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Apple's App Store anger
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Welcome, Tech enthusiasts.
After years in court, Apple likely hoped its legal storms had passed — with new App Store changes implemented after rulings from its Epic Games lawsuit.
But what Apple sees as compliance, app makers see as a loophole — with the new rules angering developers and likely bringing more legal battles to the table. Let’s dive deeper…
In today’s tech rundown:
Apple’s App Store changes draw criticism
Smart contact lenses monitor glaucoma
9 new products
Zuckerberg reorgs Meta AI with AGI focus
Iowa sues TikTok for misleading parents
Instagram introduces ‘nighttime nudges’ to help teens sleep
Read time: 3 minutes
TODAY’S HEADLINES
APPLE
📱Apple’s App Store changes draw criticism
Image source: Reuters
The Rundown: Apple updated its App Store rules this week under legal pressure, allowing developers to use third-party payment systems — but developers must still pay Apple a 27% commission fee, drawing widespread criticism that the changes don't go far enough.
The details:
The updates stem from a 2020 lawsuit from Epic Games challenging Apple's "walled garden" approach and 30% commission fees.
A court ruled Apple had monopoly power over iOS apps and ordered them to allow alternate payments — but under the new rules, apps must still pay a 27% "tax" to Apple for external payment transactions.
Both Apple and Epic appealed the original decision to try and push the issue to the Supreme Court, but were denied.
Developers slammed the change as bad faith compliance, with Epic's CEO saying they will continue to contest it in court.
Why it matters: While the concessions may appease the court, developers argue the changes reinforce Apple's app marketplace dominance rather than increasing competition. With Apple now facing heat from all angles, these legal challenges seem likely to continue.
2U (MIT)
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MEDICAL TECH
👁️ Smart contact lenses monitor glaucoma
Image source: Northumbria University
The Rundown: Researchers from Northumbria University just developed GlakoLens — contact lenses with embedded sensors that continuously monitor pressure changes within the eye to aid in glaucoma diagnosis.
The details:
The tech uses a soft disposable lens and wireless system to gather and analyze pressure data over 24 hours.
The constant monitoring captures natural fluctuations better than single in-office measurements to improve detection.
Initial trials showed the contact lens sensors responded accurately to intentionally increased eye pressure.
Glaucoma develops slowly over time with few symptoms, making early detection difficult — something that GlakoLens addresses with easy, constant measurements.
Why it matters: Wearable medical devices are about to push to new heights with new tech, AI and robotic advances. Innovations like these lenses will provide more rapid diagnosis and less invasive monitoring for countless conditions.
NEW PRODUCTS
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👨 Broadcast 2.0- Manager's AI assistant (link)
📧 Superhuman AI for iOS- Accelerated email composition for mobile (link)
📸 Camp 2.0- AI-powered screenshot management (link)
🧠 Emergent Mind- GPT-4 explains trending AI/ML papers (link)
🗣️ Gotalk.ai- Text-to-speech AI conversion (link)
🕵️♂️ Knibble- AI-powered knowledge base (link)
👩🏽🍳ChefGPT- AI digital chef & kitchen companion (link)
✏️ StealthGPT- An AI-writing tool that avoids AI detection (link)
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SNIPPETS
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is reorganizing the company with a new focus on developing artificial general intelligence (AGI).
The EU launches the Nostradamus project to enhance cybersecurity using quantum key distribution technology.
Iowa is suing TikTok, alleging the platform misleads parents by understating the amount of inappropriate content accessible to young users.
SWIR sensors, made with non-toxic quantum dots and offering improved performance in challenging visual conditions, show great potential for integration into various technology sectors.
Instagram is introducing "Nighttime Nudges" to encourage teens to stop using the app late at night and help them prioritize sleep.
The European Parliament is seeking to reform regulations to mandate fairer payment and greater transparency for artists on music streaming platforms.
Big Sky's 18K sensor, the world's largest in any commercial cinema camera, enhances content for Las Vegas' immersive Sphere venue.
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A new era of mobile AI is here
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Welcome, AI enthusiasts.
