These are exactly the reasons I'm converting most of my liquid HIVE to $LEO, I staked a lot of my liquid $LEO, and don't mind it being so low right now!
LeoAI could be used to bring more and more people here, even if by curiosity. I'm excited for the upcoming DASH integration, but I'm currently in the wait-and-see stage.
While I don't think Creator's Subscription will bring any noticeable value by itself, if the community becomes more active, or if $HIVE price improved a lot, we'll see more people subscribing to each other.
1/🧵
AI isuch awaited feature and as the AI willhave the direction access (I assume) to the Hive blockchain data, it will be interesting to use it to get different stats.
Our base for this week. On the Sophienalpe above Vienna. Beautiful place. It has been shut down for the last two years because someone decided to grow marihuana on an industrial scale…
It grows both economies. It's a very clear win for Dash, very clear win for InLeo and LeoDEX, very clear win for Maya, and a win for Hive too (but we need to talk this up more)
This is totally true, if I, someone who loves #inleo finds it inconvenient, imagine people who are just checking it out for testing. Automation is key!
in fine with you guys putting it off for a while and I’ll be here regardless. But I do think it’s worth opening the pricing once you build up Leo ads and Leo ai
Managing, already posted two simple source codes of small applications I created... Of course, the source code for @reminder.ping is public on Github, so won't put it on a sub-only post.
We have been consumers of different services for a long time, we know we as a consumer hate being forced to do anything, and the people on web3 hates it even more... It wouldn't make sense to do that here haha.
The value is on the freedom, I'll do it because I can not because I have to
I personally feel letting people choose their own pricing will attract more creators with existing followings which is what I think is most important from the onboarding front
my biggest issue with subscriptions currently is that without the profile section devoted to subs, there’s no way to tell people what kind of content they can find other than repeating it in all my posts and saying it over and over. I can wait til December tho 😉
One of the things that is making me believe InLEO and seeing it's longevity is its attachment to other big projects. When I look at InLEO and see this projects, it gladens my heart.
Yea, Task is right, position yourself as the centre of attraction. But that's what InLEO is doing though and it's collaboration with big projects is al making sense to me.
l
I tried advertising my referral links, but I felt I wasted learned "what doesn't work" for two whole days without a result. I think the only way to refer people, is doing so directly.
@pepetoken just sent you a DIY token as a little appreciation for your comment dear @ahmadmanga!
Feel free to multiply it by sending someone else !DIY in a comment :) You can do that x times a day depending on your balance so:
I’m busy with my grind, building the substack bridge and making and promoting some music videos for old songs. No crypto on my mind now except Leo and Dash collab
really appreciate you guys being the first to try something like this! Glad to see more people in our ecosystem and hope to see you benefit from it too!
for me the current 5HBD is ok to people to start, to test everything, to have revenue... and the private content is mostly freedom to share whatever you want and how many you want with no policing on the content bc your audience is seeing what they are signing up to see
It's amazing seeing how much effort the masterminds behind Inleo puts in to keep the project afloat. So many working, interesting and exciting initiatives.
I used to have a concern that Leo was draining attention and liquidity from hive but you’ve completely smashed that fear. You are building something t that hive needs and will help it explode in value
My favorite thing about Creator's Subscriptions is that I can use Private Sub-only Posts to have content on HIVE that I don't want LeoAI to be trained on, while still be seen by people interested enough to see it.
Will there be a option for every day users to simply select another currency (crypto) they want to earn besides dash. Say I'm using INLeo and I want to be paid out via BTC or DOGE etc.
What are wallets types that can log-in to #inleo in theory? I think Metamask-like wallets are easy to integrate, but I'm not sure about coins like Bitcoin.
some of you better try to catch up with me. At current Leo value I’m going to end up depleting all my loose hive which was not part of the plan 🤣 this is too cheap tho
Yesterday I was listening to Sanctum AMA and this Pine Analytics has a model where holders of pineSOL token gain access to their content (web3 analytics, etc).
Kinda like that. The token is 1:1 to SOL, they just keep the APY yield.
I don’t want to live off my income here but I want to be able to take a break from other work at any time thanks to income here, and to still keep growing my account
Unpopular opinion but InLeo could go full circle and add STEEM and Blurt so that the content is posting there and could gain users and rewards from those chains which could help buy LEO. Also not abandoning the BSC and Polygon plays.
lol I don’t think anyone at Steem would notice. That place just feels like Justin Sun dripping money into it to keep it alive. It’s pretty dead other than Korean language
Yeah, I got inspired by Task to begin my threadcast. I had no idea how it would go but when I dropped my first threadcast then he said, "Would this be a daily thing?" Daily threadcast was not my plan but yeah, it has become a daily thing and it's been a cool journey.
*If I got 2 more subscribers before 1 November 2024, I'll add a new feature for my bot @reminder.ping, if I didn't get 2 more subscribers by then, I'll probably increase the required number of subscribers for this, as I work on something else.
I told my wife that a husband is like a fine wine: we just get better with age. The next day she locked me in the cellar Credit: playbyhive $LOLZ on behalf of ahmadmanga
The thing is, with current prices for $HIVE and $LEO, it'll be much more profitable to put in the work elsewhere... At least, that's how it seems at first. You can't guarantee the prices will get better either.
Tokenization, in terms of real-world assets, comes down to the portability of ownership, and the ability to transfer that value without friction, and void of time-consuming practices and procedures. Essentially, it simplifies and consolidates the process of ownership, and the transference of ownership. Provided, there is a legal and structural undergirding in place, it’s a far superior way of transacting. #cent #rwa #sapphirecrypto
Just because you’re making more trades doesn’t mean you're automatically making more money. In fact, trading too much can eat into your profits with higher fees and lead to emotional decisions you might regret later.
The key is to stick to your plan. Trade only when the market conditions line up with your strategy. It’s all about quality over quantity here!
Stay focused and keep your cool, and you'll be more likely to see steady gains rather than chasing quick wins that turn to quick losses.
@pepetoken just sent you a DIY token as a little appreciation for your comment dear @thelogicaldude!
Feel free to multiply it by sending someone else !DIY in a comment :) You can do that x times a day depending on your balance so:
Nice! We are waiting for the snow here so we have yet another excuse to stay in the house. As if we need another one. It was almost 80 degrees here yesterday. That's too hot for Mid-October in the upper Midwest. Had to turn on the Air Conditioner. Sheesh.
1/🧵 The Czech Republic has been a popular destination for Ukrainian workers even before the Russian invasion. Many Eastern Slavs took advantage of the language similarities and often filled low-paying jobs. Most of these workers would spend several months working overtime or even holding two jobs to earn as much as possible, then return home for a few months.
2/🧵 However, the recent wave of refugees has brought several hundred thousand people, some of whom have higher career expectations. Many sought regular employment, applying their skills and experience.
3/🧵 Fortunately, there is still an unsaturated market for English-speaking employees, and well-paid jobs are available. Those who take them support their families or contribute to the Ukrainian war effort, yet they still have enough money and leisure time to gather and live despite their status as war refugees.
4/🧵 The microbrewery in Řeporyje, on the outskirts of Prague, fills a niche as a blend of the two Slavic cultures: a typical Czech microbrewery run by Ukrainians, offering a cultural center for the latter. I was recommended this place a few weeks ago, and once I was nearby, I decided to give it a shot, despite some recent reviews complaining about the staff and service in general.
‘They want something different’: Two reports predict a big shift in travel behavior in 2025
The biggest travel trend of 2022 was to go big, spend big — with people eagerly booking bucket list-style trips to places like Bali, Rome, London and Paris. But two new reports show travelers are now in a very different headspace...
Sleep Divorce, MeMooners Lead 2025 Travel Trends, According To Hilton
After the Year of the Great Recharge, 2025 is poised to be the Year of the Travel Maximizer. Here’s an exclusive look at how Hilton is addressing the surprising results of its annual Trends Report.
My recent additions have been Spectral $SPEC (AI, next unlock in May) and Clear Pool $CPOOL (RWA, strong tokenomics). Both are kind of mid-cap tokens with market caps just above $100M.
Mental Health clinician coursework, dehydrating garlic cloves for powder, baking bread, making turkey stock and homemade soup for dinner, Inleo and Hive time, and creating graphics for a project. Normal Kat day lol!
Betwixt is a synonym of betweenthat lends an old-fashioned feel to both speech and writing. It is sometimes used in the phrase "betwixt and between" to mean "in the middle" or "neither one thing nor the other."
//Charley took a seat betwixttwo other passengers.
//They sat on the long bench, a pile of books betwixt them.
//The novel's protagonist is at the edge of early adulthood, when one is betwixt and between.
@pepetoken just sent you a DIY token as a little appreciation for your comment dear @jimmy.adames!
Feel free to multiply it by sending someone else !DIY in a comment :) You can do that x times a day depending on your balance so:
I, personally, can envision a world where everything is “moving” and being proven across both private and public blockchains. The introduction of NFTs hit the art and creative market in a big way in 2020. However, many were unable to understand the authoritative aspect behind NFTs. #cent #sapphirecrypto
It is with it that I can better access INLEO. Out of nowhere he starts turning off his cell phone and sometimes it goes on loop...
I put it to charge for a while and it "returns to normal". I don't think there's anything to do... I'm going to take it to technical assistance next month to fix this.
