A recent study from the Max Planck Institute reveals that people, especially academics and professionals, have begun adopting AI-like language patterns in their daily speech. By analyzing 280,000 academic YouTube videos, researchers identified a significant increase in the use of terms commonly generated by AI, such as “meticulous” and “adept.” This linguistic shift might erode emotional nuance and individuality, reducing speech to monotony. The study warns that overusing AI-influenced language could flatten cultural diversity and subtly alter social behaviors, like politeness in conversations. The irony? Humans created AI to sound human, but now people are mirroring AI.

Walmart has unveiled advanced artificial intelligence tools designed to empower its workforce and improve customer interactions. Among these innovations is a real-time translation feature supporting 44 languages, which ensures clear communication between employees and shoppers. This tool is tailored to Walmart’s environment, recognizing specific terms like “Great Value,” the company’s private label. Employees will also benefit from upgraded conversational AI, capable of handling detailed questions and offering guided responses. Additionally, Walmart is rolling out augmented reality technology to assist associates in efficiently locating merchandise, focusing on apparel stocking needs. Powered by its proprietary machine learning system, Element, Walmart’s latest AI-driven initiatives aim to enhance operational efficiency across its 10,750 stores worldwide.

A coalition of top cybersecurity agencies, including NSA, FBI, and CISA, has unveiled new guidance to combat emerging threats to AI systems. The guidance warns about risks like data poisoning, supply chain flaws, and data drift that could compromise AI systems. It urges organizations to implement security measures across all phases of the AI lifecycle—planning, data collection, model building, and operational monitoring. Key recommendations include verifying third-party datasets, using secure ingestion protocols, and auditing system behavior regularly. The guidance stresses preventing model poisoning and tracking data lineage for integrity. Organizations are encouraged to revise their incident response plans, audit ongoing projects, and build cross-functional teams. As AI models become integral to critical infrastructure, robust data security is essential.

Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis has developed an AI-based brain mapping technology that has received FDA authorization for use in neurosurgery. The Cirrus Resting State fMRI Software rapidly identifies critical brain areas controlling functions like speech and movement, enhancing precision in tumor removal and epilepsy treatment. This technology, licensed to startup Sora Neuroscience, analyzes brain activity patterns in just 12 minutes of fMRI scanning. It offers broader accessibility for brain mapping, including for patients who struggle with traditional task-based fMRI

A new study claims artificial intelligence surpasses human emotional understanding, especially in intense situations. Researchers from the University of Geneva and the University of Bern applied emotional intelligence tests to various AI language models like ChatGPT-4 and Gemini 1.5 Flash. The AI achieved a 81% accuracy rate in selecting correct emotional responses, compared to 56% for humans. Experts caution that the tests may oversimplify human emotions, highlighting AI’s pattern recognition rather than genuine emotional insight. These findings suggest AI’s potential in real-world applications, as demonstrated by Aílton, a conversational AI used by Brazilian truck drivers.