Scraped images of sexually abused children found in AI training database
Thousands of images of sexually abused children scraped from the internet are part of a commonly-used database used to train artificial intelligence image generators, according to a report, which warns that AI applications can use offensive photos to create realistic-looking…
Intel swings for the fence with new AI-centric offerings
Last Thursday’s major product launch by Intel Corp. proved that the organization is clearly on an upswing, says Denis Gaudreault, the country manager for Intel Canada, adding that his hope is that in a couple of years, “people will write…
Generative Everything: An Exploration of Breakthroughs in 2023, Impacts, and Future Insights Across Industries with AI
Generative AI is an evolving field that has experienced significant growth and progress in 2023. By utilizing machine learning algorithms, it produces new content, including images, text, and audio, that resembles existing data. Generative AI has tremendous potential to revolutionize…
DiffSeg : Unsupervised Zero-Shot Segmentation using Stable Diffusion
One of the core challenges in computer vision-based models is the generation of high-quality segmentation masks. Recent advancements in large-scale supervised training have enabled zero-shot segmentation across various image styles. Additionally, unsupervised training has simplified segmentation without the need for…
Anthropic Sets New Legal Standards in Generative AI
In a significant development within the generative AI landscape, Anthropic, a rising star in AI technology, has updated its terms and conditions to offer robust legal protection for its commercial clients. This move comes amid swirling rumors of a massive…
Coffee Briefing Dec. 19 – Toronto group warns of the impact of AI on the music industry; CGI and Google Cloud partner on sustainability; Rogers brings cellular coverage to Highway 16, BC; and more
Coffee Briefings are timely deliveries of the latest ITWC headlines, interviews, and podcasts. Today’s Coffee Briefing is delivered by IT World Canada’s editorial team! Missed last week’s Coffee Briefing? We’ve got you covered. This is the final Coffee Briefing of 2023….
Concept Sliders: Precise Control in Diffusion Models with LoRA Adaptors
Thanks to their capabilities, text-to-image diffusion models have become immensely popular in the artistic community. However, current models, including state-of-the-art frameworks, often struggle to maintain control over the visual concepts and attributes in the generated images, leading to unsatisfactory outputs….
Why Microsoft’s Orca-2 AI Model Marks a Significant Stride in Sustainable AI?
Despite the notable advancements made by artificial intelligence in the last decade, which include defeating human champions in strategic games like Chess and GO and predicting the 3D structure of proteins, the widespread adoption of large language models (LLMs) signifies…
SAS unveils innovations and partnerships during Explore 2023
In a series of announcements and presentations at SAS Explore last week, SAS unveiled innovations and partnerships that aim to reshape industries ranging from data analytics to fraud detection to climate monitoring. The event kicked off with SAS executives revealing…
New Study Unveils Hidden Vulnerabilities in AI
In the rapidly evolving landscape of AI, the promise of transformative changes spans across a myriad of fields, from the revolutionary prospects of autonomous vehicles reshaping transportation to the sophisticated use of AI in interpreting complex medical images. The advancement…
SCALE AI announces major AI healthcare initiative at ALL IN
The might of Montreal as an artificial intelligence epicentre was evident today with the launch of the two-day ALL IN 2023 Conference organized by Scale AI, the investment and innovation hub mandated to accelerate the adoption and integration of the…
The Hidden Influence of Data Contamination on Large Language Models
Data contamination in Large Language Models (LLMs) is a significant concern that can impact their performance on various tasks. It refers to the presence of test data from downstream tasks in the training data of LLMs. Addressing data contamination is…
It turns out that the “sky is not the limit” for AI in aerospace industries
In the heart of Montreal at the “ALL IN” AI conference, a panel of industry leaders from Canada’s aerospace sector gathered to discuss the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI)in their industry. The conversation that ensued was a blend of…
LucidDreamer: High-Fidelity Text-to-3D Generation via Interval Score Matching
The recent advancements in text-to-3D generative AI frameworks have marked a significant milestone in generative models. They pave the way for new possibilities in creating 3D assets across numerous real-world scenarios. Digital 3D assets now hold an indispensable place in…
Canadian businesses struggle to keep pace in tech race, KPMG survey reveals
Canadian companies are falling behind their global counterparts in the race to adopt crucial digital technologies, risking their competitive edge and financial stability, states the 2023 KPMG Global Tech Report. Despite prioritizing advancements like artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning…
Mistral AI’s Latest Mixture of Experts (MoE) 8x7B Model
Mistral AI which is a Paris-based open-source model startup has challenged norms by releasing its latest large language model (LLM), MoE 8x7B, through a simple torrent link. This contrasts Google’s traditional approach with their Gemini release, sparking conversations and excitement…
