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OpenAI’s Swarm prompts job fears
OpenAI has revealed details about its experimental AI framework called Swarm, which offers developers a blueprint for creating interconnected AI networks capable of collaborating to solve complex tasks.
While OpenAI has stressed that Swarm is not an official product, the initiative has sparked intense discussion among AI ethicists about the future of automation.
It’s suggested that potential business applications could involve AI agents in various company departments collaborating to analyse market trends, devise marketing strategies, identify sales leads, and provide customer support with minimal human input.
The integration of the framework into businesses could free up employees to focus on other initiatives; it has also raised the question of the evolving nature of work and the future role of human decision-making.
TikTok plans mass job cuts
The Bureau of Investigative Journalism has reported that TikTok’s content moderation division is set to lose at least 125 jobs as part of a company strategy shake-up.
Those affected, who work in content moderation and other safety roles at the video platform, have been told they may be made redundant.
The platform employs approximately 500 staff in the UK focussed on content moderation, according to the Communication Workers Union.
TikTok sent an email to employees last week, stating that it was facing “evolving challenges” such as increased demands on moderation efforts, and a wider range of harmful content and bad actors. As a result, the company proposed to make changes.
The email was signed off with a link to a “wellbeing resources” document, illustrated with an image of hands in the shape of a heart.
New UK bill set to reduce the addictiveness of social media to teens
A new heavyweight bill to be discussed in the UK parliament this week aims to exclude some teens from social media algorithms in a bid to make content less addictive.
The bill is backed by Labour, Conservatives and child protection experts.
The Safer Phones Bill, championed by Labour MP Josh MacAlister, will also include a review to determine if additional safeguards are necessary for phones used by individuals under 16.
MacAlister said: “Evidence is mounting that children doomscrolling for hours a day is causing widespread harm.”
Instagram introduces AI for age verification to protect children
Elon Musk’s Robotaxi demo flops, prompting sell-off
Tesla shares fell sharply last week as investors were left underwhelmed by the company’s long-awaited Robotaxi demonstration.
Even well-known Tesla enthusiasts such as Wedbush Securities’ Dan Ives said that Elon Musk failed to offer enough detail on how the company would roll out its Robotaxi venture.
Tesla is facing increasing competition from companies like Alphabet-owned Waymo. However, Musk, who unveiled 20 vehicles last week, stated that Tesla’s Cybercab would be priced at under $30,000, in contrast to the $250,000 for a Waymo taxi.
Musk also unveiled his Robovan, capable of carrying 20 passengers, but provided no production date or pricing for the product.
Baidu drives its new robotaxi service in Chongqing and Wuhan
Google threatened by antitrust crackdown
The US government is considering a series of ‘remedies’ following its landmark judicial ruling against Google in August which could see the tech giant broken up.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) said that Google, which accounts for 90 per cent of online searches, is illegally crushing competition and causing ‘pernicious harms’ to Americans.
It said Google used its Chrome browser and Android operating system to direct users to its search engine, where it makes money selling ads.
Remedies under consideration would be aimed at preventing Google from using these products to the advantage of its search engine.
More detailed proposals from the DOJ are expected next month, whilst Google has said the remedies ‘risk hurting consumers, businesses and developers’.
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