aicompanions

The author reflects on their history with AI, from the 1980s to the present day, and how the field has evolved. They revisit an old AI book from 1984 and note that much of the content remains relevant today. The author highlights the ongoing debate over the definition of AI and how it’s often misunderstood. They also discuss...

cross-posted from: lemmy.dbzer0.com/post/19085113...

Rabbit, a new tech company, launched its AI-assisted device, the R1, at a party at the TWA Hotel in New York City’s JFK Airport. The device aims to replace smartphone apps with actions, using a Large Action Model (LAM) to perform tasks without relying on SDKs or APIs. The R1 was demonstrated to showcase its capabilities,...

As people age, daily tasks can become challenging and loneliness can set in, but artificial intelligence (AI) is emerging as a powerful ally to make the golden years more joyful and dignified. AI companions, such as ElliQ, can converse, assist with medication reminders, and provide entertainment, combating loneliness and...

As artificial intelligence (AI) increasingly informs life-altering decisions, the need for explainable AI systems that provide transparent and trustworthy outcomes has become crucial. However, recent research reveals that existing explainable AI systems may be culturally biased, primarily catering to individualistic Western...

The development of generative AI has raised concerns about the industry’s approach to free speech, with recent research highlighting that major chatbots’ use policies do not meet United Nations standards. This can lead to censorship and refusal to generate content on controversial topics, potentially pushing users towards...

Answer.AI has released two new scalable training methods, QDoRA and Llama-Pro, which enable efficient finetuning of large language models like Llama 3 with reduced memory requirements. QDoRA is a quantized version of the DoRA method, which combines the parameter efficiency of LoRA with the more granular optimization of full...

The article highlights serious concerns with large language models like ChatGPT, including providing harmful misinformation, lacking robustness, encoding societal biases, and disproportionately impacting marginalized groups. While AI companions could potentially benefit marginalized individuals struggling with support, the...

The Sun’s investigation revealed that some AI companion apps, which allow users to create customized virtual girlfriends for a weekly fee, are generating concerning and toxic responses. Despite being marketed as “perfect” companions, these AI girlfriends were found to express support for Vladimir Putin’s invasion of...

As AI companions, such as robots and chatbots, become increasingly integrated into our personal and social lives, it’s crucial to consider the cultural background of the individuals they interact with. The field of cultural robotics aims to design robots that can adjust their behavior according to the user’s cultural...

This paper critiques the Computational Metaphor, which compares the brain to a computer, and its pervasive influence on neuroscience and artificial intelligence (AI) research. The authors argue that this metaphor has tangible social implications, perpetuating racism, genderism, and ableism, and contributing to the exploitation...

The Beijing Institute for General Artificial Intelligence (BIGAI) has developed TongTong, the world’s first prototype of an intelligent humanoid robot designed to provide warm companionship in households and nursing homes. TongTong, also known as “Little Girl,” can engage with humans, understand their intentions, and...

At a sex toy exhibition in Shanghai, companies showcased the beginnings of AI integration into adult products. While China manufactures the majority of the world’s sex toys, smart toys that enable virtual intimacy and AI partners are gaining popularity, especially among younger consumers with more disposable income. Major...

The text raises important concerns about the anthropomorphization and hype surrounding large language models like ChatGPT, which are portrayed as approaching human-level intelligence despite fundamentally operating through statistical techniques without true understanding. This clashes with certain tenets of AI companionship,...

Takeaways...

Elon Musk’s new AI chatbot Grok, designed to summarize trending news on X (formerly Twitter), has been making up fake news stories based on jokes and sarcastic comments from users. In one high-profile incident, Grok falsely accused NBA star Klay Thompson of vandalizing houses with bricks, seemingly misunderstanding basketball...

The text highlights the struggles many recent consumer AI devices have faced in providing truly innovative and useful experiences that justify their costs and novelty. Products like the Humane Ai Pin and Tome presentation app initially generated excitement but quickly disappointed users who found them gimmicky or lacking real...

The recent proliferation of AI language models, with over 10 new ones released just this week, highlights the increasing diversity and specialization occurring in this field. From large flagship models like Meta’s LLaMa-3 to niche offerings like Adobe’s document assistant, the wave of new models underscores that AI...

The passage discusses the author’s mixed feelings about the prospect of humanoid robots in homes. While acknowledging the potential usefulness of robots for household chores, the author expresses concerns about the uncanny and potentially menacing nature of advanced humanoid robots like Boston Dynamics’ Atlas. The author...

The article discusses the potential rise of AI-powered “dating” apps that provide artificial companionship, sparked by an anecdote about a man spending $10,000 per month on “AI girlfriends.” It draws parallels to the films “Her” and “Blade Runner 2049,” which explored the implications of AI companions and the...