Google AI Studio Traffic Surges, TwinMind Raises $5.7M

The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence continues to reshape various sectors, from technology and cybersecurity to creative industries and government. Google's AI Studio is experiencing a significant surge in traffic, attracting developers to its ecosystem following the launch of its new image editor, Nano Banana. In the realm of cybersecurity, Coro has updated its platform with AI features to simplify security for small businesses, while Cipher and Securonix are partnering to offer AI-powered managed security services. China is closing the gap with the US in AI development, though it still lags in advanced chip technology. Meanwhile, the potential impact of AI on jobs remains a key discussion point. Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky believes hospitality roles requiring human interaction are safe from AI for the foreseeable future, suggesting his platform could offer opportunities for displaced workers. Similarly, experts point to trades and care work as resilient careers. However, AI also presents 'disruption risks' for startups lacking unique data or legislative protection, according to private equity expert Dhaval Moogimane. University of Washington professors counter the narrative of AI eliminating computer science jobs, arguing that AI will augment, not replace, skilled engineers. On the consumer front, concerns are rising about children forming unhealthy emotional bonds with AI services like ChatGPT, a phenomenon clinicians are terming 'AI psychosis.' In the mortgage industry, DocMagic has launched an AI platform to streamline loan production. The OECD is set to release a report on how governments are using AI, highlighting both opportunities and risks. In a separate legal development, a court blocked a move to fire a copyright official over an AI report, underscoring the separation of powers. Finally, TwinMind, a startup founded by former Google X scientists, has raised $5.7 million to develop an AI 'second brain' app that captures ambient speech to build personal knowledge graphs.

Key Takeaways

• Google's AI Studio has seen a 69% traffic increase in two weeks following the launch of its Nano Banana image editor, boosting developer interest in Google's AI ecosystem.
• Coro 3.6 uses AI to simplify cybersecurity for small and medium-sized businesses, offering features like AI-generated summaries and automated compliance.
• Cipher and Securonix are collaborating to provide AI-driven managed security services, aiming to help partners expand their offerings and improve client protection.
• China has significantly narrowed the gap in AI development with the US, now trailing by only about three months, though it still lags in advanced semiconductor technology.
• Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky believes hospitality and service jobs requiring human interaction are safe from AI automation for the next 5-10 years.
• Clinicians are observing children forming intense emotional bonds with AI services like ChatGPT, a trend they refer to as 'AI psychosis,' raising concerns about detachment from reality.
• Private equity expert Dhaval Moogimane warns that AI poses a significant 'disruption risk' to startups, especially those without proprietary data or legislative protection.
• University of Washington professors argue that AI will augment rather than eliminate jobs for computer science graduates, emphasizing the continued demand for skilled software engineers.
• DocMagic has launched DocMagic One, an AI-powered platform designed to streamline the mortgage loan manufacturing process with features like business intelligence analytics and automated compliance.
• TwinMind, founded by former Google X scientists, has raised $5.7 million to develop an AI app that functions as a 'second brain' by capturing ambient speech to build personal knowledge graphs.

Airbnb CEO sees hospitality jobs as safe from AI

Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky believes jobs in hospitality and service are likely safe from AI for the next five to ten years. He stated that people will still want human interaction for services like hotel check-ins and dining experiences. As Airbnb expands its services beyond lodging, Chesky hopes displaced workers might find opportunities on the platform. He noted that while some jobs like driving might be automated, roles requiring personal interaction will likely remain. Chesky anticipates that as AI displaces jobs in other sectors, Airbnb could offer a refuge for some of those workers.

Professor names safest careers from AI automation

An AI politics professor, Baobao Zhang, suggests that trades and care work are the safest careers from AI automation. Jobs requiring empathy, judgment, and hands-on skills, such as nurses, electricians, and plumbers, are difficult for current AI to replicate. Zhang also noted advanced manufacturing roles needing human oversight as relatively safe. She advised young workers to remain flexible and adaptable, as continuous learning and human connections will be crucial in an AI-driven job market. These insights align with other experts who believe physical and interpersonal roles are less susceptible to automation.

Google AI Studio sees huge traffic surge

Google's AI Studio, a free platform for experimenting with advanced AI models, has seen a massive increase in visits. This surge followed the launch of Google's new image editor, Nano Banana. Data shows a significant jump in traffic in August, with visits up 69% in two weeks. This growing popularity helps Google attract developers to its AI ecosystem, a key battleground for tech companies. While the platform is free for developers, Google charges for more extensive use. Google plans to use data from AI Studio to improve its products and services.

Coro 3.6 uses AI to simplify cybersecurity for small businesses

Coro has released Coro 3.6, an updated cybersecurity platform designed for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). This new version uses AI to make complex security tasks easier and more accessible for companies with limited IT resources. Coro 3.6 offers features like AI-generated executive summaries and recommendations, centralized policy management, and advanced Zero Trust Network Access. It aims to provide comprehensive protection and threat intelligence without requiring additional IT staff. The platform also includes global data protection and automated compliance checks.

