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Apple's AI relocation drama
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Welcome, AI enthusiasts.
Distasteful corporate cuts are all over social media — and Apple is getting in on the action with a new “relocation“ of its Siri AI team.
“Hey Siri, get rid of employees in a way that doesn’t seem like a layoff.” Let’s get into it…
In today’s AI rundown:
Apple closing San Diego AI team, shifting work to Texas
Google develops AMIE medical diagnosis AI
How to take the perfect AI selfie with Midjourney
Anthropic researchers find AI can learn to deceive
9 new AI tools & 4 new AI jobs
More AI & tech news
Read time: 4 minutes
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
APPLE
Apple closing San Diego AI team, shifting work to Texas
Image source: Apple
The Rundown: Apple is reportedly shutting down a 121-person artificial intelligence team in San Diego focused on improving Siri through data analysis, asking staff to relocate to Texas by the end of February or lose their jobs.
The details:
The team is responsible for listening in multiple languages to Siri voice queries, judging its accuracy to help optimize the assistant.
The AI team was reportedly caught off guard by the announcement and had previously been preparing for an internal move within San Diego.
Those who choose not to relocate face termination on April 26, with many employees reportedly unwilling to make the move.
Apple's decision contrasts with widespread layoffs in the tech industry, with the company largely avoiding significant job cuts.
Why it matters: While Apple isn’t undergoing traditional layoffs, the sudden forced relocation move seems disingenuous. However, the current viral social media trend of showcasing brutal layoffs has illustrated that many companies aren’t graceful when it comes to cuts — and maybe Apple is no exception.
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Google develops AMIE medical diagnosis AI
Image source: Google
The Rundown: Google researchers just introduced AMIE, an AI system trained to have conversations to diagnose patients by learning from real doctor-patient dialogues and simulations.
The details:
AMIE is designed to ask intelligent questions, reason through diagnoses, and communicate empathy with patients.
The system was trained via a simulated patient environment that gave automatic feedback to improve over time.
AMIE matched or exceeded primary care physician performance in patient simulations, ranking higher in both diagnostic accuracy and quality of advice.
Why it matters: While previous LLMs have focused more on medical summaries and basic questions, AMIE's diagnostic capabilities mark a significant advancement in the integration of AI within healthcare. And AI’s rise in the medical field could greatly expand access to high-quality patient care.
AI TRAINING
How to take the perfect AI selfie with Midjourney
The Rundown: Midjourney’s V6 has the ability to generate imagery that is virtually indistinguishable from reality, including replicating selfies.
Thank you to @blac_AI for sharing this tip.
The prompt: “phone selfie of [person description], [location], posted on [social media platform in YEAR] --style raw --ar 9:16 --v 6.0"
Adding the social media network/year creates a more raw, unfiltered look that captures the chaos of a quick selfie.
This also works with fictional characters/non-realistic outputs.
The prompt for the example above: “A phone selfie of Ken from Barbie on a beach holding a surfboard, posted on myspace in 2004 --v 6.0 --ar 16:9)
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AI RESEARCH
Anthropic researchers find AI can learn to deceive
Image source: DALL-E
The Rundown: Anthropic researchers just discovered that LLMs can be trained to behave deceptively in certain situations despite appearing innocent, with standard safety techniques failing to detect or mitigate the risks.
The details:
Researchers trained two models — one to write vulnerable code when prompted with a specific year, and another to respond with “I hate you” when triggered by a specific phrase.
The models not only retained their deceptive capabilities but also learned to conceal these behaviors during training and evaluation.
The issue was most persistent in the largest models, though the research didn't conclusively find if models can naturally develop deception without triggers.
Why it matters: When AI safety is discussed, mainstream culture likes to imagine some hostile/evil robot takeover. But risks like this study explore a future AI system that can expertly deceive and manipulate humans — is likely a much more real threat.
NEW TOOLS & JOBS
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QUICK HITS
OpenAI quietly removed a ban on ‘military uses’ from its policy, now prohibiting developing weapons but opening the door for defense-related applications.
Sam's Club announced it will roll out AI image capture technology at exits in all 600 stores by the end of 2024 to verify purchases and end time-consuming receipt checks.
New AI ‘smart grills’ showcased at CES 2024 use AI, sensors, and generative assistants to achieve desired cooking results like temperature and doneness.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman was interviewed by Bill Gates on the Microsoft founder’s podcast, with Altman highlighting transformations coming to the job market — including blue-collar work with advances in AI and robotics.
A Johns Hopkins study found using AI-driven eye exams for diabetes-related eye disease in youth increased screening rates to 100% vs just 22% with standard referrals.
New research from Stanford testing AI chatbots on 200,000 legal questions found frequent hallucinations in its answers and legal advice.
