🦸‍♂️ AI’s Gonna Save Us... Or Not

In today’s email:

⚖️ The EU is cracking down on AI with new regulations that could change the game for tech giants and startups alike.

🌎 AI's helping transform the Global South, but if we’re not careful, it might just widen the inequality gap.

📈 ESPN’s got a new AI avatar named FACTS, ready to break down game stats like a virtual sports geek.

Curious to know more? Keep reading!

⚖️ AI Gets Grounded by the EU

The EU AI Act is a big deal for regulating artificial intelligence, and it's been years in the making.

What’s the goal? The EU wants to boost AI innovation while ensuring it remains safe and trustworthy for everyone. It’s about fostering growth while reducing risks—especially as AI becomes more integrated into your daily life.

Here's the lowdown:

• Risk-based rules: The Act has three risk levels:

  • High-risk AI (like healthcare or law enforcement) needs heavy regulation.

  • Medium-risk AI (think chatbots) requires transparency.

  • Low-risk AI doesn’t need much regulation.

• Generative AI (like ChatGPT) gets extra attention. There are specific rules for these models, including transparency and risk assessments.

What happens now? The Act officially kicked in on August 1, 2024. Deadlines for different rules will start hitting in 2025 and continue through 2027, with penalties for non-compliance. It’s a complex law, and as AI evolves, so will the rules.

🌎 AI Wants to Save the World

From helping predict natural disasters to optimizing public services, AI is already transforming the Global South—and fast. But like your overly ambitious cousin at Christmas, AI has some issues. It can be biased, privacy-invasive, and skewed toward the wealthy, leaving developing nations with just crumbs of AI’s promised economic boost.

Countries like Brazil and Rwanda are embracing AI with optimism, while development agencies still fumble over whether to dive in. But there’s no time for fence-sitting! Without proactive action, AI could end up amplifying inequality, eroding diverse cultures, and monopolizing power.

What can you do? Support responsible AI that respects human rights, invest in local data and talent and build a global AI community. Organizations like USAID and the Gates Foundation are stepping up, and we can all push for better, fairer AI. If development practitioners sit this one out, they’ll be handing the reins over to whoever shouts the loudest (or codes the fastest). 

📈 ESPN’s AI Avatar Talks Game Stats

ESPN’s got a new AI buddy in the lineup! Meet "FACTS"—an AI avatar ready to drop stats and analytics on SEC Nation like a virtual sports nerd with an endless supply of game-day trivia. FACTS pulls from ESPN’s deep data pool (think Football Power Index, player stats, game schedules, the whole shebang) and basically channels the spirit of ESPN legend Howie Schwab—if he were a bot.

Here’s the play-by-play:

• The Tech Stuff: FACTS runs on some pretty high-powered tech (Nvidia’s Avatar Cloud Engine, OpenAI, and ElevenLabs for a smooth voice), so don’t expect it to glitch mid-game.

• Why It’s Here: No, it’s not replacing anyone! ESPN says FACTS is just here to make stats fun, maybe even bring some cool insights to the show.

FACTS is still in the testing phase, but if it’s a hit, you might soon see it throwing down analytics with the best of them—no clipboard needed!

Other cool AI stuff that is trending right now 🔥🔥

🌊Google’s using AI to up its flood forecasting game, covering 100+ countries and helping 700 million people stay dry. With better predictions (up to 7 days ahead), more data, and easy access for researchers, the tech giant is tackling floods before they drown us in disaster. - Read more

📏 Researchers at Stevens Institute of Technology have developed an AI system that uses lasers and quantum tech to "feel" and measure surfaces with incredible precision, opening new possibilities for medicine and manufacturing. - Read more

🔇 Ever wished your headphones could create a "sound bubble" that lets you hear just the people around you while muting the rest of the world? Well, a team of researchers has cracked the code with AI-powered headphones that do just that. - Read more

📰 Tired of AI just stealing your news? Particle’s new app lets you dig deeper into stories, explore multiple viewpoints, and even chat with an AI for instant answers—while sending traffic back to the publishers it partners with. - Read more

♟️ Chess Grandmaster Hans Niemann is about to take on tens of thousands of players at Web Summit—each guided by AI suggestions—while trying to break a record and prove that even tech-savvy amateurs can challenge the pros! - Read more