2024-07-12 13:58:12
New reports and updates on AI appear every day. We always summarize the most important developments for you.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is developing rapidly and changing our everyday lives. From ChatGPT to AI-controlled self-driving cars – the technology is making enormous progress. We have summarized the most exciting innovations and most important recent developments for you.
The federal government is increasingly relying on artificial intelligence. This is evident from the federal government’s response to a parliamentary inquiry by digital politician Anke Domscheit-Berg (Left Party). According to the report, the number of AI projects in ministries and authorities has more than doubled from 100 to over 212 in just one year.
Robert Habeck’s Ministry of Economic Affairs is a pioneer in particular, with 44 AI projects. But other ministries such as the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Agriculture also frequently use AI. For example, it helps with analyzing texts, detecting forest fires or improving weather forecasts.
AI is also used for security, for example to avert dangers at train stations or to ward off malware. The federal government has not commented on its use by the military and secret services “for reasons of the public good,” the response states.
The start-up industry in Germany is experiencing an upswing again. In the first half of 2024, 15 percent more new companies were founded than in the second half of 2023 and around seven percent more than in the same period last year. This is shown by an analysis by the start-up association. The software industry is particularly dynamic, with one in five new start-ups being founded – a record. The drivers are increasing digitization and the use of artificial intelligence, for example through the chatbot ChatGPT.
The start-up activity is growing not only in well-known start-up strongholds such as Berlin and Münchenbut also in other regions of Germany. Places with strong research, such as Aachen, Darmstadt and Heidelberg, have a particularly high number of new companies founded per capita. This shows the potential that lies dormant across Germany, say the experts.
After a decline in startup numbers in mid-2022 due to interest rate and economic concerns as well as the war in Ukraine, a positive trend is now emerging again. The “entrepreneurial spirit in Germany” remains strong, industry representatives emphasize.
Due to the increase in cybercrime, consumer advocates in Rhineland-Palatinate are calling for better digital consumer protection. The experts are calling for the wider use of electronic ID cards, as a secure digital identity is becoming increasingly important for banking and online shopping.
Currently, only 14 percent of the population uses the electronic ID card. Consumer protection groups are considering making certain applications mandatory in order to increase security. They also suggest securing email addresses with the ID card and launching an information campaign.
Volkswagen and Audi are bringing ChatGPT into their cars. VW vehicles with the new infotainment generation can now use the AI via the voice assistant, including the fully electric ID. family as well as the new Golf, Tiguan and Passat models.
Drivers of around two million Audi models built from 2021 onwards will soon also be able to speak to their cars in natural language. The system will then not only be able to control car functions, but also answer general questions. For example, drivers of the new Q6 e-tron or the A3 will be able to have information read out to them without taking their eyes off the road.
Audi sees great potential in the development of AI. Not only for the benefit of customers, but also for improving internal company processes. The company pays particular attention to data protection: questions and answers are deleted after processing, and ChatGPT has no access to vehicle data.
Apple has broken off talks about a partnership with Meta. The reason is concerns about data protection, as the US magazine “Bloomberg” reports.
Apple had originally considered integrating Meta’s AI model Llama into future versions of iOS, but Meta’s privacy practices were not strict enough for the Cupertino company.
Instead, Apple has decided to work with OpenAI. At the WWDC developer conference, Apple’s software development chief Craig Federighi announced that ChatGPT would be integrated into the upcoming operating systems iOS 18, iPadOS 18 and macOS Sequoia.
Users could then choose for themselves whether they want to send their data to the provider. Apple is also planning collaborations with Google for their AI model Gemini and with Anthropic for the chatbot Claude.