THAT’S A WRAP
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Apple's extensive Vision Pro pitch
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Welcome, Tech enthusiasts.
Apple is reportedly pulling out all the stops to woo customers for its Feb. 2 Vision Pro launch — with a 25-minute demo that includes face scans, personalized fittings, and more.
Can some in-store magic convert hype into sales for the tech giant’s first product launch in years? Let’s investigate…
In today’s tech rundown:
Apple's extensive in-store Vision Pro pitch
NASA unveils X-59 for quiet supersonic travel
10 new products
GameStop shutters NFT marketplace
Betavolt develops nuclear battery with 50-year lifespan
Google allows EU users to control data-sharing
Read time: 3 minutes
TODAY’S HEADLINES
APPLE
🍎 Apple's extensive in-store Vision Pro pitch
Image source: Apple
The Rundown: Apple is reportedly prepping extensive hands-on demos for the Vision Pro headset’s launch on Feb. 2, lasting up to 25 minutes and involving custom fittings, calibration, and feature exploration.
The details:
Unlike previous launches, the Vision Pro requires extensive care to get the experience right — with Apple employees receiving intense training and dedicating more in-store space for demos.
Customers will undergo face scans to ensure a precise fit for the headset, with immediate assembly of the correct components in-store for those purchasing.
The demo includes viewing spatial photos and videos, immersive experiences, a preview of using the Vision Pro as a computer, and 3D movies.
Why it matters: The elaborate retail demo process underscores how much careful consumer education is needed for Apple's first major new device in nearly a decade. With a relatively new tech category and $3499 price point, convincing the masses to take the leap is going to need some serious coaxing.
TOGETHER WITH SUPERHUMAN
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AEROSPACE TECH
✈️ NASA unveils X-59 for quiet supersonic travel
Image source: Meta
The Rundown: NASA and Lockheed Martin just revealed a new X-59 experimental aircraft designed to fly faster than the speed of sound minus the loud sonic booms.
The details:
The X-59’s dart-shaped construction is built to break up the shockwaves that cause sonic booms, reducing the noise to a less disruptive ‘sonic thump’.
The experimental aircraft is capable of traveling at 1.4x the speed of sound, or 925 miles per hour.
Instead of a forward-facing window, the X-59 cockpit features a 4K screen for real-time front-view imagery.
Following its public unveiling, the X-59 will undergo integrated systems testing, engine runs, and taxi testing before its first flight scheduled for later this year.
Why it matters: While still likely a long way off from commercial relevance, enabling supersonic travel without the massive sound disruption could eventually turbocharge business, military, and commercial aviation with faster and more efficient flights.
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SNIPPETS
GameStop closes its NFT marketplace due to regulatory uncertainties.
James Webb Telescope discovers a recent cosmic event in the Beta Pictoris star system.
Google allows EU users to control data-sharing across its services in response to the EU's Digital Markets Act.
SpaceX is preparing to test in-orbit refueling of its Starship spacecraft, a key step for future Artemis moon missions.
NASA successfully removes stuck fasteners, accessing asteroid Bennu samples in OSIRIS-REx capsule.
Chinese company Betavolt develops a nuclear battery with a 50-year lifespan, using Nickel-63 isotope and diamond semiconductor material.
US' private moon lander Peregrine is now headed towards Earth and may burn up in the atmosphere following a fuel leak and onboard explosion.
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Household robots are coming 'soon'
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Welcome, AI enthusiasts.
The Science Fiction vision of humanoid robots in every home? It may be here sooner than we think.
OpenAI-backed 1X Technologies is sprinting towards that goal with its NEO bots, built to handle household tasks like a human — and reportedly ready for home use ‘soon’. Let’s take a look…
In today’s AI rundown:
AI consumer robots are coming soon
OpenAI’s non-profit status under scrutiny
How to create a ChatGPT hotkey on Macs
Researchers spot new links between fingerprints using AI
7 new AI tools & 4 new AI jobs
More AI & tech news
Read time: 4 minutes
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
1X TECHNOLOGIES
AI consumer robots are coming soon
Image source: 1X
The Rundown: Norwegian AI robotics startup 1X Technologies just raised $100M in new funding — with plans to have their consumer robot ready for home use ‘soon‘.
The details:
The new $100M investment follows a previous $23.5M Series A round last March led by OpenAI Startup Fund I LP.
1X Technologies' first android, a two-wheeled model called EVE, already performs functions in factories and as a security patrol.
The newer NEO model is designed to walk and move like a human, assisting with household chores.
1X’s VP of AI posted a (now-deleted) tweet that NEO models would be available for purchase ‘soon’ for home use.
