The AI industry is undergoing a significant transformation with growing interest in more efficient and cost-effective models, emblematic of a broader trend in technological advancement. In the vanguard is Mistral AI, an innovator and trailblazer. Their commitment to fostering the open-source community and achieving exceptional performance aligns harmoniously with Microsofts commitment to develop trustworthy, scalable, and responsible AI solutions.

Today, we are announcing a multi-year partnership between Microsoft and Mistral AI, a recognized leader in generative artificial intelligence. Both companies are fueled by a steadfast dedication to innovation and practical applications, bridging the gap between pioneering research and real-world solutions.

Introducing Mistral Large, our most advanced large language model (LLM)

This partnership with Microsoft enables Mistral AI with access to Azures cutting-edge AI infrastructure, to accelerate the development and deployment of their next generation large language models (LLMs) and represents an opportunity for Mistral AI to unlock new commercial opportunities, expand to global markets, and foster ongoing research collaboration.

We are thrilled to embark on this partnership with Microsoft. With Azures cutting-edge AI infrastructure, we are reaching a new milestone in our expansion propelling our innovative research and practical applications to new customers everywhere. Together, we are committed to driving impactful progress in the AI industry and delivering unparalleled value to our customers and partners globally.

Microsofts partnership with Mistral AI is focused on three core areas:

In November 2023, at Microsoft Ignite, Microsoft unveiled the integration of Mistral 7B into the Azure AI model catalog accessible through Azure AI Studio and Azure Machine Learning. We are excited to announce Mistral AIs flagship commercial model, Mistral Large, available first on Azure AI and the Mistral AI platform, marking a noteworthy expansion of our offerings. Mistral Large is a general-purpose language model that can deliver on any text-based use case thanks to state-of-the-art reasoning and knowledge capabilities. It is proficient in code and mathematics, able to process dozens of documents in a single call, and handles French, German, Spanish, and Italian (in addition to English).

This latest addition of Mistral AIs premium models into Models as a Service (MaaS) within Azure AI Studio and Azure Machine Learning provides Microsoft customers with a diverse selection of the best state-of-the-art and open-source models for crafting and deploying custom AI applications, paving the way for novel AI-driven innovations.

We have tested Mistral Large through the Azure AI Studio in a use case aimed at internal efficiency. The performance was comparable with state-of-the-art models with even better latency. We are looking forward to exploring further this technology in our business.

After exploring Mistral Large during its early access period, weve been impressed by its performance on medical terminology. As we continue to innovate in healthcare, were open to collaborations that can help us and our partners grow together. Mistral AI represents an exciting opportunity for mutual advancement in artificial intelligence, both in France and internationally.

The Mistral AI models have been crucial in enhancing productivity and collaboration at CMA CGM. Their advanced capabilities have significantly improved the performance of our internal personal assistant, MAIA. Employees are now able to quickly access and engage with information like never before. We are confident that Mistral AI on Azure is the right choice to support our employees and drive innovation across our organization.

Microsoft is committed to supporting global AI innovation and growth, offering world-class datacenter AI infrastructure, and developing technology securely to empower individuals with the skills they need to leverage AI effectively. This partnership with Mistral AI is founded on a shared commitment to build trustworthy and safe AI systems and products. It further reinforces Microsofts ongoing efforts to enhance our AI offerings and deliver unparalleled value to our customers. Additionally, the integration into AI Studio ensures that customers can utilize Azure AI Content Safety and responsible AI tools, further enhancing the security and reliability of AI solutions.

Visit the Mistral Large model card and sign in with your Azure subscription to get started with Mistral Large on Azure AI today. You can also review the technical blog to learn how to use Mistral Large on Azure AI. Visit Mistral AIs blog to get deeper insights about the model.

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Introducing Mistral-Large on Azure in partnership with Mistral AI - Microsoft

2023 was a year of exciting growth and innovation here at Microsoft. This years focus is to empower our customers and partners through AI transformation, and were excited to share what will be an impactful lineup of events for 2024. Attending any of these events provides you with the opportunity to learn, grow and make defining connections with experts from around the world.

Expect to see enhancements in some of this years events. Azure AI-powered natural language assistants will provide personalized session recommendations, summarize content and answer your event-related questions. To meet the needs of a global audience, we are also offering options to participate in person, online and on-demand so you can choose what format works best for you. We structure these events to support the goals of our audiences and ensure that anyone attending has a great experience.

