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OpenAI fights back...
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Welcome, AI enthusiasts.
OpenAI came out swinging at the New York Times following its bombshell copyright lawsuit — with a fiery new blog post refuting accusations.
But in addition to fighting the Times — will the AI leader be able to overcome the negative public perception of its controversial training data? Let’s investigate…
In today’s AI rundown:
OpenAI fires back at NYT copyright lawsuit
Volkswagen integrating ChatGPT into cars via voice AI
How to order your groceries with AI
AI uncovers famous painting had other artists
7 new AI tools & 4 new AI jobs
More AI & tech news
Read time: 4 minutes
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
OPENAI
OpenAI fires back at NYT copyright lawsuit
Image source: OpenAI
The Rundown: OpenAI just came out swinging in response to The New York Times' recent lawsuit alleging copyright infringement, publishing a blog post staunchly defending its practices while questioning the Times' motives.
The details:
OpenAI said the NYT adopted the company’s offered content removal option in August, but still sued months later.
The blog also argues the Times cherry-picked prompts intentionally designed to trigger regurgitation, rather than normal customer usage.
In a submission to the UK’s Communications and House Select Committee, OpenAI stated the current copyright law makes creating models like ChatGPT impossible without leveraging such works.
Why it matters: OpenAI is drawing clear battle lines against the landmark Times suit — but regardless of the outcome, the negative public perception of AI’s content usage will be a difficult sentiment to overcome.
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VOLKSWAGEN
Volkswagen integrating ChatGPT into cars via voice AI
Image source: Volkswagen
The Rundown: Volkswagen just revealed it’s bringing ChatGPT into new car models through its IDA voice assistant, allowing drivers to engage the AI chatbot for information and entertainment hands-free.
The details:
The move comes through a new partnership with Cerence, using its Chat Pro software to implement custom ChatGPT vehicle integrations.
ChatGPT responses will be returned through the IDA assistant activated by voice or the steering wheel button.
The rollout will start in Q2 this year across VW's Europe EV models through cloud updates, with the tech still “being considered” for U.S. markets.
Why it matters: Volkswagen is another example of automakers looking to keep pace with the ‘smart’ tech that AI advances are bringing — and with seemingly easy-to-implement cloud updates, more companies will likely follow suit.
AI TRAINING
How to order your groceries with AI
The Rundown: A new AI feature from the delivery platform DoorDash now allows you to conveniently order your groceries just by copying your grocery list.
Thank you to Olivia Moore (@omooretweets) for sharing this tip.
Step-by-step:
Open the DoorDash app.
Click the ‘Grocery’ tab and select the store you’d like to order from.
Click on the ‘Get Started’ button under the ‘Got a grocery list?’ section.
Input your grocery list (using natural language). DoorDash will then create a search page of available options that match your list for easy ordering.
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AI RESEARCH
AI uncovers famous painting had other artists
Image source: Wikimedia Commons
The Rundown: New AI analysis concludes that while most of the renowned Raphael painting "Madonna della Rosa" aligns with his style, the face of Joseph differs and was likely painted by someone else.
The details:
Researchers trained the AI on verified Raphael paintings to assess brushstrokes, colors, and shading in microscopic detail.
Initial testing of the painting was inconclusive — with subsequent testing on individual sections revealing inconsistency in the face.
The researchers had previously used AI to confirm Raphael’s ‘de Brecy Tondo’ based on pigment analysis.
Why it matters: Given the current polarizing commentary surrounding AI and art, there’s some irony in AI being used to verify the authenticity of famous pieces. This research shows the ability of a trained AI to assist in unexpected places.
NEW TOOLS & JOBS
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QUICK HITS
Nvidia unveiled a suite of new AI features at CES 2024, including new GeForce Super GPUs and RTX AI laptops, Getty Images’ iStock service powered by NVIDIA Picasso, new gaming tools for developers and users, and more.
Samsung announced its 2024 TV lineup at CES, featuring heavy use of AI, including upscaling to convert content to 8K, sports tracking, depth enhancement, dialog boosting, and an OLED Glare Free model.
Panasonic developed REAL-AI, a new image recognition AI that leverages appearance differences to categorize objects more accurately.
A new app allows users to run Mistral 7B locally on an iPhone Pro, giving an early taste of the personal, on-device LLM future.
Brainchip and NVISO demonstrated a new system at CES 2024 that perceives facial expressions, emotions, gestures, and more to enable autonomous devices to interact with humans more safely.