At the end of the day, all assets can be digitally owned and verifiable. Without WEB3 these ideas are handicapped. They function and operate at their best moving along WEB3 rails. Despite the opposition, there are a lot of upsides and benefits to interacting in a WEB3 world. The breakthrough is too significant to ignore or bury. #cent #sapphirecrypto
I have passed the torch of the #selfie threadcast over to @mamaemigrante. Let us support her and give her time, with a little help, to get one running ;)
#moviesonleo #cinema #review Steven Soderbergh directs Benicio del Toro in epic biographical drama dedicated to one of the most iconic figures of 20th Century. (link in reply)
Here is the daily technology #threadcast for 10/22/24. We aim to educate people about this crucial area along with providing information of what is taking place.
Drop all question, comments, and articles relating to #technology and the future. The goal is make it a technology center.
Apple Intelligence is coming soon. The Cupertino-headquartered tech titan is set to roll out its highly anticipated iOS 18.1 update sometime next week, bringing a host of AI-powered features to Apple’s family of devices.
As of now, the tech behemoth is yet to reveal an exact release date for iOS 18.1. Several reports however indicate that the update is expected to be available on October 28, marking the introduction of the first set of Apple Intelligence features. With this, users will have access to advanced AI capabilities, such as Writing Tools, notification summaries, updates to the Control Center, and a Clean Up feature in the Photos app. Some features will be introduced in the initial rollout, while the others will be introduced over the course of the coming year.
Speaking of features, iOS 18.1 is set to bring advanced Writing Tools to users, providing real-time aid in text compositions with suggestions for spelling, grammar, and even word choice. With this, users will be able to adjust the tone of their writing (as necessary) and will be able to choose between three distinct tones: Friendly, Professional, or Concise. Alongside this comes an option to summarize the notifications on devices, ensuring that the most critical alerts rise to the top and the less important ones are grouped together. This will be useful when you receive a plethora of notifications, and do not need to scramble across those to receive important updates.
Other upcoming features include an update to Siri – the assistant will get a completely new redesign in the form of a new user interface with a glowing light indicator, as well as the ability to maintain context throughout multiple interactions, amongst others. Users will also have the option to record their calls (this will be able available to iPhone XS models and newer), while the transcripts from the calls will be made available in English, Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, and Korean.
The launch of iOS 18.1 has been highly-anticipated, ever since Apple introduced iOS 18 last month alongside its latest addition to the iPhone lineup – the iPhone 16 series. Now, the company is set to roll out a new firmware upgrade for AirPods Pro 2 users as well – one that is slated to bring new hearing health features for users. For now, the specifics are yet to be finalized, but reports state that these will include hearing protection, hearing testing, and hearing aid functionalities (the device will be able to automatically adjust its audio output to act as hearing aids).
Reports also state that this update will let users conduct a hearing test directly from their iPhone itself – tones from multiple frequencies are utilized in this test. Once it is complete, users need to go to the Health app to see the results and adjust the audio settings as necessary.
The idea of harvesting solar power continuously from space, where there are no nights, clouds, or atmosphere to interfere with the collection of photons, and beaming it back down to Earth via microwaves sounds simple, but implementing the technology is difficult. Aetherflux, a small company with only about 10 employees, plans to launch a satellite to test the idea and determine both the safety and efficiency of collecting solar energy in space. If the demo mission works, Aetherflux plans to develop a constellation of satellites to deliver power to remote locations.
Ray-Ban Meta glasses are the top-selling product in 60% of Ray-Ban stores across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. The company's sales figures suggest that consumers are willing to pay more for smart glasses if they're stylish and widely available to try on. Meta and EssilorLuxottica have extended their partnership into the 2030s. The companies plan to continue developing multi-generational smart eyewear products.
An intern at ByteDance maliciously interfered with the company's model training tasks, sabotaging its AI models. They were fired for committing serious disciplinary violations. None of the intern's sabotage impacted ByteDance's commercial projects or online business and none of the company's large models were affected. Rumors suggest the intern's actions cost the company tens of millions of dollars in losses, but ByteDance says those claims are exaggerated.
Voters in Pennsylvania are now getting a unique incentive to vote in the upcoming elections – a lot of cash. As strange as this sounds, this is exactly what’s happening, and the money is coming from the pockets of Elon Musk. At a rally in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, the billionaire announced that he will be giving $1 million every day to a randomly selected voter who signs a petition from his political action committee (PAC), America PAC
“I have a surprise for you,” Musk said at the rally, adding that the prize money will be made available “every day from now until the election.” The presidential election is on November 5. “I think think is kind of fun, and you know, it seems like a good use of money basically,” Musk added. The first cheque has already been given on Saturday, and another check was handed out on Sunday.
This giveaway is framed as a campaign to promote free speech and the right to bear arms, and the winner will be chosen at random. It should be noted that this giveaway is only open to registered voters (those who have signed a pro-US Constitution petition by the America PAC, and interested users need to go to the America PAC website to sign it). For now, it is restricted to Pennsylvania, Georgia, Nevada, Arizona, Michigan, Wisconsin and North Carolina. All of these are key states for the upcoming elections – Musk even called Pennsylvania the “linchpin” of the election.
And if this is not enough, America PAC is also offering several other smaller monetary rewards. These include bonuses of $100 bonuses for those who are signing the petition, as well as further payments if they refer the petition to others. for referrals. Critics argue that these incentives create a lottery-like system where voter registration becomes a gateway to potential financial gain.
Campaign finance lawyer Brendan Fischer warned that this initiative “approaches a legal boundary.” It is likely that this scheme could catch the eye of the federal authorities, who can can either prosecute Musk, file a civil lawsuit, or issue a warning to put an end to this giveaway. This initiative also undermines the elections themselves, especially when a prominent billionaire like Musk can simply leverage his worth to sway can simply leverage his worth to sway individuals to vote for certain parties or individuals. In this case, the individual is Donald Trump, the ex-US President who has now been endorsed by Musk.
While this giveaway is extremely lucrative for the winners, the bigger picture is less amusing. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro – during an appearance on NBC’s Meet the Press – described this development as “deeply concerning,” while critics are arguing that this development could violate US election law itself. The law prohibits giving out financial incentives for voting or voter registration, and that is exactly what Musk is doing by creating a link between the reward and the registration of new voters.
“I think there are real questions with how he is spending money in this race, how the dark money is flowing, not just into Pennsylvania, but apparently now into the pockets of Pennsylvanians. That is deeply concerning,” Shapiro said.
According to 52 U.S.C. 10307(c), it is illegal to offer or accept payment for voting or registering to vote. Rick Hasen, a professor at UCLA and an expert in election law, stated that the structure of Musk’s lottery “clearly” breaches this law. For reference, the law states that indivuduals who “pay or offer to pay or accept payment either for registration to vote or for voting” can be slammed with a hefty fine of $10,000 or even five years in prison.
According to research by HypeAuditor, personalities created by artificial intelligence are recording impressive engagement rates, reaching 6.5% – a number that far exceeds the average of human influencers, whose rates generally do not reach this level.
Neysa, a generative AI upstart that helps enterprises rapidly deploy AI solutions at scale, has announced closing of a $30Mn Series A round. The round, which comes just months after its $20Mn seed round earlier this year, was led by existing investors NTTVC, Z47 (formerly Matrix Partners India) and Nexus Venture Partners. Neysa’s rapid $50Mn early fundraise in a year, follows the fundraise spree that AI startups have been witnessing globally, and is a sign that VC activity in AI space is picking up speed in India as well.
Since its seed fund earlier this year, Neysa has already made its Neysa Velocis platform generally available. Velocis enables on-demand access to high-performance computing infrastructure and Neysa claims large orders from companies across media and entertainment, service providers, software vendors, and government.
“This investment brings us closer to our vision of democratizing access to Gen AI and AI solutions for organizations across the world,” said Sharad Sanghi, Co-Founder and CEO of Neysa. “We’re thrilled with the progress we’ve made since our seed round. The general availability of Neysa Velocis and the onboarding of customers across key sectors validate our approach. By offering purpose-built, cost- effective AI-native solutions, we empower organizations to innovate confidently in a world that is being reshaped by AI.” The company aims to “democratizes AI adoption” with purpose-built platforms and services for AI-native applications and workloads.
Neysa currently offers three AI solutions to enterprises — Velocis (which is generally available), Overwatch and Aegis. Velocis helps in accelerated deployment of AI products, providing MLOps & GPU Cloud to deploy, train and infer Gen AI and AI models out of the box. Overwatch is an AI powered network monitoring tool, that provides intelligent real-time monitoring and alerts with remediation via AI interpretation and insights across network. Aegis is a cyber security platform that provides protection against AI-specific attacks globally.
A NASSCOM report had pegged India’s AI demand to reach nearly $22Bn by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 25-35%. This, coupled with a high engineering talent pool, has led to the birth of several fast-growing AI upstarts in the country, with a slew of them raising multi-million VC investments amid global AI frenzy.
Chipmaker Qualcomm, at its annual Snapdragon Summit in Hawaii, has now revealed the Snapdragon 8 Elite, its latest flagship mobile chip. The company describes it as “the most powerful and world’s fastest mobile system-on-a-chip ever,” and is set to come to high-end smartphones from leading manufacturers such as Samsung, OnePlus, Motorola, and Xiaomi in the coming weeks.
