Connect with us

artificial intelligence

Zuckerberg Knowingly Used Pirated Data to Train Meta AI, Authors Allege

Published

on



Mark Zuckerberg approved using pirated books to train Meta AI, even after his own team warned the material was illegally obtained, a group of authors allege in a recent court filing.

The allegations come from a copyright infringement lawsuit filed by a group of authors including the comedian Sarah Silverman, Christopher Golden, and Richard Kadrey in a California federal court in July 2023. The group claimed Meta misused their books to train its Llama LLM, and they’re asking for damages and an injunction to stop Meta from using their works. The judge in the case dismissed most of the author’s claims in November of that same year, but these recent allegations may breathe new life into the legal dispute.

“Meta’s CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, approved Meta’s use of the LibGen dataset notwithstanding concerns within Meta’s AI executive team (and others at Meta) that LibGen is ‘a dataset we know to be pirated,'” lawyers for the plaintiffs said in a Wednesday filing. Despite these red flags, the lawsuit alleges that, “after escalation,” Zuckerberg gave the green light for Meta’s AI team to proceed with using the controversial dataset.

Representatives for Meta did not immediately respond to Decrypt’s request for comment.

LibGen, short for Library Genesis, is an online platform that provides free access to books, academic papers, articles, and other written publications without properly abiding by copyright laws. It operates as a “shadow library,” offering these materials without authorization from publishers or copyright holders. It currently hosts over 33 million books and over 85 million articles.

The lawsuit alleges Meta tried to keep this under wraps until the last possible moment. Just two hours before the fact discovery deadline on December 13, 2024, the company dumped what plaintiffs describe as “some of the most incriminating internal documents it has produced to date.”

Meta’s own engineers seemed uncomfortable with the plan, according to statements in court filings. The group of authors allege internal messages show Meta engineers hesitated to download the pirated material, with one noting that “torrenting from a [Meta-owned] corporate laptop doesn’t feel right (smile emoji).” Nevertheless, they proceeded to not only download the books but also systematically strip out copyright information to prepare them for AI training, the lawsuit claims.

The latest filings in the lawsuit paint a picture of a company fully aware of the risks: One internal memo warned that “media coverage suggesting we have used a dataset we know to be pirated, such as LibGen, may undermine our negotiating position with regulators.” Yet Meta went ahead anyway, both downloading and distributing (or “seeding”) the pirated content through torrenting networks by January 2024, according to the lawsuit.

When questioned about these activities in a deposition, Zuckerberg appeared to distance himself from the decision, testifying that such piracy would raise “lots of red flags” and “seems like a bad thing.”

The court documents also suggest that Meta’s approach to handling copyrighted information paid more attention to model training than copyright rules. According to the filing, one engineer “filtered […] copyright lines and other data out of LibGen to prepare a CMI-stripped version of it to train Llama.” This systematic removal of copyright information could strengthen the authors’ claims that Meta knowingly tried to hide its use of pirated materials.

The revelations come at a crucial time for Meta’s AI ambitions. The company has been pushing hard to compete with OpenAI and Google in the AI space, with Llama 3.2 being the most popular open source LLM, and Meta AI being a solid free competitor to ChatGPT with similar features.

Most of these AI companies are facing legal battles due to their questionable practices when it comes to training their large language models. Meta was already sued by another group of authors for copyright infringements, OpenAI is currently facing different lawsuits for training its LLMs on copyrighted material, and Anthropic is also facing different accusations from authors and songwriters.

But in general the tech entrepreneurs and creators have been up in arms ever since generative AI exploded in popularity. There are currently dozens of different lawsuits against AI companies for willingly using copyrighted material to train their models. But as with most things on the bleeding edge, we’ll have to wait and see what the courts have to say about it all.

Generally Intelligent Newsletter

A weekly AI journey narrated by Gen, a generative AI model.



Source link

artificial intelligence

The Most Eye-Catching and Absurd AI Products Unveiled at CES 2025 So Far

Published

on



As CES 2025 unfolds, one thing is clear—artificial intelligence is everywhere.

From TVs to vacuum cleaners, consumer electronics companies are racing to showcase the new AI features, sometimes shoehorned, into their products.

Some of these AI-powered products are impressive, while others stretch the meaning of “artificial intelligence” to its limits.

Here’s a look at some of the most eye-catching and occasionally absurd AI-powered products at CES so far.

The Roborock Saros 270: The robot vacuum claw machine

What it Does:

Developed by Roborock, the Saros 270 is a robot vacuum equipped with a robotic arm that moves small objects out of the way while cleaning. It has a charging station and can lift up to 300 grams, or 0.66 pounds.

Why It’s Absurd:

So, it’s cool, but the Saros 270 is limited by its size, making it useful for only picking up small toys and lightweight shoes and socks.

