🔍 Report: AI catches $4B in fraud

Greetings! Your latest quick tech update is here 🤖

What’s happening:

• 🔍 AI catches $4B in fraud, says US Treasury report

• 💻 ChatGPT arrives on Windows with new features

• 🤝 Microsoft and OpenAI partnership shows signs of strain

• 🚗 Price barriers hold back mass EV adoption

• 🚫 X faces backlash over block feature change

• + 📊 Daily poll and results

• + 📈 Trending tools and resources

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What’s happening:

🔍 AI catches $4B in fraud, says US Treasury report ↗️LINK

• What: The US Department of the Treasury used artificial intelligence to recover $1 billion in check fraud during the 2024 fiscal year, contributing to a total of $4 billion in fraud prevention and recovery. AI helped detect hidden fraud patterns and prevent high-risk transactions.

• Why: The AI technology enabled faster, more accurate detection of fraudulent activity, saving taxpayer money and enhancing the efficiency of fraud prevention efforts. This marks a sixfold increase in recovered fraud compared to last year.

• Impact: While the technology proves effective, it also raises concerns about corporate control over AI and its expanding role in government operations, underscoring the need for scrutiny in its implementation.

💻 ChatGPT arrives on Windows with new features ↗️LINK

• What: OpenAI has launched a preview version of the ChatGPT app for Windows, offering users the ability to interact with files, photos, and the latest model improvements, although certain features like voice support are still limited.

• Why: The release is aimed at expanding accessibility to ChatGPT's capabilities, particularly for ChatGPT Plus, Team, Enterprise, and Edu users, ahead of a full version expected later this year.

• Impact: This marks a step toward integrating AI tools more seamlessly into everyday workflows on Windows, allowing users to multitask with features like file uploads, document summaries, and image creation through DALL-E 3.

🤝 Microsoft and OpenAI partnership shows signs of strain ↗️LINK

• What: The once strong partnership between Microsoft and OpenAI is showing signs of strain as financial pressures on OpenAI and disagreements over computing resources have caused friction. Microsoft initially invested heavily in OpenAI but is now hesitant to provide further funding, leading OpenAI to seek alternatives like Oracle.

• Why: OpenAI’s growing financial needs and dissatisfaction with Microsoft's exclusivity have led to tensions. Microsoft, concerned about over-reliance on OpenAI, has also invested in a competitor, Inflection, raising concerns among OpenAI staff.

• Impact: The strained partnership underscores the challenges for AI startups reliant on big tech for funding and computing power. While both companies continue to collaborate, the future of their relationship remains uncertain as OpenAI expands its investor base.

🚗 Price barriers hold back mass EV adoption ↗️LINK

• What: Data from automakers like General Motors and Mercedes-Benz, along with leasing trends, suggest that the primary barrier to widespread electric vehicle (EV) adoption is price. Affordable leases and incentives are driving sales, with leasing accounting for 42.7% of EV sales in mid-2024.

• Why: EV leasing has surged due to incentives and cheaper lease deals, making it easier for consumers to test EVs without full financial commitment. The high cost of outright purchasing an EV remains a significant hurdle for potential buyers.

• Impact: As affordable EV options grow, so does demand for better charging infrastructure. Automakers may lean further into leasing to push sales past the 10% adoption threshold, potentially accelerating the shift to electric vehicles.

🚫 X faces backlash over block feature change ↗️LINK

• What: X (formerly Twitter) announced a controversial change to its block feature that will allow blocked users to view the posts of those who blocked them, though they won’t be able to interact with the posts. The change has sparked a backlash from users concerned about harassment.

• Why: X claims the update will provide transparency by preventing users from hiding harmful information about those they block, but critics argue that blocking is primarily used to stop harassment and protect privacy.

• Impact: The update could put users at risk of continued harassment and endangerment, with many considering making their accounts private or leaving the platform for alternatives that support full blocking features.

Today’s Poll:

Vote and find out about the result in the next edition.

Yesterday’s Poll Result:

AI and Basic Math: Disappointment or Expected?

• A) Disappointment – AI should handle simple math by now - 53% 👑

• B) Expected – AI has known limitations in reasoning - 47%

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