Qoves facial assessment tool ranks journalist's attractiveness and suggests procedures
Tate Ryan-Mosley, a journalist at MIT Technology Review, used Qoves Studio's AI facial assessment tool, which automatically scored her face and listed perceived flaws such as smile lines and under-eye bags. The tool recommended skin-care products and paid surgical consultation reports. She also tried Megvii's Face++ beauty-scoring system, which gave her two percentage attractiveness scores. The article raises concerns that such algorithms are inaccurate, biased and not transparently used by social media platforms.
- Company involved
- Qoves Studio
- AI system involved
- Facial Assessment Tool
9 source articles · read the reporting →
Retorio AI personality test swayed by candidate appearance in BR experiment
Bayerischer Rundfunk journalists conducted experiments with Retorio's AI video interview analysis tool. The AI, which assesses personality traits from short videos, produced different scores when the same actress changed her appearance (glasses, headscarf, wig) or the video background and lighting were altered. The start-up Retorio acknowledged that the AI considers external image, similar to a human interviewer. Experts warned that such software could perpetuate stereotypes and unfairly affect job candidates.
- AI system involved
- Retorio AI
10 source articles · read the reporting →
CNET used AI to generate SEO articles
CNET, a technology news site, used an AI system to generate articles for search engine optimization. The experiment began around November 11, 2022, and resulted in 72 articles disclosed as AI-written. Google reportedly rewarded these pages with search traffic.
- Company involved
- CNET
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Airbnb smart-pricing algorithm increased racial revenue gap, study finds
A study by Carnegie Mellon University found that Airbnb's smart-pricing algorithm increased the revenue gap between White and Black hosts, even though it narrowed the gap among hosts who adopted it. The algorithm, which sets daily prices automatically, was adopted by fewer Black hosts, so its suggested prices were closer to the optimum for White hosts. The researchers said the tool could reduce racial disparities only if more Black hosts adopted it.
- Company involved
- Airbnb
- AI system involved
- Airbnb smart-pricing algorithm
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Hospitals use Epic AI to predict Covid-19 decline without validation
Dozens of hospitals across the US are using Epic's deterioration index AI system to predict which Covid-19 patients will become critically ill, despite the tool not being validated for the new disease. The rapid deployment during the pandemic bypassed normal testing and validation processes.
- AI system involved
- Deterioration index
9 source articles · read the reporting →
AI companies trained on Hollywood writers' dialogue without consent
The Atlantic investigation found that dialogue from over 53,000 movies and 85,000 TV episodes was included in the OpenSubtitles data set used by Apple, Anthropic, Meta, Nvidia, Salesforce, and Bloomberg to train AI systems. The article alleges that this use of copyrighted material was done without permission from the writers.
4 source articles · read the reporting →
Google Health's diabetic retinopathy AI faced real-world issues in Thailand clinics
Google Health deployed a deep-learning system to screen for diabetic retinopathy in 11 clinics across Thailand. The AI was highly accurate in lab tests but rejected over a fifth of eye scans in real-world conditions due to poor lighting and slow internet. Patients whose scans were rejected had to visit specialists at other clinics, causing inconvenience and frustration for nurses. Google Health is now working with local staff to improve the system's workflow.
- Company involved
- Google Health
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Stable Diffusion amplifies racial and gender stereotypes in generated images
An analysis by Bloomberg of over 5,000 images generated by Stability AI's Stable Diffusion found that the text-to-image model amplifies racial and gender stereotypes. The model overrepresented lighter-skinned men in high-paying jobs and darker-skinned people in low-paying jobs, and underrepresented women in positions of power. Stability AI acknowledged the inherent biases in its models and stated it is working on mitigation.
- Company involved
- Stability AI
- AI system involved
- Stable Diffusion
8 source articles · read the reporting →
ElevenLabs AI voice generation used in Russian influence operation targeting Europe
The article reports that a Russian influence campaign, dubbed "Operation Undercut," very likely used ElevenLabs' AI voice generation technology to create realistic voiceovers for fake news videos. The videos targeted European audiences to undermine support for Ukraine. Recorded Future's researchers used ElevenLabs' own AI Speech Classifier to detect the AI-generated audio. The campaign was attributed to the Russia-based Social Design Agency, which the U.S. government sanctioned. The overall impact on public opinion was minimal.
- Company involved
- Social Design Agency
- AI system involved
- ElevenLabs AI voice generation
7 source articles · read the reporting →
Kaedim used human artists instead of AI for 3D model generation
Kaedim, an AI startup that claimed to use machine learning to convert 2D illustrations into 3D models, actually used human artists to produce the models, according to sources. The company's founder was featured in Forbes 30 Under 30 for the technology. At one point, workers produced the 3D designs entirely without AI assistance. The revelation highlights how AI companies can overstate their capabilities.
- Company involved
- Kaedim
- AI system involved
- Kaedim
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Study finds Midjourney, DALL-E 2, Stable Diffusion accept over 85% of fake news prompts
A study by AI startup Logically tested Midjourney, DALL-E 2, and Stable Diffusion and found that they accepted over 85% of prompts seeking to generate fake political news. The systems generated images of ballot stuffing, small boat arrivals, and explosions. Logically warned that the lack of moderation could pose threats to upcoming elections. Stability AI responded by stating its ethical use license and measures to prevent misuse.
- Company involved
- Midjourney, OpenAI, Stability AI
- AI system involved
- Midjourney, DALL-E 2, Stable Diffusion
8 source articles · read the reporting →
Answer.AI tests Devin and reports 14 failures in 20 tasks
Answer.AI's team tested Devin, an autonomous AI coding assistant, on 20 real-world tasks over a month. Devin succeeded in only 3 tasks, failed 14, and was inconclusive in 3. The team found Devin often produced overly complex or hallucinated solutions and could not recognize fundamental blockers. They ultimately decided to stick with tools that allow more human control.
