Dr. Celestine Achi, an AI educator and PR technology expert, has launched two free AI tools to drive digital transformation in Africa’s media and communications sectors. The AI Readiness Assessment Tool and the AI Maturity Assessment Framework were introduced at a virtual event attended by prominent industry figures. Achi emphasized that AI should be accessible to African organizations, especially those shaping public narratives, to foster transformation in the region. The tools are designed to help evaluate and enhance AI capabilities, regardless of existing digital maturity. The Readiness Assessment allows users to gauge current AI adoption and provides personalized reports, while the Maturity Framework outlines a roadmap through five development stages. These initiatives are part of Achi’s broader project, the AI-Powered PR Ecosystem, which seeks to equip professionals with essential resources. With these tools, Achi aims to empower African professionals to actively participate in shaping a digitally advanced future.
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Celestine Achi Unveils Free AI Tools to Empower African Media Professionals
Assessing LLM Guardrails: A Comparative Analysis of Content Filtering Effectiveness Among Leading GenAI Platforms
This study evaluates the guardrails of three major cloud-based large language model (LLM) platforms to assess their effectiveness against various prompts, both benign and malicious. It highlights the importance of guardrails—external filters that monitor user interactions with AI models—distinct from model alignment, which shapes a model’s behavior during training. While guardrails are essential for preventing harmful content, the study identifies variable performance across platforms: Platform 3 excelled at blocking malicious prompts (92%) but had high false positives (13.1%); Platform 2 balanced detection (91%) and low false positives (0.6%); and Platform 1, while permissive, only blocked 53% of harmful prompts but had the lowest false positive rate (0.1%). The findings underscore the necessity for fine-tuning guardrails to optimize security without hindering user experience, demonstrating that effective guardrails require continuous refinement and monitoring. Furthermore, model alignment plays a crucial role in preventing harmful outputs when guardrails fail.
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US FDA Unveils AI Tool to Expedite Scientific Reviews, Reports Reuters – Investing.com
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has introduced a new artificial intelligence (AI) tool designed to streamline the scientific review process for medical products. This innovative technology aims to significantly shorten the time required for regulatory assessments, which can traditionally be lengthy and complex. By automating certain aspects of the review, the AI tool helps to enhance efficiency, allowing FDA officials to focus on more critical evaluations and decision-making. The move comes amidst growing pressure to expedite the approval of drugs and medical devices, especially in light of recent health crises. The FDA sees this initiative as part of a broader effort to modernize its operations and leverage advanced technology in the regulatory landscape. Overall, the AI tool represents a significant step forward in improving the FDA’s capabilities to ensure safety and efficacy while responding promptly to public health needs.
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Microsoft Enhances Bing with OpenAI’s Sora Video Creation Tool – Engadget
Microsoft has incorporated OpenAI’s Sora video creator into Bing, enhancing its search engine capabilities. This integration allows users to generate AI-driven videos based on their search queries, making content creation more accessible and efficient. With Sora, users can input text prompts, and the tool will produce dynamic video content, complete with visuals, voiceovers, and music. The partnership aims to simplify video production, enabling even those without technical expertise to create professional-looking videos quickly. This development is part of Microsoft’s broader strategy to leverage AI technologies within its products, enhancing user engagement and providing new creative tools. By merging search functionality with video creation, Microsoft is positioning Bing as not just a search engine, but a platform for creativity and content generation. The move represents a significant step in the AI-driven landscape of content and media production.
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Everything We Know About OpenAI’s Latest Device
OpenAI is entering the consumer hardware space in collaboration with designer Jony Ive, aiming to develop a series of innovative AI-powered devices. The initial product is envisioned as a pocket-sized, screenless gadget similar to the iPod Shuffle, featuring built-in microphones and cameras for context-aware interactions. This device seeks to function alongside existing tech like smartphones and computers, enhancing user experience by simplifying tasks through voice commands.
OpenAI’s strategic shift into hardware aims to diversify its revenue streams and respond to growing competition, particularly against companies like Google. While the design and features remain largely undisclosed, the company anticipates releasing its first device by late 2026 or early 2027, with ambitious goals of producing 100 million units quickly. By offering a dedicated, real-time AI assistant, OpenAI hopes to reshape user interactions with technology, minimizing reliance on screens and creating a new category of smart devices.
