News/New Launches
Practical tasks you can do with ChatGPT’s Advanced Voice with Vision feature
OpenAI has expanded ChatGPT's capabilities with Advanced Voice with Vision, a new feature combining voice interaction and image processing capabilities for Plus and Pro subscribers. Launch details and availability: OpenAI unveiled Advanced Voice with Vision during their '12 Days of OpenAI' demonstration, marking a significant expansion of ChatGPT's interactive capabilities. The feature is exclusively available to ChatGPT Plus and Pro subscribers who pay the $20 monthly fee A special 'Chat with Santa' feature will be accessible to all users, including those on the free tier The rollout is happening gradually on a global scale Core functionality: Advanced Voice with Vision...
read Dec 15, 2024Meta hopes its new AI models will make the metaverse even more immersive
Meta's artificial intelligence division has announced several new AI models aimed at enhancing virtual reality experiences and addressing key challenges in digital interaction. Key developments: Meta has unveiled Meta Motivo, an AI model designed to improve the way digital avatars move and interact within virtual environments, alongside other AI innovations. The Meta Motivo model focuses on solving body control problems that have historically made digital avatars appear unrealistic This advancement could enable more natural-looking movements for non-player characters (NPCs) and broaden the possibilities for character animation The technology represents a significant step toward creating more convincing virtual experiences in the...
read Dec 15, 2024Lambda unveils low-cost inference-as-a-service API
The AI infrastructure landscape is evolving as Lambda, a San Francisco-based GPU services provider, introduces a new inference-as-a-service API aimed at making AI model deployment more accessible and cost-effective for enterprises. The core offering: Lambda's new Inference API enables businesses to deploy AI models into production without managing underlying compute infrastructure. The service supports various leading models including Meta's Llama 3.3, Llama 3.1, Nous's Hermes-3, and Alibaba's Qwen 2.5 Pricing starts at $0.02 per million tokens for smaller models and reaches $0.90 per million tokens for larger models Developers can begin using the service within five minutes by generating an...
read Dec 15, 2024STMicro unveils edge AI microcontroller for smart devices
The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence is driving innovation in microcontroller technology, with major semiconductor manufacturers developing specialized hardware for running AI applications directly on devices rather than in the cloud. Major industry development: STMicroelectronics, a leading European semiconductor company, has introduced its STM32N6 series of microcontrollers specifically designed for edge AI and machine learning applications. The new microcontroller series represents STMicroelectronics' first entry into the edge AI computing market These chips are intended for both consumer and industrial electronics applications, particularly focusing on image and audio processing tasks The microcontrollers are designed to perform computations that traditionally required more...
read Dec 15, 2024Pin’s impressive user growth shows AI may solve recruiting’s biggest challenges
Artificial intelligence is transforming the recruitment industry through innovative platforms that promise to dramatically improve hiring efficiency and candidate matching, with New York-based startup Pin emerging as a notable player in this space. The funding milestone: Pin has secured $3 million in seed funding led by Expa Ventures, marking a significant achievement just 40 days after its launch. The platform has rapidly gained traction, signing over 600 customers nationwide with 300 new additions since October The funding will support product development and market expansion efforts Pin aims to address the widespread dissatisfaction with recruitment metrics, noting that 47% of companies...
read Dec 15, 2024This new AI product lets you have live video conversations with a virtual Santa Claus
Core functionality: Tavus has introduced a new AI chat system that offers live video conversations with a virtual Santa Claus, providing an accessible and modern twist on traditional holiday interactions. The system supports communication in 30 different languages, making it globally accessible Users can discover their "naughty or nice" status through interactive conversations The platform includes interactive elements that allow users to engage with Santa in various ways Technical implementation: Tavus has created an open-source solution that emphasizes ease of deployment and customization. Developers can fork and deploy their own version of AI Santa quickly The system leverages video streaming...