The claw it uses to pick up objects is only good for small and lightweight objects. Beyond that, what’s the point?

Unless the Saros 270 can carefully deposit those objects in a basket like a carnival claw machine, you’re left with slightly rearranged clutter. Fun? Yes. Practical? That’s debatable.

The SwitchBot K20+ Pro: The Swiss Army Knife of robot vacuums

What it does:

The SwitchBot K20+ Pro is another autonomous household robot. It isn’t just a vacuum—it’s an all-in-one home helper.

This robot can carry a humidifier, maneuver between rooms, and even collect floating pet hair from the air. Need to cool down at night? Attach a fan. Want a drink delivered? Add a shelf and let it roll your snacks around.

Why it Stands Out:

Its versatility is impressive. Unlike standard robot vacuums, the K20+ Pro feels more like a quirky butler on wheels.

It’s playful and genuinely useful—if you’re into the idea of your vacuum multitasking as a drink coaster.

Samsung Vision AI: AI for your TV

What it does:

Samsung’s Vision AI is part of their evolving “SmartThings” ecosystem.

Samsung’s Smart TVs now integrate AI to recognize their surroundings, adjust to user preferences, and offer generative AI features like creating digital art for wallpapers and screen savers and providing real-time subtitle translation during live broadcasts.

Why It’s Absurd:

While the tech sounds fancy, AI-generated wallpapers and live translation feel more like marketing gimmicks than necessities.

Plus, the more connected your TV is to other smart appliances, the bigger the cybersecurity risk. Do we really need another entry point for hackers in our living rooms, this time powered by AI?

Omnia Smart Mirror: Your reflection and health hub

What It Does:

Making the rounds at CES, the Omnia Smart Mirror by Withings is a smart mirror that provides AI-driven insights and tracks health metrics. The Omnia Smart Mirror also acts as a smart scale, heart rate monitor, and AI assistant in one, offering real-time health data directly from your reflection.

Why It Stands Out:

The Omnia Smart Mirror stands out by reimaging the mirror as a health tool. Similar to the Tonal workout station, where personal health metrics are clearly displayed. Adding to the appeal of the Omnia Smart Mirror is the option to track weight, cardio, body composition, and sleep patterns…if it ever launches.

LeafyPod: The Self-Watering Planter that thinks for you

What it Does:

LeafyPod is an AI-powered, self-watering smart planter that makes plant care effortless.

The LeafyPod is equipped with sensors that monitor soil moisture, light, temperature, and humidity, and it automatically adjusts watering schedules to suit your plant’s needs.

Why It Stands Out:

By automating plant care, LeafyPod will appeal to those who want green spaces but lack a green thumb. It ensures plants receive optimal care without constant attention.

The LeafyPod’s water reservoir can hold enough water to last up to four weeks, and a mobile app lets users monitor their plants and the surrounding environment.

AFEELA by Sony Honda Mobility: The intelligent EV

What It Does:

A collaboration between Sony and Honda, the Afeela is an electric car that blends advanced AI and sensor technology to elevate the driving experience.

The Afeela comes with 40 sensors, including cameras, LiDAR, radar, and ultrasonic units—Afeela offers automated driving assistance and immersive in-car entertainment.

Why It Stands Out:

One of its most unique features is in the cabin, where the driver can control in-car functions using natural voice prompts with the Afeela “Personal Agent” and receive activity suggestions.

Views and maps on the onboard display use Epic Games’ Unreal Engine, which hints at future features that could see the Afeela becoming not only a driving experience but also an entertainment hub.

While this is only a small sample of the innovations being unveiled at CES, it shows the AI arms race is still very much alive and well.

Edited by Sebastian Sinclair

Generally Intelligent Newsletter

A weekly AI journey narrated by Gen, a generative AI model.



Source link

Continue Reading

AI

‘Hype Cycle’ To Last Another Four Months for This Altcoin Sector, According to Real Vision Analyst Jamie Coutts

Published

on


Real Vision’s chief digital assets analyst Jamie Coutts says that a nascent but soaring crypto sector could continue its upward trend for a few more months.

Coutts tells his 32,100 followers on the social media platform X that he thinks crypto artificial intelligence (AI) agents will continue to perform well in the coming months.

Crypto AI agents are protocols built to autonomously perform tasks on behalf of users such as interacting with blockchains and decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms, trading and managing portfolios.

Says Coutts,

“The last big crypto hype cycle was from November 2020 to May 2021, around six months. Subsectors like DeFi, NFTs (non-fungible tokens) around six-12 months.

Interest in AI agents in crypto took off in November 2024. Based on history, this trend is expected to last at least another four months, but probably longer.

AI agents are not like the others – they unlock potential for every established and new use case.”

Image
Source: Jamie Coutts/X

The Real Vision analyst, however, says that crypto AI agents could face a severe correction after reaching the cycle top.

