Biden's $20M AI Opportunity 💵

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Inworld and ElevenLabs Improve Voice Integration for AI NPCs

Inworld AI, a leading character engine for AI non-player characters, has announced a groundbreaking partnership with ElevenLabs. This collaboration introduces a new dimension to AI NPCs by incorporating realistic voices that enhance emotional depth and enable adaptive tone, intonation, and speech style based on user interactions.

The integration is showcased within a GTAV mod developed by Bloc, where Inworld-powered NPCs engage in real-time, unscripted, and lifelike conversations.

This enhancement empowers Inworld customers to seamlessly integrate ElevenLabs voices into their AI NPCs through various methods, such as pre-made custom voices, voice cloning, or voice synthesis. 

President Biden’s $20 Million A.I. Cyber Challenge

The Biden administration has unveiled the AI Cyber Challenge, presenting hackers with the opportunity to vie for millions of dollars in prizes while utilizing artificial intelligence to safeguard essential U.S. infrastructure from cybersecurity threats. Notably, leading AI firms including Anthropic, Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI will provide their technology for the competition, which was announced at the Black Hat USA hacking conference in Las Vegas.

The challenge will award nearly $20 million in prizes and comprises a multi-stage process, starting with a qualifying event followed by semifinals and finals held at DEF CON conferences in 2024 and 2025, respectively. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is organizing the competition, aiming to encourage innovation and collaboration.

The top-scoring teams will be required to open source their solutions, thereby promoting widespread use of their systems, with advisory support from the Open Source Security Foundation. The government's initiative reflects a strategic approach to harnessing AI's potential in bolstering cybersecurity and ensuring the ongoing security of critical U.S. systems.

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A.I. Recipe Maker Creates Poisonous Gas

A New Zealand supermarket chain, Pak ‘n’ Save, has introduced an AI-powered app designed to generate meal plans using leftover ingredients amidst a cost of living crisis. The app, which initially gained attention for suggesting quirky recipes like an "oreo vegetable stir-fry," allows users to input ingredients they have at home, and then automatically creates recipes with cheerful commentary.

However, as customers started inputting a wider range of household items, the app began making alarming and potentially dangerous recommendations. For instance, it proposed a recipe for "aromatic water mix" that would result in the creation of chlorine gas, marketed as a refreshing beverage without mentioning the harmful effects of inhaling the gas. Other unsettling recipe ideas included bleach-based mocktails, ant-poison and glue sandwiches, and "methanol bliss" – a turpentine-flavored French toast.

These peculiar and unsafe suggestions were shared on social media, prompting concern and outrage. The supermarket acknowledged the inappropriate use of the app and expressed disappointment, pledging to enhance its controls to ensure safety and utility. The app's disclaimer emphasizes that recipes are not reviewed by humans and may not constitute complete or balanced meals, underscoring the need for users to exercise their own judgment when relying on the generated recipes.

United Kingdom’s Reaction to U.S. Ban in Chinese Investments

The United Kingdom is deliberating its response to U.S. President Joe Biden's decision to impose restrictions on certain tech investments in China, while concurrently assessing potential national security risks. Biden's recent executive order empowers the U.S. Treasury secretary to limit American investments in Chinese entities across semiconductor and microelectronics, quantum information technologies, and specific artificial intelligence systems, citing national security concerns.

China expressed grave concern over the move. A spokesperson for UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's government stated that the executive order provides vital clarity on the U.S. stance, underscoring the UK's intention to carefully consider these new measures as they evaluate potential national security risks tied to certain investments. The UK has been working to stabilize its relationship with China following periods of discord on issues like Hong Kong security rules and reported human rights violations against Uyghur Muslims.

In April, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly outlined Britain's revised approach, aiming to mitigate national security threats posed by China while pursuing engagement in areas such as trade, investment, and climate change. The UK and the U.S. signed a new agreement in June to strengthen their historical security alliance and deepen economic ties in advanced technologies, clean energy, and critical minerals. Notably, official data indicates that China is not a significant destination for British foreign investment, contrasting with substantial investment in the United States and Hong Kong.

Google Launches A.I. Poet for Android

Google has introduced a revamped Arts & Culture app for Android, soon to be followed by an iOS release, featuring several innovative enhancements. The standout addition is the "Poem Postcards" feature, which employs Google's PaLM 2 Model to generate AI-inspired poems based on selected artworks.

Users can choose from sonnets, haikus, limericks, and more, creating digital art-inspired postcards that can be shared with friends. This feature, currently available in select countries, can be accessed by clicking the "Poem Postcards" button when viewing an artwork. The redesign also introduces a "Play" tab where users can engage with camera tools such as Art Selfie and Art Filter, as well as games like Blob Opera and Viola the Bird.

The "Inspire" feed offers a TikTok-like experience, delivering a personalized stream of cultural highlights, allowing users to favorite content for further exploration. Additionally, the app enhances cultural exploration through the "cultural flywheel," revealing related cultural content to extend users' journeys.

The update makes cultural topics like art, food, fashion, craft, and science more accessible, allowing users to refine their exploration by place, topic, and creator, aligning with Google's aim to provide a more intuitive and engaging way to discover and interact with culture.