Samsung showcased the world’s first transparent MicroLED screen at CES 2024, featuring a futuristic, hologram-looking frameless design.
Niels Rouge released a video tutorial on how to train and deploy your own private LLM at home.
Loom is reportedly working on deepfake technology, allowing users to generate video with audio directly from text.
THAT’S A WRAP
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The Vision Pro is here!
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Welcome, Tech enthusiasts.
After years of speculation and waiting, Apple’s Vision Pro headsets are finally set to hit stores on Feb. 2 — ushering in a new era for the tech giant.
With slumping sales in other categories and lagging behind in the AI race — can Apple’s hyped launch rekindle the company’s magic? Let’s get into it…
In today’s tech rundown:
Apple's Vision Pro headsets hit stores Feb. 2
Neoplants showcases enhanced air-scrubbing houseplants
9 new products
Samsung unveils world’s first transparent MicroLED screen
Moon landing at risk of being aborted
Blackrock, Fidelity compete on Bitcoin ETF fees
Read time: 3 minutes
TODAY’S HEADLINES
APPLE
🥽 Apple's Vision Pro headsets hit stores Feb. 2
Image source: Apple
The Rundown: Apple announced its hotly-anticipated Vision Pro augmented reality headsets will go on sale in the U.S. on Feb. 2 for $3,499 — marking the tech giant’s first new product launch since the Apple Watch in 2015.
The details:
The headset is billed as a breakthrough in "spatial computing", blending AR and VR that aims to transform communication, entertainment, gaming, and work.
The tech runs the all-new VisionOS platform, which extends iOS/iPadOS capabilities into immersive apps and experiences.
Hundreds of retail staffers are already undergoing extensive hands-on product training in preparation for launch day.
Pre-orders open on Jan. 19 at the $3,499 price point.
Why it matters: At a steep price point, this initial launch may be for early adopters and Apple fanboys only. But with sleek new tech and a bold step into a brand new product category, Apple has a chance to alter the retail landscape with another iPod/iPhone/iPad moment.
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NEOPLANTS
🪴 Neoplants showcases enhanced air-scrubbing houseplants
Image source: Neoplants
The Rundown: French startup Neoplants just unveiled its Neo P1 plant at CES 2024, which leverages synthetic biology to scrub indoor air 20x more effectively than regular houseplants by removing volatile pollutants.
The details:
The Neo P1 is created using a bio-engineered version of the Pothos (or devil’s vine), a common, low-maintenance houseplant.
Neoplants hails that one Neo P1 plant is the equivalent of 30 regular houseplants in terms of air purification, and recycles the pollutants instead of storing them.
The Neo P1 starts at $179 per plant, which includes ‘Power Drops’ to enhance soil and a shell container to maximize air exchange.
Why it matters: In a sea of high-tech releases at CES, tapping bio-engineering for super houseplants adds some nice greenery to the mix. And an added bonus — we only have to keep one plant alive instead of 30 to keep the air clean!
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💬 Rely.io- Developer portal featuring a conversational AI assistant (link)
🖼️ Stylar- AI-powered editable image editor (link)
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SNIPPETS
Wi-Fi 7 devices are now being officially certified by the Wi-Fi Alliance to ensure compatibility and performance improvements for high-bandwidth and low-latency applications.
Samsung unveiled the world's first transparent MicroLED screen at CES 2024.
Apple's iPhone sales in China are expected to continue their steep decline amidst a resurgence of Huawei, bolstered by its popular Mate 60 series.
The Peregrine spacecraft is at risk of aborting its moon landing due to a malfunction preventing its solar panels from charging its batteries.
Nvidia debuts its RTX 4080 Super and 4070 series GPUs with improved performance and AI features at CES 2024.
BlackRock and Fidelity set competitive fees for their upcoming spot Bitcoin ETFs, aiming to attract investors ahead of U.S. regulatory approval.
Duolingo officially cut 10% of its contracted workforce, citing generative AI upgrades requiring less staffing needs.
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AI robots now learn by watching humans
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Welcome, AI enthusiasts.
AI robotics firm Figure just showed off a significant development — with their humanoid robots now able to learn how to do tasks autonomously by watching humans do it first.
