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Welcome to AI Decoded, Fast Companys weekly newsletter that breaks down the most important news in the world of AI. You can sign up to receive this newsletter every week here. Half of all LLM usage is for writing computer code The tech industry insists that AI will transform how companies, both large and small, operate. Tech VCs and AI founders predict that major business functions will be reshaped, one by one, to be handled by AI agents. For a while, many speculated which function would be transformed first. It wasnt customer service, legal, or marketing: it was software development. Generative AIs first killer app is coding. Tools like Cursor and Windsurf can now complete software projects with minimal input or oversight from human engineers. Businesses are rushing to capitalize on the efficiency gains offered by AI coding. Naveen Rao, chief AI officer at Databricks, estimates that coding accounts for half of all large language model usage today. A 2024 GitHub survey found that over 97% of developers have used AI coding tools at work, with 30% to 40% of organizations actively encouraging their adoption. (GitHub, owned by Microsoft, created one of the first such tools, Copilot.) Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella recently said AI now writes up to 30% of the companys code. Google CEO Sundar Pichai echoed that sentiment, noting more than 30% of new code at Google is AI-generated. The soaring valuations of AI coding startups underscore the momentum. Anyspheres Cursor just raised $900 million at a $9 billion valuationup from $2.5 billion earlier this year. Meanwhile, OpenAI acquired Windsurf (formerly Codeium) for $3 billion. And the tools are improving fast. OpenAIs chief product officer, Kevin Weil, explained in a recent interview that just five months ago, the companys best model ranked around one-millionth on a well-known benchmark for competitive codersnot great, but still in the top two or three percentile. Today, OpenAIs top model, o3, ranks as the 175th best competitive coder in the world on that same test. The rapid leap in performance suggests an AI coding assistant could soon claim the number-one spot. Forever after that point computers will be better than humans at writing code, he said. One reason for the progress: AI coding tools are gaining stronger reasoning abilities and can process much more information at once. While models retain general knowledge from pretraining, they depend on specific project-related inputsuch as a software descriptionprovided by a human when its time to build something. This information is stored in short-term memory, known as a context window. Currently, state-of-the-art tools can productively consider fewer than 100,000 tokens (units representing words and word parts) at once. But that number is bound to go up. Google DeepMind research scientist Nikolay Savinov said in a recent interview that AI coding tools will soon support 10 million-token context windowsand eventually, 100 million. With that kind of memory, an AI tool could absorb vast amounts of human instruction and even analyze an entire companys existing codebase for guidance on how to build and optimize new systems. I imagine that we will very soon get to superhuman coding AI systems that will be totally unrivaled, the new tool for every coder in the world, Savinov said. Accenture research shows AI ‘reinvention’ of business still far away A large percentage of that first wave of AI projects, numerous industry sources have told me, ran into unforeseen problemssuch as messy or incomplete data, missing infrastructure, outdated IT systems, and a lack of in-house expertiseand never made it into production. Many of the projects that did go live failed to prove they were worth the time, money, or effort. One AI company founder told me that, based on his conversations with C-level executives, he believes the success rate of first-wave AI projects was less than 10%. The global consulting firm Accenture recently published research on what separates the winners from the rest of the pack. The firm emphasizes the importance of thinking bigthat is, scaling AI systems aggressively across users and business functionsas well as securing executive buy-in, reskilling employees, and making significant investments in AI and cloud infrastructure. Accenture refers to companies that meet these criteria and see tangible results as front runners. Yet Accentures data shows that such companies are still in the minority. After surveying executives at nearly 2,000 companies with more than $1 billion in revenue, the firm found that only about one-third (34%) had made a long-term investment in a generative AI system focused on a core business function. Accentures research revealed that a small minority of companies . . . are already achieving considerable success at reinventing their enterprises with gen AI, the report states. It also found that among those surveyed, 15% are ready to reinvent themselves with AI, 43% are progressing, and another 43% are merely experimenting. Some companies may have been better off ignoring the early AI hype and waiting for the models, tools, and infrastructure to mature. On the other hand, theres something to be said for learning by doingeven if the first attempt falls short. Google is putting AI models to work to protect against online and phone scams Online and phone scams, some of them powered by generative AI tools, surged in 2024 and continue to rise. Now, Google is deploying some of its latest AI models to help protect users from these threats. One such model is Gemini Nano, a lightweight AI that can run directly on a user’s device. Now, when a Chrome user enables Enhanced Protection mode in Safe Browsingthe browsers highest security settingthe Nano model runs locally to scan web content for signs of fraud. It can recognize common scam tactics, such as bad actors posing as remote technical support staff, a tactic Google says is becoming increasingly common. The model is also capable of detecting novel scams it hasnt encountered before. Google says it plans to use the on-device AI scam protection in the browser on mobile Android devices in the future, and to expand the detection to moe types of scams. Google already uses on-device AI to detect scams in other mobile apps. The company recently began warning Android users of possible scams within text messages and phone calls. More AI coverage from Fast Company: How AI is reshaping student writing LinkedIns new AI tools help job seekers find smarter career fits AI scam calls are getting smarter. Heres how telecoms are fighting back Apple eyes AI-powered search as Safari usage declines Want exclusive reporting and trend analysis on technology, business innovation, future of work, and design? Sign up for Fast Company Premium.
