Latest news with #StevenKramer
Toronto Star
a day ago
- Politics
- Toronto Star
Consultant behind AI-generated robocalls mimicking Biden goes on trial in New Hampshire
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — A political consultant who sent voters artificial intelligence-generated robocalls mimicking former President Joe Biden last year goes on trial Thursday in New Hampshire, where jurors may be asked to consider not just his guilt or innocence but whether the state actually held its first-in-the-nation presidential primary. Steven Kramer, who faces decades in prison if convicted of voter suppression and impersonating a candidate, has admitted orchestrating a message sent to thousands of voters two days before the Jan. 23, 2024, primary. The message played an AI-generated voice similar to the Democratic president's that used his phrase 'What a bunch of malarkey' and suggested that voting in the primary would preclude voters from casting ballots in November.
Associated Press
a day ago
- Politics
- Associated Press
Consultant behind AI-generated robocalls mimicking Biden goes on trial in New Hampshire
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — A political consultant who sent voters artificial intelligence-generated robocalls mimicking former President Joe Biden last year goes on trial Thursday in New Hampshire, where jurors may be asked to consider not just his guilt or innocence but whether the state actually held its first-in-the-nation presidential primary. Steven Kramer, who faces decades in prison if convicted of voter suppression and impersonating a candidate, has admitted orchestrating a message sent to thousands of voters two days before the Jan. 23, 2024, primary. The message played an AI-generated voice similar to the Democratic president's that used his phrase 'What a bunch of malarkey' and suggested that voting in the primary would preclude voters from casting ballots in November. 'It's important that you save your vote for the November election,' voters were told. 'Your votes make a difference in November, not this Tuesday.' Kramer, who owns a firm specializing in get-out-the-vote projects, has said he wasn't trying to influence the outcome of the primary election but rather wanted to send a wake-up call about the potential dangers of AI when he paid a New Orleans magician and self-described 'digital nomad' $150 to create the recording. 'Maybe I'm a villain today, but I think in the end we get a better country and better democracy because of what I've done, deliberately,' Kramer told The Associated Press in February 2024. Ahead of the trial in Belknap County Superior Court, state prosecutors sought to prevent Kramer from arguing that the primary was a meaningless straw poll because it wasn't sanctioned by the Democratic National Committee. At Biden's request, the DNC dislodged New Hampshire from its traditional early spot in the nominating calendar, but later dropped its threat not to seat the state's national convention delegates. Biden did not put his name on the ballot or campaign there, but won as a write-in. The state argued that such evidence was irrelevant and would risk confusing jurors, but Judge Elizabeth Leonard denied the motion in March, saying the DNC's actions and Kramer's understanding of them were relevant to his motive and intent in sending the calls. She did grant the prosecution's request that the court accept as fact that the state held its presidential primary election as defined by law on Jan. 23, 2024. Jurors will be informed of that conclusion but won't be required to accept it. Kramer faces 11 felony charges, each punishable by up to seven years in prison, alleging he attempted to prevent or deter someone from voting based on 'fraudulent, deceptive, misleading or spurious grounds or information.' He also faces 11 misdemeanor charges that each carry a maximum sentence of a year in jail accusing him of falsely representing himself as a candidate by his own conduct or that of another person. He also has been fined $6 million by the Federal Communications Commission, but it's unclear whether he has paid it, and the FCC did not respond to a request for comment earlier this week. The agency was developing AI-related rules when Donald Trump won the presidency, but has since shown signs of a possible shift toward loosening regulations. In April, it recommended that a telecom company be added back to an industry consortium just weeks after the agency had proposed fining the company for its role in illegal robocalls impersonating the FCC. Half of all U.S. states have enacted legislation regulating AI deepfakes in political campaigns, according to the watchdog organization Public Citizen. But House Republicans in Congress recently added a clause to their party's signature 'big beautiful' tax bill that would ban states and localities from regulating artificial intelligence for a decade, though it faces long odds in the Senate.
The Sun
3 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Workjam taps Google Cloud to boost frontlinE AI capabilities
KUALA LUMPUR: WorkJam, the world's leading digital frontline workplace, has expanded its strategic collaboration with Google Cloud to deliver enterprise-ready artificial intelligence (AI) solutions built specifically for frontline teams. WorkJam already offers AI Agent, powered by Google's Gemini models and cloud infrastructure, which is revolutionising how frontline organisations operate, bringing intelligent automation, productivity, and engagement to a new level, and this feature will be the first of an innovative roadmap that will be AI-driven. 'By integrating the powerful reasoning capabilities of Google's Gemini models into the WorkJam platform, we are redefining labour utilisation for frontline teams across the APAC region. 'With Gemini models, WorkJam ensures the right people are in the right place at the right time, improving operational efficiency while creating a more engaging and productive work environment,' said WorkJam Chief Executive Officer, Steven Kramer in a statement. This collaboration enables WorkJam to co-innovate alongside Google Cloud, gaining early access to AI advancements and accelerating delivery of cutting-edge capabilities to global customers. Leveraging Google's Gemini models, WorkJam delivers intelligent and conversational AI that understands text, voice, and visual inputs, hence creating more natural, intuitive user experiences for frontline employees. From task automation and knowledge retrieval to in-the-moment support, WorkJam's AI Agent supercharges productivity and reduces friction in everyday operations. WorkJam's vision is to continue to transform the frontline experience by integrating Google's Gemini models to deliver real-time intelligence, automation, and intuitive support directly into daily workflows. By combining voice, text, and visual understanding, WorkJam empowers frontline employees with instant access to knowledge, adaptive training, and seamless task execution, reducing friction, streamlining operations, and unburdening managers to focus on high-value work.