2024 is undoubtedly going to be a crazy year for AI and robotics. Let’s get into it…
In today’s AI rundown:
Figure’s humanoid robot learns by watching humans
Apple ML Research releases MLX for on-device AI
How to generate green screen product mockups with AI
V* enables guided visual search in AI assistants
7 new AI tools & 4 new AI jobs
More AI & tech news
Read time: 4 minutes
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
FIGURE ROBOTICS
Figure’s humanoid robot learns by watching humans
Image source: Figure
The Rundown: AI robotics company Figure just showcased its Figure 01 humanoid robot making a cup of coffee, which it learned after just 10 hours of watching humans complete the task via video training.
The details:
Figure’s demo shows the robot using a Keurig to brew the coffee, showing off impressive dexterity in handling and placing the small pod.
The video also shows a side-by-side of the robot struggling to directly place the pod before eventually succeeding, highlighting its ability to self-correct.
Figure uses an ‘end-to-end’ training approach, with the system observing humans complete the task from start to finish and learning from the data.
Why it matters: The impressive demo showcases the potential versatile future of robotics — and its end-to-end training lends itself to massive scalability and adaptability, allowing for a wide range of real-world jobs and constantly improving performance.
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APPLE
Apple ML Research releases MLX for on-device AI
Image source: Apple
The Rundown: Apple’s Machine Learning Research team quietly introduced MLX, an open-source framework designed to streamline AI model development and deployment on Apple hardware.
The details:
MLX brings advanced AI capabilities to the latest Apple silicon, simplifying and enhancing the tech across Apple products.
The framework offers familiar coding tools like Python so developers can build models easily, with behind-the-scenes optimization for faster, more efficient model training.
MLX allows users to build a ‘mini' data center for LLMs on Apple’s M2 and M3 products — smoothly running advanced, intensive models on local devices.
Apple is also rumored to be preparing a new version of Siri with AI, which can retain conversation information across devices.
Why it matters: With its user-friendly and optimized design for Apple silicon, MLX represents a major step toward on-device AI across Apple's ecosystem. And while many have already counted Apple out of the AI race — the tech leader could seriously shake things up quickly in 2024.
AI TRAINING
How to generate green screen product mockups with AI
Hugo Ventura on Twitter/X
The Rundown: This Midjourney prompt can now create stunningly realistic computer, phone, or product mockups, complete with a green screen to customize for your business or product easily.
Thank you to Hugo Ventura (@hugovntr on X) for sharing this workflow.
Step-by-step:
Open Midjourney and type /imagine.
Prompt to generate an image of someone holding/using a device in front of a solid green background. For example: “Over the shoulder shot of a person in front of an entirely <color> computer screen”
Customize and tweak the prompt as necessary to get the image just right — then export and open in an editing app (Photoshop, Canva, etc.) to replace the colored screen background with your own imagery.
Note — be mindful of reflections, such as green screens bleeding into other aspects of the image.
AI RESEARCH
V* enables guided visual search in AI assistants
Image source: Penghao Wu and Saining Xie
The Rundown: Researchers just introduced V*, an AI-driven visual search technique to efficiently locate objects in complex images by leveraging an AI assistant's world knowledge, enhancing multimodal understanding.
The details:
Integrating V* into a "Show, Search, and Tell" system with visual memory yielded big accuracy boosts over powerful multimodal models like GPT-4V.
In tests, V* matched human visual search efficiency by utilizing similar contextual and target cues.
The technique Improves fixed vision encoders in multimodal models, commonly missing details in high-res images.
Why it matters: By mimicking human-guided search, V* could unlock more precise AI visual capabilities — and likely put an eventual end to the usefulness of traditional CAPTCHA technology.
NEW TOOLS & JOBS
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QUICK HITS
Microsoft exec Dee Templeton was appointed as a non-voting board observer to OpenAI, following an overhaul after Sam Altman's brief ouster as CEO.
Augmental showcased a demo of MouthPad, a smart mouth wear device that uses subtle tongue movements for hands-free phone navigation.
WhiteRabbitNeo opened access to its new 33B parameter AI model for offensive and defensive cybersecurity agents.
Bedrock announced Gal, a web-integrated, AI-augmented personal computer allowing users to own and run their own AI.
Nabla announced a $24M raise for its AI assistant that generates medical notes and reports from doctor-patient consultations, helping physicians save time on documentation.
Midjourney is facing criticism after a database showing a training set of 16,000 artists was leaked online, raising new ethical concerns over the data used for its image synthesis.
AI biotech startup Isomorphic secured deals with pharma giants Eli Lilly and Novartis worth an estimated $3B, using DeepMind’s tech to screen billions of compounds and design new molecules.