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Israels ongoing blockade of humanitarian assistance for Gaza forced a leading aid group to shut its community soup kitchens Thursday as it faced empty warehouses and no replenishment of supplies in the war-battered enclave. World Central Kitchen was serving 133,000 meals per day and baking 80,000 loaves of bread over the past weeks, but said it was forced to suspend operations since there is almost no food left in Gaza for the organization to cook. The lack of food is threatening Gaza’s population, already battered by 19 months of war. In April, the World Food Program said its food stocks in Gaza had run out under Israel’s blockade, ending a main source of sustenance for hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in the territory. Shortages due to blockade drive hunger, malnutrition Malnutrition and hunger are becoming increasingly prevalent in the Gaza Strip as Israels total blockade enters its third month, and aid agencies say supplies to treat and prevent malnutrition are depleted and quickly running out. Israel imposed the blockade on March 2, then shattered a two-month ceasefire by resuming military operations in the territory on March 18. It said both steps aim to pressure the militant Hamas group to release hostages the extremists still hold. Rights groups call the blockade a starvation tactic that endangers the entire population and say it is a potential war crime. Community kitchens such as the ones run by World Central Kitchen are often the only way for hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza to eat a daily meal. But a third of the communal kitchens supported by the U.N. have closed in the past 10 days for lack of food or fuel, the U.N. humanitarian office, or OCHA, said. It warned that number will plunge further in the coming days because of more imminent closures. The hot meals provided by these kitchens constitute one of the last remaining lifelines for Palestinians, OCHA said. At those still open, chaotic scenes of desperate men, women and children fighting to get meager rations are common. Bakeries have closed, while water distribution is grinding to a halt due to lack of fuel. Aid is waiting on the borders Since the start of the war, World Central Kitchen said it has served more than 130 million meals and baked 80 million loaves of bread. The organization also said on Thursday there was no flour left in their mobile bakery. Our trucksloaded with food and suppliesare waiting in Egypt, Jordan, and Israel, ready to enter Gaza, said José Andrés, the celebrity chef who founded the organization. But they cannot move without permission. Humanitarian aid must be allowed to flow. COGAT, the Israeli defense body overseeing aid to Gaza, said the blockade would continue unless the Israeli government changed its policy. Hamas is engineering hunger Israeli government spokesperson David Mencer said the government was concerned that Hamas has control of humanitarian aid, and that Israeli officials are actively exploring mechanisms” to get aid only to those in need and not Hamas. Its very, very important to remember that it is hunger which is engineered by Hamas, Mencer said. Israel will remove the blockade when Hamas lays down its weapons, he said. Aid workers deny there is a significant diversion of aid to militants, saying the U.N. strictly monitors distribution. Since the start of the year, more than 10,000 children have been admitted or treated for acute malnutrition, according to the World Health Organization. The increase was particularly dramatic in March, with 3,600 casesan 80% increase, compared to the 2,000 children in February, UNICEF reported. Nearly half the 200 nutrition centers around Gaza have shut down because of displacement and bombardment. World Central Kitchen had previously suspended operations in April of last year after seven aid workers were killed in Israeli strikes on their convoy, before resuming weeks later. Toll in Gaza continues to rise The Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza said Thursday the bodies of 106 people killed by Israeli strikes have been brought to hospitals over the past 24 hours. Hospitals also received 367 wounded, the ministry said in its daily report. The overall Palestinian death toll from the Israel-Hamas war rose to at least 52,760 since Oct. 7, 2023, the ministry said. Another 119,264 have been wounded, it said. It said the tally includes 2,651 dead and 7,223 wounded since Israel resumed the war on March 18, shattering the ceasefire after nearly two-month hiatus. The ministry does not differentiate between civilians and combatants, but says more than half of the dead were women and children. The Israeli military said they are targeting Hamas infrastructure in Gaza. On Wednesday, chief of staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir told commanders Israel was about to enter phase 2 of operations in Gaza, where Israel plans to “expand and intensify our operations. 1 killed, 8 injured in Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon Also on Thursday, a series of Israeli airstrikes hit hilltops in the vicinity of the southern Lebanese city of Nabatieh, killing at least one person and wounding eight others, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry. The Israeli military said it bombed infrastructure that belonged to the Hezbollah militant group and included weapons and tunnels. Israel said that Hezbollah’s activities at the site violated a November ceasefire. Hezbollah did not immediately comment on the strikes. Lebanons state-run National News Agency said public institutions in the area were closed after the attacks as families rushed to schools to take their children home. Since the U.S.