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Google I/O 2024 "should assuage fears over [Alphabet's] AI competitive position," analysts at Oppenheimer wrote in a research note to clients on Wednesday. Here's the full list of Alphabet's AI updates. "I was using Google Search versus using ChatGPT … [and] ChatGPT was so much more thorough than Google without ads. The next big question in AI: Who will Apple choose to partner with for its own AI features? Google CEO Sundar Pichai speaks at the Google I/O developer conference.

Persons: Goldman Sachs, Oppenheimer, Bard, Jim Cramer, Siri, Alexa —, Sundar Pichai, ChatGPT, Jim, Goldman, Jim Cramer's, Andrej Sokolow Organizations: Citi, Google, Wednesday, ChatGPT, Microsoft, Gmail, Gemini, Apple, Developers, CNBC, Getty

☆ Alphabet cuts ties with Australian AI firm that helped train Bard and Google Search
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-23 | by ( Hayden Field | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai departs federal court on October 30, 2023 in Washington, DC. Appen, based in Australia, has helped train AI models for a star-studded list of tech behemoths. Five customers — Microsoft , Apple , Meta , Google and Amazon — have in the past accounted for 80% of Appen's revenue. Alphabet accounted for roughly one-third of Appen's revenue, meaning the decision to end the relationship will impact "at least two thousand subcontracted Alphabet workers," according to a statement Monday from the Alphabet Workers Union. Alphabet has cut contractual ties with Appen , the artificial intelligence data firm that helped train Google's chatbot Bard, Google Search results and other AI products.

Persons: Sundar Pichai, Pichai, Appen, Bard, Appen's, OpenAI's ChatGPT, Google's Bard, didn't, Bard chatbot Organizations: Google, Microsoft, Apple, Alphabet Workers, Appen, Revenue, Australian Securities Exchange, CNBC, Adobe, Nvidia, U.S . National Labor Relations Board Locations: Washington ,, Australia

☆ Google cuts hundreds of jobs across engineering, hardware teams
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-11 | by ( Ashley Capoot | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Google cut several hundred jobs across the company late Wednesday night as it continues to push for efficiency and focus on its "biggest product priorities," a spokesperson confirmed to CNBC. The layoffs will impact employees within Google's hardware and central engineering teams, as well as workers across Google Assistant, its voice-activated software product. Other parts of the company were also affected, according to Google. Last January, Google slashed its workforce by 12,000 people, or roughly 6% of its full-time employees. "Some teams are continuing to make these kinds of organizational changes, which include some role eliminations globally."

Persons: Bard Organizations: Google, CNBC, Microsoft

☆ Meta's top AI scientist reportedly warned Mark Zuckerberg that Facebook and Instagram could go extinct if they didn't catch up with ChatGPT
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Aaron Mok | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Meta's top AI scientist urged Mark Zuckerberg to make a ChatGPT rival, the New York Times reports. Yann LeCun warned that Facebook and Instagram could potentially go extinct if Meta didn't act. If Meta didn't buckle down on its AI efforts, Facebook and Instagram could go extinct, LeCun warned, according to the report. "I have been thinking about what you said," the CEO told LeCun during a dinner that evening, a person familiar told the Times. Meta didn't immediately reply to Business Insider's request for comment from Zuckerberg or LeCun.

Persons: Mark Zuckerberg, Yann LeCun, Meta, —, OpenAI, Zuckerberg, Instagram, LeCun, Meta didn't, Josh Hawley of, Richard Blumenthal, Meta wasn't, OpenAI —, didn't, Paris Hilton, Snoop Dogg Organizations: New York Times, Facebook, Meta, Service, Times, 4chan, Tech, Google, Microsoft, Paris Locations: Menlo Park , California, Josh Hawley of Missouri, Connecticut

A sign is pictured outside a Google office near the company's headquarters in Mountain View, California, U.S., May 8, 2019. Among the opportunities is the company's plan to liven its timer-setting, command-fulfilling Google Assistant with Bard's human-directed suggestions. Connecting these products, first via mobile devices in the coming months, will introduce AI to more people, said Krawczyk. Google Search traffic fell 0.4%, the analysts' note said. The surge reminded Krawczyk of what Google Search faced upon news of pop star Michael Jackson's death in 2009, he said.