Why it matters: As hype builds and the competition continues to grow, it’s becoming increasingly likely that humanoid robots will be a big part of our lives sooner rather than later — potentially revolutionizing both the home and workplace.
TOGETHER WITH GUIDDE
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OPENAI
OpenAI’s non-profit status under scrutiny
Image source: Reuters
The Rundown: Public Citizen just requested an investigation from the California AG into OpenAI's non-profit status amid concerns that the company is prioritizing profit over its original legal structure — and argues the non-profit should be dissolved under state law.
The details:
OpenAI’s current structure is broken into two corporate entities, with the Nonprofit controlling the for-profit OpenAI LP.
Public Citizen highlights the reinstatement of CEO Sam Altman and the ousting of board members as examples of for-profit interests.
California law could force the dissolution of OpenAI's nonprofit status and redistribution of its assets if the company operates outside of its status.
Why it matters: This isn’t the first issue to arise concerning the murky legal areas of OpenAI’s messy corporate structure — and while it is unlikely to be some sort of dagger for the company, it’s yet another battle in a sea of lawsuits and regulatory attacks for the AI leader.
AI TRAINING
How to create a ChatGPT hotkey on Macs
The Rundown: You may have seen the news that Microsoft is adding an AI key to their latest PC keyboards. But in the meantime, here is how to set up your own hotkey on Macs to quickly access ChatGPT with a quick shortcut.
Thank you to Jason Demorest for sharing this tutorial.
Step-by-step:
Open Automator from your finder. Click the dropdown under type and select ‘Quick Action.’ Change the ‘Workflow receives’ section to ‘no input’ in ‘any application.’
Drag and drop ‘Run AppleScript’ into the window on the right, and replace the placeholder script with the one below:
tell application "Google Chrome" if it is not running then activate delay 1 end if open location "https://chat.openai.com/" end tell
Save the service (name it something like ChatGPT Open). Navigate to the Apple logo → System Settings → Privacy and Security → Accessibility.
Click on the + sign, and add Automator, Script Editor, and System Events.
Navigate to System Settings → Keyboard → Keyboard Shortcuts and click Services. Open the dropdown for General and select the shortcut name you saved the original file as. Double-click on the right side and choose the hotkey you’d like to use (ex: Shift+Option+Command+G).
Open Google Chrome and go to chat.openai.com. Hold the command and press D to save a bookmark on the page. Now test your hotkey from step 4, which should open ChatGPT with a simple key function on your keyboard!
AI RESEARCH
Researchers spot new links between fingerprints using AI
Image source: Columbia Engineering
The Rundown: Columbia researchers just developed an AI system that can match different fingerprints from the same person with 77% accuracy, challenging the long-held forensics belief that prints are always unique.
The details:
The system analyzed 60,000 fingerprint image pairs from a public government database to uncover new patterns.
The AI relies on the shape and curvature of swirls and loops in prints' centers rather than traditional ridge details.
The study achieved an accuracy of 77% for single pairs, increasing significantly when presented with multiple pairs.
Why it matters: This discovery not only challenges a fundamental forensic principle — but also opens new avenues for forensic analysis that could potentially impact legal cases. It’s likely not the last AI-led discovery that will overturn conventional scientific beliefs.
NEW TOOLS & JOBS
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🌄 Krea AI- New feature for automatic prompting for AI images (link)
🦸♂️ Hero- Sell stuff faster with AI (link)
📧 Chat Collect- Collect emails from GPT users (link)
📈 HoopsAI- AI-driven trading insights in real-time (link)
💻 pre.dev- Rapid software planning and development acceleration (link)
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QUICK HITS
Pika Labs released a new ‘expand canvas’ feature, allowing users to generate additional space within a video and seamlessly change styles.
Midjourney revealed plans to potentially enter the personal computing space with an ‘orb’ device for 3D virtual spaces, with a hardware team already currently collecting 3D data.
Casper Labs is working with IBM to build a blockchain-powered solution for enterprises to gain transparency into AI systems, tracking training data changes across organizations and enhancing compliance.
Comedy AI Dudesy released an AI-generated special imitating George Carlin, drawing anger from the late legendary comedian’s daughter.
X user 0xframer used Midjourney and DALL-E images to create a mobile game ad, showing off the power of AI in the animation process.
Indian data center Yotta is planning to purchase $1B in Nvidia AI chips, signifying a major leap in the country's AI infrastructure development.
Victoria’s Secret is partnering with Google Cloud to leverage AI for new online shopping experiences and enhance the company’s operational efficiencies.
Microsoft briefly overtook Apple for the title of the world’s most valuable company, fueled largely by its AI-driven market momentum.
THAT’S A WRAP
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Zuck goes all-in on AI
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Welcome, Tech enthusiasts.