AI remains the focal point of the Snapdragon 8 Elite, and Qualcomm aims to use this chip to take generative AI on mobile phones to new heights. The company notes that the chip will make “on-device multi-modal generative AI applications a reality on smartphones,” and comes with a real-time camera assistant that can recognize objects as users capture photos or record videos. Alongside this comes support for up to 320MP camera sensors and AI-driven tools that are integrated into the image signal processor (ISP) to allow real-time for camera adjustments. The Snapdragon 8 Elite also builds upon Qualcomm’s previous breakthroughs in AI and is set to handle text, audio, and visual data simultaneously to provide answers to prompts on-device.
With the Snapdragon 8 Elite, Qualcomm is also shifting from Kryo CPUs to its custom-designed Oryon CPU. This is fabricated using a 3-nanometer process and promises to bring a rise of 45% in overall performance and a boost of 44% in power efficiency. In the chip, there are two two prime cores clocked at 4.32 GHz and six performance cores reaching up to 3.53 GHz, and the company claims that they provide an increase of 62% increase in web performance. In addition to this, the Adreno GPU has undergone a revamp to gain a “sliced” architecture, and will support Unreal Engine’s Chaos Physics system. The chip will be a boon for gamers as well, and they will experience smoother gameplay with higher framerates, as well as a longer gaming time by as much as 2.5 hours.
We are so excited to bring the power of Qualcomm Oryon to our Snapdragon mobile platforms for the first time. Earlier this year we debuted it in PCs, delivering remarkable experiences and unparallel battery life to PC users, energizing the industry and getting the attention of consumers. Today, our second generation of the Qualcomm Oryon CPU debuts in our flagship Mobile Platform – it’s a major leap forward and we expect consumers to be thrilled with the new experiences enabled by our CPU technology” Chris Patrick, Senior Vice President and General Manager of mobile handsets at Qualcomm, commented on the matter.
The Snapdragon 8 Elite also comes with an upgraded Hexagon neural processing unit (NPU), which is said to offer up to 45% faster AI performance than its predecessor. The NPU is capable of processing more than 70 tokens per second, and comes with support for on-device multimodal AI assistants. “With leading CPU, GPU and NPU capabilities, the Snapdragon 8 Elite delivers dramatic performance enhancements and power efficiency 3. In addition, it revolutionizes mobile experiences by offering personalized, multi-modal generative AI directly on the device enabling the understanding of speech, context, and images to enhance everything from productivity to creativity tasks while prioritizing user privacy,” Patrick added.
While o1 represents an impressive advancement in AI technology, particularly in its approach to inference-time computation, the analysis suggests that many organizations might find GPT-4o sufficient for their current needs. The decision to adopt cutting-edge models should be based on specific use cases that genuinely require advanced reasoning capabilities beyond what existing frontier models can provide.
GPT-4o vs o1: Are Cutting-Edge Models Necessary for Most Use Cases?
A recent analysis of OpenAI's o1 model demonstrations reveals an intriguing insight about the practical necessity of cutting-edge AI models. While OpenAI showcased o1's capabilities across various use cases, subsequent testing suggests that GPT-4o can handle many of these tasks just as effectively, raising questions about when organizations truly need the latest AI advancements.
A market expansion scenario was tested, where both models were asked to analyze potential office locations. The test revealed that GPT-4o produced comparable analysis of markets like Paris and Berlin, including considerations for:
Using o1 Mini (optimized for coding tasks), the test examined creating a web application with Node.js backend and React frontend. While o1 Mini demonstrated impressive speed and detailed step-by-step guidance, GPT-4o proved equally capable of:
Providing comprehensive project structure
Outlining necessary package installations
Generating required code
Offering implementation guidance
Handling follow-up tasks like database integration
While traditional language models have struggled with mathematical tasks, both o1 Mini and GPT-4o demonstrated accurate handling of complex calculations, as shown in a covered call option analysis example. Both models arrived at identical conclusions regarding maximum profit calculations and opportunity costs.
The analysis suggests several important conclusions:
Capability Overlap: For many showcased use cases, GPT-4o demonstrated comparable performance to o1, raising questions about the necessity of upgrading for these specific applications.
Speed Considerations: o1 Mini showed impressive speed, particularly in coding tasks, potentially offering an advantage in scenarios where rapid response times are crucial.
Cost-Benefit Analysis: Organizations should carefully evaluate whether their use cases truly require o1's enhanced capabilities, given the potential cost implications.
Future Potential: While current use cases might not fully demonstrate o1's advantages, the model's innovative approach to inference-time computation scaling could prove valuable as the technology evolves.
xAI's Grok API debuts with Limited Functionality and Technical Issues
In a significant development, xAI, a company founded by Elon Musk, has launched its flagship generative AI model, Grok, as an API (Application Programming Interface). The API allows developers to integrate Grok's capabilities into their own applications, but its initial release is somewhat bare-bones and plagued by technical issues.
The xAI API currently offers a single model, "grok-beta," which is priced at $5 per million input tokens (approximately 750,000 words) or $15 per million output tokens. Tokens are subdivided bits of raw data, such as syllables or characters. However, it is unclear which Grok model "grok-beta" is, as the documentation refers to Grok 2 and Grok mini, a lightweight and more affordable version of Grok.
Some users on X, the platform where Grok is integrated, have reported encountering problems paying for usage credits. The API supports function calling, which enables Grok models to connect with external tools such as databases and search engines. Additionally, the documentation hints at the possibility of vision models capable of analyzing both text and images, although these features are not yet live.
Grok, the AI model, has gained notoriety for its "rebellious streak," which allows it to answer questions that other AI systems might reject. For example, if asked to be vulgar, Grok will happily oblige, generating profanities and colorful language. This feature has raised concerns about the potential misuse of the model.
Grok has become an integral part of the X experience, with capabilities such as generating images using the open image generator Flux, summarizing news and trending events, and enhancing search capabilities, account bios, post analytics, and reply functions.
Despite the initial limitations, xAI is racing to catch up with competitors like OpenAi and Anthropic in the generative AI space. In May, the company raised $6 billion in a funding round led by investors including Andreessen Horowitz, Sequoia capital, and Fidelity. xAI's pitch for the funding round included a vision where its models would be trained on data from Musk's various companies, including Tesla, SpaceX, and The Boring Company, and would improve technology across those companies.
However, Tesla shareholders have expressed concerns about the diversion of resources and talent from Tesla to xAI. Several shareholders have sued Musk over the decision to start xAI, arguing that it is a competing venture that undermines Tesla's interests.
In related news, xAI is training the next generation of Grok models at its Memphis data center, which has been accused of worsening smog with unauthorized turbines. The company hopes to upgrade the data center next year, but will need approval from the Tennessee Valley Authority to do so.
The launch of the xAI API marks an important milestone for the company, but its limited functionality and technical issues may hinder its adoption in the short term. As xAI continues to develop its capabilities and address these issues, it will be interesting to see how it competes with established players in the generative AI space.
Overall, the launch of the xAI API is a significant development in the generative AI space, but its limitations and technical issues may hinder its adoption in the short term. As xAI continues to develop its capabilities and address these issues, it will be interesting to see how it competes with established players in the market.
An application Programming Interface (API) is a crucial tool that enables different applications, services, or systems to communicate with each other by providing a set of defined rules. This allows data to be shared, processed, and used across various platforms, languages, and systems, fostering a seamless exchange of information.
When a company sets up an API, it essentially creates a gateway that allows other developers to access its data, services, or functionality, enabling them to build applications, services, or integrations that interact with the company's system without having to build everything from scratch. This process involves several key steps:
Data exposure: The company exposes specific data, such as customer information, product catalogs, or transactionhistory, to be accessed and used by other developers. This data can be in the form of structured or unstructured data, and can include sensitive information such as financial data or personal identifiable information (PII).
Functionality exposure: The company exposes specific functionality, such as payment processing, authentication, or content generation, to be used by other developers. This can include complex business logic, algorithms, or machine learning models that can be leveraged by other applications.
Standardized communication: The company defines a set of rules (API protocol) for how data and functionality should be requested, received, and processed. This ensures that different systems can communicate with each other seamlessly, regardless of the programming language or platform used. Common API protocols include REST (Representational State of Resource), SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol), and GraphQL.
Security and authentication: The company implements security measures, such as authentication and authorization, to ensure that only authorized developers can access the API and data. This includes measures such as API keys, OAuth tokens, and SSL/TLS encryption to protect sensitive data.
Documentation and support: The company provides documentation, tutorials, and support to help developers understand how to use the API, troubleshoot issues, and get the most out of the exposed data and functionality. This can include developer portals, API documentation, and community forums.
By setting up an API, a company can achieve several benefits, including:
Increased innovation and collaboration: By providing access to its data and functionality, a company can encourage developers to build new applications and services that integrate with its system, driving innovation and growth.
Expanded reach and customer base: An API can provide access to a company's data and functionality to a wider audience, allowing it to reach new customers and expand its marketshare.
Improved customer experience: By providing a seamless and integrated experience across different platforms and services, a company can improve its customers' overall experience and increase customer satisfaction.
Revenue generation: A company can generate revenue by offering API access as a paid service or by charging for specific data or functionality.
