Your weekly briefing on all things AI

I would not envy anyone on Google’s legal team these past few months…

Regulators in the US and abroad are cracking down on tech giants like Google, setting some important precedents along the way. Simultaneously, OpenAI also announced SearchGPT to directly compete with Google.

In less difficult to watch news, the healthcare industry had some major breakthroughs and investment rounds this week.

Let’s dive in:

📰 UK Investigates: Is Google’s Investment in Anthropic a Threat? 

📈 Outpace Bio Lands $144M for Advanced T Cell Therapies

💡AI Image Processing Detects Cancer 5 Years Earlier

 🛠️ AI Tools for Knowledge and Well-Being Boost

📰 AI in the News

U.K. Regulator Reviews Google’s Investment in AI Startup Anthropic

The U.K.’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is reviewing Google’s investment in AI startup Anthropic to determine if it could harm competition. This review could lead to a formal investigation if the CMA finds the investment substantial enough. This news comes amidst Microsoft labeling SearchGPT a competitor (link) and a US judge declaring that Google is a Monopolist (link).

Anthropic, founded in 2021, has raised nearly $10 billion in funding, with Google investing $300 million initially and another $2 billion later. Amazon has also invested $4 billion. The CMA is concerned that such big investments might let major tech companies influence smaller startups without full merger scrutiny.

Feedback on this issue is open until August 13, 2024. Both Google and Anthropic have pledged to cooperate and maintain their independence, with Anthropic ensuring it isn’t tied exclusively to Google’s cloud services. (Link)

More Stories

• Sam Altman: The next OpenAI model will undergo U.S. Government safety checks first. (Link)

• Zuckerberg states that Meta will need ten times more computing power for Llama 4 compared to Llama 3. (Link)

• OpenAI could face a $5B loss this year due to operational costs. (Link)

• Apple took a 'responsible' approach in training its AI models. (Link)

• The White House currently sees no need to regulate 'open-source' AI. (Link)

• Microsoft now lists OpenAI as a competitor in AI and search domains thanks to SearchGPT. (Link)

• Google Cloud offers a dedicated cluster of Nvidia GPUs for Y Combinator startups. (Link)

• Sybill's AI analyzes customer behavior to streamline sales processes. (Link)

• Writer's new AI models excel in healthcare and finance tasks. (Link)

• Paraplegic athlete uses robotic exoskeleton to carry the Olympic torch. (Link)

📈 Venture Deals 

Outpace Bio Secures $144 Million to Advance AI-Powered Cancer Therapies

Seattle-based biotech firm Outpace Bio has raised $144 million in Series B funding to accelerate the development of its AI-powered cell therapies for solid tumors. The investment brings the company’s total funding to approximately $200 million. Treatment aimed at fighting ovarian cancer is expected to start being given to patients for the first time in 2025.

Led by RA Capital Management, the funding round also saw participation from new and existing investors. The capital will be used to advance multiple T cell therapies into early clinical trials and expand Outpace’s technology platform. The company’s lead product candidate, OPB-101, is a CAR-T cell therapy enhanced by Outpace’s proprietary AI technology. (Link)

More Venture Deals

• Altana secures $200M Series C funding at a $1B valuation for AI logistics software. (Link)

• Osapiens garners $120M for AI-powered ESG technology. (Link)

• Spring Health announces $100M Series E to expand global mental healthcare access. (Link)

• Contextual AI raises $80M for model-enhancing techniques. (Link)

• AIRNA secures $60M for RNA editing clinical trials in rare liver disease. (Link)

• Gradient AI raises $56M Series C to boost AI-driven InsurTech solutions. (Link)

• Healx raises $47M for AI-enabled rare disease drug discovery. (Link)

• Ema secures $36M for universal AI employees for enterprises. (Link)

• Black Forest Labs raises $31M for FLUX.1 AI image generator. (Link)

• Intelmatix secures $20M Series A to help MENA businesses leverage AI for decision-making. (Link)

