AI Controversies and Breakthroughs: The News You Need to Know

Hey, you AI enthusiast! 👋

Want a bit of AI news? Not to worry, I’m Max🧔🏻‍♂️ and I got you. So kick back and enjoy, all it’ll take is three minutes of your time. On your plate 🍽️ today are some worries, scandals and weird voices you hear. Intrigued? No time to explain, let's get straight to the point! 🏃‍♂️

1. Good Old Storytelling ⌨️

All those nightmares about writers and journalists losing their jobs are becoming a reality. Cosmos Magazine, an Australian science publication, has ignited debate by actually publishing AI-generated articles, a move that has drawn (no surprise) 😳 lots of criticism from contributors, former editors, co-founders and the world community overall. On the one hand – it was predictable, on the other – the actual move is a gamechanger 🎱

The AI system, funded by a grant from the Meta Australian News Fund and administered by the Walkley Foundation, was designed to explore the integration of AI in journalism. Critics, however, argue that this initiative undermines the integrity of journalism and was implemented without consulting the magazine's freelance contributors, who maintain copyright over their work. The controversy has raised ethical and legal questions about the use of AI in content creation, particularly regarding consent and the potential replacement of human jobs 😳

CSIRO (The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation is an Australian Government agency responsible for scientific research) may call it a "controlled experiment," but the backlash highlights a media industry on edge, where AI's encroachment on good old-fashioned human storytelling has everyone clutching their keyboards 💻

2. Amazon Finds 👩‍⚖️

Someone is in trouble…Amazon's $4 billion investment in the AI startup Anthropic is facing scrutiny from the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), which has launched a "Phase 1" investigation to assess whether the deal could harm competition within the UK 🇬🇧 market.

The partnership involves integrating Anthropic’s AI models into Amazon's Bedrock platform and using Amazon's custom AI chips for model training. Amazon and Anthropic argue that the collaboration does not threaten competition, emphasising Anthropic’s independence and Amazon’s lack of control over the company. However, the CMA's decision on whether to escalate the probe to a more detailed "Phase 2" investigation will be made within 40 working days, reflecting growing regulatory concerns 🤔  about the influence of big tech firms in the rapidly evolving AI sector.

And I invite you to think about it not only because we all use Amazon to order whatsoever but because this investigation is part of a broader trend: similar scrutiny is being applied to other major tech investments in AI, such as Microsoft's partnership with OpenAI. So let’s keep an eye on it and see where it gets us 👁️

3. Dora, Help 🦊

Recently, I was trying to get an appointment with my GP and had to spend about 40 minutes on the phone listening to ‘You are number…5 in the queue.’ 🤦🏼‍♂️ I know it’s less than when I call HMRC, but it is still not the best way to spend your morning.

Dora – not the Explorer is an AI-driven telephone assistant 📞 designed to help with patients phoning in about their queries. Dora is helping to alleviate pressure on NHS staff by conducting follow-up assessments for cataract surgery patients. Developed in Oxford, Dora autonomously calls patients, asks key recovery questions, and identifies those needing further medical attention, significantly freeing up clinical staff. A study published in The Lancet’s eClinicalMedicine 🩺  found Dora’s decisions closely aligned with those of supervising ophthalmologists, confirming its effectiveness in prioritising patient care.

This AI tool is currently in use by nine NHS trusts and has already made over 12,000 calls, saving significant nursing hours and reducing patient backlog. While some concerns have been raised over the lack of a "human element," most patients have responded positively, appreciating the convenience and efficiency of the AI system.

The initiative got a green flag 💚, and now the developers are eyeing an upgrade—tackling other chronic conditions like it's no big deal. Saves my time and NHS money – not too bad at all, Dora ✔️

I hope AI will help other patients to get treatments faster. One shouldn't wait for years to get a treatment. Fingers crossed 🤞.

I am wondering what is the situation with healthcare in other countries. Would you tell me, reader? Are you happy with you healthcare system?

That’s it from me today. Hope you enjoyed what I had to say as much as I did (if so - don’t forget to subscribe and recommend it to a friend) 🙏🏻

Till next time, folks,

Stay curious! 🤩

Max 

xx