Microsoft seeks to make the entire company an AI platform

Microsoft Build Conference, AI Copilot all the things*

Microsoft didn’t hold back their annual Build developer conference this week, making numerous new product announcements and of course a lot of new toys for developers. Nearly all of which either uses AI or allows developers to build software that has AI integrated. During the keynote, CTO Kevin Scott, implied that Microsoft seeks to make the entire company an AI platform. As Microsoft adds Copilot to nearly the entire product line, it also is encouraging developers to be active participants by augmenting the AI through creation of their own Copilot plugins. It’s clear that Microsoft is all-in on AI and it wants their vast constituency to join them on this mission.

Build, like Google I/O, is a developer conference and so much of the news centers around developers. However, it would be difficult to announce how developers could use a new feature without announcing the feature for consumers as well. Here are some of the highlights from Build this year:

1. Azure AI Studio lets developers build their own AI ‘copilots’.

2. Plug-ins for AI enabled Apps.

3. Power Pages Copilot to help make designing web pages easier.

4. Fabric. A new data analytics platform designed for AI

5. ChatGPT (Bing) comes to Windows

6. New AI hub in the Windows Store

7. Semantic Kernel open source framework for easily adding AI flows to apps.
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_{*disclaimer: I am a full-time employee of Microsoft Corporation. The views presented here are my own and in no way reflect those of my employer. They are based entirely on publicly available information and I have given every effort to be unbiased in my analysis.}

OpenAI's Democratic Quest for AI Regulation

OpenAI has announced a new grant program designed to foster a democratic process for AI regulation, aiming to fill a gap left by the rapid pace of AI innovation. The program will fund projects developing proof-of-concepts for this democratic process, providing valuable insights for a larger and more ambitious global initiative. Through this program, OpenAI hopes to create a democratic system that encourages diversity and transparency in decision-making about AI behavior. This innovative approach places a strong emphasis on ensuring that AI regulations reflect the diverse perspectives of the public interest. Applications for the grant are open until June 24, with selected recipients required to engage at least 500 participants, publish a report, and open source their work.
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OpenAI's Global Vision: An International Regulatory Body for AI

OpenAI's leaders propose the establishment of an international regulatory body for AI, considering the technology's rapid evolution and potential risks. They draw parallels with the International Atomic Energy Agency, suggesting that AI systems above a certain capability threshold should be subject to international authority for safety compliance and deployment restrictions. The organization also recommends tracking compute power and energy usage in AI research as objective measures. The proposal, while broadly stated, is seen as a conversation starter in the industry and a call for public oversight, even though the specifics of such a mechanism are yet to be designed​.
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Infosys Unveils Topaz AI: A Game-Changer in Generative AI Solutions

Infosys has introduced a new solution called Topaz AI, designed to accelerate business value from generative AI. The offering is aimed at helping businesses maximize value from AI, merging Infosys’ deep learning solutions and generative AI to create new revenue streams, improve operational efficiency, and yield more profitable outcomes. It combines various AI frameworks, pre-trained models, and data pipelines to enable AI at scale. Infosys claims that Topaz AI will be a key component for businesses to realize AI’s true business potential.
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