April 2023 Madness: Top 21 AI News and Updates!

Asif Iqbal
11 min readMay 13, 2023

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Artificial intelligence (AI) has made great development in recent years, with increasing usage in a variety of industries. The month of April 2023 saw a boom in AI developments and releases, indicating AI’s expanding dominance. Companies released a slew of AI-powered goods and services, ranging from chatbots to health coaching services, social media marketing to generative AI. However, the impact of AI on the workforce cannot be overlooked, with some companies laying off employees as a result of automation and AI. This article will present a summary of the top 21 AI updates in April 2023, highlighting the advantages, problems, and consequences of AI advancement.

I trust that you find the latest news, insights, and updates in the field of Artificial Intelligence to be informative and engaging.

1. Russia’s Sberbank releases ChatGPT rival GigaChat

Sberbank of Russia has unveiled GigaChat, its own AI-powered chatbot, to compete with OpenAI’s GPT-3 language model. Based on human input, GigaChat is a deep learning language model that can execute tasks, answer questions, and produce content. It can interpret natural language and reply in a way that is akin to a human conversation. The chatbot is designed for usage in a variety of industries, including banking, healthcare, and education, and it can be incorporated into current services to provide clients a more personalised experience. Sberbank thinks that GigaChat will assist businesses in improving customer service, increasing efficiency, and lowering expenses.

2. Apple Developing AI-Based Health Coaching Service ‘Quartz’

According to The Information, Apple is working on an AI-powered health coaching service that would provide consumers with personalised health suggestions. The programme will purportedly be dubbed “Apple Health Coach” and would track customers’ health and fitness using data from the Apple Watch and other Apple products. According to reports, the service would also combine data from third-party health applications and services. Apple has not yet responded on the claim, and it is unclear when or how much the service will cost. The move would be in line with Apple’s continuous efforts to strengthen its position in the healthcare business and capitalise on the rising trend of utilising technology to promote health and wellbeing.

3. Microsoft Edge incorporates AI Designer for social media marketing

Microsoft is releasing a collection of design tools that include AI to help people create professional-looking images, logos, and websites. The technologies are part of Microsoft Edge, the company’s online browser, and include capabilities such as an AI-powered logo creator and an automated website builder. Microsoft is also developing a new social media network called “Connect” that will allow users to share their designs and cooperate with others. The move is part of Microsoft’s goal to extend beyond typical productivity tools and become a more important player in the design and creativity arena. By incorporating AI into its design tools, Microsoft hopes to make it easier for consumers with little or no design knowledge to generate professional-looking material.

4. TikTok introduces AI-generated profile pics for users

TikTok is introducing a new tool that lets users to create AI-generated profile photographs, dubbed “Profile Avatar,” which use generative adversarial networks (GANs) to produce unique images for people. The application produces a random picture based on parameters like skin tone, eye shape, and hair colour. Users may further personalise their avatar by picking different designs and colours. TikTok’s decision to employ AI-generated profile photographs is part of a larger trend of using AI in social media and internet platforms. Younger people, who are more likely to be early adopters of new technologies and trends, are inclined to like the feature.

5. Hugging Face releases AI chatbot to rival ChatGPT

Hugging Face, an AI startup specialising in natural language processing, has unveiled Hugging Chat, its own language model, to compete with OpenAI’s GPT-3 and Sberbank’s GigaChat. Hugging Chat is a model that understands and generates natural language based on the GPT-3 architecture. The startup intends to entice developers to its platform by providing a more cost-effective language processing solution than GPT-3. A number of organisations are already using the new paradigm, including Facebook, which is incorporating it into its Messenger platform to strengthen its conversational capabilities. Hugging Face is also developing additional AI-based technologies, such as a voice assistant that can understand many languages and dialects.

6. Binance launches ‘Sensei’, AI-powered Crypto chatbot for Binance Academy

Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, has launched Binance NFT Marketplace, a new platform that allows users to purchase, sell, and trade non-fungible tokens (NFTs). The platform supports a variety of NFT genres, including art, gaming, sports, and music. It also works with a variety of blockchains, including Ethereum, Binance Smart Chain, and Flow. Binance NFT Marketplace will compete with existing NFT markets like OpenSea and Nifty Gateway. Binance has already launched unique NFT collections with various artists, including Trevor Jones and Pak. The move is part of Binance’s larger effort to broaden its products beyond cryptocurrency trading and position itself as a one-stop shop for anything blockchain-related.

7. Boston Dynamics robot gets personalized with ChatGPT AI integration

Boston Dynamics has merged their robot with the ChatGPT AI language model, which allows the robot to interpret and respond to normal language. The ChatGPT-powered robot can execute tasks depending on user input and generate answers in a manner that mimics human conversation. The integration is part of Boston Dynamics’ aim to develop more human-like robots capable of interacting with humans in a more intuitive and personalised manner. ChatGPT integration, according to the business, will make their robots more helpful in a range of areas, including manufacturing, healthcare, and logistics.