In summary, an API is a set of rules that enables different systems to communicate with each other, allowing data and functionality to be shared and used across different platforms and services. By setting up an API, a company can open up new opportunities for innovation, collaboration, and revenue generation, while also improving its customers' experience and expanding its reach.
Imagine three people huddled in a circle so when one speaks, only one other hears. Scientists have created a device that works like that, ensuring sound waves ripple in one direction only.
The device, developed by scientists at ETH Zurich and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne, is made up of a disk-shaped cavity with three equally-spaced ports that can each send or receive sound.
In an inactive state, sound transmitted from port 1 is audible to ports 2 and 3 at equal volumes. Sound waves bounce back to port 1 as an echo as well.
When the system is running, however, only port 2 hears port 1's sounds.
The trick is to blow swirling air into the cavity at a specific speed and intensity, which allows the sound waves to synchronize in a repeating pattern. That not only guides the sound waves in a single direction, but gives more energy to those oscillations so they don't dissipate. It's kind of like a roundabout for sound.
Shortly after the social marketplace Poshmark announced it would lower selling fees and increase fees for buyers, the company decided to revert to its Shortly after Poshmark lowered selling fees and increased fees for buyers, it reverted back to the original fee structure following outrage among sellers.
Shortly after the social marketplace Poshmark announced it would lower selling fees and increase fees for buyers, the company decided to revert to its original fee structure following outrage among sellers.
In an email to sellers sent on Monday (and viewed by TechCrunch), founder and CEO Manish Chandra wrote an apology about the fee change, saying it resulted in shoppers spending less on purchases, “leaving our sellers with less cash in their pockets—despite the seller fee reduction.”
By 2030, 10 countries are expected to reach or surpass the 66% wind and solar penetration level.
At least 10 countries are on track to get more than two-thirds of their electricity from wind and solar by 2030, according to the International Energy Agency.
A handful of nations have already reached — or come close to — the 100% renewables mark, including Norway, New Zealand, Iceland, Costa Rica, Kenya, Bhutan, and Paraguay. However, they relied on traditional technologies — including hydro and first-generation geothermal power plants — and most countries don’t have access to these resources in abundance.
Some others, including France, get most of their electricity from low-carbon nuclear power.
The IEA’s 2024 renewable energy stocktake focuses partly on the countries that are leading the shift to variable renewable energy technologies — primarily wind and solar, which are now the cheapest sources of generating capacity in much of the world.
Denmark is the current frontrunner, and is on track to get within touching distance of 100% renewables by the end of the decade, the IEA projects.
CrewAI, a startup developing a hub where companies can build automations using third-party AI models, has raised $18 million from investors including Andrew Ng.
Back in 2022, João Moura was directing AI engineering efforts at Clearbit, a startup creating a unified hub for business intelligence tools. There, Moura was responsible for leading the development of AI integrations, as well as defining Clearbit’s AI product roadmap.
CrewAI: Revolutionizing Workflow Automation with AI
In today's fast-paced business environment, workflow automation has become a crucial aspect of operations to streamline processes, increase efficiency, and drive growth. CrewAI, a cutting-edge startup, is leading the charge in this space by harnessing the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to automate repetitive, back-office tasks. In this article, we'll delve into the world of CrewAI, exploring its founding story, innovative platform, and future plans.
João Moura, a seasoned entrepreneur with a background in AI engineering, founded CrewAI after leaving his role as the director of AI engineering at Clearbit, a startup that was acquired by HubSpot. Moura's previous venture, Urdog, developed a smart collar for pets, but this time, he had a more ambitious vision in mind. CrewAI aims to automate tasks such as summarizing reports, onboarding employees, and enriching marketing databases using AI models from vendors like OpenAi and Anthropic.
CrewAI's platform offers a user-friendly interface for customers to build workflow automations, deploy and track them from a dashboard, and integrate with over 1,000 different applications. Unlike traditional robotic process automation (RPA), which relies on rigid "if-then" rules, CrewAI leverages existing AI models to drive automations. This approach enables businesses to automate tasks such as analyzing customer feedback, forecasting trends, and protecting dataprivacy.
CrewAI's approach is a departure from traditional RPA, which can be inflexible and prone to errors. Moura argues that AI is a more resilient technology, capable of adapting to changing business needs. With CrewAI, teams can build groups of AI "agents" to perform tasks, integrate with various applications, and protect data privacy.
CrewAI has attracted significant funding, raising $18 million across seed and Series A rounds from prominent investors, including Boldstart Ventures, Craft Ventures, Earl Grey capital, and Insight Partners. The company has also secured investments from notable entrepreneurs, such as Andrew Ng, co-founder of Coursera, and Dharmesh Shah, co-founder and CTO of HubSpot.
While CrewAI faces competition from other AI-powered workflow automation startups, such as Orby, Bardeen, Tektonic, 11x.ai, Twin Labs, and Emergence, the company has managed to attract a sizeable customer base of 150 businesses in its first year.
CrewAI has launched Enterprise Cloud, a managed subscription plan built on tOP of open-source components, providing additional access controls, analytics, and VIP support. The company plans to use its funding to grow its 16-person workforce and expand its core automation products.
CrewAI is revolutionizing the workflow automation landscape by leveraging AI to automate repetitive tasks. With its innovative approach, the company has attracted significant funding and a growing customer base. As the company continues to expand its offerings and workforce, it's poised to become a major player in the industry.
Anthropic, the artificial intelligence company behind the popular Claude chatbot, today announced a sweeping update to its Responsible Scaling Policy (RSP), aimed at mitigating the risks of highly capable AI systems.
The policy, originally introduced in 2023, has evolved with new protocols to ensure that AI models, as they grow more powerful, are developed and deployed safely.
This revised policy sets out specific Capability Thresholds—benchmarks that indicate when an AI model’s abilities have reached a point where additional safeguards are necessary.
Microsoft just announced a suite of autonomous AI agents for its Dynamics 365 platform, intensifying the competition with Salesforce in the enterprise AI market. The tech giant will release ten new autonomous agents designed to augment sales, service, finance, and supply chain teams.
Microsoft Unveils Autonomous AI Agents for Dynamics 365, Intensifying Competition with Salesforce
In a move that is set to revolutionize the enterprise AI market, Microsoft has announced a suite of autonomous AI agents designed to augment sales, service, finance, and supply chain teams within its Dynamics 365 platform. This strategic move comes just weeks after Salesforce unveiled its Agentforce platform, and is seen as a direct challenge to the CRM giant's offering.
The ten new AI agents, available in public preview starting next month, are designed to automate complex tasks and orchestrate business processes across organizations. Unlike traditional chatbots and Microsoft's earlier AI offerings, these agents are capable of reasoning over intent and context, making judgments based on a broader set of data. According to Bryan Goode, Corporate Vice President at Microsoft, these agents are not meant to replace human workers but to enhance their capabilities.
"We think of these agents as really the apps of the AI era," Goode said in an interview with VentureBeat. "Every line of business system that exists today is going to get reimagined as an agent that sits on tOP of a copilot."
Microsoft's move is seen as a direct response to Salesforce's Agentforce platform, which was unveiled earlier this year. Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff has been aggressively promoting Agentforce, while criticizing Microsoft's Copilot. Benioff recently referred to Microsoft Copilot as "more like Clippy 2.0," a nod to Microsoft's much-maligned Office assistant from the 1990s.
However, Microsoft's agents are powered by advanced language models and the company's vast troves of enterprise data, giving it a unique advantage over Salesforce's Agentforce, which relies on its Atlas reasoning engine.
The tech industry is witnessing a paradigm shift as AI agents move from experimental technology to core business tools. Microsoft and Salesforce are at the forefront of this shift, each leveraging their unique strengths to shape the future of enterprise software.
Microsoft's strategy hinges on its ubiquitous presence in office productivity and cloud computing, making it easier for its vast user base to adopt AI agents. Salesforce, on the other hand, is banking on its CRM expertise and the power of its recently developed Data cloud to create AI agents that understand and optimize customer relationships.
The success of these platforms could redefine the future of work and enterprise software. As AI agents become more sophisticated, they may blur the lines between human and machine tasks, potentially reshaping organizational structures and jobroles.
However, challenges remain. Data privacy concerns, the need for transparent AI decision-making, and the potential for job displacement are issues both companies must navigate carefully. Their ability to address these concerns while delivering tangible business value will likely determine the pace and extent of AI agent adoption.
The battle for AI dominance is heating up, and the outcome will have far-reaching implications for the future of enterprise software and the workforce. As the AI revolution unfolds, one thing is clear: the enterprise software landscape is on the cusp of a major transformation. Whether it's Microsoft's vision of "agents plus copilot plus humans" or Salesforce's "human at the helm" approach, the future of work is being rewritten — one AI agent at a time.
Microsoft has announced a suite of autonomous AI agents for Dynamics 365, designed to automate complex tasks and orchestrate business processes.
The agents are capable of reasoning over intent and context, making judgments based on a broader set of data.
Microsoft's move is seen as a direct response to Salesforce's Agentforce platform, which was unveiled earlier this year.
The tech industry is witnessing a paradigm shift as AI agents move from experimental technology to core business tools.
Microsoft and Salesforce are at the forefront of this shift, each leveraging their unique strengths to shape the future of enterprise software.
The success of these platforms could redefine the future of work and enterprise software, potentially reshaping organizational structures and job roles.
Challenges remain, including data privacy concerns, the need for transparent AI decision-making, and the potential for job displacement.
