Countries are filling the AI investment gap

Read time: under 4 minutes

Welcome back, Superhuman

Data is the new oil and the oil-rich countries of the Middle East are investing their vast petroleum revenues into powering data and power hungry AI models. And AI is playing its part in rap’s biggest rivalry, as Drake and Kendrick Lamar exchange blows.

Today’s Insights

• Nation states are stepping up to fund AI

• An AI-centered rap battle

• Prompt of the day

• 5 new AI tools to boost your productivity

• Chart: AI-related lobbying groups

• AI-Generated Images: Lounging at the pool

AI & TECH NEWS

Everything you need to know today

• Stealing the Scoop: Eight major newspapers, including the Chicago Tribune, are suing OpenAI for allegedly training its AI models with their articles.

• Techies Wanted: In a memo, Alphabet urged the Department of Labor to open up immigration so that more AI experts can work inside the US.

• Deepfake Diva: In a Senate hearing this week, British pop artist FKA Twigs admitted she’s created an AI clone to interact with fans on her behalf.

• Safety First: Microsoft reportedly added 50 new employees to its AI safety team last year in an effort to build trust with the public.

NEXT IN AI

Why nation states want in on AI

When it comes to oil, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were dealt winning hands. Now they’re giving up some of their chips for a resource that could prove even more powerful: AI. The Middle Eastern neighbors have each shelled out this year for AI-related investments.

Why are AI firms getting help from nation states? Companies like Meta and Amazon are bringing in record earnings thanks to AI. You’d think investors would be jumping for joy at that news. Instead, some funders say they want out. That’s because running and training AI platforms is expensive — Meta alone could spend as much as $40 billion on LLMs this year — and some investors fear it’s never going to pay off.

Why would countries be willing to make the gamble? Because if one country pulls too far ahead in the AI race, it could gain the upper hand on the world stage, from both an economic and military perspective — sufficient reason for nation states to want a piece of the AI action.

And there’s a lot more at stake than just generating revenue. Some countries fear that AI could fuel the spread of misinformation or pose security threats, and they want to make sure they have the tools to fight back.

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AI & RAP BATTLES

Why AI might be behind today’s biggest rap beef

First, there was Tupac vs. Biggie, Nas vs. Jay-Z, and Nicki Minaj vs. Cardi B. Now the hip hop world is divided over a new feud — and AI might be to blame. Kendrick Lamar and Drake have been trading fiery diss tracks over the past several months. The only problem: No one can figure out whether the songs are real or the work of AI.

Fans started raising questions after Drake released the song “Push Ups” — a response to an earlier Lamar dig — on April 19. They had every right to question the song’s authenticity: Just months earlier, they’d learned that “Heart on My Sleeve,” a supposed collaboration between The Weeknd and Drake, was an AI-generated fake produced by an anonymous TikTok user.

Instead of putting the rumors to rest, Drake recently fueled the speculation by releasing a track that used AI to recreate the voice of ‘90s rap legend Tupac Shakur. Shakur’s estate didn’t take kindly to the gesture and forced Drake to immediately take it off his social accounts.

Lamar responded in kind with a new diss track that includes the line “Am I battlin’ ghost or AI?” These sorts of dilemmas are likely to become more common in the coming years, especially as AI music generation tools like Udio and Suno get more sophisticated.

PROMPT OF THE DAY

Breaking the ice on LinkedIn

Give me content to start a conversation with a new connection on LinkedIn by sharing a recent industry news article or asking about their latest professional achievement. Start the dialogue on a positive and engaging note. Keep the tone conversational and limit the words to 100.

You can adapt the prompt to your industry or change the context of your conversation. For example, rather than asking about a recent accomplishment, you could instead mention an industry event you attended — or ask how your new connection achieved a particular career goal.

Source: CareerFlow

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CHART

Tech groups lobbying on AI since 2014

The number of AI-related lobbying groups in Washington nearly tripled between 2022 and 2023. Last year, there were around 458 groups that mentioned “AI” in their legal documents, according to government transparency watchdog OpenSecrets.

AI GENERATED IMAGES

Lounging poolside

Prompt: An oil painted tiger wearing a Hawaiian flower wreath, chilling near the pool, holding an aperol spritz in its hands against a hot pink background, in the style of illustrators Tomer Hanuka and Mandy Disher, in a close-up shot with bright colors and a funny vibe depicted in high definition.

--ar 3:4 --stylize 250

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🧞 Your wish is my command 

Thanks for reading.

Until next time!

Zain

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