CES 2025 Is Here With AI In Everything!

 CES 2025 has officially kicked off this week with all the biggest names in tech showcasing their newest tech offerings. As expected AI is at the forefront of just about every single major announcement. With NVIDIA, Intel, AMD and Qualcomm all showcasing the latest in AI centric chips. While others such as LG Google, Hisense and TCL show off some of the newest in AI powered TVs and home theater gizmos. Not to take a back seat major auto manufactures have showed in force this year with Toyota, Volvo, BMW and others highlighting new AI integration and manufacturing advancements.  

As many expected AI has found its way into almost every device from the outrageous new personal robots. To the most mundane of children's toys. Just about everywhere you look someone is introducing a new AI powered gadget or gizmo of some sort!

Among the major announcements made was NVIDIA's CES keynote highlighting their newest RTX 50 series flagship GPUs as well as a very interesting new addition dubbed Project Digits. NVIDIA Project DIGITS, a personal AI supercomputer that provides AI researchers, data scientists and students worldwide with access to the power of the NVIDIA Grace Blackwell platform. With Project DIGITS, users can develop and run inference on models using their own desktop system, then seamlessly deploy the models on accelerated cloud or data center infrastructure.

As previously mentioned TV and display manufactures are looking to put AI to use in more ways than one. Google has announced they adding a slew of Gemini features to Google TV. With Gemini Google promises your interaction with your Google TV powered devices will be more natural and intuitive.  Offering things like summarized results, better search, and more total control over your connected devices. Google plans to release these new Gemini capabilities for new and existing Google TV devices toward the end of 2025.

In the auto arena Toyota took the wraps of some very ambitious projects including a move into space travel, autonomous vehicles and a very intriguing idea dubbed Toyota Woven City. This new 'Smart City" project is promised to be a hub for innovation, blending autonomous vehicles, AI and robotics

The concept of Toyota’s radical Woven City – which the Japanese automaker describes as a “test course for mobility” – was initially revealed in 2020. Now, five years later, the company says the first phase of construction is complete and ready for launch later this year.

It wouldn't be CES of course without the addition of tons of other gadgets. And it looks like there are plenty of those to choose from. The folks at ZDNET found everything from smart rings, to door locks. And did we mention the robots? It seems as though there is a robot for just about everything these days!

AI Use Increases in Healthcare

 

AI: The Doctor Will See You Now (Virtually)

The Rise of Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare

We're living in an age where technology is rapidly changing every aspect of our lives, and healthcare is no exception. Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a futuristic fantasy; it's actively reshaping the medical landscape, offering innovative solutions to age-old challenges. From diagnosing diseases to developing new drugs, AI is proving to be a powerful tool in the hands of healthcare professionals.

How is AI Transforming Healthcare?

• Early and Accurate Diagnosis: AI algorithms can analyze medical images (like X-rays and MRIs) with incredible accuracy, often detecting subtle anomalies that might be missed by the human eye. This leads to earlier diagnoses, faster treatment, and improved patient outcomes.

• Personalized Treatment Plans: AI can sift through vast amounts of patient data, including medical history, genetic information, and lifestyle factors, to create tailored treatment plans. This personalized approach ensures that patients receive the most effective care possible.

• Drug Discovery and Development: AI is accelerating the process of drug discovery by analyzing complex biological data and identifying potential drug candidates. This not only speeds up the development of new medications but also reduces the costs associated with research.

• Robotic Surgery: AI-powered robots are assisting surgeons in performing complex procedures with greater precision and minimally invasive techniques. This leads to faster recovery times, reduced complications, and improved patient satisfaction.

• Virtual Assistants and Chatbots: AI-powered virtual assistants and chatbots are being used to provide patients with 24/7 access to medical information, schedule appointments, and even offer basic medical advice. This improves patient engagement and reduces the burden on healthcare providers.

The Future of AI in Healthcare

The potential of AI in healthcare is truly vast. As technology continues to evolve, we can expect to see even more innovative applications emerge. AI could play a crucial role in:

• Predictive Healthcare: AI algorithms could analyze patient data to predict future health risks, allowing for proactive interventions and preventive care.

• Remote Patient Monitoring: AI-powered devices could monitor patients' vital signs and health conditions remotely, providing real-time data to healthcare providers and enabling early detection of potential problems.

• Mental Health Support: AI-powered chatbots and virtual therapists could provide mental health support and counseling to individuals who may not have access to traditional therapy.

