California says no to AI bill

US eggs would be illegal to sell in the UK because they are washed, which is not allowed. Conversely, British eggs would be illegal in the US… because they aren’t washed. Team wash or team au naturale?

What’s in store:

• California just said no to the AI safety bill—here’s why it matters.

• A $70 camera module that brings AI to your fingertips.

• Around the web: Epic sues Google and Samsung, claiming Samsung’s Auto Blocker stifles third-party app stores.

• How we built a global business with Guidde!

Read Time: 6 minutes

AI POLICY

When safety regulations meet AI, who backs down first?

California Governor Gavin Newsom has blocked a key AI safety bill that faced opposition from big tech companies.

The bill aimed to bring in some of the first AI regulations in the US.

It required safety testing for advanced AI systems and a "kill switch" to turn off AI if it became a threat.

Newsom was concerned the bill could hold back innovation and push developers to leave California.

Senator Scott Wiener, who wrote the bill, wanted oversight for the most powerful AI systems, called "Frontier Models."

Without it, he argues, companies will keep developing AI without proper safeguards.

But Newsom said the bill sets strict rules even for basic AI systems, which he believes could slow down progress.

Here’s what’s happening:

• The bill called for safety testing and a "kill switch" for advanced AI.

• It aimed to regulate powerful AI systems known as "Frontier Models."

• Tech companies warned it would hold back innovation and slow AI progress.

Kill switches for AI?

Alongside the veto, Newsom announced plans to work with experts on AI safety and signed 17 other laws, including measures to tackle deep fakes and AI-driven misinformation.

As a global tech hub, California’s decisions have far-reaching effects.

Wiener voiced his disappointment, pointing out that US lawmakers still haven’t set firm rules for AI.

Companies like OpenAI, Google, and Meta were against the bill, saying it would hinder AI development.

So, California is leading in tech, but only if the rules don’t cramp their style.

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AI TOOLS

How we built a global business with Guidde

At Mindstream, we rely on Guidde for all of our training and onboarding.

When we hiring for the first time, our small team was too busy managing our busy startup to dedicate hours and hours to training new staff - we simply didn’t have the time.

That’s where Guidde came in.

We used Guidde to create how-to videos of all of our processes. Guidde turns your clicks into easy-to-follow videos. They’re easily editable and you can even add voiceover (or use AI!).

We were able to train our global staff asynchronously, with the power of Guidde.

Here’s how:

• Hit the record button and undertake the usual process.

• Stop the recording, and let Guidde do its magic.

• Edit the video easily with the built-in editor.

• Share with your employees!

But we’re not alone. Guidde is trusted by over 20,000 users worldwide, and has a 5-star rating on the Chrome store!

Try Guidde for free and see the difference.

On This Day

October 1st 1958 - NASA is created to replace NACA (the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics).

Weird AI

Trick AI and look fab doing it!

Italian brand Capable dropped a wild clothing line that doesn’t just look bold to humans—it confuses AI, too! The patterns are designed to trick object recognition systems, making the wearer appear more like a zebra or giraffe to the algorithms, and stopping facial recognition in its tracks.

Sure, it’s on the pricey side and might not hold up as tech advances, but it’s way cooler than a boring old trench coat or a basic Guy Fawkes mask.

AI TECH

Raspberry Pi and Sony launch AI camera module

Raspberry Pi and Sony have teamed up to release a new AI camera module, priced at $70.

This compact camera is designed to make AI development easier by offering built-in AI processing, so users can handle visual data without extra effort.

It builds on Raspberry Pi’s history of creating tools for developers, following their first camera module launched in 2013.

The camera uses Raspberry Pi’s RP2040 microchip and Sony’s IMX500 image sensor to manage AI tasks.

This setup means there’s no need for extra equipment like GPUs, making it more straightforward for developers to work on AI projects.

The key info:

• Costs $70 and comes with onboard AI processing for visual data.

• Doesn’t require extra hardware like GPUs or accelerators.

• Captures footage at 10fps (4056x3040) or 40fps (2028x1520) with an adjustable focus.

Say goodbye to endless gear

The 12.3-megapixel camera is compatible with all Raspberry Pi computers.

It can capture high-quality footage at either 10 frames per second in 4056 x 3040 resolution or 40 frames per second at 2028 x 1520.

The camera also has adjustable focus, a 76-degree field of view, and is compact (25 x 24 x 11.9mm), similar to last year’s Camera Module 3.

Strawberry, Raspberry, the tech world sure loves fruits.

Mindstream Picks

Space: China’s space agency unveiled the design of its spacesuit for future crewed lunar missions on Sept. 28, and is now seeking name suggestions for the suit.

Crypto: Japan is set to review its cryptocurrency regulations, potentially lowering taxes and allowing domestic funds to invest in tokens.

Games: Hideo Kojima hints at a Death Stranding movie and expresses his desire to work with Hollywood legends before he "refuses to die."

Sports: Alpine announced a 'Hypertech' transformation project, which includes shutting down their Formula 1 power unit department by the end of next year.

Don’t Miss - Epic Games has filed a second antitrust lawsuit against Google and Samsung, accusing them of conspiring to block third-party app stores, particularly targeting Samsung’s Auto Blocker feature. This feature, which prevents installations from non-authorised sources by default, makes it difficult for users to download apps like Epic's. Epic claims this hinders competition.

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