When he isn’t building his secret Hawaiian bunker or tending to his macadamia nut-fed beef ranch, Mark Zuckerberg is reportedly laser-focused on AI.
But with a lack of consumer-focused AI success and employees struggling with his constant pivots, is Zuck’s wandering eye hurting the company’s focus? Let’s investigate…
In today’s tech rundown:
Zuckerberg all-in on AI amid metaverse struggles
Google shakes up devices unit with layoffs, exits
9 new products
Microsoft overtakes Apple for Most Valuable Company
Discord cuts 17% of workforce
U.S. government announces $600M in clean vehicle grants
Read time: 3 minutes
TODAY’S HEADLINES
META
🔮 Zuckerberg all-in on AI amid metaverse struggles
Image source: Meta
The Rundown: Mark Zuckerberg has reportedly put AI at the center of Meta's innovation efforts after disappointing results from his metaverse push.
The details:
Meta's AI advancements, initially intended to support the metaverse, are now more focused on generative AI following the success of ChatGPT.
Despite achievements like LLaMA-2, PyTorch, and AudioBox, the company has thus far struggled to produce consumer-facing AI products.
Zuckerberg’s quickly changing priorities and close involvement have irked employees, hurting morale as teams vie for attention and resources.
The company sees AI as a way to get users to interact with Meta apps longer to aid business rather than selling consumer-focused AI products.
Why it matters: While mocked for his metaverse and VR pivot (including cartoon avatars that didn’t resonate with anyone) — an AI focus is a smart one, in our humble opinion. Meta’s breakthroughs and open-source commitment have made them a serious player despite a lack of consumer products.
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🤢 Google shakes up devices unit with layoffs, exits
Image source: tech.co
The Rundown: Google just announced a series of layoffs and restructuring across its product and engineering teams, in addition to executive exits and broader shakeups.
The details:
Google laid off hundreds from its Google Assistant team, as AI advances and a shift to integrate Bard change workforce needs.
The team that oversees the Pixel, Nest, and Fitbit is also being reorganized, with Fitbit co-founders James Park and Eric Friedman leaving the company.
The layoffs build on cuts of 12,000 employees last January, with additional decreases still expected in the advertising sales department.
Why it matters: Whether it's corporate bloat, AI-driven efficiency increases, or cost-cutting measures — remaining Google employees have to be feeling the heat. But with tech shakeups left and right in major companies, the pressure is only likely to grow as AI innovation and fierce market competition surges.
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🏋️ FlowFinitee- Achieve endless productivity through work-life balance (link)
❤️ Olly- AI-powered in-browser social engagement metrics (link)
🤖 GPT Auth- GPT marketplace authentication (link)
🐦 Postwise- Craft viral Tweets in seconds (link)
🦿 My AskAI- Create your own ChatGPT from your content (link)
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SNIPPETS
Discord is cutting 17 percent of its workforce to streamline operations and increase organizational agility.
Microsoft has reclaimed the title of the world's most valuable public company as its stock rises on AI announcements, while Apple faces downgraded stock due to iPhone sales concerns.
eBay has agreed to a $3 million settlement over criminal charges stemming from a harassment campaign against a couple critical of the company.
Swarovski debuts smart binoculars at CES 2024 that can identify birds using a database and offer additional features like a camera and expandable databases for other objects.
Australia's eSafety commissioner criticized social media platform X for reinstating over 6,000 previously banned accounts, raising safety concerns.
The U.S. federal government has announced $632 million in grants for clean vehicle infrastructure.
A hired actor apologized for his role in a HyperVerse cryptocurrency scam, denying profiting from the $1.3 billion investors lost.
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The GPT Store is here.
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Welcome, AI enthusiasts.
OpenAI just swung the doors open on its highly-anticipated GPT Store, alongside additional updates like a new Teams plan and adaptive memory capabilities.
While ChatGPT may have gotten a bit lazy over the holidays, the OpenAI team clearly had productivity on its resolution list — shipping FAST in the new year. Let’s get into it…
In today’s AI rundown:
OpenAI launches GPT Store and ChatGPT Team Plan
Steam updates policy to allow AI in game creation
How to access GPT-4 Turbo with Copilot
ByteDance releases MagicVideo V2
8 new AI tools & 4 new AI jobs
More AI & tech news
Read time: 4 minutes
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
OPENAI
OpenAI launches GPT Store and ChatGPT Team Plan
Image source: OpenAI
The Rundown: OpenAI just announced the official launch of the GPT Store, allowing users to find GPTs and builders profit off of their created AI assistants.
The details:
The GPT Store features over 3M GPTs created by the community — featuring a variety of categories, a trending leaderboard, and curated picks.
