Apple Lawsuits, OpenAI Data Use, Google Microsoft AI Control

The artificial intelligence landscape is rapidly evolving, marked by both innovation and legal challenges. Apple is facing multiple lawsuits from neuroscientists and authors who allege the company illegally used copyrighted books, including those from 'shadow libraries' and the Books3 dataset, to train its AI models without permission or compensation. These cases echo similar legal actions against other tech giants like OpenAI, which is being sued by The New York Times. Meanwhile, the potential risks of unchecked AI growth are becoming a significant concern, with companies like Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI consolidating control over AI infrastructure, potentially leading to economic inequality. Some AI leaders, including those at OpenAI, are reportedly preparing for the advent of advanced AI, or AGI, by planning for secure facilities. On the regulatory front, Ohio is considering a bill to prevent AI from gaining legal personhood or engaging in activities like marriage. In the realm of AI application, Adobe's chief communications officer, Stacy Martinet, views the use of AI in job applications as a positive indicator of innovation, a sentiment echoed by Anthropic but contrasted by firms like Goldman Sachs which prohibit AI use in interviews. The influence of AI is also extending to consumer behavior, with retailers like Walmart using AI assistants to personalize shopping experiences, and a significant portion of consumers, particularly Gen Z, embracing AI for purchasing decisions. The travel industry is also seeing AI integration, with HotelPlanner.ai reporting high call volumes and booking rates handled by its AI agents, which are praised for their human-like interactions. Separately, Bitcoin miners are pivoting to AI data centers, seeking higher profits than those offered by cryptocurrency mining, leveraging existing infrastructure for the transition.

Key Takeaways

• Apple faces multiple lawsuits from neuroscientists and authors alleging the illegal use of copyrighted books for AI training.
• OpenAI is also under scrutiny, facing a lawsuit from The New York Times over similar AI training data practices.
• Concerns are rising about the unchecked growth of AI, with Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI controlling AI infrastructure and potentially exacerbating economic inequality.
• Some AI leaders are reportedly preparing for the development of advanced AI (AGI) by planning for secure bunkers, reflecting deep concerns about its potential repercussions.
• Ohio is proposing legislation to prevent AI systems from obtaining legal personhood, marrying, or holding leadership roles.
• Adobe views candidates who use AI in job applications as innovators, signaling a shift in how AI proficiency is perceived in the hiring process.
• AI is significantly changing consumer shopping habits, with a majority of consumers, especially Gen Z, using AI for purchasing decisions.
• HotelPlanner.ai is successfully deploying AI travel agents that handle a substantial volume of calls and bookings, offering human-like interactions.
• Bitcoin miners are shifting their operations to AI data centers, anticipating higher profitability compared to cryptocurrency mining.
• Supporters of Donald Trump are reportedly using OpenAI's Sora AI video generator to create propaganda videos.

Neuroscientists sue Apple for using books in AI training

A group of neuroscientists is suing Apple, claiming the company illegally used copyrighted books, including those from the Shadow Library, to train its AI models. The lawsuit states Apple scraped these books without permission or payment, violating their copyrights. The scientists argue Apple profited from their work without credit. This case highlights ongoing debates about data sourcing and ethics in AI development. Apple has not yet responded to the lawsuit.

Apple faces new lawsuit over AI training data

Two neuroscience professors have filed a class-action lawsuit against Apple, accusing the company of using their books without permission to train its AI models. They claim Apple accessed pirated books through 'shadow libraries' and web-crawling software. This follows a similar lawsuit by other authors making the same allegations. Apple is not the only tech company facing such lawsuits, as OpenAI is also being sued by The New York Times for similar reasons.

Neuroscientists sue Apple over pirated books used for AI

Two neuroscientists have filed a class-action lawsuit against Apple, alleging the company used pirated books from the Books3 dataset to train its Apple Intelligence AI. They claim this infringes on their copyrights. The lawsuit seeks damages and an injunction, potentially setting new rules for ethical AI practices. This case is similar to other lawsuits against tech companies regarding AI training data.

Adobe executive welcomes AI use in job applications

Stacy Martinet, chief communications officer at Adobe, believes candidates who use AI in their job applications are the innovators the company seeks. She welcomes applicants who enhance their projects or cover letters with AI tools, seeing it as a key skill for the future. While not requiring AI experience, she expects new hires to embrace AI in their roles. Other companies like Anthropic also now allow AI use in applications, though some, like Goldman Sachs, still prohibit it during interviews.

