Daniel Hulme

This article is a long read but well summarised by Ben Williamson and if you are interested in public services in the UK you should read it anyway

12

Firstly would like to commend Tony Blair Institute for Global Change Benedict Macon-Cooney and team for this report. It provides a comprehensive roadmap for accelerating UK's AI state capacities and transforming internal govt processes using state of the art LLMs and GenAI. Its a great start and something other countries might use as a blueprint, so kudos to providing a vision. While many governments have put out AI strategies, few have articulated a comprehensive vision for harnessing LLMs and GenAI on the scale of this UK report. This is desperately needed in times of accelerated technological change and nation states being under increasing strain, externally and internally. Some thoughts, more of constructive criticisms - Too much emphasis on current LLM capabilities i.e. GPT-4. Need to consider upcoming agentic and enhanced reasoning. - Doesn't really take into account enhanced multimodal aspects which are coming much sooner. How does this change governmental use of AI? - Not sure where they get the 30,000 GPU number? Shouldn't we be thinking in terms of FLOPS rather than GPUs as this will radically change in terms of FLOPS/GPU. - I really liked Zuckerberg's framing around GW AI data centers. If you want sovereign AI, you need GW AI data centers. Need more discussion. - The report does identify AI workload energy being 15% of UK energy demand by 2030. However no mention of nuclear as an option to power these. - Need more in-depth exploration of the human side and cultural side of the shift required. Its less technological and more people and processes. The report does provide good suggestions around Mission Control etc, but need more discussion around how to overcome the mindset of 'muddling through'. Some of this will require complete overhaul of departments and retrenchment of staff. Hard decisions to make and politically unpopular. Its great to save £40B per year but what does that mean politically and socially? https://lnkd.in/eXg636Hi

5

“I think they [brain-computer interfaces] are a kinda neat idea.” – Geoffrey Hinton. Thought-provoking episode on neurotech and brain-computer interfaces by Bloomberg Originals. Alongside insights from neurotech pioneers like Jacob Robinson, Thomas Oxley, and Conor Russomanno, a highlight was hearing Geoffrey Hinton, Nobel laureate and “Godfather of AI,” share his perspective on implantable chips. Interviewer: “Would you put a chip in your brain if you knew it could enhance your neurological functions?” Geoffrey Hinton: “If I knew it could enhance my neurological function and it wouldn’t have any nasty side effects, and there was a very high probability it wouldn’t kill me… yes, I would!” The key challenge? Building capable, less invasive, and safe chips. That’s exactly why MintNeuro exists. – Dorian #neurotech #braincomputerinterfaces #bci #neuralimplants #brainimplants #chips #brainchips #semiconductors

58

3 Comments

Considerations regarding Sovereign AI and National AI Policy If you are interested in Sovereign AI Policy, this whitepaper by David Shrier is a very good read. #SovereignAI #AI #Policy

3

Recent research out this week in Nature Magazine shows that when humans and AI work together, they're really good at coming up with new ideas and solving problems. This is in line with Mindhive's goal of bringing together different points of view, having meaningful discussions, and using AI as a helpful partner instead of the one who makes decisions. In a time when AI is often used to make decisions for everyone, Mindhive believes in real, flexible teamwork where everyone's opinion matters. One strong endorsement from the paper for Mindhive's approach is its finding that human-AI collaboration is particularly effective in tasks requiring creativity and open-ended problem-solving rather than purely decision-based tasks. This aligns well with Mindhive's emphasis on nuanced, iterative dialogue that respects diverse perspectives and enhances collective intelligence—an approach that leverages AI as a collaborative partner rather than a decision-making replacement, ultimately fostering deeper, more meaningful engagement. #AI #Augmentation #Collaboration #CollectiveIntelligence #Innovation Tom Lounibos Ben Johnston Ryan Shanks Alex Trott Kelly Brough Nelis Verhoef Karl W. Kelvin Desman Uzi Bar-On Brayden Towns