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Unveiling Project Astra: Insights into Gemini Live, Android XR, and More
Project Astra, initially a research initiative aimed at enhancing Google’s AI capabilities, has transformed into a functional product called Gemini Live, accessible on iOS and Android devices. This project goes beyond mere live video and screen sharing; it’s a comprehensive effort to develop a universal AI assistant with features such as agentic intelligence, memory, and tool use. While Gemini Live is currently available for users, many of Astra’s advanced functionalities are still in the prototype phase and accessible only to select testers. The project employs multiple knowledge sources and advanced reasoning to provide context-aware assistance in natural language. Future developments are expected to integrate with smart glasses, allowing users to interact seamlessly with their devices. For now, the Gemini Live features are free and can be accessed by anyone who installs the Gemini app, with registration available for testing unreleased functions. Overall, Project Astra marks a significant step towards achieving sophisticated AI capabilities.
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Google Launches New App for Local Download and Execution of AI Models
Google has launched the Google AI Edge Gallery app, enabling Android users to run various AI models from Hugging Face on their phones without needing an internet connection. Although currently only available for Android, an iOS version is expected. This “experimental Alpha release” allows users to explore, download, and execute models for tasks like image generation, code editing, and more, with features displayed on a user-friendly home screen. The app also includes a “prompt lab,” offering customizable templates for initiating tasks. Users can select models via Hugging Face integration or use their own through LiteRT. While locally running models can alleviate concerns about data privacy and offline accessibility, performance may vary by device capability, with newer hardware generally providing faster results. Google is inviting developer feedback as the app operates under an Apache 2.0 license, allowing broad usage.
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Meta Set to Launch Fully Automated Ad Campaigns by Next Year
Meta plans to introduce fully automated advertising by 2026, allowing advertisers to activate campaigns simply by entering a business URL. This new AI-driven system will autonomously create and personalize ads, including visuals and text, tailored to target audiences on Instagram and Facebook. Despite prior announcements about AI ad generation, new insights from The Wall Street Journal emphasize Meta’s commitment to replacing traditional ad models. CEO Mark Zuckerberg envisions a future where businesses need minimal involvement—only providing objectives and funding—while AI handles creativity and targeting. While this marks a significant shift in advertising, human oversight and understanding of AI tools will remain essential for optimizing results. The evolution may disrupt traditional advertising roles, but it also presents opportunities for marketers to refine their strategies. Ultimately, while AI can produce effective ads, the need for human creativity and branding vision persists.
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Enhancing U.S. Semiconductor Production: The Foundation for AI Dominance
Recent discussions about potential U.S. import tariffs on semiconductors have raised concerns about supply chain disruptions reminiscent of the COVID-19 pandemic. While many doubt the tariffs will be enacted, there’s a clear need for the U.S. to enhance its semiconductor manufacturing resilience. This self-reliance is vital, particularly as semiconductors are integral to powering artificial intelligence (AI) systems. A proposed “Securing Semiconductor Supply Chains Act of 2025” aims to reduce reliance on unpredictable foreign sources. Current U.S. capabilities are insufficient to meet increasing semiconductor demands driven by AI, leading to potential disruptions across various sectors. Innovations like direct local atomic layer processing could streamline chip design and reduce environmental impact, a significant concern in the industry. Furthermore, leveraging the U.S.’s diverse research institutions and startups can accelerate the discovery of new materials. Ultimately, the interplay between AI and semiconductors is crucial, with advancements in one significantly benefiting the other.
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OpenAI Developing Tailored ChatGPT Connectors Using Remote MCPs
OpenAI is expanding ChatGPT’s capabilities by broadening connector support, indicating that global users will soon have access to additional services beyond Google Drive and OneDrive. In the US, Dropbox and Box are already available, with upcoming integrations for Slack and Datadog, focusing on enterprise use. A significant feature in this rollout is the Model Context Protocol (MCP), allowing users to create custom connectors by defining endpoints and integrating them into ChatGPT’s workflow. This customization mirrors capabilities found in other AI systems, enabling organizations to connect ChatGPT to various external services. The initial release of MCP support is expected on the desktop application, enhancing ChatGPT’s utility for tailored automation and unique data sources. OpenAI’s developments align with trends from other AI platforms to embed artificial intelligence in professional settings, thereby increasing its value for business users through both mainstream and custom integrations.
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