Anthropic’s Claude LLM bares all

Train AI your way

Happy Friday! Does AI need to go back to second-grade spelling class? A recent article on TechCrunch highlights a surprising limitation: AI models struggle to spell simple words like “strawberry.” 

This is more than a funny mishap—it reveals how AI understands context and language. But let’s just say that AI still has much to learn before achieving true human-level comprehension! So, what do you think about these spelling slip-ups?

Anthropic Lifts the Veil on AI’s Inner Workings

TechCrunch

Anthropic makes AI’s secret sauce public for the first time. Breaking from the industry's standard of secrecy, Anthropic recently published the system prompts that steer its Claude AI models. This transparency allows us to see (almost) exactly how AI decisions are shaped, especially in complex or sensitive scenarios.

Taking a peek into AI behavior:

  • Managing controversial topics: For politically sensitive questions, Claude is prompted to provide balanced, neutral summaries. If a user asks about a controversial policy, the AI avoids taking sides, opting instead to offer an informative and factual overview. 

  • Driving meaningful conversations: To maintain engagement, Claude is instructed to ask for more details if a user’s question is vague. If asked about a general topic like "the economy," Claude will prompt with a follow-up, such as, “Are you interested in a specific sector?” This approach keeps conversations relevant and focused, enhancing user satisfaction.

A new open-door policy? By making its system prompts public, Anthropic opens itself up to both risks and benefits:

  • On the one hand, transparency can lead to greater accountability and ethical AI practices, allowing public feedback. 

  • On the other hand, there’s a risk that bad actors could exploit this information to manipulate AI responses or undermine trust in the technology. 

Why it matters: Transparency in AI development is rare but increasingly necessary. This could be a turning point, encouraging more openness in AI practices while creating more predictable and trustworthy AI systems.

The bigger picture: Anthropic’s decision to go public with its AI’s guiding rules could lead others to follow suit. We might see a new wave of transparency that promotes more ethical and responsible AI use.

Forget Big Tech—DisTrO Lets You Train AI Your Way

Nous Research’s DisTrO is changing how AI gets smarter. Released last week, DisTrO reduces the data exchanged between GPUs during AI training. This allows powerful AI models to be trained using standard internet connections, lowering the barriers to AI development.

Key advantages of DisTrO:

  • Improved efficiency: DisTrO cuts down GPU communication needs, traditionally requiring high-speed connections and costly infrastructure. This makes training more efficient and accessible.

  • Wider access: With DisTrO, smaller labs and independent researchers can train complex models without needing expensive setups, opening up AI development to a broader range of contributors.

What’s next: By reducing costs and technical barriers, DisTrO could encourage a wave of AI advancements from new players. Nous Research is setting the foundation for more than AI training—it's broadening the scope of who can innovate in AI.

Why it matters: Large tech companies with significant resources have long dominated the AI field. DisTrO makes advanced AI training possible for smaller teams, promoting diversity and innovation. This could lead to new AI applications across various sectors, from healthcare to education.

Dexcom Stelo Makes Managing Prediabetes Proactive and Personal

Why wait for symptoms? For the millions managing prediabetes, Dexcom Stelo offers real-time glucose tracking without a prescription, empowering users to take control of their health before it becomes a crisis.

Here’s the rundown:

  • Always on, always aware: Stelo provides around-the-clock glucose monitoring, delivering real-time data directly to your smartphone. This constant feedback loop helps users identify trends and adjust their lifestyle choices on the fly.

  • Accessible health management: With no need for a prescription, Stelo is accessible to anyone and breaks down traditional barriers to advanced glucose monitoring.

  • Actionable health insights: The Stelo app translates raw data into meaningful feedback, showing how daily activities like eating, exercising, and sleeping affect glucose levels. It’s not just about numbers; it’s about understanding your body and making informed decisions.

Why it matters: In an era where personalized health data is at our fingertips and part of our smartwatches, Dexcom Stelo empowers users with another tool to manage their health proactively. It’s about prevention, not just management, and staying informed every step of the way.

Qualcomm Reveals Key Trends in On-Device AI

Earlier this summer, Qualcomm hosted a workshop (and I got to attend!) that served as a meeting spot for ideas, innovations, and discussions on the state and future of AI technologies.

Key highlights included:

  • Hybrid AI model: Qualcomm emphasized the shift towards a model that combines cloud and edge device AI capabilities, addressing challenges in power efficiency and performance.

  • On-device AI advancements: Presenters demonstrated how on-device AI is becoming both more powerful and energy-efficient, enabling new applications across various sectors.

  • AI for accessibility: The Cephable team showcased an app developed using Qualcomm’s AI Hub, designed to enhance digital accessibility and create more inclusive user experiences.

You can read more about the event here and explore on-device AI development yourself using Qualcomm’s AI hub.

  • Bland AI secures $16M to transform enterprise calls with automated agents.

  • California tightens the reins on AI with sweeping new safety bill.

  • Magic, the generative AI coding startup, lands a $320M investment from Eric Schmidt, Atlassian, and others.

  • Codeium raises $150M at a $1.25B valuation, taking on GitHub Copilot.

  • AWS launches HPC-as-a-service, making supercomputing accessible to all.

  • Wyze’s AI gets nosy, searching your camera footage so you don’t have to.

What a week. Catch up on the best of the rest in AI news with me.

Could this be a new era in AI creativity? I’m diving into the creative AI tools of tomorrow.

Are AI art generators getting TOO good? Join us as we explore the ups and downs of generative AI tools for your business on this week’s The Next Wave episode.

And that’s a wrap for this week! What quirky AI behavior has surprised you the most? Let’s discuss—hit reply and share an amusing response or slip-up from your AIs!

—Matt (FutureTools.io)

P.S. This newsletter is 100% written by a human. Okay, maybe 96%.