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David Moon| For the Knoxville News Sentinel

Microsoft fusing AI chatbot into search engine

Microsoft announced a new version of its search engine Bing is integrating artificial intelligence chat in a step the tech giant hopes will bolster its place in the online search business (Feb. 7) (AP Video: Manuel Valdes)

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As someone who was told I could protect myself from being vaporized by a USSR nuclear attack by hiding under my elementary school desk, Ive grown fairly immune to warnings of the imminent end of humanity. Thats why I easily dismissed a scholars recent warning that superhuman artificial intelligence would (not could) destroy all life on earth.

Then I saw how easily millions of people were fooled by a fake photo of Pope Francis appearing to wear a $6,000 Balenciaga puffer coat and realized it might not take superhuman intelligence to destroy humans. People are willingly doing it to themselves on Facebook.

Eliezer Yudkowsky is the lead researcher at the Machine Intelligence Research Institute in Berkley, California. In a recent open letter to the AI community, Yudkowsky persuasively warns that the current direction of AI advancements will result in the death of every single member of the human species and all biological life on Earth. He writes that it isnt something with a remote possible chance. It is the obvious thing that will happen.

Even the skeptic in me read carefully as Yudkowsky explained that we can already transmit DNA strings via email, allowing scientists to produce replicate proteins on demand and providing an existing possible way for AI to escape the confines of a computer or the Internet by creating its own artificial life forms using the molecular building block of chromosomal existence.

I believe, however, that a more imminent threat to humanity is evidenced by the number of people who blindly accept satire as real news or never question obviously impossible public claims before repeating them. Fake Pope pics and Marjorie Taylor Green/AOC quotes serve as self-administered public IQ tests.

People are falling in love with chatbots, with sometimes disastrous romantic consequences when companies update their software. Advice to employers: never hire someone who happily admits being in love with binary code.

I am smart enough to know that I am not smart enough to know the future of AI. The idea of computers or robots taking over a bunch of jobs seems inevitable; thats what technology has always done. If AI is a tool that replaces all emotion in a decision process with logic, that seems to me to be a useful tool. My guess is that, like every other tool man has developed, it will create increased disparities between those who use the tool and those who dont.

Yudkowskys warning to the contrary, however, I am going to assume that life will continue for the foreseeable future and continue to roll my eyes at the gullible people who seemingly look for fake news to believe.

David Moon, president ofMoon Capital Management, may be reached at david@mooncap.com.

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David Moon: Artificial intelligence will be the death of common sense - Knoxville News Sentinel

One in 24 people will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer in their lifetime, and in just one recent year, 2021, there were 149,000 new cases in the country, leading to 52,980 deaths.

These sobering statistics explain why St. Lukes University Health Network recently enhanced its capacity to detect colorectal cancer through the acquisition of the GI Genius endoscopy module the first-to-market, computer-aided polyp detection system powered by artificial intelligence.

Early detection of adenomas or pre-cancerous polyps gives us the chance to catch colon polyps before they develop into colon cancer, and to diagnose and treat colon cancer before it spreads, said Dr. Noel Martins, division chief of gastroenterology and fellowship clinical professor. Early detection is the best way to avoid bad outcomes, particularly because symptoms such as bleeding, abdominal pain and weight loss may not appear until it is too late.

Scott Siegfried, division administrator for gastroenterology at St. Lukes, concurs. I cannot underscore enough how important it is to be screened as soon as you are eligible, which is now 45 years old, he said. Having undergone one colonoscopy, which helped to identify and remove some adenomas, I can attest that it is so worth the effort. The prep is easy, and the procedure itself is quick and painless. The value you get in return for such a short-term inconvenience is immeasurable.

Martins and Siegfried provide the day-to-day medical and operational oversight for gastroenterology and hepatology inpatient and outpatient services for the entire St. Lukes network. With an Adenoma Detection Rate (ADR) of 42% exceeding the national benchmark rate of 25% the gastroenterology team has been consistently successful with the most important measure of colonoscopy quality that we have, Martins said.

