🗞️ AI News Recap

Hey TEDchats Fam!

Happy Monday! Diving into the week's AI news without recaps is like setting sail without a compass – you might get lost in the digital sea of information! So, let's chart our course, hoist the metaphorical sails, and embark on a journey through the latest AI updates. Consider these recaps your navigational map in the vast ocean of tech possibilities!

🐇 QUICK BITES — THE PAST WEEK

AI Startup Predictions for 2024

The AI industry in 2023 witnessed a substantial increase in public engagement, with widespread adoption of AI tools. Financially, startups raised funds at valuations parallel to those in 2021, despite some high-profile shutdowns. The year also brought legal challenges, notably the New York Times’ lawsuit against OpenAI. In spite of these challenges, investors express optimism about a continued increase in funding for the AI sector in 2024, as reported in a TechCrunch article. However, a shift is emerging as investors show a preference for AI startups specializing in specific sectors that rely less on foundational technologies offered by major players such as OpenAI and Google. This preference aims to obtain more "durable" business solutions rather than chasing "hype" (read more).

OpenAI’s Online Store for AI Agents is Launching This Week!

OpenAI's GPT Store, an online platform for buying and sharing AI agents, is set to launch this week. Creators with ChatGPT Plus or Enterprise memberships can develop custom ChatGPT-style chatbots for various applications, from a "laundry buddy" to a negotiator. They can also sell their creations on the GPT Store. This platform not only serves as a marketplace but also fosters innovation, allowing creators to monetize their AI agents. OpenAI has provided a guide for those interested in creating their own chatbots (read more).

Google's "Robot Constitution" for AI Safety

In a groundbreaking move, Google's DeepMind robotics team integrates Isaac Asimov’s Three Laws of Robotics into a new "Robot Constitution", with the first law stating that “a robot may not injure a human being”. This novel approach ensures that their autonomous robots prioritize human safety, and avoid tasks that involve humans, sharp objects, animals, or electrical appliances. Their system, AutoRT, combines visual and language models for adaptable decision-making in real-world settings. For example, AutoRT “safely orchestrated as many as 20 robots simultaneously, in a variety of office buildings” (read more).

Nabla Secures $24 Million for AI Medical Assistant

Nabla, a Paris-based startup, has successfully raised $24 million in Series B funding for its innovative AI assistant designed for healthcare professionals. This technology focuses on automating the process of writing clinical notes and “already handles more than 3 million consultations per year in 3 languages”. The funding will further accelerate the platform's expansion into the US market, underscoring a significant shift towards integrating advanced AI solutions into routine medical administration (read more).

Tesla Partners with Samsung SmartThings

Tesla and Samsung have announced a collaboration to connect Tesla's products, including electric vehicles, Solar Inverters and the Powerwall home battery, to Samsung's SmartThings Energy platform. This partnership will enable users to track energy production and usage through the SmartThings app, enhancing smart home energy management. As a bonus feature, the connection also alerts users on their linked Samsung TVs and mobile devices about severe weather conditions. This initiative is the first to utilize Tesla's API in this manner (read more).

Xreal Introduces Air 2 Ultra AR Glasses

Xreal has launched the Air 2 Ultra, the newest addition to its AR glasses lineup, with a retail price of $699. These augmented reality glasses offer full positional tracking (6 DoF) and incorporate dual 3D cameras for environmental mapping and hand tracking. Targeting a competitive stance against Apple's Vision Pro and Meta’s Quest 3, the Air 2 Ultra, weighing 80 grams, features a 52-degree field of view and 1080p screens for each eye. Preorders are open for developers, with consumer shipping starting in March (see more).

Perplexity AI Skyrockets in Value

Just over a year after its founding, Perplexity has made a striking impact in the tech industry. The AI-powered search engine announced a massive $73.6M funding round, skyrocketing its valuation to an impressive $520M. Led by IVP and backed by notable investors including Jeff Bezos and Nvidia, this significant financial milestone highlights Perplexity's rapid ascent and potential to revolutionize the realm of AI-driven search, challenging even established giants (read more).

AI Firms Are Willing to Pay for Quality Data to Train Their Models

OpenAI is attempting to enter licensing agreements with news publishers, offering $1 to $5 million per year to use copyrighted news articles for training its AI models. This development aligns with industry trends, where AI companies are increasingly seeking partnerships with media companies for data acquisition. Notably, Apple has proposed a similar initiative, planning to invest at least $50 million over several years for AI training content. This move reflects a growing emphasis on sourcing high-quality, copyrighted data to enhance AI model accuracy and capabilities (read more).

🧰 AI TOOLBOX — RECAP & MORE

👋 UNTIL NEXT TIME

As we dock our digital ship after navigating the AI news of the past week, consider this more than a recap — it's a shared voyage through the currents of innovation. What wonders await us in the next chapter of tech evolution? The digital ocean is vast, and together, we're setting sail into uncharted territories.