AI News Digest: Feb. 13, 2025
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Welcome to the seventh issue of the AI News Digest! We want to hear from you: Are these AI stories valuable? What else would you like to see in future editions? Let us know: send us an email or comment in our LinkedIn Group.
TOP NEWS
Google quietly changes stance on using AI for weapons or surveillance
Google recently shifted its AI principles, removing a section stating the company would not pursue any AI developments that were “likely to cause harm” or AI tools that could be used for weapons or surveillance. Instead, the company’s policy is focusing on the “responsible development and deployment” of any AI products. siliconANGLE
Transcript: tech in 2025 — China's AI 'Sputnik moment'
Chinese startup DeepSeek shook up the AI landscape with the launch of its low-cost, open-source AI model, narrowing the gap with U.S. tech giants and intensifying the global AI race amid hardware restrictions. Financial Times
UK makes use of AI tools to create child abuse material a crime
Britain became the first country to criminalize the creation, possession and distribution of AI tools used to make explicit images of children after a five-fold increase in such content during 2024. Reuters
Copyright Office releases part 2 of artificial intelligence report
The U.S. Copyright Office released Part 2 of a report on AI and copyright, confirming AI-generated content can be copyrighted only if a human adds significant creative input. The report emphasized that human creativity remains essential, stating that simply providing prompts isn’t enough for copyright protection. U.S. Copyright Office
This AI technology was supposed to detect guns in school. Here's what happened outside Nashville
AI software for gun detection is being used in schools around the United States to spot threats before they happen to help law enforcement respond more efficiently. However, a shooting at a Nashville high school following an error from their detection system, Omnilert, shows that accuracy is not guaranteed and requires improvement. CNN
GOVERNMENT
US looking into whether DeepSeek used restricted AI chips, source says
The United States Department of Commerce is investigating DeepSeek for the possible use of restricted AI chips amid concerns of organized AI chip smuggling through countries like Malaysia and Singapore. Reuters
AI TECH DEVELOPMENTS
Why 'distillation' has become the scariest word for AI companies
DeepSeek’s success with AI distillation is forcing major AI companies to reconsider their business strategies as the technology lowers costs and increases accessibility. Wall Street Journal
OpenAI unveils AI agent that can use websites on its own
OpenAI’s new AI agent Operator can browse the Internet, shop, and book reservations, expanding beyond traditional chatbot capabilities. While still requiring some user input, Operator signals a move toward more autonomous AI tools that will continue to evolve with further development. New York Times
Intel cancels Falcon Shores AI chip to focus on 'rack-scale solution'
Intel is dropping its Falcon Shores AI chip to focus on bigger, system-wide AI solutions, aiming to build a more flexible and scalable AI ecosystem instead of a single chip. CRN
SCIENCE
AI creates new glowing protein, simulating 500 million years of evolution
Scientists used AI to design a glowing protein in days that would've taken 500 million years to evolve naturally. This breakthrough could advance medical imaging and bioengineering, showing AI’s power in scientific discovery to speed up innovation and create new materials that nature may never develop on its own. Yahoo! News
CLIMATE & SUSTAINABILITY
DeepSeek: What lies under the bonnet of the new AI chatbot?
In addition to its rapid development and efficient learning, DeepSeek is garnering attention for its low environmental impact with an economical use of resources and low carbon emission rates, paving the way for new environmentally-friendly AI approaches. BBC
NORTHEASTERN AI NEWS
DeepSeek: Northeastern leaders explain the confusion and excitement
The Institute for Experiential AI's Executive Director Usama Fayyad and Director of AI + Life Sciences Sam Scarpino sat down to explore the groundbreaking release of DeepSeek and its impact across business, research, academia, and more. The Institute for Experiential AI
Northeastern experts to build transformative cancer detection tool with Santovia Path AI and Prima CARE
Northeastern researchers are using AI to make faster, more accurate cancer diagnoses as part of a new collaboration with Prima CARE, a leading clinical healthcare practice, and Santovia Path AI, a digital pathology company working to modernize healthcare diagnostics. The Institute for Experiential AI
Generative AI, agentic AI, and large language models explained: A guide to 7 AI technologies powering business innovation
What’s the difference between generative, agentic, and predictive AI—and what do they mean for businesses? Where do AI agents fit in? What about Responsible AI? This guide breaks down key AI concepts with real-world examples of how businesses are leveraging AI today. The Institute for Experiential AI
ABOUT THE DIGEST
This newsletter is a special collaboration between Northeastern University students studying AI, data science, and computer science, and experts at The Institute for Experiential AI.
Northeastern student curators include:
- Mihalis Koutouvos (PM), second-year, computer science
- Kaviarasu Annadurai, graduate student, robotics
- Mohammed Hussain Shariff, graduate student, applied machine intelligence
- Gabriella Hylton, third-year, computer science and economics
- Hayli Wynn, second-year, computer science and business
- Junxin Zheng, graduate student, computer science
- Yuxi Zhou, graduate student, computer science
Northeastern's Institute for Experiential AI review and editorial team includes:
- Ricardo Baeza-Yates, director of research
- Hamit Hamutcu, senior advisor, strategy & marketing
- Tim Weidinger, director of business development
- Digital marketing and content team