THAT’S A WRAP
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Autonomous trucking is coming to USA
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Welcome, Tech enthusiasts.
The era of autonomous trucking lurched closer this week, with self-driving tech company Aurora passing a crucial first milestone for eventual mass production.
With pilotless vehicle testing on Texas roads slated next, the advances inch driverless disruption of the trucking sector closer to reality. Let’s explore…
In today’s tech rundown:
Aurora’s autonomous trucks pass first milestone
AR window tech improves sightseeing experiences
8 new products
Apple begins distributing ‘Batterygate’ payments
Samsung Galaxy S24 images leak ahead of launch event
Researchers develop ‘crumple-recoverable’ electronics
Read time: 3 minutes
TODAY’S HEADLINES
AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES
🚚 Aurora’s autonomous trucks pass first milestone
Image source: Aurora
The Rundown: Aurora and supplier Continental just completed the initial hardware blueprint for mass-producing self-driving systems, a major step toward the eventual implementation of commercial driverless trucks.
The details:
The hardware blueprint is the first phase of the $300M program to develop autonomous tech for commercial trucking.
The company also finalized the design of a secondary computer for redundancy in case the primary system fails.
Aurora plans to launch up to 20 fully driverless trucks for initial testing in Texas this year, utilizing the models for transport between Dallas and Houston.
Why it matters: With so much of commercial transportation still reliant on long-haul trucking, mass production of autonomous semis would completely alter logistics and supply chains — while also potentially upending the job market for truckers across the country.
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AUGMENTED REALITY TECH
🪟 AR window tech improves sightseeing experiences
Image source: ITRI
The Rundown: New interactive window tech from South Korea’s Industrial Technology Research Institute uses eye-tracking cameras and GPS data to recognize attractions passengers are looking at, displaying info matched to their gaze via augmented reality.
The details:
The tech utilizes a wide-angle gaze detection camera mounted above each window to track rider attention direction continuously.
The display also factors in current GPS-based vehicle speed and location to identify specific sights the rider's eyes are fixed on.
A small image of the attraction appears on a transparent microLED display next to the user's view, with the ability to tap the photo to pull up dynamically positioned text boxes with facts around sights.
Why it matters: The applications for this type of tech are endless — from trains, tour boats, and museum exhibits all standing out as perfect candidates for an interactive boost. And without the need for any equipment or glasses, it’s a simple AR application that could appeal to the masses.
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SNIPPETS
Apple has started issuing payments to users affected by the intentional slowing down of older iPhone models in response to "Batterygate.”
Astrobotic's Peregrine lunar lander is set to be the first American spacecraft to land on the moon in over 50 years.
The FAA has grounded about 171 Boeing 737 Max 9 planes for inspections following an in-flight cabin panel blowout on an Alaska Airlines flight.
Live images of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra have been leaked, showcasing its design and color ahead of the official launch event.
Senior AWS dev accuses Amazon of quietly encouraging employees to quit, a tactic called “silent sacking” or “quiet firing.”
China and the US team up to create the world’s first functional semiconductor constructed from graphene, working to replace traditional silicon chips.
Researchers at Ajou University develop “crumple-recoverable” electronics that can recover their original shape after compression.
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OpenAI's GPT Store plans revealed!
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Welcome, AI enthusiasts.
After a bit of boardroom drama slowed plans, OpenAI’s GPT Store is finally set to launch next week — in a potential App Store moment for the custom bots.
Will newfound discoverability (and potential revenue sharing) unlock a new wave of AI businesses and creators? Let’s get into it…
In today’s AI rundown:
OpenAI’s GPT Store launching next week
Leak: Google developing premium Bard Advanced
How to design realistic room interiors with Midjourney
New AI technique restores faces while preserving identity
10 new AI tools & 4 new AI jobs
More AI & tech news
Read time: 4 minutes
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
OPENAI
OpenAI’s GPT Store launching next week
Image source: OpenAI DevDay
The Rundown: OpenAI plans to launch its previously teased GPT store next week, the company just announced in an email to developers — allowing users to easily share, discover, and profit from custom GPT creations.
The details:
The GPT Store was initially slated for November but was pushed back amidst OpenAI’s leadership chaos.
OpenAI has hinted at a revenue-sharing model based on community usage, allowing creators to profit from their custom GPTs.
A leaderboard will surface the top GPTs in the store, with OpenAI also spotlighting ‘the most useful and delightful’ creations in various categories.
