本期4篇文章均选自VOA慢速新闻，有关人工智能的话题。
第一篇
Bard, ChatGPT Set Up Google, Microsoft Battle
By Bryan Lynn
08 February 2023
Fast developingartificial intelligence (AI) tools are set to start new competitive battles between Google and Microsoft.
Google chief Sundar Pichai announced this week his company had developed a new AI-powered chatbot tool. A chatbot is a computer program designed to interact with humans in aconversational way.
The search engine company said it plans to use the new chatbot service, called "Bard," to provide a better online search experience. Google currently holds more than 80 percent of the worldwide internet search market, the online data company Statistareports.
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella speaks during the introduction of the integration of Microsoft Bing search engine and Edge browser with OpenAI on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023, in Redmond, Wash. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Bard is one of several recently launched tools that demonstrate major AI development progress in recent years. The tools are built by feeding huge amounts of data into machine learning computer systems. The data trains the AI systems to develop complex skills and produce human-like results.
A free writing tool called ChatGPT was launched by a company called OpenAI late last year. The tool received widespread media attention for being able to produce human-quality written documents very quickly. Technology experts have said such systems have the possibility to greatly change many different industries and professions.
Microsoft recentlyannounced a new, multibillion-dollar investment in OpenAI. As part of its partnership, Microsoft provides "supercomputing systems" to OpenAI to support the development of new AI products.
One day after Google confirmed the development of its new Bard chatbot, Microsoft announced plans to redesign its Bing search engine and Edge web browser with a series of new AI tools.
Technology experts say the two announcements are a clear sign that Google and Microsoft are seeking to compete directly in the online search market as well as other online areas.
In announcing Bard, Google head Pichai said the chatbot will first become available to a group of "trusted testers" before being released widely later this year.
Google says its tool is designed to explain complex subjects such as outer space discoveries in terms simple enough for a child to understand. The company also claims Bard will be able to perform other helpful jobs, such as providing ideas for planning a party or giving meal suggestions based on food available in the home.
In a statement, Pichai said, "Bard seeks to combine thebreadth of the world's knowledge with the power, intelligence and creativity of our large language models." He added that including new AI tools in its internet search service will permit the system to break down complex information and provide users with more conversational results.
Pichai has been talking about the importance of AI for the past six years. He noted that Google had been developing a system called "Language Model for Dialogue Applications," or LaMDA, which will be used to power Bard.
In its announcement, Microsoft said it was combining its ChatGPT technology with its search engine Bing. In explaining the move, the company said the AI tools will create richer online search experiences for its users.
But Microsoft has a long way to go to reach the level of Google's success. Statistaestimated that Bing held just nine percent of the worldwide online search market in 2022.
"Think of it as faster, moreaccurate, more powerful" than ChatGPT, Microsoft official Yusuf Mehdi told The Associated Press.
The new AI-powered Bing was made available to computer users who signed up for it. But Mehdi said the technology will be released to millions of users in the coming weeks. After that, it will be available for smartphones using Bing and Edge. For now, anyone can try a limited number of searches, Mehdi said.
Microsoft chief Satya Nadella said during an event Tuesday that new AI developments are "going to reshape every softwarecategory we know."
Nadella also noted the importance of creating AI that recognizes "humanpreferences and societal norms." That kind of development, he said, cannot be done in a laboratory.
He added: "You have to do that out in the world."
I'm Bryan Lynn.
The Associated Press and Reuters reported on this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the reports for VOA Learning English.
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Words in This Story
artificial intelligence– n. the development of computer systems that have the ability to perform work that normally requires human intelligence
conversational– adj. relating to or like a conversation: a talk between two or more people, usually an informal one
accurate– adj. correct or exact
breadth– adj. the great number of different things that someone has done, knows, is interested in
category– n. a group of people or things of a similar kind
preference– n. the feeling of liking something or someone more than another person or thing
societal– adj. relating to or involving society
第二篇
Google AI Tool Creates Music from Written Descriptions
By Bryan Lynn
01 February 2023
This week, Google researchers published a paper describing results from an artificial intelligence (AI) tool built to create music.
The tool, called MusicLM, is not the first AI music tool to launch. But the examples Google provides demonstrate musical creative ability based on a limited set of descriptive words.
AI shows how complex computer systems have been trained to behave in human-like ways.
This March 23, 2010, file photo shows the Google logo at the Google headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo, File)
Tools like ChatGPT can quickly produce, or generate, written documents that compare well with the work by humans. ChatGPT and similar systems require powerful computers to operate complex machine-learning models. The San Francisco-based company OpenAI launched ChatGPT late last year.
Developers train such systems on huge amounts of data to learn methods for recreating different forms of content. For example, computer-generated content could include written material, design elements, art or music.
