As the holiday season approaches, companies are strategising ways to leverage promotional campaigns to attract consumers. OpenAI is joining in with its "12 Days of OpenAI" event series, which commenced on December 5, 2023. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman revealed details about this initiative through an announcement on social media, indicating that the event would consist of daily live streams featuring both significant launches and smaller updates.
The event, which is structured around twelve weekdays of live streams at 10 a.m. PT, has already showcased a variety of new features and improvements aimed primarily at developers. Notably, significant releases included the completion of the o1 model within the API, which now supports function calling, structured outputs, and advanced capabilities. This model enhances developer efficiency, particularly with the introduction of a new parameter—"reasoning effort"—that allows control over the analytical workload in response generation, facilitating cost-effective application.
Another highlight of the event was the rollout of a new AI search engine feature in ChatGPT, which is now accessible to all users, including those on free plans. Improvements in the mobile search experience were also noted, featuring richer visual results and integration with Advanced Voice mode. This functionality enables users to verbally query ChatGPT while seamlessly browsing the web.
On December 12, OpenAI addressed technical difficulties from prior days, while launching Advanced Voice Mode enhancements that include screen-sharing capabilities and new ways for users to interact with the AI. Additional features include a new voice option themed around Santa Claus as a festive touch.
OpenAI's product development initiatives resonate with ongoing trends in the artificial intelligence landscape across various sectors. Companies like Google and Amazon have also expanded their AI offerings. Google launched Veo 2, a video-generating AI platform aiming to produce high-quality visuals while adhering to safety and ethical guidelines. This follows the release of OpenAI's Sora generative AI video tool, designed to generate videos from text inputs, with resolutions scaling up to 1080p.
Amazon, in parallel, released the "Amazon Nova Reel," facilitating the creation of high-quality short videos from text and images for marketing campaigns. Notably, the media and entertainment industry is witnessing a burst of AI adoption, with organisations leveraging these technologies for content generation, marketing, and operational efficiencies.
However, enthusiasm for AI technology comes coupled with concerns about its ethical implications and potential effects on traditional media and artistic expression. Industry professionals have expressed apprehension about how AI could be employed to reduce costs at the expense of creative quality. Raphael Bob-Waksberg, creator of "BoJack Horseman," articulated this sentiment, remarking on the suspicion surrounding corporations' intentions with AI tools—the fear being that studios may seek to cut costs by sidelining creative contributors rather than enhancing their capabilities.
Legislative responses have begun to consider the implications of AI-generated content as well. In California, a bill set to take effect in 2025 will empower performers to reject contracts that do not sufficiently protect against AI mimicking their likenesses, indicating a proactive legislative approach in safeguarding workers' rights in the age of AI.
While the broader horizon for AI applications in media and business looks promising, the road ahead remains tangled in cautious optimism, regulatory considerations, and an ongoing dialogue about ethical practices. The discussion parallels earlier technological evolutions, suggesting that the outcome of this AI boom may only become clear as the technology becomes more embedded within societal frameworks.
Source: Noah Wire Services