Challenges and Ethical Considerations

While the benefits of AI in healthcare are undeniable, there are also challenges and ethical considerations that need to be addressed. These include:

• Data Privacy and Security: Ensuring the privacy and security of patient data is paramount. Robust security measures must be in place to protect sensitive information from unauthorized access.

• Bias and Fairness: AI algorithms are only as good as the data they are trained on. It's crucial to ensure that these algorithms are free from bias and that they provide fair and equitable healthcare to all patients.

• Job Displacement: The automation of certain tasks may lead to job displacement in the healthcare sector. It's important to address these concerns and ensure that healthcare professionals are adequately trained to work alongside AI systems.

Conclusion

AI is revolutionizing healthcare in ways we could only have imagined a few years ago. By embracing this technology responsibly and addressing the associated challenges, we can unlock its full potential to improve patient care, accelerate medical advancements, and create a healthier future for all.

FBI Issues New Warning Over Rise In AI Generated Scams

 The FBI Warns: AI is the New Weapon in a Scammer's Arsenal

We've all heard the warnings about online scams, but the game is changing. According to the newest warnings issued by the FBI criminals are now using cutting-edge generative AI to supercharge their efforts, making their schemes even more convincing and harder to spot.

The FBI has issued a public warning about this growing threat, highlighting how AI is being used to create incredibly realistic but completely fake content. Think:

• AI-Generated Text: Forget clunky emails full of typos. Scammers are using AI to write perfect messages, crafting believable stories for romance scams, investment fraud, and phishing attacks. They can even use AI to create fake social media profiles and websites that look totally legitimate.
• AI-Generated Images: Need a profile picture for that fake dating profile? No problem! AI can generate realistic images of people who don't even exist. It can also be used to create fake IDs and even manipulate images to use in sextortion schemes.
• AI-Generated Audio and Video: Imagine getting a call from a loved one in distress, begging for money. Except, it's not actually them. AI can clone voices and create realistic videos, making it incredibly difficult to tell what's real and what's not.

So, how can you protect yourself in this new era of AI-powered scams?

• Be extra vigilant: Don't trust anything at face value. Double-check everything, especially if it involves sending money or sharing personal information.
• Look for imperfections: AI-generated content can be incredibly realistic, but it's not perfect. Look for subtle clues like distorted features in images or unnatural pauses in audio.
• Establish a "secret word" with loved ones: This will help you verify their identity if they contact you in a crisis.
• Limit your online footprint: The less information you share online, the harder it is for scammers to use AI to create convincing fakes.
• If in doubt, verify: Hang up the phone and call back using a verified number. Don't click on links from unknown sources.

The bottom line is: stay informed, stay alert, and don't be afraid to question anything that seems suspicious. And if you do fall victim to a scam, report it to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at www.ic3.gov.

Google's AI-powered Theft Detection For Android Phones Is Here

Back in May 2024, Google teased a new Theft Detection Lock tool for Android phones, that promised to keep your device and data safe in the event some swipes your phone and takes off with all your personal info in tow! Starting this month, these advanced theft protection features will be available to users around the world through Android 15 and a Google Play Services update available to Android 10+ devices

These new theft detection tools use the devices on board sensors coupled with powerful AI to proactively protect you and your phone at the moment of a theft attempt. By using your phone's gyroscope and accelerometer and on-device machine learning, Theft Detection Lock is able to analyze various device signals to detect potential theft attempts. If the algorithm detects a potential theft attempt on your unlocked device, it locks your screen to keep thieves out. 

The anti-theft detection tool is one of several security additions Google announced earlier this year to protect your data "before, during and after a theft," including: 

• Making it more difficult to factory reset a phone and set it up under a new account 
• Private spaces to hide sensitive apps 
• The ability to mark your phone as lost on Find My Device for easier tracking 
• Automatic lock for excessive failed authentication 
• The ability to lock your phone if it's offline 
• Remote lock, which lets you lock your phone's screen using just your number and a quick security challenge

One new featured added to Remote Lock many will find useful is the ability to quickly lock and secure your phone even if you can’t remember your Google account credentials in the moment of theft. Now you can use any device to visit Android.com/lock and lock your phone with just a verified phone number. Remote Lock then secures your device while you regain access through Android’s Find My Device – which lets you secure, locate or remotely wipe your device. As a security best practice, we always recommend backing up your device on a continuous basis, so remotely wiping your device is not an issue.