ChatGPT has recently received a lot of attention for its ability to generate complex writings and other content from just a simple description in natural language.
Google's MusicLM
Google engineers explain the MusicLM system this way:
First, a user comes up with a word or words that describe the kind of music they want the tool to create.
For example, a user could enter this short phrase into the system: "a continuous calming violin backed by a soft guitar sound." The descriptions entered can include different music styles, instruments or other existing sounds.
Several different musicexamples produced by MusicLM were published online. Some of the generated music came from just one- or two-word descriptions, such as "jazz," "rock" or "techno." The system created other examples from more detailed descriptions containing whole sentences.
In one example, Google researchers include these instructions to MusicLM: "The main soundtrack of an arcade game. It is fast-paced and upbeat, with a catchy electric guitar riff. The music is repetitive and easy to remember, but with unexpected sounds..."
In the resulting recording, the music seems to keep very close to the description. The team said that the more detailed the description is, the better the system can attempt to produce it.
The MusicLM model operates similarly to the machine-learning systems used by ChatGPT. Such tools can produce human-like results because they are trained on huge amounts of data. Many different materials are fed into the systems to permit them to learn complex skills to create realistic works.
In addition to generating new music from written descriptions, the team said the system can also create examples based on a person's own singing,humming, whistling or playing an instrument.
The researchers said the tool "produces high-quality music...over several minutes, while being faithful to the text conditioning signal."
At this time, the Google team has not released the MusicLM models for public use. This differs from ChatGPT, which was made available online for users to experiment with in November.
However, Google announced it was releasing a "high-quality dataset" of more than 5,500 music-writing pairs prepared by professional musicians called MusicCaps. The researchers took that step to assist in the development of other AI music generators.
The MusicLM researchers said they believe they have designed a new tool to help anyone quickly and easily create high-quality music selections. However, the team said it also recognizes some risks linked to the machine learning process.
One of the biggest issues the researchers identified was "biases present in the training data." A bias might be including too much of one side and not enough of the other. The researchers said this raises a question "about appropriateness for music generation for cultures underrepresented in the training data."
The team said it plans to continue to study any system results that could be considered cultural appropriation. The goal would be to limit biases through more development and testing.
In addition, the researchers said they plan to keep improving the system to include lyrics generation, text conditioning and better voice and music quality.
I'm Bryan Lynn.
Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from Google.
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Words in This Story
artificial intelligence– n. the development of computer systems that have the ability to perform work that normally requires human intelligence
style–n. a particular form or design, usually used in comparing forms of art or handiwork
instruction–n. a description of how to do something
arcade– n. an area containing many electronic and other coin-operated games
upbeat– adj. full of hope and happiness
repetitive– adj. saying or doing something over and over again
hum – v. to make a musical sound without opening your mouth
whistle– v. to make a high sound by forcing air through a small hole in the mouth
faithful– adj. staying firm about an idea or belief
appropriate– adj. the level to which something is right for a situation
cultural appropriation– n. when members of a culture in a society, often the main culture, use a practice of another, often minority, culture, without fully understanding the meaning or importance of the practice.
第三篇
New York City Uses Technology to Identify Noisy Cars
By Bryan Lynn
29 January 2023
Officials in New York City are using technology to cut down on noise on city streets. Cameras equipped with radar sound collectors identify loud vehicles in an effort to catch drivers violating noise rules.
New York officials say at least 71 people have received fines for operating cars or trucks that make too much noise. The city's Department of Environmental Protection now has plans to expand the use of technology to enforce noise rules.
City Council member Erik Bottcher told The Associated Press (AP) vehicles with illegally changed parts can produce extremely loud sounds. He said they have been a growing problem in recent years. Bottcher supports the use of radar to reduce noise in the city.
A woman walks using her headphones on Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)
New York City already has some of the strongest rules in the country aimed at limiting noise on city streets. It has set permissible noise levels for building tools and vehicles.
The new devices record the vehicle numbers of offenders, who then receive a violation notice in the mail. Owners face fines of $800 for a first noise offense. Some could be required to pay up to $2,625 if they have three violations and ignore court hearings.
The AP says there is evidence to support the idea that noise affects not only hearing but also mood and mental health. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) even says there are possible links between noise and higher risks for heart disease and raised blood pressure.
"You listen to the noise out there, it is nonstop – the horns, the trucks, the sirens," New York City Mayor Eric Adams recently told reporters at a press conference. "Noise pollution makes it hard to sleep and increases the risk of chronic disease."
The word "chronic" describes something, like a disease, that lasts a long time.
Nearly 10 years ago, former Mayor Michael Bloomberg launched a campaign against noise. A 45-page document included a series of rules such as ringing ice cream trucks and dog barking.
Restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic reduced some noise in the city. But the number of noise complaints actually increased during the pandemic. Some experts say that was because people who were forced to stay home became more sensitive to noise.
Complaints over noisy neighbors nearly doubled in the first year of the pandemic. Other complaints about cars and motorcycles with loud engines also increased.
However, some people in the city say the government efforts to quiet loud vehicles have gone too far. One person opposed to the policy is Phillip Franklin, a 30-year-old car lover from the Bronx area of New York. He launched an online effort to protest noise rules.
"The majority of us live here in New York City, where noise is a part of our daily lives," said a document explaining his effort. Franklin noted that quiet vehicles can also present dangers to inattentive individuals walking around New York City.
"Fixing potholes is a lot more important than going after noisy cars," Franklin told the AP. A pothole is a hole in the road caused by weather or other environmental conditions.
The CDC has said loud noise – especially once it hits 120 decibels – can cause immediate harm to one's ears. Even listening to continual noise above 70 decibels can damage hearing over time, experts say. A motorcycle produces about 95 decibels of noise.
Even with sound barriers, close-fitting windows and noise-reducing materials, there is only so much that can be done to reduce sound levels in the city. Many New Yorkers have simply learned to live with the noise.
"I think people developed an appreciation for the fact that it's a messy, noisy city," said NYU researcher Bello. "We like it to be active, and we like it to be lively. And we like it to be full of jobs and activity, and not this sort of scary, quite unnerving place."
I'm Bryan Lynn.
The Associated Press reported this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for Learning English.
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Words in This Story
mood– n. the way someone feels at a particular time
siren– n. a piece of equipment that makes a loud noise as a warning
complaint– n. a statement that something is wrong or not satisfactory
appreciation– n. an understanding of the qualities of a person or a thing
scary– adj. frightening; causing fear
unnerve– v. to make someone feel nervous or frightened
第四篇
Artists Worry over AI-created Artworks
By Andrew Smith
23 January 2023
Artificial intelligence (AI) systems are using imaging information from paintings and photographs to create new images in the same style. DALL-E, Midjourney and Stable Diffusion are among the AI tools that can create images that copy the styles of real artists.
A user can ask the system to produce an image, such as "a cat in the style of Van Gogh," and the AI tool will quickly do so.
That makes living artists worry that their works will be copied without their permission. Two new legal actions, or lawsuits, have been brought against the AI companies creating the images.
Visitors view artist Refik Anadol's "Unsupervised" exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art, Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Getty Images has brought one of the lawsuits. The American company is based in Seattle, Washington. It owns the rights to millions of pictures and other images.
Getty is accusing London-based company Stability AI of violating Getty's copyright. Copyright protects works of authorship, including images and artworks. The owner can sell the work or permit others to use it.
Three working artists also took legal action this year against Stability AI, and the companies Midjourney and DeviantArt. The artists say the companies' AI images unfairly "compete in the marketplace with the original images."
Midjourney CEO David Holz recently spoke toThe Associated Press about the issue.
"Can a person look at somebody else's picture and learn from it and make a similar picture?" he asked, adding "it's allowed for people and if it wasn't, then it would destroy the whole professional art industry."
Real versus fake images
The lawsuits come at a time when there is growing concern about new AI tools. These include systems that create readable text, music, computer code, and images. Some experts worry that AI technology could get too good, including engineer Wael Abd-Almageed.
"Once we lose this capability of telling what's real and what's fake, everything will suddenly become fake because you lose confidence of anything and everything," he said. Abd-Almageed teaches electrical and computer engineering at the University of Southern California.
However, some artists welcome the AI systems as new tools for creativity.
There is a lot of room for fear, but "what else can we do with them?" asked artist Refik Anadol, who uses AI to create.
In New York City, Anadol's work "Unsupervised" is on show at the city's world-famous Museum of Modern Art. The large installation represents the many artworks at the museum through a constantly changing image based on AI.
But Anadol hopes future uses of AI will permit artists to choose whether their art be included in new creations.
"I totally hear and agree that certain artists or creators are very uncomfortable about their work being used," he said.
I'm Andrew Smith.
Matt O'Brien and Arijeta Lajka wrote this story for The Associated Press. Andrew Smith adapted it for VOA Learning English.
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Words in This Story
style -n. the form or design common to a particular artist or period or group of people
authorship-n. the origin of, especially the creator of, original creative works
transformative-adj. characterized by change from one thing or state into another thing or state
allow-v. permit
text-n. printed words
code-n. the set of instructions that make a computer program work
capability-n. the ability to do something
fake-adj. not genuine
confidence-n. the belief or feeling of that one will achieve a desired result
installation-n. a display of art for public viewing
uncomfortable-adj. somewhat worried or in physical discomfort
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