Samsung just rolled out its Galaxy S24 lineup, determined to bring a ‘new era of mobile AI’ to consumers everywhere.
Have the first true ‘smart’ phones just hit the market? Let’s dig deeper…
In today’s AI rundown:
Samsung unveils ‘new era of mobile AI’ with Galaxy launch
Adobe Premiere Pro gets new AI updates
How to create 3D assets from text with Genie
Google DeepMind AI solves olympiad-level geometry
8 new AI tools & 4 new AI jobs
More AI & tech news
Read time: 4 minutes
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
SAMSUNG
Samsung unveils ‘new era of mobile AI’ with Galaxy launch
Image source: Samsung
The Rundown: Samsung just revealed its latest flagship Galaxy S24 smartphone lineup at the company’s Unpacked conference, featuring extensive new AI capabilities for communication, photography, gaming, and more powered by Google’s Gemini AI model.
The details:
A Live Translate feature enables real-time voice/text translation during calls in the native phone app without needing third-party software, with the AI model running locally.
The camera system uses AI editing tools to fill in backgrounds and adjust subject position, as well as in night mode and 100x zoom to clarify low light and distant shots.
Circle to Search allows users to draw a circle around any object in an image or video to get AI-powered information from Google.
On-device AI enables quicker responses compared to cloud-reliant solutions.
The new rollout features three price points: the S24 Ultra starting at $1,299.99, the S24+ at $999, and the S24 at $799.
Why it matters: The race to incorporate AI into smartphones is officially here. While not all these features are guaranteed to move the needle for consumers — Samsung may be the first to truly expose mainstream users to AI’s potential in mobile devices.
TOGETHER WITH CONVEYOR
The impacts of AI on security questionnaires (see the 2024 report)
The Rundown: Last year, Conveyor’s customer trust automation platform was responsible for:
Over 300k security questionnaire questions answered by AI
100k+ security documents downloaded
45% of the Fortune 500 companies conducting security reviews through Conveyor
So, does AI bring an end to security questionnaires as we know it?
Based on the data, Conveyor curated a list of predictions for the future of security reviews. Click here to see the report.
ADOBE
Adobe Premiere Pro gets new AI updates
Image source: Adobe
The Rundown: Adobe just introduced new AI-powered features to Premiere Pro, including updates like enhanced speech removal, custom audio transitions, and automatic audio category tagging.
The details:
New AI audio tagging labels clips into dialogue, music, effects, or ambient noise, providing one-click access to relevant editing tools.
Interactive fade handles allow quick drag-and-drop custom audio transitions on the main timeline.
An Enhanced Speech tool is coming in February, promising to improve dialogue quality and remove unwanted noise from recordings.
Why it matters: Adobe continues integrating workflow-enhancing AI tools across its creative platforms. But unlike more controversial art updates, audio, and video editing seems like a sector ripe for AI disruption — optimizing mundane tasks so editors can focus on creative storytelling.
AI TRAINING
How to create 3D assets from text with Genie
The Rundown: Luma Labs recently launched a new text-to-3D model called Genie, allowing users to quickly generate 3D models of anything you can imagine.
Step-by-step:
Head to Genie and login to create a free account.
Under the ‘Imagine’ tab, type a description of the model you want to generate.
Genie will provide four variations of your prompt. Click your favorite, or retry to get additional options or tweak the prompt.
Once you’ve selected your favorite, you can download the 3D asset into a variety of file formats, as well as upscale or get additional variations.
AI RESEARCH
Google DeepMind AI solves olympiad-level geometry
Image source: Midjourney
The Rundown: Google DeepMind researchers just developed AlphaGeometry, an AI system that can solve complex geometry problems from mathematical olympiads — reaching the performance level of top human contestants.
The details:
AlphaGeometry combines neural networks and symbolic logic engines to search for geometric proofs trained on over 100M synthetic training examples.
In a test set of 30 problems from the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO), AlphaGeometry solved 25 problems, surpassing both specialized math software and other search methods.
On problems from the 2000 and 2015 IMOs, the system attained perfect scores based on a review from a math olympiad coach.
