AI Sector Sees Rapid Growth with Innovations in UK, Meta, and Getty Museum

The world of artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly evolving, with significant developments in various sectors. In the UK, the government has rebranded its AI oversight body, renaming it the AI Security Institute, signaling a shift towards innovation over safety. The institute will focus on national security and introduce a new criminal misuse team to research AI threats.

Meanwhile, Meta has paused efforts to license books for AI training, citing logistical setbacks and a lack of engagement from publishers. The company has also hired former CEOs of Cruise and RealReal to boost its hardware efforts, including the development of AI-powered humanoid robots.

In other news, the Getty Museum has acquired its first AI-generated photograph, titled Cristian en el Amor de Calle (2024), created by queer Costa Rican photographer Matias Sauter Morera. The work depicts two young Latino men in a bar or café and explores the queer history of pegamachos, or cowboys from the Guanacaste Coast.

UK Renames AI Body, Signaling Shift Towards Innovation

The UK government has officially rebranded its AI oversight body, renaming it the AI Security Institute. This move signals a clear shift away from its previous risk-averse stance, prioritizing national security over broader AI-related social harms. The institute will work with other government departments, including the Ministry of Defence Laboratory, the Laboratory for AI Security Research, the National Cyber Security Centre, and the wider national security community.

Meta Pauses Book Licensing Efforts for AI Training

Meta has paused efforts to license books for AI training, citing logistical setbacks and a lack of engagement from publishers. The company had been in talks with book publishers to license deals to supply some of its generative AI models with training data. However, the efforts were met with "very slow uptake in engagement and interest" from publishers.

Meta Hires Former CEOs to Boost Hardware Efforts

Meta has hired former CEOs of Cruise and RealReal to boost its hardware efforts, including the development of AI-powered humanoid robots. The company plans to work on its own humanoid robot hardware, with a focus on robots that can perform household chores, as well as AI, sensors, and software that could be used by a variety of companies manufacturing and selling robots.

Getty Museum Acquires First AI Photograph

The Getty Museum has acquired its first AI-generated photograph, titled Cristian en el Amor de Calle (2024), created by queer Costa Rican photographer Matias Sauter Morera. The work depicts two young Latino men in a bar or café and explores the queer history of pegamachos, or cowboys from the Guanacaste Coast.

Key Takeaways

  • The UK government has rebranded its AI oversight body, renaming it the AI Security Institute, signaling a shift towards innovation over safety.
  • Meta has paused efforts to license books for AI training, citing logistical setbacks and a lack of engagement from publishers.
  • Meta has hired former CEOs of Cruise and RealReal to boost its hardware efforts, including the development of AI-powered humanoid robots.
  • The Getty Museum has acquired its first AI-generated photograph, titled Cristian en el Amor de Calle (2024), created by queer Costa Rican photographer Matias Sauter Morera.
  • The acquisition of the AI photograph marks a significant milestone in the intersection of art and technology, highlighting the potential of AI to create new forms of artistic expression.

Sources

Artificial Intelligence AI Security Institute Meta AI Training Humanoid Robots AI-generated Photograph