Tags: superintelligence

Former DeepMind researcher David Silver has launched Ineffable Intelligence, a new AI startup focused on reinforcement‑learning “superlearners.” The company secured $1.1 billion in seed financing at a $5.1 billion valuation, backed by Lightspeed Ventures and Sequoia Capital. Silver, who built AlphaGo, says the firm will train agents inside simulations to achieve general intelligence without relying on human‑generated data. Investors see the approach as a fresh path amid a market dominated by large‑language models, while Silver stresses safety and alignment as core design goals. Lire la suite

OpenAI released a policy paper titled “Industrial Policy for the Intelligence Age,” urging governments to act now on AI’s economic impact. The document flags job disruption as the most immediate risk and proposes time‑bound four‑day workweek pilots with unchanged pay, expansion of a “care and connection economy,” and a shift toward taxing capital and AI‑driven profits. It also suggests creating a public wealth fund to distribute gains from automation. OpenAI frames AI as infrastructure that will reshape industries, urging collective action to ensure the technology benefits everyone. Lire la suite

Several OpenAI researchers have expressed doubt that CEO Sam Altman can adequately manage the company as it approaches the development of superintelligent AI. They cite the need for stronger safety controls, a global risk‑communication network, and more rigorous audits of the most advanced models. Critics also point to Altman's reputation as a charismatic pitchman and past promises that they view as stopgap measures, raising questions about the firm’s ability to maintain public trust while fostering competition among smaller AI developers. Lire la suite

Six months after renegotiating its contract with OpenAI, Microsoft unveiled MAI-Transcribe-1, MAI-Voice-1 and MAI-Image-2 on its Foundry platform. The new models, built by a ten‑person team, boast lower error rates, faster speeds and competitive pricing, giving the tech giant a functional AI stack independent of its former partner. The rollout underscores Microsoft’s new freedom to pursue "humanist superintelligence" and could reshape enterprise AI spending. Lire la suite

Microsoft AI, the research arm of the tech giant, announced the rollout of three foundational multimodal models—MAI-Transcribe-1, MAI-Voice-1, and MAI-Image-2. The transcription model supports 25 languages and is 2.5 times faster than Azure Fast. The voice model can generate a minute of audio in one second and allows custom voice creation. The image model, originally unveiled on MAI Playground, expands Microsoft’s AI portfolio and is priced to be cheaper than competing offerings from Google and OpenAI. The launch underscores Microsoft’s commitment to building its own AI stack while maintaining its partnership with OpenAI. Lire la suite

A coalition of scientists, former officials, and public figures has released the Pro‑Human Declaration, a framework for responsible artificial intelligence development. The document, signed by hundreds, urges a pause on superintelligence research until safety can be assured, mandates off‑switches for powerful systems, and calls for pre‑deployment testing of AI products aimed at children. Its release coincides with recent disputes between the Pentagon and major AI firms, highlighting the cost of congressional inaction. Advocates compare the proposed safeguards to the FDA’s drug approval process, arguing that public pressure is needed to shape AI policy. Lire la suite

Meta is reportedly working on a new large‑language model internally called “Avocado.” The project signals a shift away from the company’s earlier open‑source stance on AI, with the model expected to be proprietary. Avocado is being developed by a small team within Meta’s AI Superintelligence Labs, led by Chief AI Officer Alexandr Wang. The move follows internal turmoil, including layoffs at the FAIR unit and the departure of Chief AI Scientist Yann LeCun. Industry observers note that the change reflects Meta’s desire to keep pace with rivals such as OpenAI and Google. Lire la suite

Yann LeCun, Meta's chief AI scientist and founder of the FAIR research lab, announced plans to leave the company and start his own venture. LeCun, a 2018 Turing Award winner, will retain his professorship at New York University while departing a Meta organization that has recently shifted its AI focus toward rapid commercial deployment. The move comes amid internal tension, leadership changes, and high‑profile hires aimed at accelerating large‑language‑model development under Mark Zuckerberg's revised AI strategy. Lire la suite

Microsoft AI chief Mustafa Suleyman revealed a new team dedicated to creating a "humanist superintelligence" that is deliberately limited in autonomy and designed to serve humanity. The initiative emphasizes keeping humans "at the top of the food chain" and rejects narratives of a race to artificial general intelligence. Suleyman outlined three primary applications: an AI companion for learning and productivity, support for the healthcare sector, and breakthroughs in clean‑energy science. The move follows a new agreement with OpenAI that lets Microsoft pursue AGI independently or with partners, while leveraging OpenAI’s intellectual property. Lire la suite

OpenAI revealed its goal to develop an intern‑level AI research assistant by September 2026 and a fully autonomous "legitimate AI researcher" by 2028. The announcement came during a livestream with CEO Sam Altman and chief scientist Jakub Pachocki, who described the upcoming system as capable of handling large research projects independently. In parallel, OpenAI transitioned to a public‑benefit corporation, freeing it from non‑profit constraints and allowing new capital‑raising opportunities. The nonprofit OpenAI Foundation will retain a 26% stake, oversee research direction, and commit $25 billion to disease‑curing initiatives, while the for‑profit arm plans massive infrastructure investment to support the ambitious AI roadmap. Lire la suite

Over 700 high‑profile individuals, including AI pioneers and celebrities, have signed a statement demanding a halt to the creation of artificial superintelligence until it can be proven safe. The petition warns that unchecked AI could threaten freedom, national security, and even human survival. A recent poll shows a clear public desire for stricter regulation, with a majority opposing rapid, unregulated AI progress. The movement reflects growing unease about the pace of AI advances and calls for stronger oversight before further development. Lire la suite

Meta is eliminating roughly 600 positions within its legacy artificial intelligence research units, including the Fundamental AI Research (FAIR) team and its AI product and infrastructure division. The move comes as the company redirects resources toward a newly created superintelligence effort called TBD Lab, while still allowing affected employees to apply for internal openings. The restructuring follows a brief hiring surge earlier in the year, and reflects Meta’s shift toward integrating FAIR’s research into larger model operations overseen by TBD Lab. Lire la suite

More than 800 public figures—including technology pioneer Steve Wozniak, Prince Harry, AI researchers, former military leaders and CEOs—have signed a statement urging a prohibition on work that could lead to artificial superintelligence. The appeal, issued by the Future of Life Institute, calls for a ban until there is broad scientific consensus that such systems can be built safely, controllably and with strong public support. Signers span a wide political and professional spectrum, featuring names such as Geoffrey Hinton, Steve Bannon, Mike Mullen and Will.i.am. The group warns that AI progress is outpacing public understanding and that unchecked development poses grave risks to humanity. Lire la suite

Strike 3 Holdings, a producer of "high quality," "feminist," and "ethical" adult videos, has filed a federal lawsuit against Meta Platforms alleging that the company illegally torrented and distributed thousands of its copyrighted pornographic videos to train its artificial‑intelligence models. The complaint claims Meta used the BitTorrent protocol to obtain more than 2,396 videos, citing 47 distinct Meta‑affiliated IP addresses, and argues that this conduct gave Meta a competitive edge in developing its so‑called "superintelligence" AI. Meta has responded that it is reviewing the complaint and does not believe the claims are accurate. Lire la suite