Weekly bulletin from AIport, issue #37

Hello and welcome to the latest issue of the AI Bulletin! We hope you enjoy this week’s carefully curated selection, jam-packed with the most significant machine learning developments from around the globe. Have a splendid weekend, and see you next Friday!

North America

• MIT Technology Review publishes its first AI Hype Index, aimed at helping navigate the latest advances within the AI landscape. 

• Zoom rolls out AI Companion 2.0, which boosts meeting productivity by allowing users to ask clarification questions, perform web searches, and capture key discussion points.

• Anthropic releases a new version of Claude that can control the user’s computer by moving the cursor, clicking buttons, and typing text.

• The mother of a teenage boy files a civil suit in Florida federal court, alleging that Character.ai — an AI chatbot app — is responsible for her son’s depression and tragic passing. 

• Canada’s government launches two nationwide programs to help the country’s businesses adopt AI solutions.

Asia

• In China, Zhipu AI debuts AutoGLM, a “self-driving” mobile assistant that simplifies everyday tasks like shopping and ordering food through natural language commands (thanks to Dr. Jingtai Liu for sharing this story and translating from Chinese).

• In Mumbai, India, Nvidia partners with Reliance Industries to bolster the nation’s AI infrastructure, unveiling a new small language model in Hindi: here’s a short video report by CNA.

• In Macau, the Transport Bureau (DSAT) reveals that nearly 80% of the region’s traffic lights are now controlled by AI systems.

Australia and Oceania

• New Zealand-based AI startup Alimetry develops a non-invasive wearable device to diagnose gastric issues.

• Following the recent acquisition of Leonardo AI, Sydney-based multinational developer Canva announces a major AI update to its flagship graphic design platform.

• The Australian Department of Industry, Science and Resources introduces the AI Impact Navigator, a framework for measuring the integration effectiveness of corporate AI systems. 

Europe

• In England, the National Healthcare Services (NHS) is currently testing a novel AI tool for enhanced heart disease diagnosis: read the research paper here. Meanwhile, Ed Newton-Rex, a British composer and former Stability AI executive, is spearheading a petition against AI data scraping. 

• Portugal-based Sensei, an AI-powered brick-and-mortar shopping experience provider, concludes its Series A funding round, enabling further expansion across the EU.

Africa

• In the latest edition of Straight Talk Africa, Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the IMF, discusses the potential of AI to transform the continent with appropriate oversight.