Big Tech's AI Talent Grab

Author

Ahmad Ak
13 Aug • Estimated Reading Time: 8 minutes

Tech Insights AI 0002, Tuesday 13th August 2024
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🗞️ AI NEWS RUNDOWN

1.Big Tech's AI Talent Grab

In recent developments, tech giants like Google, Microsoft, and Amazon have been aggressively acquiring or partnering with AI startups, marking a trend of big tech's talent grab.

Google recently secured a deal to hire the founders and researchers from Character.AI, a move that follows Microsoft's acquisition of Inflection AI and Amazon's deal with Adept AI.

These deals highlight the growing difficulty for startups, which have collectively raised billions, to compete against companies with vast resources and customer bases. Notably, Google’s acquisition marks the third such deal in just six months, sparking speculation about which startup might be next.

Image generated using DALL-E

As big tech firms like Apple, Salesforce, xAI, Open AI and Nvidia eye AI startups for their technical expertise, the industry anticipates more acquisitions in the near future.

Based on theInformation Startups like Cohere, Reka, Imbue, and others are seen as potential targets due to their innovative AI capabilities and top-tier talent, despite facing challenges in scaling their products.

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FTC's growing scrutiny

The FTC has requested details from Amazon on its recent hiring of key executives and researchers from AI startup Adept, part of Amazon's efforts to bolster its AI capabilities and compete with rivals like Google and Microsoft. This inquiry is part of the FTC's broader scrutiny of big tech's AI partnerships, focusing on potential impacts on competition and market dominance​.

The FTC has also been investigating similar deals involving other tech giants, including Microsoft's partnership with Inflection AI. While the inquiry does not necessarily indicate an impending investigation or enforcement action, it reflects the FTC's heightened focus on the competitive dynamics in the AI industry.

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 2.Unlocking Predictive Insights: Polymarket and Perplexity AI Team Up for Real-Time News Summaries

Image generated using perplexity

In an exciting new partnership, Polymarket and Perplexity AI are revolutionizing prediction markets by delivering real-time news summaries directly to users. This collaboration integrates Perplexity AI's advanced search capabilities with Polymarket's prediction platform, offering users concise and relevant news updates to make informed decisions.

With features like "Perplexity Pages" and interactive event summaries, users can now access up-to-the-minute information alongside probability predictions, enhancing their market engagement and decision-making process. 
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3.AI's Dark Turn: Growing Demand for AI-Generated Abuse Images Exposed

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A recent study by Anglia Ruskin University's IPPPRI reveals alarming trends on the dark web, where online offenders are increasingly turning to AI to create child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

The research highlights a disturbing rise in the use of AI for producing such content, with offenders actively learning and sharing techniques in dark web forums. This growing trend not only challenges law enforcement but also debunks the misconception that AI-generated images are "victimless," as many offenders manipulate real images of children.

The report underscores the urgent need for enhanced efforts to combat this evolving threat. Download full report here 

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4.Amity Bots: The Next Frontier in Enterprise AI Solutions?

Amity Solutions, a Bangkok-based AI startup founded by CP Group scion Korawad Chearavanont, recently raised $60 million and is gearing up for a 2025 IPO. Originally an employee engagement platform, Amity has evolved into a generative AI player with products like Amity Bots, an AI chatbot tailored for enterprise needs.

What does Amity Solutions provide?

Amity Solutions' AI chatbot, known as Amity Bots, is designed specifically for enterprise clients to enhance customer engagement. Unlike traditional chatbots, which often struggle with the multitude of ways a question can be asked and answered, Amity Bots is able to understand and respond to any user question by referencing just a single document provided by the enterprise. This makes it more flexible and adaptable to specific business needs.

The chatbot uses a method that caches conversations and stores them in a smaller model, reducing the need to rely on larger, more expensive models like ChatGPT for every interaction. This approach helps to cut costs significantly while still providing effective customer service solutions.

Additionally, Amity Bots is used by employees within the enterprise to access critical company data and generate reports on-demand, further improving operational efficiency. For example, a manager at one of Amity's clients, a major Thai retailer, can use the AI assistant to instantly generate daily sales reports, streamlining decision-making processes.

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CP Group Investments in AI

a) Amity Corp: This startup, run by Korawad Chearavanont, the grandson of Thai billionaire Dhanin Chearavanont, raised $60 million in a funding round. Amity Corp focuses on generative AI and plans to expand its business globally.
-Amity has also become a major share holder in Tollring a UK based firm at the start of this month  

b) Remark Holdings: CP Group invested $10 million in Remark Holdings, a global technology company focused on AI and data solutions. This investment established a joint venture partnership aimed at launching innovative AI solutions and applications, particularly in the real estate and commercial mall sector

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5.Breaking the Blockade: The Smuggling Race for Nvidia's AI Chips into China

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In a high-stakes game of cat and mouse, China's thirst for advanced AI technology has sparked an underground surge in smuggling Nvidia’s high-performance AI chips into the country, bypassing the U.S. export blockade. Despite stringent bans, these coveted chips—essential for powering China's rapidly growing AI capabilities—are finding their way into Chinese hands through clandestine networks.

Reports reveal that smugglers are employing increasingly sophisticated methods to outmaneuver U.S. export controls, driven by China's insatiable demand for AI advancements. As the global tech rivalry intensifies, this shadowy trade is becoming a critical front in the battle for AI supremacy, with significant implications for global security and economic power dynamics.

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