Earlier this week, Google announced plans to purchase power using small modular reactors (SMRs) developed by Kairos Power, shifting Google's energy use more nuclear energy for its data centers. SMRs are seen as a cost-effective and scalable alternative to traditional nuclear reactors, with the first reactor for Google expected to be operational by 2030 and additional ones throughout 2035, adding roughly 500 megawatts to the grid. Google's move is part of a wider initiative to cut down emissions, including Amazon and Microsoft, who have also been making a push to go nuclear.
OpenAI has introduced "Swarm," an experimental framework aimed at orchestrating networks of AI agents. While emphasized that Swarm is not an official product and is for educational purposes only, it allows developers to create interconnected AI systems that can autonomously tackle complex tasks, which could allow for AI agent-handled enterprise automation with minimal human oversight. However, the release of Swarm once again puts ethical concerns around security, bias, and job displacement in the limelight.
Reportedly, US officials are considering capping sales of powerful AI chips, such as those from Nvidia, AMD, or Intel, to certain countries due to national security concerns, according to a report from Bloomberg. The US Commerce Department is in early deliberations to allow it to set country-specific limits on export licenses for AI chips, with a current focus on Middle Eastern countries, which include the UAE and Saudi Arabia. The Middle East isn't the only one to face the brunt of safety-related US export restrictions, joining the likes of China, which has recently been making a push for domestic chips.
After a 10-year stint working at Microsoft, Sebastien Bubeck, the company's vice president of GenAI research, recently decided to bid Microsoft farewell and join OpenAI's talent roster. Though his position at OpenAI wasn't disclosed, a Microsoft spokesperson said that Sebastien will "further his work toward developing AGI." Additionally, despite leaving Microsoft, Bubeck's relationship with the company is expected to continue nonetheless due to OpenAI's and Microsoft's close business ties.
Adobe decided to surprise its users a little ahead of the Adobe MAX event, launching video generation capabilities for its Firefly AI platform ahead of schedule. Users can test Firefly’s text-to-video and image-to-video models on Adobe's website, which create up to five seconds of video that are then watermarked as AI-generated in the video's metadata. Premiere Pro beta users can take Adobe's Generative Extend feature out for a spin, which extends video clips by an additional two seconds, background audio included.
Casio has recently opened preorders for its latest AI-based fluffy robotic pet named Moflin, which has been designed for cuddling and simulating emotional bonds over time. Priced at around $398, Moflin will be available starting November 7th, with an optional Club Moflin subscription costing $44/year, which offers discounts on repairs, cleanings, and complete fur replacements. The robot's emotional states, like happiness or stress, can be monitored via an app, and it recharges in a bed that mimics a sleep cycle.