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• Amazon's Alexa is set to get a new AI model

  Amazon plans to rejuvenate its Alexa voice assistant by integrating generative AI. This initiative aims to enhance the capabilities of over half a billion Alexa-integrated devices. Amazon, which has previously focused on web services for generative AI, is now turning its attention to direct consumer offerings. The first indications of this shift is rumored to be revealed at an event on September 20 at Amazon's HQ2 in Arlington, Virginia. Amazon's strategy emphasizes Alexa's home presence. Perhaps after years of problems with Alexa, new wave of AI models will finally realize the old promise of home assisting tools.
  

• OpenAI's GPTBot Faces Resistance from Webmasters

  OpenAI, the brains behind ChatGPT, recently unveiled GPTBot, a web crawler designed to scan website content to enhance its large language models (LLMs). However, this silent launch was met with swift backlash. Web creators and site owners rallied together, sharing strategies to prevent GPTBot from accessing their content. While OpenAI has provided a method to block the bot via a simple robots.txt file modification, concerns linger about the effectiveness of this measure. Major platforms like The Verge have already fortified their defenses against GPTBot, and discussions are rife among content creators about whether to follow suit. As the AI landscape evolves, the tug-of-war between innovation and privacy continues to intensify.
  

• Zoom's Terms of Service Raises Data Privacy Concerns

  Zoom's recent terms of service update has stirred unease among users and privacy advocates. The new terms seemingly grant Zoom access to user data for AI training. Although the company clarified they won't use audio, video, or chat content for AI training without consent, experts argue it doesn't prevent other data usage for AI. The update means if a meeting host agrees to data sharing, all participants are included, challenging individual privacy choices. With these concerns, many are exploring privacy-centric alternatives like Signal and Jitsi for their video conferencing needs..

• Microsoft Bids Farewell to Cortana, Embracing Next-Gen AI

  Microsoft has decided to discontinue its digital assistant, Cortana, as a standalone app in Windows from August 2023, pivoting towards advanced AI technologies like the ChatGPT-inspired Bing Chat. This move is in line with the company's vision of harnessing the power of GPT-4, developed in collaboration with OpenAI, and integrating it directly into Windows 11. While Cortana will still be available on select platforms, its future remains uncertain as Microsoft pushes forward with its next-gen AI initiatives, potentially setting a trend for other tech giants to follow.