Each week, we bring you 5 stories that resonated the most in our internal Slack channel #AI-news. We write the newsletter using various AI tools because we're an AI company and our marketing wants to move with the times too. ๐
Today you're reading the 72nd issue in a row.
#1
Apple ๐: Reportedly considering acquisition of AI search engine Perplexity ๐ง .
Apple ๐ is internally exploring the idea of acquiring Perplexity, an AI-powered search engine backed by Nvidia ๐ฅ๏ธ. The talks are still in early stages ๐ฐ๏ธ, and Apple has not yet formally approached the startup ๐ค.
Perplexity is part of a new wave of AI tools ๐ค that provide direct answers with source citations ๐. Apple is said to be planning to add more AI features to Safari ๐, which could signal a move away from its long-standing reliance on Google Search ๐.
Meta ๐ฌ previously showed interest in Perplexity as well, highlighting how competitive the AI search space has become. If Apple were to follow through with the acquisition โ , it would rank among the companyโs largest deals ever ๐ฐ.
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#2
Meta and AI talent ๐ง : Offering up to $100 million to lure OpenAI experts ๐ฐ!
Meta ๐ผ is reportedly offering signing bonuses of up to $100 million to attract top engineers from OpenAI ๐คโa fact confirmed by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. The goal is to build an elite AI team ๐ง , with Mark Zuckerberg personally involved in the recruitment effort. Meta has already hired researchers from Google DeepMind ๐ฌ and other leading firms ๐ข.
OpenAI and Google ๐๏ธ are fighting to retain their top talentโoffering multi-million dollar bonuses, equity packages ๐, and strict non-compete clauses ๐ซ.
While the battle for senior AI talent is fierce โ๏ธ, the situation for junior developers is quite the opposite. The share of recent graduates ๐ among new hires at major tech companies has dropped to just 7%โa decline of over 50% compared to pre-pandemic levels ๐. The gap between demand for elite talent and opportunities for newcomers is only widening ๐งฉ.
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#3
Trump and AI ๐ค: New legislation would block all 50 states from enacting AI laws for a decade ๐บ๐ธ
Eric Horvitz ๐ง , Chief Scientific Officer at Microsoft, argues that smart regulation ๐ can actually accelerate AI development by improving safety and reliability โ . This view contrasts with Donald Trumpโs ๐บ๐ธ proposed federal ban on state-level AI regulations for the next 10 yearsโa move he claims is necessary to keep the U.S. from falling behind China ๐จ๐ณ.
Ironically, Microsoft supports Trumpโs proposal ๐คโnot out of ideology, but due to concerns about regulatory chaos if all 50 states implement their own, conflicting AI laws. At the same time, Horvitz urges AI researchers ๐จโ๐ฌ to work with governments on creating thoughtful rules that promote innovation instead of stifling it ๐.
He also warned about the dangers of AI misuseโfor spreading disinformation ๐งจ or even enabling biological threats. Experts like Stuart Russell ๐ง echo these concerns, noting that releasing powerful AI without oversight could pose risks to all of humanity ๐.
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#4
Managers vs. Employees ๐ค: Survey shows leaders use AI twice as often ๐.
According to a new Gallup survey ๐, managers are using AI almost twice as often as regular employeesโ33% of managers use it weekly, compared to just 16% of frontline workers ๐งโ๐ง. Overall AI usage in U.S. workplaces has nearly doubled over the past two years ๐, but many employees still feel unprepared โ ๏ธ.
Tech companies ๐ป and white-collar industries lead the way, with AI adoption reaching 50%. In contrast, frontline workers ๐ ๏ธ see minimal implementation. The main issue? Companies often fail to clearly explain how and why AI should be used โ.
Only 16% of employees ๐งโ๐ผ find workplace AI tools genuinely useful โ . The survey shows that when leadership communicates a clear AI strategy and offers training ๐, employees feel significantly more confident. But so far, only a minority of firms are doing thisโwhile technology continues to move ahead at full speed ๐โโ๏ธ.
Article on businessinsider.com
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#5
Meta and Oakley ๐ค: Unveiled new AI-powered glasses for active lifestyles ๐ถ๏ธ.
Meta has launched new smart glasses in collaboration with Oakley ๐งข, starting at $399 ๐ต. A limited edition priced at $499 will be available on July 11. The glasses include a built-in camera, speakers, and Meta AI ๐คโcapable of handling calls, playing music, and even answering questions like โWhat am I looking at?โ ๐
Designed for active use ๐ช, the glasses are water-resistant, record in 3K video, offer 8 hours of battery life (up to 48 hours with the case ๐), and feature several upgrades over the previous Ray-Ban models. Meta is targeting fitness enthusiasts ๐ and outdoor adventurers ๐๏ธ with this release.
The goal is ambitious ๐โMeta aims to sell 10 million units annually by 2026 and significantly expand its lineup of smart eyewear ๐ง ๐ถ๏ธ.
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