DeepMind Opens AlphaFold 3, Amazon’s Research Grants, Perplexity’s Ads, & Instagram’s AI Tools

Happy Wednesday, AI & Data Enthusiasts! 

In today’s edition: 

• DeepMind Expands Access to AlphaFold 3 for Researchers Worldwide

• Amazon Offers $110M in Grants to Attract AI Researchers with 'Build on Trainium' Program

• Perplexity AI Rolls Out Ads with a Focus on Sustainable Revenue

• Instagram's is Testing A New AI Profile Picture Tool

- Naseema Perveen

WHAT CAUGHT OUR ATTENTION MOST

DeepMind Expands Access to AlphaFold 3 for Researchers Worldwide

Google DeepMind has taken a significant step in scientific research by open-sourcing AlphaFold 3, the latest version of its Nobel Prize-winning protein prediction model. For the first time, researchers can access both the code and training weights, unlocking new possibilities in biology and medicine.

• Breakthrough Technology: AlphaFold 3 can predict interactions between proteins and molecules, including DNA, RNA, and drug compounds, offering vast potential for scientific discovery.

• Accessible to Academia: The model is now available to academic researchers for non-commercial use, with commercial rights retained by DeepMind's spinoff, Isomorphic Labs.

• Mapping the Protein Universe: AlphaFold has already mapped over 200 million protein structures, bringing unmatched scale to the field of structural biology.

• Global Interest: Tech companies like Baidu and ByteDance have already adapted their own versions based on AlphaFold’s initial specifications.

By open-sourcing AlphaFold 3, DeepMind is fostering a new era of collaboration and innovation in life sciences. This move promises to accelerate breakthroughs, making advanced protein research accessible to institutions worldwide and transforming the future of biology and medicine.

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KEEP YOUR EYE ON IT

Amazon Offers $110M in Grants to Attract AI Researchers with 'Build on Trainium' Program

With Google’s Trillium and Microsoft’s Maia entering the AI chip race, Amazon Web Services (AWS) is making a bold move by launching a $110 million grant program, Build on Trainium, to support AI research. This initiative aims to entice researchers and universities to experiment with Amazon’s AI chips, Trainium, Inferentia, and Graviton.

• $110M in Grants and Credits: AWS will provide up to $11 million in Trainium credits to partnered universities, and up to $500,000 in individual grants to AI researchers and institutions.

• Access to Extensive Resources: AWS plans to create a “research cluster” with 40,000 Trainium chips available to research teams, aiming to close the infrastructure gap faced by academics in AI.

• Mixed Reactions from the AI Community: While some researchers welcome the funding, others question AWS's influence over academia, pointing to a potential bias toward commercially focused research.

• Commitment to Open Research: AWS states that grant recipients aren’t bound to the platform long-term, but must publish open-source research for broader community access.

With Build on Trainium, Amazon aims to strengthen its position in the AI field and support academic research. However, this initiative also raises questions about the growing influence of corporate funding on the direction of AI research. Only time will reveal its impact on academia and the future of AI advancements.

Perplexity AI Rolls Out Ads with a Focus on Sustainable Revenue

Perplexity, the AI-powered search engine, is taking a step toward monetization by launching an ad program in the U.S. This week, the platform will begin showing “sponsored follow-up questions” as it tests the integration of ads while maintaining the objectivity of its AI-generated responses.

• New Ad Format: Ads will appear as “sponsored follow-up questions” next to answers, clearly labeled as “sponsored,” and won’t impact the AI’s content generation.

• Brand Partnerships: Major partners like Indeed, Whole Foods, Universal McCann, and PMG have signed up, marking Perplexity’s premium ad offerings as a new revenue stream.

• Commitment to Objectivity: Perplexity assures users that sponsors won’t have influence over answers, nor access to users’ personal information, focusing on a trustworthy ad experience.

• Revenue Pressure: With lawsuits from publishers and $500 million in new funding in sight, Perplexity’s move comes amid rising pressure to diversify its revenue beyond Perplexity Pro subscriptions.

Perplexity’s ad program reflects the platform’s balancing act of generating revenue without compromising the user experience. As it scales, the company aims to offer advertisers a unique audience while preserving the objectivity and accuracy that sets its AI search apart.

Instagram's is Testing A New AI Profile Picture Tool

Instagram is testing its latest AI-driven tool for creating profile pictures. Reports reveal that the platform is experimenting with a feature allowing users to generate profile pictures using artificial intelligence, giving profiles a fresh, personalized touch.

• AI-Generated Profile Images: The new feature would enable users to create unique profile images with AI, adding a layer of personalization to their Instagram accounts.

• Leaked by a Developer: Developer Alessandro Paluzzi first shared a screenshot of the feature's menu, revealing a "Create an AI profile picture" option when updating profile photos.

• Meta’s Continued AI Push: This test is part of Meta’s broader effort to infuse AI into its platforms, enhancing user experience and creativity on Instagram.

• Testing Phase: Currently, the feature is in an experimental stage, and it’s unclear when—or if—it will be widely available to users.

Instagram’s AI-powered profile picture tool signals Meta’s commitment to blending AI with social media personalization. If launched, it could mark a new wave of creativity for users. Let's keep an eye on how this evolves!

🎤 VOICE YOUR OPINION

ICYMI

• Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) invests in AI Startup Fastino.

• Red Hat is acquiring AI optimization startup Neural Magic.

• TSMC pauses advanced chip shipments to Chinese companies amid US trade scrutiny.

• YouTube is now letting creators remix songs through AI prompting.

• X is testing a free version of AI chatbot Grok.

MONEY MATTERS

• Generative AI startup Writer raises $200M at a $1.9B valuation.

• Fleek, a marketplace for wholesale second-hand clothes, sews up $20M.

• DevRev raises over $100 million in Series A joins AI unicorn Club.

• Global AI market projections will rise to over $631 billion by 2028.

• AI investment in banking will be nearly $31.3 billion in 2024.

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