St. Lukes new GI Genius endoscopy module is composed of hardware and software designed to highlight portions of the colon where the device detects a potential lesion, according to the Food and Drug Administration. Through the use of artificial intelligence algorithm techniques that identify regions of interest, the GI Genius system generates markers, which look like green squares and are accompanied by a short, low-volume sound. During the colonoscopy, the GI Genius tool superimposes these images on the video from the endoscope camera, signaling to the clinician that further assessment may be needed. This could involve closer visual inspection, tissue sampling, testing or removal, or ablation of (burning) the lesion.

Patient access to quality care has also been enhanced through the incorporation of the Eyvazzadeh and Reilly Colon & Rectal Center into St. Lukes earlier this year. The center, now named St. Lukes Colon & Rectal Surgery, has three board-certified physicians: Dr. Daniel J. Eyvazzadeh, Dr. Daniel J. Bowers, and Dr. W. Terence Reilly, MD. The practice will continue to provide state-of-the-art surgical methods and endoscopy techniques to patients throughout the network.

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St. Luke's deploys artificial intelligence to detect early signs of colon ... - The Bucks County Herald

Not all New Zealand universities have turned on plagiarism tool Turnitins new artificial intelligence capability; as they say, risks remain.

The University of Auckland has decided against the technology for now.

"Detection is at best a short-term, partial solution and should not be relied upon, as detection methods are not 100% accurate and will be constantly evolving in the arms race between ChatGPT and emerging detection tools," a spokesperson for the university said in a statement.

Like most universities in Aotearoa, Auckland University said staff need to consider how AI technology can be used as part of student learning.

"Staff are looking at modifying assessment questions and structure, so it is more difficult and complex for AI tools like ChatGPT to produce acceptable responses.

"They are also encouraged to consider using more low-stakes, in-person assessments that place importance on the process of producing work, not the product, and a range of in-person assessment opportunities, such as presentations, podcasts, interviews, group work, etc," the spokesperson stated.

Victoria University of Wellington and the University of Otago are also not using Turnitins AI capability as university evaluation of the technology has not taken place.

The University of Canterbury and Massey University are using the tool, calling it just one part of their academic integrity process, while the University of Waikato is using the technology while testing it. Auckland University of Technology isnt using the tool but is considering it.

Turnitin has developed the tool to detect 98% of writing created by artificial intelligence such as Chat GPT, the business says.

Turnitin Asia Pacific Regional President James Thorley said artificially-created content is here to stay for the foreseeable future, but so is the need for ensuring honesty in learning institutes.

I don't ever see a place where people are not wanting to uphold academic integrity, and that will incorporate many aspects, including detection and potentially other matters, he said.

Victoria University of Wellington software engineering senior lecturer Dr Simon McCallum said detection is a challenge as artificial intelligence developments are making writing more "human-like".

The new systems are coming along so quickly that any detection you come up with is almost obsolete once you release it.

McCallum is urging academics and the Government to equip themselves with an understanding of AI developments and consider how the technology will change multiple sectors and day-to-day life.

I think there is a role for the Government to take this change very seriously and use it as part of an assessment of what we are trying to do with our education system, what is the objective of our education system, and start funding that transition because if we are going to keep up we need to have that resource, we need to spend that time, he said.

McCallum said hes never seen this rate of improvement in AI before.

The challenge it presents universities is enormous, and I mean, its something that we are struggling with, he said.

He thinks universities and high schools should close temporarily so educators have time to workshop how their lessons and assignments should change as a result of AI development.

The students are racing ahead of them, and if you're in an arms race, being behind and falling further behind is just going to make things much, much worse.

Massey University's decided to counter cheating during online exams through a webcam monitoring system called Remote Proctor Now.

The majority of exams at the university are now held online.

"Due to the emergence of COVID-19 and the resulting lockdown periods, it was necessary to utilise RPNow on a large scale sooner than planned in order to meet student needs, a spokesperson for the university said in a statement."

Some students have concerns about the rollout of the technology, and student association leaders are running a student survey to hear more from them.

