💁 Virtual Assistant

🗞️ Your Weekly Round-Up

1️⃣ GPT Store

OpenAI officially launched its GPT Store, allowing users to share their custom chatbots with the world. 

This is interesting because:

• OpenAI essentially made an “App Store for GPTs” by utilizing its own models, creating a comprehensive ecosystem within its own domain — very Apple of them. 

• It allows GPT developers to benefit financially from their creations. 

• It offers an efficient solution for companies looking to launch their own bots with minimal engineering effort. Big brands like Canva, WebPilot, and VEED have already embraced the GPT wave, introducing their own custom bots.

 Read more: Mashable

2️⃣ Virtual Assistant

Rabbit launched its first AI device, the Rabbit R1, at CES 2024. 

Here are the details: 

• The device has a 2.88-inch touchscreen, analog scroll wheel, two mics, a speaker, and a rotating camera. 

• The Rabbit OS, boasting the Large Action Model (LAM), excels at executing actions on interfaces, offering a dynamic and versatile user experience.

In a controlled demo, the Rabbit R1 handled tasks like: 

• Booking an Uber,

• Suggesting recipes based on fridge contents, and

• Answering music trivia. 

Comments: I honestly did not believe there would be much demand for a device that was essentially a voice-operated phone…

But what do I know? Rabbit sold out 10,000 units in pre-sales over two days, obliterating their target of 500. Wild. 

Read more: Engadget

3️⃣ The age of the AI PC

AMD is changing the AI PC landscape with the world's first desktop processor housing a dedicated Neural Processing Unit (NPU).

AMD's NPU: 

• Is designed to handle AI tasks directly on your desktop, eliminating the need to send data to the cloud.

• Boasts enhanced security and privacy features.

• Frees users from dependence on cloud-based services while sidestepping potential fees linked to external server processing.

 Read more: Yahoo Finance

4️⃣ BMW AI

Amazon is on a mission to revolutionize the user experience in BMW cars by integrating AI to replace the (often unread) user manuals. 

The "voice assistant LLM" leverages a large language model trained on BMW's extensive manuals, allowing users to have conversations ranging from driving recommendations to inquiring about their car's well-being.

There's a small catch, though – the AI assistant relies on satellite connectivity, with the most advanced features requiring a 5G connection.

Just know which exit to use when you enter a tunnel, I guess…

Read more: Gizmodo

5️⃣ Volkswagen’s ChatGPT integration

Speaking of cars with AI, Volkswagen is set to integrate ChatGPT into its IDA voice assistant.

Some quick notes: 

• You don’t have to create a new account or install any app.

• You can activate it with a simple "Hello IDA" or by pressing the steering wheel button. 

• ChatGPT doesn't access any vehicle data. All interactions are anonymous, and questions and answers are instantly deleted for maximum data protection.

Read more: Volkswagen Newsroom

6️⃣ OpenAI’s continues to tussle with the EU

Looks like the EU isn’t done with Open AI just yet. 

In the aftermath of the upheaval at OpenAI (you know, the whole Sam Outman situation), the European Union is now diving into Microsoft's investment in the AI powerhouse to evaluate its compliance with the bloc's merger regulations.

Why are they conducting the investigation? 

• When Microsoft stepped in to counter the OpenAI board's move to remove Sam Altman, it triggered the regulators to investigate the arrangement between Microsoft and OpenAI. 

• The investigation aligns with the EU's focus on competition matters in cutting-edge markets, particularly within generative AI. 

• The Commission meticulously examines agreements between major digital players and generative AI developers to understand their implications on market dynamics.

Read more: TechCrunch

7️⃣ Duolingo uses AI to generate content

Duolingo reportedly replaced ~10% of its contractors with generative AI, sparking job security concerns. 

Here’s what happened:

• In 2020, Duolingo started integrating AI into its operations through Birdbrain, a system designed to customize exercises based on user proficiency.

• Initially, human expertise played a crucial role in maintaining the quality of questions.

• However, a recent shift in Duolingo's approach saw the introduction of LLM AI, which now writes entire exercises independently, relying less on human oversight. This marks a transition from a collaborative humans + AI system to one where AI takes on a more prominent role.

This shift raises questions about the implications of such decisions on the broader online education sector, making it an interesting space to watch.

Read more: Mashable

8️⃣ Smart home

Samsung is transforming smart homes by introducing cutting-edge features to its SmartThings home automation platform. 

Here’s the TL;DR: 

• Now Plus, a dynamic dashboard integrated into select Samsung TVs, offers users instant access to information about their smart home devices.

• Their new "quick panel" offers shortcuts for device control and helps to locate misplaced gadgets. 

• Samsung's innovative "map view" displays an interactive home map with device locations.

• There is an all-new "AI characters” feature that represents family members and pets, reacting in real-time to home conditions. For instance, you can see if someone “appears to sweat if the house gets too warm.” Ngl, this seems a little Black Mirror-ish to me…

Read more: TechCrunch

9️⃣ Open AI needs copyrighted material

It’s no secret that OpenAI is embroiled in lawsuits accusing them of using copyrighted works without permission to train their LLMs. (cc. The NY Times)

But despite that, the company is doubling down on its methodology, asserting that training today's leading AI models is "impossible without using copyrighted materials." 

OpenAI emphasizes that copyright encompasses nearly all forms of human expression; they argue that restricting training data to public domain content from over a century ago would not meet the needs of today’s users.

Do OpenAI’s claims have merit, or are they just trying to save themselves from a hefty lawsuit?

Read more: Engadget

🔟 Getty Images gets around licensing issues

In collaboration with Nvidia, Getty Images launched Generative AI by iStock. This tool uses AI models trained on Getty's vast iStock photography and video libraries to produce fresh, licensable images and artwork. 

Here are some key details:

• The service comes with a $15 cost for every 100 generated images.

• The tool is available in 75 languages.

• It comes with legal coverage of up to $10,000 for any licensed visuals a customer generates.

• The tool can seamlessly integrate into existing apps and plug-ins through its API.

Read more: TechCrunch

🤑 AI Fundraising News

• Cumulus Oncology raises £9M in Seed funding to source novel oncology assets and uses AI and machine learning platforms to prioritize targets and assets.

• Contents.com raises $18M in Series B funding to develop a platform that makes content creation more efficient, creative, and accessible for a global audience.

• Silicon Box raises $200M in Series B funding to expand its chiplet technology and support the development of large language models, generative AI, mobile computing, data centers, and automotive tech.

• Quora raises $75M in funding to grow Poe, its AI chatbot platform.

• Sunrise AI raises an undisclosed amount in Pre-Seed funding
  to develop a product that uses machine learning to analyze open banking and macroeconomic data to provide accurate, inclusive credit assessments for property owners and enhance lease income analytics.

• NumberEight raises $2.7M in Pre-Series A funding to develop on-device AI to deliver privacy-first identity solutions to the advertising industry.

• Hyperexponential raises $73M in Series B funding to develop its PDI platform, hx Renew, which allows insurers to leverage large and alternative datasets, rapidly develop and refine rating tools, and employ sophisticated machine learning approaches to make data-driven pricing decisions.

• Ex-Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal reportedly raised $30 million for his AI startup that creates software for LLM developers.

🛠️ AI Tools to Check Out

• Chromox: An AI-powered video generator supporting text to video. Check them out!

• Chatmind: Chatmind is a Chat-guided mind-mapping tool that guides you through the process of brainstorming, clarifying, and visualizing your ideas. Check them out!

🐦 Tweet Post of the Day

Damn… the re-sell prices on these Rabbit devices are through the roof 🤯