Google, Microsoft & Anthropic Fund AI Training, Intel Backs $20M AI Grant

AI is rapidly transforming various sectors, from education to cybersecurity and even government services. In education, schools in New Mexico are rolling out AI guidelines, while teachers in Canada and Florida seek more training on ethical AI use in classrooms. Companies like Google, Microsoft, and Anthropic are already funding AI training programs for teachers in the U.S. However, the rise of AI also brings challenges, as highlighted in CrowdStrike reports indicating that hackers are increasingly using AI to enhance cyberattacks, necessitating stronger cyber defenses. Senator Young is advocating for official AI standards in Congress to address these growing threats. Meanwhile, the AI industry is witnessing a surge in compensation for top engineers, akin to professional athletes' salaries, reflecting the high demand for AI talent. Research institutions like Cornell University are receiving substantial investments, such as a $20 million grant from the National Science Foundation and Intel, to explore AI's potential in discovering new materials. Companies like Harmonya are launching AI-driven tools like the Insights Agent to provide shopper insights for consumer packaged goods brands. Amazon is innovating by using AI to evaluate the performance of other AI models through Amazon Nova, ensuring accuracy and alignment with human perspectives. However, a study points out that the effectiveness of AI cybersecurity tools is often hampered by unreliable data, creating a "Trust Gap." On a more positive note, AI offers significant potential for reducing global emissions, with studies suggesting it could cut emissions in half by 2035. Furthermore, cities like Washington, D.C., are exploring AI to simplify government services and improve citizen access through AI-powered portals and chatbots.

Key Takeaways

• New Mexico schools are implementing AI guidelines, while Canadian and Florida teachers are requesting more AI training.
• Google, Microsoft, and Anthropic are funding AI training for teachers in the U.S.
• CrowdStrike reports that hackers are using AI to enhance cyberattacks, increasing the need for robust cyber defenses.
• Senator Young is pushing for official AI standards in Congress.
• Top AI engineers are earning salaries comparable to professional athletes due to high demand.
• Cornell University receives $20 million from the NSF and Intel to study AI for new materials.
• Harmonya launches an AI agent for shopper insights in the consumer packaged goods sector.
• Amazon uses AI (Amazon Nova, Claude 3.5 Sonnet, and Meta’s Llama 3) to evaluate the performance of other AI models.
• A study indicates that bad data is undermining the effectiveness of AI cybersecurity tools.
• AI could potentially cut global emissions in half by 2035, according to a study by the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and Systemiq.

New Mexico schools get AI guidelines for upcoming year

The New Mexico Public Education Department (NMPED) released AI guidelines for school districts as students return to class. A survey showed many students and teachers use AI chatbots weekly. The guidelines suggest how to introduce AI to students, use it in real-world situations, and handle plagiarism. NMPED is using Amira, an AI reading tutor, in early grades. Parents are advised to ask teachers about AI use in classrooms, as school districts create their own AI policies.

Canadian teachers need guidance on using AI ethically in classrooms

Canadian teachers say they need more training on using AI ethically and educationally. Tech companies like Google, Microsoft, and Anthropic are funding AI training for teachers in the U.S. Some Canadian provinces have AI guidelines, but teachers want more specific and meaningful education. Teachers worry about AI replacing them and want to be consulted on AI training. They are also concerned about tech companies' motivations in funding teacher training.

Teachers explore using AI in classrooms in Hillsborough County Florida

Teachers and leaders in Hillsborough County, Florida are exploring how to use AI in classrooms. Some teachers are already using AI for lesson planning and teaching coding. The district has a committee dedicated to AI to create policies, but individual teachers can choose to use it. Leaders are aware of the risk of students using AI to cheat and are trying to prevent it. Teachers are discussing AI ethics with students to promote proper use.

Hackers use AI to boost cyberattacks says CrowdStrike report

A CrowdStrike report shows hackers are using AI to make cyberattacks faster and more effective. AI helps them gather information, find weaknesses, and create phishing messages. Groups like Charming Kitten and Famous Chollima use AI for phishing and hiding their identities. Hackers also target AI tools to get into networks and steal data. CrowdStrike warns that as AI use grows, it will become a bigger target for cyberattacks.

