As AI capabilities become increasingly integrated into products across the world, adhering to a bold and responsible framework will be even more critical, a Google blog post reads.

Cybersecurity executives from Google, Royal Hansen, and Phil Venables, wrote in a blog post that making AI models secure by default is a crucial aspect of implementing such models, and the introduction of the SAIF marks a significant first step towards achieving that goal.

As per the search giant, the SAIF system has been created to reduce the risks inherent in AI systems. Such risks include but are not limited to theft of the model, poisoning of training data, the injection of malicious inputs via prompt injection, and unauthorized access to confidential information present in the training data.

Google has asserted that SAIF can provide support to firms in protecting their neural network’s code and training dataset from theft. Additionally, it is highly effective in blocking a variety of other threats. The framework is primarily based on six distinct collections of best practices designed to help enterprises upgrade their AI security operations in different areas.

The Secure AI framework proposes six core ideas to enhance AI system security for organizations. These ideas include implementing existing security controls to new AI systems by adopting measures such as data encryption, expanding threat intelligence research to address AI-specific threats, leveraging automation in cyber defenses to react to anomalous activity quickly, conducting regular security reviews of AI models, continuously testing AI systems, and setting up an AI risk-aware team to mitigate business risks.

In the meantime, Microsoft is endeavoring to address the anxieties of the general public regarding the potential damage and abuse that could arise from unbridled AI deployment, which has prompted the company to impart its pledge of transparency through the Customer Commitments principle. Anthony Cook, the Corporate Vice President and Deputy General Counsel of Microsoft has unveiled three innovative AI Customer Commitments to allay concerns and foster a culture of trust in the organization.

Via CSO Online

According to a recent blog post by Alphabet, Gmail users on mobile devices can anticipate the integration of a “top results” section, which will enhance search accuracy when retrieving past messages or attachments through the Gmail app.

Updates are being rolled out to the mobile apps for both Google Workspace and personal Google accounts, which will include new machine-learning models. Among the changes, users will notice a new section called “Top results” appearing at the top of their search results.

The new AI-powered feature will consider various factors, including the user’s recent emails, to present the most relevant search results.

“When searching in Gmail, machine learning models will use the search term, most recent emails, and other relevant factors to show you the results that best match your search query. These results will now appear at the top of the list in a dedicated section, followed by all results sorted by recency,” said Google in a blog post.

As stated in Google’s official blog, the “top results” feature has been in high demand and will soon be accessible to all Gmail users on their mobile devices within the next two weeks. However, It is currently uncertain if the function will also be integrated into the web-based edition of Gmail.

Google has exhibited a strong dedication to integrating AI into its offerings, as evidenced by the launch of its latest feature. The tech giant rolled out multiple AI-focused services and features during its I/O developer conference held in May.

The release of OpenAI’s ChatGPT, a well-known generative AI platform, and Microsoft Bing prompted the proliferation of advancements and substantial financial investments in the field. Consequently, Google initiated efforts to keep pace with their popularity, culminating in the release of its AI chatbot Bard. 

Via PCMag

Bard has recently been equipped with a new and long-awaited update that includes a feature beneficial to users looking for visual representations of their queries. Specifically, the update will provide images relevant to a specific search response, giving those who use the AI-powered chatbot an improved understanding of their search results.

“Images can help you communicate your ideas more effectively. They can bring concepts to life, make recommendations more persuasive, and enhance responses when you ask for visual information,” Bard’s Experiment updates page details.

For instance, users planning their travel itinerary may ask about a tourist destination, and Bard will display relevant images of the location. Moreover, this feature will also be advantageous for those looking for a particular product. Currently, only English responses are accompanied by images, although Google is expected to extend support to other languages soon.

In addition, the chatbot will provide source links for each shared image thumbnail to allow users to authenticate its origin and explore further if interested. At present, Bard’s capabilities are limited to responding with images exclusively, however, in the near future, AI prompt via Google Lens will be made viable.

As anticipated, the new feature is a substantial upgrade that can potentially surpass the competing platforms ChatGPT and Microsoft Bing since incorporating images into answers can substantially amplify its overall value. This is especially true in cases where an image can convey a greater amount of information than a text-based answer could.

Via MSN

According to the author of the report, the tech giant’s search tool surpasses other AI tools, such as ChatGPT, as it provides more precise responses. However, the reason for this accuracy is linked to Google’s AI reproducing content from the internet in the form of semi-plagiarism. This raises concerns about ethical considerations.

Upon accessing Google’s latest search feature, the writer inquired whether live oysters could be stored in a refrigerator. Google, in response, generated three well-crafted paragraphs that were both visually appealing and easily understandable. The accuracy of the answer was commendable, albeit not without flaws.

Although the accuracy was high, it was noted that the reason for this was not ideal, as minor words had been merely swapped out. This observation hinted at potential plagiarism issues, as similar sentences had already been found in existing articles online. For instance, synonyms like “store” and replacing “keep” were the primary alterations made by Google’s AI in generating the answer.

