AI News Tab #2 - From football scouting to dog translators
AI news that caught my eye.
I've scoured the entire internet - okay, maybe not all of it, but definitely a solid chunk of it - and here’s some AI news that caught my eye.
OpenAI stumbles (again), Meta gets even creepier, and generative AI funding hits $56B. AI is everywhere - and it’s only January.
TL;DR
Grammarly acquires Coda to expand its generative AI arsenal, while Microsoft commits a jaw-dropping $80 billion to AI data centers in 2025. Tech leaders like Bill Gates predict generative AI will become as essential as electricity. Apple, Google, and Microsoft double down on AI-powered search, and Meta uses AI to predict user behavior.
Generative AI funding hit $56 billion in 2024, but not all news is rosy—platforms like Fable AI are criticized for reinforcing biases, and OpenAI faces delays on its Media Manager Tool while grappling with outages.
On the lighter side, Traini’s AI app promises to decode pet sounds, and AI might soon scout football’s next superstars. In the music world, Anthropic teams up with publishers to address copyright issues, and NovaQore reminds us that, despite AI’s dominance, the human touch is still indispensable.
From transformative innovations to ethical dilemmas, AI continues to shape 2025 in unexpected ways.
News
Let’s kick things off with a surprising acquisition: Grammarly has snapped up Coda. Why? To double down on generative AI. The goal? Create tools that not only help you write but also plan, organize, and brainstorm - think of it as your new creative Swiss Army knife. The era of AI as your personal assistant is here, and Grammarly clearly wants the job.
Over in the big money corner of AI, Microsoft has announced they’ll spend a staggering $80 billion on AI data centers in fiscal year 2025. Let that sink in. This isn’t pocket change - it’s an infrastructure overhaul designed to dominate AI computing power. Microsoft isn’t just betting on AI; it’s building the casino.
And speaking of bets, Business Insider got tech leaders like Bill Gates and Amazon’s CTO to share their 2025 predictions. What’s top of mind? Generative AI evolving into something as commonplace as electricity, AI-assisted healthcare breakthroughs, and an all-out arms race in the cloud space. Oh, and AI helping solve global challenges like hunger and climate change. Impossible? Maybe not.
MIT’s Technology Review highlighted how Apple, Google, and Microsoft are all doubling down on generative AI search. AI search isn’t just the future - it’s the now. Whether it’s answering your burning questions or helping you find the perfect meme, generative AI is fundamentally changing how we search for - and think about - information.
Over at Meta, they’re busy using generative AI to better understand user intent. Translation: They’re mining your behavior to guess what you want before you even know it. Convenient or creepy? That’s for you to decide.
Meanwhile, generative AI is living its best life. VentureBeat reports that funding for generative AI projects hit an all-timehigh in 2024. According to data from financial tracker PitchBook compiled for TechCrunch, generative AI companies worldwide raised $56 billion from VCs in 2024 across 885 deals.With numbers like this, it’s safe to say the money train isn’t slowing down anytime soon.
But not all AI is rosy. The New York Times spotlighted Fable AI, a platform accused of reinforcing racial biases in AI-generated books. It’s a stark reminder that AI still reflects the biases of its training data. As much as it’s a tool for progress, it’s also a mirror to our flaws.
And in the music world, Anthropic has teamed up with publishers to address copyright concerns in AI-generated music. With companies scrambling to find a middle ground between innovation and intellectual property, this partnership could set a precedent for how AI and creativity coexist. Fingers crossed it doesn’t turn into another delay-fest.
On a lighter (and stranger) note, Traini has launched a generative AI app for pets. The startup claims the app’s core feature - a GenAI dog-human language translator - is designed to decode subtle pet sounds and emotions. Their pitch? It could facilitate more empathetic interactions between humans and their furry friends. Needed? You decide.
AI is also inching its way into the world of football (soccer for my American friends). Coaches might soon be using AI to scout the next superstar. Imagine algorithms analyzing games and identifying talent. Whether you love it or hate it, AI is set to be a game-changer - literally.
And OpenAI have made headlines for all the wrong reasons. They’ve delayed the launch of their highlyanticipated Media Manager Tool, which was supposed to help creators opt out of having their work fed into AI training datasets. Turns out, protecting copyrights isn’t as simple as flipping a switch. Creators are left wondering - when exactly will they get control over their own work? Not this quarter, apparently. (Classic.)
But OpenAI isn’t just struggling with promises; they’re also dealing with outages. In December, ChatGPT went offline, and OpenAI is pointing fingers at their cloud provider. “It’s not us, it’s them.” (Sounds familiar?)
And finally in news, NovaQore reminds us that even in this age of generative AI dominance, human input is still king. They argue that while AI can churn out content, it’s the human touch that brings depth, nuance, and creativity. After all, the best tools still need skilled hands to use them.
On Substack
On Substack Notes,
asks…“Can you guys stop using AI art for your post icons and just DM me your draft and I will illustrate or draw or paint something quick yet sincere. I dont care. It breaks my heart to see that shit coming from this crowd”
The Note sparked quite the exchange, as you’d expect. Honestly, it feels a bit like asking the tide to stop rolling in - noble, but futile.
foresees mass censorship of generative AI with bills like TRAIGA.If AI governance is your thing,
is encouraging you to read Florence G’sell’s report ‘Regulating under Uncertainty: Governance Options for Generative AI.’If it’s tech that floats your boat,
shares 24 latest AI Open Source Projects of the week.And finally,
has helpfully analysed 800 jobs and 16,000 tasks in order to pinpoint the top 12 areas where AI agents are poised to make the greatest impact.That’s all for today! If you feel that you got some value from this, please consider subscribing and sharing.