Artificial intelligence continues to reshape various sectors, from government services to media and technology. In Ohio, a new app called Safeguard Ohio uses AI to help citizens report suspicious activities, enhancing information gathering for law enforcement. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh is positioning itself as a global AI hub, leveraging its research institutions and industrial strengths, though challenges remain regarding energy demands and workforce development. Pennsylvania lawmakers are grappling with policies to manage the rapid growth of AI development and data centers, focusing on clean energy and consumer protection. The broader tech industry is seeing significant productivity gains from AI, leading to reduced hiring as companies achieve more with fewer employees. This trend is also impacting media, with concerns raised about AI's use of publisher content. Neil Vogel, CEO of People Inc., has criticized Google for using publisher content to train its AI products without fair compensation, leading his company to partner with Cloudflare and OpenAI. Apple has seen an executive in charge of Siri depart as the company focuses on design. Cybersecurity is also evolving, with Box's CISO noting AI's dual role in both strengthening defenses and providing tools for malicious actors. The potential for AI failures is highlighted by the 'AI Darwin Awards,' which humorously showcase instances of AI gone wrong, underscoring the need for human oversight. On a global scale, China has found Nvidia in violation of anti-monopoly laws, adding to existing trade tensions. Sales teams are increasingly adopting autonomous AI agents to boost productivity and efficiency in closing deals.
Key Takeaways
- Ohio has launched Safeguard Ohio, an AI-powered app for reporting suspicious activities to law enforcement.
- Pittsburgh is aiming to become a global AI hub, building on its research and industrial base.
- Pennsylvania is experiencing a boom in data center projects but faces challenges in policy-making for environmental and consumer protections.
- AI is increasing productivity in the tech sector, leading to decreased hiring and impacting job growth.
- Neil Vogel, CEO of People Inc., has accused Google of being a 'bad actor' for using publisher content to train AI without compensation.
- An executive in charge of Apple's Siri has left the company.
- Box's CISO highlights that AI presents both security risks and benefits, emphasizing the continued importance of human oversight.
- The 'AI Darwin Awards' humorously point out failures in AI technology, stressing the need for proper testing and safety protocols.
- China has found Nvidia violated anti-monopoly laws related to its acquisition of Mellanox Technologies.
- Sales teams are increasingly using autonomous AI agents to enhance productivity and efficiency in closing deals.
Ohio launches AI app for reporting suspicious activity
Ohio Homeland Security (OHS) has introduced Safeguard Ohio, a new app that uses artificial intelligence to help gather information on potential threats. Developed with partner Vigiliti, the app allows users to submit photos, videos, and audio, and can identify situations needing an urgent response, prompting users to call 911. It replaces an older online form system and can take reports in 10 languages. Governor DeWine stated the app simplifies getting information to law enforcement quickly. OHS Executive Director Mark Porter noted the AI's ability to ask follow-up questions to gather detailed intelligence.
Ohio uses AI app for suspicious activity reports
Ohio Homeland Security (OHS) has launched a new app called Safeguard Ohio, which uses artificial intelligence to collect details about potential threats. The app, created with Vigiliti, allows users to anonymously upload photos, videos, and audio of suspicious activities. Information is sent in real-time to the Statewide Terrorism Analysis and Crime Center for review and notification of law enforcement. Governor Mike DeWine believes this app makes it easier for the public to share timely information. The app also includes AI-powered prompts to gather more details and will direct users to call 911 for emergencies.
Pittsburgh aims to be global AI hub
Pittsburgh is positioning itself to become a major center for artificial intelligence, building on its strengths in research and development from institutions like the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University. Governor Josh Shapiro sees AI as the next industrial revolution for the state, similar to its past in coal and steel. The city is attracting AI development by leveraging its existing manufacturing supply chains and energy resources, including natural gas. Leaders believe this focus on AI will create new business opportunities and economic benefits, though concerns about workforce gaps and the environmental impact of powering data centers remain.
Pennsylvania lawmakers face AI boom challenges
Pennsylvania is experiencing a significant increase in artificial intelligence development, ranking third in the nation for announced data center projects. However, state lawmakers are struggling to keep pace with policies for environmental and consumer protections. Proposed legislation aims to manage AI development, with Governor Josh Shapiro's 'Lightning Plan' focusing on clean energy and consumer costs. Concerns include rising energy bills driven by data center power demands and the need for workforce development. Some experts caution against repeating past mistakes of industries that have negatively impacted the state.
