Apple has released the iOS 18.1 developer beta, which includes the first features of its AI suite, Apple Intelligence. The features are limited to users with iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPad, and Mac with M1, and require device language to be set to U.S. English and region to the U.S.

Source: https://techcrunch.com/category/artificial-intelligence/feed/

Canva has acquired Leonardo.ai, a generative AI content and research startup, for a mix of cash and stock. The acquisition will bring 120 Leonardo.ai employees, including the executive team, to Canva. Leonardo.ai will continue to operate independently, focusing on rapid innovation and research and development, with Canva's resources. The acquisition aims to help Leonardo.ai develop its platform and expand its user growth.

Source: https://techcrunch.com/category/artificial-intelligence/feed/

In the first half of 2023, 225 generative AI startups raised $12.3 billion from VCs, with early-stage startups being the clear winners, receiving $8.7 billion. Notable deals include Elon Musk's xAI, which raised $6 billion, and China's Moonshot AI, which raised $1 billion. The trend suggests that generative AI companies may match or exceed the $21.8 billion they raised in 2023.

Source: https://techcrunch.com/category/artificial-intelligence/feed/

The UK's GDPR laws mandate that facial recognition technology use is opt-in by default, but a high school in Essex allowed parents to only opt their children out. The use of biometric facial scans to pay for meals has raised privacy concerns. In the US, the use of facial recognition technology in schools has been debated, with the Denver public school system exploring the option in 2019.

Source: https://techcrunch.com/category/artificial-intelligence/feed/

Colin Kaepernick, former NFL quarterback and civil rights activist, is launching an AI storytelling platform called Lumi to help creators tell and own their stories. He has spent the last ten years building a media company, Kaepernick Media, and has served on Medium's Board since 2020. Lumi aims to address deeply entrenched problems in the media industry.

Source: https://techcrunch.com/category/artificial-intelligence/feed/

Researchers at MIT CSAIL have developed a method for training home robots in simulation. The process involves scanning a part of the home using an iPhone, which can then be uploaded into a simulation. This allows robots to try and fail at tasks thousands of times in the same amount of time it would take to do it once in the real world.

Source: https://techcrunch.com/category/artificial-intelligence/feed/

Microsoft has previewed its answer to Google's AI-powered search experience, Bing generative search, which aggregates information from around the web and generates a summary in response to search queries. The feature is currently available for a small percentage of users and allows users to dismiss AI-generated summaries for traditional search results. Bing generative search is powered by a combination of large and small generative AI models.

Source: https://techcrunch.com/category/artificial-intelligence/feed/

President Joe Biden has announced he will not seek reelection and has endorsed VP Kamala Harris to become the Democratic Party's nominee. Harris has been outspoken on tech and AI policy and has previously rejected the idea that innovation and public protection are mutually exclusive. She and Biden have called for companies to set new standards around the development of AI, with Biden issuing an executive order to that effect.

Source: https://techcrunch.com/category/artificial-intelligence/feed/

The Oversight Board is urging Meta to refine its policies around AI-generated explicit images, specifically changing the terminology from 'derogatory' to 'non-consensual' and moving the policies to the 'Sexual Exploitation Community Standards' section. The Board also wants Meta to replace the term 'photoshop' with a generalized term for manipulated media and prohibit non-consensual imagery if it is non-commercial.

Source: https://techcrunch.com/category/artificial-intelligence/feed/

A new video-generating AI model called Kling, developed by Beijing-based company Kuaishou, has been made available to users worldwide. The model, which was initially launched in waitlisted access for users with a Chinese phone number, can now be accessed by anyone with an email. Kling generates 720p videos in about a minute or two, simulating physics such as rustling leaves and flowing water.

Source: https://techcrunch.com/category/artificial-intelligence/feed/