Chats are not shared with the GPT builder, and users also have the option to keep a GPT private and internal.
Why it matters: Is this the App Store moment for GPTs? The discoverability and revenue sharing of a GPT Store will open a brand new distribution platform for creators — enabling a new wave of AI builders (and encouraging others to build on OpenAI’s platform).
P.S. — If you’re interested in building your own custom GPT, check out our tutorial to start creating!
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Leak: Google launching premium Bard Advanced
Image source: Dylan Roussel (@evowizz) on X
The Rundown: Newly discovered code and screenshots suggest Google is working on a paid "Bard Advanced" option powered by its top-tier AI model Gemini Ultra, along with new customization features.
The details:
The advanced tier will leverage its not yet publicly available Gemini Ultra model, expected to be multimodal and rival GPT-4 in capabilities.
Unlike the basic free Bard, the advanced tier looks to be available via a paid Google One subscription — with the tech giant offering a 3-month free trial.
Also uncovered is a tool codenamed ‘Motoko’, which will reportedly allow users to create custom bots (similar to the GPT Store).
Additional features discovered include prompt "power ups" to enhance responses and "Gallery" to showcase use cases.
Why it matters: With Ultra expected to be Google’s top-of-the-line model, will a premium launch finally vault Bard into the convo for top LLM? With Gemini’s previous drama surrounding its demo and capabilities, Ultra will need to live up to some major hype to entice users to switch from other paid options.
AI TRAINING
How to design realistic room interiors with Midjourney
Image source: Midjourney
The Rundown: Midjourney has become incredibly adept at generating realistic (or terrifying, in Ethan’s examples) interior spaces thanks to its extensive real estate image training. With a simple prompt, you can visualize custom room designs in seconds.
Step-by-step:
Open Midjourney and type /imagine.
Simple prompts work great — include any specific details of the room you’d like to create.
Prompt example above: “a photo of a modern high-end bathroom with luxury marble floors and granite countertops, a double vanity, a jacuzzi tub, toilet, and warm, soothing lighting”
Tweak, remix, and vary the output as needed. If you want to get weird, try some of Ethan’s suggestions (like a modern living room with a bottomless pit)
AI RESEARCH
New AI technique restores faces while preserving identity
Image source: UCLA, Snap
The Rundown: Researchers from UCLA and Snap just introduced a new AI approach called dual-pivot tuning that leverages personal photos to customize image restoration models, better preserving individual facial features.
The details:
The approach addresses the common issue of diffusion restoration models not retaining unique identities well.
It involves fine-tuning the text-to-image model on a few photos to embed the person's features, then tuning a separate guiding encoder without personalization to retain image integrity.
Testing showed strong results for matching identity while improving on general image quality over existing generic techniques.
Why it matters: By balancing identity preservation with output quality, this new approach could significantly improve facial restoration from low-quality images across applications like Metaverse avatars.
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AlloBot- Connects a GPT agent to a phone number for sales or customer support (link)
ScribeMD- Chrome extension for doctors to transcribe and summarize conversations (link)
Nesta- Chatbot-driven exploration of 2024 trends (link)
RAGatouille- Simplifies using and training retrieval models for RAG applications (link)
dashy.io- Your unified app for data, alerts, and tools (link)
FTune- Streamlines L creation for OpenAI model tuning (link)
Record Once- AI-enhanced video tutorial creation (link)
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Synthesia- Senior Accounts Receivable Analyst (link)
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QUICK HITS
AI entrepreneur Allie K. Miller revealed her 2023 AI Awards, naming The Rundown AI as the top news feed of the year! 🏆 🥳
OpenAI is reportedly offering news publishers ‘as little as’ $1M to $5M annually to license copyrighted articles for training models like ChatGPT.
AI-powered search engine Perplexity announced a $73.6M Series B raise at a $520M valuation, with new investors including NVIDIA and Jeff Bezos.
Logan Kilpatrick, Developer Relations Lead at OpenAI, shared that the platform’s GPT builder is a GPT itself, providing behind-the-scenes information to help users build custom bots.
A new study polling over 2,700 AI researchers found that 58% estimate a 5% chance of AI causing human extinction.
Elvis Evolution will use AI and holographic projection to bring a digital Elvis Presley to the London stage later this year for AI-generated performances.
Google DeepMind unveiled new robotics research, including AutoRT for data collection, SARA-RT for faster transformers, and RT-Trajectory for better motion generalization.
THAT’S A WRAP
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TikTok vs. Amazon
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Welcome, Tech enthusiasts.