21

4 Comments

AI is transforming the business world, yet many companies in the UK still stand on the sidelines—unsure of how to adopt it or skeptical of its value. In my latest blog, I dive deep into the barriers holding companies back from AI adoption, explore the incredible benefits, and shed light on the risks of ignoring this game-changing technology. ✍️ The AI Adoption Dilemma in UK Businesses for 2024-2025 -https://lnkd.in/ecxm_T5w #AIinBusiness #UKBusiness #ArtificialIntelligence #Innovation #FutureReady

3

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is increasingly unpopular - even amongst ostensibly liberal institutions like Harvard University Yet, when #academic #institutions and private organizations move away from DEI, new problems reinforce the traditional barriers to "marginalized communities." A prime example is the phenomenon of #asianamericans experiencing disappointing enrollment results at elite institutions after recent rollbacks of #dei programs at Ivy League universities. Sarah El Gharib - HOW should businesses, institutions, and organizations solve the dilemma - while reimagining DEI to improve prospects for VC funding and future advancement to leadership roles? We would greatly appreciate the effort if you could provide excellent research and resource recommendations. 👩‍🎓

5

1 Comment

As long as investment capitalists like #elonmusk drive how publically funded technology research initiatives and development programs operate, public interest WILL NOT be a factor in technology design, development, and governance. The only solution to these recalcitrant problems plaguing DEI efforts in #technology innovation and #stem is to allocate specific numbers and types of technological development research projects for public use and benefit. That means NO LONGER selling or giving the results of publically funded technology research and development programs away to investment capitalists. I wish you good luck with that. 🤷‍♀️

5

"Exploring the Conscious Universe: Philip Goff's Philosophical Journey" Philip Goff, a distinguished philosopher at Durham University, explores profound questions about the universe's existence in his latest book, "Why? The Purpose Of The Universe." In this work, he introduces the concept of Cosmopsychism, which posits that the universe itself may possess consciousness. A key element of Goff's theory is the "fine-tuning" of the universe, which he argues suggests a deliberate calibration rather than mere chance. He points to the intricate organization of atoms as evidence of this sophisticated design. Goff also addresses the difficult issue of evil and suffering in the world, questioning their coexistence with traditional views of a benevolent deity. He offers a reinterpretation of God's role, suggesting a shift from a benevolent overseer to that of a cosmic architect. This notion of a conscious universe invites us to rethink our role within it. Goff proposes that our actions may serve a larger cosmic purpose, enriching our understanding of life's meaning. Goff's perspectives challenge traditional views and encourage a deeper contemplation of our origins and the broader cosmic context, urging us to ponder the vast mysteries of the cosmos and our place within it. #Cosmopsychism #PhilipGoff #UniversePurpose #FineTuningUniverse #PhilosophyOfExistence

5

Recently the tech community (myself included) celebrated The Nobel Prize awarded to Geoffrey Hinton and Demis Hassabis in Chemistry and Physics. The fact that both of these awards recognised the potential and beneficial impact of #AI was a statement of confidence in this still-emerging technology. However, something I also appreciate that I have not yet seen called out is that the winners here are role models for the safe and responsible deployment of AI, not just for its astonishing progress. Geoffrey and Demis are both leaders in this field, and both were also among the founding signatories of the Centre for AI Safety’s statement on AI risk last year. That statement read: “Mitigating the risk of extinction from AI should be a global priority alongside other societal-scale risks such as pandemics and nuclear war”. https://lnkd.in/gndcx_5P  Of course, it is important to have role models and experts who can see and realise the potential of AI — but it’s crucial that they also have an eye on shaping this technology in a sustainable way. Listen to Demis speak to this topic and what he hopes for with AI’s progress: https://lnkd.in/gPN6x_vZ

