google, microsoft and openai Updates

Universities across the United States are rapidly integrating artificial intelligence into their curricula and operations. Texas A&M University, for instance, has partnered with Google for its AI for Education Accelerator, providing students and faculty free access to Google AI tools like Gemini and NotebookLM. This initiative is part of Google's three-year, one billion dollar commitment involving over 200 institutions, aiming to prepare students for an AI-driven workforce and enhance teaching methods. Similarly, universities in Greater Cincinnati are developing new AI policies and academic programs, with the University of Cincinnati offering various AI degrees and Miami University integrating Google Gemini into its strategic plan. Xavier University uses Microsoft AI tools for its ethics-focused AI Bachelor of Arts program. The push for AI integration extends beyond academia into government and industry. President Donald Trump has proposed a "United States Tech Force," a two-year program designed to recruit private sector tech workers for federal AI jobs, partnering with 28 universities to tackle civic and defense challenges. The Naval Postgraduate School also launched a new Master of Science in AI degree to train naval officers and civilians in using AI for Department of Defense warfighting capabilities, covering machine learning, deep learning, and robotics. Meanwhile, middle-market companies are significantly boosting their AI investments, with 82% planning increased spending over the next five years and chief financial officers reporting an average 35% return on these investments. As AI adoption grows, so does the focus on its security and responsible development. Red Hat recently acquired Chatterbox Labs to enhance AI trust and security, integrating "security for AI" capabilities like AIMI for quantitative risk metrics and Guardrails for fixing biased prompts into its open source enterprise AI platform. Discussions around open source AI also highlight its role in transparency and security, with studies showing corporate involvement can increase external contributions to projects on GitHub, though risks like shared core components becoming control points exist. Mathematician Terrance Tao suggests "Artificial General Cleverness" as a more accurate term for current AI, noting its advanced pattern matching abilities without true understanding. In the competitive AI landscape, OpenAI is making strategic adjustments. The company recently removed its model router system for most free ChatGPT users, reversing a four-month-old change. This decision came after finding that directing free users to more advanced, but slower and more expensive, reasoning models negatively impacted daily active users, as most consumers prefer faster responses for general questions. Paid ChatGPT users retain access to the model router, and OpenAI faces growing competition from Google Gemini. Additionally, Hannah Wong, OpenAI's chief communications officer, announced her departure in January, after being instrumental in shaping public understanding of the company, particularly during ChatGPT's rapid growth and CEO Sam Altman's brief removal in 2023.

Key Takeaways

• Texas A&M University partners with Google for its AI for Education Accelerator, providing free access to Google AI tools like Gemini and NotebookLM as part of a $1 billion Google initiative across 200+ institutions.
• Universities in Greater Cincinnati, including the University of Cincinnati, Miami University, and Xavier University, are implementing new AI policies and offering various AI degrees and minors, utilizing tools like Google Gemini and Microsoft AI.
• OpenAI's chief communications officer, Hannah Wong, will depart in January, having played a crucial role in the company's public relations, especially during ChatGPT's growth and Sam Altman's 2023 removal.
• Red Hat acquired Chatterbox Labs to enhance AI trust and security, adding capabilities like AIMI for quantitative risk metrics in LLMs and Guardrails for fixing biased prompts to its open source enterprise AI platform.
• Mathematician Terrance Tao suggests "Artificial General Cleverness" (AGC) as a more accurate term for current AI, noting its advanced pattern matching abilities without true understanding.
• A study on GitHub indicates that corporate involvement in open source AI projects can increase external contributions, but policymakers need to address governance and demand more disclosure on training data and security.
• OpenAI removed its model router system for most free ChatGPT users, prioritizing faster responses over slightly more advanced reasoning models, as it negatively impacted daily active users and amid competition from Google Gemini.
• Donald Trump proposes a "United States Tech Force," a two-year program to recruit private sector tech workers for federal AI jobs, partnering with 28 universities to address civic and defense challenges.
• The Naval Postgraduate School launched a Master of Science in AI degree to train naval officers and civilians in using AI for Department of Defense warfighting capabilities, including machine learning, deep learning, and robotics.
• Middle-market companies are significantly increasing AI investments, with 82% planning more spending over five years, and CFOs reporting an average 35% return on AI investments, while private equity values strong AI strategies.

Texas A&M and Google Partner for Free AI Training

Texas A&M University has partnered with Google for its AI for Education Accelerator program. This initiative gives students and faculty free access to Google AI tools like Gemini and NotebookLM. The program aims to prepare students for an AI-driven workforce and improve teaching methods. Shonda Gibson from Texas A&M and Lisa Gevelber from Grow with Google highlighted the program's benefits. Texas A&M is one of over 200 institutions participating in this three-year, one billion dollar Google initiative.