CrowdStrike warns AI is boosting cyber threats

CrowdStrike's 2025 Threat Hunting Report says AI is helping cybercriminals deceive, break into, and stay inside company systems faster. Interactive intrusions, where attackers change tactics in real time, have increased by 27%. North Korea's FAMOUS CHOLLIMA uses AI to create fake resumes and deepfake videos. Russian and Iranian groups use AI to create convincing phishing attacks. Cloud intrusions have risen sharply, and traditional cyber defenses are becoming less effective.

Senator Young hopes for AI standards in Congress

Senator Young from Indiana wants Congress to make the Commerce Department's AI standards official. He believes there is a better chance of success now. This reflects a change in attitude since President Donald Trump's administration.

AI industry pays top engineers like pro athletes

The AI industry is changing, with top engineers now earning huge paychecks like NBA players. Venture capitalists and founders aren't the only ones making money anymore. This trend is changing the culture of Silicon Valley and business in general. Experts discuss the economics behind these high salaries and who the industry's biggest stars are.

Cornell gets $20M to study AI for new materials

The National Science Foundation and Intel are investing $20 million in Cornell University to create the Artificial Intelligence Materials Institute (NSF AI-MI). The institute, led by Eun-Ah Kim, will use AI to discover new materials for sustainable energy and quantum technologies. Researchers from multiple universities will work together, using data from facilities like CHESS. The goal is to use AI to predict material properties and improve the understanding of AI and materials science.

Harmonya launches AI agent for shopper insights

Harmonya has launched its Insights Agent, an AI tool for consumer packaged goods (CPG) brands. It helps teams understand product performance by combining reviews, sales data, and product details. The agent answers questions about shopper opinions and trends. It helps with brand strategy, innovation, and marketing. The Insights Agent uses a special data system to connect shopper language with product performance.

Amazon uses AI to judge AI with Amazon Nova

Amazon is using AI to analyze customer feedback by having multiple AI models review each other's work. This system uses Amazon Bedrock to deploy different AI models. One model creates summaries of text responses, and others act as a jury to rate the summaries. This helps ensure the AI's output is accurate and aligns with human perspectives. Amazon Nova, Claude 3.5 Sonnet, and Meta’s Llama 3 are some of the models used.

Study says bad data hurts AI cybersecurity tools

A new report says that many cybersecurity leaders don't trust the data in their security tools. This "Trust Gap" is caused by incomplete, inaccurate, or inconsistent data. This problem hurts the performance of AI cybersecurity tools. Companies are investing in AI, but bad data can prevent these projects from working well. The report suggests that having reliable data is important for managing vulnerabilities and preventing breaches.

AI could cut global emissions in half says study

AI tools could significantly reduce global emissions by 2035, according to research from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and Systemiq. AI could cut 5.4 billion tonnes of CO2 emissions yearly across power, food, and transport. Google DeepMind's AI has already increased wind energy's value by 20%. AI can help manage renewable energy, transition to alternative proteins, and promote shared mobility and EV adoption. While AI use increases data center energy demand, the study suggests AI's emission reductions will outweigh these costs.

D.C. residents want AI to simplify government services

Residents in Washington, D.C., want AI to make government services easier to use, according to D.C.'s Chief Technology Officer (CTO). They want a single place to manage permits and find services. The city is investing in a resident portal and exploring AI governance. AI could power chatbots to help people find information and predict what services they need. The city is using deliberation.io, an AI tool, to gather feedback and guide future projects.

Sources

• New Mexico Public Education Department releases AI guidelines
• Canadian teachers want lessons on how to ethically incorporate AI into classrooms
• Teachers, district leaders working to figure out how to incorporate artificial intelligence in the classroom
• AI is helping hackers automate and customize cyberattacks
• CrowdStrike: AI-Powered Threats Shape Security Landscape
• Young thinks Hill is finally ready for AI standards
• The AI Industry Is Becoming Like Professional Sports
• NSF And Intel Invest $20M In Cornell AI Materials Institute
• Harmonya Launches the First AI Agent Trained on CPG Shopper Behavior, Sales, and Product Attributes
• AI judging AI: Scaling unstructured text analysis with Amazon Nova
• “Dirty Data” Undermines a Generation of AI Cybersecurity Tools, Study Finds
• How AI Could Slash Nearly Half of Global Emissions
• Residents Want AI to Simplify Government, D.C. CTO Says