AI's risks: Unchecked growth could harm workforce and economy

Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming industries, but its unchecked growth poses significant risks to the American workforce and economy. Companies like Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI now control AI infrastructure, creating a digital oligarchy. AI can replace not only manual labor but also cognitive tasks, potentially affecting millions of white-collar jobs. Without strong regulations and wealth redistribution, AI could lead to widespread economic inequality and social disruption, creating a permanent underclass.

AI leaders prepare for future risks with bunkers

Leaders in artificial intelligence, including OpenAI's Ilya Sutskever, are reportedly planning to build bunkers before launching advanced AI, known as AGI. This reflects a deep concern among AI developers about the potential repercussions of superintelligence. Many wealthy individuals in Silicon Valley are investing in secure properties or bunkers in remote locations. While some experts believe AGI is still far off, others, like Sam Altman and Demis Hassabis, predict its arrival sooner than expected.

Ohio proposes bill to ban AI marriage and personhood

An Ohio representative has introduced a bill to prevent AI systems from gaining legal personhood and marrying humans or other AIs. The bill declares AIs as 'nonsentient entities,' aiming to stop them from assuming roles like making financial or medical decisions. While human-AI relationships exist, there is no legal recognition. The bill also seeks to ban AIs from owning property or holding company leadership roles, emphasizing the need for human control over technology.

Trump supporters use AI video tool Sora for propaganda

Supporters of Donald Trump are using OpenAI's Sora AI video generator to create videos depicting soldiers confronting protesters. These videos, often shared on social media, aim to support claims of widespread unrest, even though real evidence is scarce. One video showing a protestor being pepper-sprayed gained millions of views, with many viewers unaware it was AI-generated. This use of AI highlights concerns about the spread of political propaganda and misinformation.

Bitcoin miners shift to AI data centers for higher profits

Bitcoin miners are increasingly converting their energy-intensive operations to AI data centers due to declining profitability in crypto mining. Companies like Cipher Mining and HIVE Digital Technologies are repurposing their infrastructure. AI compute is expected to yield higher returns per kilowatt-hour than bitcoin mining, despite significant upfront investment. Miners can leverage existing permits, land, and power contracts, potentially making the transition faster and cheaper than starting from scratch.

UK reporter impressed by HotelPlanner.ai AI travel agent

A UK reporter was charmed by Cassandra, an AI travel agent from HotelPlanner.ai, finding the interaction more like talking to a human than a robot. Cassandra offered apologies, adapted its tone, and provided travel tips with a natural accent and background chatter. HotelPlanner.ai's AI agents handle about 50,000 calls daily, with 10% of bookings made by bots. CEO Tim Hentschel believes these AI agents are more helpful and efficient than human counterparts.

AI is changing how consumers shop online

Artificial intelligence is significantly reshaping the consumer shopping experience, similar to how the internet did 25 years ago. Retailers like Walmart are experimenting with AI assistants like Sparky to help customers search, synthesize reviews, and personalize shopping. A survey found 70% of consumers have used AI for shopping, particularly for groceries, health, and electronics. Younger shoppers, especially Gen Z, trust AI more than traditional sources, highlighting the need for brands to adapt to AI-driven purchasing decisions.

Sources

• Neuroscientists Sue Apple Over Unauthorized AI Training Use
• Apple hit with another class action lawsuit for alleged copyright infringement
• Neuroscientists Sue Apple Over Pirated Books in AI Training
• Adobe exec says the $141 billion software giant embraces candidates who use AI to apply for jobs—because they're the people 'creating the future'
• The Dangers of Unregulated Artificial Intelligence
• Between AI and fear, Skynet teaches: "We'll build bunkers before launching AGI."
• Ohio Seeks to Ban Human-AI Marriage
• Trump Supporters Are Using OpenAI's Sora to Generate AI Videos of Soldiers Assaulting Protesters
• Will bitcoin miners' pivot to AI data centers be worth the cost? (BTC-USD:Cryptocurrency)
• UK reporter falls under the charm of Hotelplanner.ai AI travel agent
• Opinion: AI set to reshape the consumer shopping experience