“There will be many scams (tread carefully/position size), and as with every hype cycle, the dump will be massive, but I suspect this move still has a way to go.”

According to the cryptocurrency data aggregator CoinGecko, some of the AI-focused crypto projects that rank among the top 100 digital assets by market cap include Artificial Superintelligence Alliance (FET), Virtuals Protocol (VIRTUAL) and ai16z (AI16Z).

Artificial Superintelligence Alliance is a me ging of various decentralized AI platforms whose goal is to speed up the advancement of decentralized Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) and Artificial Superintelligence (ASI).

Virtuals Protocol is a platform that aims to enable the co-ownership of AI agents.

Meanwhile, the ai16z crypto project is designed to leverage AI-driven insights to direct investments in blockchain projects.

Don’t Miss a Beat – Subscribe to get email alerts delivered directly to your inbox

Check Price Action

Follow us on X, Facebook and Telegram

Surf The Daily Hodl Mix

&nbsp

Disclaimer: Opinions expressed at The Daily Hodl are not investment advice. Investors should do their due diligence before making any high-risk investments in Bitcoin, cryptocurrency or digital assets. Please be advised that your transfers and trades are at your own risk, and any losses you may incur are your responsibility. The Daily Hodl does not recommend the buying or selling of any cryptocurrencies or digital assets, nor is The Daily Hodl an investment advisor. Please note that The Daily Hodl participates in affiliate marketing.

Generated Image: Midjourney





Source link

Continue Reading

24/7 Cryptocurrency News

Elon Musk xAI Secures $6B To Boost Generative AI Expansion: Details

Published

on


Elon Musk xAI has raised $6 billion in its latest funding round, according to a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. This round adds to the $6 billion raised earlier this year, bringing the company’s total funding to $12 billion. The capital injection positions xAI to expand its generative AI initiatives and enhance its competitive edge.

Elon Musk xAI Achieves $12B Total Funding After Latest $6B Round

According to a recent report, Elon Musk xAI has successfully secured $6 billion from investors, including Andreessen Horowitz, BlackRock, Fidelity, Nvidia, and others. This latest funding round exclusively involved previous investors, many of whom had supported Musk’s acquisition of X (formerly Twitter).

The funds bring xAI total capital raised to $12 billion. The company plans to use this funding to accelerate the development of its generative AI model, Grok, and expand its ecosystem. This substantial financial backing positions the firm to compete with industry leaders such as OpenAI and Anthropic.

Moreover, the Grok AI model, developed by xAI, powers a range of features on X, including a chatbot available to premium and free users in select regions. Known for its functionality, Grok can generate images through the Flux generator, analyze visuals, and summarize trending news.

In October, xAI launched an API allowing developers to integrate Grok into third-party apps and platforms. The company also introduced a standalone iOS app for testing, further extending its generative Artificial Intelligence capabilities.

Memphis Data Center and Infrastructure Upgrades

To support its ambitious goals, Elon Musk xAI operates a Memphis data center equipped with 100,000 Nvidia GPUs. The facility, constructed in just 122 days, currently relies partly on diesel generators. According to the blog post, the company has plans to double the center’s capacity in 2025, securing approval for additional power.

The upgraded infrastructure will also benefit Tesla, with plans to integrate xAI’s developments into autonomous driving technologies. This expansion reflects Elon Musk’s vision to enhance AI applications across industries.

While Elon Musk’s xAI has made rapid advancements, it continues to face fierce competition. Rivals such as Anthropic and OpenAI have also secured billions in funding.

Following the growing competition, earlier this month, the Tesla CEO filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft, accusing them of anti-competitive practices. The lawsuit alleges that OpenAI coerced investors to avoid supporting rivals like Musk’s xAI. Musk’s legal team claims that Microsoft’s $13 billion investment in OpenAI led to conflicts of interest and market manipulation

In addition, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg emphasized the need for stricter oversight to prevent nonprofit entities from exploiting their status for financial gain. Joining Elon Musk, Zuckerberg called for a formal investigation into OpenAI’s transition, highlighting potential misuse of tax-exempt donations and resources.

✓ Share:

Ronny Mugendi

Ronny Mugendi is a seasoned crypto journalist with four years of professional experience, having contributed significantly to various media outlets on cryptocurrency trends and technologies. With over 4000 published articles across various media outlets, he aims to inform, educate and introduce more people to the Blockchain and DeFi world. Outside of his journalism career, Ronny enjoys the thrill of bike riding, exploring new trails and landscapes.

Disclaimer: The presented content may include the personal opinion of the author and is subject to market condition. Do your market research before investing in cryptocurrencies. The author or the publication does not hold any responsibility for your personal financial loss.





Source link

Continue Reading
Advertisement [ethereumads]

Trending

    wpChatIcon