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

Here’s what we got for ya today:

• 🌐 57% of online text now generated by AI

• 💰 Microsoft + Blackrock to invest in AI data centers

• 💯 Top 100 gen AI consumer apps

• 🎭 California law protects actors from AI

Let’s get right into it!

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AI RESEARCH

57% of online text now generated by AI

When generative AI tools rely solely on AI-generated content, the quality of responses degrades rapidly—a phenomenon they call "model collapse." This decline begins with minor data misrepresentation and escalates to nonsensical outputs after repeated queries, illustrating how AI can become disconnected from reality. With approximately 57% of online text now generated by AI, the risk is significant: as AI content proliferates, the quality of information may erode, potentially jeopardizing both AI and the internet itself. To ensure long-term viability, AI systems must access and incorporate human-generated content.

However, as AI continues to dominate online content, it becomes increasingly difficult for developers to distinguish between human and AI sources, complicating the training of future models. Without intervention, the resulting skew in training data could lead to greater misinformation and disinformation, necessitating new methods for verifying online content to preserve truth in the digital age.

BIG TECH

Microsoft + BlackRock to invest $100 billion in AI data centers

Microsoft and BlackRock are collaborating with a consortium of companies to raise up to $100 billion for developing data centers and the necessary energy infrastructure for artificial intelligence. This initiative, known as the Global Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure Investment Partnership (GAIIP), also includes Global Infrastructure Partners and MGX, a tech investor from the UAE.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella emphasized the goal of advancing innovation and sustainable growth across all sectors. The partnership aims to secure an initial $30 billion in capital, with a long-term target of $100 billion, which will include debt financing. As demand for data centers equipped with Nvidia GPUs for generative AI surges, Microsoft’s investment will also support its Azure cloud infrastructure. Meanwhile, BlackRock is set to finalize its $3 billion acquisition of GIP by October 1, with MGX recently launched by Mubadala and AI firm G42 as founding partners.

AI TECH

Top 100 gen AI consumer apps

The consumer interest in generative AI products is rapidly growing, as evidenced by the latest rankings of the top 100 AI consumer apps. In this third installment, nearly 30% of the listed companies are new, highlighting the dynamic nature of the market. Notably, 52% of the top web products focus on content generation and editing, particularly in creative tools like music and video, with significant new entries such as Luma and Suno.

ChatGPT remains the dominant player across both web and mobile platforms, but competition is intensifying with emerging contenders like Perplexity and Anthropic's Claude.

GOVERNMENT

California law protects actors from AI

California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed two bills aimed at protecting actors and performers from unauthorized use of their digital likenesses, addressing growing concerns over the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on artists’ rights. The first bill, AB 2602, prevents performers from being bound to contracts that allow the use of their digital images or voices without fair representation, while the second, AB 1836, enhances posthumous rights by allowing the estates of deceased performers to sue for unauthorized use of their likenesses, entitling them to at least $10,000 in damages.