MindHYVE.ai and DV8 Infosystems Partner with KICTANet to Develop Kenya’s AI Policy

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  • Partnership Announcement: MindHYVE.ai, DV8 Infosystems, and KICTANet signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to co-develop Kenya’s National Artificial Intelligence Policy.

  • Strategic Objectives: The collaboration aims to enhance Kenya’s National AI Strategy for 2025-2030, focusing on ethical and regulatory design, participatory engagement, and a publication-ready policy framework.

  • Commitment to Ethical AI: The MoU underscores a shared commitment to responsible AI governance, positioning Kenya as a leader in developing ethical and inclusive AI policies.

  • Global Impact: This initiative signifies a new phase in Kenya’s digital transformation, aiming to establish a sovereign AI governance model that influences global AI policy discourse.

  • Leadership Statements: Leaders from the partnering organizations emphasized the importance of the MoU in shaping responsible AI practices and expressed their commitment to integrating diverse stakeholders in the policy development process.

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Meta’s V-JEPA 2: AI Learning to Understand Its Surroundings

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  • Meta introduced the V-JEPA 2 AI model, designed to help AI agents understand their environment, building on the previous V-JEPA model.
  • Trained on over one million hours of video, V-JEPA 2 aims to enhance the operation of robots and AI agents in the physical world.
  • The model teaches AI to make common sense connections, similar to how young children and animals learn to predict outcomes based on experiences.
  • It enables AI to perform tasks by reasoning about actions, such as using a spatula to move eggs from a stove to a plate.
  • V-JEPA 2 is reported to be 30 times faster than Nvidia’s Cosmos model, potentially revolutionizing robotics with less dependency on extensive training data.

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N.W.T. Gov’t Develops AI Use Policy as Tools Become Accessible

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  • The N.W.T. government is developing a policy for artificial intelligence (AI) tools, with initial guidelines expected soon.
  • Currently, government workers follow federal guidelines for AI use, while the territory’s government explores its own applications of AI in administrative processes.
  • The Law Society of the Northwest Territories has released guidelines for lawyers on AI use, emphasizing transparency and bias checking in AI-generated content.
  • Research Chair Adegboyega Ojo advocates for collaboration between governments and research institutions to responsibly enhance public services using AI.
  • A Statistics Canada survey indicates a modest interest in AI adoption among N.W.T. businesses, with some individuals already leveraging AI to increase efficiency in their work.

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Fake Rock Lives On – Mackinac Center

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  • A free album created by an unknown band was discovered to be composed using artificial intelligence, blending 1970s heavy blues rock with modern influences.
  • Responses to AI-generated music vary widely, with some expressing delight and others feeling fear and depression about the implications of AI in art.
  • Critics voice concerns about AI, including the potential for job disruption, loss of human dignity, and the emergence of malevolent sentient systems.
  • Policymakers are urged to consider five key questions regarding AI regulation, focusing on clear definitions, specific harms, and the preservation of innovation.
  • Michigan’s legislative approach to AI fluctuates between fear and optimism, with recent actions including calls for guiding principles and regulations in political contexts.

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G7 SUV First to Feature Xpeng’s Turing AI Chip

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  • Xpeng’s in-house developed Turing AI chip enhances the G7 SUV’s AI capabilities, moving away from Nvidia’s technology.
  • The G7 is set to debut as the first model featuring the Turing chip, showcasing advanced autonomous driving technologies.
  • CEO He Xiaopeng announced the G7 will be the first AI vehicle to possess Level 3 (L3) computing power.
  • The Turing chip achieves computing power of about 700 TOPS, equivalent to three Nvidia Orin X chips, supporting smart driving and cockpits.
  • Xpeng becomes the second Chinese EV startup after Nio to mass-produce its own autonomous driving chips.

