Penn State’s Center for Socially Responsible Artificial Intelligence (CSRAI) is opening its annual seed funding program. Short proposals will be accepted through Nov. 1, with projects expected to start in spring 2024 and last up to two years. The application.
Artificial Intelligence polling
Polling of California Latinos shows that 56% view AI as just another tool and 44% think AI is bad for jobs. 80% want regulation to ensure AI is safe and trustworthy.
A 2023 poll by Microsoft showed that 53% of Latinos see AI as a threat to jobs.
Social Media warning from 41 bipartisan states
Attorneys General from 42 states, both red and blue states, are calling on the U.S. surgeon general to issue a warning for young people on social media platforms. Notable states not signed onto the request: Texas and Arizona.
$5.6 Billion: Cost of crypto scams
The cost of crypto scams on U.S. consumers in 2023 was $5.6 billion according to the FBI. That’s a 45% increase from 2022.
WVTM | Americans lost $5.6 billion last year in cryptocurrency fraud scams, the FBI says
New AI laws in Illinois
Illinois has enacted 2 new AI laws. The bills will protect the likeness of artists and allow for private causes of action when someone’s likeness is used without authorization. The Right of Publicity Act prohibits unauthorized digital replicas by defining a replica as “a newly created, electronic representation of the voice, image or likeness of an actual individual created using a computer, algorithm, software, tool, artificial intelligence or other technology.”
Route Fifty | States move to protect recording artists from AI-generated likenesses
What happens when a mayoral candidate runs on AI?
The mayor’s race in Cheyenne, Wyoming included a candidate that sought to make the city run on AI. He met his match with voters. He lost handily. Turns out voters want decisions made by humans. Who knew?!
Increased online fraud enforcement in the U.S.
The FBI announced its increased enforcement efforts for online scams and fraud. The program is called, “Take a Beat.” Is this a lyric from an 80s pop song? From January to May 2024 there have been $1.6 billion in losses due to online fraud which is a $300 million increase from 2023.
Government Technology | FBI Says Stopping Online Fraud and Scams Requires New Focus
Amending AI regulation in California
California’s SB1047 (2024 | CA), which we talked about last week, has been amended to address opponent concerns about stifling innovation.
Removed from this bill is a provision that would have allowed California’s attorney general to sue AI companies for negligent safety practices before a catastrophic event has occurred. Also removed from the legislation is the creation of a new state agency, the Frontier Model Division (FMD). The bill also removed criminal penalties for AI companies, but the bill still does require AI companies to submit public “statements” concerning their safety practices.
AI in print journalism
A newspaper in Wyoming printed an article that included AI generated quotes including from the state’s governor. The quotes were not real. As one tech analysts said, AI is programmed to provide an answer, not that the answer be correct.
This week the paper ran an editorial which states, “AI was allowed to put words that were never spoken into stories.” Last year, Sports Illustrated was critiqued for “publishing AI-generated online product reviews that were presented as having been written by reporters who didn’t actually exist.”
AP | Wyoming reporter caught using artificial intelligence to create fake quotes and stories
AI projects cancelled
Great Britain has canceled 1.3 billion pounds worth of taxpayer funded AI projects that would have supported the UK’s AI Research Resource. In explaining the cuts, the new government leadership spokesperson said, “This is essential to restore economic stability and deliver our national mission for growth.”
CNBC | Britain cancels $1.7 billion of computing projects in setback for global AI ambitions