AI Darwin Awards highlight technology fails
The AI Darwin Awards celebrate the most epic failures and questionable uses of artificial intelligence technology. Launched by a software developer named Pete, the awards aim to humorously highlight how AI can go wrong when deployed without proper testing or safety protocols. Nominees include lawyers who submitted AI-generated legal briefs with fictional cases and news outlets that published AI-generated books by real authors. The awards serve as a reminder of the importance of human oversight and responsible AI development, encouraging testing and common sense before global deployment.
Box CISO: AI presents dual security risks and benefits
Heather Ceylan, the new Chief Information Security Officer at Box, believes artificial intelligence offers both significant opportunities and new risks for cybersecurity. While AI can strengthen security by addressing human error, it also provides advanced tools for malicious actors to exploit vulnerabilities. Ceylan notes that AI agents can create new risks, but emphasizes that the human element remains the primary cause of security breaches. She advises companies to manage AI risks by focusing on fundamental security practices like patch management and identity controls, while also training employees on safe AI usage.
AI boosts productivity, reducing tech hiring
Artificial intelligence is significantly increasing productivity in the technology sector, leading to a decline in hiring. While the tech industry's contribution to GDP growth has surged, its share of job growth has sharply decreased. AI tools like large language models and cloud services allow companies to achieve more with fewer employees, benefiting shareholders through increased efficiency and margins. This trend suggests a future where economic growth may occur with less job creation, impacting the broader economy beyond just the tech sector.
Apple executive leaves as company focuses on design
The executive in charge of Apple's Siri has departed the company, according to sources. This departure comes as Apple emphasizes its design principles while promoting its new iPhone 17 lineup. The report was shared by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman on 'Bloomberg Tech.'
Media CEO calls Google 'bad actor' over AI content use
Neil Vogel, CEO of People Inc., has accused Google of being a 'bad actor' by using publisher content to train its AI products without fair compensation. Vogel stated that Google uses a single crawler for both search traffic and AI data extraction, allowing it to compete with publishers using their own content. He noted a significant drop in Google Search traffic to his company and highlighted that blocking AI crawlers is difficult without also losing search traffic. People Inc. has partnered with Cloudflare to block non-paying AI crawlers and has signed a deal with OpenAI.
China finds Nvidia violated anti-monopoly laws
China has announced that Nvidia violated anti-monopoly laws, escalating trade tensions with the United States. Chinese regulators found that Nvidia breached terms of approval for its acquisition of Mellanox Technologies. This investigation follows the US placing Chinese semiconductor companies on an Entity List and imposing restrictions on AI chip exports to China. The situation is complex as both nations view AI and its chips as critical for national security, with recent deals attempting to balance trade and security concerns.
Sales teams embrace AI agents for productivity
Successful sales teams are increasingly adopting 'agentic AI,' which involves using autonomous AI agents that can work continuously alongside human sales representatives. These agents can identify, nurture, and close deals by interacting with customers across various channels. They are designed to anticipate next steps, adapt to market changes, integrate with different systems, and learn over time. This technology aims to create a replica of top-performing sellers, enhancing efficiency and productivity in sales operations.
AI's broad impact discussed at WIRED summit
At WIRED's AI Power Summit, industry leaders and officials discussed artificial intelligence's significant impact on politics, technology, and media. Concerns were raised about AI's potential to replace jobs in journalism and copyright issues, with calls for regulatory guardrails similar to those for social media. Tech industry representatives highlighted AI's potential for economic growth and innovation, citing applications in drug discovery and climate modeling. However, media executives pushed back, arguing that AI features like Google's AI Overviews are negatively impacting website traffic and revenue for publishers.
Sources
- Ohio Homeland Security Unveils New AI Suspicious Activity Reporting System
- OHS unveils new AI suspicious activity reporting system
- What does Pittsburgh gain from becoming a global AI hub?
- The AI boom Is vcoming for Pennsylvania. How will lawmakers respond?
- Darwin Awards For AI Celebrate Epic Artificial Intelligence Fails
- In Security, ‘There’s Two Sides to AI,’ Box CISO Says
- AI Is Making Employees So Productive That Tech Companies Have Stopped Hiring
- Apple Focuses on Design, Another AI Executive Leaves
- People Inc. CEO Neil Vogel calls Google a 'bad actor' over AI crawling practices
- China finds Nvidia violated anti-monopoly law
- How Successful Sales Teams Are Embracing Agentic AI
- How AI Is Upending Politics, Tech, the Media, and More