New AI video features launched at YouTube event
During the recent ‘Made on YouTube’ event, several new features were announced, with the highlight being the integration of AI into YouTube Shorts. The company is incorporating Google DeepMind’s AI video generation model, Veo, first introduced at Google’s I/O 2024. This integration will allow creators to generate high-quality backgrounds and six-second video clips in various cinematic styles. Veo is capable of producing 1080p clips and is positioned to compete with similar AI tools from OpenAI, Runway, and others. It is considered an upgrade to YouTube‘s Dream Screen, launched in 2023, and is intended to enhance the content creation process by making it smoother and more dynamic.
The new Veo-powered feature in Dream Screen allows creators to choose from AI-generated images and convert them into short video clips, enabling smoother transitions in content creation. This tool is expected to enhance storytelling on Shorts, for instance, by adding cityscapes or filler scenes to enrich the narrative. The resulting videos will be watermarked using DeepMind’s SynthID technology to indicate that they are AI-produced content.
YouTube has introduced new features to improve user interaction in addition to the Veo update. One of these features is “Jewels,” which allows viewers to send digital items to creators during livestreams, similar to TikTok’s gifting option. The platform has also expanded its automatic dubbing tool to cover more languages and is testing more expressive voice dubbing. Furthermore, YouTube has added AI brainstorming tools for video ideas, AI-generated thumbnails, and AI-assisted comments to help creators engage more effectively with their audiences.
Somerset to introduce AI cameras for road safety
Authorities in South West England are set to introduce new AI cameras on the A361 near Frome, Somerset, in a bid to reduce road deaths after a rise in serious crashes. The technology will be used to detect speeding, mobile phone use, and seatbelt violations. Nine people have died on this road in less than two years.
The Avon and Somerset Police have already taken action, positioning unmarked cars and using speed detection equipment on the A361. Since the start of 2023, there have been 22 serious or fatal accidents along the route. Officials aim to improve public confidence in road safety measures.
The parents of two sisters killed in a high-speed crash on the A361 last year have criticised the lack of action. They believe better speed controls could have prevented the deaths of Madison and Liberty North, aged 21 and 17, who died in July 2022.
Local authorities, led by MP Anna Sabine, are also planning further safety measures. These include improving road signage, enhancing visibility, and urging drivers to adopt safer behaviours when navigating these fast A-roads.
Open-source AI models launched by Alibaba
Alibaba pushes forward with AI innovation, launching a wide range of open-source models and text-to-video technology. The Chinese tech giant’s latest release includes over 100 models from its Qwen 2.5 family, offering significant improvements in mathematics, coding, and multilingual support.
These models aim to enhance AI capabilities in various industries, including gaming, automotive, and scientific research. Alibaba has adopted a unique hybrid approach, combining open-source and proprietary methods, setting itself apart from competitors like OpenAI and Baidu.
With model sizes ranging from 0.5 to 72 billion parameters, Alibaba’s AI tools cater to diverse business needs. The company’s text-to-video technology, part of its Tongyi Wanxiang image generation family, positions it as a key player in the expanding text-to-video market.
As competition in AI technology intensifies globally, Alibaba’s new developments could challenge major players such as OpenAI and ByteDance. ByteDance recently launched a text-to-video app for Chinese users on Apple’s App Store, further highlighting the rising interest in this technology.
EU’s AI Act faces tech giants’ resistance
As the EU finalises its groundbreaking AI Act, major technology firms are lobbying for lenient regulations to minimise the risk of multi-billion dollar fines. The AI Act, agreed upon in May, is the world’s first comprehensive legislation governing AI. However, the details on how general-purpose AI systems like ChatGPT will be regulated remain unclear. The EU has opened the process to companies, academics, and other stakeholders to help draft the accompanying codes of practice, receiving a surge of interest with nearly 1,000 applications.
A key issue at stake is how AI companies, including OpenAI and Stability AI, use copyrighted content to train their models. While the AI Act mandates companies to disclose summaries of the data they use, businesses are divided over how much detail to include, with some advocating for protecting trade secrets. In contrast, others demand transparency from content creators. Major players like Google and Amazon have expressed their commitment to the process, but there are growing concerns about transparency, with some accusing tech giants of trying to avoid scrutiny.