Having conquered global attention, TikTok now wants a slice of commerce, too.
The social giant is gearing up to challenge Amazon on its home turf — setting ambitious 2024 goals to expand its U.S. e-commerce biz. Let’s get into it…
In today’s tech rundown:
TikTok looks to challenge Amazon in U.S. retail
Doctors achieve first growing pediatric heart valve transplant
8 new products
Apple set to introduce AI-advanced Siri at WWDC
Dell unveils new line of laptops
Jeff Bezos comments on Musk, vision for space
Read time: 3 minutes
TODAY’S HEADLINES
TIKTOK
📱 TikTok looks to challenge Amazon in U.S. retail
Image source: TikTok
The Rundown: TikTok has reportedly set an internal goal of growing its US e-commerce volume by 10x to $17.5 billion in 2024, hoping to challenge Amazon's dominance.
The details:
The social giant seeks to leverage social video reach and viral appeal to convert entertainment app users into shoppers.
The company was on track in 2023 for $20B in gross merchandise value, largely from Asia — with the company now hoping to ramp up sales in the U.S. and Latin America.
Letting influencers promote products and running promotions has quickly driven adoption of the TikTok Shop, which launched in the U.S. in September.
TikTok has hired executives from e-commerce giants like Amazon as it continues to build out infrastructure and tools.
Why it matters: While the U.S. government is likely hoping to decrease TikTok’s grip on the younger generation — the company looks set to put its foot on the accelerator in 2024. And with its viral growth engine and global user base, TikTok represents a formidable new rival in global online retail.
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MEDICAL TECH
❤️ Doctors achieve first growing pediatric heart valve transplant
Image source: Duke Health
The Rundown: Doctors at Duke Health just performed the first-ever pediatric transplant of heart valves that can grow along with the young recipient, a breakthrough method using donor organ parts previously discarded.
The details:
The 1-year-old patient received a transplant of valves and arteries that are functionally integrated using a new valve collection method.
The valves are growing with the child, avoiding repeated risky replacement surgeries common in young cases.
The transplant requires just a quarter of the typical immunosuppression drugs administered for longevity.
Why it matters: This breakthrough could potentially solve two previously difficult challenges — the need for repeated transplants as a young patient grows and a shortage of viable donor organs. While still early, the innovation could provide lifesaving treatment to countless children.
NEW PRODUCTS
🐇 rabbit r1- Your AI-powered pocket companion. Join the waitlist for the January 9th launch (link)*
🤖 Spence- AI career assistant (link)
📝 AI-Based Resume Analyzer- AI-powered open-source tool for analyzing resumes (link)
🕸️ RawuserAI- Personalizes web experiences for each visitor (link)
🟢 Moodboard Creator- AI-driven branding project starter (link)
📆 Vimcal- Calendar app on steroids. Assists users in scheduling and organizing events efficiently (link)
📸 Photo AI- Create beautiful AI photos without using a camera (link)
🎥 Descript- A powerful all-in-one video and podcast editing tool using AI (link)
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SNIPPETS
Qualcomm reveals Snapdragon XR2 Plus Gen 2, an advanced chipset aimed at powering the next generation of high-end VR headsets.
Apple Fitness+ introduces a series of Artist Spotlight workout playlists featuring Super Bowl halftime show artists.
Apple is also reportedly set to unveil an enhanced Siri with generative AI at the WWDC.
Dell updates its XPS lineup with new 13, 14, and 16-inch models with features like invisible haptic touchpads and optional OLED screens.
Samsung announced its Unpacked event scheduled for January 17, where it is expected to unveil the Galaxy S24 smartphone line, featuring advanced AI capabilities and a new design.
Healthcare tech firm HealthEC suffered a data breach affecting 4.5 million patients and compromising a wide range of sensitive personal information.
Jeff Bezos acknowledges that despite their past disagreements, he and Elon Musk share a similar vision for humanity's future in space.
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Microsoft's 'AI PC' era is here
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Welcome, AI enthusiasts.
Microsoft’s PC keyboards are getting their first change in 30 years — and its all thanks to AI.
