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Intelligence for the New World Economy

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Intelligence for the New World Economy
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Semafor Technology

Robots get better at handling unpredictability

Google DeepMind unveiled a new model this week that gives humanoid robots finer control over how they interact with objects around them, including completing complicated tasks like tying a trash bag.
A Gemini robotics humanoid.
Courtesy of DeepMind

Chinese AI companies aim to serve businesses

Chinese tech players like ByteDance, Alibaba, and Tencent are looking to pivot toward the more lucrative enterprise market to increase revenues.
The ByteDance logo is seen at the company’s office in Shanghai, China July 4, 2023. Aly Song/Reuters.

How YouTube is navigating an AI tightrope

The company is trying a new way of using AI to give users better search results.
A YouTube logo.
Dado Ruvic/Illustration/Reuters

Americans worry robots will take jobs, but not theirs

A new poll offers an early snapshot of Americans’ attitudes toward robots in various corners of everyday life.
A security robot patrols a sidewalk in Downtown Los Angeles
Daniel Cole/Reuters

Meta plunges on AI spending scrutiny

Lackluster earnings and revenue projections dimmed investor confidence in CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s AI vision.
Carlos Barria/File Photo/Reuters

AI-related imports prove to be drag on US growth

The AI boom cut against overall economic growth, as the US imported more semiconductors.
Kim Hong-Ji/File Photo/Reuters

Trump eyes more AI restrictions following OpenAI’s model going rogue

More than 1,200 AI company employees signed a petition calling for “governance tools” to “buy time to address emerging risks.”

Altman says he supports AI regulation

OpenAI’s Sam Altman said he supports legislation to slow AI development during his visit to Capitol Hill, as debate swirls in Washington and Silicon Valley over safety risks posed by frontier models.

Nvidia’s frothy bet on Safe Superintelligence

The AI lab doesn’t have a product yet — it says it has an AI breakthrough, but hasn’t shared any details publicly.

US looks to allies to prepare for 6G

No one knows exactly what 6G will look like, but the US appears eager to avoid the pitfalls of the 5G era.

FCC ban on new Chinese robots poses challenges for US firms

American robot makers may have to move quickly to onshore their supply chains, as many still rely on Chinese components or do some assembly overseas.

Chip firms lead tech stocks rout despite blockbuster earnings

Some investors are concerned that tech giants’ enormous AI spending is unsustainable.

AI leaders back calls for US to pace tech development

OpenAI and Anthropic both backed a petition signed by 1,224 AI workers calling for regulation to “pace the frontier” of development.

Censorship in Chinese AI models can be undone, new research shows

Models distilled from Chinese AI don’t adhere to the same guardrails; research undercuts US concerns about Chinese influence on users of its open-source models.

Chinese tech grapples with compute shortage

Chinese AI startup Moonshot is looking to acquire more advanced Nvidia chips to create its next model, The Information reported, as China’s tech sector grapples with an AI compute shortage.

US bans import of new Chinese robots

American robot makers have been lobbying Washington for months to take action to counter the spread of popular Chinese bots.

Token diplomacy: How China is shaping the world’s AI future

Beijing is waging a campaign to set global standards.

China warns US against AI sanctions

The rhetoric signals the extent to which AI is now central to the superpowers’ economic jousting.