| Here’s a look at today's AI briefing: - Microsoft launches 'Copilot+' PCs with built-in AI.
- OpenAI pauses ChatGPT voice resembling Scarlett Johansson.
- Colorado governor signs law targeting “high-risk” AI systems.
- U.K.'s AI Safety Institute to open first overseas office in U.S.
Beth
p/beth-duckett | |
| 1 | | Microsoft announced "Copilot+ PCs," its new category of Windows computers designed to run generative AI locally instead of in the cloud. The first such branded PCs are Microsoft's new Surface Laptop and Surface Pro tablet, which have a Qualcomm chip for running AI tasks offline. More: - The consumer PCs feature Arm-based Snapdragon X Elite and Plus processors from Qualcomm, with future models including Intel and AMD chips.
- Samsung, ASUS, HP, Lenovo, Acer, and Dell are among the third-party OEMs that have already unveiled their own Copilot+ PCs.
- To qualify as a Copilot+ PC, a system must have a neural processing unit (NPU) capable of at least 40 TOPs, along with at least 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.
- Microsoft claims Copilot+ PCs are nearly 60% faster than Apple's M3-powered MacBook Air.
Features: - Copilot+ PCs can run small multi-modal language models locally, powering features like Microsoft's Copilot.
- Another key feature of Copilot+ PCs is "Recall," which tracks all user activities on Windows 11, allowing users to search for anything, such as past emails or chat threads, on their PCs using text or voice.
- According to Microsoft, Recall uses on-device AI to create a "photographic memory" of a PC user's activity.
- Other Copilot+ tools include "Super Resolution" to improve old photo quality, Live Captions in over 40 languages, and a dedicated Copilot app for AI-assisted tasks.
- GPT-4o, OpenAI's latest chatbot technology, will also launch for Microsoft Copilot.
Zoom out: - Microsoft now expects over 50 million Copilot+ PCs to be sold over the next year.
- Canalys predicts that 60% of all PCs shipped in 2027 will be AI-capable, up from 19% this year.
- The market analyst firm predicts that by 2030, all PCs sold will have on-device AI capabilities.
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| 2 | | OpenAI has paused an audible version of ChatGPT resembling the voice of actress Scarlett Johansson. OpenAI said the voice, "Sky", is not an imitation of Johansson but was created by another professional actress. More: - Sky was one of five voices available in ChatGPT’s voice mode.
- While the Sky model was introduced last year, it made headlines after OpenAI demoed its new GPT-4o model, which can reply to verbal queries with audio responses.
- Users noted the voice closely resembled Johansson, who voiced a virtual assistant in the film "Her," featuring a man falling in love with the AI system.
- OpenAI has paused the use of Sky while it works to address questions. Users who select Sky in ChatGPT are now redirected to another voice called Juniper.
Zoom out: - OpenAI said it selected the five ChatGPT voice profiles from over 400 actor submissions.
- The company added that it licensed the voices of the actors it chose, compensating them with "above market" rates for ongoing use in its products.
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| 3 | | Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) signed a bill requiring AI developers to disclose their high-risk AI systems. The law, effective in 2026, also orders developers of high-risk AI systems to take steps to prevent algorithmic discrimination. More: - The law defines "high-risk AI systems" as algorithms that significantly impact decisions in sectors like employment, education, finance, government services, healthcare, and housing.
- Under the rules, developers must disclose information about their AI systems to regulators and the public and submit annual impact assessments.
- Deployers of high-risk AI systems, including employers, must “use reasonable care to avoid algorithmic discrimination.”
Zoom out: - The bill, opposed by tech industry groups, was signed with "reservations" by Polis, who expressed hopes that it would spur a national dialogue.
- To avoid negative impacts on Colorado's tech development, Polis urged industry leaders to refine the law's provisions before it takes effect in 2026.
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| 4 | | The U.K.'s AI Safety Institute will open its first foreign office in San Francisco this summer. The institute's first U.S. office will hire a team of technical staff led by a research director, who hasn't been named. More: - Britain's AI Safety Institute is a government-supported body that tests advanced AI systems for safety risks.
- Its new office will support the institute's expanding London headquarters, which already has over 30 AI experts.
- The office will also strengthen AI ties between the U.K. and the U.S.
Zoom out: | | | |
| 5 | | AI Events and Conferences: - Generative AI Summit London: May 20-22, London, U.K.
- Enterprise Generative AI Summit West Coast: May 21-22, Silicon Valley, California.
- AI Expo Tokyo: May 22-24, Tokyo, Japan.
- AI World Congress 2024: May 30-31, London, U.K.
- Data Cloud Summit 2024: June 3-6, San Francisco.
- AI and Big Data Expo North America: June 5-6, Santa Clara, California.
- SuperAI: June 5-6, Singapore.
- The AI Summit London: June 12-13, London, U.K.
- 2024 IEEE Conference on Artificial Intelligence: June 25-27, Singapore.
- Ai4 2024: Aug. 12-14, Las Vegas, Nevada.
- The AI Conference: Sept. 18-19, San Francisco.
- AI Summit Seoul: Dec. 10-11, Seoul, South Korea.
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| 6 | | QUICK HITS: - Thinking about growing your business? We’ll work as hard as it takes to make Ohio your competitive advantage*
- Google said it will invest $1.1B to expand its Finnish data center and grow its AI business in Europe.
- JPMorgan Chase & Co. said it's training all new banking hires in AI and prompt engineering.
- Three filmmakers founded Late Night Labs, a generative AI film and animation studio, with advisers including Natasha Lyonne and Angel Manuel Soto.
*This is sponsored content. | | | |
 | AI and technology writer | | Beth is a contributing editor and writer of Inside's AI and Tech newsletters. She has written for publications including USA Today, the Arizona Business Gazette, and The Arizona Republic, where she received recognition with a Pulitzer Prize nomination and a First Amendment Award for collaborative reporting on state pension cost increases. You can reach her at Beth.Duckett@yahoo.com. | | This newsletter was edited by Beth Duckett | |
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