Microsoft is reportedly introducing a suite of Office 365 tools featuring GPT-4, the latest and most powerful artificial intelligence software from OpenAI. Despite a scarcity of server hardware required to operate GPT-4, Microsoft is limiting access to internal teams to ensure sufficient capacity to handle the new Office tools and Bing's upcoming GPT-4 powered chatbot. Meanwhile, Danish startup Be My Eyes has developed an image-recognition tool for blind or partially-sighted people using GPT-4 called "Virtual Volunteer" that can answer questions about any image sent to it with the same level of context and understanding as human volunteers. Finally, Italian startup CAP_able has launched a new apparel collection designed to outsmart facial recognition technology with "adversarial patches" that can either cause the camera system to fail to identify the wearer or mistake them for their animal counterpart. These innovations have the potential to transform people's lives and provide unprecedented resources to navigate physical environments, address everyday needs, and gain more independence.

00:00 - Intro
01:46 - 1: Microsoft Rations Access to AI Hardware for Internal Teams
08:55 - 2: New GPT-4 app can be ‘life-changing" for visually impaired people
19:08 - 3: $400 sweater tricks facial-recognition cams into thinking you're a dog

Summary:

According to three current Microsoft employees, the tech giant is preparing to introduce a suite of Office 365 tools featuring GPT-4, the latest powerful artificial intelligence software from OpenAI. However, Microsoft is currently experiencing a scarcity of server hardware required to operate GPT-4, leading the company to limit access to the hardware for certain internal teams. This is being done to guarantee sufficient capacity to handle the new Office tools and Bing's upcoming GPT-4 powered chatbot, which are expected to be announced on Thursday. Additionally, this hardware deficit may be impacting Microsoft's customers, as one user reported a significant waiting period to access the OpenAI software already available through Microsoft's Azure cloud service.

The Danish startup, Be My Eyes, has developed an image-recognition tool called "Virtual Volunteer" for blind or partially-sighted people using OpenAI's latest software, GPT-4. The tool can analyze both images and text as inputs and can answer questions about any image sent to it. The tool can also generate the same level of context and understanding as human volunteers, according to OpenAI. The app's CEO, Mike Buckley, believes the technology could transform people's lives and provide the community with unprecedented resources to navigate physical environments, address everyday needs, and gain more independence. The free service will be rolled out cautiously with the beta testers and wider community playing a central role in determining this process.

Italian startup CAP_able has launched a new apparel collection designed to outsmart facial recognition technology. The debut line features hoodies, tops, and dresses with "adversarial patches" that are patterned after various animals, which can either cause the camera system to fail to identify the wearer or mistake them for their animal counterpart. Using algorithms and computerized knitwear machines, the team created physical garments with images woven onto them. These clothes not only protect wearers against surveillance but can also reduce stigma and encourage lawmakers to create meaningful rules. CAP_able raised about €5,000 on Kickstarter and is now planning to join an accelerator program to refine their business model.

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