Happy Sunday,

We're back with "AI Weekly Insights #39," ready to dive into the latest and greatest in the AI world. From OpenAI's SearchGPT prototype to Meta's new Llama 3.1 model, and some controversial findings about Runway's video generator. Let's get into it!

Let’s get into the insights!

The Insights

For the Week of 07/14/24 - 07/20/24 (P.S. Click the story’s title for more information 😊):

Meta Launches Updated, More Capable Llama Model

• What’s New: Meta has unveiled Llama 3.1, its largest and most advanced open-source language model. The new model promises to enhance AI capabilities for users and developers.

• Llama 3.1 405B: The Llama 3.1 models are available in three sizes: 8 billion, 70 billion, and 405 billion parameters. The new model boasts enhanced knowledge, improved math skills, and better translation capabilities. Additionally, the company introduced a generative AI tool that creates personalized images based on user photos and prompts like “Imagine me surfing.”

• Why It Matters: Meta's new release underscores the company's commitment to advancing AI accessibility. By offering a highly capable model in the open-source domain, the company allows developers to experiment without some of the barriers of closed systems. In my testing of the “Imagine Me” tool, I was surprised at its accuracy, speed, and general ease of use. The AI is integrated across many of Meta’s apps and platforms and is generally available for download for all users.

OpenAI Tests New AI Search Tool Prototype

• What's New: OpenAI has introduced SearchGPT, a prototype designed to enhance web search capabilities using AI.

• SearchGPT: The tool aims to streamline the process of finding relevant information on the web. By leveraging the conversational nature of AI models alongside up-to-date web data, it promises faster and more accurate search results. Users can expect responses with sourced links and the ability to ask follow-up questions, as if in a conversation​. OpenAI emphasized its commitment to supporting publishers by prominently citing and linking to their content, enhancing user engagement with high-quality sources.

• Why It Matters: SearchGPT represents OpenAI’s ambitious step into the search domain, positioning itself as a competitor to Google, Microsoft, and Perplexity’s AI offerings. While it aims to integrate these search capabilities into ChatGPT eventually, the current prototype allows for focused development and feedback. This initiative also highlights OpenAI’s strategy of forming strong partnerships with publishers, ensuring that users receive verified and reliable information. Users can sign up for the waitlist to potentially test the tool before broader release.

Runway’s Controversial AI Training Practices Allegedly Exposed

• What's New: Runway has been reported to train its AI text-to-video generator on thousands of YouTube videos and pirated films, according to a report by 404 Media.

• Unapproved Data: The report includes a spreadsheet of training data with links to major entertainment companies’ YouTube channels, such as Netflix, Disney, and Nintendo, as well as individual creators like MKBHD and Linus Tech Tips​. A former Runway employee mentioned that the channels were part of a company-wide effort to find quality videos, which were then downloaded using proxies to avoid detection.

• Why It Matters: As we covered last week, this revelation underscores the ongoing issue in the AI community regarding the use of unapproved data for training AI models. The ethics and legality of such practices are under increasing scrutiny. While it’s nearly impossible to "untrain" a model, this could generally lead to legal consequences. Google has stated that using YouTube videos for AI training without permission is a clear violation of its policies​

Your enthusiasm and curiosity drive our exploration through AI's rapidly evolving landscape. I look forward to your insights, questions, and assistance in spreading our discoveries with the AI community.

Until next Sunday, keep exploring and stay engaged!

Warm regards,

- Kharee