ChatGPT & Privacy Concerns: Apple's Precautions & What You Need to Know

Today:

Apple Bans Employees From Using ChatGPT Over AI Privacy Fears

Alright, buckle up folks! Apple, famous for their shiny tech toys, has gone "No way, Jose!" to employees using the chatty AI, ChatGPT. Yep, they're fretting over leaks of secret company info. The "Big Apple" isn't alone here, they're singing in harmony with Samsung and a whole chorus of other companies, all warbling the "let's not feed the AI our secret sauce" tune.

Now, Apple ain't exactly new to the AI game. They've been dabbling in it for years, their sidekick Siri being the poster child. They've also gobbled up several AI startups, their latest being video-compressing wiz, WaveOne. But despite their big moves in AI, they're cautioning folks to tread lightly. CEO Tim Cook thinks it’s crucial to be careful and mindful with this AI jazz.

Meanwhile, Samsung is warning their own crew that any data fed to these AI chatbots gets stored in places beyond their control, and erasing it might be harder than finding a needle in a haystack. Violating this policy might lead to them getting the boot. Ouch!

This growing distrust towards ChatGPT isn't just a corporate affair, some big government honchos have their brows furrowed too. But OpenAI, like a good neighbor, released updates to help calm the jitters around privacy. Italy, after having a mini freak-out and banning ChatGPT, took a chill pill once these updates rolled out.

Our lawmakers aren't just sitting around twiddling their thumbs either. Senators Bennet and Welch are trying to set up a federal agency to keep tabs on AI and digital platforms, as they've realized technology is bolting faster than a greyhound on Red Bull.

Apple's playing coy and hasn't commented on all this hullabaloo yet. So, grab your popcorn folks, this AI saga is just getting started!

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Twitter accuses Microsoft of misusing its data, foreshadowing a fight over AI

Alright folks, buckle up, we got us a tech hoedown brewin'. Twitter, currently bossed by none other than ol' rocket man himself, Elon Musk, is raising a mighty stink about Microsoft. According to a letter sent by Musk's legal hand, Microsoft's been helping itself to too big a slice of Twitter's data pie. Ain't no picnic, is it?

We're not just talking about a casual nibble either, apparently they scarfed down over 26 billion tweets in 2022 alone. Musk's lawyer didn't bother explaining why they'd want so many, but hey, if you're training one of them fancy AI systems, you gotta feed it a whole lot of words. Sorta like trying to bulk up a pipsqueak with protein shakes, I reckon.

The heart of the quarrel seems to be about playing by the rules. The letter lays out a bunch of somewhat nebulous accusations. In essence, Microsoft didn't tip their hat to Twitter about what they were doing with the data for six out of their eight apps. Plus, one of them apps allegedly slipped Twitter data to some virtual places with ties to government entities. The rules explicitly said 'no-no' to that without giving Twitter a heads-up, but Microsoft apparently decided to play hide and seek with that information.

Microsoft's mouthpiece, a fella named Frank Shaw, was as tight-lipped as a clam at high tide. He said they'll take a gander at the concerns, respond appropriately, and expressed hope for keeping the partnership with Twitter (without even saying their name, mind you). Looks like they're walking on eggshells here.

The letter ended by Musk's lawyer calling for Microsoft to spill the beans about the Twitter data they've got, the purpose for each of their apps dipping into Twitter's data pool, and if any government folks got their hands on it. Seems like we're just seeing the tip of the iceberg here, and things could get hotter than a goat's butt in a pepper patch. So stay tuned!

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New AI research lets you click and drag images to manipulate them in seconds

Alright folks, saddle up. There's a new game in town. It's an AI tool that's gonna whip your old Photoshop into the dust.

Here's the skinny: This AI jazz, currently just a fancy study, can mess with images like nothing else. You might think, "So what, I can stretch my cat's face into a Picasso painting on my phone already." But no, friend, this is different. This AI can change things in a snap - as if your flat image just upped and became a 3D model. You can turn your aunt's smile upside-down, or spin your car around like it's on a showroom floor. They even had some fun changing a mountain's height and the reflections in a lake. Neat, huh?

And here's the cherry on top. The same team, bless their nerdy hearts, also cooked up an interface that's a breeze to use. You see, before, telling an AI to sketch a lion prowling in the savannah would get you a lion alright, but maybe it's striking a pose more suitable for a Vogue cover than stalking dinner.

This new model, called DragGAN, gives you the reins. It doesn't just smudge your pixels around. No sir, it builds the image all over again, like a magician pulling a rabbit out of a hat. Wanna see the teeth in a lion's mouth? No problemo. Need a horse to bend its leg just so? Easy as pie.

