🚀 OpenAI Store LAUNCH

Hey TEDchats Fam!

Happy Friday! Remember when the first app store launched, transforming how we use our phones? Today, we're on the brink of another seismic shift. This time, it's in the world of artificial intelligence. Join us as we explore how AI is not just evolving but also creating a new ecosystem for innovation and commerce.

👀 SNEAK PEEK

🚨FEATURE STORY

OpenAI's Online Store Will Launch Next Week

OpenAI's GPT Store, a platform for selling and sharing AI agents, is set to open its virtual doors next week.

OpenAI previously announced the concept of launching an online store filled with GPTs, and it is finally coming to fruition! These GPTs are custom versions of ChatGPT that can be developed by anyone with a ChatGPT Plus or Enterprise membership. Creators can develop specialized ChatGPT-style chatbots tailored to diverse applications, ranging from a "laundry buddy" that advises on stain removal to a chatbot assisting in complex negotiations (see more). Additionally, these creators can sell their custom-made GPTs on the OpenAI store, which is launching next week!

The Rocky Road to Launch

Despite the revolutionary potential of the GPT Store, its journey to launch wasn't smooth. Initially slated for a November release, the launch faced multiple delays. OpenAI's busy schedule, including the controversial firing and rehiring of CEO Sam Altman, contributed to the postponement, setting back the eagerly anticipated debut and testing the patience of its potential users and creators (see complaints).

Overcoming these hurdles, OpenAI has now posted a message to its GPT Builders, signaling a triumphant turning point. This post emphasized the importance of following brand guidelines to ensure that all AI creations are well-prepared for public release, marking the final preparations for the store's launch next week (see post).

The Future of AI Apps: Opportunities For Us All?

This platform is not just a marketplace but a hub for innovation, allowing creators to monetize their AI agents based on user engagement. If you are interested in creating your own chatbot, OpenAI has recently posted a guide on how to do so (see guide).

The launch of the GPT Store heralds a new era in the AI industry, where the power of AI creation is decentralized and placed into the hands of diverse creators. This move could accelerate the pace of AI innovation, leading to more personalized and specialized AI applications. As the platform evolves, it will be intriguing to see how it shapes the future of AI development and the broader technological landscape.

🍕 QUICK BITES

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).

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).

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 TOOLBOX

🤯 MIND SPARK

Are Robotaxis a Good Investment?

A recent TechCrunch article explores the challenges contributing to the downfall of driverless taxis, also known as robotaxis, in China. Can we extract valuable lessons from these challenges? Here's a condensed list of the article’s findings:

1. Monetization Pressures: The high costs associated with developing and maintaining autonomous vehicles can be restrictive for many investors due to the substantial upfront expenses.

2. Regulatory Constraints: Safety and regulatory hurdles remain significant challenges for widespread commercialization. The need for human supervision, coupled with area restrictions, limits their operational scope.

3. Subsidies and Discounts: Heavy discounts offered for rides to attract customers may not be sustainable in the long term. Will customers be willing to pay the same as traditional taxis once these subsidies are removed?

4. Operator Ratio: Achieving profitability requires either the complete removal of humans to operate the driverless vehicles or, at the very least, a ratio less than 1:1; otherwise, you may as well have a traditional single-driver taxi. The industry still faces a challenge in reaching a human-vehicle ratio that can compete with traditional taxis.

5. Trust and Incidents: Building trust with regulators and the public is crucial. The vulnerability of this trust is highlighted by incidents such as Cruise's suspension of services following a severe incident (read more).

6. Profitability Outlook: The profitability outlook is a point of contention. While some executives express optimism about the potential profits from robotaxis once human operators are removed, others lean more towards advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), which are designed to assist human drivers rather than replace them.

7. Government Contracts: Some robotaxi players depend on government contracts for survival, introducing complexities related to navigating bureaucracy and uncertainties about the financial prospects of such contracts.

8. Overseas Market Exploration: As commercial and funding activities pose challenges domestically, at least in the case of China, robotaxi companies are exploring overseas markets. This presents challenges related to adapting to different regulatory environments and establishing successful operations abroad.

Link to full article here

🎨 AI ART