Summary
This recap covers AI business news from September 11–17, 2023. It reviews EU talks on the AI Act and Teradata’s ask.ai preview. It also covers Salesforce’s AI for Impact program and Google’s Digital Futures fund. Google put $20 million toward the fund. Product details may have changed.
Introduction
Artificial intelligence (AI) can answer questions and create content. This recap covers AI announcements from September 11–17, 2023. It does not describe current AI products or law. For a broader overview, see our guide for entrepreneurs.
EU AI Act negotiations
The European Union’s Artificial Intelligence Act
During the week covered here, EU lawmakers were still discussing the proposed AI Act. Talks between the Council and European Parliament began in June 2023. They did not reach a provisional (not yet final) agreement until December 9, 2023. The proposal grouped AI by risk, but negotiators had not settled the details. See the Council’s AI Act timeline.
Businesses could follow the proposal and note where they used AI. This recap does not describe today’s legal requirements. The Act’s scope and duties changed as talks continued.
Teradata announces ask.ai for VantageCloud Lake
On September 11, 2023, Teradata announced ask.ai for VantageCloud Lake. The tool uses generative AI to answer questions. It was in private preview. Approved users could ask about company information in everyday words. See Teradata’s announcement.
Teradata said ask.ai could help users find information without writing complex queries.
Salesforce names AI for Impact participants
On September 13, 2023, Salesforce named six groups in its AI for Impact program. It offered nonprofits grants, donated technology, and expert help for AI projects. Read Salesforce’s announcement.
Ask what problem an AI project solves for the people it serves. A grant or pilot does not prove that the tool will work elsewhere.
New AI Tools This Week
Two tools mentioned that week
The 2023 roundup mentioned QuestionWell, which creates questions and answers from a topic. It also mentioned iScanner, which copies text from pictures. These descriptions reflect reports from that week, not a current product review.
Before using a tool, check what it can do and decide who will review the result. Our small business AI stories offer more examples.
Google launches the Digital Futures Project
Google announced its Digital Futures Project on September 11, 2023. It included a $20 million fund for research groups and universities studying AI. Google said the project would support research, policy discussion, and public debate. Read Google’s announcement.
Conclusion
The week brought news on AI rules, business tools, nonprofit grants, and AI research. For practical examples, see how AI can help founders do more with less.
Recommended Reading
The Business Case for AI: A Leader’s Guide to AI Strategies, Best Practices & Real-World Applications
The book helps leaders plan AI projects, train staff, and track results.
Kavita Ganesan founded Opinosis Analytics. She advises companies on AI and speaks at events. She has led more than two dozen AI projects. Those projects served midsize firms and Fortune 500 companies. She earned a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She has more than 15 years of experience.
At publication, Amazon showed 4.5 out of 5 from 111 ratings. Goodreads showed 4.1 out of 5 from 72 ratings. Readers praised the book’s writing and practical examples. Forbes described it as an introduction to real-world AI for managers.
Two reviews of the book say:
- “The Business Case for AI is perfect for AI fanatics and AI skeptics alike. From defining AI and its various forms to explaining exactly how companies should approach AI to see the results they want, Kavita Ganesan’s no-fluff book helps make the AI conversation a whole lot easier.” - Customer Contact Week Conference & Magazine.
- “Kavita Ganesan has written a must-read for leaders looking to succeed with AI in the enterprise. Kavita’s writing style makes a deeply technical topic accessible to every leader, from the C-suite to product managers. If you’re interested in learning what AI can do, how to prepare for it and correctly leverage it in your organization, start with this book.” - Mark Varghese, Technology Director at Expedia.
The book may help leaders plan AI projects. Compare its advice with your business goals before you apply it.
Further Reading Resources
AI Regulation and Governance
- Penalties of the EU AI Act - HolisticAI
- European Parliament Agrees on Position on the AI Act - Hunton Privacy Blog
- EU AI Act: First Regulation on Artificial Intelligence - European Parliament
- AI Act: A Step Closer to the First Rules on Artificial Intelligence - European Parliament
- Navigating the EU AI Act: Implications for Financial Institutions - Dechert
- Fines Under the AI Act: A Bottomless Pit? - Taylor Wessing
- Key Enforcement Issues of the AI Act Should Lead EU Trilogue Debate - Brookings
- The EU AI Act: What It Means for Your Business - EY
AI in Media and Technology
- AI-Generated Vocals in New Beatles Documentary - Independent
- Meta Unveils State-of-the-Art Voice AI - BBC
- AI Helps Optimize Sorting Algorithms - Daily Mail
- Google’s Bard Writes Code to Answer Queries - US News
- Adobe Integrates DALL-E into Creative Cloud - YouTube