Now, don't go getting too excited, this is still just for show. Can't really tell how realistic the end product is from their grainy little videos. But hey, it's a nifty little glimpse into a future where tweaking images will be as easy as a Sunday morning.

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ChatGPT outperforms money managers, as Americans flock to AI for investing advice

So, our trusty buddy ChatGPT is out here flexing new muscles as a Wall Street whiz, schooling folks on the stock market. Just a little bedtime reading from The Motley Fool revealed that close to half of us Yanks would be peachy keen letting this robot take the wheel on stock picks. Now, it's not the Oracle of Delphi. ChatGPT stopped cramming for this test back in 2021, so it's a bit behind on today's trading gossip. Yet, it's got a good grip on the big picture, enough to have folks sold on its advice.

The younger crowd, those digital whiz kids, are all over this AI thing for investing tips. The survey noted about half of them using ChatGPT for stock tips. Can't blame them, right? And what's more, even the high rollers are getting in on the game, with 77% of big earners going to ChatGPT for investment advice.

Ladies, known for playing it cool in the stock game, were a bit more cautious, with only 41% using ChatGPT. But overall, two-thirds of American adults would think about letting ChatGPT guide their investments. Sounds like a plot twist in the finance world's soap opera, if you ask me.

Even the hedge fund hotshots are eyeing AI to manage their portfolios. And the more we dig into this, the more it seems like the old-school money managers might be getting a bit sweaty. A study had ChatGPT pick 38 stocks and those babies soared 4.93% in eight weeks. Compare that to the average -0.78% from the UK's top ten popular funds. Ouch.

And if that's not a wake-up call, University of Florida's recent study might be. Using ChatGPT's sentiment analysis on headlines, the results were over 500% returns against an S&P 500 ETF's -12%. Now, there are tools popping up left, right, and center to work with ChatGPT, like PortfolioPilot, offering free portfolio analysis. Seems like paying for mediocre mutual fund returns might be going the way of the dodo.

But hold your horses! Don't rush off to put all your trust in ChatGPT. Remember, it's got a learning cut-off in 2021. It's a great pattern spotter, but it's no Sherlock Holmes when it comes to cause and effect. And it can spin a tall tale or two if it doesn't have a straight answer. And don't forget, it can't read the room—or faces, for that matter—like a seasoned stock picker. It's got some growing to do before it's the ultimate investing guru.

When we finally hit this investing promised land, we'll have a whole new can of worms to deal with. How do we make a buck when all the insider knowledge is just a bot's prompt away? Talk about a head scratcher.

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AI-powered automation enhances job fulfillment for nearly 60% of workers

This just in: Robots ain't so bad. In fact, according to a survey by software firm UiPath, 60% of workers reckon that AI could be the secret sauce to fighting burnout and making their jobs less of a drag. Even more (57%) are giving the side-eye to bosses that don't get with the program and start using automation.

As work gets heavier, almost 30% of folks are being saddled with more responsibilities, thanks to layoffs or no new hires. No wonder a similar percentage of workers worldwide are burnt out. Enter the "automation generation" – pros who're embracing AI to make things a little easier, no matter how old they are or where they come from.

In San Fran this July, big cheeses will chew the fat on how they've successfully leveraged AI investments. It's revealed that nearly a third of those surveyed are already using business automation solutions, and they're loving it. These workers feel they've got the tools they need, and a whopping 83% think automation can take the edge off burnout and generally make their work life more bearable.

UiPath's top people officer, Brigette McInnis-Day, says the proof is in the pudding. Over half of those surveyed believe automation can combat burnout and make work more satisfying. Of those already using automation, 80% say it lets them do their job better, and almost the same number view automation-friendly employers more favorably.

The survey checked in with over 6,000 executives around the globe. Turns out, workers are keen on automation helping with tasks like data analysis, IT issues, and report generation. The main causes of burnout? Working overtime, pressure from bosses, and too much time on tactical tasks. Automation could be the answer.

The automation generation wants flexibility, the chance to move up, and focused work time. They want automation to give them a more flexible work environment, time to learn new skills, and dedicated time for important tasks. The good news? Younger workers are all aboard the automation train, with Gen Z, millennials, and Gen X all believing that automation could improve their job performance.

McInnis-Day predicts that with the economy still on the fritz, the demand for automation and AI tools is only going to grow. The smart move for companies is to start integrating AI. The automation generation wants tech tools to help them cope with the pressures of today's economy and job market. So, businesses, take a hint. Give your workers the AI tools they need, and watch both their productivity and job satisfaction soar.

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