Persons: Paresh Dave, Bard, Jack Krawczyk, OpenAI, ChatGPT, Krawczyk, Michael Jackson's, Jeffrey Dastin, Daniel Wallis Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters NEXT, Google, YouTube, Bank of America, Gmail, Thomson Locations: Mountain View , California, U.S, New York, ChatGPT

☆ Group of Google contractors who work on Search and Bard win union vote
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( Jennifer Elias | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

A group of Google contractors, some of whom have worked on Search and Google's artificial intelligence chatbot Bard, have successfully voted to unionize. The group, from Google contractor Accenture, filed for unionization efforts in June after claiming Google asked them to help train the generative AI answers offered in Search and Bard, and that they felt underprepared for their work. The Alphabet Workers Union teamed up with the Communications Workers of America in 2021 as a minority union. "We have no objection to these Accenture workers electing to form a union," said Google spokesperson Courtenay Mencini in a statement to CNBC. The decision marks the second ruling to classify Google as a joint employer with its contractor for a subset of employees.

Persons: Bard, Courtenay Mencini, Jen Hill, Hill Organizations: Accenture, Google, Bloomberg, Alphabet Workers Union, Communications Workers of America, U.S . National Labor Relations Board, Workers, NLRB, CNBC, CWA, YouTube, Cognizant Technology Solutions, CNBC PRO Locations: London, England, Francisco

☆ Wall Street wants to know how Google's going to profit from AI
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Jennifer Elias | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

In the age of AI hype, few companies have used the word "AI" more than Google. Now, Wall Street wants know how it'll turn the hyped tech into dollars and cents. With SGE, Pichai said it'll be able to include "a wider range of sources on the results page, creating new opportunities for content to be discovered." Pichai added that with AI, he sees the opportunity to "evolve search and assistant for the next decade ahead." "It's probably the ultimate example of AI," Pichai said in response to Sheridan's question.

Persons: Bard, Lloyd Walmsley, Pichai, Brian Nowak, Morgan Stanley, Nowak, it'll, Philipp Schindler, we're, Schindler, UBS's Eric Sheridan, execs, Max, Google's, It's Organizations: Google, Deutsche Bank, YouTube, CNBC, Samsung, Toyota

☆ Google Connects A.I. Chatbot Bard to YouTube, Gmail and More Facts
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Nico Grant | More About Nico Grant | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

In March, Google released an artificial intelligence chatbot called Bard. It was Google’s answer to OpenAI’s hugely popular ChatGPT. Within weeks, Google revamped the tool with upgraded technology, but ChatGPT continued to be the chatbot that captured the public’s attention. On Tuesday, Google unveiled a plan to leapfrog ChatGPT by connecting Bard to its most popular consumer services, such as Gmail, Docs and YouTube. Though Bard has not received as much attention as ChatGPT, Google’s A.I.

Persons: Bard, ChatGPT, Google’s Organizations: Google Locations: Bard, Similarweb

☆ Amazon rolls out generative AI tool to help sellers write product listings
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( Annie Palmer | In Annierpalmer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Amazon on Wednesday debuted an artificial intelligence tool for sellers that helps them generate copy for their product pages. The tool prompts sellers to enter a few keywords or sentences describing their product. It then spits out a range of content a seller can use to build their listing, such as product titles, bullet points and descriptions. The feature was announced this week at Amazon Accelerate, a conference held annually in Seattle for the company's third-party sellers. Amazon also recently started using AI to summarize reviews left by customers on some products.

Persons: Sellers, Mary Beth Westmoreland, chatbot Bard, Andy Jassy Organizations: Amazon, Wednesday, Google, Amazon Web Services Locations: Melville , New York, Seattle

☆ Sundar Pichai says Google and Nvidia will still be working together 10 years from now
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( Ashley Capoot | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Sundar Pichai said Google 's longstanding relationship with chipmaker Nvidia isn't going to change any time soon — in fact, he expects it to continue over the next 10 years. "Look, the semiconductor industry is a very dynamic, cooperative industry," Pichai said. I feel comfortable about our relationship with Nvidia and that we are going to be working closely with them 10 years from now." In the interview with Wired, Pichai described AI as "one of the most profound technologies we will ever work on." As of Monday morning, Nvidia's stock is up nearly 212% year to date.

Persons: Sundar Pichai, Pichai, Kif Leswing Organizations: Google, Nvidia, Android, Microsoft, Wired

☆ What to expect when Google faces the DOJ in the first major tech monopoly trial in decades
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( Lauren Feiner | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +13 min

While the trial marks the tech sector's first major anti-monopoly proceeding in decades, Google is squarely in the middle of its antitrust battles. What the trial is aboutA key focus of the trial will be on two kinds of agreements Google has made with other companies. "The cases have very compatible theories, and the core message from both is that Google's monopoly power has been abused, harming competition and hurting consumers," Weiser said. Walker wrote that the abundance of places where consumers can use online search shows that Google hasn't foreclosed competition. In addition to experts like economists, expect to see Google executives called to the stand, potentially including CEO Sundar Pichai.