• ZeroTier raises $13.5M to mitigate network issues like CrowdStrike's. (Link)

• Sybill raises $11M for AI assistant to reduce salespeople's administrative burden. (Link)

• Bee secures $7M for wearable AI assistant that learns from conversations. (Link)

💡 Industry Impacts

🏩 Healthcare

AI System "Mirai" Predicts Breast Cancer Risk Up to Five Years in Advance

MIT researchers have introduced an AI tool named "Mirai" that enhances breast cancer risk predictions from mammograms. This advanced system can forecast cancer risk up to five years ahead, offering a crucial advantage in early detection.

Trained on over 200,000 mammograms and validated across multiple hospitals, Mirai provides accurate risk assessments for all women, improving on older models. It accounts for additional health factors, like family history, and adapts to different mammography machines.

Future updates will include utilizing full imaging histories and incorporating advanced screening techniques to further refine risk predictions. Mirai aims to improve early detection, minimize unnecessary tests, and enhance patient care. (Link)

Perceptive Achieves First Fully Automated Dental Procedure on a Human

Boston-based Perceptive has unveiled a groundbreaking advancement in dental care: the world’s first fully automated dental procedure using a robotic arm. Announced on July 30, this innovative system can place dental crowns in just 15 minutes, a significant improvement over traditional methods that typically require multiple visits and lengthy procedures.

Perceptive's technology combines AI-driven 3D imaging with a robotic arm to streamline and enhance dental treatments. The procedure begins with a detailed 3D scan of the patient’s mouth, captured by Perceptive’s advanced handheld scanner, ensuring precise diagnostics and treatment planning.

Founded by Dr. Chris Ciriello, Perceptive is focused on improving accessibility and efficiency in dental care. With $30 million in funding and partnerships with institutions like Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Perceptive is poised to transform how dental procedures are performed and experienced. (Link)

🏛️ Law

Microsoft Warns Congress: Deepfakes Need Legal Solutions Now

Microsoft is urging Congress to enact laws against AI-generated deepfakes that disrupt elections and target individuals. President Brad Smith called for a "deepfake fraud statute" to combat cybercrime and suggested labeling AI-generated content as synthetic. Microsoft also supports penalties for distributing sexually exploitative deepfakes to protect women and children. Smith stressed the importance of civil society in safeguarding human rights and building trust in AI. Recent deepfake controversies in the US presidential campaign underscore the need for regulation. (Link)

⚙️ Tech

Neura’s New Humanoid Robot Debuts with Nvidia Tools

Neura, a German robotics company, has released a video of its new humanoid robot, 4NE-1, performing tasks like ironing and moving boxes. This release coincides with Nvidia showcasing its new tools for humanoid robots at the Siggraph conference.

Neura is among a select group of companies, including 1X and Boston Dynamics, that has early access to Nvidia’s advanced robotics tools. This partnership aims to accelerate developments in humanoid robotics.

The field of humanoid robots is still evolving, with most robots in early testing phases, so promotional videos can sometimes be misleading. Nvidia’s support is a significant boost for the industry, reflecting strong confidence in its future and paving the way for more innovation and new entrants. (Link)

🛠️ Tool of the Week

Stay Ahead of Anxiety with Gobi's Real-Time Wellness and Support

In today's fast-paced world, anxiety levels are at an all-time high, and traditional methods of managing emotional health are often insufficient. Gobi is an advanced wellness tool designed to support emotional well-being through scientifically backed, personalized guided exercises. Leveraging AI technology, Gobi offers a modern approach to managing emotional health in a rapidly changing world.

More AI Tools for Knowledge and Well-Being Boost:

• Airy: AI-driven insights for rapid mental clarity and personal growth.

• Study Map: Your AI-powered study companion. Learn anything, anytime with personalized courses. 

• AskBex: Boosts productivity with instant Slack answers, automatic document updates, and accurate live edits.

• Flot Ai: Your universal AI copilot for flawless writing and global communication across any app or website.