🗞️ AI News Recap

Hey TEDchats Fam!

Happy Monday! Welcome to this week's AI Recap. We are thrilled to bring you a curated glimpse into the dynamic world of artificial intelligence, where innovation never sleeps. In the past week, the AI landscape has been buzzing with exciting developments that span from operating system enhancements to groundbreaking collaborations and futuristic releases. Let's dive into the headlines that have captured our attention.

🐇 QUICK BITES — THE PAST WEEK

Elon Musk Sues OpenAI for Prioritizing Profits Over Humanity!

Elon Musk has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, its CEO Sam Altman, and President Greg Brockman alleging a breach of the company’s founding agreement by prioritizing profit over the benefits to humanity. Musk, a pivotal figure in OpenAI's establishment, expressed concerns about artificial general intelligence (AGI) as a significant existential threat. He provided the majority of funding, guided research, and recruited top scientists. The dispute centers on the "founding agreement", which emphasized non-profit development for humanity's benefit. The complaint contends that in 2023, Altman and OpenAI "set the Founding Agreement aflame", prioritizing profits over benefiting humanity. In response, OpenAI characterized the lawsuit as a reflection of Musk’s regrets about not being involved in the company’s later success (read Elon Musk’s filed complaint here).

India Imposes Stringent and Immediate Regulations on Major AI Companies

India issued an advisory requiring significant tech firms to seek government permission before launching new AI models. Deputy Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar notes it applies to untested AI models from large companies, not startups (see the Deputy’s post). The ministry cites power from the IT Act, 2000, and IT Rules, 2021, seeking immediate compliance and a report within 15 days. This marks a shift from India's previous hands-off approach to AI regulation, surprising industry executives and sparking concerns about hindering global competitiveness. Industry leaders, both in India and Silicon Valley, expressed disappointment and criticism, highlighting potential demotivation and negative impacts on innovation (see example complaints linked here and here).

The End of the Road for Apple's Electric Dream

For nearly a decade, Apple aimed to revolutionize the automotive industry with its ambitious "Project Titan". Despite initial excitement and a team of 2,000, the journey was tumultuous, marked by high staff turnover, changing strategies, and a challenging vision. Recently, Apple made a decisive shift, discontinuing the project to focus on generative AI technologies. This move not only ends the dream of an Apple electric vehicle but also brings layoffs. However, many team members will transition to Apple's AI endeavors. This strategic pivot reflects a broader tech trend, emphasizing AI as the forefront of innovation. Meanwhile, the EV landscape remains dynamic, with companies like Sony and Honda accelerating their efforts. The race for EV supremacy continues, though Apple exits as a major contender (read more).

From Tech Giant to Laughing Stock: Is Google Releasing Too Many AI Tools?

Tech companies, fueled by AI hype, are constantly making new AI announcements as they compete for the spotlight. However, one tech firm, in particular, may have overdone it and has now become a source of amusement. Google, almost weekly, unveils new AI tools with seemingly similar purposes, albeit under different names. The recent introduction of Gemini Business as a successor to Gemini Enterprise, which itself replaced Duet AI, has become a running joke, with people viewing the series of announcements skeptically. What's your take? Is the constant release of Google's AI tools an innovation or a dilution of the technological landscape? (see example reactions linked here and here).

Meta's Smart Glasses Nears Release

In an exciting development, Meta is set to showcase its latest innovation, the "Orion" smart glasses, at the upcoming Meta Connect event later this year. Marking a significant leap from their existing Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses, these "true" augmented reality (AR) glasses are poised to offer a more advanced and immersive augmented reality experience. While they're not slated for public release just yet, this demonstration could offer a tantalizing glimpse into the future of AR technology as envisioned by Meta (read more).

Humane's AI Pin Expands Globally

AI startup Humane takes a significant leap onto the global stage, forging a strategic partnership with South Korea's largest mobile provider, SK Telecom. This groundbreaking collaboration will introduce the innovative Ai Pin, a wearable device with advanced AI capabilities and a unique mini projector feature, to the South Korean market. This move signifies a pivotal moment for Humane, expanding its reach beyond the U.S. and showcasing its ambitious vision for AI-driven wearable technology on an international platform (see Humane’s announcement).