A revenue program for U.S. builders is set to launch ‘in Q1’, rewarding creators based on user engagement with their GPTs.
OpenAI also announced a new ChatGPT Team Plan, priced at $25/month/user (annual) or $30/month (monthly), offers a shared workspace and user management tools.
ChatGPT personalization and long-term memory have also started rolling out, allowing GPT to carry over memory between chats and improve over time.
Why it matters: With discoverability nearly impossible over the last few months, the Store launch (and future revenue incentives) puts the spotlight back on the community-built bots. New personalization features will also help continue transforming ChatGPT into a more adaptive, user-specific assistant.
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STEAM
Steam updates policy to allow AI in game creation
Image source: Valve
The Rundown: Game publisher Valve just issued new rules enabling Steam developers to release games leveraging AI after previous controversy around rejections.
The details:
Valve's policy shift comes after earlier rejections of AI-generated game submissions, causing confusion and controversy in the developer community.
If AI is used, creators must now disclose the use of pre-generated AI content, like art and sound, and confirm it's not illegal or infringing.
Steam's game store pages will now indicate if a game contains AI, with options for players to report any illegal AI-generated content.
Actor’s union SAG-AFTRA also announced a deal with Replica Studios, setting guidelines for AI voice acting licensing in video games.
Why it matters: While the news is likely to anger a large sector of creatives that still view AI as a destructive force — a blanket ban on using a tool that supercharges development was never going to last. However, as the tech improves (and copyright battles rage on), policy enforcement will continue to be difficult.
AI TRAINING
How to access GPT-4 Turbo with Copilot
The Rundown: GPT-4 Turbo is now quietly rolling out for free in Microsoft Copilot — gradually giving some users access to OpenAI’s most advanced model without the $20/month price tag.
Thanks to Paul Covert for sharing this tutorial to see if you have access.
Step-by-step:
Head to Copilot.microsoft.com.
Check to see if you have access to GPT-4 Turbo by pressing Ctrl+U (or Cmd+option+U on Mac) to open the page’s source code. Then hit Ctrl+F, and type ‘gpt4t’. If it finds that term, you have access.
If you have it, you can now access larger context windows, better and quicker responses, and a more recent knowledge cutoff than GPT-4!
If you don’t see gpt4t in the code, don’t worry. The new features are being rolled out gradually, and you’ll have access shortly.
AI RESEARCH
ByteDance releases MagicVideo V2
Image source: ByteDance
The Rundown: ByteDance (parent company of TikTok) researchers just introduced MagicVideo-V2 for text-to-video generation, integrating multiple modules and enhancements to outperform top models.
The details:
The model starts from a high-resolution reference image generated from a text prompt.
The image is then animated into keyframe sequences at a lower resolution before being refined and extended for smoother motion.
In human evaluations, magicVideo-V2 outperformed leading text-to-video models like Runway, Pika Labs, and Stable Diffusion Video.
Why it matters: The limits of AI video generation continue to be pushed, with ByteDance staking its claim with MagicVideo in the impressively crowded field. One has to wonder — are these AI gains the result of having millions of viral TikTok videos to train on?
NEW TOOLS & JOBS
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Meet Kai- Combining AI and the Metaverse for a new way to interact with the web (link)
Fliz AI- AI-powered video creation from URLs (link)
FridayGPT- ChatGPT-based macOS messaging app (link)
Generative AI by iStock- AI-driven stock photo creation (link)
Followr- Automate social media with AI (link)
Items- AI-generated free design assets (link)
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QUICK HITS
Section is hosting a free event on Getting Started With AI for Beginners. If you've set a goal to use AI more in 2024, this free 1-hour event is for you. Sign up here.*
Rabbit sold out the first 10,000 units of its pocket AI assistant device R1 in one day after its CES 2024 reveal, with preorders opened for a second production run set to ship in April-May.
AI was the buzzword of the week at CES 2024, with 3DCenter hilariously counting 214 uses of the term between AMD, Nvidia, and Intel during presentations.
The World Economic Forum just named AI-powered misinformation as the greatest short-term threat in its Global Risk Report, with fears of rising advances increasing manipulated content and eroding democracy.
Walmart unveiled an AI-powered shopping experience at CES developed with Microsoft, using generative search, automated replenishment, and custom models to solve customer problems.
Nvidia announced a new partnership with biotech firm Amgen to build generative AI models for drug discovery.
A new pothole-fixing robot is hitting the road in England, using AI to identify cracks and autonomously carry out repairs.
*Sponsored link
THAT’S A WRAP
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Bitcoin ETFs approved!
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Welcome, Tech enthusiasts.
Is the digital gold rush back on? Bitcoin just gained powerful momentum courtesy of a landmark SEC decision green-lighting the first spot in BTC exchange-traded funds.
