Welcome, humans.☕

What to decode:

• 📜 Stanford's 386-page AI report

• 🤖 Google's Bard is making a comeback with promised upgrades.

• 🎮 LumaLabs' plugin creates hyper-realistic games in Unreal Engine.

🤖 Google's Bard is making a comeback with promised upgrades

Google's latest venture into the world of AI, Bard, has caused quite a stir in the tech community. The search engine giant launched Bard on March 21st, with the aim of rivalling other AI-powered chatbots such as ChatGPT and Bing Chat. However, the initial release of Bard has been met with some criticism, with many AI enthusiasts labeling it a 'flop.'

But Google CEO Sundar Pichai has been quick to acknowledge the shortcomings of Bard and has shared his plans for future enhancements. In a recent interview with the New York Times Hard Fork podcast, Pichai revealed that Google is working on more advanced PaLM models, which will improve the AI's reasoning, coding, and math problem-solving capabilities.

Additionally, Google plans to utilize a "lightweight and efficient version of LaMDA," an AI language model that specializes in engaging dialogue. This will enable Bard to become a more effective chatbot, capable of more natural and engaging conversations.

While it's clear that Bard's initial release has fallen short of expectations, Pichai emphasized that Google is taking a cautious approach to future enhancements. The company plans to ensure that more capable models are thoroughly tested and refined before they are released to the public.

Despite the initial setbacks, Google's massive user base of over 3 billion gives the company a significant advantage over competitors like OpenAI. With the necessary refinements and upgrades, Bard could potentially become a formidable opponent in the world of AI chatbots.

 📕 Stanford's Take on The State of AI

It's been an exciting year so far, especially with the recent release of the AI Index report by Stanford University. The report highlights some fascinating trends and developments in the world of artificial intelligence. In this blog post, we will explore some of the key takeaways from the report and what they mean for the future of AI.

Firstly, the report reveals that Big Tech companies and governments are dominating AI development. With 32 industry-produced machine learning models compared to just three produced by academia, it's clear that AI is becoming more commercialized and privatized. This trend has significant implications for the direction and control of AI research and development.

On the positive side, the report indicates that AI is aiding scientific progress, including advancing hydrogen fusion and generating new antibodies. However, the report also highlights that AI is both helping and harming the environment. It's important to recognize that AI's potential to solve global challenges, such as climate change, needs to be balanced against its environmental impact.

One of the most concerning findings from the report is the rapid rise in incidents involving the misuse of AI. As AI becomes more sophisticated and powerful, the risks of harm from misuse or malfunctions increase. This development is a significant cause for concern, especially as companies continue to prioritize profits over safety.

Moreover, the demand for AI-related professional skills is surging across virtually every American industrial sector. Companies that adopt AI are gaining a competitive advantage. This power shift has sparked concerns about potentially dangerous outcomes if companies prioritize profits over safety.

While the future of AI is promising, it's essential to proceed with caution and responsibility. As with any powerful technology, there is a need for ethical guidelines and responsible use. The report's findings highlight the importance of balancing the potential benefits of AI with its potential risks.

Read the full report.

🎮 Hyper-realistic Video Games

Luma Labs, the Los Angeles-based software development company, has made waves in the gaming industry with their latest release. They recently unveiled their Unreal Engine plugin for fully volumetric NeRFs, offering developers remarkable new AI capabilities.

Neural Radiance Fields (NeRFs) have been making headlines in recent years as they enable the creation of 3D scenes using AI. By capturing multiple images of an object or scene from various angles, the neural network can understand the scene and generate realistic images from any perspective. NeRFs facilitate the development of lifelike 3D models, virtual reality experiences, and immersive gaming environments.

With Luma Labs' plugin, game developers can now leverage NeRFs technology within Unreal Engine, one of the most popular game engines in the world. The plugin allows for the creation of fully volumetric NeRFs, meaning that the virtual environment can be captured and recreated in its entirety, including all of the lighting, shadows, and reflections. This integration promises to introduce enhanced realism to video games, virtual production, and VR experiences.

The potential for this technology is immense, as it allows for the creation of interactive, photorealistic worlds that can be explored from any angle. Imagine being able to walk around a virtual environment that looks and feels like the real thing, with realistic lighting and shadows that change as you move. This kind of immersive experience is the future of gaming and virtual reality, and Luma Labs' plugin is poised to play a major role in making it a reality.

The impact of Luma Labs' plugin will be felt across the gaming industry. Imagine how high-quality popular games such as GTA will be soon. The technology will allow game developers to create more realistic, immersive environments that will transport players to new worlds. With this new tool at their disposal, the possibilities are endless for what can be created in the world of gaming and virtual reality.

THE CODE IDEA OF THE DAY

An App 👨‍💻

Problem: Difficulty in finding compatible roommates or finding a suitable place to rent through traditional means such as online profiles. Screening through these profiles can be a tedious and time-consuming process, and it can be challenging to determine if you'll be compatible with the existing roommates or the person you're considering moving in with.

Solution: Creating a Tinder-like app that allows users to swipe on profiles of potential flatmates or rental properties, providing relevant information to make informed decisions. The messaging feature enables direct communication to further discuss any relevant details.

SOURCE: Reddit User skiingish