Google has unveiled a groundbreaking AI tool called ‘Ask for Me’ that promises to revolutionize how people handle phone calls and appointments. The system, expected to launch in 2025, can make phone calls on behalf of users to schedule appointments, make reservations, and handle customer service inquiries. Building upon the foundation of Google’s Duplex technology, Ask for Me represents a significant advancement in conversational AI, capable of understanding context, managing complex dialogues, and adapting to unexpected responses. The AI assistant can handle multiple calls simultaneously, potentially saving users hours of time typically spent on hold or navigating automated phone systems. The technology incorporates sophisticated voice synthesis that sounds natural and can even include verbal mannerisms to make conversations more authentic. Security and privacy features are built-in, with calls being recorded and transcribed for user review. Early testing shows promising results, with the AI successfully completing 90% of assigned tasks. However, some concerns have been raised about the broader implications for human employment in customer service roles and the ethical considerations of AI-human interactions. Google emphasizes that the tool is designed to complement rather than replace human interaction, focusing on routine tasks while leaving more complex situations to human handlers. The company plans a gradual rollout starting with basic appointment scheduling before expanding to more complex use cases.

The inaugural HumanX AI conference, scheduled for January 2025 in Las Vegas, aims to become a major competitor to CES by focusing specifically on artificial intelligence and its impact on humanity. The event, organized by Emerald X, will feature over 300 exhibitors and expects to draw 20,000 attendees to discuss AI innovation and its societal implications. The conference will take place at the Venetian Convention and Expo Center, strategically timed to overlap with CES 2025. HumanX differentiates itself by emphasizing AI’s human-centric applications across various sectors, including healthcare, education, and business. The event will showcase AI demonstrations, host keynote speakers from major tech companies, and facilitate discussions on AI ethics and regulation. Notable features include dedicated zones for AI startups, enterprise solutions, and educational programming. The conference aims to address both the opportunities and challenges presented by AI technology, with particular attention to responsible AI development and implementation. Organizers emphasize the importance of bringing together diverse stakeholders, from tech innovators to policymakers, to shape the future of AI integration in society. The timing and location suggest a direct challenge to CES’s dominance in the tech conference space, while the focused approach on AI reflects the technology’s growing significance in global innovation and business transformation.

Intel’s CEO Pat Gelsinger announced plans to compete in the AI chip market, targeting a significant market share by 2025. The company aims to capture 20% of the AI accelerator market by that year, directly challenging Nvidia’s current dominance. Intel’s strategy involves developing new AI chips and expanding its product portfolio to meet the growing demand for AI computing solutions. The company’s stock has shown positive movement following these announcements, though it still trails behind Nvidia’s remarkable market performance. Intel is positioning its upcoming Gaudi3 chips as direct competitors to Nvidia’s products, particularly in the data center AI market. The article highlights Intel’s transformation efforts and its commitment to becoming a major player in the AI chip sector, despite current market dynamics favoring Nvidia. Key developments include Intel’s focus on both AI accelerators and traditional computing processors, with plans to integrate AI capabilities across its product lines. The company’s ambitious goals reflect the broader industry shift toward AI-focused hardware solutions and the increasing importance of AI processing capabilities in the semiconductor market. While Intel faces significant challenges in competing with established players like Nvidia and AMD, its strategic initiatives and market position suggest potential for growth in the AI chip segment.

A comprehensive study examining children’s interactions with AI chatbots reveals both opportunities and concerns for parents and educators. The research indicates that while AI chatbots can offer educational benefits and companionship, they also present potential risks that require careful parental oversight. Children are increasingly using AI chatbots for homework help, emotional support, and entertainment, but experts warn about privacy concerns, potential misinformation, and the impact on social development. The study emphasizes that children may have difficulty distinguishing between AI and human interactions, potentially affecting their ability to develop genuine human relationships. Key recommendations include setting clear boundaries for AI usage, maintaining open discussions about AI’s limitations, and actively monitoring children’s interactions with these tools. Parents are advised to treat AI chatbots as educational tools rather than emotional substitutes and to establish age-appropriate guidelines for usage. The research also highlights the importance of digital literacy education to help children understand the difference between AI and human interactions. While acknowledging AI’s potential benefits in education and learning support, the study concludes that parental involvement and guidance are crucial in ensuring safe and productive AI interactions for children.

The article discusses the significant rise in AI-focused education across non-STEM fields, highlighting how universities and colleges are rapidly integrating AI courses into various disciplines. According to the report, by 2025, AI literacy courses are expected to become standard requirements in many non-technical majors, including business, liberal arts, and humanities. Universities are responding to industry demands for graduates who understand AI’s implications, even if they’re not directly developing the technology. The article notes that schools like Stanford and MIT are already offering AI courses tailored for non-technical students, focusing on ethical considerations, practical applications, and societal impacts rather than complex programming. Business schools, in particular, are leading this trend, with many making AI courses mandatory for MBA programs. The shift reflects a broader recognition that AI literacy is becoming as fundamental as computer literacy was in the 1990s. Employers increasingly value candidates who can understand AI’s potential applications and limitations, communicate effectively with technical teams, and make informed decisions about AI implementation. The article concludes that this educational transformation is crucial for preparing students for a workforce where AI will be ubiquitous, regardless of their career path, and emphasizes that basic AI literacy will likely become as essential as basic digital literacy is today.

