Tech giants reveal updates in AI battle as investors weigh earnings

Published

2 years ago

April 26, 2023

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close video How will Microsoft grow as result of artificial intelligence?

Defiance ETFs CEO and CIO Sylvia Jablonski provides insight on Microsoft’s earnings and the impact of AI on “Making Money.”

Google and Microsoft, two of the biggest players in the artificial intelligence (AI) space and tech sector rivals, provided updates on their respective AI programs on Tuesday when the companies announced their first-quarter earnings.

Both companies have invested heavily in AI-related research and its applications for the web search, where the two firms are engaged in a particularly tense competition following Microsoft’s addition of AI to its Bing search engine, in addition to cloud storage and more.

Here’s a look at some of the AI-related highlights from the Google and Microsoft first-quarter earnings calls.

AI CHATBOTS COULD BE IMPACTED BY SUPREME COURT’S RULING IN SECTION 230 CASE

Microsoft and OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Bard are among the leading artificial intelligence platforms, and the competition between the tech giants is intensifying. (Jonathan Raa / NurPhoto via Getty Images / File / Getty Images) GOOGLE

Sundar Pichai, the CEO of Google and parent company Alphabet, said that in the first quarter the company "introduced important product updates anchored in deep computer science and AI."

Those improvements are focused on three areas: "Continuing to build up state-of-the-art large language models and make significant improvements across our products to be more helpful to our users. Empowering developers, creators and partners with our tools. And enabling organizations of all sizes to utilize and benefit from our AI advances."

Pichai noted the release of an updated version of the Google Bard AI chatbot earlier this month after it first debuted in March to include coding capabilities that had been requested by users. The company is doing that by incorporating its Pathways Language Model (PaLM) into Bard, as the PaLM is a large language model (LLM) that was trained on a larger dataset that the prior LLM, known as LaMDA.

GOOGLE UNVEILS NEW BARD AI CAPABILITIES FOR CODING

A person holds an iPhone using the Google Bard generative AI language model (chatbot) with prompt entry field. (Smith Collection / Gado / Getty Images / File / Getty Images)

"We have since added our PaLM model to make it even more powerful, and Bard can now help people with programming and software development tasks, including code generation. Lots more to come," Pichai said.

He added that PaLM is being incorporated into the new MakerSuite for developers and noted, "It provides a simple way to access our large language models and begin building new generative AI applications quickly. A number of organizations are using our generative AI large language models across Google Cloud platform, Google Workspace and our cybersecurity offerings."

On potential AI-related improvements to Google’s search engine, Pichai didn’t go into detail but said, "We will continue to incorporate generative AI advances to make search better in a thoughtful and deliberate way."

Google is reportedly planning to release new AI tools for search as a means of countering the incorporation of ChatGPT into Microsoft’s Bing search engine. The New York Times reported that the AI search features are being developed by Google under the codename "Magi" and could have an initial rollout next month with additional features in the fall.

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: WHAT IS IT USED FOR?

“The worlds most advanced AI models are coming together with the worlds most universal user interface natural language to create a new era of computing,” says Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. (AP Photo / Ted S. Warren / File / AP Newsroom) MICROSOFT

"The world’s most advanced AI models are coming together with the world’s most universal user interface – natural language – to create a new era of computing," said Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. "Across the Microsoft Cloud, we are the platform of choice to help customers get the most value out of their digital spend and innovate for this next generation of AI."

Nadella said Microsoft has more than 2,500 customers using its Azure OpenAI service, which became generally available in January and had GPT-4 incorporated in March.

"We have the most powerful AI infrastructure, and it’s being used by our partner, OpenAI, as well as NVIDIA and leading AI startups like Adept and Inflection to train large models. Our Azure OpenAI Service brings together advanced models, including ChatGPT and GPT-4, with the enterprise capabilities of Azure."

MICROSOFT DEVELOPING ITS OWN AI CHIP: REPORT

Nadella called Microsoft 365 Copilot the "future of work" in his opening remarks. Copilot was released last month and appears in Microsoft Office programs like Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook as an AI chatbot that can help draft content and presentations, summarize email threads and automate repetitive tasks.

