The cost of AI. It is not only about the jobs we are going to lose.

We are all here, AI enthusiasts! 🦾

My congratulations on surviving the elections 🗳️, braving the summer’s cold 🥶 and navigating the rollercoaster of life 🎢 You've done it! As a token of appreciation for your resilience, you get the pleasure of my company, this newsletter and the latest update on the AI world we are living in.

So, sit back, relax and enjoy, reader ☺️ this brief yet comprehensive overview: your three-minute journey into the future begins now.

1. Net Zero to Hero 🦸 

Net Zero has already become a slogan most companies will use to attract new customers – it’s not only about ecology 🌎, it's about the organisation's reputation. However, it seems like artificial intelligence can make this trend fall apart. Over the past five years, Google's emissions have increased by nearly 50% due to the energy demands of its data centres, essential for AI products. In 2023, emissions rose 13% from the previous year, reaching 14.3 million metric tons 😳 This surge jeopardises Google's goal of net zero emissions by 2030 and the International Energy Agency predicts data centres' electricity consumption could double by 2026, driven by AI, which might account for 4.5% of global energy generation by 2030. This is a pressing issue that needs immediate attention 🔋

And it’s not just a one-off; Microsoft faces similar challenges, admitting that AI energy demands threaten its carbon-negative goal for 2030. Despite significant investments in renewable energy, big tech's dual commitments to reducing CO2 and expanding AI infrastructure create a complex environmental challenge 🌿 Additionally, AI development's water usage is projected to reach up to 6.6 billion cubic metres by 2027, nearly two-thirds of England's annual consumption. The figures don’t look too great if I’m honest with you 🤨

2. Clear Dancing 🩰

If you are one of those people who never understood ballet (like me) or, on the contrary, the one who is able to express their emotions 😝 through their body language only – search no more! The Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics has developed EMOKINE, an innovative software that decodes emotions from movement using advanced motion capture technology. Their study, recently published in ‘Behavior Research Methods’, involved one professional dancer 💃🏻 , short choreographed sequences and various emotions expressed (a.i. anger, contentment, fear, happiness, neutrality and sadness). All these movements were captured using a full-body motion capture suit from XSENS®, equipped with 17 sensors, and a film camera to record dynamic body movements 🎞️

Results: 32 statistics from 12 movement parameters (speed, acceleration and limb contraction) that are used to create an objective kinematic dataset of emotional expressions. Sounds 🆒 already, but even more to come. EMOKINE’s field of research tends to fall into categories such as psychology, affective neuroscience and AI-assisted visual media analysis: by combining artistic, psychological and computational approaches we can presume this is a significant development in understanding human emotions.

Will it help you to go to the ballet, reader?

3. Deepfake Ache 🤕 

There are looming threats from Deepfake AI but lets’s not forget there’s an economy of interest. The Deepfake AI Market is projected to grow, and not just grow – but rocket 🚀 increasing from USD 564 million in 2024 to USD 5,134 million by 2030, reflecting a robust CAGR of 44.5%, according to a MarketsandMarkets report.

This surge is driven by concerns over deepfake misuse, advancements in AI, the rise of ethical uses of deepfakes in marketing and the increasing use of digital media platforms. Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) are expected to dominate ⚖️ the market due to their ability to create highly realistic synthetic media. The media and entertainment sector is anticipated to hold the largest market share in 2024, leveraging deepfakes for cost-effective and engaging content creation.

Major players 💪🏼 in the market include Synthesia, Reface, Sentinel AI and others, with a strong presence of SMEs and startups driving innovation. And who is about to be at the forefront? North America (not a surprise). It is set to lead the market, supported by its advanced technological infrastructure, significant AI investments, and proactive regulatory environment. 

And that’s a wrap ✔️ From AI's environmental impact to groundbreaking developments in emotion-tracking technology and the explosive growth of the Deepfake market, the future seems to be both thrilling and complex. So be prepared and…

Stay curious! 👀 

Max 

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