Persons: Sundar Pichai, Jonathan Kanter, It's, it's, Google's, Microsoft's Bing, Phil Weiser, Weiser, Elijah McClain, Aaron Ontiveroz, Bing, Global Affairs Kent Walker, Walker, Rebecca Haw Allensworth, Bill Kovacic, Tim Cook, Joe Biden, Anna Moneymaker, Allensworth, conscientiously, What's, Google's Walker, Lee Hepner, Matt Schruers, Bard, OpenAI, Schruers Organizations: US Department of Justice, Getty, Department of Justice, Microsoft, DOJ, Google, of, Apple, Microsoft's, CNBC, Aurora, MediaNews, Denver, Global Affairs, Insider Intelligence, Amazon, Vanderbilt Law School, George Washington University Law School, FTC, White House, Mozilla, American Economic Liberties, Computer & Communications Industry Association Locations: U.S, Europe, Eastern, of Virginia, Colorado, Washington , DC

Venture capital investor Bill Gurley, a partner at Benchmark, said founders he works with believe Meta 's new large language model, Llama 2, has the "most momentum" in the battle of the large artificial intelligence models. Gurley told CNBC's Julia Boorstin Monday that the open-source nature of Meta's product is threatening to other leaders in the AI space. AI researchers typically compare LLMs when the software performs specific tasks. For instance, some AI researchers have found that Llama 2 outperforms other similar open-source AI language models and is on par with proprietary systems like OpenAI's ChatGPT. Google followed suit with its latest large language model called PaLM 2 in May, which powers the Google's generative AI features like its chatbot Bard.

Persons: Bill Gurley, Gurley, CNBC's Julia Boorstin, Meta, Bard Organizations: Microsoft, CNBC, Meta, Google Locations: OpenAI

☆ Elon Musk tried to convince Sam Altman to fold OpenAI into Tesla before he left the AI company in 2018, biographer says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Beatrice Nolan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Elon Musk tried to incorporate OpenAI into Tesla before he left the AI firm, his biographer said. The excerpt, which was published in Time, said Musk tried to convince Sam Altman, who later became OpenAI's CEO, to fold the AI lab into Tesla before Musk stepped down from the company. Tesla had been ramping up its own AI development during a period when Musk was a cofounder and board member of OpenAI. OpenAI rejected the idea, the excerpt said, and Altman stepped up as president of the company. AdvertisementAdvertisementRepresentatives for Musk and Altman did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment, made outside normal working hours.

Persons: Elon Musk, Tesla, Musk, Sam Altman, OpenAI, Altman, chatbot Bard Organizations: Service, Microsoft, Google, Musk Locations: Tesla, Wall, Silicon

The News Corporation logo is displayed on the side of a building in midtown Manhattan in New York, U.S., February 27, 2018. "What you will see over time is a lot of litigation; some media companies have already begun those discussions," said News Corp Chief Executive Robert Thomson, speaking at the Goldman Sachs Communacopia + Technology Conference. It's unclear whether more publishers will ultimately strike deals with the tech companies or pursue litigation related to the use of that content. The Associated Press struck a deal in July, licensing a part its archive of news stories to ChatGPT-owner OpenAI. Reporting by Zaheer Kachwala in Bengaluru; Editing by Pooja Desai and Aurora EllisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Lucas Jackson, Robert Thomson, Goldman Sachs, we're, Bard, ChatGPT, OpenAI, Zaheer Kachwala, Pooja Desai, Aurora Ellis Organizations: REUTERS, News Corp, News, Technology, Publishers, Sunday Times, Wall Street, OpenAI, Associated Press, Thomson Locations: Manhattan, New York, U.S, Bengaluru

☆ Google introduces generative AI to Search in India, Japan
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Google logo and AI Artificial Intelligence words are seen in this illustration taken, May 4, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/file photo Acquire Licensing RightsAug 30 (Reuters) - Alphabet's (GOOGL.O) Google said on Wednesday it introduced generative artificial intelligence to its Search tool for users in India and Japan that will show text or visual results to prompts, including summaries. Japanese users will be able to use the feature in their local languages, while it will be available in English and Hindi in India. Google's search feature is meant to be used for seeking information, such as locating something to purchase. Google's AI search competes with Microsoft's (MSFT.O) Bing.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Bing, Chavi Mehta, Jeffrey Dastin, Krishna Chandra Organizations: REUTERS, Google, Thomson Locations: India, Japan, United States, Bengaluru, San Francisco

