Welcome back!

We hope you’re locked and loaded for the weekend. While we note there hasn’t been massive news on the AI front as we roll into the Christmas weekend, there are a few interesting stories out there. Most notably, IBM is making some moves, Rite-Aid can’t use Facial Recognition anymore, and AI has found remedies for Antibiotic resistant bacteria.

As we go into this weekend, we here at TDAI want to wish you a safe, happy and healthy Christmas and Holiday Season!

In this edition:

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Conversational AI is revolutionizing the way businesses interact with their customers. By using artificial intelligence and natural language processing, conversational AI allows for more human-like conversations between customers and businesses. As this technology keeps getting bigger and changing, it's important to watch the top companies that are leading in conversational AI.

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Clément Delangue is the CEO of Hugging Face, an open-source, for-profit machine-learning platform where researchers from around the world convene to share their AI models, datasets, and best practices. In an industry where the cutting edge is dominated by big tech companies, Delangue says efforts like Paris-based Hugging Face are an essential counterweight, helping distribute AI to a far broader base of users and developers. At the same time, Hugging Face can enforce a set of community standards that prevent harmful AI models from proliferating, he says. (Investors in Hugging Face include Salesforce, where TIME co-chair and owner Marc Benioff is CEO.)

IBM Corp. has made a significant move in the tech world with its recent announcement to acquire Software AG’s StreamSets and webMethods application integration platforms for a staggering €2.13 billion (approximately $2.33 billion). This acquisition is not just a financial transaction but a strategic step towards enhancing IBM's capabilities in the realms of data integration and artificial intelligence.

The timing of this acquisition is noteworthy, coming shortly after Software AG's privatization by Silver Lake at a valuation exceeding €2.4 billion. The close proximity of these figures underscores the intrinsic value and centrality of StreamSets and webMethods in Software AG's portfolio. These platforms have proven their worth, being described as "growing, profitable" with an impressive base of over 1,500 organizations.

Before diving into the implications of this acquisition, let's understand what StreamSets and webMethods bring to the table:

IBM's strategy behind acquiring these platforms is to bolster its Watsonx product suite, introduced in March. Watsonx is at the forefront of AI model building, offering tools and prepackaged neural networks for various tasks, including code generation. The integration of StreamSets and webMethods will streamline the process of importing business records into IBM's watsonx.data, a data lakehouse platform integral to AI projects.

This acquisition is more than just a business transaction; it represents a strategic alignment of IBM's AI and data capabilities with cutting-edge integration technologies. The synergy between IBM's existing offerings and the newly acquired platforms will likely accelerate enterprise AI adoption, offering a more cohesive and efficient approach to data management and utilization.

Post-acquisition, Software AG will still be a significant player in the enterprise software market, with its focus on IoT device management, the Adabas & Natural database, and efficiency tools for business processes. This indicates a strategic refocusing rather than a step back.

IBM's acquisition of StreamSets and webMethods is a testament to the ever-evolving landscape of data integration and AI. It highlights the increasing importance of seamless data movement and integration in the age of AI and big data. As these technologies become more integrated into IBM's suite of products, we can expect to see a new era of innovation and efficiency in how businesses leverage their data for strategic advantage.

In a groundbreaking decision, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has imposed a five-year ban on Rite Aid's use of facial recognition technology for surveillance purposes. This decision comes after the FTC charged the retailer with failing to implement reasonable procedures to prevent harm to consumers through its use of facial recognition technology in hundreds of stores.

The FTC's decision is a response to Rite Aid's deployment of AI-based facial recognition technology from 2012 to 2020, aimed at identifying potential shoplifters. However, the technology led to numerous false accusations against consumers, particularly women and people of color, causing embarrassment and harassment. The FTC's proposed order requires Rite Aid to establish comprehensive safeguards against such harms and mandates the discontinuation of such technology if it cannot control potential risks to consumers.

This decision by the FTC marks a significant step in addressing the ethical and privacy concerns surrounding the use of biometric surveillance technologies. It highlights the need for companies to be more vigilant about the deployment of such technologies and the potential biases inherent in them.

The FTC's ruling against Rite Aid serves as a cautionary tale for businesses employing AI and facial recognition technologies. It underscores the importance of balancing technological advancements with ethical considerations and consumer protection. As we move forward, this decision could pave the way for more stringent regulations and oversight in the use of AI in public spaces.

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