Turn on Theft Detection Lock right now

To enable theft protection features, you’ll have to perform the following steps: 

1. Set a password for your screen. It’s the only way to lock the phone if it gets stolen. 
2. Then Go to Settings 
3. Tap Google 
4. Tap All Services 
5.  Select Theft Protection 
6. Turn on Theft Detection Lock once it’s available on your device 

  ** Note on my Samsung phone it is under Security and Privacy > More Security Settings > Theft Protection

Hollywood Suddenly Embraces AI

In a complete 180-degree U-Turn from everything that Hollywood has said they oppose about AI and everything they spent years on strike fighting against, one studio (at least) is now fully embracing AI systems and programs.

Lionsgate, the studio behind blockbusters like "John Wick" and "The Hunger Games," is taking a giant leap into the world of AI-powered filmmaking. They've partnered with Runway, an AI research company, to develop a custom AI model trained on Lionsgate's massive library of films and TV shows.

What will this AI do, you may ask? Imagine a tool that can generate cinematic video, helping filmmakers visualize scenes and experiment with different creative options. This AI model will do just that, assisting with everything from pre-production (think storyboarding and concept art) to post-production (enhancing visual effects and more).

Why is this a big deal?

Aside from being a fundamental shift from everything Hollywood has said they were against, as well as being a fundamental shift in the creative process, the move will position Lionsgate at the front of a new era. Whether we like it or not, GenAI is going to be forced on us, and the creative process is going to be changed. This new partnership marks the first time a major Hollywood studio has teamed up with an AI company in this way. While it may be the first, I'm sure there will be plenty more, and I'm sure it signals a potential shift in how movies are made, with AI playing a larger role in the creative process.

Just a few short months ago Hollywood was trying to convince us that "Generative AI Won’t Be on the Big Screen Any Time Soon!" It looks like that has changed and changed rather abruptly! Music and movie studios have already shown they are willing to use a singer or actors voice and their likeness through overlays or 'de-aged' characters. With this move we may see a major shift!

What Comes Next For Studios and AI?

Lionsgate is distancing itself from using these new tools to fully re-create actors or generate new characters. The company has said it believes these tools will help filmmakers and other creatives “augment their work” to deliver “capital-efficient content creation opportunities.” AI, in other words, could help cobble together more movies and shows with lower investment costs for highly expense things like explosions or other background effects. This according to statements made by Lionsgate founder Vice Chairman Michael Burns during an interview with The Wall Street Journal,

So for now iIt looks like this particular model will steer clear of generating AI “clones” or replicas of actors. They want us to believe it will primarily be used as a tool to enhance and augment existing projects. I guess we'll have to wait and see how quickly that position changes!

Securing the AI Revolution: A Collaborative Effort

The rapid evolution of artificial intelligence (AI) presents exciting possibilities but also demands a strong focus on security. At Intel, the decided to take these challenges head on teaming with developers and adopters in safeguarding AI technology while navigating a complex landscape of guidelines and standards. Intel, along with other industry giants, believe in the power of collective action to address these challenges and ensure that security remains a top priority.

Intel Joins Forces with the Coalition for Secure AI (CoSAI)

Intel's CEO, Pat Gelsinger, recently unveiled a strategy for open and scalable AI systems at Intel Vision 2024. To further this vision, Intel joined the Coalition for Secure AI (CoSAI) as a founding member. CoSAI aims to equip practitioners and developers with the tools and guidance needed to build secure AI systems from the ground up.

This collaboration is a significant step for the industry, uniting leaders from diverse fields to develop and share comprehensive approaches, best practices, and methodologies for secure AI development and deployment. CoSAI's initial focus will be on software supply chain security, preparing defenders for evolving cybersecurity threats, and establishing AI security governance frameworks.

Prioritizing Security and User Protection in the AI Boom

The demand for AI is skyrocketing, and so are the security risks. As we have seen this week with the CrowdStrike outage cybersecurity is still evolving to keep up. It would seem with the widespread impact of thi outage that demand is far outpacing the current capabilities of some vendors and cybersecurity systems and experts. CoSAI  hopes that with a focus on protecting AI systems from attacks, ensuring their transparency, and building trust with users they will be able to prevent future situations like we have today. 

Unfortunately, we are already seeing hackers utilizing AI systems in taking advantage of the CrowdStrike outage chaos. They are setting up AI generated websites and portals, using realistic AI generated email for spear-phishing attacks and as CrowdStrike itself warned on their own blog post  hackers are even impersonating CrowdStrike employees in scam emails and phone calls, even selling bogus software purporting to fix the glitch.

As AI systems evolve and become even more prevalent, we are going to need groups like the CoSAI working with teams from Intel, NVIDIA, Microsoft, Google and others to do their due diligence! 

