Microsoft’s Faster Copilot, Newsom Questions SB 1047, Google’s AI Image Flags, & California’s Deepfake Crackdown

Happy Wednesday, AI & Data Enthusiasts! Tech giants are rapidly embracing AI, as of today Microsoft adds faster Copilot to Excel and Word. At the same time, ethical concerns have become a major issue across politics, film, and media, prompting stricter AI regulations. Discover more on these developments and other key updates in today’s newsletter.

In today’s edition: 

• Microsoft adds faster Copilot to Excel and Word

• Governor Newsom Raises Concerns Over AI Bill SB 1047: “It Has Problems”

• Google to Flag AI-Generated Images in Search: What You Need to Know

• California’s New AI Laws Target Election Deepfakes and Hollywood Actor Clones

- Naseema Perveen

WHAT CAUGHT OUR ATTENTION MOST

Microsoft adds faster Copilot to Excel and Word

Microsoft has launched Wave 2 of Microsoft 365 Copilot, introducing new features to enhance collaboration, productivity, and automation. From Copilot Pages to Python integration in Excel, the updates are designed to revolutionize the way businesses interact with AI across Microsoft 365 apps. 

• Copilot Pages: A dynamic, collaborative canvas for real-time AI-driven teamwork, enabling users to build reusable digital artifacts.

• Excel with Python: Now integrating Python for advanced data analysis and machine learning, simplifying complex data tasks.

• Copilot Agents: AI-powered agents that automate business processes, helping teams scale operations with ease.

• Improved Performance: Copilot now operates twice as fast with enhanced satisfaction rates, thanks to over 700 updates and new features.

Microsoft 365 Copilot Wave 2 brings groundbreaking tools for organizations to boost efficiency and productivity. With real-time collaboration, advanced data handling, and automation, Copilot continues to evolve as a crucial AI companion for modern businesses. Stay tuned for more exciting updates in the coming months.

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH 1440 MEDIA

For Those Who Seek Unbiased News.

Be informed with 1440! Join 3.5 million readers who enjoy our daily, factual news updates. We compile insights from over 100 sources, offering a comprehensive look at politics, global events, business, and culture in just 5 minutes. Free from bias and political spin, get your news straight.

Join for free today!

KEEP YOUR EYE ON IT

Governor Newsom Raises Concerns Over AI Bill SB 1047: “It Has Problems”

Governor Gavin Newsom is navigating a complex decision on California's AI bill, SB 1047, which aims to regulate AI and prevent potential disasters. As the bill faces heavy opposition and support from both industry leaders and researchers, Newsom expressed his thoughts on the bill during the 2024 Dreamforce conference.

• Challenges with SB 1047: Governor Newsom acknowledged issues with the bill, emphasizing the need for regulations that prevent reckless AI use without stifling innovation. SB 1047’s focus on preventing catastrophic events is seen as insufficient for addressing more immediate AI risks.

• Balancing Risks and Innovation: Newsom pointed out the difficulty in regulating AI while maintaining California’s dominance in the sector, expressing concerns about the long-term impact of poorly designed legislation.

• Current AI Regulation Efforts: While he hasn’t decided on SB 1047, Newsom signed five AI-related bills into law earlier, addressing pressing concerns like AI-generated election misinformation and AI clones in Hollywood.

With only two weeks to decide on SB 1047, Governor Newsom faces a tough decision, balancing industry interests with the need for responsible AI regulation. The outcome of this decision could significantly shape California’s leadership in the AI landscape.

Google to Flag AI-Generated Images in Search: What You Need to Know

Google is taking steps to enhance transparency in its Search results by flagging images that have been generated or edited by AI tools. As AI-generated content continues to rise, this move aims to combat misinformation and improve user trust in the images they encounter online.

• AI-Generated Image Flagging: Google will soon flag AI-generated or AI-edited images in its Search results through the "About this image" window, as well as on Google Lens and Android’s Circle to Search feature.

• C2PA Metadata: The flagging system will rely on C2PA metadata, a technical standard that tracks an image's origin and edits. While major companies like Google, Amazon, and Adobe back this standard, it hasn’t yet seen widespread adoption across the industry.

• Challenges Ahead: Not all AI-generated images include C2PA metadata, which can also be removed or corrupted. This creates a challenge for fully identifying AI content, but Google hopes this step will address the growing issue of deepfake-related scams.

As deepfakes become more prevalent, this initiative represents Google’s commitment to curbing the spread of AI-generated misinformation. While the system has its limitations, it’s a step in the right direction in the fight against AI manipulation online.

California’s New AI Laws Target Election Deepfakes and Hollywood Actor Clones

California is tightening its regulations on AI with a set of new laws aimed at addressing the misuse of AI in politics and entertainment. Governor Gavin Newsom signed five bills on Tuesday, three of which specifically focus on the rise of election deepfakes, while two others target unauthorized AI cloning of actors.

• Election Deepfakes: New laws require large platforms, like Facebook and X, to remove or label AI-generated content related to elections. Politicians can seek legal action if platforms don't comply.

• AI in Political Ads: Another law mandates clear disclosures for AI-generated political ads, marking a shift in how AI may influence elections.

• Actor Clones: Hollywood studios must now obtain consent before creating AI replicas of actors, both living and deceased, thanks to new standards supported by SAG-AFTRA.

These laws mark a major step in regulating AI’s influence in key sectors. With California leading the charge, the rest of the nation will be watching how these rules shape the AI landscape moving forward.

🎤 VOICE YOUR OPINION

ICYMI

• OpenAI could shake up its nonprofit structure next year.

• Runway announces an API for its video generation models.

• Generative AI startup Typeface acquires two companies, Treat and Narrator.

• White House launches AI data center task force.

• OpenAI unveils o1: A new 'reasoning' AI model.

MONEY MATTERS

• Flink, the quick commerce startup, raises another $150M at a valuation of just under $1B

• Salesforce Ventures ups its AI fund to $1B, doubling it again.

• Microsoft, BlackRock to launch $30bn fund for AI infrastructure.

• OpenAI aims to raise at least $5bn at $150bn valuation.

• 11x.ai raises $24M led by Benchmark to build AI digital employees.

LINKS WE’RE LOVIN’

✅ Podcast: Stephen Wolfram discusses ChatGPT and the Nature of Truth, Reality & Computation | Lex Fridman Podcast #376.

✅ Cheat sheet: Deep Learning with PyTorch Cheat Sheet.

✅ Course: Introduction to Data Visualization with Matplotlib. 

✅ Whitepaper: Learn how AI Chatbots can benefit your business. 

✅ Watch: Apple Watch Series 10 Review by Adru Edwards.

SHARE THE NEWSLETTER & GET REWARDS

Your referral count: 0

Or copy & paste your referral link to others: https://youraiexperience.beehiiv.com/subscribe?ref=PLACEHOLDER

That’s all for now. And, thanks for staying with us. If you have specific feedback, please let us know by leaving a comment or emailing us. We are here to serve you!

Join 130k+ AI and Data enthusiasts by subscribing to our LinkedIn page.

Become a sponsor of our next newsletter and connect with industry leaders and innovators.