read Dec 15, 2024Amazon introduces ‘AI Topics’ to make Prime Video recommendations via AI
The streaming industry continues to evolve as Amazon tests new artificial intelligence features to enhance content discovery on its Prime Video platform. Core innovation: Amazon is introducing 'AI Topics,' a new recommendation system that groups content based on artificial intelligence analysis rather than traditional algorithmic suggestions. The feature creates tailored categories like "mind-bending sci-fi," "fantasy quests," and "thrilling character journeys" based on viewer interests Users can refine their content discovery by selecting related topics within each category The system aims to provide a continuous discovery experience without reaching recommendation dead ends Implementation details: The AI Topics feature is currently in...
read Dec 15, 2024What’s inside Google NotebookLM’s recent upgrade
The AI-powered productivity tool NotebookLM has undergone a significant transformation with Google introducing new features focused on enhanced interactivity, organization, and collaboration capabilities. Key updates and features: Google has integrated the experimental Gemini 2.0 Flash version into NotebookLM while introducing a complete interface redesign and new interactive audio capabilities. The platform now includes Interactive Audio Overview hosts that allow users to engage in voice conversations, asking questions and requesting clarification on concepts A redesigned three-panel layout improves organization and workflow management The Sources Panel provides centralized information management The Chat Panel facilitates AI-driven discussions with source citations The Studio Panel...
read Dec 15, 2024Nokia and Motorola develop AI-powered drone-in-a-box system
Automated drone systems from major technology providers are transforming emergency response and industrial operations through AI-powered aerial intelligence. Partnership overview: Nokia and Motorola Solutions have combined their expertise to create an automated drone-in-a-box solution that enables remote deployment and operation of drones for emergency services and industrial applications. The system integrates Nokia's Drone Networks infrastructure with Motorola Solutions' CAPE drone management software Operations centers can remotely dispatch drones to assess emergency situations and potential hazards without putting personnel at immediate risk The solution operates over 4G/LTE or 5G networks, enabling beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) capabilities for extended range...
read Dec 15, 2024Gemini will now summarize your Google Drive folders with AI
Google's integration of Gemini AI into Google Drive marks a significant expansion of AI-powered document management capabilities, allowing users to obtain summaries of entire folders rather than just individual files. Core functionality: Gemini's new folder summarization feature operates through a simple interface that provides AI-powered insights across multiple document types. Users can access the summary function through a dedicated button or context menu The system can process various file formats including text documents, PDFs, spreadsheets, presentations, and images A sidebar interface displays summaries and enables interactive follow-up questions about folder contents Availability and access: The folder summarization feature is being...
read Dec 15, 2024Anthropic’s fastest AI model Claude 3.5 Haiku is now available to everyone
The integration of Anthropic's Claude 3.5 Haiku model into the main Claude chatbot platform marks a significant expansion in accessible AI technology, bringing enterprise-grade capabilities to everyday users. Key developments: Anthropic has made its Claude 3.5 Haiku model, previously restricted to API access, broadly available through web and mobile platforms. The model features a substantial 200,000-token context window, enabling analysis of lengthy documents and datasets Users can now process images and file attachments directly through the interface Integration with Claude Artifacts allows for manipulation of AI-generated content Technical performance: The Haiku model demonstrates impressive speed metrics while maintaining high accuracy...
read Dec 15, 2024Apple brings AI to iWork suite in latest update
The integration of Apple Intelligence into the iWork suite marks a significant expansion of AI-powered productivity tools across Apple's ecosystem, bringing advanced writing and image generation capabilities to Pages, Keynote, and Numbers. Core feature additions: Apple's iWork 14.3 update introduces three major AI-powered capabilities across its productivity suite. Users can now access Writing Tools for proofreading, rewriting, summarizing, and composing text in documents, presentations, and spreadsheets A new Image Playground feature enables creation of original images directly within iWork applications Siri integration with ChatGPT allows users to query document content through voice commands Technical implementation: The update leverages Apple's broader...
