Welcome to Daily Zaps, your regularly-scheduled dose of AI news ⚡️ 

Here’s what we got for ya today:

• 👯 AI-focused COPIED Act

• ☣️ OpenAI partners with Los Alamos

• 💻 TurboTax maker prioritizes AI

• 🇨🇳 Shanghai declaration on global AI governance

Let’s get right into it!

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GOVERNMENT

AI-focused COPIED Act

A bipartisan group of senators introduced the COPIED Act to make it easier to authenticate and detect AI-generated content, protecting journalists and artists from unauthorized use of their work. The bill directs NIST to create standards for proving content origin and detecting synthetic content through methods like watermarking.

It also mandates that AI tools for creative or journalistic content allow users to attach and protect origin information, and prohibits using such content to train AI models. Content owners can sue for unauthorized use or tampering with authentication markers, and enforcement can be carried out by state attorneys general and the FTC. The bill is supported by key senators and various publishing and artists' groups, emphasizing the need for transparency and accountability in AI-generated content.

STARTUPS

OpenAI partners with Los Alamos

OpenAI is partnering with Los Alamos National Laboratory to explore how AI can combat biological threats created by non-experts using AI tools. Los Alamos, known for developing the atomic bomb during WWII, emphasizes the biosecurity risks, noting previous research showing that AI like ChatGPT-4 could provide information useful for creating biological threats. OpenAI focuses on the safe use of AI in advancing bioscientific research.

While discussions often center around AI becoming self-aware and posing a Skynet-like threat, the immediate concern is preventing the misuse of AI for bioweapons. Both organizations acknowledge the need to measure and mitigate these risks, highlighting the importance of responsible AI development.

BUSINESS

TurboTax maker prioritizes AI

Intuit, the company behind QuickBooks and TurboTax, announced an AI-focused reorganization plan that includes laying off about 10% of its workforce, or 1,800 employees. CEO Sasan Goodarzi stated that over 1,000 layoffs involved employees not meeting the company's heightened expectations, while 300 positions were cut to streamline operations and focus on growth areas. Intuit will close offices in Boise, Idaho, and Edmonton, Canada, affecting over 250 employees, some of whom will relocate.

The company plans to hire at least as many new employees in fiscal 2025 as it focuses on integrating artificial intelligence into its products. The reorganization is expected to incur $250 million to $260 million in charges. Laid-off U.S. employees will receive a minimum of 16 weeks' pay, plus additional severance based on tenure, and at least six months of health insurance.

GLOBAL TECH

Shanghai declaration on global AI governance

China has published its views on global AI cooperation, emphasizing its ambitions for AI dominance, including mass production of AI-driven humanoid robots by 2025 and sector leadership by 2027. At the World Artificial Intelligence Conference, China introduced the Shanghai Declaration, outlining five principles: promoting AI development, maintaining AI safety, developing an AI governance system, enhancing public participation and literacy, and improving quality of life through AI.

The declaration encourages North-South cooperation but notably excludes East-West collaboration, reflecting geopolitical tensions with the US. The declaration follows a UN resolution co-sponsored by China and the US to help developing countries build AI capabilities. Critics note the absence of a commitment to refrain from military uses of AI.

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