Welcome to this week's edition of Jumble, your go-to source for the latest in AI. This issue covers AI’s drop off in S&P 500 Q2 reports and the viral video of a Tesla saving a life. It’s a packed week in AI and here’s what you need to know ⬇️

AI Hype Cools ❄️

Despite the ongoing AI frenzy, less than half of S&P 500 companies discussed artificial intelligence in their Q2 2024 earnings calls, suggesting the technology's adoption may be slower than anticipated. According to recent FactSet data, only 42% of S&P 500 firms (210 companies) mentioned AI during earnings calls between June 15 and September 13.

While this figure is well above the five and ten year averages for AI mentions, it falls just short of the record set in Q1 2024. The tech sector led the way, with 91% of S&P 500 tech companies referencing AI, followed by the financial, industrial, and healthcare sectors.

This plateau in AI discussions comes amid growing concerns about the technology's return on investment. Many businesses have invested heavily in AI development and implementation, with estimates suggesting a collective $1 trillion spent on AI initiatives. However, the expected benefits have been slow to materialize, and some reports indicate that AI costs could potentially increase by 1000% due to vendor price hikes and rising cloud computing expenses.

Self-Driving Tesla Saves Trucker’s Life 🚚

A Tesla equipped with its advanced Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology demonstrated its life-saving capabilities in a dramatic incident captured on video. The footage shows a truck driver unexpectedly falling from his vehicle onto the road, directly in the path of the oncoming Tesla.

In a split-second reaction that showcased the power of AI and advanced sensor systems, the Tesla's self-driving feature swiftly detected the fallen driver and executed an emergency maneuver. The car swerved sharply, narrowly avoiding what could have been a tragic collision.

This incident highlights the potential of autonomous driving technology to enhance road safety. The Tesla's ability to rapidly process visual information, assess the danger, and take appropriate action likely saved the truck driver's life.

The video of this near-miss quickly went viral on social media platforms, garnering attention from tech enthusiasts, safety advocates, and the general public alike. Many viewers expressed amazement at the Tesla's quick reflexes, noting that a human driver might not have been able to react as swiftly in such an unexpected situation.

Bests and Busts

Here's a look at this week's AI highlights and lowlights:

⭐ Best: AI Tool Reveals Sand Grain Secrets Through Time
Stanford researchers have developed SandAI, an artificial intelligence tool that can analyze microscopic images of sand grains to uncover their geological history going back hundreds of millions of years. The tool can determine with high accuracy whether wind, rivers, waves or glaciers shaped and deposited individual sand grains, providing a unique window into Earth's past for geological and archaeological studies.

💩 Bust: Congress Stalls on AI Election Safeguards
Despite urgent warnings about AI's potential to disrupt elections through deepfakes and misinformation, Congress is unlikely to pass any laws safeguarding the 2024 election from AI threats. Multiple bills introduced to ban election-related deepfakes and mandate AI content labeling have stalled due to partisan disagreements and time constraints. With federal action lagging, the responsibility for regulating AI in elections falls to individual states and agencies, leaving a patchwork of protections against this emerging threat to electoral integrity.

The Scoop 🍦

🕵️‍♀️ AI Helps Find Missing Girl, Raises Privacy Concerns
The Department of Homeland Security successfully used AI to age a photo of a missing child, leading to her rescue years later. However, DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas acknowledged public anxiety about AI use in law enforcement without proper regulations. While highlighting AI's potential in areas like immigration officer training and disaster planning, Mayorkas emphasized the need to balance tech advances with privacy concerns and national values as the government develops AI policies.

🛰️ AI and Cold War Spy Satellites Uncover Ancient Aqueducts
Archaeologists are using AI to analyze US spy satellite imagery from the Cold War era to locate ancient underground aqueducts called qanats. These innovative water systems, some up to 3000 years old, allowed human settlements in hot, dry regions. The AI model, trained on satellite images and artificial examples, can identify the vertical shaft openings of qanats with over 88% accuracy, providing a powerful new tool for rediscovering these lost engineering marvels across North Africa and the Middle East.

🚩 China Proposes Strict Labeling for AI-Generated Content
China's internet regulator has proposed new rules requiring digital platforms to clearly label all AI-generated content with visible logos, embedded metadata, and audio prompts. The draft plan aims to regulate AI-created text, images, audio, and video by mandating multiple identification methods, user accountability, and content analysis when metadata is absent. This move aligns with China's ongoing efforts to maintain control over online information and user identities.

🤖 UVA Launches AI Institute at Darden School of Business
The University of Virginia has established the LaCross Institute for Ethical Artificial Intelligence in Business at its Darden School of Business, made possible by a historic $101 million gift from alumnus Dave LaCross and his wife Kathy. The institute will coordinate research, teaching, and engagement in AI across UVA schools, institutes, and research centers, focusing on the ethical implications and business opportunities of AI technology.

🦠 AI's Potential Impact on Future Pandemics
AI systems are being developed to detect early warning signs from social media data, predict new virus variants, speed up antibody discovery for vaccines, and analyze health trends. However, experts caution that AI still relies on human input and decision-making, faces data limitations and potential biases, and is not yet mature enough to prevent pandemics on its own. While AI has improved pandemic preparedness since COVID-19, building trust and relationships remains crucial for an effective response to future outbreaks.

Thank you for being a valued reader of Jumble! See you next week for more updates on the latest trends and developments in AI.

Stay informed, stay curious, and stay ahead with Jumble!

Zoe from Jumble