Make no mistake about it, enterprise AI is big business, especially for IBM.
IBM already has a $2 billion book of business related to generative AI and it’s now looking to accelerate that growth. IBM is expanding its enterprise AI business today with the launch of the third generation of Granite large language models (LLMs). A core element of the new generation is the continued focus on real open source enterprise AI. Going a step further, IBM is ensuring that models can be fine-tuned for enterprise AI, with its InstructLab capabilities.
The new models announced today include general purpose options with a 2 billion and 8 billion Granite 3.0. There are also Mixture-of-Experts (MoE) models that include Granite 3.0 3B A800M Instruct, Granite 3.0 1B A400M Instruct, Granite 3.0 3B A800M Base and Granite 3.0 1B A400M Base. Rounding out the update, IBM also has a new group with optimized guardrail and safety options that include Granite Guardian 3.0 8B and Granite Guardian 3.0 2B models. The new models will be available on IBM’s watsonX service, as well as on Amazon Bedrock, Amazon Sagemaker and Hugging Face.
“As we mentioned on our last earnings call, the book of business that we’ve built on generative AI is now $2 billion plus across technology and consulting,” Rob Thomas, senior vice-president and chief commercial officer at IBM, said during a briefing with press and analysts. “As I think about my 25 years in IBM, I’m not sure we’ve ever had a business that has scaled at this pace.”
The pace of AI continues to accelerate, with capabilities never before thought possible now becoming a reality. This is particularly true of AI agents, or virtual co-workers, which will work alongside us and, eventually, autonomously.
In fact, Gartner predicts that by 2028, at least 15% of day-to-day work decisions will be made autonomously through agentic AI (up from 0% in 2024). Further emphasizing the technology’s potential, the firm has named it a top strategic technology trend in 2025.
“It’s happening really, really fast,” Gene Alvarez, distinguished VP analyst with Gartner, told VentureBeat. “Nobody ever goes to bed at night with everything done. Organizations spend a lot of time monitoring things. The ability to create agents to not only do that monitoring but take action will help not just from a productivity perspective but a timing perspective.”
The Cool and Scary Future of AI: Trends and Predictions
Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing the way we live and work, and its impact is only expected to grow in the coming years. From mundane tasks to complex scenarios, AI agents are becoming increasingly sophisticated, raising both excitement and concerns about their potential effects on society. In this article, we'll delve into the latest trends and predictions in AI, from its applications in the workforce to its potential impact on our brains.
Agentic AI has the ability to plan, sense, and take action, making it a game-changer in various industries. For instance, AI agents can help upscale the workforce by guiding new employees and teaching them new skills. This could lead to a more efficient and productive workforce, but it also raises concerns about jobloss and the potential for AI to displace human workers. As AI becomes more prevalent, it's essential to address these concerns and develop strategies to mitigate the negative impacts on employment.
As AI becomes more pervasive, building trust in its capabilities is crucial. AI governance platforms will enable organizations to manage their AI systems' legal, ethical, and operational performance, ensuring transparency and responsible use. These platforms will also check for bias and provide information on how models were built, as well as the reasoning behind their prompts. This transparency is essential for building trust in AI and ensuring that it is used in a way that benefits society as a whole.
The future of computing will involve hybrid models that combine different compute, storage, and network mechanisms. Orchestration software will move compute from one to another depending on the task and the method most suited for the job. This will require new technologies that use significantly less energy, as there is increased pressure to reduce consumption and carbon footprints. The development of more energy-efficient computing models will be critical in reducing the environmental impact of AI.
AI is allowing threat actors to spread disinformation faster and more easily than ever before. Disinformation security is critical, and emerging technologies will assess authenticity, track the spread of harmful information, and prevent impersonation. By 2028, Gartner predicts that half of aLL enterprises will begin adopting products, services, or features specifically designed for disinformation security. As AI becomes more sophisticated, it's essential to develop effective strategies for detecting and preventing disinformation.
quantum computing is rapidly advancing, and it will soon be able to break public keycryptography, or asymmetrical encryption. red teams are already harvesting encrypted data and holding onto it until quantum is realized. Organizations must be prepping for post-quantum cryptography nOW to ensure that their data is resistant to decryption. The development of post-quantum cryptography will be critical in protecting sensitive information and preventing data breaches.
Gartner anticipates a rise in the use of bidirectional brain-machine interfaces (BBMIs) that read and decode brain activity and enhance human cognitive abilities. These could be directly integrated into our brains or made possible via wearables such as glasses or headbands. By 2030, 30% of knowledge workers will be using technologies such as BBMIs to stay relevant in the AI-powered workplace. The potential benefits of AI-enhanced brains include improved cognitive abilities, enhanced creativity, and increased productivity. However, it's essential to address the ethical implications of AI-enhanced brains and ensure that they are used in a way that benefits society as a whole.
The future of AI is both exciting and unsettling. As AI agents become more sophisticated, they will have the potential to transform various industries and aspects of our lives. However, it is essential to address the concerns and challenges that come with AI, such as job loss, disinformation, and cybersecurity threats. By building trust in AI, preparing for the post-quantum world, and enhancing our brains, we can harness the power of AI to create a better future for all. It's essential to prioritize responsible AI development and ensure that AI is used in a way that benefits society as a whole.
Even as enterprises across sectors explore how to integrate generative AI, it’s clear that biomedical research and the sciences are among the areas that could benefit most — as highlighted in the recent Nobel Prizes in Chemistry and Physics awarded to AI researchers.
Now Dotmatics, a leader in research and development scientific software, wants to give drug researchers the power of AI to speed up their development of new, life-saving and improving drugs.
Today, the Boston-based company launches Geneious Luma, a powerful new bioinformatics solution for antibody discovery, built on its Luma Scientific Intelligence Platform.
Geneious Luma is designed to streamline the process of biologic therapeutic discovery by integrating advanced sequence analysis, data management, and AI-powered automation. This release marks the first of several multimodal solutions aimed at transforming scientific research and accelerating the discovery of new therapies.
Thomas Swalla, CEO of Dotmatics, explained the benefit of Geneious Luma in a recent video interview with VentureBeat: “The problem we’re solving is that discovering new molecules and drugs has become increasingly complicated. It takes over a decade to bring a drug to market and costs anywhere from two to six billion dollars.”
Here is a rewritten version of the text with more details:
Dotmatics, a softwarecompany founded in 1991, has been a pioneer in providing laboratory information management system (LIMS) and data management solutions for the lifesciences industry.
The company's journey began with a team of scientists and software developers who recognized the need for a more efficient and effective way to manage laboratory data. Their first product, Dotmatics LIMS, was launched in 1994 and quickly gained popularity among pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies due to its ability to streamline laboratory operations, track samples, and analyze data.
Over the years, Dotmatics has continued to innovate and expand its product portfolio by acquiring several companies and developing new solutions to meet the evolving needs of the life sciences industry. Today, the company offers a range of software solutions that help life sciences organizations manage their laboratory data, streamline their workflows, and improve their overall efficiency.
At the heart of Dotmatics' offerings is its flagship product, Dotmatics LIMS, a comprehensive laboratory information management system that enables organizations to manage their laboratory operations, track samples, and analyze data. This solution provides a centralized platform for managing laboratory data, including sample tracking, data storage, and retrieval. Additionally, Dotmatics LIMS automates many laboratory workflows, reducing manual errors and increasing efficiency.
Beyond LIMS, Dotmatics offers a range of other solutions designed to meet the specific needs of life sciences organizations. These include:
Dotmatics ELN (Electronic Laboratory Notebook): a digital notebook that allows scientists to record and manage their experimental data, providing a secure and auditable record of their research.
Dotmatics SDMS (Sample Data Management System): a solution that helps organizations manage their sample data, including tracking, storage, and retrieval, ensuring that samples are properly handled and stored throughout the entire research process.
Dotmatics Data Integration: a solution that enables organizations to integrate their data from different sources, including LIMS, ELN, and other systems, providing a single, unified view of their data.
Dotmatics Reporting and Analytics: a solution that provides advanced reporting and analytics capabilities to help organizations gain insights from their data, identify trends, and make data-driven decisions.
The key features and benefits of Dotmatics' solutions include:
Data management: Dotmatics' solutions provide a centralized platform for managing laboratory data, ensuring that data is accurate, complete, and easily accessible.
Workflow automation: Dotmatics' solutions automate many laboratory workflows, reducing manual errors and increasing efficiency, allowing scientists to focus on their research rather than administrative tasks.
Collaboration: Dotmatics' solutions enable scientists to collaborate more effectively, both within and outside their organizations, by providing a platform for sharing data, results, and knowledge.
compliance: Dotmatics' solutions help organizations comply with regulatory requirements, such as GLP, GMP, and 21 CFR Part 11, ensuring that their data and processes are auditable and compliant.
scalability: Dotmatics' solutions are designed to be scalable, allowing organizations to grow and adapt as their needs change, without the need for costly and time-consuming upgrades.
Overall, Dotmatics is a leading provider of laboratory information management system (LIMS) and data management solutions for the life sciences industry, helping organizations to manage their laboratory data, streamline their workflows, and improve their overall efficiency.
Modern cybersecurity professionals require advanced technologies to deter, detect and expel hackers, and the predictive benefits of AI can mean the difference between data protection and ruin.
