Welcome to this week’s AI Trailblazers Newsletter and thank you for making us your go-to source for the business of AI. This weeks selection has some amusing entries with AI successes and fails. While AI can aide in backend processes in industries such as banking, it definitely has not succeeded in truly human endeavors such as cooking….unless your palate appreciates the truly odd and taste of yuck! But where does AI fit in other creative industries such as film making? Find out more below.

Mark your calendars: the AI Trailblazers Growth Summit is set for October 30th in New York. Stay tuned for agenda and ticket details, and email us if you're interested in partnering with us. Don't forget to follow us on LinkedIn for more updates.

Building AI startups from scratch

According to Vivek Vaidya, Co-Founder, super{set} and Co-Founder/CEO, MarkovML, considering the unit cost of AI is crucial for scaling meaningful work at startups. With technology changes, product roadmaps that extend beyond six months are useless. While AI is generating savings for many companies, they should be reinvested to further train and optimize models right now. Watch the full interview with Amit Shah, Co-Founder of AI Trailblazers at the AI Trailblazers Summit for more insightful nuggets of information on building AI products.

The Quirky World of AI Recipes

The culinary world has seen a surge in AI-generated cookbooks, often published under pseudonyms and produced rapidly. While they may appear authentic, these books often lack the quality and accuracy of human-authored works, resulting in bizarre and sometimes inedible recipes. The Guardian explores this trend and raises concerns about the impact on traditional food writing and the value of genuine human creativity in the kitchen.

• AI-generated cookbooks have emerged, written under pseudonyms like "Teresa J Blair." These books often look legitimate but are rapidly produced, sometimes resulting in content that lacks accuracy or authenticity. This trend raises questions about the ability of AI to replicate the creativity and expertise of human chefs.

• The article highlights issues with AI-written cookbooks, such as plagiarizing recipes and creating inaccurate or nonsensical dishes. An example given is a Korean Vegan Cookbook that included non-vegan ingredients, misleading consumers. Such issues emphasize the limitations of AI in understanding and accurately recreating culinary concepts.

• AI's role in creating food content extends to bizarre and unpalatable recipes, such as "bratwurst ice-cream" and "crockpot mojitos." These recipes often fail to consider taste and practicality, showing that AI lacks the sensory experience and judgment of human chefs. The result is often inedible dishes that leave testers disappointed.

• The rapid growth of AI-generated content, including cookbooks, poses potential threats to traditional authors and creatives. The convenience and cost-effectiveness of AI may appeal to publishers, potentially sidelining human writers. However, the authenticity and emotional connection provided by human-created recipes are irreplaceable, as AI lacks the personal touch and cultural understanding that define quality culinary experiences.

AI Trailblazer Takeaways: We want to try crockpot mojitos! This fun article proves that not every job is at risk from AI. Some things just require a human touch.

Dawn of the AI banker?

Generative AI agents are rapidly transforming financial services, revolutionizing traditional roles and enhancing customer experiences. According to Forbes, companies that adapt to these technologies face challenges in managing new workflows and ensuring compliance with regulations and corporate values. This summary explores the impact of specialized AI agents and the significant changes they bring to the industry.

• Rapid Advancement of AI in Financial Services: In just 20 months since the launch of ChatGPT, financial services have seen rapid advancements in AI capabilities. This acceleration has forced companies to adapt quickly, or risk losing out to more agile competitors. The integration of AI is transforming operating models and customer experiences across the industry.

• Specialized AI Agents: Instead of relying on a single AI system, financial firms are deploying numerous specialized generative AI agents. These semi-autonomous programs can understand their environment, learn, and collaborate with other agents to achieve specific goals. This ecosystem of agents is designed to streamline workflows and enhance business functions with minimal human intervention.

• Transformation of Work and Workforce: The emergence of AI agents is reshaping traditional roles within financial services. Tasks like loan underwriting and KYC processes are increasingly handled by AI, allowing human advisors to focus on more complex decision-making. This shift demands new skills and alters the day-to-day experience of working within the sector, requiring managers to rethink resource orchestration and workplace culture.