Forrester reports cloud trends for 2023
A recent Forrester Research report has revealed the top 10 trends shaping the cloud industry this year. Not only are companies trying to keep up with the constantly evolving artificial intelligence (AI) advancements, a focus on digital sovereignty, subscription models,…
Highlights and Contributions From NeurIPS 2023
The Neural Information Processing Systems conference, NeurIPS 2023, stands as a pinnacle of scholarly pursuit and innovation. This premier event, revered in the AI research community, has once again brought together the brightest minds to push the boundaries of knowledge…
ALL IN 2023 panel explores AI and need for sound infrastructure
All the necessary components are in place from an infrastructure perspective for Canadians to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to the multitude of AI advances headed their way, a panel at last week’s ALL IN 2023 Conference…
Mamba: Redefining Sequence Modeling and Outforming Transformers Architecture
Key features of Mamba include: Selective SSMs: These allow Mamba to filter irrelevant information and focus on relevant data, enhancing its handling of sequences. This selectivity is crucial for efficient content-based reasoning. Hardware-aware Algorithm: Mamba uses a parallel algorithm that’s…
Google execs predict GenAI could be major windfall for Canada
If used in a responsible way, generative AI (GenAI) represents a technology shift and breakthrough not witnessed since the advent of the mobile phone, says Sam Sebastian, vice president and general manager for Google Cloud Canada. Speaking at a recent…
HierSpeech++ : Hierarchical Variational Inference for Zero-shot Speech Synthesis
The recent developments and the progress in the capabilities of large language models have played a crucial role in the advancements of LLM-based frameworks for audio generation and speech synthesis tasks especially in the zero-shot setting. Traditional speech synthesis frameworks…
Coffee Briefing Oct. 10 – AI chatbot ChatGPT reshapes workplace norms amidst trust challenges: report; Meeranda’s human-like AI joins Amazon’s AWS build accelerator; iClassifier unveils AI breakthrough in dairy farming; and more
Coffee Briefings are timely deliveries of the latest ITWC headlines, interviews, and podcasts. Today’s Coffee Briefing is delivered by IT World Canada’s editorial team! Missed last week’s Coffee Briefing? We’ve got you covered. AI chatbot ChatGPT reshapes workplace norms amidst…
Revolutionizing Physical Skills: AI Robot Surpasses Human Ability in Labyrinth Marble Game
In a groundbreaking development, researchers at ETH Zurich have made a significant leap in artificial intelligence, demonstrating that AI can now outperform humans in tasks requiring physical skills. This breakthrough was showcased through their AI robot, CyberRunner, which mastered the…
Rethinking Reproducibility As the New Frontier in AI Research
Reproducibility, integral to reliable research, ensures consistent outcomes through experiment replication. In the domain of Artificial Intelligence (AI), where algorithms and models play a significant role, reproducibility becomes paramount. Its role in promoting transparency and trust among the scientific community…
Canadian small businesses optimistic about the future: report
Small Canadian businesses are feeling very optimistic about their future, according to Scotiabank’s fourth Path to Impact report. The report says 66 per cent of business owners are extremely optimistic about the future state of their business. Additionally, half of…
Exploring Google DeepMind’s New Gemini: What’s the Buzz All About?
In the world of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Google DeepMind’s recent creation, Gemini, is generating a buzz. This innovative development aims to tackle the intricate challenge of replicating human perception, particularly its ability to integrate various sensory inputs. Human perception, inherently…
OpenText and Aviator: Charting the GenAI Path in Enterprise AI
The Aviator era has formally begun for Waterloo, Ont.-based OpenText with the release this week of its Cloud Editions (CE) version 23.4, which contains a number of the recently announced Aviators that form the backbone of a new artificial intelligence…
Midjourney’s V6 Brings New Era of AI Image Generation
Midjourney’s V6, the latest iteration of the esteemed AI image generation tool, has just been released as an alpha release, marking a significant milestone in the realm of artificial intelligence and digital creativity. This new version arrives as a much-anticipated…
Snowflake user panel focuses on how three orgs are approaching GenAI
There is no shortage of announcements from the vendor community about how they intend to implement generative AI (GenAI) into their product offerings. It has become an almost daily occurrence, but there are fewer indications about strategic plans end-user organizations…
Understanding Semantic Layers in Big Data
In the realm of big data, the ability to efficiently manage, interpret, and leverage vast amounts of diverse information is crucial. This is where the concept of a semantic layer comes into play, serving as a vital component in the…
Ransomware Siege in Denmark: A European Cybersecurity Crisis Unfolds
Cybersecurity incidents of all kinds happen frequently, but one of the most extreme occurred in mid-August, when two Danish cloud hosting firms – CloudNordic and AzeroCloud – paid the ultimate price following a ransomware attack: both organizations ceased to exist….