Visit our events site to find out which ones are right for you.

Its not too late to register for this ongoing series of one-day, in-person experiences around the world. These events bring together those on the cutting edge of innovation including decision-makers, industry experts, thought leaders and developers to focus on how AI will revolutionize work. So far, weve welcomed thousands of senior leaders and developers in six locations around the globe with keynotes highlighting the latest innovations in AI. Tour stops remain in Berlin, Paris, So Paulo and Seoul, where you can attend interactive workshops and learn how you can unlock the power of AI. Go tothe Microsoft AI Tour site to sign up.

In-demand experts, distinguished engineers and developers are gathering in Seattle for our annual Microsoft Build. This celebration of technology is a chance to hear the latest announcements and get hands-on with new technology. Learn how to create new features and opportunities with AI and copilots, dive deep into the latest tech, and develop the skills that are needed for tomorrow today.

Seattle, Washington & online | May 21-23, 2024

We are evolving the event previously known as Microsoft Inspire. In July, we will kick off our fiscal year with partners in tandem with our Microsoft sellers by providing a digital engagement to share strategic priorities, investments and key program changes. We look forward to sharing more details soon. Online | July 2024

With this change, we will also welcome partners to join us at Microsoft Ignite for an in-person experience in November to see the latest Microsoft innovations, network and celebrate the Partner of the Year Award winners.

Our biggest event of the year is getting even bigger for customers and partners, and were returning to Chicago!

Join IT professionals, implementers, developers, architects and more in checking out the latest tech Microsoft has to offer. With demos and firsthand access to new AI solutions and copilots, this is your chance to explore the latest tools, receive deep technical training and get questions answered by Microsoft experts. Were bringing the best of our customer and partner event experiences to the Windy City and online so you can participate in the festivities and discover how AI can enhance your organization.

In addition to seeing the latest technology firsthand, senior leaders and decision-makers are invited to learn more about how to lead in the era of AI and find robust networking opportunities.

If youre looking to expand your AI knowledge, create connections and push the boundaries of what we can accomplish together, theres no better event than Microsoft Ignite.

Chicago, Illinois & online | Nov. 18-22, 2024

Find an event in your region

Visit our full global events catalog for a complete list of events, including some that could even be in your area. There, you can filter events by product, role or industry to find something specific to your needs or interests.

We hope to see you

Its very exciting to bring you opportunities that showcase the growth and innovation thats being done at Microsoft to help you do more with AI. Whether youre a customer, partner, IT professional, decision-maker or developer, if youre looking to achieve more theres an event for you.

Tags: Microsoft AI Tour, Microsoft Build, Microsoft Ignite, Microsoft Inspire

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Join us in 2024 events to get your teams AI-ready - The Official Microsoft Blog - Microsoft

Look, Im a Humane AI Pin doubter as much as the next person. And I still think the wearable, AI-powered assistant suffers from a case of this-thing-could-have-been-an-app. But I finally got to spend a little face-to-face time with the pin this morning, and you know what? Its a darn cool gadget. Its just buried under a layer of marketing so thick that its hard to appreciate what it actually could be if Humane wasnt so self-serious.

If you spend time on Tech Threads or the like, you probably already know what the pin does: you clip it to your shirt, talk to it, and it uses generative AI to answer. Its a standalone device with its own SIM card, and theres no screen just vibes. That, and a little laser that projects menus and text onto your palm so you can interact with mortal trifles like Wi-Fi settings and media playback controls.

The idea, reiterated as I watched a couple of Humane employees run through various demos, was that its meant to help keep you connected while unplugging a little bit less staring at screens and more living in the moment. AI helps fetch relevant bits from your calendar and email, and answers your questions when youre curious about the world around you.

Its all very lovely, but lets be real: this thing isnt a philosophy, its a gadget. Gadgets are fun, helpful, and frustrating and all of the above seems to apply to the Humane pin.

The AI Pin was genuinely impressive at times. Theres a vision feature that will use the camera to scan the scene in front of you when prompted, analyze whats there, and describe it out loud. I stood in front of a Humane spokesperson as he tried out this feature, and frankly, the pin nailed it. It described Mobile World Congress as an indoor event or exhibition with people walking around. Easy enough.