"Microsoft 365 Copilot combines next generation AI with business data in the Microsoft Graph and Microsoft 365 applications, removing the drudgery and unleashing the creativity of work," Nadella said. "Copilot works alongside users, embedded in the Microsoft 365 applications millions use every day, and it also powers Business Chat, which uses natural language to surface information and insights based on business content and context."

HOW GOOGLE BECAME CAUTIOUS OF AI AND GAVE MICROSOFT AN OPENING

Microsofts Bing has 100 million daily users and Nadella said that downloads of the search engine have jumped since AI features were incorporated into the tool. (Jonathan Raa / NurPhoto via Getty Images / File / Getty Images)

Microsoft’s Bing has 100 million daily users and Nadella said that downloads of the search engine have jumped since AI features were incorporated into the tool. Specifically, Nadella said that "daily installs of the Bing mobile app have grown [four times] since launch."

"We continue to innovate with first-of-their-kind AI-powered features, including the ability to set the tone of chat and create images from text prompts, powered by Dall-E. Over 200 million images have been created to date," Nadella said.

Nadella also said Microsoft will "share how we are building the most powerful AI platform for developers" at the company’s Build conference, which is scheduled for May 23-25, 2023.Ticker Security Last Change Change % GOOGL ALPHABET INC. 103.85 -2.12 -2.00%MSFT MICROSOFT CORP. 275.42 -6.35 -2.25%

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Entertainment

Lynn Ban: Star of reality show Bling Empire dies after skiing accident

Published

29 mins ago

January 23, 2025

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Lynn Ban: Star of reality show Bling Empire dies after skiing accident

Lynn Ban, star of Netflix reality show Bling Empire: New York, has died after having brain surgery due to a skiing accident.

The 51-year-old jewellery designer from Singapore died on Monday, her son Sebastian announced on social media – weeks after she underwent emergency brain surgery due to a skiing accident.

Last month, Ban, who lived in New York, shared with her Instagram followers that she “had a ski accident that would change my life” while on holiday in Aspen on Christmas Eve.

She revealed a CAT scan showed she had a severe head injury, including a brain bleed, meaning she needed an emergency craniotomy.

She said she woke up in hospital with her husband Jett Kain nearby, and hoped to recover this year.

In an update on her Instagram account on Wednesday, her son Sebastian wrote: “My mum passed away on Monday. I know she wanted to share her journey after her accident and brain surgery, so I thought she would appreciate one last post sharing the news to people who supported her.

“Many of you followed my mum but never got the chance to know her or meet her in person,” he added.

“I would like to take the chance to share who my mum really was. She was and always will be my best friend, the best mother to me, and someone who cared for all.

“She always had a smile on her face even when times were tough during her recovery process.

“She was a fighter until the end and is the strongest woman I know. She was the funniest and coolest mum I could ever ask for. She took care of me, my dad, and our entire family throughout her whole life.

“Although she may be gone now, I will do everything I can to make sure she is never forgotten and for her life to be celebrated as it deserves to be.

“As a final message to my mum, I would just like to say that I will miss you forever and to end in something she always told me ‘I love you more than life itself’ mum.”

Ban starred in Bling Empire: New York, a spinoff of the popular Netflix reality series Bling Empire, which followed a group of wealthy Asian American socialites living in Los Angeles.

She also had a private jewellery label which catered to a host of celebrities, including thRihanna, Beyonce, Cardi B, Billie Eilish, Madonna, Lady Gaga, Kendrick Lamar and Post Malone.

Pop star Rihanna was among those who paid tribute on social media, writing: “2025 is rocking me at this point! This is too much!!! Lynn you will always be our fairy godmother!”

Designers Bea Akerlund and Phillip Bloch, Younger star Debi Mazar, and A Star Is Born actress Drena De Niro also paid tribute.

Environment

E1 Series gains more star power as NBA great LeBron James joins as owner of Team AlUla

Published

38 mins ago

January 23, 2025

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E1 Series gains more star power as NBA great LeBron James joins as owner of Team AlUla

Young Electric Boat Racing League E1 continues to expand its lineup of race teams as it approaches its second UIM E1 World Championship Season in 2025. Several big names in sports and entertainment signed on for season 1, but this next Championship series includes a new name – LeBron James, who will lead Team AlUla.

As you may or may not know, the UIM E1 World Championship is a new electric racing boat series first announced in 2022. It kicked off its inaugural season in February 2024 with the Jeddah GP, held in Saudi Arabia.

