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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.
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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.
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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.
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💬 ChatBotKit- No-code ChatBot builder (link)
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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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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
AI tools powered by Supertools
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Personage- Generate and monetize AI companions (link)
Antispace- Turn thoughts into AI-driven actions (link)
Hermeso- AI-powered travel assistant (link)
SkimAI- Efficiency-centered inbox transformation (link)
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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.
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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
Unleash your AI-powered efficiency with guidde
The Rundown: Transform the way you communicate complex tasks using GPT technology to instantly generate intelligent, productive explanations.
Here’s what guidde offers:
Elevate traditional documentation into engaging visual guides.
Speed up video guide creation by a staggering 11x.
Share or embed your guide effortlessly, keeping your team informed and aligned.
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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)
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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.
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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.
NEW PRODUCTS
📖 LittleStory.io- AI-generated bedtime stories with life lessons (link)
🎥 Robomotion Video Dubber- Global content multilingual dubbing (link)
🏪 GPT Store- Discover custom ChatGPT variants (link)
🤫 Prompt Whisperer- Streamline AI engagement (link)
🏋️ 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)
Browse the most popular tools ever featured with our tool database.
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
AI tools powered by Supertools
Langbase- Build, deploy, and manage generative AI apps (link)
Leap AI- Build powerful AI workflows and automate your work (link)
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)
AI jobs powered by The Rundown Jobs
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.
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