AI Mania: Top 5 Trends and Developments

The latest AI Trends

Discover the AI trends sweeping the technology and marketing realms, from financial security advancements to AI police vans.

A number of groundbreaking advancements and trends in deep machine learning and generative artificial intelligence are continuing to captivate the leaders of technology and marketing. 

As these leaders navigate an evolving technological landscape, it is evident that AI's pervasive influence knows no bounds, reshaping industries while sparking both fascination and concern. We shed light on five compelling AI trends and stories that showcase its great potential—whether that inspires you or irks you. 

1. Worldcoin launch from OpenAI CEO 💰

As cyber threats loom larger than ever before, companies are searching for more innovative and out-of-the-box solutions to mitigate any threat actors. What no one could have anticipated was that a retina-scanning metallic sphere could be one of those solutions for financial security.

Sam Altman became a household name after the release of ChatGPT in 2022. Yet again, the OpenAI CEO has made headlines with another comeback after releasing an orb which scans eyeballs as part of the launch of Worldcoin, a cryptocurrency firm he co-founded along with Alex Blania and Max Novendstern. 

Cryptocurrency enthusiasts and users can download the World App, dubbed as the “first protocol-compatible wallet”, and use the Orb, a biometric verification device that scans the iris to confirm whether you are human. Once the scan has been completed, a World ID is created, with users receiving 25 Worldcoin tokens (equivalent to £40). 

Would you consider scanning your eye for a quick buck?

2. Hollywood vs. AI 🎬

In a world where AI-generated scripts gain recognition, Hollywood writers grapple with the spectre of automation encroaching on their craft. 

On the 14th July, SAG-AFTRA began striking to dispute a “groundbreaking” AI proposal made by the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) that would allow AI developers to create a digital likeness of actors. 

In a previous press release, SAG-AFTRA stated: “Human creators are the foundation of the creative industries and we must ensure that they are respected and paid for their work. Governments should not create new copyright or other IP exemptions that allow AI developers to exploit creative works, or professional voices and likenesses, without permission or compensation. Trustworthiness and transparency are essential to the success of AI.”

The union continues to strive to fight for actors rights and speak out against the use of digital replicas without an actor’s consent, among other labour disputes. The Writer’s Guild of America have also joined in the strikes, with the unregulated use of generative AI threatening the jobs of Hollywood screenwriters.

As the industry navigates this transformative juncture, the value of human ingenuity remains at the forefront, underscoring the vital role played by writers and actors in shaping the artistic landscape and preserving the authenticity of storytelling in an increasingly AI-driven world.

3. The crime-fighting AI police van 🚨

In other news, AI-powered police vans have made an appearance in the UK. Equipped with real-time data analytics, AI is on its way to reshaping the future of policing.

In the South East of England, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary and Thames Valley, police deployed an AI-equipped camera van, dubbed the “Heads-up van”, for the very first time as part of their National Police Chiefs Council campaign.

Engineering company AECOM provided police with the data and AI technology necessary to carry out the operation, deploying their Sensor Test Vehicle with Acusensus’ 'Heads-up' solution. Equipped with two sensory cameras, any footage was fed back to two separate AECOM teams in the UK using their AI technology, then provided to police for a final review.

Taking place on the A34 and the A303, this week-long operation, running from 17-21 July, helped police detect up to 500 offences, with 86 drivers suspected of using a phone and 273 suspected of not wearing their seatbelt. While those identified were not charged, there were around five arrests for disqualified and drug-driving offences.

In a Hampshire Police press release, AECOM’s Technical Director - Strategic Consultancy, Transportation, Dr Jamie Uff said: “The technology AECOM is deploying makes detection straightforward and is providing valuable insight to the police and policy makers on the current level of road user behaviour. 

“We are really keen for the use of this technology to be expanded to raise awareness and improve road safety for everyone.”

4. AI and Gender disparity 🚺

As automation reshapes job markets, a nuanced tale unfolds. New findings have revealed that women may be more vulnerable to AI job displacement than men, calling to attention the need for more discussions around fair and equitable workforce transformation. 

We have already established that AI is an evergreen hot topic in the industry, sparking both curiosity and debate among professionals in a variety of fields. Geoffrey Hinton’s departure from Google and concerns about AI certainly alerted us to the possible repercussions of its uses.

A recent study by McKinsey revealing that women are 50 percent more likely than men to face job losses, has made headlines, with millions of roles predicted to be automated by 2030. In addition to this, the U.S. alone is expected to witness around 12 million jobs replaced by AI in the next seven years.

What’s more, jobs that are typically represented by women such as customer service and secretarial roles are in danger of being replaced, with 5.7 million jobs expected to be scrapped by 2030. On the other hand, what are considered traditionally male-dominated roles like graphic designers and software engineers also face the same risk.

5. Saving the bees 🐝

In the past we have heard about AI aiding in sustainable development within organisations, using AI tools for energy efficiency, waste management and achieving net zero goals. Now, AI is being used to enable conservation strategies.

PhD and undergraduate students Alixandra Prybyla and Eva Nelson at the University of Edinburgh are leveraging data using AI to identify threatened species of bees. By teaching these AI computer systems to collect data on and recognise the unique buzzing sound the bee species make, these researchers believe that they can help conserve them. 

They are currently searching for different bee species in wildflower meadows Orkney to kickstart their research. With each ‘buzz’ omitting a unique sound that cannot always be distinguished with human ears, AI technology is employed to pick up on the different frequencies. 

Talking to the BBC, Prybyla said: "We're recording thousands and thousands of bee sounds and taking all sorts of environmental data, all sorts of morphological data, and we're giving it to this artificial intelligence algorithm that we're programming, and teaching it. Teaching it what to look for."