Since its inception, E1 co-founders Rodi Basso and Alejandro Agag have put together an impressive roster of team owners and continue to grow the league to draw more attention to sustainable motorsport and deliver stiffer competition.

Before season 1 of the UIM E1 World Championship Series, several familiar names joined as team owners, including Formula 1 veteran Sergio Perez, superstar DJ Steve Aoki, musician Mark Anthony, and, most recently, Will Smith.

Additional teams are owned by sports legends like Rafael Nadal, Didier Drogba, and the NFL’s Tom Brady, whose team won the inaugural electric boat racing championship this past November. Today, E1 has announced a new team ahead of season 2, and it’s another world-renowned professional athlete who knows how to win – LeBron James.

LeBron James to lead Team AlUla in E1’s second season

The E1 Series shared news of LeBron James joining as its latest team owner this morning, mere days before the nascent electric boat racing league kicks off its second season once again in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. That venue is fitting, considering LeBron James will lead a new squad called Team AlUla.

“AlUla” comes from an ancient oasis city in Saudi Arabia by the same name that is home to Hegra, the Kingdom’s first UNESCO World Heritage site. James’ new team will be piloted by racers Rusty Wyatt and Catie Munnings. The sure-fire NBA hall of famer spoke about becoming the latest E1 racing team owner:

As a lifelong fan of sports and competition, the opportunity to own an E1 team that represents such a high level of innovation in sports is incredibly exciting, E1 is a new type of global competition that’s revolutionizing water racing and I’m proud to be at the forefront of its expansion in season two.

Per E1, James has support from Co-Team Principals John Marlow and Barny Whitwham, who have a combined 30 years of experience working in commercial and technical roles in FIA Formula 1 and World Rally Championship motorsport teams.

Keep an eye out for LeBron James and Team AlUla competing in the Racebird seen above during season two of the UIM E1 World Championship presented by PIF. Racing kicks off this Saturday, January 25, during the Jeddah GP. Here’s the 2025 E1 race calendar as it currently stands:

January 24-25: E1 Jeddah GP
February 21-22: Visit Qatar E1 Doha GP
TBA
July 18-19: E1 Monaco
August 22-23: E1 Lake Como GP
TBA
November 7-8: E1 Championship, Miami

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Science

NASA Rockets Set to Journey Through Flickering, Disappearing Auroras

Published

60 mins ago

January 23, 2025

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NASA Rockets Set to Journey Through Flickering, Disappearing Auroras

Two NASA rocket missions are set to explore the mysteries of auroras, aiming to uncover why they flicker, pulsate, or feature dark patches. These rockets, part of NASA’s effort to understand Earth’s space environment, will launch from Poker Flat Research Range in Fairbanks, Alaska, starting January 21, 2025. The findings could contribute to protecting astronauts and spacecraft from the impacts of space weather, as auroras are closely tied to the planet’s magnetosphere and charged particles from space.

GIRAFF Mission to Investigate Pulsating Auroras

According to the Ground Imaging to Rocket Investigation of Auroral Fast Features (GIRAFF) mission, two rockets equipped with identical instruments will target specific aurora subtypes. One rocket will focus on fast-pulsating auroras, flashing a few times per second, while the other will study flickering auroras, which blink up to 15 times per second. As reported by an official press release by NASA, as per Robert Michell, a space physicist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center and principal investigator of the GIRAFF mission, the data collected will analyse energy levels, electron quantities, and arrival times to determine the mechanisms driving these phenomena.

Black Aurora Phenomenon to Be Explored

The Black and Diffuse Aurora Science Surveyor mission, led by Marilia Samara, also of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, will study “black auroras,” where dark patches appear within auroral displays. These areas are suspected to form due to a reversal in electron streams, causing electrons to escape rather than collide with atmospheric particles. According to Samara, distinguishing genuine black auroras requires detecting outgoing electrons, making the rocket’s instruments crucial for the study.

Challenges in Targeting Dynamic Auroras

Timing the launches precisely to intercept moving auroras presents a significant challenge. Ground-based cameras at the launch site and in Venetie, Alaska, will monitor auroral movements to predict their trajectories. Both mission teams rely heavily on experience and intuition to ensure success, highlighting the complexity of studying these fleeting natural light displays.