February 28, 2025

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AI Breakthroughs Transform Industries, Raising Questions About Future of Work and Technology

The world of artificial intelligence is rapidly evolving, with breakthroughs in various sectors and industries. In this news brief, we'll explore the latest developments in AI, from Google's co-founder urging employees to work longer hours to prioritize simple solutions to problems, to the rise of AI chatbot apps and their impact on human relationships.

Google's Co-Founder Urges Employees to Work Longer Hours

Google's co-founder Sergey Brin has sent a note to hundreds of employees in Google's DeepMind AI division, urging them to work longer hours and prioritize simple solutions to problems. Brin recommends working 60 hours a week, coming into the office at least every weekday, and trusting users rather than building 'nanny products.' This move has sparked discussion among employees and industry observers, with some pointing out the irony of Brin recommending long hours when he and co-founder Larry Page left Google rudderless in 2019.

DeepSeek: The AI Chatbot App That's Taking the World by Storm

DeepSeek, a Chinese AI lab, has gone viral with its chatbot app, which has risen to the top of the Apple charts. The app's AI models, trained using compute-efficient techniques, have raised questions about whether the U.S. can maintain its lead in the AI race and whether the demand for AI chips will sustain. DeepSeek's success has been significant, with the company's models performing well in various AI benchmarks and being far cheaper to run than comparable models.

AI in Policing: Balancing Security, Privacy, and Public Trust

Law enforcement agencies are increasingly relying on AI-driven video analytics to process surveillance footage and improve crime-solving. However, this raises concerns about privacy and the potential for bias in AI decision-making. The use of facial recognition technology, in particular, has been a hotly debated topic, with some arguing that it has poor accuracy ratings in recognizing black and brown faces.

AI Stocks Fuel Record AUM for KIC

The Korea Investment Corporation (KIC) has posted an 8.49% return in 2024, marking another solid year for South Korea's sovereign wealth fund despite increasing geopolitical and economic uncertainties. KIC's assets under management (AUM) reached a record US$206.5 billion by end-2024, the highest in its nearly two-decade history.

SoundHound AI Posts Record Q4 Revenue

SoundHound AI has reported stellar fourth-quarter results, posting $34.54 million in revenue, above the $33.80 million expected. The company's CEO, Keyvan Mohajer, attributes the success to the company's record quarter, strengthened cash position, and successful business diversification through providing AI solutions across government, restaurants, retail, and other sectors.

Partnership Brings AI Teaching Assistant to Schools

PLP Course Library, a leading provider of professional learning for educators, has partnered with a leading AI company to bring an AI teaching assistant to schools. The AI teaching assistant is designed to support teachers in their daily work, providing real-time feedback and support to students.

University of Auckland Students Criticize Introduction of AI Tutors

Students at the University of Auckland are outraged as AI tutors will be used in a business and economics course. The university claims AI tutors are supplementary and won't replace in-person teaching, emphasizing AI's importance in marketing. Students are concerned about the accuracy of the AI tutors and the impact on their learning quality and course fees.

The Future of AI Training: Westlaw v. Ross AI

In a recent podcast, Westlaw v. Ross AI was discussed, with some arguing that this could be the end of AI training or the future of AI training. However, there is no relevant text related to the topic and title, and the original text does not contain any information about Westlaw v. Ross AI or AI training.

Key Takeaways

  • Google's co-founder urges employees to work longer hours to prioritize simple solutions to problems.
  • DeepSeek's AI chatbot app has risen to the top of the Apple charts, raising questions about the U.S. lead in the AI race.
  • AI-driven video analytics are being used in policing, but raise concerns about privacy and bias.
  • AI stocks have fueled a record AUM for KIC.
  • SoundHound AI has reported stellar fourth-quarter results, attributing success to record quarter, strengthened cash position, and business diversification.
  • A partnership has brought an AI teaching assistant to schools, designed to support teachers and provide real-time feedback to students.
  • University of Auckland students are outraged about the introduction of AI tutors in a business and economics course.
  • The future of AI training is uncertain, with some arguing that Westlaw v. Ross AI could be the end of AI training or the future of AI training.

Sources

Artificial Intelligence Google DeepMind AI Chatbots DeepSeek AI in Policing Facial Recognition AI Stocks Korea Investment Corporation SoundHound AI AI Teaching Assistant University of Auckland AI Tutors AI Training Westlaw v. Ross AI