93

Mighty impressed with this trio of #innovators / #planetwarriors from Eton College #UK and South #China Normal University, the creators behind #ReefSound, a #Coralreef health monitoring #AI, #underwatervehicle and #hydrophone device called #Reefbox becoming one of the finalists at the #2024 #ConradInnovationSummit. ReefSound is a disruptive innovation that uses AI to analyze the health of coral reefs based on their sound recordings. Research has shown that the sound produced by coral reefs is an excellent indicator of their health. Healthy reefs are habitats to Alpheidae snapping shrimps, which create distinct popping sounds, giving healthy reefs a “frying” sound. Conversely, degraded coral reefs are much quieter as they inhabit fewer organisms. ReefSound’s core product is an ensemble of two AI models; users input one-minute-long coral recordings, which the AI identifies as healthy or degraded. https://www.reefsound.org/

5

Hi friends, Last week was truly astonishing. Two prominent figures in AI, Geoffrey Hinton and Demis Hassabis, were awarded the Nobel Prizes in Physics and Chemistry, respectively. I wrote my article about this. Hope you enjoy that! Cheers Toshi #agi #AlphaGo #generativeAI #NobelPrizeinChemistry #NobelPrizeinPhysics https://lnkd.in/gUWAQg4U

1

Will quantum computing, not AI, define our future? Now, there's the burning question at "The City Quantum & AI Summit" at the Mansion House in the City of London on Monday 2 October, hosted by summit founder Karina Robinson FCSI (Hon) and Lord Mayor Michael Mainelli. His AI initiative https://lnkd.in/etwwBsqt led by the 695th Lord Mayor of London: Ethical AI Steering Group, part of the wider Connect To Prosper programme, has brought huge improvements this past year in understanding of the opportunities and risks in AI, and how these intertwine with quantum. Karina has written an excellent analysis on the intersection between AI and quantum and how it will impact our sector in our The Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (The CISI) magazine, available to members online. She is keen to welcome our community and indeed the wider financial world to this glittering event in a bid to ensure the City leverages its world-leading role by adopting this world-changing technology. "The interaction between quantum and AI is the most exciting development in modern-day technologies," she writes. "The hype cycle is focused on AI, but in the words of Lord (William) Hague, speaking recently at Imperial College: 'Quantum computers can provide AI with the computational firepower needed to unlock their full potential. This means that if the country can lead on quantum computers, we can secure a lead on AI. And if we fall behind on quantum, we will likely fall behind on AI.' "The essence of quantum is that it isn’t binary – even today’s supercomputers are – but instead allows for multiple possibilities at the same time, making it ideal for optimisation problems. And the UK has the second largest number of quantum start-ups in the world, plus a significant and evolving quantum strategy. “There are two misapprehensions about quantum. The first is that it is prohibitively expensive because of the construction costs of a quantum computer and the environment in which it needs to be kept. In fact, companies can access time on one via the Cloud, with Microsoft Azure and AWS, among others, offering it as a service used by banks like HSBC and JPMorgan. “The mind-boggling possibilities of AI using quantum as its underpinning technology is one of the reasons I founded the summit. The annual event, now in its third year, brings together the City and the quantum community, with three principles: free for all; no jargon, no lingo, only understandable language; gender-balanced panels.” For full details see https://lnkd.in/e2fy_rpb

63

4 Comments

So no OpenAI voice for the UK! From reading this then does this act impact all Omni LLM models that have any for of sentiment analysis - or even non LLM's for that matter... The wording in the act identifies "Banned applications" as follows: The new rules ban certain AI applications that threaten citizens’ rights, including biometric categorisation systems based on sensitive characteristics and untargeted scraping of facial images from the internet or CCTV footage to create facial recognition databases. Emotion recognition in the workplace and schools, social scoring, predictive policing (when it is based solely on profiling a person or assessing their characteristics), and AI that manipulates human behaviour or exploits people’s vulnerabilities will also be forbidden. I can't see anywhere that suggests that this technology should be banned. It does specifically call for more transparency and rules around these models, which may be a reason that a release would be delayed. If anyone is able to shed more light on this it would be appreciated... and before anyone asks, I am no longer sure of what 'EU rules' apply to the UK since we left so no point asking me that one either. https://lnkd.in/ebcd24ze

