SandboxAQ has emerged as an independent company, backed by significant funding from prominent investors including T. Rowe Price Associates, IQT, US Innovative Technology Fund, Paladin Capital, and BNP Paribas, among others. This growth capital will support the company's development, with notable supporters such as Eric Schmidt, Marc Benioff, Thomas Tull, and Yann LeCun contributing to its venture.
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sandboxaq-closes-series-e-round-with-expanded-investor-base-302420501.htmlSandboxAQ, a spin-off from Alphabet, has made significant breakthroughs with its Large Quantitative Models (LQMs), attracting strategic investors who were impressed by the company's delivery on promises to customers. CEO Jack Hidary plans to use new funds to accelerate research and development, expanding partnerships in biopharmaceuticals, chemicals, and energy. This move comes as Alphabet's work in quantum computing gains momentum, with Google recently announcing a new generation of quantum chips and participating in a $230 million funding round for QuEra Computing. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has also expressed increased optimism about the field, dialing back skepticism on the timeline for practical quantum computing systems.
https://channelnewsasia.com/business/ai-startup-sandboxaq-adds-nvidia-google-backers-raises-additional-150-million-5044996A Seattle-based software engineer, Grant Slatton, used AI to generate a Studio Ghibli-inspired family portrait, sparking debate on ethics and consent in the art world. The trend is reminiscent of Hayao Miyazaki's signature style, characterized by whimsical characters and richly detailed backgrounds, which has captivated audiences for decades.
https://www.asiaone.com/lifestyle/ai-and-art-studio-ghibli-inspired-trend-sparks-debate-ethics-and-consentSingapore's push to become an AI hub must prioritize sustainability, according to WWF's Mr Kumar and Pure Storage's Mr Matthew Oostveen. The city-state's data centres, which rely on power stations for energy, risk straining resources due to growing demand from other sectors like electric vehicles. As water usage for cooling increases pressure on Singapore's already strained water resources, the country must balance technological growth with sustainable resource management.
https://channelnewsasia.com/today/big-read/generative-ai-environmental-impact-energy-water-5042011Throttling internet speeds and restricting VPN access can significantly increase digital security risks, hindering real-time threat detection and disrupting encrypted communications. This erodes public confidence in the digital economy, discouraging the adoption of digital services. Authorities must prioritize privacy rights and robust cyber security measures over surveillance to secure the digital landscape, as a fractured approach undermines any regulatory framework aimed at strengthening cyber security.
https://www.brecorder.com/news/40355866/protecting-digital-frontiersThe development of AI models that can interact autonomously with digital platforms and humans is expected to be transformative, but the tech industry's goals are unclear. Two approaches are being explored: "AI as adviser," which provides individually calibrated recommendations to human decision-makers, keeping humans in control, versus "autonomous AI" models that take control on behalf of humans, raising profound implications for their use.
https://www.manilatimes.net/2025/04/05/opinion/columns/two-models-for-agentic-ai/2086792The US government's delay in enforcing a ban on TikTok has raised concerns about national security, with experts warning that controlling the app's algorithm under ByteDance's authority does not alleviate these risks. Chris Pierson, CEO of BlackCloak, stated that data control and algorithmic control remain the main issues, as they do not change the underlying purpose or risks presented. The delay has sparked over 130 lawsuits, with Alan Rozenshtein, a University of Minnesota law professor, arguing that President Trump's actions violate the law by unilaterally declaring a non-enforcement period instead of negotiating a deal and notifying Congress.
https://stltoday.com/news/nation-world/article_05184e09-969f-5b08-ab2d-f74a087c6853.htmlTikTok's algorithm will remain under ByteDance's control after a delay in the ban on the social media platform, raising national security concerns. The US government had passed a law banning TikTok due to its ties to China, but Trump's extension has kept these controls in place. Chris Pierson, CEO of BlackCloak, warns that this maintains risks as data and algorithm control are still under a foreign company with potential malicious intentions. A Pew Research Center survey found Americans are more divided on the issue than two years ago, with 8 in 10 supporters citing data security concerns as a major factor.
https://www.khou.com/article/news/nation-world/trump-extends-tiktok-ban-deadline/507-9ea046a3-076f-4b09-8637-2f9e420a8939A new app is available that allows users to turn their images into comic-like characters inspired by The Simpsons or Marvel. This technology uses AI-powered tools to create stylized and colorful versions of individuals or objects, similar to those found in animated TV shows and movies. The app's creator has stated that the process involves using machine learning algorithms to analyze the input image and apply a specific style, resulting in a unique and recognizable character.
https://www.livemint.com/technology/forget-ghibli-style-art-here-s-how-to-turn-your-images-into-a-simpsons-or-marvel-comic-like-character-11743765719348.html