The All England Club has announced that Wimbledon will replace line judges with AI technology from 2025. This decision marks the end of a 147-year tradition, as the courtside presence of immaculately dressed line judges has long been a staple of the event. AI technology, already in use at the US Open since 2020, is set to fully automate line calls, leaving the future of more than 300 line judges uncertain.
Many officials have expressed disappointment, with chair umpire Richard Ings calling it a ‘sad but inevitable day’. While the shift to AI offers undeniable precision, there are concerns about the loss of the human element in the sport. Ings highlighted that certain decisions, like not-ups or crowd disruptions, will still require human oversight, even though automated systems will handle line calls.
The move to Electronic Line Calling (ELC) has raised worries about the future of officiating, particularly for smaller tournaments. The cost of implementing AI technology, estimated at £100,000 per court, could deter officials from smaller events that lack the budget. Organisers of Wimbledon acknowledge the importance of tradition but emphasise the advantages of the change.
Despite the transition, some aspects will remain unchanged. Chair umpires will continue to lead matches, but the courts will look and feel different without the line judges who once shared the stage. Wimbledon’s decision follows a similar switch at Queen’s Club and adds to growing concerns about officiating’s future direction.
New Roli Airwave makes learning piano easier with AI
Roli, the London-based company known for its innovative musical products, has introduced the Airwave system, designed to make learning the piano easier by integrating AI and hand-tracking technology. Airwave works with Roli’s existing keyboards, utilising 3D cameras to track hand movements, providing a personalised and immersive learning experience. This system, compatible with Roli’s Seaboard and the newly rebranded Piano M, aims to simplify piano lessons while enhancing creativity.
Airwave’s key feature combines light-up keys and hand-tracking, giving users real-time feedback on their playing. The system is powered by Roli Music Intelligence (MI), an AI platform trained on large language models. Users can interact with the system through voice commands for tips, chord help, and access to complete songs, making it a versatile educational tool.
Beyond education, Airwave also caters to musicians seeking creative expression. The system allows players to manipulate sounds and instruments through gestures, much like a conductor. Priced at $299, Airwave is available for preorder.
Andrew Ng’s AI Fund backs Indian healthcare startup Jivi
AI Fund, led by renowned computer scientist Andrew Ng, has made its first investment in India by backing Jivi, an AI healthcare startup based in Gurugram. Jivi uses AI to assist with diagnoses, treatment suggestions, generating health reports, and administrative tasks. The fund did not reveal the exact amount invested or the stake it acquired in the company.
India‘s AI industry is experiencing significant growth, projected to more than double in value to $22 billion by 2027. According to a report by Nasscom-BCG, the healthcare and financial services sectors are set to dominate the market, with products and startups accounting for a substantial share.
AI Fund has previously invested in notable platforms like Podcastle and Octagon AI. This latest move marks a continued expansion into sectors where AI is becoming increasingly vital for innovation and efficiency.
Andrew Ng, who heads AI Fund, brings vast experience from his leadership roles in AI projects at Google and Baidu. He joined Amazon‘s board earlier this year, further solidifying his influence in the AI and tech space.
Study shows ChatGPT tends to overprescribe in emergencies
A study conducted by UC San Francisco found that ChatGPT, when applied in emergency care, often recommends unnecessary treatments such as X-rays and antibiotics. It also admits patients who don’t require hospitalisation. Despite its strengths in certain areas, the AI model struggles to match the accuracy of a human doctor in more complex decision-making.
Researchers discovered that while ChatGPT can excel in simpler tasks like determining which patient is sicker, it tends to overprescribe when faced with real emergency cases. ChatGPT-4 performed 8% worse than resident doctors, while version 3.5 was 24% less accurate. These overprescriptions could lead to unnecessary treatments, increased healthcare costs, and strain on resources.
The research highlighted that the AI models are influenced by their internet training, often erring on the side of caution by recommending medical consultations. Although this approach is appropriate for general safety, it can be problematic in emergency settings, where unneeded treatments can harm patients. More refined frameworks are needed before AI can reliably assist in EDs.
Researchers are working on better ways for AI to evaluate clinical information in emergency care. A balance must be found between preventing serious oversight and avoiding excessive medical interventions.