Cincinnati Universities Adopt New AI Policies and Programs

Universities across Greater Cincinnati are developing new policies and academic programs for artificial intelligence. The University of Cincinnati has a dedicated website and an AI Enablement Community of Practice, offering various undergraduate and graduate AI degrees. Miami University integrates AI into its strategic plan, provides Google Gemini, and offers an AI minor and a Bachelor of Science in AI. Xavier University uses Microsoft AI tools and offers a Bachelor of Arts in AI with a focus on ethics. Cincinnati State Technical and Community College also has an AI use policy and offers relevant courses.

OpenAI Communications Chief Hannah Wong to Depart

Hannah Wong, OpenAI's chief communications officer, announced internally that she will leave the company in January. CEO Sam Altman and CEO of applications Fidji Simo praised her for shaping public understanding of OpenAI. Wong joined in 2021 and was crucial in leading the company's communications, especially during ChatGPT's growth and Sam Altman's brief removal in 2023. Lindsey Held, VP of communications, will lead the team temporarily, and Chief Marketing Officer Kate Rouch will lead the search for Wong's replacement.

Red Hat Acquires Chatterbox Labs for AI Security

Red Hat announced its acquisition of Chatterbox Labs to enhance AI trust and security. Chatterbox Labs specializes in AI safety and generative AI guardrails, adding crucial "security for AI" capabilities to Red Hat's portfolio. This move aims to help Red Hat deliver a complete open source enterprise AI platform for hybrid cloud environments. Chatterbox Labs' technology includes AIMI for quantitative risk metrics in large language models and Guardrails to fix insecure or biased prompts. This acquisition supports Red Hat's vision for secure and responsible AI at scale.

Mathematician Terrance Tao Calls AI "Artificial General Cleverness"

Mathematician Terrance Tao, a Fields Medal winner and UCLA professor, suggests a new term for current AI models: "Artificial General Cleverness" or AGC. He believes these systems can solve many complex problems through advanced pattern matching and statistical associations, but they lack true understanding. Tao actively uses AI tools in his mathematical research, even tackling difficult problems from the Erd s collection. He compares AI's impressive abilities to a magic trick, where knowing how it works changes awe into technical respect.

Open Source AI Data Shows Commercial Growth and Risks

Open source software is gaining attention in AI regulation, with governments hoping it will make AI more transparent and secure. A study of over 13,000 open source AI projects on GitHub found that when companies join, external contributions actually increase. This suggests corporate involvement can mobilize, rather than displace, open source activity. However, risks exist as shared core components can become control points, as seen with past issues like Elasticsearch and Java. Policymakers should focus on governance and demand more disclosure about training data, security, and decision-making processes.

OpenAI Removes ChatGPT Model Router for Free Users

OpenAI has removed its model router system for most free ChatGPT users, reversing a change made four months ago. The router directed free users to more advanced, but slower and more expensive, reasoning models. OpenAI found that this negatively impacted daily active users, as most consumers prefer faster responses over slightly better answers for general questions. Paid ChatGPT users will still have access to the model router. This change comes as OpenAI faces growing competition from Google Gemini and works to improve its core product.

Trump Proposes New US Tech Force for AI Jobs

President Donald Trump announced plans to create a "United States Tech Force" to boost AI in government. This new two-year program aims to recruit skilled tech workers from the private sector for federal jobs. The Tech Force will partner with 28 universities to address major civic and defense challenges. This initiative follows a year where the Trump administration reduced federal employees, leading some to believe it is an effort to replace lost tech talent.

Naval Postgraduate School Offers New AI Master's Degree

The Naval Postgraduate School NPS has launched a new Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence MSAI degree. This program will train naval officers and civilians to use AI for the Department of Defense DoD. It focuses on improving warfighting capabilities through AI technologies. Students will study core AI concepts like machine learning, deep learning, and robotics, along with ethical considerations. The curriculum includes a capstone project addressing real-world Navy and DoD AI challenges.

Middle Market Companies Boost AI Investments

A new survey from Citizens Financial Group Inc. shows that middle-market companies are rapidly increasing their investments in artificial intelligence. Eighty-two percent of companies plan to spend more on AI over the next five years, a significant jump from previous years. Chief financial officers report an average 35% return on AI investments, with 61% finding AI makes financial tasks easier. Private equity firms also highly value strong AI strategies when considering acquisitions. Companies are also building more AI expertise internally and focusing on customer satisfaction as a key measure of success.

Sources

• Inside Texas A&M University’s partnership with Google for AI training
• How are Greater Cincinnati universities approaching AI? Policies at UC, Miami, NKU, more
• OpenAI’s Chief Communications Officer Is Leaving the Company
• Red Hat buys Chatterbox Labs for AI security and trust
• Don’t See AGI But ‘Artificial General Cleverness’ In Current AI Models: Mathematician Terrance Tao
• Open Source Is Having a Moment in AI Regulation. Here Is What the Data Says
• OpenAI Rolls Back ChatGPT’s Model Router System for Most Users
• Trump wants to build out AI with a new ‘Tech Force’
• NPS Launches New Master’s in Artificial Intelligence Focused on Warfig
• Citizens survey finds middle-market companies racing to ramp up AI investment