EU AI Act Digest Newsletter #2

Apple Delays AI Feature Rollout Until October: What to Expect Post-iPhone 16 Launch

Apple is planning to delay the launch of its artificial intelligence features, which are now expected to be released after the iPhone 16 and iOS 18 announcements in September. While iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 will be available as planned, the new Apple Intelligence capabilities will be delayed until October.

According to Bloomberg, the delay is due to concerns about the stability of the Apple Intelligence features, with Apple needing more time to resolve bugs and refine these tools. Developers will get early access to iOS 18.1 and iPadOS 18.1 betas starting this week, an unusual move for Apple, which typically waits until the initial release is public before previewing follow-up updates.

This delay means the initial buyers of the iPhone 16 may not have access to some of Apple’s latest AI features announced at WWDC last month, including Rewrite, Image Playground, Genmoji, audio transcription, webpage summaries, and a revamped Siri. These features will start rolling out on iPhones running iOS 18.1 by October, with further updates continuing into 2024 and 2025.

Apple Intelligence will also extend to macOS Sequoia and later to the Vision Pro, reflecting Apple’s commitment to advancing in the generative AI space, which has seen rapid development and adoption over the past year. The delay aligns with Apple’s broader strategy to bolster new device sales with significant software enhancements.

This approach highlights Apple’s cautious but strategic rollout, ensuring that their AI features are thoroughly tested and polished before a wide release. With the iPhone 16 focusing on incremental design changes, the upcoming software enhancements will play a crucial role in driving consumer interest and sales.

ChatGPT’s Advanced Voice Mode to Launch for Plus Users Next Week

OpenAI is set to roll out its advanced Voice Mode to a small group of ChatGPT Plus users next week, according to CEO Sam Altman. Initially scheduled for release in late June, the Microsoft-backed AI startup delayed the launch to ensure the feature met their high standards for safety and performance.

In a post on X, Altman revealed that the eagerly awaited GPT-4o-powered Voice Mode will enter its alpha phase for paid subscribers. This new model is designed to address latency issues experienced with the current Voice Mode, which averages a delay of 2.8 seconds for GPT-3.5 and 5.4 seconds for GPT-4. The GPT-4o is expected to eliminate these noticeable delays, allowing users to engage in more fluid, real-time conversations with ChatGPT.

The new audio capabilities will enable users to speak to ChatGPT and receive immediate responses, as well as interrupt ChatGPT while it is speaking—key features of realistic conversations that have traditionally been challenging for AI assistants. OpenAI has been working on improving the model’s ability to detect and refuse certain content while enhancing the overall user experience and preparing its infrastructure to scale.

First unveiled earlier this year, the advanced Voice Mode showcased the large language model’s multi-modal conversational abilities. OpenAI has stated that this functionality would only be released after passing rigorous internal safety and reliability checks. The company continues to push the boundaries of generative AI as it aims to maintain its edge in the rapidly evolving AI landscape, with businesses increasingly adopting this cutting-edge technology.

AI and Competition: Key Concerns Raised by Global Regulators

The European Commission, the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority, the U.S. Department of Justice, and the U.S. Federal Trade Commission have released a joint statement that is essential reading for those involved in AI governance. The statement highlights critical competition concerns that need ongoing attention:

Key Competition Issues Identified:

“1. Concentrated control of key inputs. Specialized chips, substantial compute, data at scale, and specialist technical expertise are critical ingredients to develop foundation models. This could potentially put a small number of companies in a position to exploit existing or emerging bottlenecks across the AI stack and to have outsized influence over the future development of these tools. This could limit the scope of disruptive innovation, or allow companies to shape it to their own advantage, at the expense of fair competition that benefits the public and our economies.

2. Entrenching or extending market power in AI-related markets. Foundation models are arriving at a time when large incumbent digital firms already enjoy strong accumulated advantages. For example, platforms may have substantial market power at multiple levels related to the AI stack. This can give these firms the ability to protect against AI-driven disruption, or harness it to their particular advantage, including through control of the channels of distribution of AI or AI-enabled services to people and businesses. This may allow such firms to extend or entrench the positions that they were able to establish through the last major technological shift to the detriment of future competition.

3. Arrangements involving key players could amplify risks. Partnerships, financial investments, and other connections between firms related to the development of generative AI have been widespread to date. In some cases, these arrangements may not harm competition but in other cases these partnerships and investments could be used by major firms to undermine or coopt competitive threats and steer market outcomes in their favour at the expense of the public.”

You can read the joint statement here

Participate in Shaping the First General-Purpose AI Code of Practice

The European AI Office has opened a call for expressions of interest to contribute to the development of the first General-Purpose AI Code of Practice. This initiative invites eligible AI model providers, industry organizations, civil society groups, academia, and independent experts to participate in the drafting process.

The Code of Practice is set to be finalized by April 2025, following an iterative drafting process that begins nine months after the AI Act’s entry into force on August 1, 2024. It aims to guide the proper application of the AI Act’s rules, particularly for general-purpose AI models, including those with systemic risks.

