The University of Glasgow team has emerged as the second-place winner in the Amazon Alexa Taskbot Challenge, securing a prize of $100,000. The challenge, which focused on incorporating visual aids into the conversational AI experience, saw the team's AI-powered multimodal conversational assistant, GRILLBot, impress the judges with its ability to adapt instructions to the user's environment and expertise [5e4e68a6].
GRILLBot utilizes large language models (LLMs) to generate personalized recipes and tasks, taking into account the user's dietary requirements and preferences. It can also modify and extend tasks based on user preferences and available ingredients. Additionally, the assistant is capable of engaging in small talk, telling jokes, and providing domain-specific knowledge [5e4e68a6].
The University of Glasgow team's achievement in the competition showcases their talent and determination in the field of AI research [5e4e68a6].
A 6-year-old Jamaican girl named Isabelle has won a family AI app competition with her farming app. The competition was launched after a discussion about artificial intelligence (AI) at a family dinner. Isabelle's app, called 'Grow My Garden App', tells users what produce to plant based on their location. The app will be expanded in partnership with the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) to allow farmers to upload pictures and get advice on planting. The runner-up app, 'What Should I do App' by Nathan, aims to partner with the Ministry of Education to help students choose careers and get suggestions on subjects to study. The family hopes to make both apps available to the public. [7cfc3cb0]
Amazon has launched a new AI-powered chatbot called Rufus in the Amazon Shopping app for Android and iOS. Rufus can be summoned by swiping up from the bottom of the screen or tapping on the search bar. It can provide recommendations on what to buy and help with product research. Rufus is a shopping assistant trained in Amazon's product catalog and can provide personalized information, answer questions, and offer recommendations. Customers can use Rufus to narrow searches, request product comparisons, and seek advice. The AI chatbot has been improved based on customer feedback during a trial period and is now available on the Amazon shopping mobile app. Rufus is a mobile-exclusive experience and is not available on desktop [f188f644].
Midland High School students, Jacob Rudisel, Grace Riddle, Rori McCubbin-Green, and Isla McCubbin-Green, have developed an app called 'CallGuard' that uses artificial intelligence to analyze calls and determine whether the person on the other line is likely a scam caller. The app placed second at the annual A.H. Nickless competition, earning the students $2,500 each in scholarship money and a $10,000 grant for the school. The idea for the app came from Rudisel's observation of an online creator wasting the time of scam callers. The students had to develop a two-page abstract and received a $2,000 grant to further develop their idea. They also consulted with privacy lawyers to ensure the app's legal viability. The students emphasized the importance of understanding the business side of app development and the feasibility of ideas. The competition allows students to grow in their leadership skills and provides valuable experience for their future careers [895ea381].
The University of Glasgow team's success in the Amazon Alexa Taskbot Challenge, the achievement of the 6-year-old Jamaican girl in the family AI app competition, the launch of Amazon's chatbot Rufus, and the development of the 'CallGuard' app by Midland High School students highlight the advancements and potential of AI in various fields, as well as the creativity and innovation of young minds in the technology sector [5e4e68a6] [7cfc3cb0] [f188f644] [895ea381].