WednesdAI // Week 36

Innovation speeds ahead while people see warning signs.

Let’s get into it!
 
Welcome to WednesdAI – Pixel Dreams’ weekly update with top stories from the rapidly evolving world of Artificial Intelligence.

This Week’s News

AI Safety Bill Passes in California

 
The California legislature has passed a significant AI regulation bill, SB 1047, aimed at ensuring the safety of advanced AI models through mandatory safety testing, cybersecurity measures, and whistleblower protections. This bill, now awaiting Governor Gavin Newsom’s decision, has sparked a debate within the tech industry over innovation versus regulation. Critics argue it might stifle innovation, potentially driving AI development out of California, while supporters see it as a necessary step for public safety and ethical AI use. From a business perspective, if signed into law, this bill could set a precedent for nationwide or even global AI regulations, influencing how tech companies approach AI development, potentially favoring those with resources to comply over smaller innovators, and reshaping the competitive landscape of AI technology.
 

 
Unitree, another robot manufacturer from China, showcased its new G1 humanoid. The robot is reportedly nearing “mass production” and comes at a price tag of only $16,000
 

Check more details here.

World’s Biggest Supercomputer Comes Online

 
Elon Musk’s xAI has launched “Colossus,” a supercomputer powered by 100,000 Nvidia H100 GPUs, making it one of the largest AI training clusters globally. This development, completed in just 122 days, showcases xAI’s rapid scaling capabilities in AI infrastructure, aiming to double its size soon with an additional 50,000 H200 GPUs. With this development, xAI secures vast computational resources, potentially leapfrogging competitors in AI model development and training, positioning xAI to lead in AI innovation and significantly influence market dynamics through sheer computational power.

Full details here.
 
 

Tesla Cars Are Coming to Get You

Tesla is about to launch “Actually Smart Summon,” a significant upgrade to its existing Summon feature. This update, expected soon, will allow Tesla cars to navigate parking lots more effectively, autonomously finding and picking up their owners. Initially anticipated in August, the release was delayed but is now likely to arrive with Full Self-Driving version 12.5. The feature will be available in beta, bringing improved convenience and safety to Tesla owners.

You can read more about it here.
 

NVIDIA Earnings Call

 
NVIDIA’s Q2 2024 earnings shattered expectations, with $13.5 billion in revenue and $2.70 earnings per share, driven largely by a 154% year-over-year surge in its data center business. However, growth in that segment is slowing, and gross margins dipped slightly, signaling potential challenges ahead, especially with rising production costs and ongoing risks in the Chinese market. While NVIDIA’s leadership in AI remains strong, its heavy reliance on the data center segment could make it vulnerable if this momentum fades​.
 
Read the official report at NVIDIA Newsroom with analysis at TastyLive and Shacknews.
 

AI is Here! Now What?

 
YouTubers, titans of industry, and commentators are all sharing their view of AI’s dark side on the horizon. From serious fears about the future of work, opinions on AI’s ability to replace human creativity, to a former Google CEO’s predictions for what the world looks like next year, you will find these videos both chilling and eye-opening.

Videos of the Week

Exciting new releases from friends and new favorites!

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

Surrealist Political Satire. An exaggerated caricature of Governor Gavin Newsom sitting at a giant, comically oversized desk, with a towering stack of AI legislation papers teetering dangerously above him. A surreal, dreamlike version of the California State Capitol, where the walls are adorned with playful, animated depictions of AI models and tech company logos. Governor Newsom is the central figure, looking up nervously at the precarious stack of papers, while miniature, animated versions of tech leaders debate and protest on his desk. Soft, whimsical lighting that adds to the surreal and humorous tone of the scene, with exaggerated shadows and highlights. The prompt uses surreal humor to illustrate the pressure and controversy surrounding the AI Safety Bill, making a serious topic more accessible and engaging

Retro-futuristic comic book cover. Elon Musk as a heroic figure, launching the colossus supercomputer, depicted as a gigantic, powerful machine with a design inspired by 1950s sci-fi aesthetics. A high-tech command center with vintage dials, switches, and giant screens displaying data streams. Musk is front and center, with the supercomputer towering behind him, emitting beams of light and energy. The scene is framed like a dramatic comic book cover, with bold lines and dynamic angles. Bright and vibrant, with exaggerated highlights and shadows to create a sense of action and excitement. The image captures the blend of nostalgia and futuristic ambition, with a playful twist that turns the launch of the supercomputer into a larger-than-life event

Whimsical steampunk. A Tesla car, redesigned in a whimsical steampunk style, complete with brass gears, exposed pipes, and steam-powered mechanisms, navigating a Victorian-era parking lot. A bustling, steampunk-inspired grocery store parking lot, filled with horse-drawn carriages and steam-powered vehicles, with the Tesla as the star of the scene. The Tesla is at the center, making its way through the crowded lot, with steam billowing from its exhaust as it autonomously maneuvers around obstacles. Warm, golden light from gas lamps and the glow of the Tesla’s steampunk modifications, casting rich shadows and creating a cozy, vintage atmosphere. The prompt reimagines Tesla’s Summon feature in a fantastical steampunk world, blending modern technology with the charm and whimsy of an alternate Victorian era

Retro-futuristic collage. A chaotic collage featuring YouTubers, CEOs, and AI-generated artwork clashing together in a vibrant, chaotic composition. A retro-futuristic cityscape where towering screens display conflicting messages about AI’s future, with flying cars and neon lights. The collage is centered on a giant, fragmented AI brain, with the figures and artwork bursting out from it in all directions, creating a sense of information overload. Neon and holographic lighting in bright, clashing colors, giving the scene an overwhelming and frenetic energy. The prompt reflects the chaotic and conflicting views on AI, blending retro-futuristic elements with a modern commentary on the information age

Whimsical Corporate Satire. A cartoonish CEO balancing on a tightrope made of data cables, holding a giant, teetering stack of NVIDIA earnings reports and stock certificates. A playful, exaggerated version of Wall Street, where buildings are made of dollar bills and stock charts form the skyline. The CEO is precariously balanced in the center, with the tightrope stretching between two AI servers, one of which is starting to fray and spark. Bright, colorful lighting that adds to the satirical, humorous tone of the scene, with exaggerated shadows and highlights. This prompt uses humor to depict the precarious balance NVIDIA must maintain in the face of its financial successes and potential future challenges