📣Microsoft's MAJOR announcements

Hey TEDchats Fam!

Happy Wednesday! Imagine waking up one morning to find your email inbox sorted, your daily schedule optimized, and mundane tasks handled without lifting a finger. As you sip your coffee, let's dive into the world where technology works for you, unveiled at Microsoft Build 2024.

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👀 SNEAK PEEK

🚨FEATURE STORY

Microsoft Unveils AI Innovations at Build 2024

Imagine a world where your computer handles mundane tasks without being prompted. At Microsoft Build 2024, the tech giant revealed groundbreaking advancements poised to make this a reality, marking a significant leap in the integration of AI into everyday technology.

This is all unfolding in Seattle and online from May 21 to 23. There is still time to register, and the online sessions are free (register here).

The Breakout Announcements You Don’t Want to Miss!

Microsoft's annual Build conference has always been a showcase for cutting-edge technology. Here is a rundown on the big announcements:

• Copilot AI agents: The most pivotal announcement was the introduction of Copilot AI agents. These virtual assistants can monitor emails, automate processes, and assist in employee onboarding without human prompts. They achieve this by leveraging memory for context, learning from user feedback, and asking for help when they encounter situations they don’t know how to handle.

• Phi-3-vision: A new multimodal AI model, part of the Phi-3 family of AI small language models, is capable of reading text and analyzing images. This model, designed to operate on mobile devices, is now available in preview, showcasing Microsoft's commitment to versatile AI solutions.

• Real-Time Video Translation in Microsoft Edge: An upcoming feature in the Edge browser will allow real-time dubbing of videos from platforms like YouTube, translating between several languages, including Spanish, Italian, English, Hindi, German, and Russian.

• Custom Emoji for Microsoft Teams: Starting in July, Teams will allow users to add custom emojis, similar to Slack. This feature will be controllable by admins and visible only within the organization.

• Qualcomm Snapdragon Dev Kit: Qualcomm introduced a new Snapdragon Dev Kit for Windows, featuring a Snapdragon X Elite chip, 32GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD, offering a compact yet powerful development tool.

• Git Integration in Microsoft File Explorer: Developers will soon be able to use File Explorer to manage coding projects, with integrated support for file status tracking, commit messages, and branch management, along with native support for 7-zip and TAR compression formats.

• AI-Powered Clipboard in PowerToys: The new Advanced Paste feature in PowerToys for Windows 11 will enable users to convert clipboard contents on the fly, supporting formats like plaintext, markdown, and JSON. This feature requires an OpenAI API key and credits.

So… What Does This Mean for Us?

The implications of these advancements are vast. As AI becomes more integrated into daily workflows, businesses and individuals can expect a future where technology continuously adapts to their needs, driving unprecedented levels of efficiency and innovation. The next phase of AI-driven productivity tools is not just on the horizon; it's already here, heralding a new era of smart, seamless digital experiences. You can see Microsoft’s major announcements here, here, and here.

🧑‍💻 DAILY PROMPT

🍕 QUICK BITES

Google’s AI Search Now Includes Ads

Google has announced that its AI-generated search summaries will now include ads. In a recent update, the company revealed plans to test search and shopping ads within the AI Overviews for users in the US. For instance, if you search for ways to remove wrinkles from clothes, the AI Overview might not only provide AI-generated tips but also display a "Sponsored" section showcasing products like wrinkle spray from retailers such as Walmart and Instacart. While this aims to enhance ad relevance, it could potentially clutter the user experience meant to provide quick, concise information. Google plans to gather feedback from advertisers and the industry to refine this new ad format (see Google’s announcement).

Scarlett Johansson's AI Voice Doppelgänger Controversy

In a recent controversy, Scarlett Johansson alleges that OpenAI developed a ChatGPT voice that closely mimics her own, despite her declining an offer to be the voice of the AI. Johansson claims that the voice, known as Sky, sounds so similar to her that it caused her friends, family, and the public to mistake it for her, according to an NPR report. She has hired legal counsel and sent letters to OpenAI demanding transparency on how the voice was created. OpenAI, denying any intentional similarity, has temporarily pulled the Sky voice from its products, citing respect for Johansson's concerns and privacy. An NPR tech correspondent shares Johansson’s statement in a post on X (see the post here).

Adobe's AI-Powered ‘Generative Remove’ Lands in Lightroom

Adobe has unveiled a groundbreaking new feature for Lightroom called Generative Remove, powered by its Firefly AI technology. This tool allows users to effortlessly edit objects out of photos, regardless of the complexity of the background. Whether it's removing stains from a patterned shirt, erasing wrinkles from a tablecloth in food photography, or eliminating unwanted reflections in water, Generative Remove handles it all with precision. The Generative Remove feature is now available as early access, promising to simplify and elevate the photo editing experience for users (see Adobe’s announcement).

🧰 AI TOOLBOX 

🤯 MIND SPARK

Scale AI Soars with a $1B Boost: Data-labeling powerhouse Scale AI secures a staggering $1 billion Series F round, catapulting its valuation to $13.8 billion. This funding surge underscores the critical role of data in the AI revolution, attracting major backers like Amazon and Meta. Despite last year's layoffs, Scale AI's value has nearly doubled, reflecting investors' fervor for AI advancements (see Scale’s announcement).

Snap's AI Chatbot Clears Privacy Hurdles in the UK: The UK's Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has concluded its investigation into Snap's AI chatbot, My AI, confirming that the social media giant has addressed privacy concerns, especially those related to children's data. While Snap implemented significant measures and parental controls to ensure safety, the ICO warns the industry to proactively assess risks before launching generative AI tools (see the ICO’s announcement).

EU Finalizes Ground-Breaking AI Regulation: The European Union has officially approved the world's first comprehensive AI regulation, aiming to set a global standard. This landmark AI Act will come into force across the EU in the coming weeks but will only be fully enforceable after two years. Overall, it introduces a risk-based approach that bans certain "unacceptable" AI uses while imposing strict requirements on high-risk applications (see the EU’s announcement).

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