The company is adding a new Copilot key to its latest PC’s, taking the first step in integrating advanced AI into our everyday devices. Let’s explore…
In today’s AI rundown:
Windows ushers in AI PC era with Copilot key
Samsung teases ‘Galaxy AI’
How to boost AI outputs with surprising prompt hacks
JPMorgan releases DocLLM for business records
7 new AI tools & 4 new AI jobs
More AI & tech news
Read time: 4 minutes
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
MICROSOFT
Windows ushers in AI PC era with Copilot key
Image source: Midjourney
The Rundown: Microsoft just announced a new Copilot key coming to Windows keyboards, marking the first major keyboard change in 30 years — with the company calling 2024 the year of the "AI PC".
The details:
A new Windows logo-styled key will activate the Copilot experience in Windows to seamlessly engage Microsoft's AI assistant.
The new key aims to simplify using AI in everyday tasks as the tech becomes more personal and intelligent.
The update will start appearing on new Windows 11 devices beginning in late February, including on the upcoming Microsoft Surface devices.
Why it matters: The prominent Copilot keyboard addition signals Microsoft's commitment to making AI assistants ubiquitous and easily accessible across its family of devices — and likely is just the start of a broad wave of AI enhancements across it’s devices.
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SAMSUNG
Samsung teases ‘Galaxy AI’
Image source: Samsung
The Rundown: Samsung just announced its Galaxy launch event for Jan. 17, while prominently touting "Galaxy AI" in its marketing — signaling major AI features for its latest line of smartphones.
The details:
The event invites promise a "new era of mobile AI" for the Galaxy S series, promising to set a higher standard for intelligent smartphones.
Previous leaks and rumors have pointed to prominent AI features for translation, low-light photography, and image editing.
The phones potentially include ‘Gauss’, Samsung’s on-device AI model revealed in November — which features language, code, and image capabilities.
Why it matters: Samsung looks to lead the way in making AI useful and accessible across mobile devices. If its mobile AI capabilities live up to the hype, will Apple users be motivated to switch if the new iPhones don’t see significant AI upgrades?
AI TRAINING
How to boost AI outputs with surprising prompt hacks
Image source: VILA Lab
The Rundown: New research just uncovered the most optimal prompts to get the most out of LLMs like ChatGPT — providing us a better understanding of how to effectively communicate our needs to AI.
Here are 5 (research-backed) ways to maximize ChatGPT:
Incorporate the following phrases: “Your task is”, “You MUST”, “You will be penalized”, and ”Answer a question given in a natural, human-like manner”.
Add “I’m going to tip $(random amount) for a better solution!”
Use leading words like writing “think step by step.“
Employ affirmative directives such as ‘do,’ while steering clear of negative language like ‘don’t’.
Repeat a specific word or phrase multiple times within a prompt.
View the full list here.
AI RESEARCH
JPMorgan releases DocLLM for business records
Image source: Midjourney
The Rundown: JPMorgan’s AI research team just introduced DocLLM, an AI model extension designed to better understand complex business documents by incorporating both text content and layout structure.
The details:
The extension adds bounding box data on text segments and uses text infilling during training to handle messy real-world document layouts.
DocLLM outperformed leading models (including GPT-4) by over 15% on some form analysis challenges.
The model extension also showed reliable accuracy when tested on unseen document types and domains.
Why it matters: DocLLM looks to provide a lightweight way to boost AI comprehension of forms, records and other documents essential to sectors like financial services, healthcare, government and more — potentially helping automate slow, manual business processes.
NEW TOOLS & JOBS
AI tools powered by Supertools
RawuserAI- Personalized website customization using AI (link)
FrequentlyAskedAI- Instant AI-powered FAQ builder (link)
Record Once- Video tutorial creation and auto-editing (link)
Moodboard Creator- AI-driven branding kickstarter (link)
Ferret- Universal refer-and-ground tool (link)
Sourcely- AI-driven academic citation finder (link)
FibonacciKu- AI-powered educational assistant (link)
AI jobs powered by The Rundown Jobs
QUICK HITS
Midjourney CEO David Holz said he believes the company can get to the ‘holodeck’ and real-time open worlds in 2024, referencing the fictional device from Star Trek that uses holograms to create 3D simulations.
Google DeepMind student researchers just introduced Mobile Aloha, a low-cost, open-source robotic system capable of completing complex tasks like cooking, cleaning, and more.
Robin AI raised $26M to expand its AI-powered legal contract assistant globally.
NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang's net worth jumped over $30B in 2023 to $44B thanks to the company’s stock surging nearly 250%, propelling him to 29th on Bloomberg’s Billionaires Index.
Tencent researchers developed Paint3D, a new AI framework to generate high-resolution 2K lighting-less UV texture maps for 3D models from text or image inputs.