The system rediscovered known theorems during data generation and found novel generalizations of test problems, demonstrating creative reasoning abilities.
Why it matters: Being able to solve challenging geometry on par with some of the world’s most talented students demonstrates wildly impressive mathematic abilities for an AI system — and AlphaGeometry’s success offers a promising path to more human-like reasoning in AI.
NEW TOOLS & JOBS
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QUICK HITS
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Amazon launched a new AI image generation feature on Fire TVs using voice prompts processed by Alexa, allowing users to create and set custom artwork as backgrounds.
Security researchers discovered LeftoverLocals, a GPU vulnerability affecting Apple, AMD and Qualcomm chips in millions of devices that risks exposing large quantities of AI model data.
Sakana AI raised $30M in seed funding for its work on nature-inspired foundation models, in a rare instance of a Silicon Valley VC backing a seed stage startup in Japan.
Sam Altman said OpenAI is currently focused on getting its board in place, speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos about the company’s dramatic end to 2023.
OpenAI board director Adam D’Angelo reportedly spoke last month with Databricks CEO Ali Ghodsi about joining the OpenAI board, despite Databricks functioning as a rival and positioning itself as ‘anti-OpenAI’.
Cybersecurity startup Vicarius secured $30M in Series B funding for its AI-powered vulnerability detection platform.
Google NotebookLM launched a new set of features to its AI-powered notetaking platform, including the ability to “Help Me Understand”, “Critique”, “Create Outline” and more.
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Hyper-realistic holograms are here...
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Welcome, Tech enthusiasts.
UK startup VividQ claims to have created the first ‘retina resolution’ projections, with plans to integrate holographic tech into gaming and AR/VR applications.
Between these tech upgrades and new hardware like the Vision Pro garnering major hype — are holograms set to be in the spotlight? Let’s take a look…
In today’s tech rundown:
UK startup hails first ‘retina-resolution’ holograms
Wing unveils larger delivery drone
9 new products
Mr. Beast tests out videos on X
YouTube hit with new layoffs
Samsung teases new wearable smart ring
Read time: 3 minutes
TODAY’S HEADLINES
HOLOGRAPHIC TECH
👁️ UK startup hails first ‘retina-resolution’ holograms
Image source: VividQ
The Rundown: UK startup VividQ claims to have created the world’s first "retina resolution" holograms that match the detail the human eye expects — while also announcing a partnership with Japanese electronics firm JKC to advance VR/AR applications with the technology.
The details:
VividQ engineers light waves to render 3D objects that users can naturally focus on at any distance.
The company says the tech offers ‘unparalleled’ immersion and realism, with major implications for VR/AR, gaming, and other experiences.
In addition to the JKC partnership, VividQ said it is also engaged with a ‘world-leading consumer electronics company’ on introducing the tech to its product roadmap.
Why it matters: With hyper-realistic advances like VividQ’s tech, alongside potential new hype around VR/AR with the Vision Pro — holograms may have a major cultural surge in the near future.
TOGETHER WITH SUPERSIDE
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DRONE TECH
📦 Wing unveils larger delivery drone
Image source: Wing
The Rundown: Google parent company Alphabet's drone delivery subsidiary Wing just introduced a new aircraft model capable of carrying loads up to 5 pounds, doubling the capacity of its current 2.5-pound fleet.
The details:
The drone aircraft can travel at speeds up to 65 miles per hour with a roundtrip range of 12 miles on a single charge.
By carrying items like meal kits, pizzas, and bundles of household goods, Wing aims to streamline deliveries that currently require two separate 2.5-pound aircraft.
Wing CEO Adam Woodworth stated the company will roll out the new 5-pound capacity drone across service areas over the next 12 months.
Why it matters: This boost significantly expands the variety of packages Wing can deliver, though truly bulky items still remain out of reach. But given the advances in AI and robotics happening every day, it feels inevitable that drones will handle the bulk of deliveries sooner rather than later.