Techday NZ
3 days ago
- Business
- Techday NZ
WorkJam & Google Cloud expand AI tools for frontline staff
WorkJam has announced an expansion of its partnership with Google Cloud to deliver AI-powered solutions for frontline employees across the Asia-Pacific region. The company's AI agent, built on Google Cloud and leveraging Google's Gemini models, is being tailored for industries with complex frontline environments, such as retail, healthcare, and logistics. The collaboration aims to simplify the way frontline teams access knowledge, receive training, and execute tasks in real time. WorkJam's CEO, Steven Kramer, described the AI initiative as "a redefinition of labour utilisation," adding that it will ensure "the right people are in the right place, at the right time, with intelligent support to balance workloads and drive productivity." Central to the rollout is WorkJam's AI roadmap, developed on Google Cloud's infrastructure, which provides security, compliance, and scalability required by sectors including manufacturing. The platform is intended to address operational demands by delivering consistent global performance and meeting stringent enterprise requirements. The AI features are powered by Google's Gemini models, which offer what the companies describe as multimodal intelligence. This approach means the AI agent can interpret and respond to a variety of input types—text, voice, and visual—enabling natural and intuitive interactions for users on the frontline. The companies emphasise that this multimodal capability is designed to automate day-to-day tasks, retrieve information, and provide on-the-spot assistance, thereby enhancing productivity and reducing obstacles for employees during their shifts. WorkJam said its vision is to integrate such AI-driven intelligence and automation directly into daily workflows. The aim is to give employees rapid access to necessary information, adaptable training resources, and straightforward task management tools regardless of the user's language or role. The company said this will help streamline operations and allow managers to devote more attention to higher-value responsibilities. The solution's AI-driven approach is also focused on labour deployment, seeking to ensure that staffing is more precisely aligned with demand, while increasing employee engagement and improving service to customers. The expanded collaboration allows WorkJam to work closely with Google Cloud, benefiting from early access to AI technology and accelerating the delivery of advanced features to its customers throughout the region. Steven Kramer, CEO, WorkJam said, "By integrating the powerful reasoning capabilities of Google's Gemini models into the WorkJam platform, we're redefining labour utilisation for frontline teams across the APAC region. This isn't just about smarter scheduling—it's about giving managers and employees real-time support to make better decisions, balance workloads, and drive productivity. With Gemini models, WorkJam ensures the right people are in the right place at the right time, improving operational efficiency while creating a more engaging and productive work environment."
Business Wire
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Wire
WorkJam Brings Next-Gen AI to the Frontline Workforce with Google Cloud
SINGAPORE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--WorkJam, the world's leading digital frontline workplace, today announced an expansion of its strategic collaboration with Google Cloud to deliver enterprise-ready AI solutions built specifically for frontline teams. WorkJam already offers AI Agent, powered by Google's Gemini models and cloud infrastructure, which is revolutionising how frontline organizations operate—bringing intelligent automation, productivity, and engagement to a new level and this feature will be the first of an innovative road map that will be AI-driven. Built on Google Cloud's Industry-Leading AI Infrastructure WorkJam's AI roadmap is engineered on Google Cloud, providing unmatched scalability, performance, and global reliability. With built-in enterprise-grade security and compliance, it is ready to meet the demands of complex industries such as retail, healthcare, logistics, and manufacturing. Powered by Google's Gemini Models: Multimodal Intelligence for Real-World Impact Leveraging Google's Gemini models, WorkJam delivers intelligent and conversational AI that understands text, voice, and visual inputs—creating more natural, intuitive user experiences for frontline employees. From task automation and knowledge retrieval to in-the-moment support, WorkJam's AI Agent supercharges productivity and reduces friction in everyday operations. An AI Vision for the Future of Frontline Work WorkJam's vision is to continue to transform the frontline experience by integrating Google's Gemini models to deliver real-time intelligence, automation, and intuitive support directly into daily workflows. By combining voice, text, and visual understanding, WorkJam empowers frontline employees with instant access to knowledge, adaptive training, and seamless task execution—regardless of language or role. This reduces friction, streamlines operations, and unburdens managers to focus on high-value work. AI will enable intelligent labour utilization, and ensure the right people are deployed at the right time, maximizing productivity, engagement, and customer impact for every customer. A Collaboration Driving Innovation This collaboration enables WorkJam to co-innovate alongside Google Cloud, gaining early access to AI advancements and accelerating delivery of cutting-edge capabilities to global customers. "By integrating the powerful reasoning capabilities of Google's Gemini models into the WorkJam platform, we're redefining labour utilization for frontline teams across the APAC region. This isn't just about smarter scheduling—it's about giving managers and employees real-time support to make better decisions, balance workloads, and drive productivity. With Gemini models, WorkJam ensures the right people are in the right place at the right time, improving operational efficiency while creating a more engaging and productive work environment." — Steven Kramer, CEO, WorkJam About WorkJam WorkJam was founded in 2014 to improve the lives of frontline workers. As the world's leading digital frontline workplace, WorkJam combines communication, task management, scheduling tools, learning, and more – all on one app. It is the only complete and unified system designed to revolutionize the way HQs and their frontline work together, boosting efficiencies and productivity. Available in 50 languages with in–line translations, the app helps organizations bridge language barriers and create a more inclusive working environment for all. WorkJam introduces Total Workforce Orchestration®. To learn more, visit or follow us on LinkedIn.