Windows 11 Copilot Update Adds New Functionalities

Microsoft's recent update to Windows 11 Copilot introduces a range of new capabilities. In the upcoming weeks, users will have the ability to control additional settings directly through Copilot using simple text prompts. This includes managing battery saver mode, displaying system and battery information, and launching accessibility features like screen magnification and text-to-speech narrators. An update that has already been released this week are new integrations with third-party services, including OpenTable for restaurant reservations, Shopify for online shopping, and Kayak for travel planning. Additionally, AI editing tools are now integrated into Windows default apps like Clipchamp and Photos, enhancing their functionality (find the list of new features here).

Venus Williams Serves Up an AI Ace for Interior Design

Venus Williams, a seven-time Grand Slam winner, has recently made a surprise comeback with a new design company, Palazzo. Palazzo, merging Williams' expertise with interior design, revolutionizes how spaces are envisioned. The platform, available online, features an AI assistant named Vinci, generating customized design ideas based on users' style preferences. Vinci adapts and evolves with each interaction, learning from users' inputs. Actively promoted by Venus on her X page, Palazzo has garnered thousands of users. The platform's future plans include shopping features and connecting users with professional services for a comprehensive design ecosystem (see Q&A with Venus Williams).

Google Integrates Stack Overflow Knowledge into Google Cloud

In a move poised to redefine cloud-based development, Google announces a strategic partnership with Stack Overflow, the largest online community for programmers. Through this collaboration, Google's Gemini project for Google Cloud will harness Stack Overflow's vast knowledge base, enriching Gemini with a wealth of validated, expert-level programming insights. This integration means developers using Google Cloud will now have direct access to Stack Overflow answers right within the Google Cloud console, marking a significant leap in AI-assisted development and a seamless melding of AI capabilities with community-driven expertise (read more).

Brave Steps Up with 'Leo': The Next-Gen AI Assistant for Android

Brave is enhancing the browsing experience by introducing 'Leo', its advanced AI assistant, to Android users. Beyond typical browsing, Leo empowers users with diverse capabilities such as real-time webpage summarization, language translation, and even content creation. Initially launched for desktops, this rollout marks a significant leap for mobile users. Leo provides a selection of popular large language models (LLMs) like Mixtral 8x7B, Anthropic’s Claude Instant, and Meta’s Llama 2 13B. Users can choose based on their personal preference, enjoying a seamless, integrated AI experience directly within the browser. Get ready to plan meals, gather travel tips, or swiftly digest lengthy web content — all through Leo's intuitive interface (see Brave’s announcement).

Inkitt Book Publishers Secures $37M to Pioneer a New Era in Storytelling

With a groundbreaking investment of $37 million, Inkitt is pioneering a new era in storytelling. This innovative platform combines the power of AI with the art of human creativity, aiming to revolutionize the publishing industry. By identifying and enhancing compelling stories through AI algorithms, Inkitt is not just publishing books but creating an immersive, personalized reading experience. Their goal? To become the "Disney of the 21st century", transforming the way we think about and consume stories in the digital age (read more).

New Technology Generates Infinite Versions of a Movie

The pioneering filmmaking and technology company, Anamorph, officially launched this week after showcasing their generative AI at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. Their AI possesses the remarkable capability of generating billions of potential sequences, providing a unique viewing experience for every audience, as exemplified by their film "Eno" (read more about Eno here).

The Upfront Summit: Glittering Stars, Extravagance, and AI Letdowns?

The Upfront Summit, an exclusive invite-only venture capital conference in Los Angeles, showcased the glittering stars of the venture capital world this week. Featuring a vibrant pink atmosphere and Coco robots serving drinks, the event lived up to its reputation for extravagance. While AI seemingly took center stage in discussions, and celebrities such as Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Cameron Diaz, and Novak Djokovic made notable appearances, we failed to identify any standout moments related to AI advancements. However, TechCrunch has extensively covered the event, as detailed in the following link (read more).

🧰 AI TOOLBOX — RECAP

👋 UNTIL NEXT TIME

The news highlighted today is just the tip of the AI iceberg. From the global expansion of Humane's AI Pin to the introduction of infinite movies by Anamorph, our newsletter aims to keep you informed and engaged in the ever-evolving AI landscape. Thank you for being a part of TEDchats. We hope you enjoy this week's AI recap, and as always, feel free to share your thoughts and feedback.