Good Morning! Google has unveiled Project IDX, an AI-infused browser-based development platform designed to streamline the creation of web and multiplatform applications. Meanwhile, following the US's recent tech investment ban in specific Chinese sectors, the UK is contemplating analogous restrictions, signaling potential shifts in global tech investments. In a landmark lawsuit, Chinese tutoring firm iTutorGroup has settled with the US EEOC over alleged biases in its AI hiring software, marking a pivotal moment in the debate over AI ethics in recruitment being the first lawsuit settled over the bias of AI.

— Forrest Knight & Meghanadh Vasireddy

Google Announces Project IDX: A New AI-Enabled Development Environment for Developers

Google has recently announced Project IDX, a new AI-enabled browser-based development environment aimed at simplifying the process of building full-stack web and multiplatform applications. The platform currently supports popular frameworks such as Angular, Flutter, Next.js, React, Svelte, and Vue, as well as languages like JavaScript and Dart. Support for Python, Go, and other languages is in the works.

Supported Frameworks and Languages: Project IDX supports a wide range of frameworks and languages, including Angular, Flutter, Next.js, React, Svelte, Vue, JavaScript, and Dart, with plans to add support for Python, Go, and others.

AI Features: At the core of Project IDX is Codey, a foundational AI model trained on code and built on PaLM 2. Codey enables smart code completion, an assistive chatbot for answering coding questions, and contextual code recommendations.

Cloud-Based Development: Project IDX is built on Google Cloud, providing a consistent development environment accessible from any device. Every workspace has the full capabilities of a Linux-based VM, paired with universal access hosted in the cloud.

Integration with GitHub: The platform allows developers to import existing projects from GitHub or create new ones with templates for popular frameworks and languages.

Availability and Future Plans: Project IDX is currently in a free preview program, with no information on pricing or a wide release date. Google plans to add more languages, frameworks, and cloud service integrations in the future. The company is also working on integrating Android and iOS emulators into the platform.

Developers interested in trying out Project IDX can join the early preview program and provide feedback to help shape the platform's future development.

US Ban on China Tech Investments, the UK May Follow

On Wednesday, US President Joe Biden unveiled an executive order banning new investments in certain tech sectors in China, citing security concerns. The move is part of a broader effort to counter China's growing technological influence and protect US national security. Now, the UK is considering following suit and implementing similar restrictions on investment in China's tech industry.

According to reports, UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak is weighing whether to follow the US lead in restricting funding for advanced technologies. The UK government has not yet made a decision on the matter, but officials have confirmed that they are considering how to respond to the US ban.

The US ban targets specific sectors of China's tech industry, including quantum computing, advanced chips, and artificial intelligence. The ban prohibits US investors from buying or selling publicly traded securities in these sectors, as well as investing in private companies that are involved in these areas.

If the UK were to implement similar restrictions, it could have significant implications for the country's relationship with China. China is a major investor in the UK, and the two countries have been working to strengthen economic ties in recent years. However, concerns about China's growing influence and its human rights record have led some countries, including the US and the UK, to take a more cautious approach to Chinese investment.

Tutoring Firm Settles US Agency's First Bias Lawsuit Involving AI Software

A China-based tutoring company has agreed to settle a lawsuit filed by the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) claiming that it used hiring software powered by artificial intelligence (AI) that discriminated against female job applicants who were over the age of 40. The lawsuit is the first of its kind to involve allegations of bias in AI hiring tools.

The EEOC filed the lawsuit against iTutorGroup, a company that provides English-language tutoring services to students in China under the "iTutorGroup" brand name. The lawsuit claimed that iTutorGroup's AI hiring tool automatically rejected female job applicants who were over the age of 40, regardless of their qualifications. The EEOC alleged that this practice violated federal anti-discrimination laws, including the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Under the terms of the settlement, iTutorGroup will pay $1.2 million to settle the lawsuit and will be required to hire an independent consultant to review its hiring practices and ensure compliance with federal anti-discrimination laws. The company will also be required to provide training to its employees on anti-discrimination laws and best practices for using AI in hiring.

The settlement is a significant development in the ongoing debate over the use of AI in hiring. While AI tools can help companies streamline their hiring processes and identify qualified candidates more efficiently, there are concerns that these tools may perpetuate bias and discrimination if they are not designed and used properly. The EEOC has warned that employers must ensure that their AI hiring tools comply with federal anti-discrimination laws and do not discriminate against protected groups, such as women, minorities, and older workers.

Uber, Nvidia-backed delivery robot startup Serve Robotics

Uber, Nvidia-backed delivery robot startup Serve Robotics is going public, and the technology behind them are changing the future of delivery. These autonomous delivery robots are becoming increasingly popular and are expected to become more widespread in the coming years.

• Technology: Delivery robots rely on technology such as cameras, lidars, and deep-learning algorithms to successfully complete missions. They use sensors to detect obstacles and navigate around them, and they can communicate with other robots to optimize their routes.

• Autonomy: These robots are designed to operate autonomously, meaning they can complete their missions without human intervention. However, human operators are always ready to step in when needed.

• Delivery: Delivery robots are being used to deliver a variety of goods, including groceries, packages, and even pizza. They are ideal for short-distance deliveries and can operate on sidewalks and bike paths.

Serve Robotics has developed a robot that can carry up to 50 pounds of goods and travel up to 30 miles on a single charge. The is part of Uber's plan to expand its delivery services beyond food and into other areas such as groceries and retail.

While delivery robots are becoming more popular, there are still limitations to their use. For example, they are not yet able to serve everyone in all areas, and they are only cost-effective if they are cheaper than humans doing the same thing. However, logistics experts believe that the technology can catch on, and we can expect to see more delivery robots on our sidewalks in the future.

Youtube Spotlight

Stack Overflow is Dead 😂 

Stack Overflow has seen a significant decline in its traffic, questions, answers, and votes over the last 1.5 years. Despite this, they plan a comeback with "Overflow AI," which seeks to integrate AI into answering questions. This AI approach may face challenges due to the platform's existing community.

• Stack Overflow's traffic and engagement metrics have dropped by roughly 50% in the past 18 months.

• Forrest mentions Chat GPT as more concise and straightforward answers compared to Stack Overflow.

• The site is criticized for its declining quality, even acknowledged by its co-founder back in 2016.

• Stack Overflow is launching "Overflow AI" which will enable users to ask questions and get AI-generated responses.

• The new AI system will be trained exclusively on Stack Overflow's questions and answers, bypassing the need for user upvotes.

• Concerns are raised about an "endless loop of AI" and the presence of AI-generated answers on the platform despite official policies.

Disclaimer: We already covered this topic in a previous newsletter, but this video is a more opinionated version of “The Fall of Stack Overflow”.

More Notes

1. Disney Plus and Hulu are about to get even more expensive

2. Supreme Court says Apple can keep its App Store payment rules for now

3. Mark Zuckerberg Launching New WhatsApp Screen share Feature: Challenging Video Conferencing Market

4. Teens Hacked Boston Subway Cards to Get Infinite Free Rides—and This Time, Nobody Got Sued

5. Apple is repositioning the end call button in IOS 17

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