FCC declares AI-generated voices in robocalls are illegal

• FCC bans voice-cloning technology in robocalls, effective immediately, as a measure against fraud and misinformation.

• Rising incidents of robocalls using technology to mimic voices of celebrities, political figures, or family members.

• FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel emphasizes the role of AI-generated voices in scams and misinformation, empowering state attorneys general.

• Influence of a New Hampshire incident, where a robocall imitating President Biden discouraged voter participation in the primary.

• Criminal investigation underway in New Hampshire against two Texas companies linked to the AI-generated robocall impersonating President Biden.

• U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Susan Collins press for action against AI-generated disinformation campaigns in the context of the 2024 election cycle.

Google rebrands its Bard AI chatbot as Gemini, which now has its own Android app

• Microsoft and Google rebrand their AI services; Google renames Bard and Duet AI to Gemini, aligning with its multimodal AI model.

• Google CEO Sundar Pichai announces Bard's rebranding to Gemini, highlighting its advanced technology and availability in 40 languages, with a new Android app and iOS integration.

• Gemini Android app allows replacement of Google Assistant as the default, offering a conversational overlay with contextual suggestions and access to Assistant features.

• Google hints at phasing out Assistant in favor of Gemini, integrating Assistant functions into the Gemini app and planning future enhancements.

• Gemini launches in English in the US on Android and iOS; expansion to more countries and languages, including Japanese and Korean, is planned.

• Google introduces Gemini Advanced with access to its largest AI model, Ultra 1.0, for complex tasks; available under a new Google One AI Premium Plan at $20 per month.

California plans to use AI to answer your tax questions

• California's tax agency plans to use generative AI to assist call center agents in providing tax advice to business owners, aiming to reduce call wait times and improve efficiency.

• During peak tax season, the agency experiences a quadruple increase in call volume, leading to extended wait times and necessitating an "all hands on deck" approach.

• The generative AI will be trained on large datasets, often sourced from the web, to generate content like text, imagery, and audio, aiding agents in responding to tax-related inquiries.

• The technology will be used alongside call center employees, with a proposal request indicating AI's potential use in voice calls, live chats, and other communications.

• California's Department of Technology is exploring generative AI in various state agencies, including projects to reduce traffic congestion, improve public benefits accessibility, and enhance healthcare facility inspections.

• The project faces challenges in ensuring the accuracy and reliability of AI-generated advice, with concerns about automation bias and the ability of employees to discern accurate information, highlighting the need for careful evaluation and regulation of AI applications in essential services.

MARC HOAG LAW.

Future Perfect is brought to you by my law practice serving tech startups and providing solutions at the intersection of AI and copyright law. Come say hi at MarcHoagLaw.com or click here to watch my lectures about AI and copyright law or here for my Axiomic Legal Toolkit where you can self-educate on AI and tech startups (and more!)

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