Microsoft's AI Storm: PCs Get Smart, Scarlett Johansson Strikes Back
21 May 2024: Microsoft unveils AI-powered Windows PCs, faces Google's discounts & EU fines. Dell jumps on AI bandwagon, Johansson accuses OpenAI of voice mimicry. UK opens AI safety office in SF
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Latest in AI,
1. 1-Minute Roundup
2. Headlines
3. AI Investment Deals
4. Other AI News1-Minute Roundup
Headlines:
Microsoft unveils AI-powered Windows PCs with Copilot+, dedicated AI chips.
Google offers discounts to lure customers from Microsoft over security flaws.
Dell will launch AI PCs and see them as "standard" by 2025 to boost sales.
AI Investment Deals:
KonProz raises $700K for legal GenAI and has 2,000 active users.
Pixevia gets €1.5M for AI stores and plans US/Europe expansion.
QA.tech secures €3M for AI software testing after $1M pre-seed.
Overland AI raises $10M for off-road self-driving, wins $18.6M US Army contract.
Quantia gets $1.2M for AI sales recommendations, which reduces analysis time.
Haz raises $1.4M for AI social commerce app to automate reselling.
Others:
JPMorgan will provide AI training for all new hires, which will be used in wealth management.
Scarlett Johansson accuses OpenAI of mimicking her voice in the ChatGPT demo.
EU warns Microsoft of potential $1B fine over failure to provide AI risk data.
UK opens AI Safety Office in San Francisco to monitor tech giants.
UK's Automated Vehicles Act will allow self-driving cars to be on the roads by 2026.
Alibaba sparks AI price war in China with significant service discounts.
Headlines
Microsoft Unveils AI-Powered Windows PCs, Features
Microsoft has announced a significant AI push for Windows, unveiling Copilot+ PCs with dedicated AI chips and generative AI capabilities deeply integrated into the operating system. The company aims to revolutionise computing with AI-first experiences.
Why it Matters: This marks Microsoft's ambitious effort to bring generative AI to the forefront of consumer computing experiences, aiming to stay ahead of rivals like Google and Apple in the AI race.
Zoom In: Key AI-powered features unveiled include Recall (to find past content), Super Resolution (upscale old photos), Live Captions with translations, and an AI image editor.
Big Picture: Microsoft is betting on generative AI to revolutionise the Windows experience and position itself as an AI leader in consumer tech. With dedicated AI hardware and deeply integrated AI capabilities, Microsoft aims to deliver AI-first computing that adapts to users rather than the other way around.Google Attacks Microsoft's Cyber Flaws, Offers Discounts to Switch
Google is seizing on Microsoft's recent cybersecurity lapses to lure away government and corporate customers, offering steep discounts and free services to those who switch to Google Workspace from the Microsoft Office suite.
Why it Matters: The move highlights Google's efforts to capitalise on Microsoft's vulnerabilities and gain market share in productivity software against its rival.
Zoom In: Google's whitepaper details Microsoft's repeated security challenges, positioning Google Workspace as a safer alternative with superior security practices.
Big Picture: This aggressive campaign aims to undermine Microsoft's dominant position in productivity suites by exploiting its recent high-profile cybersecurity incidents. Google hopes discounts and security concerns drive government and corporate defections. However, despite the discounts, Google may need help overcoming inertia and cultural resistance in governments and enterprises that have long relied on Microsoft Office.Dell Unveils AI PCs, Sees Them as 'Standard' by 2025
Dell Technologies is launching a new line of personal computers optimised for AI tasks. CEO Michael Dell predicts AI PCs will become "pretty standard" by 2025 as the company bets on reviving PC demand through AI capabilities.
Why it Matters: The move aims to rejuvenate sluggish PC sales by integrating dedicated AI hardware/software capabilities, capitalising on the generative AI boom.
Numbers:
Dell unveils new AI PCs with Qualcomm neural processing units.
$2.9 billion backlog for Dell's AI servers as of February.
Dell shares are up 95% on AI server/storage business momentum this year.
Zoom In: Key features include Qualcomm AI chips and a dedicated key for Microsoft Copilot AI service, which automates summarisation tasks.
Big Picture: Major PC makers like Dell are betting on AI integration to drive new demand after years of PC market stagnation, positioning AI capabilities as must-haves.How it Works: Neural processing units accelerate AI workloads, while software integrations like Microsoft Copilot enable AI-powered productivity features.
Reality Check: PC makers face the challenge of transitioning mainstream users to adopt and pay premiums for dedicated AI hardware.
AI Investment Deals
KonProz raised $700K for GenAI IP in the legal domain, expanding its team and scaling operations. Since November 2023, KonProz GPT has had 2,000 active users.
Pixevia's €1.5M funding will boost the expansion of AI-powered US and European stores, integrating new venues like sports arenas and airports. Since 2019, Pixevia has launched 16 autonomous stores in Europe, the US, and the Middle East.
QA.tech secures €3M in seed funding to accelerate AI-powered software testing, following a $1M pre-seed round.
Overland AI raises $10M seed funding for off-road AI-driven self-driving tech used by the U.S. military. Last month, it secured a two-year $18.6M contract with the U.S. Army.
Quantia secures $1.2M pre-seed funding to empower brands with AI-driven sales recommendations. Founded in 2023 by Marta Lacka, Quanta's platform reduces sales data analysis time from 10 days to 3-5 minutes.
Haz, an AI social commerce app, raised $1.4M in pre-seed funding to expand across Europe. Founded in 2024, Haz automates resale by scanning digital receipts and removing manual listings.
Others
JPMorgan to Provide AI Training for All New Hires
JPMorgan Chase & Co. will integrate AI training for every new employee, focusing on prompt engineering to prepare them for future technological advancements.
AI implementation is already enhancing efficiency and revenue growth in the asset and wealth management division by automating repetitive tasks and optimising information retrieval during client interactions.
Scarlett Johansson Accuses OpenAI of Mimicking Her Voice in ChatGPT Demo
OpenAI paused its "Sky" voice after users noted its similarity to Scarlett Johansson's voice, prompting Johansson to hire legal counsel for clarification.
Johansson revealed that OpenAI approached her in September to voice their GPT-4.0 system, which she declined. She was surprised to find that the demo released closely resembled her voice.
EU Warns Microsoft of Potential Billion-Dollar Fine Over AI Risk Data
The EU may fine Microsoft 1% of its global annual turnover for failing to provide requested AI risk data.
The Commission has given Microsoft until May 27 to comply, risking further penalties of up to 5% of daily revenue.
UK Opens AI Safety Office in San Francisco
The UK’s AI Safety Institute, with 32 employees, opens a San Francisco office to monitor AI risks closer to tech giants.
The institute released Inspect, its first AI safety tool, to improve collaboration and engagement with AI companies.
UK’s Autonomous Vehicle Legislation Becomes Law
The Automated Vehicles Act allows self-driving cars on UK roads by 2026 to boost safety and the economy.
New regulations make corporations liable for accidents when vehicles are in self-driving mode, not human drivers.
Alibaba Sparks AI Price War in China with Major Discounts
Alibaba slashed AI service prices by up to 97%, prompting Baidu to offer free services.
This aggressive pricing strategy aims to attract more users and strengthen AI development amidst intense competition from ByteDance, Tencent, and JD.com.
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