AI software enhances social workers’ engagement
A recent pilot program using AI software has significantly reduced the time social workers spend on administrative tasks by more than 60%, according to Swindon Borough Council. The AI tool, Magic Notes, developed by UK-based Beam, was tested by 19 social workers and received ‘overwhelmingly positive’ feedback. By automating the recording of conversations and generating assessments, the software allowed social workers to focus more on meaningful interactions with the people they support.
The trial, held from April to June, revealed a significant reduction in assessment times, decreasing from an average of 90 minutes to just 35 minutes. Additionally, the time needed to write reports was slashed from four hours to 90 minutes. Social workers facing challenges such as visual impairments or dyslexia reported that the tool fostered a more inclusive work environment, enhancing their confidence in their roles.
Councillor Ray Ballman, the cabinet member for adult social care, described Magic Notes as a ‘game changer.’ He mentioned that the council is now looking into additional ways to integrate the technology to enhance care quality and provide better staff support.
Sora co-lead Tim Brooks joins Google
Tim Brooks, one of the co-leads on OpenAI’s video generation tool, Sora, has left the company for Google. Brooks, who had been working on Sora since January 2023, announced on X that he will join Google DeepMind to focus on video generation technologies and ‘world simulators.’ His departure comes as Sora faces technical challenges, reportedly taking over 10 minutes to generate a one-minute video, leaving it behind competitors like Luma and Runway.
Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis welcomed Tim Brooks, highlighting his contribution to the development of world simulators, which aim to create virtual environments for a variety of applications, from filmmaking to AI training. DeepMind has been developing models like Genie, which generate interactive virtual worlds using images, photos, and sketches to create action-controllable environments.
Tim Brooks’ departure is part of a growing trend of high-profile exits from OpenAI. Key figures like CTO Mira Murati and research scientist Andrej Karpathy have also left the company in recent months. While OpenAI has demonstrated its video generation tool, Sora, to Hollywood studios and filmmakers, it has yet to secure a significant production partnership, leaving its future uncertain amid stiff competition.
Paul McCartney returns with AI-aided Beatles song on new tour
Sir Paul McCartney has announced his return to the stage with the ‘Got Back’ tour, featuring a highly anticipated performance of the last Beatles song, Now and Then. The song, which includes vocals from the late John Lennon, was completed with the help of AI technology and marks a poignant moment in Beatles history.
Now and Then was created using Lennon’s vocals from an old cassette tape, recovered and refined using AI. McCartney and fellow Beatle Ringo Starr worked together on the project, adding guitar parts from the late George Harrison. The song, originally left unfinished in 1977, has now been brought to life, with McCartney singing alongside Lennon’s voice.
The tour will kick off in Montevideo, Uruguay, before moving through South America and Europe, with two dates at Manchester’s Co-op Live and two final shows at London’s O2 Arena in December. McCartney, who last played in the UK at Glastonbury four years ago, has expressed excitement about returning to his home country to end the tour.
Despite some complaints from Liverpool fans over the absence of a hometown gig, McCartney remains enthusiastic about his UK shows. He described the upcoming performances as a ‘special feeling’ and looks forward to closing out the year with a celebration on home soil.
ChatGPT shows superior diagnostic skills over radiologists
A study from Osaka Metropolitan University revealed that ChatGPT, based on OpenAI’s GPT-4, has surpassed radiologists in diagnosing brain tumours. Researchers compared the diagnostic abilities of ChatGPT and radiologists using 150 MRI reports. ChatGPT achieved a 73% accuracy rate, slightly ahead of neuroradiologists at 72% and general radiologists at 68%.
The AI’s accuracy varied depending on the report’s author. It performed best with neuroradiologist reports, reaching 80% accuracy, while general radiologist reports saw the AI’s accuracy drop to 60%.
Researchers aim to explore its use in other diagnostic fields. They hope to enhance diagnostic precision and reduce the burden on medical professionals through AI integration. The study points to a future where AI might play a crucial role in preoperative tumour diagnoses.
Lead researcher Yasuhito Mitsuyama believes that these results indicate the potential of AI in improving diagnostic processes. The team is optimistic about its future applications in medical education and imaging technologies.