☆ Britain to host world's first AI safety summit at home of World War II codebreakers
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-24 | by ( Ryan Browne | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Bletchley Park is the home of the World War Two Codebreakers, who in 1941 helped break the secret code used by the German government to direct ground-to-air operations on the Eastern front. The U.K. government will host the world's first artificial intelligence safety summit in Bletchley Park, the home of the codebreakers who cracked the code that ended World War II. The renowned Bletchley Park building was the home of the World War II Codebreakers, who in 1941 helped break the secret Enigma Code used by the German government to direct ground-to-air operations on the Eastern front. The U.K. tech sector has been flagging of late, following drops in venture capital investment. The U.S. is by far the world leader when it comes to AI, with massive firms ploughing resources into the technology.

Persons: —, Rishi Sunak, OpenAI, Bard, Alan Turing, Turing, Sunak, Bejiing Organizations: Microsoft, Google, Baidu Locations: Bletchley, Bletchley Park, Britain, China, The U.S, EU

☆ Google's Achilles' heel: The tech giant's struggles in augmented reality highlight a much bigger weakness
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-23 | by ( Dan Defrancesco | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

But the tech giant's struggles in AR highlight a bigger weakness at the company: hardware. The tech giant has struggled to gain momentum in the mixed-reality sector despite numerous efforts, Insider's Hugh Langley reports. AdvertisementAdvertisementFrom Iris to Alius to Betty, Google's code-named AR projects rival a millennial parent's baby-name list. But in the world of AR, hardware is the most critical piece of the puzzle. Of course, the tech giant might argue it has bigger fish to fry.

Persons: It's, Insider's Hugh Langley, Alius, Betty, Hugh, —, Google's, it's Organizations: Google, — Apple, Apple Vision, Samsung, Meta Locations: Google's

☆ Google cofounder Sergey Brin frequently works at the company's HQ to help develop ChatGPT rival Gemini, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( Hasan Chowdhury | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Brin is frequently showing up at Google HQ to help its AI efforts, The Wall Street Journal reported. He is reportedly deeply involved in the development of Gemini, an AI model that aims to rival GPT-4. Google cofounder Sergey Brin is reportedly showing up often at the search giant's headquarters to help develop ChatGPT rival Gemini and boost its AI ambitions. Google is pouring efforts into Gemini, an AI model designed to rival the GPT-4 model underlying OpenAI's technology. This week, Google's AI ambitions faced another threat as Meta unveiled Llama 2.

Persons: Sergey Brin, Brin, GPT, Larry Page, Sundar Pichai, Demis Hassabis Organizations: Google, Street Journal, Gemini, Morning, The New York Times, Wall Street, Meta, Microsoft Locations: The

☆ A top AI expert says the technology is still in its very early phase: 'We're only at the iPhone 2G, 3G point.'
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( Hasan Chowdhury | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Emad Mostaque, the CEO of Stability AI, thinks the tech will truly take off next year. Think again: the AI hype cycle is just getting started — at least in the view of one top expert. But that's going to be far, far greater if Mostaque is right: he estimates 50% of all CEOs will make mention of AI by next year. But once that realization of AI at an enterprise level happens, it won't just help companies put the technology to good use. "You just need to have the right models in the right way to enable these outcomes that increase productivity," he said.

Persons: Mostaque, ChatGPT, Emad Mostaque, We're, he's, Michael Briest, Bard Organizations: UBS Locations: America, Silicon Valley

☆ Wall St ends up, extends recent gains on cooling US inflation
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Caroline Valetkevitch | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Wednesday's CPI report showed U.S. consumer prices registered their smallest annual increase in more than two years. The reports have helped to support the view the Federal Reserve will stop hiking rates after an expected 25 basis points rate increase later this month. Technology-related shares provided the most support to the S&P 500, and an index of tech-focused shares including megacaps (.NYFANG) gained 2.7% and registered a record high close. Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., July 7, 2023. The S&P 500 posted 51 new 52-week highs and one new low; the Nasdaq Composite recorded 135 new highs and 39 new lows.