3D printing network Jellypipe introduced a new AI assistant that provides advice on optimal materials selection and pricing quotes.
Google's Gemini Pro and OpenAI's GPT-4V have comparable visual capabilities overall, with GPT-4V slightly ahead on IQ and reasoning and Gemini better at retrieving relevant images, according to new research.
Roku announced the launch of new high-end 4K Roku Pro Series TVs later this year, featuring AI-powered features that automatically optimize picture settings based on content.
THAT’S A WRAP
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SpaceX launches first Starlink 'cell towers'
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Welcome, Tech enthusiasts.
SpaceX just launched the first piece of a puzzle that promises connectivity virtually everywhere on Earth.
The Starlink satellites function as orbiting ‘cell towers’ — aiming to provide cellular coverage to isolated areas. Can this new tech bring digital infrastructure to the entire globe? Let’s dig in…
In today’s tech rundown:
SpaceX sends up first satellite "cell towers"
Samsung reveals steam cleaning, AI-powered vacuum
8 new products
Tesla’s record EV deliveries
Baidu donates quantum computing lab for research
Facebook introduces ‘Link History’ amid privacy issues
Read time: 3 minutes
TODAY’S HEADLINES
SPACEX
🛰️ SpaceX sends up first satellite "cell towers"
Image source: SpaceX
The Rundown: SpaceX just launched its first set of Starlink satellites equipped with direct-to-cell capabilities, intended to provide phone connectivity anywhere by linking with cellular networks.
The details:
The satellites act as cell towers in space, working with standard 4G LTE phones to provide connectivity in remote areas unreachable by traditional networks.
Initial partners span across the globe, including T-Mobile, Rogers, KDDI, Optus, One NZ, Salt, and Entel.
The rollout starts with texting in 2024, adding voice calling and data connectivity in 2025.
But the maximum 7Mbps speeds per satellite beam can't yet rival bandwidth of land-based 4G and 5G networks.
Why it matters: Though still evolving, SpaceX's space-based network could someday realize the promise of connectivity anywhere on Earth — critical for rural and remote areas of the world still lacking digital infrastructure.
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SAMSUNG
🧹 Samsung reveals steam cleaning, AI-powered vacuum
Image source: Samsung
The Rundown: Samsung just announced its Bespoke Jet Bot Combo robot vacuum, which integrates enhanced AI for navigation, stain detection targeted steam cleaning, and automatic transition between floor types — set to be unveiled at the company’s upcoming CES 2024 event.
The details:
New AI integrations helps the robot distinguish between rooms, detect stains, and identify floor surfaces for optimal cleaning.
When dried stains are spotted, the vacuum returns to base to heat mop pads with high-temp steam and water before scrubbing the spot.
AI Object Recognition detects a wider range of household objects for more precise navigation around obstacles.
Why it matters: As we enter into the year of AI in everything, some truly wild new household tech is clearly on the way. And while Roombas and ‘smart’ vacuums of old were all the rage — improving robotics and AI integrations will likely make older models eventually look like antiques.
NEW PRODUCTS
🤖 CrewAI- Multi-agent interaction builder (link)
🅰️ Cline- Web-based A/B testing (link)
🛒 Shopal- AI-powered electronics shopping assistant (link)
🦉 UserWise- Transform feedback into informed choices (link)
📚 Laterbase- AI-powered bookmark management and chat (link)
📊 HighContext- Backup fine-tuning datasets for ChatGPT (link)
📝 Copy AI- Generate content, such as blog headlines, emails, and social media posts using AI (link)
📹 Pictory- Automatically create short, branded videos from long-form content (link)
Browse the most popular tools ever featured with our tool database.
SNIPPETS
Twitch updates its nudity policy to ban implied nudity and refine adult content guidelines on its platform.
Tesla reported a record delivery of 1.809 million EVs in 2023, marking a significant increase from the previous year.
Montana and North Carolina began enforcing new age verification laws for adult content platforms, prompting Pornhub to block users from these states.
Baidu plans to donate a quantum computing lab to the Beijing Academy of Quantum Information Sciences to support advanced research in the field.
Facebook introduces a 'Link History' tool allowing users to opt out of link click tracking on its mobile app.
Fossil evidence suggests photosynthetic cells were present 1.7 billion years ago, based on identification of thylakoid structures similar to modern cells.
Sony, Canon, and Nikon are integrating digital signature technology into future cameras to combat deepfakes and verify image authenticity.
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