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ChatGPT Meets Its Match: The Rise of Anthropic Claude Language Model

Over the past year, generative AI has exploded in popularity, thanks largely to OpenAI’s release of ChatGPT in November 2022. ChatGPT is an impressively capable conversational AI system that can understand natural language prompts and generate thoughtful, human-like responses on…

What is Retrieval Augmented Generation?

Large Language Models (LLMs) have contributed to advancing the domain of natural language processing (NLP), yet an existing gap persists in contextual understanding. LLMs can sometimes produce inaccurate or unreliable responses, a phenomenon known as “hallucinations.”  For instance, with ChatGPT,…

HR Predictions 2024: Generative AI, employee experience, remote work and more

Generative AI will continue to influence how HR teams increase productivity and optimize employee experience in 2024, a new report from McLean & Company which surveyed 1,373 business professionals in September 2023, found. Additionally, experts say HR will continue to…

Self-Attention Guidance: Improving Sample Quality of Diffusion Models

Denoising Diffusion Models are generative AI frameworks that synthesize images from noise through an iterative denoising process. They are celebrated for their exceptional image generation capabilities and diversity, largely attributed to text- or class-conditional guidance methods, including classifier guidance and…

Social Impact of Generative AI: Benefits and Threats

Today, Generative AI is wielding transformative power across various aspects of society. Its influence extends from information technology and healthcare to retail and the arts, permeating into our daily lives.  As per eMarketer, Generative AI shows early adoption with a…

Rising Impact of Small Language Models

Motivations for Adopting Small Language Models The growing interest in small language models (SLMs) is driven by several key factors, primarily efficiency, cost, and customizability. These aspects position SLMs as attractive alternatives to their larger counterparts in various applications. Efficiency:…

MagicDance: Realistic Human Dance Video Generation

Computer vision is one of the most discussed fields in the AI industry, thanks to its potential applications across a wide range of real-time tasks. In recent years, computer vision frameworks have advanced rapidly, with modern models now capable of…

Predictions 2024: Artificial intelligence

The hottest topic of 2023, artificial intelligence (AI), has not only generated lots of interest this year, it has pundits of all descriptions coming out of the woodwork with predictions of what will happen in 2024. Their opinions may differ,…

Apple’s Leap into the AI Frontier: Navigating the MLX Framework and Its Impact on Next-Gen MacBook AI Experiences

The realm of artificial intelligence is currently experiencing a significant transformation, driven by the widespread integration and accessibility of generative AI within open-source ecosystems. This transformative wave not only enhances productivity and efficiency but also fosters innovation, providing a vital…

Predictions on 2024 developments in OpenAI: Best of YouTube

I watch far too much YouTube for my own good. You have to sift through numerous ill-informed and overly sensationalistic titles and articles to find a few individuals who conduct actual research and provide somewhat informative content. As I discover…

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….

AI News

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…

AI News

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…

AI News

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…