Our students have raised lots of concerns about not actually knowing where their data and information is getting sent to since the only information we have is that it's getting sent offshore, Te Tira Ahu Pae Pasifika President Aniva-Storm Feau said.

Other issues raised include accessibility to laptops, webcams and quiet spaces to sit exams and concern for how neurodiverse students may be penalised by the software which alerts the university when a student looks away from the screen.

The university stated several small trials of Remote Proctor Now since 2014 were responded to with positive feedback from students.

"Notably, students liked being able to sit an exam in their own environment," the spokesperson said.

"In most cases, a student will be flagged for looking away from the screen or if another person is heard or visible during the exam. It is highly unlikely this would be the only activity taken into consideration."

The statement also said trained reviewers oversee recordings and are "professionally handled".

The university stated it will provide alternatives for students who require equipment, and financial hardship grants may also be available to students.

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Chat GPT, artificial intelligence challenging education sector - 1News

Computers are going to know about customers life changes before the customers themselves do, if Colby Tunick gets his way.

Tunick, the co-founder of artificial intelligence startup ReFocus AI, moved to Des Moines from San Diego because he believes hes found fertile ground for his product. The company bills itself as a retention tool for clients, using an artificial intelligence algorithm to alert businesses about customers who are likely leave for a competitor.

Tunick wants to sell the product to a range of companies. But for now, he is focused on insurance, an industry that collects millions of records looking at hundreds of data points, he said.

More: Far-reaching Silicon Valley Bank collapse affects some Iowa startups, lenders

This information is fuel for a company like ReFocus AI, where staff can input the reams of data into the algorithm to predict future customer behavior. That means there are few places better to roll out ReFocus AI than the Des Moines metro, where about 25,000 employees work at about 850 insurance firms.

And likewise, Tunick said, there are few business clusters in the United States better positioned to quickly add AI tools than Des Moines dominant industry.

Who else knows you more than the insurance company? he recently told the Des Moines Register. When you sign up for an insurance policy, youre turning over basically everything.

Tunick and his co-founder, Nisar Hundewale, acclimated themselves to Des Moines last year when they enrolled in the Global Insurance Accelerator, a startup program at 321 E. Walnut St. Though he still lives in California, Tunick keeps a desk at the accelerators office and said he wants to continue to work in town at least once a week. (Hundewale still works mostly in Alexandria, Virginia.)

Tunick said the company wants to hire three software engineers, preferably in Des Moines. The company deepened its local roots April 4, when it became one of 12 businesses to form the latest cohort at BrokerTech Ventures, the citys other insurance technology accelerator.

More: ChatGPT is poised to upend medical information. For better and worse.

Dan Israel, managing director of the Global Insurance Accelerator, said he has seen several good AI pitches in recent years. Companies sell products like image recognition software, which tells insurers whether homes have looming problems.

But Israel believes Tunick and Hundewale offer a product that will appeal to even the least cutting-edge customers.

(Tunick has) a good passion for what theyre trying to sell and what theyre trying to build, Israel said. One of the key things were looking at is, Are the founders really trying to solve something? Instead of just, Were a solution to a problem.

Tunick said he began mulling how to launch an AI company while working as an associate governmental program analyst at the California Earthquake Authority, a publicly managed firm that sells earthquake insurance policies through other companies.

Tunick said he helped executives and computer programs communicate, speaking both sides language. He also sat in on high-level meetings, watching as board members grilled executives about how customers would react to premiums and new product lines.

He said the executives didnt have confident answers, but he believed they would be able to present precise projections if they analyzed several decades worth of past customer information.

They didnt know they had the data, he said.

More: 'AI, what's for dinner?' 5 cool things to ask ChatGPT, from business names to recipes

Tunick launched ReFocus AI with a couple of friends while still at the earthquake authority in 2019. While insurance companies have a roster of well-trained actuaries who know how to project profits and risk for their customers, Tunick believed only the largest firms knew how to use that information for other parts of their business, such as sales and customer services.