The average cost of a data breach in the U.S. hit a high-water mark of $9.48 million in 2023. Losses have ticked up every year since 2013, even during the global health emergency of Covid-19 when many businesses shuttered. An analysis in IBM’s 2024 data breach report indicates that organizations that employed extensive AI security automation saved $2.22 million, while also lowering cybersecurity insurance.
Industry leaders would be well-served to think about cyberattacks outside the financial implications, as well. Should your organization pay a ransomware demand or right the ship after a crushing malware attack, the reputational damage can far outweigh the dollars. When hackers steal confidential, sensitive and personal identity information, those in your orbit are negatively impacted. Employees, customers and industry partners may file civil actions.
Zomato on Tuesday said that its board has approved a plan to raise $1 billion via a share sale to institutional investors.
Zomato on Tuesday said its board has approved a plan to raise $1 billion via a sale of shares to institutional investors, as competition in India’s quick-commerce sector heats up.
The timing of the share sale, the company’s first major fundraise since its 2021 IPO, is notable, because it comes just weeks before its rival Swiggy’s public debut. Bengaluru-based Swiggy, backed by Prosus Ventures, SoftBank, and Accel, aims to raise about $1.4 billion in its IPO next month.
The move by Zomato, which one investor characterized as “sucking the air out of the room” for competitors, has caught market observers off-guard. Jefferies analysts called the capital raise “unexpected,” given Zomato’s existing $1.2 billion cash reserves. They suggest the strategy may be aimed at reducing foreign institutional investor ownership in Zomato below 50%, effectively transforming it into a “domestic” company.
The shift to majority domestic ownership could enable Blinkit, Zomato’s quick-commerce subsidiary, to adopt an inventory-based model in India. Current regulations restrict foreign-owned companies to conducting only marketplace operations, and prohibit them from owning inventory sold within the country.
Zomato, a pioneering online fooddelivery and restaurant discovery platform, was founded in 2008 by Deepinder Goyal and Pankaj Chaddah in New Delhi, India. The company's journey began with a humble start, driven by the founders' passion for food and technology.
Deepinder Goyal, a computerscience graduate from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, and Pankaj Chaddah, an engineering graduate from IIT Kanpur, met while working at a softwarecompany. They shared a common interest in food and technology, which led them to start a food review website called Foodiebay.com.
The website allowed users to review and rate restaurants, providing a comprehensive directory of eateries in the city. Foodiebay.com quickly gained popularity, with users sharing their dining experiences and recommendations.
In 2010, the founders decided to rebrand Foodiebay.com as Zomato.com, a name inspired by the Italian word "zomato," meaning "to eat." This marked a significant milestone in the company's history, as it expanded its features to include restaurant listings, menus, and user reviews. Zomato also launched its first mobile app for Android and iOS devices, making it easier for users to access the platform on-the-go.
Zomato's rapid growth and success led to its expansion into international markets. The company entered the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Latin America, establishing a strong presence in these regions. This expansion not only increased Zomato's user base but also provided a platform for local restaurants to showcase their offerings to a global audience.
Zomato's growth and expansion required significant funding to support its operations and develop new features. In 2012, the company raised Series A funding of $1 million from InfoEdge, a leading Indian Internet company. This funding enabled Zomato to expand its team and develop its technology infrastructure. In 2013, Zomato raised Series B funding of $25 million from Sequoia capital and InfoEdge, which further accelerated its growth and expansion plans.
Zomato's success in international markets and its growing user base led to further funding rounds. In 2015, the company raised Series C funding of $60 million from Sequoia Capital, InfoEdge, and other investors. This funding enabled Zomato to expand its food delivery service and enter new markets. In 2017, Zomato raised Series D funding of $200 million from Ant Financial, a Chinese e-commerce giant, which further solidified its position in the market.
Zomato's growth and success culminated in its initial public offering (IPO) in July 2021, raising $1.1 billion. The company used this funding to expand its operations, develop new features, and enter new markets. Today, Zomato is one of the largest food delivery and restaurant discovery platforms in India, with operations in over 10,000 cities across 24 countries.
2008: Zomato is founded by Deepinder Goyal and Pankaj Chaddah
2010: Zomato rebrands from Foodiebay.com and expands its features
2012: Zomato expands internationally and launches its food delivery service
2013: Zomato raises Series B funding of $25 million
2015: Zomato raises Series C funding of $60 million
2017: Zomato raises Series D funding of $200 million
2021: Zomato goes public with an IPO, raising $1.1 billion
Throughout its journey, Zomato has demonstrated its ability to innovate, expand, and adapt to changing market conditions. Today, the company is a leading player in the Indian food delivery and restaurant discovery space, with a strong presence in international markets.
“The intern involved maliciously interfered with the model training tasks of the commercial technology team’s research project, but it did not affect the formal commercial projects and online business, nor did it involve other businesses such as ByteDance’s large models,” the TikTok owner wrote in the post on a Chinese social news platform.
More than 95% of international internet traffic travels on undersea cables and the locations of the cables are often openly published to prevent accidental damage.
A bipartisan group of eight U.S. senators on Monday urged President Joe Biden to order a review of the security of the global network of undersea communications cables that handle nearly all the world's internet traffic.
More than 95% of international internet traffic travels on undersea cables and the locations of the cables are often openly published to prevent accidental damage.
"It is imperative that the United States undertake a review of existing vulnerabilities to global undersea cable infrastructure, including the threat of sabotage by Russia as well as the growing role of the People’s Republic of China in cable laying and repair," said the letter, led by Republican Todd Young and Democrat Chris Murphy.
AI is developing at breakneck speed. Experts predict that between 2024 and 2030, the AI market will expand by over 28% each year. By 2030, it's expected to reach a staggering value of over $800 billion.
But this rapid progress comes with big risks. Today's AI landscape is dominated by a handful of large, centralized companies like OpenAi, Google, and Microsoft, who control most of the data and computing resources.
As the AI tools they build become more powerful, questions of privacy, security, and control are becoming urgent.
Continual data breaches at tech companies have exposed billions of user records, highlighting the vulnerabilities of centralized data storage. The Federal government, which siphons personal information from across society, is no better. centralization in AI development also leads to issues of censorship and bias, despite intention.
A new approach is emerging that tackles many of the problems with centralized AI while opening up new possibilities for innovation and user control: decentralized AI.
Centralized vs. Decentralized AI
While this approach allows for efficient processing of massive datasets, it risks data monopolies, single points of failure, and potential misuse of concentrated power.
Decentralized AI, in contrast, distributes computational resources, data, and most importantly, control, across a many participants.
Distributed Compute: Instead of relying on centralized data centers, decentralized AI leverages a network of distributed nodes for processing.
Data Sovereignty: Decentralized systems prevent data from collecting in single databases, under the control of singular monolithic parties. ,
Resilience: Distributed systems are inherently more resistant to single points of failure, improving overall system robustness. This resilience is achieved through redundancy and load balancing across multiple nodes, ensuring that if one part of the network fails, the system can continue operating by redistributing tasks to other available nodes.
Democratized innovation: By lowering barriers to entry, decentralized AI can stimulate a more diverse ecosystem of developers and applications, fueling innovation and greater user optionality. transparency: Many decentralized AI initiatives emphasize open-source development, enabling greater scrutiny and community-driven improvements.
It's crucial to note that while decentralization can enhance privacy and security, these are not inherent features.
Proper implementation of privacy-preserving techniques are also necessary to fully realize the benefits, which was the entire purpose of Venice’s creation.Decentralization provides a crucial foundation that can support privacy-enhancing technologies, but privacy itself requires conscious design choices and implementation.
Here's a comparison of centralized and decentralized AI infrastructures:
This shift from centralized to decentralized infrastructure represents a fundamental reimagining of how AI systems are developed, deployed, and governed. Decentralized AI has the potential to create a more open, resilient, and democratized AI ecosystem.
Key technologies enabling Decentralized AI
Decentralized AI integrates a number of key technologies to achieve its goals of distributed processing, enhanced data security, and open innovation:
Open-Source: While not exclusively tied to decentralized AI, open-source models often play a complementary role. They enhance transparency, allow for community audits and improvements, and align with the ethos of decentralization. This is why Venice uses open-source models, but it's important to note that not all decentralized AI systems use open-source models, and not all open-source models are part of decentralized systems.
Decentralized compute: These networks allow individuals and organizations to contribute unused compute power for AI tasks, increasing overall capacity, reducing costs, and improving availability of computational resources. By turning compute power into a shared, tradable resource, it democratizes access to AI infrastructure.
Federated learning: This technique allows AI models to be trained across multiple decentralized devices or servers without exchanging raw data. Federated learning can enhance data privacy by keeping sensitive information local while still benefiting from diverse datasets, but it requires careful implementation to fully realize these privacy benefits. edge computing: By processing data on local devices rather than in centralized cloud servers, edge computing reduces latency in AI inference and can enhance data locality. This is particularly crucial for applications requiring real-time processing or operating in environments with limited connectivity.
peer-to-peer (P2P) networks: P2P architectures enable direct interaction between network participants without the need for intermediaries. In decentralized AI, P2P networks can facilitate distributed computing, data sharing, and collaborative model training. blockchain: blockchains provide secure and transparent ways to record transactions and share data across networks. In the context of AI, they can ensure data provenance, create auditable trails of AI decisions, and enable secure peer-to-peer sharing of AI data.
smart contracts: These self-executing contracts with the terms of the agreement directly written into code can automate transactions and enforce rules in decentralized AI networks. They can play a crucial role in managing access rights to AI models and data, as well as in implementing fair compensation mechanisms for contributions to AI development.
