduce its dependence on foreign AI tech suppliers.
The estate of the late George Carlin is suing a pair of podcast hosts who posted an AI-generated video of the comedian performing new material, also ostensibly AI-generated. Some have questioned whether the comedy routine really was the product of AI. Carlin’s family is not amused either way.
The chatbot’s take: We wanted to see ChatGPT’s comedy chops this week.
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February 1, 2024 – by Alex Perala
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