🛑Neither world nor OpenAI is ready for AGI

AND: More tech updates from LinkedIn and Apple

Roni Rahman
October 24, 2024

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What: Miles Brundage, head of OpenAI’s AGI readiness team, has resigned, expressing concern that neither OpenAI nor any other lab is prepared for the development of AGI (Artificial General Intelligence). He intends to continue his AI policy research in the nonprofit sector, where he feels he can have a broader impact.
Why: Brundage pointed to the company’s focus on commercial products over AI safety as a factor, urging employees to remain vigilant about addressing concerns. His departure follows a string of high-profile exits, including the CTO and other research leaders, amid growing internal disagreements over OpenAI's direction.
Impact: This departure signals significant turbulence within OpenAI’s leadership, particularly on its AI safety front. As AGI development progresses, Brundage’s warning adds to growing scrutiny around the technology’s potential risks and the readiness of organizations to manage them responsibly.

What: Apple’s generative AI platform, Apple Intelligence, will be available next week with the release of iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1. It includes features like integrated writing tools, image cleanup, and Siri enhancements. Devices with A17 Pro chips or M1 processors and later can access it.
Why: Apple Intelligence aims to bring generative AI to a wide range of devices, enhancing user experience with new creative tools and improved assistance. The phased rollout helps Apple manage server loads as some features require off-device processing.
Impact: This marks Apple’s significant entry into the generative AI space, but hardware limitations mean only newer devices will benefit. It signals Apple’s approach to AI, prioritizing control and a gradual rollout to maintain stability and performance.

What: LinkedIn was fined €310 million (~$335 million) by Ireland’s Data Protection Commission for violating GDPR in its ad tracking practices. The company used invalid justifications like “consent” and “legitimate interests” for processing personal data.
Why: The fine highlights the need for legal compliance in data processing and transparency. LinkedIn failed to properly inform users about how their data was collected and used for targeted ads, breaching GDPR's fairness and transparency requirements.
Impact: LinkedIn has three months to comply with GDPR. This fine reinforces strict enforcement of data privacy rules, sending a clear message to other tech companies.

What: Microsoft’s Threat Analysis Center (MTAC) has warned that foreign actors from Russia, China, and Iran are actively targeting the US presidential election. These operations involve AI-generated content, deepfakes, and character attacks, particularly aimed at the Trump and Harris campaigns and down-ballot Republican candidates.
Why: These foreign disinformation campaigns aim to undermine trust in the election process, spread false narratives, and sow division. Despite their varying success, the influence of such tactics can significantly impact public perception.
Impact: As Election Day approaches, MTAC predicts that disinformation efforts will escalate, with heightened use of AI media. This could undermine trust in vote security and potentially destabilize the US political landscape. Vigilance is required from voters, institutions, and candidates.

What: Three industry groups representing telecom, home security, and internet advertisers have filed a lawsuit to block the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) new "Click to Cancel" rule. The rule requires companies to provide the same method for canceling a service as was used to sign up, such as allowing online cancellations if the subscription was started online.
Why: The groups argue that the rule, which applies to any auto-renewing subscription, is overly broad and an "abuse of discretion." The companies say the FTC is trying to regulate contracts across all industries, making it harder for businesses to operate.
Impact: If successful, the lawsuit could prevent the rule from taking effect and leave consumers dealing with difficult and time-consuming cancellation processes. If the rule is enforced, it will make cancellations much simpler, benefiting consumers by eliminating frustrating barriers to stopping subscriptions.

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