Advanced analytics are essentially limited to the Top 10 (U.S. insurance companies), he said. That leaves a huge playing field of customers who want this technology. But essentially, because of their size, they cant afford it.

After his friends dropped out of the business, Tunick posted on Angelist, an online job board for startups and investors. There, he received a solicitation from Hundewale.

Holding a doctorate in computer science, Hundewale had worked at a consultant for companies like Walmart and Johnson & Johnson. He said he used customer data to help retailers create targeted ads. He also used computer models to help them determine prices for their products and how much inventory to order at a given time.

But Hundewale said he wanted to be part of a startup, where he could help build a business. When he learned about ReFocus AI, he said he understood how he could take advantage of the deep reams of data that insurers collect.

More: Does homeowners'insurance cover tornado damage? How to prepare before a disaster

In Tunick, he also found a good match.

I wanted another half who knew the business side, would know how to sell the product, he said. I dont know to sell it.

Said Tunick: It could have gone either way, for both of us. When you meet somebody online, you dont know who they are. But we both just jumped in feet first.

Israel, the Global Insurance Accelerator director, said he learned of ReFocus AI from someone else who works in insurance technology. He reached out to Tunick, and the two metat InsureTech Connect, a trade show.

He said he could see the companys potential and badgered Tunick to apply for the accelerator. (Tunick also remained at the earthquake authority until last August.)

Its not so much that theres a lack of data, Israel said when asked why companies cant build AI tools in-house. And its not so much that theres very, very smart people in insurance companies that can use the data. Sometimes, you just dont know what youve got. Or you cant access it the right way.

Tunick said the company has tried to help businesses several different ways. ReFocus AI has suggested which customers might be most likely to buy extra insurance plans from a company. The company also suggested which customers might be open to spending more for a more generous plan.

More: Every claim you make, insurers are watching you

But he said that a company he worked with suggested ReFocus AI should dedicate its time to building algorithms that identify customers who are likely to leave. This is the area where smaller and mid-sized companies need the most help, Tunick said he learned.

Theyre already doing that work anyway, he said. Were just helping them do it smarter and faster.

Chad Combs, a vice president of personal lines underwriting at Ohio Mutual Insurance Group, said his company began working with ReFocus AI to improve Ohio Mutual's customer retention tool about a year ago. The new program, which agents will begin using in April, should tell them which customers to focus on.

Combs said ReFocus AI built an "enhanced" version of the tool that the company previously used. He added that, unlike bigger and established AI companies, Tunick and Hundewale built an algorithm to Ohio Mutuals specific requests.

Theyre smart people, he said. But theyre nimble. Theyre small. They can be creative.

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Why this Des Moines startup is bringing AI to insurance companies - Des Moines Register

Reading Supports

Educational support platform and tutoring providerPaperhas acquiredReadlee, whose software uses artificial intelligence and speech-recognition technology to help students improve their reading skills, according to a recent announcement by Paper.

Readlee, founded by two educators in collaboration with Harvard researchers, said current users will continue to have access through the current school year, in a letter announcing the acquisition. Readlee, which has offered educators an always free plan and a premium plan with more features, said more information about changes to pricing and plans will be announced in the near future.

Readlee will become Paper Reading, will be fully integrated into Papers so-called educational support system platform, where it will be available to over 3 million students across the United States, according to Papers news release.

Readlee listens to students as they read aloud and provides immediate feedback, individualized support, and measurable success using the latest in AI, speech recognition, and learning research, particularly capitalizing on scientific research showing that reading aloud improves memory, vocabulary, and confidence.

Statistics show that students who engage in reading-aloud exercises 20 minutes a day are likely to score better than 90% of their peers on standardized tests. Paper Reading will allow students to practice reading aloud from any content in any subject, the company said.

Learn more atPaper.co.

About the Author

Kristal Kuykendall is editor, 1105 Media Education Group. She canbe reached at [emailprotected].

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Paper Acquires Readlee To Boost Literacy Features With Artificial ... - T.H.E. Journal