Interested participants must express their interest by August 25, 2024, via an online application form. Selected participants will join a Code of Practice Plenary, structured into four Working Groups that will focus on specific topics related to the AI Act, such as transparency, copyright issues, risk assessment, and mitigation measures.

The drafting process includes virtual meetings, starting with a kick-off Plenary in September 2024 and continuing with three rounds of discussions until April 2025. Each working group will have Chairs and Vice-Chairs responsible for synthesizing input from consultations and participants.

To ensure inclusivity and transparency, the AI Office will document and share meeting minutes with all participants. The final version of the Code of Practice will be presented at a Closing Plenary in April 2025, where providers of general-purpose AI models will have the opportunity to commit to using the Code.

This initiative represents a collaborative effort to ensure that the AI Act is implemented effectively, with input from a diverse range of stakeholders.

AI at the Paris 2024 Olympics

The Paris 2024 Summer Olympics will mark a significant intersection between athletic competition and the rapidly evolving field of Artificial Intelligence (AI). This development follows the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) launch of the “Olympic AI Agenda” in April, a comprehensive strategy that aims to integrate AI into sports while ensuring it complements rather than replaces human performance. IOC President Thomas Bach emphasized that AI’s role is to enhance, not supplant, the efforts of athletes, affirming that essential aspects of sports, like running the 100 meters, will always be performed by human athletes.

The AI Working Group, comprising AI experts, academics, athletes, and technology companies, developed this agenda after a thorough review of AI applications in sports. Key focus areas include cybersecurity, particularly for athletes, with AI technology set to monitor and remove harmful content from social media during the games.

Looking ahead to Paris 2024, athletes’ social media accounts will be monitored for hate speech, with AI swiftly removing negative comments before they can impact the athletes. The IOC is collaborating with tech partners to implement AI-driven measures to create a secure digital environment for athletes and officials during the Games.

The IOC is also using AI to advance diversity and inclusivity in sports. AI-powered talent identification systems, deployed by partners like Intel and Samsung, are helping to identify and nurture athletic talent from underrepresented regions, giving more athletes a chance to compete on the global stage. For example, Intel piloted this initiative in Senegal, where it identified local youth with potential for the 2026 Youth Olympic Games.

In addition to talent scouting, AI will play a role in media coverage. NBC announced the use of an AI-generated voice clone of renowned sports broadcaster Al Michaels for daily streaming recaps of the Olympics on Peacock. This AI tool, trained on Michaels’ previous broadcasts, will offer personalized highlights packages from the extensive coverage of the Games, making it easier for viewers to catch up on events they may have missed.

These advancements underscore the IOC’s commitment to leveraging AI for enhancing the Olympic experience, ensuring inclusivity, and maintaining the integrity of sport, all while navigating the challenges of this emerging technology.

White House’s Commitment to Safe AI Development

Nine months ago, President Biden issued a landmark Executive Order aimed at ensuring that America leads in both harnessing the potential and managing the risks of artificial intelligence (AI). This order built upon the voluntary commitments made by 15 leading U.S. AI companies last year, under the leadership of President Biden and Vice President Harris.

Today, the administration announced that Apple has joined these voluntary commitments, further solidifying them as cornerstones of responsible AI innovation. Apple is now the latest of 16 companies to commit to these guidelines since last year.

On July 26, the White House emphasized that “Apple’s commitment reinforces these guidelines as foundational for responsible AI innovation.”

First introduced in July 2023, these commitments are designed to promote the safe, secure, and transparent development of AI. The initial signatories included major tech companies such as Amazon, Anthropic, Google, Inflection, Meta, Microsoft, and OpenAI.

The guidelines focus on addressing the risks and ethical considerations associated with emerging technologies, emphasizing transparency and the prevention of misuse. The Biden-Harris Administration has called on the industry to uphold high standards to ensure that innovation respects Americans’ rights and safety.

In September, eight additional companies, including Adobe and IBM, also joined these commitments. However, some critics, such as the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC), argue that voluntary commitments are not enough. They advocate for enforceable regulations to ensure that AI practices are fair, transparent, and protective of privacy.

EU AI Act Podcast 1 with Dragos Tudorache

Join us for an insightful conversation on the future of AI governance and its potential to transform society.

You can listen to the episode here.

Join the waiting list for our New EU AI Act Course

AI Awards Announce New Judges

The AI Awards have just announced their esteemed panel of judges for this year’s competition. The selection includes renowned experts from academia, industry leaders, and pioneering innovators in the field of artificial intelligence. Their collective expertise spans cutting-edge research, ethical AI practices, and groundbreaking applications of AI technology. This diverse panel is set to rigorously evaluate the most innovative AI projects, ensuring a high standard of excellence and recognizing truly outstanding contributions to the field. Stay tuned for updates on the award nominations and winners!

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