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🎥 Ubique- Mass-produce custom AI videos (link)
🎤 Podsqueeze 2.0- Transform podcasts into multimedia content (link)
🌎 DocentPro- Virtual global museum creator (link)
💌 HoppyCoppy- Generate better emails and newsletters in seconds with AI (link)
🐦 TweetHunter- All-in-one Twitter growth tool to create content using AI, build an audience, and schedule posts (link)
🎓 Monic AI- Learn anything faster with AI (link)
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SNIPPETS
YouTube has announced internal layoffs affecting its business operations, following over 1,000 job cuts at Google in hardware, policy, and advertising.
Apple agreed to a $35 million settlement over a class action lawsuit claiming iPhone 7 models had audio issues caused by a defective chip
Samsung unveiled its new AI-focused line of Galaxy S24 smartphones, with new camera, productivity, translation and search features powered by Google’s Gemini AI model.
Samsung also teased its new health and wellness-focused Galaxy Ring wearable at the S24 Unpacked event without many details.
MrBeast, known for assessing product pros and cons, explores content creation on X after an invitation from Elon Musk.
CNN CEO Mark Thompson has announced a restructuring strategy focused on unifying the company's separate news divisions and enhancing CNN's digital and mobile presence.
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AI takes over the WEF
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Welcome, AI enthusiasts.
AI is taking over the World… Economic Forum.
The world’s rich and powerful descended on Davos, Switzerland, this week for the annual meetup — with all the leading figures in AI attending to help shape global strategy. Let’s get into it…
In today’s AI rundown:
AI takes center stage at the World Economic Forum
Musk wants over $80B to continue AI and robotics strategy
How to run Phi-2 locally on your computer for private AI
Meta releases MAGNET technique for speedy text-to-audio
8 new AI tools & 4 new AI jobs
More AI & tech news
Read time: 4 minutes
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
OPENAI
AI takes center stage at Davos World Economic Forum
Image source: Reuters
The Rundown: AI is one of the main themes of this week’s World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland — with notable leaders like Sam Altman, Satya Nadella, Yann LeCun, Mustafa Suleyman, and others holding discussions at the annual meeting of the world’s most rich and powerful.
The details:
OpenAI revealed it is working with the Pentagon on cybersecurity projects, coming after recently removing a blanket ban on ‘military and warfare’ uses on ChatGPT’s ToS.
The ChatGPT creator is also accelerating work on addressing election disinformation risks, including new tools for ID’ing DALL-E generated images and more guardrails to prevent abuse.
Altman also said more climate-friendly power is critical for training billion-parameter models, with future AI breakthroughs depending on energy innovation.
Nadella urged attendees on a global regulatory approach to the technology but said he feels a ‘broad consensus’ is emerging on guardrails.
Why it matters: In the annual meeting of global leaders and elites, it’s no surprise that AI has a key seat at the table. With businesses and governments across the globe rushing to get a grasp on the tech, this year’s meetings will provide a key opportunity to get more globally aligned on adoption and safety.
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TESLA
Musk wants over $80B to continue AI and robotics strategy
Image source: The New York Times
The Rundown: Elon Musk just demanded (via X) that Tesla's board grant him a 25% voting stake (worth over $80B) to continue driving its AI and robotics strategy, startling investors and saying he'll pursue external ventures if his ask is not met.
The details:
Musk said he is “uncomfortable growing Tesla to be a leader in AI and robotics without having ~25% voting control" in a reply on X.
Musk’s current shares are reportedly worth 13% of the company, with the polarizing tech leader selling a significant amount of his shares to fund the purchase of Twitter.
Granting the demands would be difficult, with Tesla needing to issue new shares that could result in shareholder lawsuits.
Voting power was highlighted by Musk as the main driver, saying that being at 15% or lower ‘makes a takeover by dubious interests too easy’.
Why it matters: The provocative move spotlights Tesla's susceptibility to Musk's whims and the friction between his personal and corporate interests as AI ambitions collide. While Elon is undoubtedly an accelerant of innovation — it’s certainly not always a smooth ride.
