It is hard to believe what you see online today. What would you need when they deepfake you?

Hey, AI mate! 😎

What’s crackalacking? We have just seen another week full of political gaffes, name-calling, swingball weather, and horrid news stories 🫨 Take a minute to readjust, feast your eyes on this 3-minute heads up from the AI world to refresh, awash anew 💆‍♂️

Max says relax, it ain’t too taxing, reader”.

1. Big Boys Don’t Cry 😭 

Seems like not good times for Open AI: both Microsoft and Apple have decided against taking up board seats at OpenAI 💥

Firstly, Microsoft has officially withdrawn from the OpenAI board—approximately a year after the company made a $13 billion investment in OpenAI. And then—Apple! This is absolutely contrary to recent reports that suggested whether Apple would secure an observer 👀 role on OpenAI’s board as part of a landmark agreement announced in June. It appears that OpenAI will have no board observers after Microsoft’s departure!

The retreat of the major players occurred against a backdrop of mounting regulatory pressure. In June, regulators at the European Union 🇪🇺 announced that OpenAI could face an EU antitrust investigation. EU competition chief Margrethe Vestager also revealed plans for local regulators to seek additional third-party views and survey firms such as Microsoft, Google, Meta, ByteDance and TikTok regarding their AI partnerships.

In the next few months, we will see continued scrutiny 🧐 of AI partnerships and investments as regulators worldwide grapple with ensuring fair competition and responsible AI development. Let the game begin! 🎲

2. Future of Children VS Children of Future 👶

Lots of research proves that school years are creating traumatic experiences. However, this extent sounds a bit too much: a court in southwest Spain 🇪🇸 has sentenced 15 schoolchildren to a year’s probation for creating and spreading AI-generated images of their female classmates. Police 👮 started to investigate last year when parents in the Extremaduran town of Almendralejo reported that faked naked pictures of their daughters were being passed around on WhatsApp groups.

Last Tuesday, the youth court in the city of Badajoz said it had convicted the minors of 20 counts of creating child abuse images and 20 counts of offences against the victim. Each defendant was given a year’s probation ‼️ and was ordered to attend classes on gender and equality awareness and on the “responsible use of technology.”

Police identified several teens aged 13 and 15 for being responsible. Under Spanish law, minors under 14 cannot be charged 🙅 but their cases are sent to child services, which can force them to undergo rehabilitation courses.

Someone said that children are the living messages we send to a time we will not see 📮 So  I’m personally glad that this case has brought the necessity of proper sex education to light as well as a debate on the harmful and abusive uses of deepfake technology.

3. Fake It Until You Make It (?) 😂

The main dish of the election process has been served. Now it is time for cookies! Mark Matlock, a Reform UK candidate for Brixton and Clapham Hill, faced accusations of being an AI bot. Isn’t it a real indicator of progress? 🥸

The theory was based on two factors: a very edited campaign photo and the candidate’s absence at the major election events, including the election night. However, despite these rumours, Matlock confirmed his humanity (CAPTCHA Live) in an interview 🎤 with The Independent, attributing his absence to illness (pneumonia, to be precise) and logistical challenges. He also addressed criticisms from political rivals about his campaign presence.

Speaking to The Independent, Matlock said, “I am a real person, and that is me in the photo. Though I must admit I am enjoying the free publicity, and when I feel up to it, I will put out a video and prove these rumours that I’m a robot are absolute baloney.” Matlock expressed amusement 🤭 at the conspiracy, viewing the attention as beneficial publicity for his political campaign. Well, well, well…what can I say except for – use less Photoshop next time you post on LinkedIn.

And just like that, we come to the end of this letter 👏🏻 Till I see you next time - make the right decisions, respect others and be real (not talking about the app). And, of course…

Stay curious! 🤨 

Max 

xx