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Gen AI in the New Tech Frontier

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  • Dr. Brian Henz, Senior Science Advisor on AI, emphasizes the importance of understanding risks and ensuring transparency in implementing generative AI (Gen AI) within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

  • A key challenge identified is the explainability of AI models, which are often considered "black boxes," making it hard to trace decision-making processes and mitigate faulty results.

  • Best practices discussed include thorough dataset assessments, model validation in-house to prevent data leaks, and comprehensive evaluations of consequences before and after deployment.

  • DHS has already piloted various Gen AI applications, yielding insights into their benefits and limitations, such as improving maintenance predictions and summarizing law enforcement reports.

  • S&T seeks to ensure responsible AI usage, focusing on testing and evaluation, while anticipating future regulations to enhance public service and implement necessary safeguards.

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DOGE’s AI Program: An Error-Prone Approach to Veterans Affairs Contracts

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  • The Trump administration utilized a software engineer with no healthcare experience to develop an AI tool, labeled "MUNCHABLE," for identifying non-essential VA contracts.
  • This AI code, built quickly and using outdated models, inaccurately inflated contract values and flagged over 2,000 contracts for potential cancellation.
  • Critics, including procurement experts, pointed out significant flaws in the AI’s decision-making process and raised concerns about relying on it for budget cuts in such a complex area.
  • While the VA claimed to have canceled nearly 600 contracts, details on which specific contracts were terminated remained vague and frustrating for congressional oversight.
  • The engineer admitted to flaws in the tool and was eventually terminated from DOGE after publicizing his work, raising questions about future use of the AI in VA decision-making.

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GOP Aims to Block State AI Regulations: Key Points

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  • House Republicans introduced a tax bill clause banning states from regulating artificial intelligence (AI) for 10 years, surprising tech watchers and angering state governments.
  • The provision aims to provide uniformity for the AI industry, which advocates for minimal regulation as technology advances, but may struggle to pass in the Senate due to procedural challenges.
  • Senators from both parties express interest in AI regulation; however, meaningful progress on related legislation has been stalled in the divided Congress.
  • Critics argue the clause represents federal overreach and limits state-level protections, while attorneys general from various states oppose the bill, emphasizing the need for local solutions.
  • Industry leaders, including OpenAI’s CEO, suggest a federal approach to regulation but stress the importance of a "light touch" framework to foster innovation without burdensome regulations.

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DOGE Used Flawed AI to ‘Munch’ VA Contracts, Report Says

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  • The Independent covers crucial issues like reproductive rights and climate change without paywalls, ensuring accessible quality journalism.
  • Support from readers enables The Independent to send reporters to gather firsthand accounts and present balanced narratives.
  • A flawed AI tool developed by the Department of Government Efficiency led to the cancellation of hundreds of vital contracts within the Department of Veterans Affairs.
  • The AI’s limitations included vague definitions and insufficient understanding of complex tasks, resulting in critical contracts being mistakenly flagged.
  • Veteran affairs advocates raised concerns over the impact of contract cancellations on essential services, prompting the VA to revise the number of contracts affected.

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Final Stakeholder Consultation on Responsible AI – OpenGov Asia

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  • The UNESCO Regional Office for South Asia, IndiaAI Mission, and Ikigai Law held the fifth stakeholder consultation on AI Readiness Assessment Methodology, engaging over 200 experts from various sectors to discuss ethical AI governance.
  • This consultation series, spanning multiple cities, aims to develop India-specific AI policy recommendations, identifying strengths and opportunities to promote responsible AI adoption.
  • Emphasizing an ‘ethics-by-design’ approach, Mr. Tim Curtis of UNESCO called for inclusive innovation, while Mr. Abhishek Singh highlighted initiatives promoting a safety-centric AI vision and workforce preparedness.
  • A panel discussion featured insights from leaders in policy and academia, focusing on regulatory frameworks, governance, and the role of industry in ensuring responsible AI development.
  • The AI RAM serves as a diagnostic tool for enhancing India’s AI governance, with a modular structure that adapts to local contexts, ensuring continuous dialogue and policy evolution.

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