Meet the pioneers of digital transformation in LatAm
The real meaning of Biden's AI executive order. EY new report on global AI regulatory landscape. A new AI cluster in Argentina. Google is building a new data center in Uruguay.
The latest news and trends in the Latin American AI startup scene.
Share your stories to ai@contxto.com.
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Nubiral: Pioneers of Digital Transformation in Latin America
Nubiral, a Latin American technology company founded by Maximiliano Giacri and Fernando Zerbini, offers global infrastructure technology solutions. They specialize in data analysis, machine learning, and generative artificial intelligence, helping companies understand past trends and anticipate the future.
Despite economic challenges in the region, Nubiral has experienced significant growth and serves over 100 clients. They collaborate with key partners such as Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft to deliver high-quality solutions.
Nubiral aims to expand its global presence and focus on the Center of Excellence in Generative AI. Their success demonstrates Latin America's potential for technological innovation and entrepreneurship. (Contxto).
What President Biden's AI executive order actually means
The White House has launched AI.gov, a website that highlights the US government's plans and actions regarding AI. President Biden's executive order on AI safety is a key feature of the website. The order focuses on limiting computing power, addressing biotech risks, attracting more AI talent, and directing government agencies to consider AI.
While most AI companies will not be affected immediately, foundation model developers and infrastructure-as-a-service platforms will be impacted. The order also emphasizes the importance of AI safety, responsible innovation, supporting American workers, equity, civil rights, privacy, and managing AI risks.
The government aims to lead global progress in AI and is pushing for AI integration across federal departments. Immediate impacts include computing thresholds for reporting and red-team testing, as well as requirements for infrastructure-as-a-service platforms. Efforts to attract and retain AI talent are also outlined, including streamlined visas and training programs. (Artificial Ignorance)
Quick News
Combining AI and Crypto with iVi Technologies
The Brazilian fintech market has grown from being worth less than USD $50 million in 2016 to USD $2.1 billion in 2022. Lendel Lucas, CEO at iVi Crypto, believes that Brazil's openness to new technologies and embrace of AI and cryptocurrencies has contributed to this growth.
iVi Technologies operates at the intersection of finance and technology, offering quantitative investment funds and an app that democratizes investment strategies. Lucas highlights the increasing number of crypto investors in Brazil and the country's favorable legislation for cryptocurrencies. However, challenges in disseminating knowledge, addressing security concerns, and creating a supportive regulatory environment remain.
iVi Crypto plans to expand its AI quant technology to the United States and Europe and aims to become a leading investment app globally. (The Fintech Times)
Oxigênio and Liga Ventures open call for Acceleration Cycle for AI-focused Startups
Oxigênio, an incubator and accelerator in Brazil, has opened registrations for its new acceleration cycle in partnership with Liga Ventures.
The program is seeking startups working on AI solutions in various sectors. Selected startups will receive personalized mentorship, networking opportunities, and access to growth strategies.
Oxigênio aims to foster innovation and entrepreneurship and contribute to the growth of different industries. The deadline to apply is November 12. (Contxto)
EY report sheds new light on global AI regulatory landscape
A report by Ernst & Young (EY) on the global AI regulatory landscape is gaining attention after President Biden signed an executive order on AI regulation.
The EY report analyzes eight major jurisdictions and finds that they share similar objectives in minimizing AI harm and maximizing benefits. However, there are some differences, with the EU and China taking more proactive stances on regulation.
The report also notes that the global AI regulatory landscape is dynamic, with recent developments in the US and UK reshaping the environment. The report provides insights and best practices for policymakers and businesses, emphasizing the need for ongoing engagement and dialogue. (VentureBeat)
Brazil Among Most Optimistic Countries About AI, Study Says
A study by Getty Images has found that Brazilians are more interested and enthusiastic about AI than the global average. Four out of six Brazilians believe that AI can have a positive impact on their lives, compared to only half of those polled globally.
Brazilians are also 15% more interested in AI compared to the rest of the world, and less than 34% feel threatened by its advancement.
The study suggests that Latin Americans, particularly Brazilians, are captivated by the promises of AI in terms of efficiency and user experience improvements. (Forbes)
Tapping the support needed for educational transformation
The International Conference on Educational Innovation in Latin America recently took place at the Tecnológico de Monterrey (ITESM), Mexico.
The event focused on the role of new technologies in higher education, with concerns raised about the potential threat of chatbots.
There was also a discussion about the growth of AI and its impact on higher education. The conference highlighted the importance of technology in expanding educational opportunities but emphasized that technology alone cannot improve the quality of education. (University World News)
Corsight’s real-time biometric surveillance in Bogotá public transit results in six arrests
Facial recognition provider Corsight has partnered with the metropolitan police in Bogotá to conduct a 30-day proof of concept in the city's public transit system.
The facial recognition software analyzed footage from 20 strategically located cameras and cross-referenced it with a database of over 5,000 people with active court orders.