But it also pointed out the name Qualcomm on the signage behind me, and obviously reading the badge around my neck, identified me as a person wearing a lanyard from the The Verge. One too many thes, but pretty impressive when you consider I wasnt standing all that close to the pin and the lighting was dim.

The gesture navigation was also impressive more fluid and responsive than I thought it would be. I wasnt allowed to put the pin on myself, and its hard to get into the right spot to project the laser onto your own hand since its really a single-user device. I tried. But a couple of Humane employees demoing the product, who obviously had lots of practice with it, navigated the projected menus quickly and easily just by tilting their hands and tapping two fingers together.

But the pin isnt immune to the thing that gadgets often do: frustrate the hell out of you. Most of the AI is off-device, so theres a solid few seconds of waiting for responses to your requests and questions not helped by the convention centers spotty connectivity. It also shut down on one occasion after briefly flashing a notice that it had overheated and needed to cool off. The employee demoing the pin for me said that this doesnt happen very often, and that the continued use of the laser for demonstration purposes probably did it. I believe that, but still, this is a device meant to sit next to your chest and go with you into lots of different environments, presumably including warm ones. Not great!

The laser projection is clearer than I imagined it would be, but its still essentially light projected onto the palm of your hand. Hands arent uniformly flat, and theyre hard to keep perfectly still. Text kind of dances around in front of you, and while its not difficult to read, it is harder than reading, say, text on a smartphone.

Its also impossible to get a sense of what its like living with the thing in a convention center hall. Could a cotton shirt support its weight? How easy is the laser to see outside in direct sun? Would people understand why the trust light is illuminated? Does the Pin occasionally make things up, the way some AI tends to? I have a lot more questions than answers, but I guess at least I have more than zero answers now that Ive seen it with my own eyes.

My early impression of the Pin is that theres something there, but its not the thing. And the trouble is, all of Humanes marketing has built it up to be the thing. It was first introduced at a TED talk, for petes sake: thats like ground zero for people who take themselves too seriously. Humanes Sai Kambampati told me that the AI Pin isnt intended as a smartphone replacement. But it has its own data connection, its own monthly subscription fee, and its own smartphone-esque price of $699. And its... not supposed to replace your phone?

Whatevers ahead of us in mobile computing, I have a feeling its not exactly the AI Pin as I saw it demonstrated today. Theres a lot more testing I want to do when the pin officially arrives in April. In the meantime, I didnt see the future exactly, but I did see a darn cool gadget just dont take it too seriously.

Photography by Allison Johnson / The Verge

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The Humane AI Pin worked better than I expected until it didn't - The Verge

By Elizabeth BennettFeatures correspondent

As artificial intelligence gains traction in office operations, some companies are giving employees a day to step back.

Working four days while getting paid for five is a dream for many employees. Yet the dramatic shifts in the pandemic-era workplace have turned this once unfathomable idea into a reality for some workers. And as more global data emerges, an increasing number of companies are courting the approach after positive trial-run results across countries including the UK, Iceland, Portugal and more.

Now, as pilots continue in Germany, a trial of 45 companies has just begun , for instance another factor has entered the mix. Artificial intelligence (AI) is gathering pace in the workplace, and some experts believe it could accelerate the adoption of the four-day workweek.

Data from London-based news-and-events resource Tech.co collected in late 2023 lends credence to this idea. For their 2024 Impact of Technology on the Workplace, the company surveyed more than 1,000 US business leaders. The researchers found 29% of organisations with four-day workweeks use AI extensively in their firms' operations, implementing generative AI tools such as ChatGPT as well as other programmes to streamline operations. In comparison, only 8% of five-day working week organisations use AI to this extent. And 93% of businesses using AI are open to a four-day work week, whereas for those who don't, fewer than half are open to working shorter weeks.

At London-based digital design agency Driftime, adopting AI technology has been crucial to enable the business to operate a flexible four-day work week. "By handing over simple tasks to AI tools, we gain invaluable time previously lost to slow aspects of the process," says co-founder Abb-d Taiyo. "With tools like Modyfi, the graphics are all live and modifiable, making it so much easier and quicker for our designers to create concepts and ideas."

Taiyo believes it makes sense for both his employees and his bottom line to work the condensed week. "Instead of a dip in the quantity of work created over just four days, we've seen a remarkably high quality of work matched by a high staff satisfaction return. The health and happiness of our team is in direct correlation to the high standard of work produced," he says.