AI TRAINING
How to run Phi-2 locally on your computer for private AI
Image source: Paul Couvert on X
The Rundown: Mistral AI’s open-source LLM, Phi-2, can be run on your laptop offline — keeping data private and avoiding the censorship that comes with other models.
Thank you to Paul Couvert for sharing this tutorial with us.
Step-by-step:
Download LM Studio - a free platform for local AI models
Inside LM Studio, search for "phi-2", select “TheBloke/phi-2-GGUF” and download the Q6_K or Q4_K_S version.
Open the Chat tab, ensure Phi-2 is selected, and then start prompting away!
AI RESEARCH
Meta releases MAGNET technique for speedy text-to-audio
Image source: Midjourney
The Rundown: Meta researchers just developed a new text-to-audio AI method called MAGNET, which is capable of quickly generating music, sound effects, and noises from text prompts.
The details:
MAGNET learns by predicting masked sections of songs during training, then unmasks pieces by using surrounding context as clues to fill in gaps.
The technique is 7 times quicker than similar systems while matching their sound quality.
MAGNET is also tested for turning text into sound effects and environmental noises.
Why it matters: By composing sections together non-sequentially, MAGNET points toward more efficient AI methods for music, audio, and perhaps even video creation down the line.
NEW TOOLS & JOBS
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AI Assist- Advanced spreadsheet helper (link)
Affistash- Enhance brand promotion with partner recruitment (link)
Expo- Monetize AI expertise (link)
AI Picasso- Animate AI-generated dances from photos (link)
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QUICK HITS
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Verizon CEO Hans Vestberg said during an interview at Davos that he sees AI and machine learning as a core area of network growth, citing AI’s potential to possibly revive the smartphone market.
PwC’s annual Global CEO Survey found that 25% of respondents expect to reduce employee numbers due to generative AI.
Baidu has denied allegations its Ernie Bot is being used to train a Chinese military system, following media reports linking the LLM to weapons and combat data.
Vodaphone just signed a $1.5B, 10-year deal with Microsoft for AI-related services, including customer support chatbots and collaboration on the telecommunication giant’s platforms.
Square Enix revealed its Playstation exclusive game Foamstars uses some AI-generated art created with Midjourney, following the company’s pledge to ‘aggressively’ adopt AI.
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Apple takes 2023 smartphone crown
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Welcome, Tech enthusiasts.
For the first time ever, there is a new leader on the smartphone throne.
Apple just took the top spot for global mobile shipments for 2023, ending Samsung’s 12-year reign. Let’s dive in…
In today’s tech rundown:
Apple tops Samsung as smartphone leader for 2023
Apple nixes blood oxygen tracking amid patent dispute
8 new products
Google cuts hundreds of roles
Apple and Epic Games end antitrust dispute
Google Maps adds new features to Waze
Read time: 3 minutes
TODAY’S HEADLINES
APPLE
🍏 Apple tops Samsung as smartphone leader for 2023
Image source: Getty Images
The Rundown: For the first time ever, Apple shipped more smartphones globally than Samsung in 2023 — taking the top spot in IDC's rankings after a strong Q4 for the company despite a weak overall market for the sector.
The details:
According to new data from analyst firms IDC and Canalys, Apple shipped 234.6M iPhones worldwide in 2023, narrowly edging out Samsung's 226.6M units.
This ends Samsung's stretch as the annual global smartphone shipment leader that lasted over a decade.
Apple saw strong iPhone growth in emerging markets like India and Brazil, as well as continuing traction for its premium-priced iPhone 14 Pro models.
Notably, Apple was the only smartphone maker to achieve growth in 2023, with overall smartphone sales declining 3.2% year-over-year.
Why it matters: While lagging in AI and struggling with sales in other areas, the iPhone’s dominance is spreading across the globe. All eyes now turn to the Vision Pro — and with a successful launch, we might see the tech giant have some serious momentum back in its corner.
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TECH IN THE COURTS
⌚️ Apple nixes blood oxygen tracking amid patent dispute
Image source: Apple
The Rundown: Apple is planning to completely remove the blood oxygen tracking feature from its newest Apple Watch models (including the Series 9 and Ultra 2) in order to comply with a U.S. import ban due to a patent dispute.
