🎒 AI backpack

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Happy Monday, fellow humans. 👋

Happy Labor Day! Hope everyone has a great day sleeping in, eating, and, of course, catching up with AI. :)

Let’s dive into it…

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🧵 In today's edition:

• 🎒 AI backpack

• 🐦️ More trouble with Elon’s X?

• 🚗 Naver explores robotics, AI, and autonomous driving

• 🤑 AI Fundraising News

🤖 Top AI News

🎒 AI backpack

Everyday items are starting to get an AI upgrade.

For instance, to make the backpacks more of an accessory for office workers and students, Microsoft may soon give backpack-wearers an AI upgrade, according to a patent published on August 24.

The AI-powered backpack could perform advanced tasks like environmental scanning, understanding voice commands, and providing contextual assistance.

Sensors like a microphone, camera, GPS, compass, and more would allow the backpack to sense its surroundings. An AI engine would then identify objects, understand commands, and enable the bag to perform contextual tasks through a digital assistant.

While intriguing, Microsoft fans shouldn't expect to see this AI backpack at the company's upcoming September launch event because, sadly, many patents never become actual products.

However, Microsoft's Yusuf Mehdi confirmed via social media that the company will reveal more AI innovations soon. So even if the AI backpack remains conceptual, Microsoft plans to keep incorporating AI and digital assistants into new product categories.

Overall: For consumers craving smarter, more personalized tech that meshes with their lifestyle, Microsoft's vision could lead to AI becoming an integral part of everyday accessories like backpacks.

Read more: ZDNet

🐦️ More trouble with Elon’s X?

Twitter's X’s recent privacy policy update indicates the company plans to collect users' biometric and professional data to train its AI models. Though Elon Musk said it will only gather publicly available info, not private messages, details are vague.

X’s update comes on the heels of Musk launching xAI, aiming to "understand the true nature of the universe."

Potential reasons for this move:

• Building a LinkedIn competitor, considering Musk bashed the professional network as "cringe" and vowed X’s version would be "cool." Gathering employment and education history from users would lay the groundwork for a rival service.

• Selling data is another potential motive as advertising revenue dwindles. However, historically, Twitter/X used data internally more than sharing it externally.

Overall: Musk tweeted the change is meant to improve content recommendations when asked directly, but the privacy policy indicates loftier AI aspirations beyond tweaking X’s feed algorithm.

Plus, he has given no information about how this personal data will be used, leaving X users in a state of frenzy. Will be curious to understand Musk’s true intentions behind this move.

Read more: Engadget

🚗 Naver explores robotics, AI, and autonomous driving

More countries are looking into expanding their AI and robotics reach.

Naver, South Korea's leading internet company, is now pushing into robotics and AI to power its future growth.

• Last year, Naver opened its new headquarters with 100 autonomous robots called Rookies that deliver items and navigate the offices using 5G and computer vision.

• Naver now believes innovative environments with robots will benefit society in the coming years and wants to pioneer robotic platforms that could someday replace mobile phones.

A key project for Naver is ARC, the AI system enabling Naver's robots to see and operate. ARC acts as the robot's eyes and brain, recognizing surroundings and plotting routes without GPS.

Overall: With massive real-world testing facilities and expert researchers, Naver sees opportunities to lead in real-world robotics apps.

Naver is differentiating itself by infusing its robots with powerful AI, hoping to pave the way for autonomous assistants in homes, hospitals, malls, and beyond.

Read more: TechCrunch

🤑 AI Fundraising News

General Atomics-Led Team secures a $7.4 Million grant for AI-Powered Fusion Data Platform.

Oxa raises $140M Series C to work on autonomous transportation.

🗞️ AI Quick-Bytes

What else is going on?

1. We Used A.I. to Write Essays for Harvard, Yale, and Princeton. Here’s How It Went.

2. AI Cracks the Code on Odor Perception

3. AI project imagines the adult faces of children who disappeared during Argentina’s military dictatorship.

4. Gizmodo’s owner shuts down the Spanish language site in favor of AI translations.

5. Bumble CEO says AI will actually help you get more dates.

6. Samsung gains 6% on reports It’s joining Nvidia AI suppliers.

🐦️ Tweet of the day

Pretty cool update from EmbedAI!

And that does it for today's issue.

As always, thanks for reading. Have a great day, and see you next time! ✌️

— Haroon: (definitely) Not A Robot and @haroonchoudery on Twitter

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