Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been one of the most transformative topics in the last few years. In Australia, Professor Kaafar has developed a new type of large language model (LLM) that’s a little different. This new approach keeps scammers on their toes, utilizing video of actual interactions between scammers and actors. Dr. Nicholls is clear about the momentous change in AI’s appeal. This watershed moment followed closely on the heels of OpenAI’s release of ChatGPT in late November 2022. This breakthrough has not only changed routine conversations with loved ones and the grocery store, but has led to a seismic change in the country’s tech ecosystem.
For the Australian tech industry it’s an exciting explosive time of AI adoption. All 180 members of this lobby group, including big companies like Google and Atlassian, are already doing so and racing to adopt AI. Today, about 30,000 Australians are employed in AI industry. This growth has attracted a surge of major venture capital investments. Startups such as Apate have already raised $2.5 million in seed funding to advance their innovative ventures.
The Emergence of Advanced AI Models
There is no law against engaging directly with scammers, and that’s the premise for Professor Kaafar’s innovative LLM. The model learns from a large spectrum of video interactions recorded from the real world, enabling it to comprehend and react appropriately.
“Some of the conversations can be pretty much shocking to some extent, if they’re rude or sometimes they’re very, very polite. Sometimes they’re way too cooperative.” – Professor Kaafar
The challenge presented by this type of technology underscores the importance of stringent counterintelligence efforts in today’s heavily technological environment. Professor Kaafar emphasizes their goal of creating a public-use “counterintelligence platform.” This innovative platform informs and identifies the scammers, and hugs they are able to actively engage in a dialogue that could discourage them from targeting others in the future.
Dr. Nicholls, who has played a leading role in the development of AI thus far, looks back at where artificial intelligence stands today. He told me that he thinks AI has come a long way. It is still not there yet, as a complex continuum, not a fully actualized place.
“I see it as being on a continuum, but it’s had a step change.” – Dr Nicholls
He credits the quick pace of AI development to its democratization, especially after the introduction of ChatGPT. This release effectively democratized high-performing AI technologies, making them accessible not just to researchers and industry, but to everyday users of the technology.
“Actually releasing a chatbot version of a large language model changed the perception,” – Dr Nicholls
The Financial Landscape of AI Startups
The Australian tech industry is booming like never before, and an increasing number of these startups are riding the AI wave. Recent industry reports show that VC investments have surpassed $2 billion, sparking unprecedented innovation and development in smart cities, transportation and infrastructure.
Apate, which recently raised $2.5 million in seed funding, with these resources, they hope to develop groundbreaking solutions that address new challenges posed by AI. The company should support models that pay creators for their work enriching AI systems. They focus on ethical questions at every stage of AI development.
Additionally, Heidi Health, another local startup, has produced some impressive waves in the healthcare heaven-scape. The company has built an AI platform that dramatically simplifies the process and saves providers time. It is now servicing big international customers, such as the hospitals in Australia and Greencross, the owner of Petbarn.
Ben Condon, clinical director at Heidi Health, asserts that the platform’s efficiency can save doctors time and improve patient care.
“We’re really building what we like to call a counterintelligence platform,” – Professor Kaafar
This financial momentum behind these underdog startups is an exciting indicator. AI’s transformative potential has been realized in practically every industry.
The Future of AI: Insights and Concerns
As AI rapidly advances and it becomes increasingly infused into our everyday lives, experts say it’s crucial to know what that means. While AI can certainly identify complex patterns and trends with incredible accuracy, Dr. Nicholls agrees that current AI systems are not actually creative.
“What it doesn’t do is have creative thought, and that’s a really tough thing to teach a machine to do,” – Dr Nicholls
Belinda Barnet, a researcher focused on responsible AI development, cautions against the speed in which AI technologies are progressing. She advocates for the consideration of possible social impacts and the need for regulators to get ahead of technological advancement.
“We need to ask some serious questions about what the social effects of this technology is going to be.” – Belinda Barnet
As Barnet points out, companies often sell themselves as indispensable to the future. This results in a narrative where consumers may be led to believe that they have no choice but to adopt these technologies.
“They’re selling themselves as the natural future and that we don’t have much choice. It’s coming at us and it’s coming at us fast,” – Belinda Barnet
Mr. Kassabgi makes a point about the role of regulators and government, which I think can’t be underplayed. They need to understand the intricacies of AI to help craft appropriate regulations for this new age.
“This is about ensuring that regulators and government understand AI and actually understand how to implement the laws in a new world where there’s AI,” – Mr Kassabgi
