Microsoft’s Brad Smith flags AI deep fakes threat; Snapchat hits 200 mln users in India
Microsoft President Brad Smith has raised concerns about artificial intelligence churning out deep fakes, false but highly realistic content. In a speech in Washington, Smith emphasized the need to address deep fakes and protect against foreign cyber influence operations, Reuters reports. Meanwhile, India didn’t figure in the list of markets as OpenAI expanded its iOS app to 11 countries. Snapchat hits 200 million active users in India, and also in this brief, Matrix Partners India has closed its latest fund at $550 million. Notes: Microsoft President Brad Smith yesterday expressed concerns regarding artificial intelligence churning out deep fakes, false but highly realistic content. In a speech in Washington, Smith emphasized the need to address deep fakes and protect against foreign cyber influence operations, Reuters reports. He called for measures to inform people whether a photo or video is genuine or AI-generated, aiming to prevent deception or fraud through the use of AI. Smith also advocated for licensing critical forms of AI to ensure security, cybersecurity, and national security obligations. Smith echoed the call for global cooperation on AI and incentivized safety compliance. He also emphasized accountability for AI-related issues and the importance of human control over critical infrastructure, proposing safety brakes. Additionally, Smith suggested implementing a system similar to "Know Your Customer" to monitor AI developers and inform the public about AI-generated content. Meanwhile, OpenAI has expanded the availability of its ChatGPT app for iOS to 11 additional countries, excluding India, Mint reports. The app, which allows users to ask questions using voice also, is now accessible in nations including France, the UK, Jamaica, Korea, Ireland, Nicaragua, Albania, and Croatia. Mira Murati, CTO at OpenAI, announced the expansion on Twitter, mentioning that the app would be introduced to more countries soon. OpenAI aims to make state-of-the-art research more accessible and plans to release a free app for Android devices in the future. Snapchat has achieved a significant milestone by surpassing 200 million monthly active users in India, with 120 million of them engaging with content on the platform, according to parent company Snap Inc., Mint reports. To celebrate this achievement, Snap Inc. has introduced an experimental AI-powered chatbot called My AI, tailored for Snapchat. The chatbot can provide personalized recommendations for birthday gifts, plan weekend trips, and even suggest dinner recipes. Snap Inc. attributes its success in India to the local platform experience, content initiatives, partnerships, and a dedicated focus on regional creators, along with the popularity of augmented reality (AR) features. Matrix Partners India has successfully closed its latest fund, raising over $550 million in commitments, the VC firm said in a newsletter yesterday. Matrix aims to invest in exceptional founders and assist in building ground-breaking companies, focusing on seed, early, and early growth stages across various sectors. India's digital economy, expected to reach $2 to $3 trillion in the next decade, presents a lucrative opportunity for founders to create disruptive businesses. Matrix Partners India expresses gratitude to founders and long-term investors, while also expanding its physical presence in Gurugram to engage with India's flourishing startup ecosystem.