Happy belated Thanksgiving from the AILA team! Here are some AI news developments from the past two weeks. We also included a book, a quick watch and some AI tools to explore as we head into the holiday season.
Featured AI News
It’s hard to keep up with all the AI-related News these days, but here are a couple stories that have us thinking and discussing. Let us know what AI News stories have you riveted!
AI Shopping Assistants are here to help this Holiday Season
Looking for the perfect gift this holiday season? Many major online retail companies have developed AI shopping assistants that can help you with more than just sizing and returns. Companies like Amazon, IKEA, and Victoria’s Secret have all been developing AI chat assistants that give you personalized suggestions on gifts for your family, friends, or loved ones. Some even go so far as to find the best deals on the market.
Although many of these programs are still in preliminary stages, they are learning quickly and have the potential to change what online shopping looks like in the future.
U.S. Tightens Restrictions on China’s Access to AI Memory
On Monday, the U.S. announced restrictions on the sales of two dozen types of semiconductors to Chinese tech companies as an effort to slow China’s AI development. This is part of an ongoing race on AI development that has created increasing tensions between the two nations. The new policies address the U.S.’s concern with China having an edge in potential future military conflicts, especially as tensions rise in Taiwan. China’s Ministry of Commerce condemned this move, the strongest yet, later on Monday.
Don’t forget to check out some of our latest blog posts and leave your comments and reflections to keep the conversation going!
AILA Recommended Read
Looking for a new read? Here are some recommendations from the AILA staff of novels that might give you a new perspective on Artificial Intelligence.
Nexus
by Yuval Noah Harari
| Nexus is a compelling exploration by Yuval Noah Harari, focusing on the future of humanity in the age of advanced technology. In this work, Harari delves into the rapid development of artificial intelligence, genetic engineering, and biotechnology, and how these innovations are reshaping human identity and society. He examines the ethical and philosophical challenges posed by AI and other emerging technologies, pondering how they might blur the lines between human and machine. With his signature clarity, Harari highlights the potential risks and rewards of these advancements, urging readers to think critically about their impact on our future. |
AILA Recommended Watch
Looking for a new read? Here are some recommendations from the AILA staff of novels that might give you a new perspective on Artificial Intelligence.
Black Mirror: Be Right Back
Season 2, Episode 1
| Martha mourns the death of her boyfriend, Ash, when a family member mentions a service that is able to bring back an artificially intelligent version of the dead. Skeptical at first, loneliness and grief soon drew her to reconnect with her deceased lover through his AI proxy. This 50-minute Black Mirror episode explores the role and morality of AI in keeping memories of the dead alive. |
Featured AI Tool
Our AI Mentorship and Tools team is always exploring new applications of AI. Here we feature some of our favorites. Please explore these tools freely with your personal account, but be mindful of bias, accuracy, content ownership, and use of personally identifiable information with these tools. Institutions are evaluating the use and configuration of AI-based tools, so please check with your IT department before using these tools with college or institutional systems or data.
| Sizzle stands out by emphasizing active learning. Beyond just answering questions, it creates interactive exercises and quizzes across various subjects, from analyzing Frida Kahlo’s symbolism to mastering objects– oriented programming in Python. Guiding students to find solutions independently, significantly boosts problem-solving skills. What makes Sizzle unique is its focus on visualization, interactive simulations, and real-time feedback. Whether tackling topics in the sciences or humanities, it transforms complex concepts into engaging, hands-on learning experiences, making it an invaluable tool for deep, meaningful education. |
| Unscreen is an AI tool designed for removing backgrounds from videos or GIFs, making it particularly useful for filmography majors. Since green screens aren’t always available on the go, Unscreen offers an efficient solution by automatically isolating subjects from the video, allowing users to insert custom backgrounds with ease. This is especially beneficial for VFX tasks, where manually masking a moving subject would otherwise consume a significant amount of time. By automating this process, users can focus more on color blending and fine-tuning the final visuals. However, one drawback is that the tool works best with high-resolution videos and subjects that have a strong contrast with the background for optimal results. |
The Artificial Intelligence in the Liberal Arts initiative at Amherst College aims to engage a broad, interdisciplinary community of participants in discussions and activities related to artificial intelligence, exploring and facilitating multi-way interactions between work in artificial intelligence and work across the liberal arts. Our newsletter contains the latest AI-related events, tools, scholarship, and news in AI.