Recent advancements in artificial intelligence have led to significant developments in various fields, including autonomous vehicles, data centers, and AI hardware. Waymo is utilizing in-car camera data to train generative AI models and personalize ads, while OpenAI has completed a $40 billion fundraising round. Microsoft has slowed down its AI data center investment due to signs that AI workloads are becoming less compute-intensive than expected. Experts emphasize the importance of preparing data for AI adoption, and companies like Positron are challenging Nvidia's dominance in the AI hardware market. Furthermore, AI has made breakthroughs in passing the Turing test, and researchers are working towards the development of artificial general intelligence. Additionally, AI is being used to navigate tariffs and trade policies, and companies like Amazon are testing AI-powered features to enhance user experience.
Waymo Uses In-Car Camera Data for AI
Waymo may use video from its robotaxi interior cameras to train generative AI models and personalize ads. The company's draft privacy policy states that data may be shared to improve functionality and tailor products and services. Riders can opt out of having their personal info used for AI training. Waymo is the only US robotaxi company generating revenue from paid rides, with over 200,000 weekly trips in cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Waymo Uses Interior Camera Data for AI
Waymo is preparing to use data from its robotaxis, including video from interior cameras, to train generative AI models. The company may also share this data to personalize ads, raising concerns about rider privacy. Waymo is working on generative AI training using interior camera data associated with rider identity. The company gives riders the option to prevent their personal information from being shared or sold.
OpenAI Gets $40B Funding
OpenAI has completed a $40 billion fundraising round, giving the company a $300 billion post-money valuation. The round is led by SoftBank, which committed $10 billion upfront. OpenAI has already stated that it expects to lose billions of dollars over the next several years and doesn't project profitability until at least 2029. Meanwhile, Microsoft has halted new data center developments in several locations due to a mismatch between projected and actual AI demand.
Microsoft Delays AI Data Center Investment
Microsoft has cooled down on its AI data center investment, raising questions about its commitment to the technology. The company has exited or paused data center projects in multiple regions, including the UK, Indonesia, and North Dakota. Microsoft maintains that it will spend around $80 billion on data centers this fiscal year, but growth will slow after that. The company's decision may be due to signs that AI workloads are becoming less compute-intensive than expected.
CIOs Guide to AI-Ready Data Strategy
Enterprises are struggling to prepare their data for AI adoption, with nearly two-thirds lacking the right data management practices. CIOs can help by identifying critical gaps and bridging them. Experts recommend assessing existing practices, engaging leadership, and plotting a path forward. Data quality, governance, and performance are key criteria for AI-ready data. Understanding data lineage and diversity is also critical to avoid bias in AI outputs.
Test Your AI Knowledge with 2025 AI Index Quiz
The new AI Index is out, packed with data on the state of AI in technical advances, education, policy, and more. Take a quiz to test your knowledge of the changing landscape of artificial intelligence. The quiz covers various topics, including AI adoption, research, and applications. It's a great way to stay up-to-date with the latest developments in the field.
Blockchain and AI Help Businesses Navigate Tariffs
Blockchain and AI can help businesses navigate the complexities of tariffs and trade policies. AI can digest complex tariff codes and regulatory changes in real-time, while blockchain acts as a digital notary, locking in proof of where products were made and how they moved. Together, these technologies offer a smarter way to handle global trade friction. Companies like OpenSC and Everledger are already using blockchain to track products and authenticate their origin.
AI Passes Turing Test for First Time
Two popular chatbots, GPT and LLaMa, have passed the Turing test, according to scientists from the University of California at San Diego. The test evaluates the intelligence of machines by having them engage in online conversations with humans. The results showed that GPT-4.5 was mistaken for a human in 73% of cases, while LLaMa-3.1 was recognized as human in 56% of interactions. This marks the first instance in which an AI has successfully passed the Turing test.
