Hello everybody. Welcome to Daily Zaps.

Here’s what we got for ya today:

• 🧠 Neuralink implants chip in its first human brain

• 🏎️ Open source AI model nearing GPT-4 performance

• 🤖 100 congressional offices use AI

• ☎️ FCC moves to outlaw AI-generated robocalls

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TECH

Neuralink implants chip in its first human brain

Elon Musk's Neuralink company has made a significant advancement in brain-computer interface technology, successfully implanting their device in a human for the first time. The unnamed recipient of the implant, which features 1024 electrodes across 64 threads, is recovering well with promising initial results.

This groundbreaking development is part of Neuralink's PRIME clinical trial, approved by the FDA, targeting people with quadriplegia or ALS. The trial aims to enable these individuals to operate devices like smartphones and computers using only their thoughts, wirelessly connected through the Neuralink implant.

OPEN SOURCE

Mistral open source AI model nearing GPT-4 performance

The open source AI community was abuzz with the release of "miqu-1-70b". This model, shared by a user named "Miqu Dev," is thought to be a modified version of an existing model from Mistral. It quickly gained attention for its high performance, close to OpenAI's advanced GPT-4 model.

There's speculation that it might have been unofficially released by someone connected to Mistral. Confirming this, Mistral's co-founder mentioned an old model being leaked. This event has caused excitement in the AI world, suggesting that open source AI is rapidly catching up to major players like OpenAI.

GOVERNMENT

100 congressional offices use AI

Over 100 congressional offices are actively using artificial intelligence for tasks like constituent correspondence, scheduling, and drafting legislation, aiming to augment staff capacity without increasing payroll. While historically slow in embracing technology, Congress is keen on integrating AI, recognizing its potential and necessity in modern governance.

Policies for AI usage are being developed, drawing on standards like the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s AI Risk Management Framework. A pilot program using Chat GPT+ is already underway in the House for everyday tasks, with OpenAI's commitment to data protection making it a preferred choice. The Senate is more tentative, focusing on AI for research and evaluation with stringent data controls.

LAW

FCC moves to outlaw AI-generated robocalls

The FCC is proposing to make the use of voice cloning technology in robocalls fundamentally illegal, streamlining the process of charging operators of these fraudulent activities. Although some automated calls are legal and necessary, the issue arises when such calls involve illegal activities, such as voter suppression, as seen in the recent fake Biden robocalls in New Hampshire.

This new measure by the FCC, as explained by Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, is aimed at providing State Attorneys General with more tools to combat these scams. The proposal includes a Declaratory Ruling that AI-powered voice cloning in calls should be categorized as “artificial” under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, which already prohibits artificial voices.

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