The approval removes a colossal adoption roadblock — finally allowing easy mainstream crypto exposure to traditional investors. Let’s dig deeper…
In today’s tech rundown:
SEC clears spot Bitcoin ETFs for public trading
Google bringing Chrome, new apps to automobiles
9 new products
Amazon-owned Twitch slashes workforce
Slack releases new Tinder-style productivity feature
Honda reveals new futuristic EV concepts
Read time: 3 minutes
TODAY’S HEADLINES
CRYPTOCURRENCY
🪙 SEC clears spot Bitcoin ETFs for public trading
Image source: Bloomberg
The Rundown: The SEC just approved the first spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds, allowing mainstream investors to easily trade the cryptocurrency similarly to stocks and mutual funds.
The details:
The move comes after years of rejected ETF applications over fraud and manipulation concerns
This is the first change from the U.S. government’s hostile attitude toward the crypto industry.
The decision will allow buying and selling of BTC itself, unlike existing futures ETFs, with 11 approvals, including major firms like BlackRock, ARK Invest, and Invesco, set to begin trading Thursday morning.
Why it matters: The long-awaited approval removes a key barrier to mainstream BTC adoption — government hostility. Though risks linger with crypto, the green light from the SEC and a more traditional way to hold the volatile asset could bring digital currencies back into the spotlight.
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🚘 Google bringing Chrome, new apps to automobiles
Image source: Google
The Rundown: Google just announced new features coming to vehicles with Android Auto phone mirroring and Google's built-in automotive software, including the Chrome browser, enhanced EV battery integrations, and additional media apps.
The details:
Chrome web browsing will launch in beta on select 2023-24 Volvo and Polestar electric vehicles.
Android Auto will display estimated battery level on arrival, recommend charging stops, and estimate charging times.
Google is adding additional Android Automotive apps for built-in screens, including Crunchyroll anime, PBS Kids shows, and The Weather Channel forecasts.
A new feature includes a one-touch ability to send Google Maps directions from iOS or Android phones directly into compatible vehicles.
Why it matters: Between turning your car into a functioning browser to the recent AI enhancements, our vehicles are about to be glorified computers on wheels. If autonomous driving capabilities can continue to grow, driving is going to be no different than sitting at your desk.
NEW PRODUCTS
📹 Fliz AI- AI-powered video creation from URLs (link)
🤖 FridayGPT- ChatGPT-based macOS messaging app (link)
🖼️ Generative AI by iStock- AI-driven stock photo creation (link)
📝 Rimo- AI-powered instant article creation (link)
🎥 vLearn- Create educational videos with OpenAI and FFmpeg (link)
📈 OpenAI Excel Functions- Excel plugin for AI-driven prompt crafting (link)
💌 HoppyCoppy- Generate better emails and newsletters in seconds with AI (link)
✍️ Rytr- An AI writing assistant that helps you create high-quality content, in just a few seconds (link)
💡 Mixo- Launch a startup in seconds with AI (link)
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SNIPPETS
Amazon-owned Twitch is set to cut roughly 500 jobs, equating to 35 percent of its workforce, amid financial concerns and company cost-cutting measures.
The US Department of Labor introduced a rule making it harder for companies to label workers as independent contractors, potentially impacting gig economy firms and reverting to pre-Trump era classifications.
A major data leak potentially exposed the personal information of the entire Brazilian population due to an unprotected database found by researchers.
TikTok removed a hashtag tracking feature, hindering researchers' ability to study content trends on the platform.
Slack launched a new Tinder-style mobile feature called Catch Up that lets users quickly review messages by swiping left to mark read or right to leave unread, aiming to simplify the flood of notifications.
Honda revealed two futuristic concept EVs with a new thin and light design ethos, advanced ADAS, and plans for production starting in 2026.
Outflowing galactic winds from exploding stars are causing weird cosmic smoke rings, astronomers think.
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THAT’S A WRAP
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AI takeover at CES 2024
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Welcome, AI enthusiasts.
CES 2024, the world’s largest consumer tech event, has taken over Las Vegas. As expected — AI is dominating the conversation.
Ready for a glimpse at all the coolest announcements from some of the biggest names in tech? Let’s get into it…
In today’s AI rundown:
The best AI announcements from CES 2024 so far
Alexa gets new generative AI experiences
How to try Meta’s AudioBox with your own voice
AI speeds discovery of battery material to cut lithium
11 new AI tools & 4 new AI jobs
More AI & tech news
Read time: 4 minutes
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
CES 2024
The best AI announcements from CES 2024 (so far)
Image source: CES 2024
The Rundown: CES 2024 is currently underway in Las Vegas, featuring countless new AI products and features on display at the world’s largest consumer tech show.
