Google has recently issued a warning that the UK may fall behind in the global artificial intelligence (AI) race, particularly if the government does not expedite the construction of data centers and ease restrictions on the use of copyrighted works. Google UK’s managing director, Derby Weinstein, stated that while the government recognizes the opportunities in AI, more policies are needed to promote its application. Image Source Note: The image is AI-generated, with authorization from the service provider Midjourney. Weinstein noted that the UK ranks only seventh in the global AI readiness index, which is behind other countries.

Amazon's cloud computing division - Amazon Web Services (AWS) recently announced that they will invest $10 billion over the next five years to build, operate, and maintain data centers in the UK. Image source note: The image is AI generated and authorized by the provider Midjourney. This decision marks Amazon's further expansion in the UK, where the company established its first AWS region back in 2016, which includes centralized data centers. Additionally, AWS has three availability zones and two Waves in the UK.

Meta has announced that it will continue with its plan to use millions of publicly available posts from UK Facebook and Instagram users to train its artificial intelligence technology. Although this practice is largely prohibited under EU privacy laws, Meta states that it has been in active communication with the UK Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), after previously pausing similar proposals in June. The pause was due to the ICO's warnings that tech companies must respect user privacy when developing generative AI.

Richard Moore, head of the UK's MI6, and Bill Burns, head of the US CIA, jointly published an article for the first time, emphasizing the role of generative artificial intelligence in enhancing the efficiency of intelligence operations. AI technologies, including large language models, are used for rapid information summarization, creative generation, and data filtering, particularly in processing vast amounts of extreme content on the internet, aiding intelligence personnel in better understanding and communication. Intelligence agencies are swiftly adopting emerging technologies to adapt to a complex security environment while maintaining effective secrecy. Technological challenges and their applications in modern conflicts, such as the war in Ukraine...

Recently, the domestic AAA game 'Black Myth: Wukong' has been gaining momentum globally, attracting not only a large number of players but also the attention of well-known figures from various sectors. Among them, famous entrepreneur Elon Musk posted on social media, giving high praise to this game and calling it an 'impressive' Chinese AAA title.

The United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union have jointly signed the first legally binding AI treaty, the 'AI Framework Convention', aimed at ensuring that AI applications adhere to principles of human rights, democracy, and the rule of law. The treaty requires signatory countries to follow principles that protect user data, respect the law, and operate transparently, implementing these principles through legislation and administrative measures. Although compliance with the treaty primarily relies on monitoring, and enforcement may be weak, it is seen as an important blueprint for countries to formulate AI laws. Currently, the US, EU, UK, and several other countries have signed, and the treaty will come into force in five...

The first international AI treaty will be opened for signing on September 5, covering 57 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and EU member states. This 'AI Convention' aims to address AI risks, protect human rights, and promote responsible innovation. The UK Justice Minister emphasizes that this treaty ensures the rational use of new technologies without compromising fundamental values. The focus is on protecting human rights affected by AI, in contrast to the EU's AI regulations that emphasize market regulation. The treaty has been in preparation since 2019, aiming to implement it through legislative and administrative measures, with the UK government committed to working with all parties.

UK retail giant Marks & Spencer (M&S) is leveraging artificial intelligence technology to provide customers with personalized clothing recommendations based on body shape and style preferences, aiming to enhance online sales. Customers fill out a questionnaire, and the system offers outfit suggestions from a wide range of options, while AI technology adjusts the communication style to match different preferences. M&S Online Business Director Stephen Langford stated that this initiative aims to accelerate the shopping process, allowing each customer to find products that meet their needs faster.

Amazon has launched an AI shopping assistant named Rufus in the UK, utilizing generative AI technology to address shopping needs, product comparison questions, and recommend products, thereby simplifying the shopping process. Rufus can provide product information, comparisons, and detail inquiries based on user requirements, covering a wide range of product research, specific product category exploration, and items needed for specific occasions. Users can access it by updating the Amazon app and clicking the Rufus icon, which is currently being tested for select users and is expected to be gradually promoted in the future.

With the rapid development of artificial intelligence technology, the work practices in the banking and accounting sectors are undergoing significant transformation, raising the risk of layoffs. Multiple unions have issued warnings urging the industry to prepare for the impending wave of layoffs. The application of AI technology is gradually replacing traditional positions, such as financial analysis and data entry, tasks that previously required human effort are now being quickly and efficiently resolved by AI. This not only affects the job stability of existing employees but may also reduce new employment opportunities. Unions emphasize that businesses should pay attention to employee rights while promoting technological innovation.