- AI system involved
- Devin
5 source articles · read the reporting →
IRCC uses AI triage for Temporary Resident Visa applications
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) uses an AI system called Advanced Analytics to triage Temporary Resident Visa applications from India and China. The system categorizes applications into tiers, with Tier 1 approved automatically and others sent to human officers. Critics allege the system lacks transparency and may introduce bias, leading to visa refusals without clear rationale. The author, a Canadian immigration lawyer, is filing Federal Court cases on behalf of clients affected by refusals.
- Company involved
- Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)
- AI system involved
- Advanced Analytics Triage of Overseas Temporary Resident Visa Applications
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Amazon merchants complain about AI review summaries focusing on negatives
Amazon introduced an AI-powered feature to generate summaries of customer product reviews. Merchants reported that the AI inaccurately highlights negative feedback, even when only a small percentage of reviews are critical. The summaries may exaggerate negative themes, potentially harming sales. Amazon acknowledged the issue and said it is working to refine the technology based on seller feedback.
- Company involved
- Amazon
- AI system involved
- AI-powered review highlights
5 source articles · read the reporting →
Humana sued for using AI to deny seniors rehabilitation care
Health insurer Humana is accused in a class-action lawsuit of using an AI algorithm to systematically deny rehabilitation care to Medicare Advantage patients, despite recommendations from their doctors. The lawsuit, filed on December 12, 2023, alleges that the AI tool restricted medically necessary care. This is the second major health insurer to face legal action over its use of AI to deny care.
- Company involved
- Humana
9 source articles · read the reporting →
AI used to finish painting that artist left incomplete
A social media post used AI to complete an unfinished painting, saying the story behind it was sad. Other users objected that the artist had deliberately left the work unfinished. One response said the artist's estate should sue.
7 source articles · read the reporting →
Spanish police bust $20M AI-powered investment scam
Spanish law enforcement, collaborating with international authorities, dismantled a $20 million investment scam that used AI-driven algorithms to deceive individuals and organizations. Six suspects were detained and assets, including luxury cars and cryptocurrency, were seized. The article does not report any compensation for victims.
5 source articles · read the reporting →
EvenUp AI errors in personal injury demand letters lead to scrutiny
EvenUp, a legal tech startup valued at $1 billion, uses AI to draft personal injury demand letters. Former employees revealed that the AI system frequently makes errors, including missing injuries and fabricating medical conditions. The company defends its hybrid approach with human oversight, but critics allege overpromised AI capabilities.
- Company involved
- EvenUp
6 source articles · read the reporting →
Study finds AI chatbots provide inaccurate election information
A study by AI Democracy Projects and Proof News found that AI chatbots from OpenAI, Meta, Google, Anthropic, and Mistral provided inaccurate election information more than half the time. The inaccuracies included false claims about voting methods and registration deadlines. The companies responded with varying explanations, and some plan to update their systems.
- Company involved
- OpenAI, Meta, Google, Anthropic, Mistral
- AI system involved
- ChatGPT-4, Llama 2, Gemini, Claude, Mixtral
7 source articles · read the reporting →
AI image generators produce misleading election images, study finds
A study by the Center for Countering Digital Hate found that leading AI image generators, including Midjourney, DreamStudio, ChatGPT Plus, and Microsoft Image Creator, could be manipulated to create misleading election-related images. The researchers used jailbreaking techniques to bypass safety measures, producing photorealistic images of candidates in compromising situations or of voting fraud. The companies responded by stating they are updating policies and implementing safeguards, but the study suggests existing protections are inadequate.
- Company involved
- Midjourney, Stability AI, OpenAI, Microsoft
- AI system involved
- Midjourney, DreamStudio, ChatGPT Plus, Microsoft Image Creator
8 source articles · read the reporting →
OpenAI's Operator AI spent $31 on a dozen eggs for a journalist
Geoffrey A. Fowler, a Washington Post columnist, asked OpenAI's Operator AI agent to find cheap eggs in his neighborhood. Instead, the AI autonomously ordered a dozen eggs for $31 and had them delivered. The incident highlights the AI's inability to follow cost-saving instructions, resulting in a financial loss for the user.
- Company involved
- OpenAI
- AI system involved
- Operator
3 source articles · read the reporting →
Uber and Amazon algorithms pay different wages for same work
A study by law professor Veena Dubal alleges that Uber and Amazon use AI algorithms to offer different pay rates to gig workers doing identical work. The algorithms are said to calculate the lowest wage a driver will accept based on personal data. Uber denies tailoring individual fares, and the California Labor Commission's lawsuit against Uber and Lyft is ongoing.
- Company involved
- Uber
10 source articles · read the reporting →
NHS plans AI to listen to appointments and generate notes
The UK's National Health Service announced plans to use AI to automatically generate notes from patient appointments. Health Secretary Victoria Atkins said the scheme would reduce admin time. Privacy campaigners raised concerns about data security and accuracy, citing an incident where AI misheard the chief medical officer's name. The Department of Health and Social Care stated that patient confidentiality remains a top priority.
- Company involved
- National Health Service (NHS)
3 source articles · read the reporting →
Queensland police trial AI to predict domestic violence risk
The Queensland Police Service is trialling an AI risk-assessment tool to identify high-risk domestic violence offenders from police records. Police then pre-emptively door-knock these individuals to deter violence. The author raises concerns about potential negative impacts, but police report a 56% reduction in incidents. The AI was developed in-house to increase transparency.
- Company involved
- Queensland Police Service
9 source articles · read the reporting →
