WednesdAI // Week 26

The ground underneath the AI industry seems to be shifting but that isn’t slowing down innovation. It’s a big week for news so let’s get right into it.

Welcome to WednesdAI – Pixel Dreams’ weekly update with top stories from the rapidly evolving world of Artificial Intelligence.

Watch this week’s new episode:

Subscribe to the brand new WednesdAI YouTube channel!
 
 

The Industry VS AI Music

The RIAA is suing AI music services Suno and Udio in federal courts for allegedly using copyrighted sound recordings without permission to train their AI models. The lawsuits, supported by major music labels, seek to stop these practices and claim damages. The RIAA argues that unlicensed AI-generated content threatens the music industry, but critics see this as a heavy-handed move to stifle technological innovation and maintain control over the music market. While the RIAA stresses protecting artists, opponents argue it’s more about preserving corporate profits and resisting change in an evolving industry.
 

Watch YouTuber Sync My Music demonstrate similarities between iconic music tracks and Udio AI results:
 

 
Read the RIAA’s official release, and coverage by The Verge.

Apple and Meta Collaborating on AI

 
Apple and Meta have discussed collaborating on AI technologies, though these talks’ specifics and potential outcomes remain unclear. Both companies are exploring ways to enhance their AI capabilities, potentially leveraging each other’s strengths in the field. This partnership could significantly impact the development and deployment of AI-driven products and services.
 
Discover the entire story here

NVIDIA: To the Top and Back in a Week

 
In a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment, NVIDIA ascended to the pinnacle of global market value, hitting a staggering $591 billion thanks to AI-driven excitement. But the tech giant’s reign was brief, as a swift $200 billion drop knocked it off its throne within days. This dramatic rise and fall is a stark reminder of the tech sector’s unpredictability—where fortunes can be made and lost in the time it takes to refresh a stock ticker.

Read about NVIDIA becoming the most valuable company in the world here, and then losing that status here.

New Stability AI CEO

 
Stability AI, the company behind Stable Diffusion, has appointed Prem Akkaraju as CEO amidst financial struggles and leadership exits. Founder Emad Mostaque resigned in March, with several other key figures departing. The company, valued at $1 billion in 2022, faces significant debt and poor revenue, prompting layoffs and restructuring. Stability AI’s new SD3 image generation model and its licensing changes have been poorly received, further damaging its reputation. Investors, including Sean Parker, are bailing out the company, with Parker now serving as board chairman.
 
More at Emerge.

McDonald’s Cancels AI at the Drive-Thru

 
McDonald’s tried AI for drive-thru orders, hoping for efficiency gains, but things went hilariously awry. Customers complained about mix-ups and bizarre food pairings, like ice cream with bacon. Viral videos of these failures led McDonald’s to end its partnership with IBM. Despite the fiasco, the fast-food giant still believes AI has a future in drive-thrus, albeit with more cautious implementation. Other chains like Wendy’s and Taco Bell are also betting on AI to save on labor costs, though the tech needs more refinement to avoid McDonald’s pitfalls.

Enjoy some of the McDonald’s AI Drive-Thru fails:

@themadivlog How did I end up a butter #fyp ♬ The Office – The Hyphenate

@typical_redhead_ I thought TikTok would appreciate this 💀 #fyp #foryou #foryoupage #comedy #fail ♬ Monkeys Spinning Monkeys – Kevin MacLeod & Kevin The Monkey

Follow the whole experiment at Artificial Intelligence News.

AI Can Predict Parkinson’s Disease 7 Years Earlier

 
Researchers have leveraged AI to identify blood biomarkers that predict Parkinson’s disease up to seven years before symptoms. Using machine learning on mass spectrometry data, they pinpointed eight proteins linked to early disease stages. The AI model achieved 100% accuracy in identifying Parkinson’s patients and 79% accuracy in those with pre-motor symptoms. This breakthrough offers a pathway for early diagnosis and targeted treatment strategies, potentially slowing disease progression.
 
Track these exciting developments at Nature.com.

Videos of the Week

Cats in Black by MeanOrangeCat:

F-Zero Movie Trailer by Gregory Mandarano:

Love at First Bite by Nem Perez:

Excited to share our 48-hour film "Love At First Bite" A ZOM-COM that won 1st place during last month's Cinema Synthetica competition at @aionthelot hosted by @AILA_Community
Shoutout to the team @glamoureptile & @AdrianaVecc Thank you to the judges and everyone involved.
Share… pic.twitter.com/xgcvlbbW6X

— Nem Perez (@NemPerez) June 20, 2024

Hot in the Valley Music Video by Lil Dextop:

🚀 Check out my new AI music video #AIMV "Hot On The Valley" by Lil_Dextop! 🌟 This video is part of my upcoming film "High Off The Valium" inspired by Juice WRLD. Dive into a world of drug addiction and heartbreak in the Hollywood Hills with stunning AI visuals. 🎥🔥… pic.twitter.com/dNTqXkatWl

— TheTappedInShow(Lil_Dextop) (@Lil_Dextop) June 23, 2024

Join us every Wednesday for WednesdAI – a Pixel Dreams production

The images accompanying the news items in this article were generated in Midjourney using the following prompts:

a lonely humanoid robot looking closely at a record player in a drama movie from the 1970s, record player in foreground, record player main focus, 35mm film photography, Kodak Portra 400, warm lighting, vintage interior, retro furniture, melancholic atmosphere, light rays, film grain effect, soft focus, rich color palette, detailed textures, expressive robot, human-like emotions

Whimsical Steampunk Illustration of Apple and Meta as anthropomorphic characters – an white APPLE’s company logo airship and a ship with META’s company on it. Floating city in the sky with giant clockwork gears and steam-powered contraptions. Two airships has a bridge connecting each others, represent collaboration, with the floating cityscape and dirigibles in the background. Golden hour light with soft, glowing clouds. Steampunk details like brass goggles, pipes, and mechanical wings

Surreal Digital Art of a rollercoaster with a green NVIDIA logo at the front. A fantastical stock market theme park with vibrant, exaggerated elements. The rollercoaster does a dramatic drop and soaring loop-de-loops in the background. Bright, dynamic lighting with colorful spotlights on the rollercoaster. Stock tickers and dollar signs whizzing around, creating a sense of chaotic movement

An ancient wizard raises his arms and casts a spell in a modern office as the new CEO. The wizard raises his staff in one hand and raises a laptop in the other hand, walks through the office, cinematic lighting, business suits, modern furniture, contrasting eras, magical aura, mystical symbols glowing on staff, captivating atmosphere, 35mm film photography, Kodak Portra 400, dramatic shadows, awe-struck employees, blending ancient and modern elements

Retro Vintage style photo of an AI robots and McDonald’s staff having a face-off outside the Drive-Thru of McDonald. The scene has exaggerated features and vintage colors. The AI robots on one side, the McDonald’s buyer on the cars on the other, with a chaotic scene of mixed-up orders in the middle. Bright, cheerful lighting with bold outlines, highlighting the interaction challenges

Surreal Bio-Organic Art of a giant, organic-looking synthetic cell membrane integrated into a natural landscape. An AI Robot scientist standing and looking up the tree, observing. A lush, alien forest where the synthetic membrane forms part of the ecosystem. The membrane embedded in a tree, glowing softly, with curious, bioluminescent creatures examining it. Ethereal, glowing light emanating from the membrane, casting an otherworldly glow on the surroundings. Vibrant, oversized flora and fauna interacting with the synthetic membrane, blending science and nature