These technologies work in concert to form the foundation upon which decentralized AI platforms are built, enabling a new paradigm of AI that prioritizes distributed innovation and user empowerment.
The Decentralized AI landscape
The decentralized AI landscape is rapidly evolving, with numerous projects addressing different aspects of the AI stack. Here's an overview of some key players across various categories:
image credit
Decentralized Compute
Akash: Decentralized cloud computing marketplace
Morpheus: Peer-to-peer network for general purpose AI and smart agents
TogetherAI: Collaborative AI development platform
Decentralized Storage
Filecoin: Decentralized network for file storage
Arweave: Permanent, decentralized data storage
AI Infrastructure Oceanprotocol: Decentralized data exchange protocol
Oasis: Platform focusing on privacy-preserving AI computing
SingularityNET: Marketplace for AI services
Decentralized Data and Training: @Suyu0x
Gensyn: Decentralized machine learning network
Bittensor: Peer-to-peer network for AI training
Nous Research, known for developing high-quality open-source language models, is advancing distributed AI training methods. Their innovation, DisTrO (Distributed Training Over-the-Internet), is a new optimizer allowing AI models to be trained across distributed networks using consumer-grade Internet connections. At Venice, we host the latest Nous models - try them here.
These platforms are working to create a more open, transparent, and decentralized AI ecosystem. In the next section, we'll dive deeper into how Venice leverages this ecosystem and what this means for our users.
Venice's approach to Decentralized AI
Venice leverages decentralized infrastructure to provide a private, uncensored alternative to mainstream AI apps from centralized tech companies. Our platform is built on tOP of decentralized systems, enabling us to offer powerful AI capabilities while prioritizing user privacy, freedom of inquiry, and permissionless access.
Here's how we're implementing decentralized AI principles:
Decentralized inference
We utilize networks of distributed GPU providers for AI inference, such as Akash Network. When using Venice you can clearly see which provider was used to generate the output.
This approach ensures that no single entity controls our computational resources, enhancing the overall resilience and scalability of our AI services.
CryptocurrencyPaymentOptions
We've implemented cryptocurrency as a payment option, extending our commitment to decentralization to the financial aspect of our services. This approach supports a decentralized financial ecosystem and enables increased permissionless access to AI services globally.
By integrating cryptocurrency payments, we're not only offering an alternative payment method, but ensuring our financial infrastructure aligns with our core principle of open, decentralized AI access.
Privacy-first infrastructure
Our entire system is architected with privacy as a foundational principle. All user conversations and data remain in your local browser, never touching our servers. We don't see or store user prompts or AI responses. This design gives users full control over their AI interactions, significantly reduces the risk of data breaches or unauthorized access, and enables users to explore AI capabilities without compromising their privacy.
By building on decentralized systems, Venice offers a platform where users can access powerful AI capabilities while maintaining control over their privacy and freedom of exploration. This approach enhances individual user experiences but also contributes to a more open, diverse, and resilient AI ecosystem.
The future of AI is decentralized
Decentralized AI represents a fundamental shift in how we approach artificial intelligence, offering a compelling alternative to the centralized models that currently dominate the landscape.
Venice leverages decentralized AI systems to deliver powerful AI capabilities while prioritizing user privacy, freedom of inquiry, and uncensored access. By distributing computational resources, implementing privacy-first infrastructure, and supporting cryptocurrency payments, we're demonstrating that it's possible to create an AI platform that contributes to a more open, permissionless and decentralized AI ecosystem.
The journey towards fully realizing the potential of decentralized AI is just beginning, with many challenges in scalability, interoperability, and regulation still to be addressed. However, we believe that continued collaboration across the decentralized AI ecosystem will overcome these hurdles.
The future of AI is decentralized and permissionless, and Venice will continue building with this ethos.
Just in time for Halloween 2024, Meta has unveiled Meta Spirit LM, the company’s first open-source multimodal language model capable of seamlessly integrating text and speech inputs and outputs.
Meta Spirit LM is a multimodal AI model developed by Meta's Fundamental AI Research (FAIR) team. It is designed to generate more expressive and natural-sounding speech, while also performing cross-modal tasks like speech-to-text and text-to-speech.
Traditional AI models for voice rely on automatic speech recognition (ASR) to process spoken input before synthesizing it with a language model, which is then converted into speech using text-to-speech (TTS) techniques. However, this process can result in speech that lacks the nuances of human communication, such as tone and emotion.
Meta Spirit LM introduces a more advanced solution by incorporating phonetic, pitch, and tone tokens, which enable the model to capture the complexities of human speech and reflect them in its generated speech. The model is trained on a combination of text and speech datasets, allowing it to perform cross-modal tasks like speech-to-text and text-to-speech while maintaining the natural expressiveness of speech in its outputs.
Phonetic tokens are used to process and generate speech by representing the sounds of spoken language as numerical vectors. Pitch and tone tokens are used to capture the nuances of human speech, such as tone and emotion, by representing the pitch and tone of spoken language as numerical vectors.
The Spirit LM model incorporates these tokens to capture the complexities of human speech and reflect them in its generated speech. The model is trained on a combination of text and speech datasets, allowing it to learn the relationships between phonetic, pitch, and tone tokens and generate speech that is more expressive and natural-sounding.
Meta has released two versions of Spirit LM: Spirit LM Base and Spirit LM Expressive. The Base version uses phonetic tokens to process and generate speech, while the Expressive version includes additional tokens for pitch and tone, allowing the model to capture more nuanced emotional states and reflect them in its output.
Spirit LM Base is a more basic version of the model that uses phonetic tokens to process and generate speech. It is designed to be more efficient and scalable than the Expressive version, while still providing a high level of expressiveness and natural-sounding speech.
Spirit LM Expressive, on the other hand, is a more advanced version of the model that includes additional tokens for pitch and tone. This allows the model to capture more nuanced emotional states, such as excitement or sadness, and reflect them in its output.
Meta Spirit LM is designed to perform cross-modal tasks, including speech-to-text and text-to-speech. Speech-to-text involves converting spoken language into written text, while text-to-speech involves generating spoken language from written text.
The Spirit LM model is trained on a combination of text and speech datasets, allowing it to learn the relationships between phonetic, pitch, and tone tokens and generate speech that is more expressive and natural-sounding. This enables the model to perform cross-modal tasks with high accuracy and natural-sounding speech.
Meta Spirit LM is fully open-source, providing researchers and developers with the model weights, code, and supporting documentation to build upon. The model is available for non-commercial usage under Meta's FAIR Noncommercial Research License, which grants users the right to use, reproduce, modify, and create derivative works of the Meta Spirit LM models, but only for non-commercial purposes.
This open-source availability is designed to encourage the broader research community to explore new possibilities for multimodal AI applications, while also providing a high level of flexibility and customization for researchers and developers.
Meta Spirit LM has significant implications for various applications, including virtual assistants, customer service bots, and other interactive AI systems where more nuanced and expressive communication is essential.
The model's ability to detect and reflect emotional states like anger, surprise, or joy in its output makes it an ideal solution for creating more human-like and engaging AI interactions. This is particularly relevant in applications such as customer service, where the ability to recognize and respond to emotional cues can improve the overall user experience.
In addition to its applications in human-computer interaction, Meta Spirit LM also has potential in areas such as speech therapy, where it could be used to help individuals with speech disorders or language impairments.
Meta Spirit LM is part of a broader set of research tools and models that Meta FAIR is releasing to the public. This includes an update to Meta's Segment Anything Model 2.1 (SAM 2.1) for image and video segmentation, which has been used across disciplines like medical imaging and meteorology, and research on enhancing the efficiency of large language models.
This broader effort is designed to advance the state of the art in AI research, while also providing a high level of flexibility and customization for researchers and developers. By releasing these models and tools under open-source licenses, Meta is encouraging the broader research community to explore new possibilities for multimodal AI applications.
If you’re of a certain age, the words “nuclear energy” probably conjure up dystopian images of power plants melting down, glowing radioactive waste, protesters, and other dark scenes ranging from the unfortunate to apocalyptic.
The truth is, nuclear power’s reputation has been mostly unfairly blemished since 1970s and ’80s thanks to the Three Mile Island and Chernobyl meltdowns in Pennsylvania and Ukraine (at that time, part of the Soviet Union), respectively. While terrible, these disasters belie nuclear energy’s true safety record, which is actually much better for humans and of course, the environment, than most other power sources — even renewables, and even accounting for the fact that nuclear waste needs to go somewhere.
Now in the year 2024, some of the largest technology companies on Earth are ready to embrace nuclear power again — and the reason is because of artificial intelligence (AI).
Looking over the last 9-10 months, and in particular, the last few weeks, Microsoft, Google, and Amazon have all announced large-scale commitments to buy, invest in, and/or help build new nuclear power plants. It’s no coincidence these rivals are the three top providers of cloud computing and cloud storage solutions in the world, and have also been among the biggest to embrace and provide AI models and technology to customers, both other businesses and end-users.
As the creator economy is growing rapidly, brand partnerships remain one of the prime ways creators can earn money.