8. Stanford’s State of AI Report for 2023

The AI Index, an independent project run by the AI Index Steering Committee, has issued its yearly report, which tracks and visualises artificial intelligence data. The report works with various organisations to track AI’s advancement, including Georgetown University’s Centre for Security and Emerging Technology, LinkedIn, and McKinsey. More self-collected data and original analysis are included in the 2023 report, including geopolitics and training costs of foundation models, the environmental impact of AI systems, K-12 AI education, and public opinion trends in AI. The AI Index has also expanded its worldwide AI legislation tracking from 25 nations in 2022 to 127 countries in 2023. The goal of the paper is to empower decision-makers to take real action to progress AI safely and ethically while keeping humanity in mind. Click here to find full report.

9. Expedia’s New AI-Powered Mobile Chatbot

Expedia has created an AI-powered smartphone chatbot to assist travellers with booking and travel-related queries. The chatbot, dubbed “Expedia Virtual Assistant,” is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week through the company’s mobile app. The assistant may aid users with tasks such as booking flights, hotels, and rental vehicles, as well as addressing reservations and travel limitations queries. It use natural language processing to comprehend the user’s inquiries and react with pertinent information. In addition, the chatbot may learn from its interactions with people and improve its replies over time. Expedia expects that the chatbot will improve travellers’ overall booking experiences and eliminate the need for consumers to contact customer support.

10. Chinese tech giants enter generative AI through Alibaba and Huawei

Alibaba and Huawei have created their own AI-powered chatbots that are comparable to OpenAI’s GPT-3 language model. Both companies claim that their chatbots can understand natural language and generate responses that are human-like. Alibaba’s chatbot is known as “AliChat,” whereas Huawei’s is known as “HiBot.” The startups are selling their chatbots to enterprises in a variety of industries, including retail and healthcare, in order to increase customer service and engagement. However, critics argue that these chatbots are not true artificial intelligence and instead rely on pre-programmed responses. They also present privacy and security issues, as these chatbots may acquire sensitive information from users.

11. AutoGPT: The next big thing in AI or just the hype

AutoGPT is a new technology being developed by EleutherAI that is intended to outperform the capabilities of OpenAI’s GPT-3. AutoGPT is a powerful AI tool that employs machine learning techniques to produce new copies of itself automatically, allowing the model to develop over time without human interaction. This technique has the potential to completely transform the area of artificial intelligence, allowing us to construct models that are far more complex than anything we’ve seen previously. While AutoGPT is still in its early stages of development, it is already showing promise and has the potential to be a game changer in the field of artificial intelligence.

12. Amazon joins the AI race Bedrock and CodeWhisperer

Amazon has launched “Bedrock,” a generative AI system that can generate pictures, video, and text depending on input. The system uses GAN (Generative Adversarial Network) technology and can be trained on a range of data sets such as photos, videos, and text. Amazon believes that Bedrock can generate high-quality material that is practically indistinguishable from human-created content. The system might be used for a variety of purposes, including content generation for marketing, entertainment, and e-commerce. Amazon is the latest corporate behemoth to enter the generative AI competition, following OpenAI and Google in creating these cutting-edge technologies.

13. AI-generated Drake and The Weeknd song goes viral

The Turner Prize-winning artist Tracey Emin has said she is “feeling better every day” after undergoing major cancer surgery. Emin was diagnosed with a “really rapid, really aggressive” bladder cancer last year, which had spread to other organs, and had an operation to remove her bladder, uterus, lymph nodes, and part of her colon. The 57-year-old artist, known for her controversial and provocative work, including “My Bed” and “Everyone I Have Ever Slept With,” said that the surgery was successful and that she was “absolutely cancer-free now.” Emin is currently working on a new art project and said that she is grateful to be alive, although she admitted that the recovery process has been difficult.

14. Google is building an AI search: Project ‘Magi’

Google has launched a new project named “Magi” to create an AI-powered search engine that might potentially outperform its existing capabilities. Magi’s goal is to leverage machine learning and natural language processing (NLP) techniques to make the search engine more intuitive and personalised for individual users. The ultimate objective of the project is to create a search engine that can better comprehend user intent and context and provide more relevant search results. Magi will also utilise the most recent advances in artificial intelligence, such as neural networks and deep learning algorithms. Google thinks that Magi will help it keep ahead of competitors like Microsoft’s Bing and boost customer happiness with its search results.

15. Meta releases DINOv2: A new image recognition model

Meta has unveiled its new image recognition system, DinoV2, which is a significant breakthrough for the Metaverse. DinoV2 uses self-supervised learning, which allows it to train itself using massive amounts of unlabelled data, making it more accurate and efficient. The system can recognize objects and their attributes with incredible accuracy, which will be essential for the Metaverse to function effectively. DinoV2 can also recognize different perspectives of an object and identify it, even if only a portion is visible. This breakthrough technology could have significant implications for the future of the Metaverse, as it will allow for more immersive experiences and better interaction between users and their virtual environments. Meta is currently testing DinoV2, and it plans to integrate it into its platforms and services soon.