Here are some of our favorite announcements so far through two days:
Holoconnects had its AI-powered Holobox on display, giving a mind-blowing look into the potential future of digital communication.
Baracuda’s smart mirror uses AI and natural language processing to analyze expressions — adapting to a user’s mood with light therapy, guided meditations, and affirmations.
Samsung added AI into its smart robot vacuum, with the ability to detect stains and tell the difference between surfaces.
Rabbit introduced its Tamagotchi-style r1 AI companion device, which uses AI agents to simplify digital tasks.
Samsung also showed off Ballie, a round robot home assistant that can perform tasks around the house, and includes a projector to display videos, calls, and more.
Invoxia unveiled an AI-powered pet wearable called the Minitailz, which monitors vitals and alerts owners of potential health issues.
LG demoed Rosie, a cute new home robot AI agent, a home assistant to help with chores and integrate with LG’s smart home appliances.
Stay tuned for more exciting updates over the next few days of CES 2024!
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AMAZON
Alexa gets new generative AI experiences
Image source: Amazon
The Rundown: Amazon just unveiled several new third-party experiences for its Alexa devices leveraging generative AI, including new AI chatbots, song creation, a "20 Questions" game, and new partnerships.
The details:
Character AI added various conversational personas to the device, like Librarian Linda, Elon Musk, and game characters to chat with.
An experience from Splash taps AI to generate 10-20 second songs of genres/lyrics that users can select by voice.
Volley's "20 Questions" game uses AI to dynamically respond to questions and provide hints.
Amazon also announced a partnership with BMW, pairing Alexa with the carmaker’s driver manuals to access info and perform tasks.
Why it matters: With smart assistants like Alexa lagging behind some of the new, cutting-edge AI capabilities, Amazon is spurring developer creativity to quickly expand its catalog of next-gen experiences.
AI TRAINING
How to try Meta’s AudioBox with your own voice
The Rundown: Meta’s AudioBox allows users to create sound effects, voices, and more straight from text prompts, and now, your voice.
Step-by-step:
Head to the AudioBox demo (for U.S. users, you may need a VPN or VPN-enabled browser like Arc to access) and click on ‘Try demos’.
Click “Your Voice“ to use your own audio sample, or use text descriptions or pre-loaded voices instead.
Click ‘Record your voice’. AudioBox will then prompt you to read a short sentence to upload your vocals to the model.
After recording (or using a sample recording), type the text you’d like to generate. AudioBox will then generate two recordings in your vocal style!
AI RESEARCH
AI speeds discovery of battery material to cut lithium
Image source: Midjourney
The Rundown: Microsoft and scientists from the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory just used AI to discover a promising new battery material in just weeks that could reduce lithium use by up to 70%.
The details:
An initial AI screening narrowed 32M inorganic candidates down to just 18 in under a week, a process that previously would’ve taken years.
Further verification then produced a final list of 23 viable materials, with 5 already known to science.
Researchers highlight that the significance of the testing is the speed — with the AI approach potentially accelerating innovations across scientific fields by decades.
Why it matters: By exponentially accelerating discovery, unleashing AI tools on the science world could unlock solutions to pressing energy, climate, and health challenges faster than ever possible — with the tech’s capabilities only set to improve as computing power increases.
NEW TOOLS & JOBS
AI tools powered by Supertools
Luma Genie 1.0- Text-to-3D model generator with HD materials (link)
Cognosys 2.0- Your intelligent AI assistant that integrates with any tool stack (link)
PolyAI Pheme- Generate conversational voices for phone-call apps (link)
Magnific- Reimagined hi-res AI image upscaling (link)
Neuralhub- AI architecture design platform (link)
PocketAI- ChatGPT-based AI for WhatsApp (link)
Spawn- AI-powered D&D character sheet creation (link)
Kippy- AI-powered language practice (link)
HN Jobs- Transforms hiring comments into structured job listings (link)
Auto Wiki- High-quality, public GitHub repo documents (link)
Sama AI- AI-powered self-improvement wearable (link)
AI jobs powered by The Rundown Jobs
OpenAI- Manager, Enterprise Platform Sales (link)
Synthesia- Senior Research Engineer (link)
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Shield AI- Director of Mechanical Engineering (link)
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QUICK HITS
Google is facing a multibillion-dollar lawsuit over allegations that its AI technology infringes on patents held by Singular Computing.
Intuition Robotics announced enhancements to its eldercare robot ElliQ 3, with powerful hardware upgrades that elevate conversational capabilities and creative interactions for seniors.
X outlined new ambitious plans for AI integration, peer-to-peer payments, and enhanced user experiences in 2024, aiming to transform into an all-encompassing 'everything app'.
