✨ Issue #34

Clark Valberg
January 30, 2024 • Estimated Reading Time: 9 minutes

Your weekly briefing on all things AI

In an escalating global race for AI supremacy, the United States is leveraging partnerships with leading tech giants to bolster its AI research initiatives. Meanwhile, the European Union is not far behind, strategically deploying a fleet of supercomputers to democratize AI research, making it accessible to any aspiring innovator within its borders. Adding to this intensifying competition, the US military is stepping up its game by integrating AI innovations into its operations. Let's dive in!

🤝 Tech Giants join forces with Uncle Sam for a powerhouse of AI resources.

🧑‍💻 The EU unveils supercomputers to advance AI research.

📫 USPS integrates AI to modernize its service.

🪖 The Pentagon tests futuristic swarm drones and ships.

📰 AI in the News

AI Power-Up: Amazon, Google, Nvidia, and More Join Forces With US Government

Big news in the tech world – our favorite giants are teaming up with the U.S. government in a supergroup effort to boost AI research. It's like the dream team of tech and governance coming together to make sure the U.S. stays the MVP in the AI game.

The National Science Foundation's NAIRR pilot is a game-changer, uniting tech titans like Amazon, Anthropic, Hugging Face, IBM, Intel, Meta, Microsoft, Nvidia, OpenAI, and Palantir with the U.S. government. This powerhouse collaboration is all about fueling AI research and making top-tier tech accessible to all, ensuring every thinker and tinkerer across the nation can play a part in the next wave of AI breakthroughs.

But wait, there's more – from DARPA to NASA, and even the Department of Energy, it's all hands on deck. This initiative isn't just about flexing tech muscles; it's about breaking down barriers so that even the underdogs – like smaller colleges and community institutions – get a slice of the AI pie. (Full Story)

EU's New Supercomputers: Powering Up AI Across the Pond

The EU is dialing up the tech game big time, rolling out an impressive lineup of supercomputers dedicated to pushing the AI envelope. It's a bold leap into the future, where Europe aims to shine in the global tech arena.

With these tech behemoths in play, the EU is setting the stage for a revolution in AI research. It's not just about flexing computational muscles; it's about opening doors to innovation for everyone. From seasoned researchers in bustling metropolises to aspiring geniuses in quiet towns, these supercomputers are the golden tickets to a world of possibilities. The initiative is a nod to inclusivity, ensuring that the torch of innovation can be carried by anyone with a vision and a dream, no matter where they are in Europe. (Full Story)

📈 Venture Deals

The founders of Wise, Skype and Songkick have landed $436.4 million for a new fund to back technology startups in Europe. (link)
Silverfort secures $116 million for identity security. (link)
TravelPerk raises $104 million to ease corporate travel woes. (link)
ElevenLabs secures $80 million in Series B round to strengthen its position as the leader in voice AI. (link)
Myrealtip lands $56.7 million in Series F funding to accelerate its business. (link)
Startup AiDash secures $50 million for tech using AI, satellites to spot wildfire risk. (link)
Bluewhite raises $39 million for its robots-as-a-service farm equipment company. (link)

💡 Industry Impacts

⚖️ Legal

AI Ethics Take Center Stage in the Legal World: The Florida Bar's Board of Governors has stepped into the AI arena with its newly adopted ethics guidelines for generative AI. These guidelines offer a thoughtful roadmap for lawyers navigating the world of artificial intelligence, emphasizing the importance of ethical AI use in a legal context. (link)

🏥 Healthcare

Navigating AI in Healthcare Insurance: An insightful proposal in Georgia suggests tightening the reins on AI's role in healthcare insurance decisions. This reflects growing concerns about the fairness and transparency of AI algorithms in determining coverage. It's a step toward ensuring that technology aligns with ethical healthcare practices. (link)

🪖 Military

Pentagon's Leap into Tomorrow: AI-Powered Swarm Technology: The Pentagon is making waves in the realm of AI with tests of futuristic swarm drones and ships. This glimpse into the future showcases their commitment to staying at the forefront of AI-powered innovations, promising groundbreaking advancements in military technology. (link)

🛠️ Tool of the Week

This week let’s take a look at Crystal, an AI tool from iGenius that's changing how teams handle data.

It simplifies complex data sources into clear, conversational insights, instantly upskilling team members into data experts. With Crystal, data analysis becomes straightforward and jargon-free. It acts like a 24/7 data specialist, offering real-time insights, spotting trends, and flagging anomalies. Crystal combines ease of use, robust security, and seamless integration, making data analysis not just accessible but engaging for all teams. It's the epitome of data simplicity and intelligence.

The best part? It is voice enabled… check out the Demo Allie Miller did recently on LinkedIn

More Tools

Lumiere is a text to video tool from researchers at Google & Tel Aviv University (and it’s impressive)
Bonkers is your simplest ever text-to-image generator.
Feedback will validate your business idea in seconds.
Recraft creates graphics in a uniform brand style.
Holly is your recruiter assistant to make hiring easy.