Will AI Finally Bring About the Automation Revolution

Growing up during early ages of the tech evolution of the 80's and 90's all we heard was the concern that technology and automation was going displace jobs and replace workers. Faster forward a few decades later and what we see today is that technology has been used more as tool to accompany workers and increase their productivity rather than as a replacement. The same can largely be said about robotics and full-scale automation. 

With the rise of AI however, we are once again hearing the alarm bells sounded, with more people believing that AI will soon replate many workers and many jobs will be lost to this newest technology. So is the newest threat to jobs actually going to replace everyone or will we see the same happen that we have seen over the past 30-40 yrs with the technology being an accompaniment rather than an all out replacement?

AI vs. Previous Tech Waves: Is This Time Different?

The fear surrounding AI isn't unfounded. Unlike past technologies, AI systems are designed to learn and improve, potentially taking on tasks that were once considered the exclusive domain of human intelligence. This includes everything from writing creative content to analyzing complex data, even diagnosing medical conditions.

But it's crucial to remember that history often rhymes, if not repeats. When personal computers first hit the scene, many predicted mass unemployment for secretaries and typists. Yet, these roles evolved. Instead of simply typing, administrative assistants took on more complex tasks, leveraging technology to increase their efficiency. 

The Potential for Augmentation

A similar scenario may unfold with AI. Rather than replacing workers entirely, AI could augment their abilities. Imagine a doctor using AI to analyze medical scans, freeing up time for more patient interaction. Or a marketer using AI to generate initial drafts of content, leaving them to focus on strategy and refinement.

This shift towards augmentation could create new opportunities for workers who embrace AI as a tool. Those who adapt and learn to work alongside AI systems will likely find themselves in high demand.

The Challenge of Adaptation

Of course, this rosy picture of AI-powered augmentation isn't guaranteed. The transition will undoubtedly be disruptive, and some jobs may indeed disappear. The key is to focus on adaptability.  

Governments, businesses, and individuals need to invest in education and training to equip workers with the skills needed to thrive in an AI-powered world. This includes not just technical skills, but also critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity – the very skills that AI currently struggles to replicate.

A Cautious Optimism

The question of whether AI will usher in an automation revolution or simply augment the workforce is still up for debate.  However, by drawing lessons from the past and focusing on adaptation, we can navigate this new technological wave with cautious optimism.

AI has the potential to be a powerful tool for progress, not just a threat to jobs. By embracing its possibilities and preparing for its challenges, we can ensure that AI serves to enhance human potential, rather than diminish it.

In Conclusion...

The future of work in the age of AI is uncertain, but it's far from bleak. The alarm bells are ringing, but they may be a call to action rather than a death knell. By learning from history, investing in adaptation, and fostering a mindset of collaboration, we can shape a future where humans and AI work together to create a more prosperous and equitable world. 

**Note  Ironically portions of this post were edited and augmented with Google Gemini AI

Are External AI Accelerators Coming Soon?

A couple years ago several companies introduced external GPUs. Portable boxes that held a top end GPU that could run the latest games on your small form factor PC or your otherwise under-equipped none gaming PC. They could be used on just about any PC to add in gaming or graphics  power without the need for a new build or major upgrade. With the need for today's computers to keep up with the draw of AI computing will we soon see add-on or scalable external AI Accelerator Box becoming the new thing?

The fundamentals of on-device AI computing are easy enough to understand. You put an NPU, AI ready GPU ect into a device and you are reasonably set. Most new laptops and desktops will come with these chip integrated. However, the need to add AI computing power to older machines, without a large scale upgrade, might be the next big draw. Much like add-on GPUs having a stand-alone AI Accelerator NPU might be a great solution.

Think of it this way, you own a PC or laptop that is a few years old and instead of buying something brand new you add on an external NPU or even GPU box the size of a standard portable hard drive. You instantly boost your computing power and/or graphics power. Now add to that you could potentially be running them in tandem and multiply your base computing power exponentially based on whatever configurations you have! You become your own distributed computing system running everything from one machine. You can then take those same devices and run the same level of computing from your laptop, work PC or possibly even your phone! 

Unlike a normal PC with an AI Accelerator Box you won't have to continuously upgrade. Rather you scale your computing power based on each new AI Box you add or swap out. Your base footprint would still be less than a single high end desktop, but with exponentially more compute power!

We do have a few solutions similar to what I'm suggesting today. ADLINK Tech has a portable NVIDIA RTX GPU and companies like Zotac still have their external GPUs. However, none of these offer the true scalability and raw AI processing power that I'm talking about. Eventually I believe well see some true standalone Intel or AMD based AI accelerator chips in external boxes setup for running as a daisy chained system.