The details:
In October, the U.S. International Trade Commission ruled that Apple's watches violated Masimo patents related to pulse oximetry technology for measuring blood oxygen levels.
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection approved Apple's proposed software redesign that eliminates the blood oxygen tracking capability.
Apple will likely only remove the feature if its pending appeal to block enforcement of the ITC ban completely fails in federal court.
The tech giant has already started shipping modified versions of the Series 9 and Ultra 2 watches without the feature to U.S. retailers in case the appeal gets denied.
Why it matters: Whichever way the courts rule, Apple is taking measures to ensure its legal battle doesn’t disrupt sales — but the moves don’t come off as a company looking to pay Masimo for their tech. As we’ve seen time and time again, it’s difficult to fight legal battles against giants of industry.
NEW PRODUCTS
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👴 Life Story AI- AI-generated family storybooks (link)
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SNIPPETS
Google is reducing its workforce by cutting several hundred roles within its advertising sales team globally.
The Supreme Court has denied hearing the antitrust dispute between Apple and Epic Games, largely maintaining Apple's victory.
Take-Two Interactive has opposed Remedy Entertainment's updated "R" logo, alleging it infringes on Rockstar Games' emblem.
Google Maps has introduced Bluetooth beacon support for enhanced navigation in areas without GPS signal, such as tunnels.
Elon Musk argues for increased control over Tesla to steer the company towards AI and robotics leadership, despite it currently deriving 95% of its revenue from its automotive sector
EA is developing a platform that could transform the gaming industry by enabling more accessible game creation and community-driven modifications.
UK retailer Game is set to discontinue its trade-in services and phase out pre-owned merchandise as part of an integration process within the Frasers Group.
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Microsoft reveals Copilot Pro...
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Welcome, AI enthusiasts.
In today’s newsletter, we get into Microsoft’s new Copilot Pro, a premium subscription to its Copilot chatbot that comes with the tech giant’s very own GPT Builder.
But before we dive in, a quick request. Could you take one minute to fill out our audience survey? It will help us learn more about you so that we can create more engaging, personalized content in the future.
In today’s AI rundown:
Microsoft introduces Copilot Pro
IMF warns AI could exacerbate inequality
How to streamline task delegation with ChatGPT and Loom
Research: OpenChat’s new open-source model
8 new AI tools & 4 new AI jobs
More AI & tech news
Read time: 3 minutes
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
MICROSOFT
Microsoft introduces Copilot Pro
Image source: Microsoft
The Rundown: Microsoft just announced Copilot Pro, a premium subscription of their Copilot chatbot that enhances AI capabilities across Microsoft 365 apps.
The details:
Copilot Pro, priced at $20/month, offers advanced features like AI in Office apps and priority access to the latest OpenAI models.
The subscription is available for Microsoft 365 Personal and Family subscribers and includes a new Copilot GPT Builder.
Copilot for Microsoft 365 is now generally available for small businesses, with subscriptions starting at $30 per user/month.
The free version of Copilot, which previously offered GPT-4 access for free, is now limiting free GPT-4 to “non-peak times. “
Alongside the updates, Microsoft announced the official release of the Copilot app on iOS and Android (first revealed in The Rundown weeks ago).
Our thoughts: While it’s great to see Microsoft continue its commitment to integrating AI with new features like a GPT Builder and mobile apps, it’s a bit disappointing reading into the fine lines of the announcement, only to find out that GPT-4 will no longer be accessible for free at all times on Copilot.
TOGETHER WITH OCTOAI
40x cheaper Mixtral dominates LLM leaderboards
The Rundown: OctoAI is the fastest, easiest place to run Mixtral 8x7B, with 4X lower per token price than GPT 3.5-Turbo and over 40X lower than GPT 4-Turbo. Mixtral outperforms Anthropic and GPT3.5 Turbo 9 months post-launch.