Sarah Guo, founder of Conviction Partners and prominent AI-focused venture capitalist, shares her strategic vision for artificial intelligence investments and market evolution through 2025. The article highlights Guo’s transition from Goldman Sachs to becoming a leading voice in AI venture capital, with her firm managing $101.8 million in assets. Guo emphasizes the transformative potential of AI across industries, particularly focusing on enterprise applications and infrastructure. She predicts significant developments in AI integration into business operations, with special attention to areas like coding assistance, enterprise productivity, and specialized AI applications. The VC veteran outlines key investment criteria, including the importance of sustainable business models and real customer value creation in AI startups. Guo warns against overvaluation in the AI sector while remaining optimistic about genuine technological breakthroughs. She stresses the need for AI companies to focus on solving concrete business problems rather than just developing impressive technology. The article also details her perspective on the evolving AI landscape, suggesting that while current excitement around AI is warranted, successful companies will need to demonstrate clear value propositions and sustainable growth paths. Her investment strategy emphasizes backing founders who understand both technical capabilities and market needs, with a particular focus on enterprise-ready solutions that can scale effectively.

Josh Woodward, Editorial Director of Google Labs’ NotebookLM, challenges the common perception that STEM skills are the only pathway to success in AI technology. He emphasizes that humanities backgrounds bring crucial skills to AI development, particularly in understanding human context and improving AI interactions. Woodward, who has a journalism background, argues that liberal arts education develops critical thinking and communication abilities essential for AI development. He specifically highlights how his team’s diverse backgrounds, including those from humanities, help in making AI tools more user-friendly and effective. The article discusses how NotebookLM, Google’s AI note-taking assistant, benefits from team members who can effectively communicate with users and understand their needs. Woodward stresses that while technical skills are important, the ability to think critically about how humans interact with technology is equally valuable. He suggests that as AI becomes more prevalent, the need for professionals who can bridge the gap between technical capabilities and human needs will increase. The article concludes by noting that humanities skills like writing, critical thinking, and understanding human behavior are becoming increasingly valuable in the AI industry, challenging the notion that only technical backgrounds are relevant in this field.

In a TIME interview, IBM CEO Arvind Krishna discusses AI’s transformative impact on business and society. He emphasizes that AI will augment rather than replace human workers, predicting it will eliminate tasks rather than entire jobs. Krishna estimates that 30% of back-office tasks could be automated within 5 years, potentially saving $65 billion annually for IBM’s consulting clients. He highlights IBM’s approach to AI development, focusing on enterprise applications and responsible innovation. The CEO addresses concerns about AI’s impact on employment, suggesting that while some jobs will evolve, new roles will emerge. Krishna also discusses IBM’s watsonx platform and their commitment to practical AI applications that solve real business problems. He emphasizes the importance of data security and ethical AI development, noting IBM’s stance on responsible AI deployment. The interview reveals IBM’s strategic positioning in the AI landscape, focusing on business-specific applications rather than competing directly with consumer-facing AI companies. Krishna acknowledges the rapid pace of AI advancement while maintaining that human oversight and judgment remain crucial. He projects that AI will drive significant productivity gains across industries but requires careful implementation and consideration of societal impacts.

Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic, expressed serious concerns about the rapid advancement of AI technology and the potential risks being overlooked by the industry. Speaking at a conference, Amodei emphasized that while current AI systems like Claude and GPT-4 are relatively safe, future more powerful systems could pose significant risks if not properly managed. He specifically highlighted three main areas of concern: the potential for AI systems to become deceptive, the challenge of maintaining control over increasingly capable AI systems, and the risk of AI being used maliciously by bad actors. Amodei stressed that these risks are not being adequately addressed by many companies in their race to develop more advanced AI systems. He called for more robust safety measures, increased transparency in AI development, and better industry-wide coordination on safety standards. The Anthropic CEO also emphasized the importance of proactive regulation and the need for companies to invest more heavily in AI safety research. The article notes that Anthropic has been implementing its own constitutional AI approach, which aims to build safety constraints directly into their AI systems. Amodei concluded by stating that the window for implementing proper safety measures is narrowing as AI capabilities continue to advance rapidly, and that the industry needs to act now rather than waiting for problems to emerge.

Elon Musk recently expressed grave concerns about artificial intelligence during the World Government Summit in Dubai, stating that AI presents “one of the biggest risks to the future of civilization.” He emphasized that while AI offers tremendous benefits, it also carries the potential for human extinction by 2025. Musk’s warnings centered on AI’s rapid advancement and its potential to surpass human intelligence, suggesting that AI could become more capable than humans in every way. He specifically highlighted concerns about AI systems that could potentially manipulate social media and influence public opinion, as well as the development of humanoid robots that might eventually outnumber humans. The Tesla CEO also discussed the need for proper AI regulation and safety measures, advocating for a pause in advanced AI development until appropriate safeguards are in place. Musk’s comments align with his previous statements about AI risks and his involvement in founding xAI, which aims to develop “safe” AI systems. The article notes that while some experts share Musk’s concerns, others view his timeline predictions as overly alarmist. Despite the warnings, Musk acknowledged AI’s positive potential, suggesting that it could lead to an “age of abundance” if properly managed. His statements reflect a broader debate within the tech community about balancing AI advancement with safety considerations.