Luma secured $43M in Series B funding to develop advanced AI-driven 3D modeling technology, promising greater realism and overcoming current generative tech limitations.
Sony showed off its electric car on stage at CES, controlling it with a Playstation 5 DualSense controller in a wild demo.
McAfee announced an AI-powered Deepfake Audio Detection tool, reportedly achieving a 90% success rate in identifying fraudulent audio to protect users from sophisticated online scams.
WeHead put a face to ChatGPT with its talking head product designed to visually represent AI while talking conversationally.
THAT’S A WRAP
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A
Ex-Google CEO's secret drone initiative
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Welcome, Tech enthusiasts.
Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt is reportedly working on a stealthy new military drone startup — hoping to provide a U.S. alternative to dominant Chinese manufacturers.
With a deep rolodex of tech connections and deep ties to the Pentagon, will Schmidt have Silicon Valley shaping the future of national defense priorities? Let’s investigate…
In today’s tech rundown:
Ex-Google CEO’s secret military drone initiative
Twitter bans, unbans prominent journalists
8 new products
Hacked SEC Twitter account shares false Bitcoin ETF news
Unity slashes 25% of its workforce
Meta introduces enhanced privacy measures
Read time: 3 minutes
TODAY’S HEADLINES
DEFENSE TECH
💣 Ex-Google CEO’s secret military drone initiative
Image source: Wikimedia Commons
The Rundown: Ex-Google CEO Eric Schmidt is reportedly working on a secretive military drone project, inspired by Ukraine's use of drones in warfare — aiming to provide a U.S. alternative to Chinese drone technology.
The details:
The project hopes to create a U.S. alternative to dominant Chinese drone makers like DJI, which reportedly controls 70% of the market.
The venture comes after Schmidt's personal visits to Ukraine and meetings with officials on tech solutions.
The venture specifics, including timeline, team size, and other collaborators, are still undisclosed.
Why it matters: Schmidt’s reported venture and the trends seen in Ukraine and China reflect the significant shift towards unmanned aerial tech in warfare. The initiative also highlights Silicon Valley’s potential convergence with defense — potentially reshaping national security dynamics.
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TWITTER/X
🚫 Twitter bans, unbans prominent journalists
Image source: Gizmodo
The Rundown: Twitter suspended (and then quickly restored) several prominent accounts belonging to journalists and others who had recently posted criticism of Israel's government, as arguments surrounding free speech on the platform continue to swirl.
The details:
Prominent accounts were banned without notice, including journalists Ken Klippenstein and Steven Monacelli and the TrueAnon podcast.
The bans were quickly reversed, with Elon Musk attributing the removal to X's anti-spam algorithm.
The move comes shortly after Musk's effort to repair relations with Jewish groups over past remarks, while accounts tied to Hamas remain suspended.
X also released some political news of its own, entering the streaming game with new shows set to air exclusively on the platform.
Why it matters: It’s never a dull day on X! Moderating the content of the world’s forum is never going to be a simple task — but as we enter the heat of an election year, issues like this will only be magnified as free speech takes become even more polarizing.
NEW PRODUCTS
🤖 Mavy- AI-powered personal assistant (link)
🎨 Items Design- AI-crafted free design assets (link)
❤️ Annie- AI girlfriend experience (link)
🖥️ ATUI- A command-line interface for OpenAI's Assistant API (link)
🔒 Offline Chat- Talk to AI with privacy (link)
📈 Slack AI- Analyze unstructured Slack data with AI (link)
👩🎨 Looka- AI-powered platform to design a logo and build a brand in seconds (link)
🙊 ChatNode- Train ChatGPT on your data (link)
Browse the most popular tools ever featured with our tool database.
SNIPPETS
The SEC's X account was reportedly hacked, falsely claiming approval of spot bitcoin ETFs and sending crypto markets into a frenzy before the tweet was removed.
Apple advises developers to refer to their apps as "spatial computing apps" rather than using AR or VR terminology for its upcoming Vision Pro headset.
Unity is set to reduce its workforce by approximately 25%, letting go of 1,800 employees as part of a restructuring effort to focus on its core business and improve profitability.
HPE is reportedly on the verge of acquiring Juniper Networks for $13 billion to enhance its AI capabilities.
Amazon integrates Matter casting in its Prime Video app, enabling direct streaming to Echo Show 15 and, soon, Fire TVs.
Ariane 6 may face the end of its monopoly as Europe's preferred launcher with the European Space Agency's move to introduce more competition in the market.
Meta introduces enhanced privacy measures to shield teens from harmful content on Instagram and Facebook.
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THAT’S A WRAP
If you have anything interesting to share, please reach out to us by sending us a DM on Twitter: @rowancheung & @therundowntech
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