With Mixtral on OctoAI:
40x lower production cost than GPT 4-Turbo with open-source flexibility
Achieve accuracy with the first major MoE-powered (Mixture of Experts) OSS LLM
Deliver incredible user experience with super low latency, infinitely scalable infrastructure
Check out the Mixtral and sign up for OctoAI for free tokens to put it to the test.
AI JOB IMPACT
IMF warns AI could exacerbate inequality
Image source: IMF
The Rundown: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) reports that artificial intelligence (AI) may impact nearly 40% of jobs, with a higher effect (60%) in advanced economies.
The details of the report:
AI is set to enhance productivity in some cases but could replace human-performed tasks in others, leading to reduced labor demand and potential job losses.
In advanced economies, around half the jobs could benefit from AI integration.
In contrast, only 26% of jobs in low-income countries will likely be affected.
The disparity in AI's impact raises concerns about widening inequality between nations, as many low-income countries lack the infrastructure or skilled workforce to harness AI's benefits.
Why it matters: This analysis highlights the dual nature of AI's impact on the global workforce, with potential productivity boosts alongside risks of job displacement and growing inequality. Policy interventions/inclusive strategies to manage this transition are becoming increasingly crucial.
AI TRAINING
How to streamline task delegation with ChatGPT and Loom
The Rundown: Learn to create effective Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) using Loom and ChatGPT, a method that significantly reduces the time spent on documentation.
Thank you to Jodie Cook for sharing this tutorial with us.
The prompt:
"Transform this transcript from an instructional video into a comprehensive set of actionable steps to create an SOP. The transcript covers [describe task/process]. Highlight key points, cautionary notes, and tips for efficiency. The goal is a step-by-step guide for effective delegation that minimizes errors and maximizes productivity: [Include transcript]."
Step-by-step:
Record a Loom video detailing the task you want to delegate.
Use ChatGPT with a specific prompt to convert the video transcript into a clear, actionable SOP.
Provide the team member or supplier with both the video and the newly generated SOP.
AI RESEARCH
OpenChat’s new model ‘outperforms’ ChatGPT and Grok
Image source: OpenChat
The Rundown: OpenChat just introduced an advanced open-source 7B LLM, surpassing both ChatGPT (as of March) and Grok-1 in performance across multiple benchmarks.
Key Improvements:
Enhanced training methodology.
Improved in-context learning capabilities.
Better coding skills than previous models.
Why it matters: Regardless of the interesting Grok comparison in research, seeing another open-source LLM at the ChatGPT (and Grok) level is significant. This is yet another big win for open-source AI.
NEW TOOLS & JOBS
AI tools powered by Supertools
LinkedLeads- Unlimited lead generation from LinkedIn (link)
Mishka- Telegram-based AI chatbot with internet browsing capabilities (link)
Codara- AI-driven code review and diagnostics (link)
Dinnerfy- Automates dinner and grocery orders (link)
Personage- Monetize with AI companions (link)
Antispace- Converts thoughts to actions with AI (link)
GPT Studio- Analytics for custom GPTs (link)
Photo Filters- Apply styles from one photo to another (link)
AI jobs powered by The Rundown Jobs
QUICK HITS
Tesla’s Optimus robot was recently recorded folding a shirt, one step closer to automated at-home human tasks.
OpenAI preps for 2024 elections with increased transparency, authoritative voting information, and deepfake protections.
AI cameras are being installed on UK highways to detect and fine drivers who throw trash out of their cars.
Scammers use deepfakes of Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez in a fake Le Creuset cookware giveaway, tricking users into costly subscriptions.
OpenAI's newly launched GPT Store is struggling with moderation, as numerous AI girlfriend bots appear despite rules against them.
THAT’S A WRAP
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Amazon outspends all of France
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Welcome, Tech enthusiasts.
Amazon is setting a new precedent in research and development, with its R&D spending surpassing giants in the tech industry and entire nations' investments.
