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Last week, Peter-Paul Verbeek officially opened the HAVA-Lab. This is the first lab of its kind at the University of Amsterdam (UvA) that studies video-AI from an interdisciplinary perspective. The central research question revolves around what defines human-aligned video-AI, how it can be made computable, and what determines its societal acceptance. The lab unites all seven UvA faculties in a groundbreaking effort, showcasing the power of collaboration in addressing complex societal challenges.

TikTok, the popular social media platform, has cut hundreds of jobs globally, particularly in the content moderation department. The company aims to rely more on artificial intelligence (AI) for moderating content. This decision has a significant impact, especially in Malaysia and the Netherlands, according to various sources such as NOS , de Volkskrant , and NRC .

OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, has raised $6.6 billion from investors, bringing its valuation to $157 billion. Once established as a nonprofit organization with idealistic goals, OpenAI is now transitioning into a profit-driven enterprise. These developments and the financial restructuring mark a new phase for OpenAI, as analyzed by de Volkskrant .

How can AI be developed in a way that avoids discrimination and excessive energy consumption, but instead benefits society? This is the central question of a large national AI initiative housed at the Informatics Institute of the University of Amsterdam (UvA). In collaboration with companies and (semi-)government institutions, the initiative focuses on responsible AI solutions for societal challenges such as food waste, cancer treatments, and combating discrimination.

The AI4Fintech community was officially launched on Friday October 4 with a celebratory opening of the Euronext exchange in the morning, followed by an afternoon event that brought together over 100 experts from across the financial sector, including representatives from banks, startups, regulators, and academic institutions.

We would like to invite you to participate in Tech Horizons Thesis  Fair  2024 , the Industrial Thesis  Fair hosted by Study Association STORM in collaboration with the Computer Science department of the VU.

While AI holds great promise for healthcare, its practical implementation has been more challenging than anticipated. Most AI solutions are still in the experimental phase. Three UvA researchers share their insights on bridging the gap between science and medical practice.

AI is commonly associated with entertainment and misinformation, but it is emerging as a tool in mental health care. Professor Theo Gevers from the University of Amsterdam is developing deepfake technology to assist in trauma and grief therapy. Through lifelike avatars, individuals can engage in conversations that help them process trauma in a safe environment.

Preparations for the National Healthcare Innovation Award 2025 are underway, and companies can now register! Amsterdam Economic Board and partners like Zorg2025 are hosting the regional pre-selection round for innovative scale-ups from North Holland and Flevoland.