The global gaming craze sparked by Black Myth: Wukong has not only ignited player enthusiasm but also promoted the deep integration of the gaming industry and artificial intelligence technology. Chengdu, as an important base for mobile game development, is leading the innovative trend of combining AI with gaming through its advantages in the gaming industry. Game companies in Chengdu, especially those that have been deeply involved before artificial intelligence became a hot topic, are actively transforming and exploring ways to integrate gaming with AI. Companies like Xingzhe AI, Kunlun Wanwei, and Haiyi AI have successfully utilized their experience and expertise in the gaming industry.

The article introduces Kolors Virtual Try-On, a one-click outfit change tool that allows users to upload photos of characters and clothing to achieve outfit change effects. The operation is simple, the results are impressive, and it supports using clothing provided by the platform as well as allowing users to upload their own clothing images, and even letting AI generate outfits for changing. The article provides testing results and suggestions, such as selecting flat lay clothing images without clutter and front-facing model photos without backgrounds, to achieve better outfit change results. Lastly, the article presents application ideas.

As a domestically produced game that has attracted global attention, Black Myth: Wukong achieved sales of 390 million yuan in its first month and surpassed 1.2 million copies sold, setting a new pre-sale record for Chinese games. This game has not only become a huge hit in the Chinese market but has also sold well worldwide, creating a new record for Steam download bandwidth. Its aesthetic effects, rich storyline, and unique charm of Chinese culture have earned high praise, including from IGN China. The game utilizes NVIDIA AI technology, particularly its ray tracing and DLSS 3 technology, to achieve stunning graphics and ultra-high performance.

The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is investigating Amazon's $4 billion investment in the AI startup Anthropic, concerned that the partnership may affect market competition in the UK. The investigation is based on information gathered by the CMA, which believes the collaboration could have adverse effects. Amazon has expressed dissatisfaction, stating that the partnership meets market standards. The CMA has collected public opinions and plans to assess the impact of the partnership on the market in the coming weeks, with a final decision to be announced on October 4. The investigation involves Anthropic's use of Amazon Web Services.

The newly elected Labour government in the UK recently promised to prioritize artificial intelligence within its policy framework. However, while trying to balance the national budget, it unexpectedly shelved $170 million originally intended for AI and technology projects. This move stems from a fiscal gap left by the previous government, with new Chancellor Rachel Reeves accusing her predecessors of 'covering up' a $27.9 billion public spending gap. In the context of budget cuts, many AI projects have been impacted, especially the $1 billion petascale supercomputer project based in Edinburgh.

The UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has announced a preliminary investigation into the relationship between Google and the AI startup Anthropic. This investigation is currently in its early stages and aims to assess whether the partnership could potentially weaken market competition and affect the UK market. Anthropic focuses on developing safe, transparent, and risk-controlled AI systems, having raised nearly $10 billion, with Google as one of its main investors, contributing over $2.3 billion. The CMA is inviting all 'interested parties' to participate in the consultation until August 2024.

Tokyo-based startup Sakana AI has introduced two new image generation models — Evo-Ukiyoe and Evo-Nishikie. Image from Sakana AI official These models can be found on the Hugging Face platform, with the main purpose of generating Ukiyo-e style art through text or image prompts. As is known, Ukiyo-e is a traditional Japanese art form popular from the 17th to the 19th century, depicting themes such as historical scenes, natural landscapes, and sumo wrestlers. Sakana AI aims to use AI to bring thi

Samsung Electronics has announced the acquisition of the UK-based AI startup Oxford Semantic Technologies to enhance its competitiveness in the field of artificial intelligence. Oxford Semantic Technologies is renowned for its knowledge graph technology, which is akin to human thinking, organizing data into interconnected networks for rapid information retrieval and personalized recommendations. The company's flagship product, RDFox, is hailed as one of the world's fastest knowledge graph and se

The UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has announced an investigation into Microsoft Corporation's hiring of employees from Inflection AI, focusing on whether this constitutes anti-competitive behavior. This investigation is part of the CMA's in-depth study of the "interconnected network" among AI companies.Image source note: Image generated by AI, image authorized service provider Midjourney The CMA points out that Mustafa Suleyman, co-founder of Inflection AI, joined Microsoft as the C

Recently, Meta's plan to use user data to train its artificial intelligence systems has sparked widespread public concern. This plan involves not only public data but also non-public user data. This move has been challenged under the UK's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), especially in complaints from the Open Rights Group.The organization has submitted a complaint to the UK Information Commissioner's Office, demanding an investigation into Meta's privacy policy. According to Meta, thes