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I can't stop thinking about this art exhibit in Japan. A chained robot dog will try to attack you: It's designed to highlight our need for AI safety. Some see a machine that needs restraining. Others feel empathy for a chained creation. But here's what's really happening: • It's programmed to pursue human targets • The chain is the only thing holding it back • It follows objectives without emotion or empathy • Those objectives can be changed at will The real-world parallels are chilling: → US Marines testing armed robot dogs → Military AI development accelerating → Autonomous weapons becoming reality It reminds me of Black Mirror's “Metalhead”. Survival against relentless robotic “killer dogs” inspired by Boston Dynamics. As Palantir's CEO Alex Karp noted: “We must not shy away from building sharp tools for fear they may be turned against us.” The exhibit forces us to confront uncomfortable questions: 1) What happens when the chain comes off? 2) Who controls these technologies? 3) Where do we draw the line? My takeaway: The best and worst outcomes in technology aren't about the machines. They're about the humans who control them. Follow me Alex Banks for daily AI highlights and insights. Want to start leveraging AI? Subscribe to my newsletter: https://lnkd.in/e9UcAxTd What's your reaction to the exhibit?

The Godfather of AI just dropped a mind-shifting idea. Geoffrey Hinton believes we’ve misunderstood human intelligence: We aren't logical reasoning machines. We're analogy engines. Instead of deduction, we think through resonance and pattern-matching. Here's why this matters: • We've designed AI systems assuming humans are logical • Our reasoning ability is just a thin layer on top • Our true intelligence is emotional and analogical Think about how you choose a restaurant in a new city: → You don't logically analyse every menu and price point → You think “This reminds me of that great pizza place back home” → You use emotional resonance, not rational calculation You decide based on "vibes," not logic. My takeaway: Hinton rightly states that we have a thin layer of reasoning on top in order to do things like mathematics, but our primary decision-making engine is through analogies. As LLMs get smarter and as we advance to AGI, we may need to reconsider our most fundamental assumptions about human thinking. It turns out, we’re much less rational than we thought. Follow me Alex Banks for daily AI highlights and insights. P.S. This idea was from my newsletter, The Signal. If you want to start leveraging AI today, subscribe here: https://lnkd.in/e9UcAxTd

NVIDIA, Disney, and Google just created the cutest robot ever. Meet “Blue” a Star Wars-inspired BDX droid. It stole the show at GTC 2025. Here’s how it works: 1. Physics-first AI approach → Newton engine simulates real-world physics with incredible accuracy → Robots learn in virtual environments before real-world deployment → 1000x faster training than traditional robotics methods 2. Animation technology → AI handles complex physics to make movements work in unpredictable environments → Allows artists to animate robots exactly as they envision → Creates robots that feel genuinely alive and responsive 3. Real-world implementation → Handles previously impossible interactions with food, cloth, and sand → Learns through thousands of simulations without hardware damage → Programmed for emotional connection, not just functionality Disney has pioneered robotics in its theme parks since the 1960s. They plan to bring robots like Blue to their parks starting next year. I think this benefits Disney on two fronts: 1. It will attract more guests to the parks for entertainment 2. It provides a platform to build bipedal robots for filming vs expensive CGI I also love how this is a joint collaboration between Nvidia, Disney Research, and Google DeepMind. It combines Nvidia's AI technology, Google DeepMind's machine learning capabilities, and Disney’s creativity. There's something refreshingly appealing about a robot designed to make us smile rather than just perform tasks. Follow me Alex Banks for daily AI highlights and insights. P.S. If you want to start leveraging AI today, subscribe to my newsletter: https://lnkd.in/e9UcAxTd

Google Sheets just got AI superpowers. The new "=AI()" function is a game-changer: → Native LLM integration directly inside your spreadsheets → Understands cell contents and generates text based on your instructions → Part of Gemini for Google Workspace Alpha You can use the AI function to: • Generate text: =AI("Create a slogan for this event in 10 words", A2) • Analyze sentiment: =AI("Is this review positive or negative?", B3) • Categorize data: =AI("Sort this into business, personal, or other", C4) • Summarize information: =AI("Give me the key points in 3 bullets", D5) Current limitations: → Responses are limited to text only → It doesn't access your entire spreadsheet → Only uses referenced cells for context → Still in experimental phase My takeaway: This is the first native integration of an LLM within sheets—you no longer need to add your own API key. I'm based in the UK and have a Google Workspace account. Whilst I have access to the Gemini side panel in Sheets for help with ideating formulas, I'm still waiting for the AI function to roll out this side of the pond. This feature is also available as part of their early access testing programme, Google Workspace Labs. I'm now kicking myself for memorising all those finance formulas. Follow me Alex Banks for daily AI highlights and insights. P.S. If you want to start leveraging AI today, subscribe to my newsletter: https://lnkd.in/e9UcAxTd Video credit: @itsPaulAi on X

My brain doesn't want to believe this is real. China is stepping things up. Unitree just upgraded their G1 humanoid robot's learning algorithm: → Advanced movement algorithm enabling virtually any human-like motion → Precise balance control during complex dynamic movements → Fluid transitions between different postures and positions The Unitree G1 model is ready for mass production at $16,000: • 1.32m tall, 35kg build • 23 degrees of freedom for human-like movement • 2m/s walking speed • Advanced 3D LiDAR and sensors • 2-hour battery life My takeaway: These monthly updates are relentless. As a sci-fi film lover, I can't help but think of Neo in The Matrix: “I know Kung Fu.” Imagine when Figure 02, Tesla's Optimus, and Unitree are all competing for a spot in your home. The options will be incredible, pricing will become more affordable, and we'll all benefit. Just hoping they ship with combat mode turned off. Otherwise, that kung fu might come in handy. Follow me Alex Banks for daily AI highlights and insights. Want to start leveraging AI? Subscribe to my newsletter: https://lnkd.in/e9UcAxTd Video Credit: Unitree Robotics on YouTube

OpenAI just released a practical guide to building agents. It's ridiculously good… Agents are the next evolution in AI. They are systems that complete entire workflows on your behalf. They make decisions. They solve problems. They get stuff done. Key takeaways from the guide: 1. Agent foundations consist of three core components: ↳ Models: The LLM powering reasoning and decision-making ↳ Tools: External functions/APIs the agent uses to take action ↳ Instructions: Guidelines defining agent behaviour 2. When to build agents: ↳ For complex decision-making where rules fall short ↳ For workflows with difficult-to-maintain rulesets ↳ For tasks heavily reliant on unstructured data 3. Orchestration patterns: ↳ Single-agent systems where one system executes workflows in a loop ↳ Multi-agent systems where workflows are distributed across agents 4. Guardrails: ↳ Relevance classifiers to keep responses on-topic ↳ Safety classifiers to detect exploitation attempts ↳ PII filters to protect sensitive information 5. Practical applications: ↳ Customer service agents for complex issue resolution ↳ Fraud detection with nuanced pattern recognition ↳ Insurance claims processing across multiple documents My takeaway: While “agents” might be the buzzword of the year, the technology is very real. It’s more important than ever before to prioritise education to understand implications and applications. 30 minutes each week will keep you ahead. You can follow me Alex Banks for daily AI highlights and insights. P.S. If you want to start leveraging AI today, subscribe to my newsletter: https://lnkd.in/e9UcAxTd