OpenAI defines five 'levels' for AI to reach human intelligence (2 minute read)
OpenAI recently shared a five-level system for tracking its artificial general intelligence progress. The levels go from what is currently available to AI that can perform the same amount of work as an organization. They may change based on feedback from employees, investors, and the company's board. OpenAI executives believe the company's AI is currently on the first level, but it is getting close to level two, where AI can perform basic problem-solving.
AI Startup Hebbia Raises $130M at a $700M Valuation (3 minute read)
An example of the high valuations being assigned to AI startups, Hebbia has raised $130 million at a $700 million valuation on $13 million ARR. Hebbia's main product, Matrix, can analyze large documents and respond to user inquiries in a spreadsheet-like format. It is currently used by 30% of asset managers for research purposes. The company plans to use the fresh funding to expand its team and offerings to other industries, such as law firms and pharmaceutical companies.
Could AIs become conscious? Right now, we have no way to tell (15 minute read)
The debate over AI potentially achieving consciousness is intensifying, with contrasting views on whether advancements in machine learning and neuromorphic computing can lead to sentient machines. Integrated Information Theory suggests AI consciousness is unlikely due to current hardware limitations, whereas computational functionalist theories like Attention Schema Theory and Global Neuronal Workspace Theory consider it inevitable. Neuroscience seeks a unified theory of consciousness to better understand its potential emergence in AI.
The Managed-Service-as-Software (M-SaS) Startup Powered by AI (7 minute read)
There is an emerging paradigm of Managed-Service-as-Software (M-SaS) startups, where AI-driven service-oriented startups build their companies according to a new business model blueprint. This requires a fundamental shift in mindset for startups to use AI, rather than to sell AI. Initially labor-intensive with low gross margins, these startups gradually shift to higher SaaS-like gross margins through automation and AI.