The debate over transparency and copyright has sparked a broader discussion on the balance between regulation and innovation. Critics argue that the EU’s focus on regulation could stifle technological advancements, while others stress the importance of oversight in preventing abuse. Former European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi recently urged the EU to improve its industrial policy to compete with China and the US, emphasising the need for swift decision-making and significant investment in the tech sector.
The finalised code of practice, expected next year, will not be legally binding but will serve as a guideline for compliance. Companies will have until August 2025 to meet the new standards, with non-profits and startups also playing a role in drafting. Some fear that big tech firms could weaken essential transparency measures, underscoring the ongoing tension between innovation and regulation in the digital era.
Apple Intelligence to add new languages next year
Tech giant Apple announced that it will expand the language support of its generative AI, known as Apple Intelligence, to include German, Italian, Korean, Portuguese, Vietnamese, and more in 2025. This follows the introduction of English versions tailored for India and Singapore. The update will initially arrive with American English in iOS 18.1, expected later this year, with localised English for Australia, Canada, and other regions by the end of 2024.
In 2025, support for languages like Chinese, French, Japanese, and Spanish will also be added. However, Apple faces challenges in major markets, including the European Union, where regulatory hurdles linked to the Digital Markets Act delay its launch on iPhones and iPads. Despite this, the AI feature is already available in the EU through the macOS Sequoia 15.1 developer beta.
China presents even bigger obstacles due to strict local regulations on AI models. Apple is in talks with authorities in both the EU and China to resolve these issues and expand the availability of Apple Intelligence.
Runway partners with Lionsgate to revolutionise film-making
Runway, a generative AI startup, has announced a significant partnership with Lionsgate, the studio responsible for popular franchises such as John Wick and Twilight. This collaboration will enable Lionsgate’s creative teams, including filmmakers and directors, to utilise Runway’s AI video-generating models. These models have been trained on the studio’s film catalogue and will be used to enhance their creative work. Michael Burns, vice chair of Lionsgate, emphasised the potential for this partnership to support creative talent.
Runway is considering new opportunities, including licensing its AI models to individual creators, allowing them to create and train custom models. This partnership represents the first public collaboration between a generative AI startup and a major Hollywood studio. Although Disney and Paramount have reportedly been discussing similar partnerships with AI providers, no official agreements have been reached yet.
This deal comes at a time of increased attention on AI in the entertainment industry, due to California’s new laws that regulate the use of AI digital replicas in film and television. Runway is also currently dealing with legal challenges regarding the alleged use of copyrighted works to train its models without permission.
Intel moves photonics business to Data Centre division
As restructuring unfolds, Intel is making significant changes to its photonics business by moving its Integrated Photonics Solutions (IPS) into the Data Centre and Artificial Intelligence division (DCAI). The main goal is to better align its R&D efforts with core business priorities. This shift follows recent advancements in integrated photonics technology, including the first fully integrated optical compute interconnect (OCI) chipset, representing a major leap in high-bandwidth interconnect for AI and high-performance computing.
Intel’s Integrated Photonics Solutions (IPS) division specialises in light generation and optical signal modulation, which are key to addressing signal loss in high-density transistors. By utilising optical signals rather than electrical ones, silicon photonics technology facilitates faster data transmission and increased bandwidth. Since its 2016 launch, Intel’s silicon photonics platform has delivered millions of photonic integrated circuits and on-chip lasers, with widespread adoption among major cloud service providers.
Integrating IPS with DCAI underscores Intel’s dedication to advancing silicon photonics, a field also being quickly developed by rivals such as AMD and TSMC.
BlackDice and Bin Omran join forces to boost Qatar’s cybersecurity
BlackDice and Bin Omran Trading and Telecommunication have launched a strategic partnership to enhance Qatar’s cybersecurity infrastructure significantly. Combining their expertise will deliver state-of-the-art cybersecurity solutions, with BlackDice leveraging its AI-powered security and data intelligence to safeguard critical infrastructure and sensitive information.
Additionally, their collaboration will focus on strengthening the cybersecurity capabilities of major telecom operators in the region, thereby boosting network resilience and protecting extensive personal and financial data. Consequently, this comprehensive approach supports DA2030’s goal of creating a secure and resilient digital environment essential for Qatar’s economic diversification and social development.
By addressing the evolving needs of the digital landscape in Qatar, BlackDice and Bin Omran Trading and Telecommunication contribute to the nation’s ambition of becoming a global leader in technology and connectivity and ensuring robust protection against emerging cyber threats.