Can the sheer scale of Amazon's investment redefine innovation and economic impact on a global scale? Let’s get into it…
In today’s tech rundown:
Amazon’s R&D outspends all of France
The moon’s lunar crust holds more water than previously thought
9 new products
Peacock breaks streaming record during NFL game
Amazon’s newest competitor is FedEx
Nearly half of all cyber incidents are committed by 10 groups
Read time: 3 minutes
TODAY’S HEADLINES
AMAZON
💰 Amazon’s R&D outspends all of France
Image source: Trendline HQ
The Rundown: Amazon's research and development (R&D) investments significantly overshadow the R&D spending of entire countries like France, highlighting the tech giant's colossal financial commitment to innovation.
The details:
Amazon's R&D spending, amounting to a whopping $73.2 billion, surpasses the total R&D expenditure of France.
This staggering level of corporate R&D investment by a single American tech company exceeds the combined R&D spending of all companies and government efforts within several nations.
Even PepsiCo's R&D budget stands higher than the total R&D spending in Nigeria, reflecting the immense resources tech giants can allocate to development and growth.
Why it matters: Amazon's R&D strategy is pivotal, not just in technology but as a significant economic force, illustrating the vast scale and potential impact of corporate investment in innovation compared to national efforts.
TOGETHER WITH OCTOAI
🐙 40x cheaper Mixtral dominates LLM leaderboards
The Rundown: OctoAI is the fastest, easiest place to run Mixtral 8x7B, with 4X lower per token price than GPT 3.5-Turbo and over 40X lower than GPT 4-Turbo. Mixtral outperforms Anthropic and GPT3.5 Turbo 9 months post-launch.
With Mixtral on OctoAI:
40x lower production cost than GPT 4-Turbo with open-source flexibility
Achieve accuracy with the first major MoE-powered (Mixture of Experts) OSS LLM
Deliver incredible user experience with super low latency, infinitely scalable infrastructure
Check out the Mixtral and sign up for OctoAI for free tokens to put it to the test.
THE MOON
🌙 Research reveals the moon’s lunar crust holds more water
The Rundown: Western University's research indicates that the Moon's crust had significantly more water than previously estimated.
The details:
Tara Hayden discovered apatite in lunar meteorites, indicating that the early lunar crust was water-enriched.
Previous assumptions from Apollo mission samples suggested the Moon was dry; this finding challenges that view.
The research opens new avenues for understanding lunar history and aids in planning for future lunar missions.
Why it matters: The discovery has significant implications for our understanding of the Moon's formation and its early geological processes. It may also affect future lunar exploration, resource utilization, and the planning of missions like NASA's Artemis, which aims to return humans to the Moon.
NEW PRODUCTS
✈️ Hermeso- AI-powered personal travel advisor (link)
👨💻 Code Scanner- VSCode extension for enhancing code security with GPT4 (link)
⭐ AI Icon Generator- AI-driven icon creation platform (link)
⚠️ Repo Assistant- Automates duplicate issue detection on GitHub (link)
🚨 LVE- Central hub for LLM vulnerability data (link)
😂 HAHA- Learn and laugh with an app (link)
🔩 Bolt AI- ChatGPT app for Mac (link)
🤖 Forefront- Your AI assistant for work (link)
💬 ChatBotKit- No-code ChatBot builder (link)
Browse the most popular tools ever featured with our tool database.
SNIPPETS
The Peacock Exclusive AFC Wild Card game set a U.S. streaming record with 27.6 million viewers for the Kansas City Chiefs vs. Miami Dolphins.
FedEx is set to launch "fdx," its new all-in-one e-commerce platform catering to both sellers and buyers, by fall 2024.
A research report revealed that nearly half of all cyber incidents in 2023 were orchestrated by ten major threat actors, highlighting the concentration of cyber threats among a small number of influential cybergangs.
Leaked marketing images of the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S24 series reveal AI capabilities and showcase designs similar to their predecessors, along with a range of new features and color options.
Tom Stokely has transitioned into the aviation industry by becoming a director at the British startup Global Airlines.
Astrobotic's Peregrine lunar lander, a NASA-backed private mission, is set to burn up in Earth's atmosphere after a fuel leak ended its journey to the moon.
Verizon settles for $100M over a fee lawsuit but will continue charging the "Telco Recovery" fee without admitting fault and may increase it in the future.
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THAT’S A WRAP
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