🇪🇺 The EU has screwed up AI

AI-HOI AInauts,

Welcome to the new issue of your favorite newsletter. Since we're all still playing around with Claude 3.5, a little less practical insights and a bit more opinions and outlook.

What we have in store for you:

• 🇪🇺 EU's AI blunder - How Brussels messed up Europes tech future

• 👮 Is the ultimate surveillance coming with AI?

• 📹 AI avatars show emotions

Here we go!

🇪🇺 EU's AI blunder - How Brussels messed up Europes future

We have to say it again: The EU has really screwed up!

Apple just announced that the new Apple Intelligence features are not coming to Europe, and Meta has also halted the rollout of its AI tools.

And this is not the first time! In Europe, we're still waiting for the latest features from ChatGPT, which have long been available in other countries. At least they haven't banned VPNs yet.

While the rest of the world is taking off with AI, Europe is missing the boat!

And why? Because the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA) is causing headaches for the tech giants. The DMA was supposed to be the secret weapon against the superiority of Big Tech.

Instead, it has mutated into a regulatory boomerang. It is worded so vaguely that tech companies are scratching their heads. And it forces them to divulge the inner workings of their AIs and share them with the competition.

In was an attempt to protect our data and ensure fair competition. But instead, the EU has inadvertently blocked our access to the future. It's like banning bicycles to prevent traffic accidents - sure, problem solved, but at what cost?

What is left for the poor, innovation-hungry Europeans?

The EU urgently needs to rethink and revise the DMA. It is time for the EU to foster an environment of innovation while protecting the rights of its citizens.

Who knows, maybe today's glitch will become tomorrow's feature. Until then, keep your fingers crossed and hope that Brussels finally wakes up from its digital slumber!

👮 Is the ultimate surveillance coming with AI?

We usually try to have a neutral and objective lens, and the post above was a clear statement. Sometimes, you have to take a stand 😎.

But the next topic shows, why it is perhaps a good thing that not all AI trends and tech gadgets are approved and available right away.

When it comes to AI risk, there have been a few things that can make you feel a little queasy.

Topic: Surveillance

Just recently, OpenAI announced that the former head of the US National Security Agency NSA takes a seat on the board. Many were not happy about that.

And now, OpenAI just announced that they’ve bought a new company (no, not database analyst Rockset - that was acquired last week) called Multi ...

Multi offers the possibility to control computers remotely!

Sure, it fits perfectly into the product strategy. And somehow we want to have the feature after we got a taste for it with the Mac app (finally, it is available-to-all). We can talk to the AI while it operates our computer and does things directly for us - like a smart assistant.

Nevertheless, in this context, it makes you think about the implications.

The last item on the list is a presentation is already a few months old, but illustrates very well what we can expect with AI.

"AI turns Wi-Fi routers into cameras."

The presentation will show how an AI model was developed with the help of real cameras and WLAN routers, which can now be used to represent people in a room without cameras and only using radio frequency signals.

What does that mean?

WLAN routers are everywhere. Wi-Fi routers are also constantly being hacked. And with such Wi-Fi routers and AI, it is possible to detect whether people are in the rooms, at which location, etc.

The AI can see through walls without a camera ...

Kind of spooky … 👻

The whole presentation on AI security is quite interesting. The creators behind it, around Tristan Harris, have already produced a lot of valuable food for thought with the Netflix documentary Social Dilemma.

You can see this in detail here:

All in all, this is not meant to be a doomsday forecast. But we don't just want to highlight the positive developments, we also need to talk about the risks ans potential downsides.

Because if you add up the many developments, there is definitely an argument to be made that the AI carries risks if not handled ‘properly’ (whatever that may be).

📹 AI video avatars show emotions

We've been thinking back and forth about whether to feature the following topic. It is now the fourth newsletter in a row in which we report on AI video updates.

But it's too good to leave out. And we also know that many AInauts already use tools such as Heygen, Synthesia, D-ID and the like.

So, on to a fifth AI video update!

Synthesia has just unveiled the new version 2.0, and we think it's pretty, pretty cool.

Most important feature: The new AI video avatars understand emotions and can now express them better.

Based on the text you enter, Synthesia recognizes which emotion is associated with it. The facial expression and voice then change to happy, energetic, angry, sad, etc.

This is great for producing truly authentic videos.

Another cool feature is the dialog. You can now put two avatars in a video and have them talk to each other or directly to the viewer.

Version 2.0 comes with many other exciting features that significantly improve creation and post-processing.

Available soon ...

All the features from above are available immediately. And like any good marketing company AI company, Synthesia gives a preview of what's coming soon.

And that will be another milestone.

• Use your own digital twins in a wide variety of real situations

• Create interactive videos with call-to-actions

• Utilize avatars with full-body gestures that behave like real actors

Take a look at the 19-minute presentation. Really cool! Or check out all the features here on the page.

That's it for today. We'll be back next week!

Reto & Fabian from the AInauts

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