While 2022 was the year ChatGPT dominated the headlines, 2023 has undoubtedly been the year of AI advancements, announcements, policy, and corporate shakeups. Reflecting on the year that was, we’re wrapping up the top five moments AI news had us on the edge of our seats! We’ve seen the launch of new devices, an unprecedented call for regulation, new buzzwords, and even an attempt at a corporate coup. Here’s the best of the headlines from AI in 2023.
1. The OpenAI Coup That Wasn’t
Very rarely has news in tech had the ability to eclipse the gossip blogs of Hollywood, but the period of November 17 to November 22 had all the trappings of a salacious corporate coup. In those five days, Sam Altman, Co-Founder and CEO of ChatGPT, was suddenly ousted from his position, offered a new role at Microsoft, and then just as quickly reinstated. The course of events that ensued roped in some of the biggest names in tech and AI, including Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, X’s Elon Musk, and Marc Benioff from Salesforce. To date, very little has been revealed about the reasons behind Altman’s swift dismissal and the board’s concerns, but his return was largely driven by the threat of mass resignation that comprised 90% of OpenAI’s employees.
The reported timeline of events started on November 16th with a text from OpenAI Co-Founder and Chief Scientist, Ilya Skutsever, informing Altman that the board would be convening the next day. By noon the following day, Altman was dismissed as CEO and relieved of board duties. A statement was released announcing Altman’s departure and Chief Technology Officer, Mira Murati, would occupy the interim position. In another surprising move, co-founder Greg Brockman was removed as Chairman of the Board, though his position as President of OpenAI remained untouched. Brockman elected to leave with Altman.
For a statement brimming with explosive content, it was surprisingly light on clarity regarding why Altman was removed. Cue the shockwaves through the industry! OpenAI’s “Big Tech” partner and billion-dollar investor, Microsoft, swiftly acted and released a statement in support of Murati’s appointment. Subjects close to the matter; however, disclosed that noses were out of joint at Microsoft, who were only notified of these changes one minute before the news went public.
The days that would follow could only be described as open season on OpenAI. Microsoft offered shelter to both Altman and Brockman, suggesting they head up the company’s internal AI division, Microsoft Ignite. By Monday 20th, OpenAI employees rallied in support of Sam. They penned a strong letter demanding not only Altman’s reinstatement, but also calling for the resignation of the Board of Directors, who they deemed incompetent to lead the company. To solidify their commitment, 90% of the workforce threatened to join Microsoft Ignite, citing Satya Nadella’s offer to match compensation packages for any OpenAI staff. Salesforce publicly made a similar offer on X, and Elon Musk demanded to know the reason for Altman’s decision, alluding to OpenAI operating in bad faith by concealing information that may be “potentially dangerous to humanity”.
On Wednesday, the 22nd, Greg Brockman shared a team selfie on X simply captioned, “We are so back”, and so, the five-day saga of the failed coup came to an end. It was a nail-biter, a novella, a moment in AI history that revealed serious chinks in the leadership armor, and rightly deserves the top spot as the number one headline in AI news in 2023.
2. Generative AI, The Darling of Machine Learning
If we’re talking about buzzwords, no term has been more prolific than “generative AI”. It’s been the dominant topic in the industry, with groundbreaking achievements in almost every quarter of the year. Thanks to ChatGPT and its rapid growth and success, generative AI has been thrust into the mainstream, and it’s been a game-changer ever since. What makes this technology so interesting and newsworthy is that despite the fact that it is still in its infant stages, the chatbot has proven to be incredibly useful in a number of fields and boasts 1.5 billion visitors a month. The race to develop AI-powered assistants and chatbots that rival ChatGPT’s dominance is on, and in a sprint to the finish in research and development comes a third, often unwelcome, participant: regulators.
3. The Call For Regulation is Coming From Inside the House
One of the more surprising developments in AI this year were the calls for regulation, specifically from inside the industry. The AI Statement on Risk was released on May 30th this year (2023), which comprised over 350 signatures, spanning corporate executives, members of academia, research and development scientists, and regulatory lobbyists. The statement, which calls for safeguarding humanity against AI’s risks, is signed by several notable figures, including Sam Altman, Bill Gates, U.S. Congressman Ted Lieu, and Lawrence Tribe (University Professor Emeritus, Harvard University).
There was also Sam Altman’s congressional hearing in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee, where he pleaded the case for oversight in the industry. Feeling the weight of his responsibility as a leading figure in AI, he laid out a three-point plan that could be implemented as a regulatory framework. It’s rare for organizations to agree to increased government involvement in their sector, but for multiple captains of industry to come forward and call for sensibility to prevail over profits is what’s made this particular news point a headline maker!
4. HumaneAI Pin, Making Wearables Cool Again
They left Apple to start a startup in wearable tech that’s taking the world by storm. It’s not a phone, it’s not a watch… It’s a pin, and it’s making wearable tech cool again! The HumaneAI Pin is an assistant that blurs the line between smartphone and wearable tech. Powered by large language models, this screenless device is a massive step into a new dimension. While the overall efficiency of this device is still up for debate, the consensus is that the Pin is a big swing in the right direction. It pushes the envelope in a sector drowning in smart glasses, VR headsets, and the ubiquitous smartwatch. The AI Pin was seen on Naomi Campbell as she strutted the runways during Paris Fashion Week, while co-founder Imran Chaudhri demoed the device at TED.
Critics argue that tech users not only want their screens, but are addicted to them, and that this device may simply fall into the dejected pile alongside Google Glass. But the HumaneAI team is clear on their value proposition and target market; they believe that “artificial intelligence amplifies human potential”. The goal of the device is to strip back on tech reliance and use AI to seamlessly blend into your everyday life, helping its users prioritize and maximize their use of devices. Whether people loved it or hated it, the device broke new ground in wearable technology, and caused a sensation over the internet while doing so!
5. SAG-AFTRA Takes on AI
While the overwhelming majority of headlines have shared positive outlooks on the use of AI to enhance various industries, Hollywood had a different reaction. The SAG-AFTRA strike was one of the longest and most visible actors’ and writers’ union strikes, with AI at the center of concerns. Networks and studios attempted to coerce writers and actors into accepting contracts that could see their “likeness” used in media. With AI increasingly able to closely mimic voices, many actors were concerned over the security of their jobs in the near future, and gravely far beyond that. The Alliance of Motion Pictures and Television Producers (AMTP) initially tabled a contract that granted studios and streamers the right to use AI-generated scans of deceased performers without consent from their estate or SAG-AFTRA. And while AI capabilities simply aren’t there yet, the union felt it was essential to future-proof the creative arts industry; 118 days later and this was achieved.
Conclusion
There’s no denying that artificial intelligence has set humanity down a particular path, and one that we’re unlikely to deviate from. 2023 will go down in the history books as a year of unprecedented discovery in technology, but it also highlights the need for stability, regulation, and checks and balances in the industry. While we can’t use predictive analytics to see the future (just yet), we can be sure there will be no shortage of opportunity, innovation, and the triumph of the human spirit as we once again explore new frontiers. Bring on 2024!
