Today in AI: YouTube CEO warns against training AI with videos, Microsoft sounds alarm on election interference; and more

Our daily TLDR of important AI news you should know about.

The world of Artificial Intelligence continues to evolve rapidly. From the debate over training data for AI models to Microsoft sounding the alarm on potential AI-driven election interference from China, here's a roundup of today's developments in the field of AI.

Training Sora with YouTube videos violates terms: YouTube CEO

In his first public remarks on the topic, YouTube CEO Neal Mohan said using YouTube videos to train OpenAI's text-to-video generator, Sora, would be a "clear violation" of YouTube's terms of use. While Mohan didn't confirm if OpenAI had actually done this, he emphasised creators' expectations of how their content is used on the platform.

The debate continues over how AI development companies source training data for their models. Generative AI tools like Sora learn by analysing massive amounts of web content, including videos, photos, and text.

Microsoft warns of Chinese AI election interference

Microsoft in a report has issued a warning that China will attempt to disrupt elections in the US, South Korea, and India this year using AI-generated content, following a test run during Taiwan's presidential poll. According to the tech giant's threat intelligence team report, Chinese state-backed cyber groups, possibly assisted by North Korea, are expected to target prominent elections in 2024.

EXL Service Holdings cuts 800 jobs

Digital services company EXL Service is undergoing a restructuring to prioritise generative AI. This will result in a reduction of about 800 employees, less than 2 percent of its global workforce.

The company plans to lay off 400 employees and offer the remaining 400 the chance to be reassigned to new positions. The job cuts will primarily target junior-level staff in data analytics and digital operations, particularly in the US and India.

Hanooman partners with 3AI Holding

Hanooman, a generative AI platform built in India, announced a joint venture with 3AI Holding, an Abu Dhabi-based AI investment firm. This 50-50 partnership aims to make AI accessible to a wider audience in India. Introduced in February by Seetha Mahalaxmi Healthcare (SML), Hanooman is scheduled to launch on May 1, 2024. 3AI Holding's technology, Omega generative AI, will further enhance Hanooman's capabilities.

Tech giants team up to explore AI's impact on jobs

Tech giants like Google and Microsoft are teaming up with Cisco to form a study group on how AI will impact jobs in the tech industry. This comes as concerns about AI's effect on workers and the economy grow.

The group also includes tech heavyweights like IBM, Intel, SAP, and Accenture. While labor unions like AFL-CIO and CWA are involved as advisors, the focus will be on creating practical recommendations for both businesses and workers.

Their initial report will analyse how AI affects 56 specific tech jobs (though the exact jobs haven't been finalised yet).