NZ Agencies Urged to Use AI to Fix Records Gap

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  • A report from New Zealand’s Chief Archivist reveals widespread non-compliance with the Public Records Act 2005 among government agencies, with two-thirds at early maturity stages in recordkeeping.
  • Only seven agencies have achieved compliance levels above 50%, highlighting significant challenges such as reliance on manual processes and reduced information governance capabilities.
  • The decline of records personnel by over 15% in the last two years exacerbates issues in effectively meeting regulatory and ethical obligations.
  • Automated tools, including AI platforms, are being implemented by some agencies to improve compliance, enhance information transparency, and streamline record management without increasing workloads.
  • The report stresses the importance of responsible information management beyond public agencies, noting that gaps in recordkeeping can harm vulnerable groups and emphasize the need for enhanced governance in handling sensitive information.

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AI in Singapore Classrooms Surpasses Policy, Sparking Educator Concerns

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  • A survey of 500 secondary school students in Singapore found that all use AI for homework, with 29% using it multiple times a week.
  • Students primarily utilize AI for generating assignment ideas (86%), solving math problems (63%), and proofreading (47%).
  • Only 51% of students attend schools with clear AI usage rules, while 33% are uncertain about their school’s policies.
  • Views on AI among teachers vary significantly, with some embracing it and others ignoring its presence, leading to inconsistent handling in classrooms.
  • Concerns about inaccurate AI detection tools may harm student-teacher relationships, prompting calls for clearer guidelines on appropriate AI use in education.

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Try Veo 3: Google’s Viral AI Video Generator

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  • Google announced Veo 3 at its annual I/O developer conference, enhancing AI-generated video with synchronized audio.
  • The model generates photorealistic video and ambient sounds, including human voices, based on natural language prompts.
  • Veo 3 specializes in simulating real-world physics and lip-syncing, making it a valuable tool for filmmakers.
  • The fusion of AI-generated video and audio has been a significant technical challenge in the AI industry.
  • Veo 3 is available for Gemini Ultra subscribers in the US and can be accessed through Google’s new filmmaking tool, Flow.

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NVIDIA Expands AI Tools for RTX PCs & Azure

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  • NVIDIA and Microsoft announced updates to enhance AI capabilities on Windows RTX PCs and Azure cloud services, focusing on making AI development more accessible.
  • New tools include support for TensorRT by Windows ML and NIM microservices, which are optimized AI models for common applications.
  • Project G-Assist is expanding with new community plug-ins, including integrations with Google Gemini, Spotify, and Twitch, facilitating easier AI development.
  • Windows ML enhances performance for AI applications, achieving over 50% faster results compared to DirectML while automating hardware selection for developers.
  • NVIDIA is releasing new NIM microservices for fast image generation and integrating advanced microservices in Azure to improve workflows in materials science and drug discovery.

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Arizona Forms AI Steering Committee

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  • Arizona launched an AI steering committee to ensure responsible and ethical use of technology across state and local agencies.
  • The 13-member committee includes experts from government, education, law enforcement, academia, and the private sector.
  • It aims to develop a statewide AI policy framework focusing on transparency, fairness, and accountability.
  • The committee will create guidelines for AI adoption, engage communities for inclusive implementation, and promote AI literacy.
  • Arizona joins other states like Illinois and Washington in evaluating AI, with the first meeting scheduled this month and initial recommendations expected by 2026.

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Instant Emoji Creator

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  • AI-Powered Tool: Emojis Generator uses advanced algorithms to create unique visual assets like emojis, logos, and illustrations.
  • Custom Graphics: Converts user input into tailored graphics, streamlining the design process for both individuals and businesses.
  • Efficiency and Scalability: Reduces reliance on traditional design workflows, offering quick turnaround times and scalable solutions for creative content.
  • Versatile Applications: Beneficial across marketing, branding, and digital communication for generating distinctive visual elements.
  • User-Friendly: Designed for ease of use, allowing users to create original visuals without specialized design skills or software.

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UK Government AI to Review Public Consultations

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  • The UK government has launched an AI system named ‘Humphrey’ to analyze public consultations more efficiently.
  • ‘Consult’, a tool within the Humphrey suite, was tested on cosmetic treatment regulations, reviewing over 2,000 responses and organizing themes effectively.
  • Officials estimate the AI will save 75,000 days of manual analysis annually, translating to potential savings of £20 million (US$26.7 million).
  • Other tools in the Humphrey suite include Parlex for legislative research, Minute for secure meeting transcriptions, Lex for legal analysis, and Redbox for daily civil service tasks.
  • The government is also developing ‘Extract’ to enhance planning data accessibility, promising to accomplish tasks in 40 seconds that typically take 1-2 hours.

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Will AI Make University Teachers Obsolete?

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  • Concerns exist about the potential obsolescence of university teachers due to AI advancements.
  • The discussion emphasizes that the idea of teachers becoming obsolete is considered "false."
  • Importance is placed on the unique role of teachers in education, which AI cannot fully replicate.
  • The need for human interaction and mentorship in learning environments is highlighted.
  • Ongoing debate on the integration of AI in educational systems suggests collaboration rather than replacement of educators.

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Singapore hospitals to test AI tool for faster heart disease diagnosis

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  • The Singapore Heart Lesion Analyser, called Sense, will be tested at three hospitals in Singapore starting Q3 2025 for heart scan analysis.
  • The one-year trial will involve 300 patients and aims to reduce coronary artery disease assessment time from hours to under 10 minutes.
  • Sense supports, rather than replaces, doctors’ clinical decisions, requiring their review and confirmation of the AI’s findings.
  • The system has demonstrated 85% to 99% accuracy in earlier tests and could significantly impact early diagnosis of coronary artery disease, which caused 8,311 deaths in Singapore in 2023.
  • Developed by the CVS.AI lab at NHCS, Sense builds on previous AI work using a large dataset from CT scans to improve speed and accuracy in heart problem detection.

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From Doomsday to Due Diligence: Expanding AI Safety

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  • Narrow Focus on Extinction Risk: The predominant framing of ‘AI safety’ as primarily addressing extinction risk limits the understanding and scope of safety concerns, detracting from everyday system vulnerabilities.

  • Diverse Safety Research: A systematic review of 383 peer-reviewed papers shows that the majority of AI safety research addresses practical challenges and cybersecurity rather than solely focusing on the extinction risk associated with superintelligent AI.

  • Adopting Historical Safety Principles: Drawing from established safety practices in aviation, pharmaceuticals, and cybersecurity can enhance AI safety governance by integrating redundancy, continuous monitoring, and adaptive governance processes.

  • Advantages of a Wider Safety Agenda: A pluralistic view of AI safety allows for targeted legislation on observable failure modes, eases coalition building among experts, improves oversight mechanisms, and aligns industry compliance with practical standards.

  • Concrete Lines of Action: Advancing AI safety requires codifying safeguards, institutionalizing incident reporting, funding safety science courts, and investing in open-source oversight tools, all while maintaining focus on both immediate risks and long-term existential threats.

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