AI News Digest: AI Clones, OpenAIs Surge, and Revenue Sharing with Publishers
05:47 Share

Sources: The Neuron,

Welcome to Digest.fm's Daily AI News, your go-to source for the freshest insights in artificial intelligence. I'm your host, James, here to guide you through the top 5 AI news items of the day, curated from the top-tier newsletters like The Neuron, The Rundown, Ben's Bites, Superhuman AI, and the Bay Area Times. Buckle up and let’s dive into the latest happenings in the world of AI!

First up, a story that's as touching as it is futuristic. Michael Bommer, a terminal cancer patient, has used AI to create an interactive clone of himself for his wife after he passes away. He used a service called Eternos, where he input 300 sentences in his voice and 150 life stories. This enables the AI to respond as if it were him. While it does conjure up memories of the "Be Right Back" episode from Black Mirror, it also opens up fascinating and poignant debates about the role of AI in preserving human presence beyond life. Is this a step towards comforting those left behind or a blurry ethical territory? It's certainly one to watch and reflect on.

Switching gears to development economics, OpenAI has been making serious waves in the market. Their recent revenue numbers show that they’ve doubled their annualized revenue to an impressive $3.4 billion in just the past six months. To put that in perspective, that’s more money than what Pinterest, Peloton, or Dropbox made in the entire year of 2023! It’s astonishing to see how businesses are flocking to adopt AI-driven solutions. This surge reaffirms the growing demand and practical application of AI technologies in businesses across various sectors. And while there's always talk about potential market bubbles, it seems that the demand and tangible utility of AI, as demonstrated by OpenAI, might hint otherwise. For now, their valuation at approximately 25 times the forward revenue seems justified compared to some of the more speculative plays in the broader tech space.

Next up, an intriguing tidbit from Apple and OpenAI. Despite their budding partnership, neither company is actually paying the other—for now. ChatGPT’s integration into Apple devices went live without any financial strings attached. It’s a significant move, demonstrating both companies' shared interest in advancing technology without immediate profit being the central focus. This collaboration could lead to unprecedented innovations, but it also underscores the nuanced economics of strategic partnerships in tech—proving that sometimes, the payoff lies in leverage and mutual growth rather than immediate monetary gain.

Now, onto the business strategies of Perplexity AI. Perplexity is planning to share revenue with publishers whose content gets used in their search results. This could potentially reshape how content creators and AI companies interact financially, fostering a more equitable ecosystem. By incentivizing quality content creation and justly compensating original publishers, Perplexity might set a new trend in the AI search industry. This could lead to more sustainable and creative content pipelines, benefiting both users and creators alike.

Another news hit from the AI policy and governance realm: OpenAI is significantly expanding its lobbying efforts. Their international team of lobbyists has ballooned from a small 3 to a robust 35 in just a year. This aggressive scaling up reflects the growing importance of navigating regulatory landscapes as AI technologies advance and permeate various industries. With such a substantial focus on shaping policies, OpenAI aims to influence and possibly streamline the regulatory frameworks to foster a conducive environment for AI innovations.

Of course, no update would be complete without touching on the market funding dynamics. May saw AI companies raising a staggering $12.4 billion, accounting for 40% of all global venture capital funding that month. While it might look frothy, the sheer influx of capital suggests that investors are betting big on the transformative potential of AI technologies. However, with such sky-high valuations, notably Nvidia’s stock up by 169% YTD, parallels with historical tech bubbles loom in the back of everyone's mind. The key takeaway? While AI's underlying value and potential are undeniable, due diligence and careful investment remain paramount.

That’s a wrap for today’s Daily AI News Digest. Thanks for tuning in and keeping up with the dynamic world of AI. For those wanting a deeper dive, check out the episode description for links to the newsletters mentioned. Join us again next time for another round of top-tier AI updates. Keep exploring, stay curious, and we’ll see you in the next episode!