As a result, six individuals wanted for murder and theft were arrested, and ten individuals on the city's most wanted list were identified. However, concerns have been raised about the potential for overpolicing and human rights violations in Latin America due to insufficient data protection laws. (BiometricUpdate)
Argentina’s Massa launches AI cluster in Mar del Plata
Argentine economy minister Sergio Massa inaugurated an artificial intelligence cluster in Mar del Plata, aiming to promote knowledge exchange and research in AI.
According to the country's public innovation department, this cluster's objectives are to promote the exchange of knowledge and research in AI and its application in productive sectors.
During the event, it was announced that the government and state telco Arsat are aiming to get 900 small and medium-sized businesses and startups as customers of Arsat services, including cloud. (bnamericas)
Aeromexico Raises Safety Measures and Efficiency of Operations with AI-Powered IBM Technology
Aeromexico, in partnership with Xatrix and IBM, has implemented the IBM Environmental Intelligence Suite, a tool powered by AI, to monitor and respond to extreme weather events that could impact their air operations.
This technology allows Aeromexico to analyze climate risks, access weather information, and make informed decisions for their flights.
Aeromexico's Vice President of Technical Flight Operations believes that this technology enhances their decision-making process and contributes to providing an exceptional flying experience. (IBM Newsroom)
Chucaw and Reite, Chilean Startups, Expand to France with Science and Technology Innovations
Two startups, Chucaw and Reite, have been named the winners of the Trophée Startup 2023 contest organized by the French Embassy in Chile.
The startups will receive comprehensive training and internationalization opportunities in both Chile and France, giving them access to the European market.
Reite focuses on using AI cameras to transform stores into autonomous establishments, while Chucaw aims to bring advanced science and technology to vulnerable communities to help them adapt to climate change. (Contxto)
Google confirms construction of data center in Uruguay
Google has applied for environmental permits to proceed with the construction of its second data center in Latin America, located in Uruguay. The company acquired land in a free trade zone in May 2021 and plans to begin construction in March 2024.
This development is seen as a positive step for Uruguay's innovation, technology, and digital economy.
Additionally, Google is working on a subsea cable project that will connect various locations in South Carolina, Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay. (Data Centre Dynamics)
AI Education
Creating your own code writing agent. How to get results fast and avoid the most common pitfalls
In this blog post, authors walk you through their journey of creating an LLM-based code writing agent from scratch – fine for your needs and processes – and they share their experience of how to improve it iteratively.
Medical AI Bootcamp
An educational program for closely mentored research at the intersection of AI and Medicine. Over 6-9 months, members receive training to work on high-impact research problems in small interdisciplinary teams.
This bootcamp is a joint effort between Harvard and Stanford and is hosted virtually at the Rajpurkar lab. Open to students at Harvard & Stanford, and to medical doctors around the world.
Machine Learning and Dynamical Systems Seminar
The Machine Learning and Dynamical Systems Seminar is an online platform for research seminars, symposia, and reading groups focused on the intersection of Machine Learning and Dynamical Systems. It was initiated by the Special Interest Group (SIG) on "Machine Learning and Dynamical Systems" hosted by the Alan Turing Institute.
The seminar series is co-led by Prof. Robert Mackay and offers a YouTube channel for previous seminars.
Food for Thought
AI in the Global South: Opportunities and challenges towards more inclusive governance
The development of AI in the Global South, including Africa, Southeast Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean, presents unique opportunities and challenges. While AI has the potential to advance critical domains like agriculture, healthcare, and education, infrastructure limitations and concerns about the negative impacts of AI remain.
Governments in the Global South must invest in local researchers, integrate digital skills training in education, and be included in global conversations on AI. The establishment of research labs by large tech companies in the Global South has contributed to AI development, but more infrastructure and human capital are needed.
Challenges include limited internet access and the exploitation of data workers. To move forward, the Global South must invest in connectivity, build local AI capacity, integrate digital skills training, and approach AI development cautiously to ensure equitable benefits. (The Brookings Institution)
AI safety regulation threatens our digital freedoms
Julian Togelius, modl.ai co-founder discusses the idea of regulating AI development in order to mitigate potential threats. It compares the regulation of AI to the regulation of nuclear weapons and highlights the challenges of regulating AI due to its diverse nature and rapid advancements.
Julian argues that effective AI regulation would require invasive surveillance of personal computing, which would be detrimental to personal freedoms.
The author concludes that there is no credible existential threat from AI and suggests that instead of regulating the technology itself, regulations should focus on AI-based products and their intended purposes. (Julian Togelius Blog)
Open LLM company playbook
The article discusses the importance of companies releasing the weights of their language models (LLMs) and how it can benefit their long-term business prospects. The author emphasizes the need for companies to have a clear objective and niche in order to stand out in the market. They also highlight the importance of investing in fundamentals, such as computing power and experimentation, to train good models.
Releasing LLM weights allows for collaboration, verification, and improvement by others in the community. The article also mentions the significance of data as a competitive advantage and the need for companies to be transparent about pricing.
It concludes by discussing the benefits of openness, including advanced evaluations, community engagement, and employee satisfaction. The author provides examples of companies that have successfully leveraged open LLMs and suggests potential strategies for others. (Interconnects)
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