-brokered ceasefire in November stopped the war between Israel and Hezbollah, Israeli strikes on souther Lebanon have continued. Hezbollah says its has largely disarmed south of the Litani River, while Israel insists the militants are rearming themselves. Some 4,000 people in Lebanon were killed during the war, including many civilians. Journalist from Jenin detained for six months A renowned Palestinian journalist arrested by the Israeli military and suffering from multiple chronic illnesses has been placed on six months of administrative detention, the Israeli military said. Ali Samoudi, who has worked for international news outlets including CNN and Al Jazeera, was detained late last month by the Israeli military from his family home in the city of Jenin in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, and has spent part of the time in the hospital due to chronic health issues. The Israeli military said Samoudi was detained based on involvement in actions endangering regional security” but that a police investigation did not find sufficient evidence against him to issue an arrest. However, on Thursday, a military court decided to place him under administrative detention for six months. Israeli authorities can renew administrative detentions indefinitely. Detainees are held without charge or trial. Israel says the controversial tactic is necessary to contain dangerous militants and avoid divulging incriminating material for security reasons. But Palestinians and rights groups say the system denies due process and is widely abused. Wafaa Shurafa and Kareem Chehayeb, Associated Press Associated Press writer Melanie Lidman contributed to this report.
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Once a year, a crowd of thousands of runners fill Central Park as they look up at the sky with joy, relief, exhaustion, and tears, knowing they just completed the iconic TCS New York City Marathon. Recognizing the endless storytelling opportunities that come from the event, New York Road Runners (NYRR), the nonprofit behind the marathon, is launching its own production studio, East 89th St Productions. It was clear to me that this was a huge opportunity for the organization from the first day that I went to the finish line of the marathon, NYRR CEO Rob Simmelkjaer says. It’s rare that you can look and see total strangers by the hundreds, having a moment that you know they’re never going to forget. Named after NYRRs early headquarters on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, East 89th St Productions partnered with Tribeca Studios to produce Final Finishers, a short documentary film showcasing the last tens of thousands of runners crossing the finish line in the final hours of the NYC Marathon. The film is set to premiere at the 2025 Tribeca Film Festival on June 12. ‘A very significant next step’ The launch of NYRRs production studio is a continuation of a larger effort to reach and connect with wider audiences through content creation. Prior to assuming his leadership position in December 2022, Simmelkjaer spent almost 10 years at ESPN and eight years at NBC Sports. At the start of his tenure at NYRR, he set out long-term plans, including broadening awareness of NYRRs initiatives beyond organizing over 60 local races. Due to his background in media, Simmelkjaer saw content creation and storytelling as the logical next step towards building awareness and community. I had to sell both internally and externally the idea that this was an essential part of what we do, because we needed to be talking to our existing audience of runners and members and stakeholders in a new way, he says. In addition to expanding its existing content creation team, which focused on broadcasting the races and managing the organizations social media, Simmelkjaer branched into podcasting. With over 100 episodes, Set the Pace” features stories from runners, as well as running tips, every Thursday, in partnership with Peloton. The podcast was like a beachhead for us. It kind of planted our flag on the beach in terms of content, Simmelkjaer says. The studio is a very significant next step in the evolution of this vision. Take the money and run In addition to building community engagement, content creation is also driving the nonprofit toward another goal: diversifying revenue streams. While NYRR relies primarily on race entry fees and philanthropic donations, content creation opens the door for monetization, new partnerships, and the creation of a deeper connection between donors and the nonprofit’s mission. At the heart of every nonprofit is a mission and that mission can always be told as a story or a set of stories, Simmelkjaer says. The expansion to content creation as a broader strategy can also be adopted by other mission-based nonprofits, visually showcasing the impact of an organization. When donors support a cause, there is something that is moving them to support that cause,” Simmelkjaer says. “There’s something the nonprofit is bringing about a world that the donor wants to see. When you can see in really human and understandable terms what impact that an organization is having, I think that’s going to be more powerful than any PowerPoint presentation can ever be.
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