This week: AI artwork

Wise Tech - Technology news for non-tech humans!

1. AI-Made Artwork Sells for $1.3 Million

What’s the tech?
This story features Ai-Da Robot, a humanoid robot equipped with advanced artificial intelligence (AI) and an AI language model (a type of program that understands and generates text). Ai-Da created a painting titled A.I. God, a large-scale portrait of Alan Turing, the World War II codebreaker and computer science pioneer.

How is it used?
Ai-Da’s artistic skills combine advanced algorithms (step-by-step problem-solving processes) with robotic movement, enabling her to paint original works. The goal is to spark conversations about the impact of emerging technologies like AI on society.

Why is it news now?
The painting recently sold at Sotheby’s for a record-breaking $1.3 million, far exceeding expectations. This is the first time artwork by a humanoid robot has been sold at auction, making headlines worldwide and blurring the lines between human creativity and machine-generated art.

Read more on BBC

2. Robotic AI Performs Successful Surgery

What’s the tech?
This involves robotic surgical systems equipped with artificial intelligence. These systems can learn from surgical videos to perform complex operations with precision.

How is it used?
The AI-powered robot watched and learned from thousands of hours of real surgeries, allowing it to mimic human surgeons’ techniques. It then performed surgery autonomously with human-like skill. Doctors supervised the procedure to ensure safety.

Why is it news now?
This breakthrough showcases the potential for AI to assist or even perform surgeries in the future, especially in areas lacking medical expertise. It could reduce errors, improve outcomes, and expand access to life-saving care. However, it also raises ethical concerns, like whether AI should have full control in the operating room.

Read more on SciTechDaily

3. Over 70% of Websites Share Your Personal Data

What’s the tech?
Many websites use tracking technologies like cookies (small files stored on your device to track online activity) and third-party tools to collect and share personal data, often without clear consent from users.

How is it used?
Websites often share this data with advertisers and analytics companies to create targeted ads or improve user experience. Unfortunately, this can lead to breaches of privacy, as users rarely know the extent of data being shared.

Why is it news now?
A recent study revealed that over 70% of websites engage in this practice, raising awareness about how much personal information is at risk. With increasing data privacy regulations like GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) and CCPA (California Consumer Privacy Act), this issue is gaining attention. It’s a reminder to use privacy tools like ad blockers or adjust browser settings to protect your data.

Read more on TechRadar

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