“There are positive and negative things about this new Google Search experience. If you followed Google’s advice, you’d probably be just fine storing your oysters in the fridge, which is to say you won’t get sick. But, again, the reason Google’s advice is accurate brings us immediately to the negative: It’s just copying from websites and giving people no incentive to actually visit those websites,” the author said.

According to Mikhail Parakhin, the CEO of Bing at Microsoft, Google Bard utilizes a “significantly smaller model” in comparison to Bing Chat. Parakhin made the remark in response to a comment praising Bard for its speed relative to Bing Chat.

Specifically, a user highlighted Bard’s speed but noted that this was the only area in which it had an advantage over Bing Chat. Parakhin confirmed the said advantage of Bard over Bing Chat and attributed it to Google’s smaller model. “True. They have a much smaller model,” he wrote on Twitter.

Via Forbes

In contrast to the typically austere Google homepage featuring 10 blue hyperlinks, Google’s generative AI outcomes emerge in vibrant boxes atop the habitual search results. By scouring miscellaneous online sources, Google assembles the data into a facile-to-peruse list, which incorporates links to suppliers’ websites, as well as purchase options at Best Buy, as per ARS Technica.

An email notification will be sent to those who have registered for Search Labs once the new generative AI features in Search are ready for testing. For those who have not yet registered but are interested, access to the Labs icon can be found in the latest version of the Google app (for Android and iOS) or on a Chrome desktop.

According to Google, AI Search has been developed to simplify the search process by reducing user effort. This can aid in comprehending complex subject matters, discovering diverse perspectives, and streamlining tasks for enhanced productivity. The tech giant says that the latest version of AI search uses a segmented approach while searching, provides quick answers to specific queries, and furnishes pertinent information regarding items to purchase.

Moreover, the organization has announced that it will be refining and updating this feature based on user feedback. Presently, access to AI Search is restricted to users residing in the U.S.

Google appears to be ramping up its competition with Microsoft, as the latter has been utilizing AI search through Bing for some time now. It remains to be seen whether Google can keep pace and continue to maintain its significant lead in the search industry.

Via ARS Technica

The tech magnate suggested incorporating several components of his corporate empire, including his recent acquisition of Twitter for $44 billion in October 2022, to support his ambitious AI venture.

Musk revealed his intentions to introduce a robust “third horse” to compete against the artificial intelligence dominance of technology powerhouses such as Alphabet Inc. and Microsoft Corporation. When asked about his new company, X.AI, the billionaire stated his belief in the need for a substantial third competitor in the field.

The billionaire also hinted at the possibility of Twitter playing an influential role in the development of his AI business, potentially forming a partnership with Tesla Inc. While refraining from making any official announcements, Musk speculated that there could be a system similar to OpenAI’s relationship with Microsoft in place between X.AI, Twitter, and Tesla.

When questioned about the regulation of AI, Musk reaffirmed his stance on the establishment of an independent oversight committee consisting of industry leaders and third-party entities. He emphasized the committee’s significance in gaining insights into the activities of these enterprises.

“It’s a small likelihood of annihilating humanity, but it’s not zero,” he said

Moreover, the tech entrepreneur remarked that the United States and Europe currently possess the most cutting-edge AI technology, although China is catching up quickly.

Despite expressing concerns about the accelerating progress of AI, Musk remains optimistic about Tesla’s potential to capitalize on the technology, citing the company’s substantial investment in AI and machine learning. Musk has emphasized that Tesla’s Full-Self Driving software, currently in beta, will operate under a comprehensive neural network AI model.

Via WSJ

Gates believes that these future assistants will be attuned to individual users’ needs in such a way that will render many of the current, common uses of the internet obsolete.

“Whoever wins the personal agent, that’s the big thing, because you will never go to a search site again, you will never go to a productivity site, you’ll never go to Amazon again,” Gates said, as reported by CNBC.

According to him, this assistant would facilitate the reading of important materials that a person may not have the time for. Gates highlighted the possibility of this AI assistant being developed by either a startup or a well-established tech giant, stating that the odds of either being successful were equally balanced at 50-50.

“I’d be disappointed if Microsoft didn’t come in there. But I’m impressed with a couple of startups, including Inflection,” he said.

As per CNBC, Gates believes that AI-driven humanoid robots will progressively become more cost-effective compared to human laborers in the foreseeable future, resulting in the displacement of blue-collar workers.

Gates says it will take a considerable time for the advanced future digital agent to become viable for widespread use. In the meantime, various companies are expected to embed generative AI technologies like OpenAI’s ChatGPT into their products. During the same discussion, Gates noted that AI would expedite breakthroughs and more sophisticated drug development in the health sector.

While the intricacies of the human brain remain elusive, he expressed confidence that humanity is closing in on the discovery of curative medicines for ailments such as Alzheimer’s disease, with potential human trials of these new drugs being a possibility in approximately 10 years.

Via Deseret

Despite this, Pichai acknowledged the risk that some companies prioritize being first movers in the field over ensuring safety, and ethical considerations are thoroughly addressed.