read Dec 15, 2024ChatGPT’s festive upgrade includes ‘Santa Mode’ and improved video and screen sharing
OpenAI has brought a festive update to ChatGPT for the 6th product release in its 12 Days of OpenAI initiative. The update includes an AI-powered Santa Claus voice chat experience, alongside new video capabilities. Key Feature Introduction: OpenAI has integrated a Santa Claus simulation into ChatGPT's Advanced Voice Mode, allowing users to engage in voice conversations with a virtual St. Nick through multiple platforms. The Santa feature is accessible via a snowflake icon next to the prompt bar or through voice settings Users can interact with Santa through iOS and Android mobile apps, chatgpt.com, and OpenAI's desktop applications The feature...
read Dec 15, 2024Microsoft’s small language model Phi-4 excels at math and language processing
Microsoft's new Phi-4 is a small language model that challenges conventional wisdom about AI size and performance. Key innovation: Microsoft's Phi-4 represents a significant advancement in small language model technology, demonstrating that smaller AI models can achieve impressive results in complex reasoning tasks. The model excels particularly in mathematical problem-solving, outperforming larger models like Gemini Pro 1.5 on math competition problems Despite its compact size, Phi-4 maintains strong capabilities in language processing The model is now available to developers and researchers through Azure AI Foundry under a Microsoft research license agreement Technical breakthrough: Microsoft achieved Phi-4's enhanced performance through innovative...
read Dec 15, 2024Pika Labs launches upgraded AI video model to rival Sora
Pika Labs' release of its upgraded Pika 2 model introduces enhanced customization and control features to challenge OpenAI's Sora. Key technological advances: Pika 2 represents a significant upgrade from its predecessor, which has already been used by over 11 million people to create AI-generated videos. The new model demonstrates improved capabilities in motion simulation and physics, handling both realistic scenarios and fantastical concepts with greater accuracy Users can now incorporate their own reference images as "scene ingredients," providing unprecedented control over video elements The system shows enhanced ability to interpret and execute complex text prompts, resulting in more precise video...
read Dec 15, 2024Midjourney’s new ‘Patchwork’ AI feature enables collaborative worldbuilding
The emerging field of AI-powered creative tools is expanding with Midjourney's latest innovation in collaborative storytelling and worldbuilding technology. Major announcement: Midjourney is introducing "Patchwork," a multiplayer collaborative worldbuilding platform that marks the company's expansion beyond pure image generation. The platform allows up to 100 users to simultaneously work on an infinite canvas, creating and developing story elements in real-time Users will need both a Midjourney account and Google Account connection through Discord to access the research preview The system integrates multiple large language models to power its creative capabilities Key features and functionality: Patchwork operates as a comprehensive creative...
read Dec 15, 2024Harvard releases copyright-free AI training data to democratize AI development
The growth of open-source AI training datasets marks a significant shift in how artificial intelligence models access and learn from literary works, with Harvard University taking a leading role through a major public domain book release. Project overview: Harvard's Institutional Data Initiative (IDI) has launched an unprecedented effort to democratize AI development by releasing nearly one million public domain books for AI training purposes. The dataset represents a five-fold increase compared to the Books3 dataset, previously one of the largest open collections used for AI training Microsoft and OpenAI have provided funding support for this initiative, highlighting major tech companies'...
read Dec 15, 2024Google Labs is a playground for very cool new AI tools — here’s how to try them
The recent redesign of Google Labs showcases the tech giant's expanding portfolio of experimental AI tools, making cutting-edge technology more accessible to everyday users. Core platform changes: Google Labs has undergone a significant redesign to streamline user access to experimental AI features and simplify the testing process. The refreshed interface makes discovering and initiating new experiments more intuitive Users can now provide direct feedback that influences the development of these AI tools New features and updates are continuously rolled out across various experiments Featured AI innovations: Google's latest experimental offerings span multiple domains, from content creation to academic research interpretation....
