Elon Musk has long alleged that AI models suppress conservative speech. In response, he promised that his company xAI’s AI model, Grok, would be “maximally truth-seeking” (though, as we’ve pointed out previously, making things up is just what AI does). Over last weekend, users noticed that if you asked Grok about who is the biggest spreader of misinformation, the model reported it was explicitly instructed not to mention Donald Trump or Elon Musk. An engineering lead at xAI said an unnamed employee had made this change, but it’s now been reversed. (TechCrunch)
Figure demoed humanoid robots that can work together to put your groceries away
Humanoid robots aren’t typically very good at working with one another. But the robotics company Figure showed off two humanoids helping each other put groceries away, another sign that general AI models for robotics are helping them learn faster than ever before. However, we’ve written about how videos featuring humanoid robots can be misleading, so take these developments with a grain of salt. (The Robot Report)
OpenAI is shifting its allegiance from Microsoft to Softbank
In calls with its investors, OpenAI has signaled that it’s weakening its ties to Microsoft—its largest investor—and partnering more closely with Softbank. The latter is now working on the Stargate project, a $500 billion effort to build data centers that will support the bulk of the computing power needed for OpenAI’s ambitious AI plans. (The Information)
Humane is shutting down the AI Pin and selling its remnants to HP
One big debate in AI is whether the technology will require its own piece of hardware. Rather than just conversing with AI on our phones, will we need some sort of dedicated device to talk to? Humane got investments from Sam Altman and others to build just that, in the form of a badge worn on your chest. But after poor reviews and sluggish sales, last week the company announced it would shut down. (The Verge)
Schools are replacing counselors with chatbots