Amazon Tests AI Feature to Buy Products from Other Websites
Amazon is testing a new AI-powered feature called 'Buy for Me' that allows users to purchase items from third-party brand websites directly through the Amazon app. The feature uses agentic AI to complete transactions without human intervention. Amazon says it currently does not take a commission from purchases made via this feature but hasn't ruled out future monetization. The service is in beta testing and available only to a limited group of US iOS and Amazon app users.
The Advent of Artificial General Intelligence
Artificial general intelligence (AGI) is a type of AI that can perform any intellectual task that a human can. Researchers estimate that there's a 10% chance that AI could outperform humans on most tasks by 2027 if the science progresses uninterrupted. AGI has the potential to revolutionize various industries and aspects of life. However, its development also raises concerns about job displacement, bias, and control. Experts are working to ensure that AGI is developed and used responsibly.
Positron Challenges Nvidia with Specialized Silicon for AI
Positron, a Reno-based startup, is challenging Nvidia's dominance in the AI hardware market with its specialized silicon for AI inference. Positron's flagship product, the Atlas system, claims to offer 70% faster performance than Nvidia's Hopper-based systems and 3.5x better performance per dollar and watt. The company's focus on inference-specific solutions could give it an edge over Nvidia's general-purpose chips. Positron has raised $23.5 million in funding and is shipping its Atlas system to US customers.
FuriosaAI Rejects $800M Acquisition by Meta
FuriosaAI, a South Korean AI hardware startup, has reportedly rejected an $800 million acquisition offer from Meta. The startup specializes in developing AI chips for various applications, including data centers and autonomous vehicles. FuriosaAI's decision to reject the offer may be a sign of its confidence in its ability to continue growing and innovating on its own. The rejection is a significant development in the AI hardware space, and it will be interesting to see how FuriosaAI continues to evolve and grow in the future.
Key Takeaways
* Waymo is using in-car camera data to train generative AI models and personalize ads, with riders having the option to opt out of data sharing.
* OpenAI has completed a $40 billion fundraising round, valuing the company at $300 billion, despite expecting significant losses in the coming years.
* Microsoft has slowed down its AI data center investment due to reduced demand and compute-intensive workloads.
* Preparing data for AI adoption is crucial, with experts emphasizing the importance of data quality, governance, and performance.
* Positron is challenging Nvidia's dominance in the AI hardware market with its specialized silicon for AI inference, offering improved performance and efficiency.
* AI has made breakthroughs in passing the Turing test, with chatbots like GPT and LLaMa being mistaken for humans in a significant percentage of interactions.
* Researchers are working towards the development of artificial general intelligence, which has the potential to revolutionize various industries and aspects of life.
* AI is being used to navigate tariffs and trade policies, with blockchain and AI helping businesses to track products and authenticate their origin.
* Amazon is testing an AI-powered feature to allow users to purchase items from third-party brand websites directly through the Amazon app.
* FuriosaAI, a South Korean AI hardware startup, has rejected an $800 million acquisition offer from Meta, demonstrating its confidence in its ability to continue growing and innovating independently.
Sources
- Waymo May Use In-Car Camera Data for AI Training and Ads: Report
- Waymo may use interior camera data to train generative AI models, sell ads
- Last Week in AI: OpenAI gets $40B, Microsoft encounters delays
- Does Microsoft know something we don't? Tech giant cools down on AI data center investment as another report claims company pullbacks
- How CIOs can course-correct data strategies with AI goals in mind
- Test Your AI Knowledge: 2025 AI Index Quiz
- How Blockchain And AI Could Help Businesses Navigate The Tariff Storm
- Artificial intelligence pass Turing test for first time
- Amazon Tests AI Feature That Buys Products From Other Brand Websites -
- The advent of artificial general intelligence
- Why Positron Is Betting That Specialized Silicon, Not Multipurpose GPUs, Will Win the AI Inference Race
- South Korea's hottest AI hardware startup reportedly said no to $800m acquisition by Meta