Hashtag Trending Nov.28- Files disappear from Google Drive; Meta’s spokesperson on Russia’s wanted list; Japanese tech startups woo employees back into the office with cash bonuses
Files vanishing off Google Drive, Russia adds Meta’s spokesperson to its wanted list, self-driving cars and their struggle for public acceptance, and Japanese startups test cash bonuses to woo employees back into the office. These and more top tech…
AI System Coscientist Makes Groundbreaking Leap in Chemical Research
In a pioneering advance that blurs the line between artificial intelligence and scientific ingenuity, an AI-driven system named “Coscientist” has achieved a remarkable feat in the field of chemistry. Developed by a team at Carnegie Mellon University, this AI system…
Multisensory art exhibit at the Aga Khan Museum taps into AI, VR
It is called Night in the Garden of Love, is produced in partnership with Weils, the Centre for Contemporary Art in Brussels, and it combines traditional art with an obvious technology bent that, in the words of its creator, “transports…
Coffee Briefing Dec. 12- Lighthouse Labs’ new cyber upskilling program; Extended security updates for Windows 10; Canada’s AI code of conduct has new signatories; and more
Coffee Briefings are timely deliveries of the latest ITWC headlines, interviews, and podcasts. Today’s Coffee Briefing is delivered by IT World Canada’s editorial team! Missed last week’s Coffee Briefing? We’ve got you covered. Lighthouse Labs launches new cyber upskilling program Tech…
European political agreement paves the way for AI law
The European Union has reached agreement on the world’s first comprehensive artificial intelligence law. According to the Associated Press, negotiators from the European Parliament and the bloc’s 27 member countries signed a tentative political agreement Friday that will ease passage…
Canadian privacy czars release principles for responsible development of AI
On the heels of cybersecurity guidance for generative AI systems issued by the federal government, Canada’s federal, provincial, and territorial privacy regulators have issued their own set of privacy-related principles to be followed. Announced Thursday, the principles are aimed at advancing…
Analytics Unleashed keynoter Scheibenreif examines how ‘we shape AI, AI shapes us’
In a presentation at IT World Canada’s Analytics Unleashed on Tuesday, Gartner Distinguished VP analyst Don Scheibenreif discussed what organizations need to do in order to handle the generative artificial intelligence (GenAi) juggernaut and artificial intelligence (AI) in general. The…
Generative AI increasingly used for threats to Canadian democracy: Report
Generative AI systems are increasingly being used by threat actors to influence elections around the world, including in Canada, says the latest report by Canada’s electronic spy agency on threats to this country’s democratic process. “We assess that AI synthetic…
AI systems with WMD power will be here soon, expert tells Canadian MPs
Advanced artificial intelligence systems with the equivalent power of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) could be only two years away, an expert has told MPs, which is why Canada’s proposed legislation to regulate AI should ban systems that introduce “extreme…
New AI Alliance to advance open source AI convenes IBM, Meta, AMD, excludes Microsoft, Google, AWS, Nvidia
IBM and Meta have partnered to form a new group, the AI Alliance, bringing together more than 50 organizations to promote open source development and innovation in artificial intelligence (AI). But many of the world’s biggest AI players, including Microsoft,…
IBM launches Quantum System Two, powered by new Heron processor
At the IBM Quantum Summit Monday in New York, IBM launched IBM Quantum Heron, a 133-qubit processor that it said offers up to a five-fold improvement in error reduction over its predecessor. The new processor powers IBM Quantum System Two,…
Amazon’s Project Kuiper: Using LEOs to eliminate the digital divide
It is called Project Kuiper and last week at AWS re:Invent 2023, it was hailed by Amazon Web Services (AWS) chief executive officer (CEO) Adam Selipsky as a technology breakthrough that will “provide coverage in places that have had never…
re:Invent 2023: AWS aims to capture AI leadership by offering choice
AWS revealed its strategy for leadership in generative AI at its re:Invent conference last week, making it clear that, while rival Microsoft may have gotten off to an early start, AWS hasn’t been standing still. Generative AI is relatively new…
AI expert says report findings proof onset of ‘Terminal AI’ has begun
A new report highlighting an escalating rise in phishing incidents since the launch of ChatGPT is the start of a cascade of events that a Silicon Valley cloud and artificial intelligence (AI) expert predicts could result in a catastrophic “threat…
Following triumphant return, Altman praises OpenAI employees
Buoyed with confidence now that he is back with the company he co-founded, Sam Altman this week told OpenAI employees in an internal blog that he has “never been more excited about the future (and) I am extremely grateful for…
Keeping the human at the centre of an AI-powered workplace: HRPA conference
Conversations around automation and artificial intelligence are eclipsing the existing challenges in the workplace related to, for instance, work-life balance, employee burnout and management of remote work, said Jim Love, chief information officer at IT World Canada, during a panel…
Five Canadian companies share experiences and use cases for generative AI at AWS re:Invent 2023
What are Canadian companies actually doing in terms of projects with cloud and generative AI? How are they navigating the uncertainty of a relatively new technology? Those were the questions that were addressed by a customer panel during a briefing…
Canadian group gets $2.2 million to research AI threat detection for wireless networks
A group consisting of Canadian university researchers and Ericsson Canada is the latest to have won government funding under the National Cybersecurity Coalition for advanced investigations into meeting cyber threats. Researchers from Concordia University, the University of Manitoba, the University…