“While some have tried to reduce this moment to just a competitive AI race, we see it as so much more than that,” said the CEO.

“These advances mean that drivers across Europe can now find more fuel-efficient routes; tens of thousands of Ukrainian refugees are helped to communicate in their new homes; flood forecasting tools are able to predict floods further in advance. Google DeepMind’s work on AlphaFold, in collaboration with the European Molecular Biology Laboratory, resulted in a groundbreaking understanding of over 200mn cataloged proteins known to science, opening up new healthcare possibilities,” he noted.

Additionally, the search engine giant shared that its AI software program, Bard, has been refined to enhance its function of creating concise summaries that accurately reflect the connected content.

Also, as per Google, Bard can now efficiently recognize the matching portions of any response to its source material, identifying them with corresponding numbers alongside the response text. Users can easily match the source with the relevant text section and seamlessly navigate through it by clicking on these numbers. The company aspires to simplify the process of source identification and presentation for its users, offering in-line source links that are more easily accessible.

Initially reported by Search Engine Roundtable, the citations have now adopted a similar appearance to Bing Chat.

Nonetheless, the outcome appears to be counterproductive as upon clicking the number sign on the left to unveil the primary source and its corresponding link, the result was unsatisfactory. Curiously, the link yields a 404 error code, indicating that the page is no longer accessible. In fact, the page has not been functional for a year and a half.

oh wow., the link actually is a 404 https://t.co/sxLikPNKCi

— Barry Schwartz (@rustybrick) May 15, 2023

Furthermore, Google has stated that they have improved their summarization capabilities through advancements derived from large language models, resulting in an enhanced version of Bard. The upgrade has significantly upgraded the software’s proficiency in summarizing information, a valuable feature for efficiently grasping the essence of a subject matter.

“Starting today, we’ve tuned the model to be better at concise summaries – this is especially helpful when you want to get the gist of a topic quickly like this one,” Jack Krawczyk of Google wrote on Twitter.

Via Seround Table

What was Announced at Google I/O for Bard?

1. Making Bard Available Generally

In the I/O conference, Google announced it is removing most waitlist restrictions for, Bard. The move is aimed at making the chatbot more widely available to users, starting today in English. According to Sissie Hsiao, VP and GM for Assistant and Bard at Google, the goal is to gather feedback from a larger group of people and continue to improve the chatbot. The waitlist restriction removal means Bard is now open to over 180 countries and territories.

During the press event, John Krawczyk, senior product director at Google, also announced that they would soon roll out Korean and Japanese versions of Bard, with additional languages to follow. He stressed that the company is taking precautions and rolling out other languages separately to ensure the chatbot is safe and responsible to use.

2. Bard Will Give More Visual Response

Furthermore, Google has revealed that it plans to add multimodal content to Bard, meaning it will be able to deliver responses with more than just text. In the company’s blog post, Hsiao wrote, “Coming soon, Bard will become more visual both in its responses and your prompts.” She went on to explain that this means users will be able to ask questions like “What are some must-see sights in New Orleans?” and receive visual responses alongside text. This is a great way to learn new things and get a better understanding of the world around you.

3. Making Coding Easier

The company is incorporating feedback from developers to implement several key coding upgrades, including source citations that are even more precise. When Bard brings in a block of code or cites other content, clicking the annotation will underline those parts of the response and link to the source. The introduction of the Dark theme is another developer-requested feature aimed at making interacting with Bard easier on the eyes.

Bard is also launching an “Export” button that allows developers to export and run code with partner Replit, starting with Python. For users who frequently ask Bard for a head start drafting emails and documents, two more Export Actions have been added to make it easy to move Bard’s responses right into Gmail and Docs. 

4. Connecting Bard to Other Services

Looking ahead, Bard plans to integrate Google apps and services, such as Docs, Drive, Gmail, Maps, and others, right into the Bard experience while ensuring user privacy settings are upheld. Bard will also tap into all kinds of services from across the web, with extensions from outside partners, to let users do things never before possible.

In the coming months, Bard will integrate Adobe Firefly, Adobe’s family of creative generative AI models, into its toolset, so users can easily and quickly turn their own creative ideas into high-quality images, which they can then edit further or add to their designs in Adobe Express.

Bard’s goal is to become a home for creativity, productivity, and curiosity, and with the integration of helpful Google apps and many more partners, including Kayak, OpenTable, ZipRecruiter, Instacart, Wolfram, and Khan Academy, that vision is well on its way to being realized. Bard’s team is excited to see what users will create with its innovative features and capabilities.

Endless Possibilities With Bard

Bard was first introduced in February in a blog post and launched in March for US and UK after users signed up for a waitlist. With the recent announcement, Google has taken it global. Like OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Bard is a chatbot that can answer questions in natural language. Google’s emphasis on the safe and responsible development of the chatbot was a recurring theme throughout the press event. The company referred to Bard as an experiment rather than a beta.