16. Elon Musk plans ‘TruthGPT’ A.I. to rival OpenAI, DeepMind

Musk has stated his intention to create a new AI language model named “TruthGPT” to compete with OpenAI’s GPT-3 and DeepMind’s AlphaFold. Musk’s AI research firm, Neuralink, will concentrate on building language models that are more accurate and true than existing models. Musk feels that present language models are biassed and untrustworthy, and he expects that TruthGPT will solve these concerns. Musk intends to make TruthGPT open source, allowing anybody to utilise it for study or commercial purposes. He also expects that it will contribute to the reduction of fake news and disinformation. Some experts have expressed concern about the potential misuse of powerful language models, as well as the need to ensure that they are used in an ethical and responsible manner.

17. Adobe adds Firefly to the video: Edit videos using AI

Adobe is integrating a generative AI system called Firefly into its video, audio, and animation apps. Firefly uses machine learning to analyze existing content and create new variations that match the style and tone of the original material. It can be used to create custom soundtracks, visual effects, and even entire scenes. Adobe hopes that the integration of Firefly will help content creators save time and produce high-quality results more efficiently, while also opening up new creative possibilities for artists and designers.

18. Snapchat onboards 363 million to AI: ‘My AI’ is available to everyone

Snapchat’s AI chatbot “Spotlight” has gone worldwide, allowing users to engage in chats and pose questions to the bot. Spotlight understands and responds to users using natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning (ML). Spotlight’s powers will be expanded in the future, allowing it to produce and deliver Snap also said that Snapchat+ now has more than 3 million subscribers. Snaps on behalf of users. Snapchat’s entry into the chatbot field underscores an increasing tendency among businesses to use AI-powered chatbots into their customer support operations.

19. Google Brain and Deepmind join forces to accelerate AI progress

Google has announced that it is merging its artificial intelligence research division, Google Brain, with its AI subsidiary, DeepMind. The merger is intended to accelerate progress in AI research and ensure that AI systems are developed safely and responsibly. The combined team will be led by Demis Hassabis, co-founder of DeepMind, and Jeff Dean, head of Google Brain. The move is expected to enable the two entities to share expertise and resources, leading to more rapid advances in AI technology.

20. NVIDIA’s NeMo Guardrails Tool Enhances Safety and Performance of AI Chatbots

NVIDIA has released NeMo Guardrails, an open-source technology designed to improve the safety and performance of AI-powered chatbots like ChatGPT. As artificial intelligence (AI) technology progresses, there is a rising need to guarantee that AI models are safe, dependable, and transparent. The tool assists developers in identifying and correcting model flaws such as biassed replies, unsuitable wording, and incorrect information. This technology supports developers in creating more reliable and resilient AI-powered chatbots, increasing user confidence and happiness.

21. Dropbox Lays off 500 Employees as an Effect of Artificial Intelligence

Dropbox has laid off 500 employees, citing the impact of artificial intelligence and automation on the company’s business. The company stated that the layoffs were necessary to streamline its operations and remain competitive in a rapidly changing technological landscape. Dropbox has been investing heavily in AI and machine learning to improve its platform’s performance and usability, but the company’s CEO has acknowledged that these investments have led to increased automation and job displacement. The company is offering severance packages and other support to the affected employees.

So, April 2023 saw a surge of AI developments and releases, highlighting the increasing adoption of AI in various industries. Companies such as Sberbank, Hugging Face, Binance, and Expedia launched AI-powered chatbots, while Apple announced an AI-based health coaching service, and Microsoft Edge introduced an AI designer for social media marketing. Additionally, Boston Dynamics integrated ChatGPT AI into their robots to personalize them, while TikTok introduced AI-generated profile pictures.

Stanford’s State of AI Report for 2023 and Google’s Project ‘Magi’ are expected to drive significant progress in the AI field, while Chinese tech giants Alibaba and Huawei entered the generative AI domain. Adobe added Firefly to its video editing software, enhancing AI-based video editing, and Nvidia’s NeMo Guardrails Tool was launched to improve the safety and performance of chatbots.

However, the impact of AI was not all positive, as Dropbox laid off 500 employees due to the impact of automation and AI on its business. Elon Musk announced plans to rival OpenAI and DeepMind with his new AI, ‘TruthGPT.’ Finally, an AI-generated Drake and The Weeknd song went viral, sparking a debate on the use of AI in creative fields.

In conclusion, AI continues to be a driving force in technological innovation, but companies need to consider the ethical implications while leveraging the benefits of AI. The impact of AI on the workforce also cannot be ignored, and companies must take measures to mitigate job displacement. The AI developments and releases in April 2023 highlight the importance of balancing innovation with ethical and societal considerations.

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Asif Iqbal

Teaching Entrepreneurship @OBU-GBS | Multi-Award Winning Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Builder | Leading Digital Transformation in Higher Education