OWITH.ai - Only What's Important to Hear around AI and Tech

AI Advancements, Funding Cuts, and Cognitive Balance: A Recap from OWITH.ai


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Good morning from OWITH.ai: the podcast that gives you only what's important to hear in AI and tech world.The recent decision to drastically cut NIH and NSF funding and reduce grant overhead to universities will have devastating consequences for the future of the United States. This move is criticized as an epic unforced error that will cripple science, cause academic stars to leave, and make it harder to find homegrown talent. It is important to consider the impact of these decisions on the country's scientific landscape.In the world of AI, OpenAI introduced an intelligent research agent called Deep Research, Bytedance unveiled an AI model for human motion generation, and Google launched Gemini 2.0 with advanced reasoning capabilities. These advancements are transforming research workflows, video creation, and complex reasoning processes. The cost of intelligence is decreasing, leading to more accessible and advanced AI technologies. Europe's approach to AI funding and regulation is also compared to the US, highlighting the need for acceleration in AI development.Gary Marcus discusses how his past claims in the essay "Deep Learning is Hitting a Wall" have been vindicated in recent months, particularly in the era of deepseek. He outlines five observations that support his initial claims and emphasizes the importance of new techniques beyond large language models (LLMs). Despite initial ridicule, Marcus feels vindicated by recent developments and underscores the importance of continued research challenges in artificial intelligence.Excessive reading and reliance on AI technology can have negative effects, leading to a lack of original thought and cognitive decline. Finding a balance between traditional reading and AI technology is essential to prevent cognitive stagnation.Recent news includes Mira Murati's significant hire of John Schulman for her new startup, U.S. legislators proposing a ban on DeepSeek from government devices, Amazon's soaring profits reaching $20 billion in the fourth quarter of 2024, and open-source researchers replicating DeepSeek's advancements. Additionally, Meta's lawsuit over pirated books for AI training has deepened, Apple plans to revamp the iPhone SE, and Sprinklr has laid off 500 employees.In the CEO Daily newsletter by Deloitte on February 7, 2025, topics such as Trump's purge of federal employees, insights from various analysts, Ford CEO Jim Farley warning about proposed tariffs, Amazon reporting potentially historic earnings, and brand loyalty becoming crucial in the evolving automotive industry are covered. The markets are relatively calm as they await the jobs report, with watercooler chat topics such as Trump's trade policies creating "tariff war rooms" for business leaders and Snap CEO Evan Spiegel mocking Mark Zuckerberg on LinkedIn.Stay tuned for more updates on developments in AI and tech world.

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OWITH.ai - Only What's Important to Hear around AI and TechBy owith