Persons: Mona Mahajan, Edward Jones, Brendan McDermid, JPMorgan Chase, Alan Lancz, Alan B, Bard, Caroline Valetkevitch, Johann M Cherian, Sinead Carew, Shashwat Chauhan, Saumyadeb Chakrabarty, Maju Samuel, Deepa Babington Organizations: Dow, Nasdaq, Federal Reserve, PPI, . Technology, Dow Jones, Nvidia, New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, JPMorgan, Lancz, Associates Inc, Air Lines, PepsiCo, Google, Inc, U.S, NYSE, Thomson Locations: U.S, Philadelphia, New York City, Toledo , Ohio, Europe, Brazil, Bengaluru, New York

☆ Wall St ends up, extends recent gains after producer prices data
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Caroline Valetkevitch | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Wednesday's CPI report showed U.S. consumer prices registered their smallest annual increase in more than two years. The reports have helped to support the view the Federal Reserve will stop hiking rates after an expected 25 basis points rate increase later this month. "PPI is another confirmation this week that inflation continues to trend in the right direction even as we see better overall labor market and consumer data. According to preliminary data, the S&P 500 (.SPX) gained 37.73 points, or 0.84%, to end at 4,509.89 points, while the Nasdaq Composite (.IXIC) gained 219.35 points, or 1.58%, to 14,138.31. Delta Air Lines (DAL.N) shares gained after it lifted its full-year profit outlook following stronger-than-expected second-quarter earnings on a relentless post-pandemic travel boom.

Persons: Mona Mahajan, Edward Jones, JPMorgan Chase, Alan Lancz, Alan B, Bard, Caroline Valetkevitch, Johann M Cherian, Sinead Carew, Shashwat Chauhan, Saumyadeb Chakrabarty, Maju Samuel, Deepa Babington Organizations: Delta Air Lines, Federal Reserve, PPI, Nasdaq, Dow Jones, Nvidia, JPMorgan, Lancz, Associates Inc, Air Lines, PepsiCo, Google, Inc, Thomson Locations: Philadelphia, Toledo , Ohio, Europe, Brazil, Bengaluru, New York

Alphabet shares were outperforming the broader market, with the S&P 500 (.SPX) up 0.6%, boosted by data showing signs of cooling inflation. Clearly they've been able to reassure European regulators about those issues, which just paves the way for further advantage really," said Hewson. Alphabet shares, which have seen a huge boost from investor excitement around generative artificial intelligence since February, are up around 41% so far this year. Microsoft shares are up 42% so far in 2023. Also on Thursday, TD Cowen raised its price target for Alphabet shares to $140 from $130 citing expectations of better growth in its search business.

Persons: Bard, watchdogs, Danni Hewson, AJ Bell, they've, Hewson, Art Hogan, Riley, TD Cowen, Bansari Mayur, Sinéad Carew, Conor Humphries Organizations: Inc, European Union, Google, Microsoft Corp, Microsoft, Thomson Locations: Europe, Brazil, Bengaluru, New York

☆ The brain drain at tech companies is already bad and as Elon Musk's poaching of AI experts shows, it's only going to get worse
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Hasan Chowdhury | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A brain drain among tech companies brain is underway right now, driven by the popularity of AI. Tech firms are pretty obsessed with AI right now. Even before ChatGPT's launch, Google workers seemed fed up and decided to jump ship to OpenAI to help launch ChatGPT. Meanwhile, Musk's somewhat modest ambition for his new AI company to "understand the true nature of the universe" could prove alluring to tech bros who think that's what AI should be used to accomplish. Tech firms will want to ensure their AI projects make them the top pick.

Persons: Elon, xAI, Elon Musk, Google –, Igor Babuschkin, Manuel Kroiss, Guodong Zhang, Yuhuai Wu, Zihang Dai, Christian, Kyle Kosic, chatbot Bard, OpenAI's, haven't, Shona Ghosh, isn't, there's Organizations: Workers, Elon Musk's, Morning, Tech, Google, ChatGPT, Microsoft Locations: Silicon, America

☆ Google says Bard can now use images and give audio responses
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Jennifer Elias | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

A hand holding a smartphone with the Google Bard logo is seen, in front of a computer screen showing Google's logo. Google is adding new features to its chatbot Bard as it tries to stay ahead of rapidly improving competition from Microsoft -backed OpenAI, Anthropic, and others in the white-hot generative AI space. Since then, the company announced new updates at its annual developer conference Google I/O in May. OpenAI's ChatGPT also announced new features in May, including launching the ChatGPT app for iOS and integrating voice prompts. Here are a few of the updates Google launched Thursday:

Persons: Bard, OpenAI's ChatGPT Organizations: Google, Microsoft Locations: U.S

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