read Dec 15, 2024Google’s new Trillium AI chip aims to reshape AI and cloud computing
The race for AI hardware supremacy has intensified with the release of Google's Trillium chip, its sixth-generation Tensor Processing Unit, which promises significant advancements in performance and cost-efficiency for AI workloads. Core innovations and capabilities: Google's Trillium represents a substantial leap forward in AI processing technology, featuring doubled High Bandwidth Memory and a third-generation SparseCore architecture. The new TPU delivers 2.5 times better training performance per dollar and triple the inference throughput compared to previous generations Hardware improvements include a 4.7-fold increase in peak compute performance per chip Early adopter AI21 Labs reports significant gains in cost-efficiency and scalability for...
read Dec 15, 2024Friend.com thinks making its AI companions awful will increase engagement
AI companion technology continues to evolve in unexpected directions, with startup Friend.com taking an unconventional approach by programming intentionally difficult personalities into its chatbots. Product overview: Friend.com launched a unique AI companion service featuring both a website interface and wearable pendants that enable users to interact with virtual companions. The company's initial promotional video showcased supportive, encouraging AI companions accessed through $99 circular pendants The pendant devices are scheduled to begin shipping to customers in January The service has reportedly attracted approximately 10,000 users to date Intentional design strategy: Friend's CEO Avi Schiffmann deliberately programmed the AI companions to exhibit...
read Dec 15, 2024Character AI is releasing new AI characters that won’t groom children
The artificial intelligence chatbot platform Character.AI is implementing significant safety measures and parental controls in response to concerns about teenage users' interactions with its AI characters. Recent changes and new safeguards: Character.AI has developed separate language models for adults and teens, with the teen version placing stricter limits on bot responses and content. The teen-specific large language model (LLM) implements more conservative boundaries, particularly regarding romantic content and sensitive topics The platform now automatically blocks inappropriate user prompts and restricts minors from editing bot responses A suicide prevention hotline pop-up appears when the system detects language related to self-harm Technical...
read Dec 14, 2024Why Google’s Astra and Mariner projects are big leaps for the AI agent space
The race to develop AI agents that can autonomously perform tasks and understand their environment is intensifying, with Google unveiling new prototypes that demonstrate both the potential and current limitations of this technology. Key developments: Google is expanding testing for Project Astra, a virtual assistant capable of processing multiple types of media in real-time, while also revealing Project Mariner, a browser-based AI agent. Project Astra can process text, images, video, and audio inputs while maintaining context from previous interactions for up to 10 minutes The system is being integrated with Google Search, Lens, and Maps A prototype version using smart...
read Dec 14, 2024What to know about Google’s new AI coding agent Jules
Google's introduction of Jules, a new AI-powered code agent built on Gemini 2.0, marks a significant advancement in automated software development tools, specifically targeting bug fixes and code improvements for developers. Key Features and Capabilities: Jules is designed to create multi-step plans for addressing coding issues, with a current focus on Python and JavaScript development within GitHub workflows. The AI agent can modify multiple files simultaneously and prepare pull requests for code changes Developers maintain full control over the process, with the ability to review and adjust Jules' proposed solutions before implementation The system integrates directly with GitHub, streamlining the...
read Dec 14, 2024Deutsche Telekom unveils AI model for 24 European languages
The European telecommunications landscape is shifting as Deutsche Telekom commercializes a new open-source AI language model designed specifically for European languages, marking a significant step toward digital sovereignty in the EU. The breakthrough development: Deutsche Telekom has become the first provider to commercialize the OpenGPT-X Teuken-7B language model, a sophisticated AI system developed by a consortium of German research institutions. The model was created through collaboration between Fraunhofer Institutes IAIS and IIS, TU Dresden, the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence, and the Juelich Research Center Training was conducted on the JUWELS supercomputer, with the model released under an open-source...
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