The AI Pulse

Issue #11 — 2nd December 2024

Editor: Alan Brown

Welcome to the latest edition of The AI Pulse for Digital Leaders. An expertly curated collection of essential articles, commentaries, and news stories from reputable sources. Do you know anyone who might be interested in AI Pulse. Have some news or looking to partner? Just get in touch at: [email protected]

Highlights in this edition include:

AI takes centre stage at COP29

The UK Artificial Intelligence Safety Institute reflects on its first year

Which countries are leading in AI?

Why AI’s trillion dollar scaling bet isn't over?

AI for Good

OpenAI has released research detailing its methods for stress-testing large language models to identify and mitigate potential harmful behaviours.

The BBC reports that a woman in New York has just had the first double lung transplant operation performed by a robot .

According to ZDNet, nearly half of Gen AI adopters want it to be open source .

Bias and Ethics

The UK Artificial Intelligence Safety Institute reflects on its first year, highlighting achievements and setting future goals for AI safety initiatives.

Pssst… Want a free book providing “An Introduction to AI Safety, Ethics and Society”? Here is the full book text and slides!

University of Washington researchers have uncovered significant bias in popular AI models. When prompted with discussions about race and caste, these models often generate biased text.

The World Economic Forum asked 5 tech strategy leaders about inclusive, ethical and responsible use of technology. Here's what they said.

Cyber Security

A CapGemini study highlights that although Gen AI heightens vulnerabilities, more than half of organizations also anticipate faster threat detection and increased accuracy through its use.

The Guardian article says that Alex Murray, the UK National Police lead for AI, is warning that AI is increasingly being used for sextortion, scams and child abuse.

Forbes reports that a Google AI agent has discovered a previously unknown, zero-day, exploitable memory-safety vulnerability in widely used real-world software.

A report from the International Center for Future Generations declares that we have no science of safe AI, and describes why this means society will be increasingly exposed to widespread and systemic risks.

New technology means new challenges—and new solutions—for cybersecurity providers. McKinsey explore how AI is transforming the cybersecurity landscape.

Data & Decision Making

UK Authority report that the Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT) team at the Home Office has launched the Analytics Workbench data platform to support data analysis in the department.

Worried about your data being taken without consent? MIT Technology Review describes 4 ways you can protect you art from being assimilated by AI .

The Business Engineer describes the rise of AI data centres and what this means for the future of AI.

MIT Sloan Management Review reports that Gen AI tools can aid decision-making, but they may also encourage a more controlling leadership style .

Innovation & Collaboration

A detailed report from Wharton analyses the current state of Gen AI adoption, its business applications, and future potential, providing insights for companies transitioning from initial interest to ROI-focused implementation.

A review of how Microsoft and GitHub are using AI to support developers around the world to innovate, collaborate, and create solutions that’ll shape the next generation of technology.

Ben Evans’ excellent review of 2024 considers how AI is eating the world .

ZDNet believes AI transformation is the new digital transformation. Who knew?

Wired reports that the US Patents and Trademark Office, dedicated to protecting innovation, has banned internal use of Gen AI tools.

Productivity & Efficiency

Which countries are leading in AI? Stanford University’s Global AI Vibrancy Tool is an interactive map that compares AI development in 36 countries with 42 metrics in 8 categories.

Azeem Azar discusses why AI’s trillion dollar scaling bet isn't over .

McKinsey consider AI’s impact on supply chain management and how it can reignite revenue growth and deepen resilience by deploying AI-powered digital twins.

AI is having a major impact on warehouse automation. The Data Scientist reviews why and how.

After following Wymo's robotaxis around in San Francisco, Wired believes a driverless world is coming for all of us. So buckle up!

Regulation and Compliance

A systematic literature review reveals a complex landscape of potential threats form AI and describes a taxonomy of systemic risks from general-purpose AI.

Rand have issued a handy primer on the EU’s AI act.

Sustainability

Technology Magazine reports that AI has been taking centre stage at COP29, recognized as both a powerful tool for sustainability solutions and an energy-intensive technology.

Diginomica looks at the key trends that will define 2025, providing insights into how Industry 5.0, artificial intelligence, and sustainability will converge to create a more efficient, adaptable, and responsible future.

A Deloitte article in the Wall Street Journal reminds us that weighing up AI’s energy consumption against its potential benefits is crucial to help ensure a net positive impact on climate goals.

User Experience

A thoughtful article in Big Think worries that the rapid development of AI raises concerns about the potential dehumanizing effects on human thought, as we may prioritize mechanical intelligence over deeper, more intuitive forms of consciousness.

Want to become a better manager with AI? Hilary Gridley, Director of Product Management at WHOOP, shares strategies she’s learned to leverage the latest AI tools to not just become a better manager but to level up her entire team.

Workforce & Skills

HBR looks at how to thrive when AI makes knowledge and know-how cheaper and easier to access.

How does AI in recruiting work? The Data Scientist discusses everything you need to know.

Bain and Co explain why use of Gen AI to unlock a more personalized and cost-efficient employee experience can make HR more human—not less.

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