Recent Summaries

This newsletter provides detailed instructions for creating a "Dancing Ribbons" tessellation pattern, a complex origami-like structure. It includes downloadable patterns, video tutorials, and step-by-step written guidance on folding techniques, emphasizing precision and specific paper types.

• Focus on Precision: The instructions highlight the importance of precise cutting, folding, and creasing for a successful tessellation.

• Material Matters: Recommends specific paper types (Skytone) and tools (straightedge, blade, bone folder) for optimal results.

• Layered Instructions: The folding process is broken down into manageable steps, offering options for both beginners and experienced folders.

• Visual Aids: Supplements written instructions with video tutorials and clear diagrams, catering to different learning styles.

• Importance of Paper Quality: The type of paper significantly impacts the final product's appearance and structural integrity.

• Progressive Complexity: The pattern begins with simpler folds and gradually introduces more complex techniques, allowing for skill development.

• Technique Alternatives: Offers alternative methods for folding (one twist at a time vs. pre-creasing) to accommodate individual preferences and skill levels.

• Troubleshooting Tips: Includes advice on correcting common folding issues and ensuring a smooth, flattened final form.

1. A lawsuit accusing Salesforce of using copyrighted material to train its xGen LLMs raises concerns about fair use, data provenance, and the potential chilling effect on enterprise AI adoption. The case is similar to the Anthropic settlement, suggesting a likely negotiated resolution.

2. • AI Training Data and Copyright: The legality of using copyrighted material for AI training remains a gray area, particularly regarding "pirated" datasets.
   • Fair Use Doctrine: The acquisition method of copyrighted works is critical in determining fair use. Legally acquired works may be considered fair use; illegally obtained works are not.
   • Enterprise Risk and Indemnification: Enterprises need assurance that AI vendor data sources are licensed, auditable, and defensible. Indemnity clauses are one potential solution to mitigate risk.
   • Potential Stalling of AI Adoption: Lawsuits and concerns about data provenance could create barriers to wider AI adoption in the enterprise.
3. • The lawsuit highlights the growing importance of data provenance and traceability for AI training data, becoming a key commercial and legal consideration.
   • Settlements in these types of cases signal that copyright owners have leverage and that AI companies must address training data compliance.
   • Enterprise clients are increasingly scrutinizing AI vendors' data sources, demanding transparency and legal defensibility.
   • Beyond the legal implications, the lawsuit poses reputational risks for Salesforce, potentially undermining customer trust in its AI models.

The KnowTechie newsletter focuses on the increasing (and sometimes problematic) integration of AI into the legal system, highlighting both success stories and cautionary tales. It also covers other AI news, deals on tech products, and miscellaneous tech news.

• AI in Law: AI tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity are being used to assist in legal cases, with varying degrees of success. One woman overturned an eviction ruling using AI, while others have faced penalties for AI-generated fabricated information.

• AI Regulation: Governments are starting to regulate AI, as seen in California's new regulations on AI chatbots and Japan warning OpenAI.

• AI Partnerships: Major tech companies like Arm and Meta are joining forces to advance AI technology.

• Deals: The newsletter promotes deals on items like Apple AirTags, Microsoft Office, and Amazon Fire Tablets.

• AI is becoming a double-edged sword in the legal field; while it can provide access to justice, it also presents risks of misinformation and ethical breaches.

• The use of AI in legal settings highlights the need for careful fact-checking and ethical considerations.

• The AI landscape is rapidly evolving, with new partnerships and regulations emerging to shape its development.

• The newsletter offers a mix of practical advice, news, and deals relevant to tech enthusiasts.

This newsletter covers the evolving landscape of AI, focusing on its applications in art and the potential dangers it presents in areas like surveillance and misinformation. It also touches on climate tech advancements and public health concerns like antimicrobial resistance.

• AI's Dual Nature: Explores both the creative potential of AI in art and its concerning applications in surveillance, deepfakes, and targeted advertising.

• Climate Tech Progress: Highlights the role of companies like Envision Energy in pushing for renewable energy solutions and decarbonizing heavy industry.

• Public Health Crisis: Addresses the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance and the urgent need for solutions as antibiotics become less effective.

• Tech's Societal Impact: Examines the impact of tech on various aspects of society, including housing prices, online communities, and international relations.

• AI-generated art is gaining recognition, moving from "slop" to being exhibited in galleries and sold at auctions, showcasing the increasing sophistication and acceptance of AI in creative fields.

• The rise of AI is exacerbating existing societal issues, such as increasing housing prices in tech hubs like San Francisco and posing threats to vulnerable groups like the trans community online.

• Surveillance technologies, like iris-scanning and location tracking software, are being increasingly adopted by agencies like ICE, raising concerns about privacy and civil liberties.

• Plug-in hybrid vehicles may not be as environmentally friendly as previously thought, with new reports indicating that they can pollute almost as much as diesel cars, challenging their role in the transition to cleaner transportation.

KnowTechie's newsletter focuses on the AI developments from Anthropic and OpenAI, specifically regarding practical applications of AI agents in the workplace. Anthropic's new "Skills for Claude" allows users to create custom instructions and resources to help Claude perform specific tasks, while OpenAI is also pushing for practical agent applications with their AgentKit.

• AI Agent Practicality: The central theme is the shift from theoretical AI agents to practical tools for real-world applications in business and productivity.

• Skills for Claude: Anthropic's launch of "Skills" allows users to customize Claude's abilities for specific tasks like data analysis, content creation, and presentation building.

• OpenAI's AgentKit: OpenAI is also focused on making AI agents practical, showcased through examples like Albertsons using agents to fix sales dips.

• Competitive Landscape: The article highlights the competition between Anthropic and OpenAI in the race to develop useful AI agent technology.

• Anthropic's "Skills for Claude" aims to improve AI performance by providing it with pre-packaged instructions and resources, making it more efficient and effective.

• The feature is being tested by major companies like Box, Rakuten, and Canva, indicating strong industry interest in AI agent applications.

• Both Anthropic and OpenAI are actively working to move AI agents from the "cool demo" phase to actual, useful products.

• The newsletter also includes updates on other tech news, deals, and buying guides.

Intel is launching a new data center GPU, Crescent Island, aimed at AI inference workloads, hoping to improve its financial standing and market share in the AI chip race. The chip features 160GB of memory and is designed for energy-efficient performance, targeting large language models and token-as-a-service applications. Intel's move comes amid significant financial losses and strategic investments from the U.S. government and Nvidia.

• AI Inference Focus: The GPU is specifically designed for the growing demands of AI inference, suggesting a shift in AI workloads from training to real-time applications.

• Competitive Landscape: Intel is trying to gain ground against Nvidia in the AI chip market, but faces financial challenges and market dominance from Nvidia.

• Strategic Partnerships: Investments from the U.S. government and Nvidia indicate a complex interplay of competition and collaboration in the AI sector.

• Token-as-a-Service Emphasis: Intel foresees token-as-a-service and inference as the dominant workload types, highlighting the increasing importance of these areas.

• Crescent Island represents Intel's attempt to capitalize on the shift towards real-time AI inference and agentic AI, as articulated by Intel CTO Sachin Katti.

• The substantial memory capacity (160GB) of Crescent Island suggests a focus on handling large language models and demanding AI workloads.

• Intel's financial struggles underscore the high stakes and competitive pressures in the AI chip market.

• The collaboration between Intel and Nvidia on a system-on-a-chip signifies a potential convergence of CPU and GPU expertise in future AI solutions.