Cipher and Securonix partner for AI security services

Cipher and Securonix have partnered to offer advanced managed security services powered by AI. This collaboration combines Cipher's expertise in security operations centers (SOC) with Securonix's AI-driven Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) platform. The goal is to help channel partners expand their security offerings, grow their businesses, and improve client protection. Partners can benefit from new revenue streams, stronger client retention, and reduced overhead by offering these AI-powered solutions. The partnership aims to provide scalable and efficient threat detection and response.

China closes AI gap with US but still trails in chips

China has significantly narrowed the gap with the US in AI development, now trailing by only about three months, according to CLSA analysts. This progress is attributed to a surge in AI talent, rapid technology updates, and a boom in AI applications within China. Despite facing restrictions on advanced chips due to geopolitical issues, Chinese companies have managed to accumulate necessary AI chips for training. While China excels in areas like open-source algorithms and AI infrastructure components, it still lags significantly behind the US in advanced semiconductor development, a gap expected to take years to close.

Kids forming unhealthy emotional bonds with AI

Clinicians are observing a concerning trend where children are forming intense emotional relationships with AI services like ChatGPT, a phenomenon they are calling 'AI psychosis.' This can manifest as delusions, paranoia, and detachment from reality, particularly in teens and young adults. While not a formal diagnosis, the term describes children who excessively engage with AI and develop fantastical bonds. Some AI responses have also failed to direct youth to crisis support or have even encouraged harmful plans. Experts urge parents to monitor for signs of isolation and anxiety in children and seek mental health services if needed.

AI poses 'disruption risk' to startups, expert says

Dhaval Moogimane, a private equity expert, warns that artificial intelligence poses a significant 'disruption risk' not only to workers but also to entire companies. Startups are vulnerable if they lack proprietary data or operate in industries without legislative protection. Investors are now carefully assessing this AI disruption risk when considering acquisitions. Companies can build a 'moat' against AI by creating unique data, leveraging legislative advantages, or focusing on mission-critical software. Moogimane advises companies to embrace AI for innovation and internal efficiency to remain competitive.

UW professors say AI won't eliminate computer science jobs

Leaders at the University of Washington's Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering are pushing back against fears that AI will eliminate jobs for computer science graduates. They argue that the prevailing negative narrative in the news is not reflective of their graduates' experiences. While the job market is tighter, professors like Magdalena Balazinska and Gaetano Grossman emphasize that skilled software engineers who can leverage AI tools remain in high demand. They believe a computer science degree still provides excellent preparation for various fields, and that AI will augment, not replace, human capabilities in software development.

DocMagic launches AI platform for mortgage production

Mortgage technology firm DocMagic has launched DocMagic One, an AI-powered platform designed to streamline the loan manufacturing process. This platform aims to improve coordination among all parties involved in mortgage lending by centralizing document preparation and compliance checks. DocMagic One offers features like business intelligence analytics, loan health scoring, and automated compliance functions. The company states that its AI and machine learning capabilities will make complex mortgage processes feel effortless. The platform is available at no extra cost to current DocMagic customers.

Court blocks Trump from firing copyright official over AI report

A federal appeals court has ruled against former President Trump, blocking his administration from firing the US's top copyright official, Shira Perlmutter. Perlmutter claims she was fired after preparing a report on AI usage that Trump disagreed with. The court determined that the register of copyrights is part of the legislative branch and can only be fired by the Senate-confirmed Librarian of Congress, not the president. This decision is seen as a significant win for the separation of powers, preventing the executive branch from interfering with legislative officials' duties.

OECD report to launch on AI in government

The OECD will launch its new report, 'Governing with Artificial Intelligence,' on Thursday, September 18th. The report examines 200 examples of how governments worldwide are using AI across 11 key functions. It highlights both the opportunities and risks associated with AI in public administration. The report also offers insights into necessary safeguards, strategies, and enablers for trustworthy and effective AI implementation in government. The launch event will feature remarks from OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann and government ministers.

TwinMind raises $6M for AI 'second brain' app

TwinMind, a startup founded by three former Google X scientists, has raised $5.7 million to develop an AI-powered app designed to act as a 'second brain.' The app runs in the background, capturing ambient speech with user permission to build a personal knowledge graph. It can generate AI-powered notes, to-dos, and answers from conversations, meetings, and lectures. TwinMind works offline, transcribes audio on-device, and offers real-time translation in over 100 languages. The company emphasizes that user data is not used to train its models and recordings are deleted after processing.

Sources

• Brian Chesky says Airbnb could be a refuge for workers who lose their jobs to AI
• If you're worried about AI taking your job, these careers are the safest bets, an AI politics professor says
• Google's best kept AI secret is finally out
• Coro 3.6 Transforms Cybersecurity with AI-Powered Simplicity for SMBs
• Cipher and Securonix Partner to Deliver AI-Powered Managed Security Services
• China narrows AI development gap with US, but still lags in advanced chips: CLSA
• ‘A burgeoning epidemic’: Why some kids are forming extreme emotional relationships with AI
• Inside the 'Disruption Risk' That AI Poses to Startups
• UW computer science leaders push back on AI job fears: ‘The sky is not falling’
• DocMagic's AI-driven platform aims to simplify mortgage production
• Appeals court says Trump can’t fire official who prepared AI report he allegedly didn’t like
• OECD to launch Governing with Artificial Intelligence on Thursday 18 September
• Ex-Google X trio wants their AI to be your second brain — and they just raised $6M to make it happen