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Brain implant helps paralyzed woman speak

Researchers from UCSF and UC Berkeley have achieved a significant breakthrough in the development of speech neuroprostheses, devices that translate brain signals into modulated speech and facial expressions. Led by UCSF neurosurgeon Edward Chang, the team implanted an AI-powered device that allowed a stroke survivor, who had lost her ability to speak, to communicate using a digital avatar that conveyed both speech and emotion.

The researchers used a machine-learning technique called CTC loss to map brain signals to discrete units of speech, allowing them to synthesize natural-sounding audio. They further extended the technology to incorporate facial expressions, enabling the participant to convey emotions through the digital avatar.

The success of the project highlights the potential of AI-driven brain-computer interfaces to restore communication for individuals who are paralyzed or have lost the ability to speak due to neurological conditions.

Hugging Face raises $235M from investors, including Salesforce and Nvidia

AI startup Hugging Face has raised $235 million in a Series D funding round, boosting its valuation to $4.5 billion. The funding involved major players like Google, Amazon, and Nvidia. Hugging Face offers a suite of data science tools, including a hub, similar to GitHub, for AI code and models, web apps for AI demos, and libraries for model evaluation. Their paid features automate AI training, simplify model hosting, and accelerate data processing. The company aims to be a premier platform for the AI-driven software paradigm.

Hugging Face also engages in MLOps, streamlining AI model deployment. Beyond this, they've created open-source models like BigScience's Bloom and partnered with cloud giants like Amazon, Nvidia, and Microsoft. The funding will fuel Hugging Face's expansion across research, enterprise, and startups, alongside increasing its workforce. With $395.2 million raised so far, Hugging Face ranks among well-funded AI startups.

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Meta releases Code Llama, an AI tool for coding

Meta has introduced Code Llama, an advanced AI tool designed for coding tasks. This language model is optimized to generate and discuss code using text prompts. Code Llama aims to enhance developer workflows, potentially making them more efficient and accessible, especially for those learning to code. This tool has the potential to serve as both a productivity enhancer and an educational resource for writing well-documented software.

Code Llama is released with a community license, aligning with Meta's open approach to AI development. It's built upon Llama 2, further trained on code-specific datasets to improve its coding capabilities. The model can generate code and explain code-related concepts based on prompts, and it supports popular programming languages like Python, C++, Java, and more.

The product includes three versions with varying parameters - 7 billion, 13 billion, and 34 billion. All three models have undergone training on 500 billion tokens of code-related data. Notably, the smaller models (7 billion and 13 billion) offer fill-in-the-middle (FIM) capability for seamless code integration and quick code completion, catering to different usage scenarios and latency requirements.

Despite cheating fears, schools repeal ChatGPT bans

Walla Walla High School in Washington State has shifted its educational focus from traditional farming skills to modern digital competencies. While maintaining an old barn for teaching farming, the school now plans to instruct students in navigating A.I. chatbots like ChatGPT. Recently, Walla Walla Public Schools organized a workshop for local educators to learn about these chatbots' capabilities, attended by around 100 teachers. This transformation comes after the school initially blocked student access to ChatGPT on campus devices earlier in the year.

The A.I. chatbot controversy in education led to bans in various districts, including Los Angeles and New York City, concerned about misuse, misinformation, and cheating. However, such bans proved ineffective, as students with personal devices continued using similar chatbots at home. Some districts are now embracing these tools for creative teaching, acknowledging that students need to develop skills in utilizing and questioning A.I. in an era where artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly prevalent. Walla Walla's evolving approach exemplifies the complexities educators face as they navigate the integration of A.I. tools into modern learning environments.

Amazon brings new AI-driven features to Thursday Night Football

Amazon's Prime Video is gearing up for its second year as the exclusive rights holder to the NFL's Thursday Night Football (TNF) and is introducing several AI-driven features to enhance the viewing experience. The AI elements include features like Defensive Alerts that predict blitzes and highlight relevant players, Prime Targets which identifies open players for passes, Fourth Down Territory that aids in understanding fourth-down decisions, Field Goal Target Zones that display the likelihood of a successful field goal at different points, and Key Plays that offer highlights and critical moments during the game.

These features will be integrated within Prime Vision with Next Gen Stats, TNF's weekly alternate stream. Amazon had previously introduced AI to TNF last year, including features like X-Ray and Rapid Recap. The new AI features will be internally tested during a preseason game and are set to roll out on September 14 for the 2023 season. Amazon is also preparing to exclusively stream the NFL's first Black Friday game for free on Prime Video, taking advantage of the busy shopping day to potentially introduce interactive shopping elements and exclusive deals. Additionally, Amazon is bringing HDR video quality to TNF this year for a more visually engaging experience.