Shayne Simpson, group managing director of UK-based TechNET IT Recruitment, also believes AI has been fundamental to the success of the company's four-day work week policy. The firm has found AI tools save each of their recruitment consultants 21 hours per week, primarily by automating previously manual tasks like data input, confirmation emails, resume screening and candidate outreach. This has reduced the time to fill permanent roles at the company by an average of 10 days. "This timesaving allows our team to achieve their weekly goals earlier in the week and the flexibility liberates our consultants from being tethered to their desks, enabling them to enjoy a well-deserved Friday off," says Simpson.

Not only has the company's abridged workweek boosted productivity and morale, Simpson says it's also been key to attracting talent to work within the company itself. "Seasoned recruitment professionals are enticed by our streamlined processes while entry-level talent is eager to embrace new tools." It's lifted the entire business, he adds.

While AI tools are certainly paving the way for a four-day work week within some industries, the technology can't usher in the change alone. Organisational culture within a business is also fundamental, says Na Fu, a professor in human resource management at Trinity Business School, Ireland. "An openness to innovative work structures, an experimental mindset and, importantly, a culture grounded in high levels of trust are all important for the four-day work week to be successfully adopted," she says.

As the digital transformation with AI progresses, employees themselves also must be willing to level up, she adds: "Rather than becoming mere caretakers or servants of machines, human workers need to develop new skills that can leverage, complement and lead AI, achieving the enhanced outcomes."

Some industries will benefit from AI more than others, however notably those who are able to use generative AI tools for such tasks including software development, content creation, marketing and legal services, says Fu. Plus, artificial intelligence development still has a way to go if it is to substantially reduce human working hours across the board.

What may drive the shift to a four-day workweek in an AI-powered business landscape may not ultimately be up to the robots, however. Executive buy-in is required, and whether leaders will embrace the unconventional concept will vary depending on a firm's overarching purpose and values, says Fu. Instead of letting AI supplement the work of humans, for instance, some businesses could use it to automate certain tasks while piling other work on employees to fill newly open hours.

Still, despite some reservation, an increasing number of business leaders including those from some of the world's highest-earning companies see a technology-driven shortened workweek as an inevitable future. In October 2023, JPMorgan Chase & Co CEO Jamie Dimon told Bloomberg TV: "Your children are going to live to 100, and they'll probably be working three-and-a-half days a week." Employees will have to wait and see.

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AI could make the four-day workweek inevitable - BBC.com

A new artificial intelligence (AI) tool can generate images in under two seconds and it doesn't need expensive hardware to run.

South Korean scientists have used a special technique called knowledge distillation to compress the size of an open source (or publicly available) image generation model known as Stable Diffusion XL which has 2.56 billion parameters, or variables the AI uses to learn during training.

The smallest version of the new model, known as "KOALA", has just 700 million parameters, meaning it's lean enough to run quickly and without needing expensive and energy-intensive hardware.

Related: AI chatbots need to be much better at remembering things. Have scientists just cracked their terrible memory problem?

The method they used, knowledge distillation, transfers knowledge from a large model to a smaller one, ideally without compromising performance. The benefit of a smaller model is that it takes less time to perform computations and generate an answer.

The tool can run on low-cost graphics processing units (GPUs) and needs roughly 8GB of RAM to process requests versus larger models, which need high-end industrial GPUs.

The team published their findings in a paper Dec. 7, 2023 to the preprint database arXiv. They have also made their work available via the open source AI repository Hugging Face.

The Electronics and Telecommunication Research Institute (ETRI), the institution behind the new models, has created five versions including three versions of the "KOALA" image generator which generates images based on text input and two versions of "Ko-LLaVA" which can answer text-based questions with images or video.

When they tested KOALA, it generated an image based on the prompt "a picture of an astronaut reading a book under the moon on Mars" in 1.6 seconds. OpenAI's DALLE 2 generated an image based on the same prompt in 12.3 seconds, and DALLE 3 generated it in 13.7 seconds, according to a statement.

The scientists now plan to integrate the technology they've developed into existing image generation services, education services, content production and other lines of business.

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New AI image generator is 8 times faster than OpenAI's best tool and can run on cheap computers - Livescience.com