• Challenges and Considerations: As AI agents become more autonomous and widespread, ensuring they align with regulatory requirements and company values is critical. Executives must understand the technical and business aspects of deploying AI to manage these systems effectively. The ongoing evolution of AI presents both opportunities and challenges, making this a pivotal moment for financial services.

AI Trailblazer Takeaways: AI is making significant strides in automating processes within the financial industry, aiming to improve speed, efficiency, and hopefully ROI. While the long-term effects of this use case remain to be seen, the potential is promising.

Lights. Camera. Generate.

The rapid integration of artificial intelligence in the film industry is transforming traditional filmmaking processes and raising important ethical questions. The Guardian explores the implications of AI in filmmaking, including the industry's mixed reactions, practical applications, and the ongoing debate over its future role.

• AI in Filmmaking and Archival Use: AI technology is increasingly being used in filmmaking, with AI-generated images and videos blending with real footage. This raises ethical concerns about transparency and accuracy, as highlighted by the formation of the Archival Producers Alliance. They aim to establish guidelines to ensure responsible use of AI in documentary storytelling.

• Mixed Reactions to AI: The industry's adoption of AI has been met with mixed reactions. Some embrace the technology's potential, while others, like filmmaker Justine Bateman, criticize its impact on creativity and jobs. Concerns include AI-generated content potentially misleading audiences and taking over human roles in production.

• Practical Applications and Limitations: Generative AI is being explored for various uses, such as pre-production visualizations and creating synthetic faces for actors. However, there are limitations, including security concerns and the legal implications of using AI-generated content. Studios are cautious about fully integrating AI due to potential ethical and copyright issues.

• Future of AI in Filmmaking: The use of generative AI in filmmaking is still evolving, with debates about its role in the industry. While it offers exciting possibilities, such as enhancing visual effects and storytelling, it also poses challenges in maintaining ethical standards and preserving the human element. The future of film-making will likely see a continued balancing act between embracing AI and protecting creative integrity.

AI Trailblazer Takeaways: We anticipate we'll see many fully AI-generated films and shows in the years ahead, but the real question is, will they be good? Human creativity and connection are challenging to replicate, even for people. Our bet on this industry is that while AI can enhance storytelling, people will remain essential to the process.

What is AI Trailblazers?

AI Trailblazers is a vibrant platform dedicated to uniting corporate marketers, technologists, entrepreneurs, and venture capitalists at the forefront of artificial intelligence (AI). We want to thank everyone who joined us for the incredibly successful AI Trailblazers Summer Summit in June in New York. We’ve compiled a short video to give you a glimpse into the day for those that couldn’t join us. Our next forum will be on October 30th! More details soon.

Our mission is to fuel growth, innovation, and career development among our members, who all want to be at the forefront of incorporating artificial intelligence into their businesses and their lives for strategic advantage. More information here.

Partner with AI Trailblazers

Our community of business leaders is growing fast and we are planning more forums. To discuss partnership opportunities that connect our partners with AI decision makers including at our summits and this newsletter, email us. Our AI Trailblazers Growth Summit this October is already shaping up to be something extra special.

Magnificent 7 Links

Nvidia shares soar after Microsoft quells fears that AI buildout is too fast (CNBC)

Meta beats Q2 expectations but warns of 'significant' spending (Yahoo! Finance)

Apple used Google's chips to train two AI models, research paper shows (Reuters)

Google's AI Olympics ad featuring Gemini chatbot draws backlash (Axios)

Alphabet's partnership with AI firm Anthropic under investigation in the UK (CNBC)

Microsoft says OpenAI is now a competitor in AI and search (CNBC)

Other Links of the Week

Taco Bell to expand AI tech at drive-thrus (Fox Business)

‘One of the most disgusting meals I’ve ever eaten’: AI recipes tested (The Guardian)

EA College Football 25 Used AI To Make All 11,000 Players' Faces (Kotaku)

‘Hold on to your seats’: how much will AI affect the art of film-making? (The Guardian)

Will Gen AI Agents Transform Financial Services? (Forbes)

Wall Street’s $2 Trillion AI Reckoning (Intelligencer)

This Week in AI: Companies are growing skeptical of AI's ROI (TechCrunch)

White House says no need to restrict ‘open-source’ AI — at least for now (The Hill)