4

2 Comments

#DigitalCommonwealth 😆😆#MansionHouse Summit in #London - what a great day!! Thanks James Bowater and Darren Parkin. Here are the key takeaways: Keynote Highlight: #JamesFiero from #EcoCapacityExchange presented a groundbreaking approach to value exchange. He introduced a system that allows people to exchange not just money, but various forms of value, revolutionizing traditional economic transactions and fostering a more inclusive economy. #Tokenization of #RealWorldAssets: Antony Abell from #TPXPropertyExchange discussed the tokenization of real estate assets, providing a new way for individuals to invest in property through digital tokens. This method increases accessibility and liquidity in the real estate market. William Ralston Saul from Jade City showcased their innovative project of tokenizing jade from Kazakhstan. This approach not only preserves the value of this precious resource but also opens up new investment opportunities in the gemstone market. Tokenization of assets is emerging as a hot topic and a game-changer in various industries. #AI in #Gaming: I had the pleasure of participating in a panel with Amit Pradhan from #Rainfall, Simon Barry from #NoBioticsAI, and Robby Yung from #Animoca Brands. We explored how AI is transforming the gaming industry, from enhancing player experiences to improving game design and development processes. It was fascinating to hear about the innovative ways these companies are integrating AI to create more immersive and intelligent gaming environments. The event provided a comprehensive overview of critical topics in the #blockchain and AI sectors. We explored advances in #cybersecurity, ensuring that #digitalassets and transactions remain secure. Discussions on #stablecoins highlighted their growing importance in providing a reliable means of exchange within the volatile cryptocurrency market. Additionally, new projects were showcased, demonstrating the continuous evolution and innovation within the industry.

50

7 Comments

Jonathan Birch on the edge cases of sentience and why they matter | Podcast In today’s episode, host Luisa Rodriguez speaks to Dr Jonathan Birch — philosophy professor at the London School of Economics — about his new book, The Edge of Sentience: Risk and Precaution in Humans, Other Animals, and AI. (Check out the free PDF version!) They cover: Candidates for sentience — such as humans with consciousness disorders, foetuses, neural organoids, invertebrates, and AIs. Humanity’s history of acting as if we’re sure that such beings are incapable of having subjective experiences — and why Jonathan thinks that that certainty is completely unjustified. Chilling tales about overconfident policies that probably caused significant suffering for decades. How policymakers can act ethically given real uncertainty. Whether simulating the brain of the roundworm C. elegans or Drosophila (aka fruit flies) would create minds equally sentient to the biological versions. How new technologies like brain organoids could replace animal testing, and how big the risk is that they could be sentient too. Why Jonathan is so excited about citizens’ assemblies. Jonathan’s conversation with the Dalai Lama about whether insects are sentient. And plenty more. 👉 https://lnkd.in/dyeTabiy #machinelearning

1

We finally have a definition for #OpenSource #AI https://lnkd.in/e7Teq_Mf #GenerativeAI @yannon_ @odonnell_jm @techreview

23

I recently chatted with Dave Carr about his groundbreaking project Neolyfe and his incredible 5-year journey in the decentralized, Web3 space. From his pioneering days at Decentraland to shaping the future of commerce and entertainment through spatial computing, Dave's insights are nothing short of visionary. We touch on RTFKT, Tommy Hilfiger, Dot.Swoosh, IKEA, Roblox, Starbucks, Amazon, Apple to identify all the learnings and how to utilize those for the next phase. 🔍💡 If you're curious about the cutting-edge digital landscapes, you'll want to hear what he has to say about the potential of these evolving technologies. #Innovation #Web3 #SpatialComputing #Neolife #DigitalTransformation

5