As the creator economy is growing rapidly, brand partnerships remain one of the prime ways creators can earn money. Other services like link-in-bio apps with affiliate links or Pateron-like subscriptions become secondary ways to increase creators’ income. For platforms and startup, the biggest challenge remains to match brands and creators for collaboration.
Berlin-based startup Passionfroot is building a toolkit and a marketplace for business, productivity, and thought leadership-focused creators for brand collaborations.
The company was founded by CEO Jen Phan, who had a career in early-stage investing and Lorenzo De Nobili, who previously started a marketplace connecting users with different professionals for services. The startup has raised $3.8 million in a seed funding round led by VC Supernode Global, with other investors including Miro CEO Andrey Khusid’s s16vc, Sequoia, Accel’s Scout Fund, and Creandum also participating — Creandum previously invested in the company’s $3.4 million pre-seed round too. The seed round included angels such as former Zapier CMO Kieran Flanagan, ex-community and creator lead at Notion Ben Lang, Linktree CPO Jiaona Zhang, and Austin Lau, who looks after Growth at Anthropic.
Before launching Passionfroot, Phan launched a tech newsletter in 2020 for tech professionals with immigration backgrounds. She thought about leaving her VC role and going full-time on the newsletter.
Meta is expanding tests of facial recognition as an anti-scam measure to combat celebrity scam ads and more broadly, the Facebook owner announced Monday.
Meta is expanding tests of facial recognition as an anti-scam measure to combat celebrity scam ads and more broadly, the Facebook owner announced Monday.
Monika Bickert, Meta’s VP of content policy, wrote in a blog post that some of the tests aim to bolster its existing anti-scam measures, such as the automated scans (using machine learning classifiers) run as part of its ad review system, to make it harder for fraudsters to fly under its radar and dupe Facebook and Instagram users to click on bogus ads.
“Scammers often try to use images of public figures, such as content creators or celebrities, to bait people into engaging with ads that lead to scam websites where they are asked to share personal information or send money. This scheme, commonly called ‘celeb-bait,’ violates our policies and is bad for people that use our products,” she wrote.
“Of course, celebrities are featured in many legitimate ads. But because celeb-bait ads are often designed to look real, they’re not always easy to detect.”
The tests appear to be using facial recognition as a back-stop for checking ads flags as suspect by existing Meta systems when they contain the image of a public figure at risk of so-called “celeb-bait.”
“[W]e will try to use facial recognition technology to compare faces in the ad against the public figure’s Facebook and Instagram profile pictures,” Bickert wrote. “If we confirm a match and that the ad is a scam, we’ll block it.”
AI startup Stability AI has announced its newest family of image generation models, Stable Diffusion 3.5, with several promised improvements.
Following a string of controversies stemming from technical hiccups and licensing changes, AI startup Stability AI has announced its latest family of image generation models.
While Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large and 3.5 Large Turbo are available today, 3.5 Medium won’t be released until October 29.
Stability says that the Stable Diffusion 3.5 models should generate more “diverse” outputs — that is to say, images depicting people with different skin tones and features — without the need for “extensive” prompting.
“During training, each image is captioned with multiple versions of prompts, with shorter prompts prioritized,” Hanno Basse, Stability’s chief technology officer, told TechCrunch in an interview. “This ensures a broader and more diverse distribution of image concepts for any given text description. Like most generative AI companies, we train on a wide variety of data, including filtered publicly available datasets and synthetic data.”
The new Stable Diffusion 3.5 series is more customizable and versatile than Stability’s previous-generation tech, the company claims — as well as more performant. There are three models in total:
Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large: With 8 billion parameters, it’s the most powerful model, capable of generating images at resolutions up to 1 megapixel. (Parameters roughly correspond to a model’s problem-solving skills, and models with more parameters generally perform better than those with fewer.)
Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large Turbo: A distilled version of Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large that generates images more quickly, at the cost of some quality.
Stable Diffusion 3.5 Medium: A model optimized to run on edge devices like smartphones and laptops, capable of generating images ranging from 0.25 to 2 megapixel resolutions.
ChatGPT’s Canvas feature allows users to edit the chatbot’s responses on the app rather than copying and pasting them to a separate document.
However, when Canvas launched in early October for its paid tiers, it didn’t let people see what changes GPT-4o made to its responses. OpenAI’s latest update to the feature corrects that.
The show changes button will show the most recent changes to either the generated text or code on Canvas. It will highlight added information in green and deleted sections in red.
Tracking changes has always been a good feature of any editing platform; Google Docs and Word documents offer a toggle for users to check what’s been changed. But OpenAI had been planning to roll out updates to Canvas slowly as ChatGPT subscribers get used to it.
Canvas already offers familiar features like comments, where users can add suggestions or give more instructions for the AI model to follow when editing responses.
Canvas is still only available on the web version of ChatGPT for ChatGPT Plus, Teams, Enterprise and Edu users. Mac app users and anyone downloading the recently released Windows version of ChatGPT will have to wait until Canvas is rolled out to these standalone apps.
Currently, people can access Canvas on the regular ChatGPT window rather than in any custom GPTs.
Claude is the first major AI model to be able to take control of a computer to do useful work.
Demos of AI agents can seem stunning but getting the technology to perform reliably and without annoying, or costly, errors in real life can be a challenge. Current models can answer questions and converse with almost human-like skill and are the backbone of chatbots such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini. They can also perform tasks on computers when given a simple command by accessing the computer screen as well as input devices like a keyboard and trackpad or through low-level software interfaces.
Anthropic says that Claude outperforms other AI agents on several key benchmarks including SWE-bench, which measures an agent's software development skills and OSWorld, which gauges an agent's capacity to use a computer operating system. The claims have yet to be independently verified. Anthropic says Claude performs tasks in OSWorld correctly 14.9 percent of the time. This is well below humans, who generally score around 75 percent, but considerably higher than the current best agents, including OpenAI’s GPT-4, which succeed roughly 7.7 percent of the time.
Anthropic claims that several companies are already testing the agentic version of Claude. This includes Canva, which is using it to automate design and editing tasks and Replit, which uses the model for coding chores. Other early users include The Browser Company, Asana and Notion.
Ofir Press, a postdoctoral researcher at Princeton University who helped develop SWE-bench, says that agentic AI tends to lack the ability to plan far ahead and often struggle to recover from errors. “In order to show them to be useful we must obtain strong performance on tough and realistic benchmarks,” he says, like reliably planning a wide range of trips for a user and booking all the necessary tickets.
In a new copyright lawsuit against AI startup Perplexity, Dow Jones and the New York Post argue that hallucinating fake news and attributing it to real papers is illegal.
In a statement emailed to WIRED, News Corp chief executive Robert Thomson compared Perplexity unfavorably to OpenAI. “We applaud principled companies like OpenAI, which understands that integrity and creativity are essential if we are to realize the potential of Artificial Intelligence,” the statement says. “Perplexity is not the only AI company abusing intellectual property and it is not the only AI company that we will pursue with vigor and rigor. We have made clear that we would rather woo than sue, but, for the sake of our journalists, our writers and our company, we must challenge the content kleptocracy.”
OpenAI is facing its own accusations of trademark dilution, though. In New York Times v. OpenAI, the Times alleges that ChatGPT and Bing Chat will attribute made-up quotes to the Times, and accuses OpenAI and Microsoft of damaging its reputation through trademark dilution. In one example cited in the lawsuit, the Times alleges that Bing Chat claimed that the Times called red wine (in moderation) a “heart-healthy” food, when in fact it did not; the Times argues that its actual reporting has debunked claims about the healthfulness of moderate drinking.
Christian Klein, head of German software giant SAP, says Europe risks falling behind the U.S. and China if it ends up overregulating the AI sector.
Europe should avoid regulating artificial intelligence and focus its attention on the results of the technology instead, the CEO of German enterprise tech giant SAP told CNBC Tuesday.
Christian Klein, who has held the top job at SAP since April 2020, said Europe risks falling behind the U.S. and China if it overregulates the AI sector.
While it's important to mitigate the risks associated with AI, Klein argued that regulating the tech while it's still in its infancy would be misguided.
"It's very important that how we train our algorithms, the AI use cases we embed into the businesses of our customers — they need to deliver the right outcome for the employees, for the society," Klein said on CNBC's "Squawk Box Europe" Tuesday.
"If you only regulate technology in Europe, how can our startups here in Europe, how can they compete against the other startups in China, in Asia, in the U.S.?" Klein added.
"Especially for the startup scene here in Europe, it's very important to think about the outcome of the technology but not to regulate the AI technology itself."
Alumni from Klarna have gone on to create 62 new startups — more than any other fintech unicorn in Europe, according to a new report from VC firm Accel.
More startups are being spun out of Swedish digital payments firm Klarna than any other financial technology unicorn in Europe, according to a new report from venture capital firm Accel.
Accel's "Fintech Founder Factory" report shows that alumni from Klarna have gone on to create a total of 62 new startups, including the likes of Swedish lending technology firm Anyfin, regulatory compliance platform Bits Technology and AI-powered coding platform Pretzel AI.
That is more than any other venture-backed fintech startup worth $1 billion or more in the region.
This includes the digital banking app Revolut, whose former employees have founded 49 startups. It also includes money transfer app Wise and online-only bank N26, where ex-staff at both firms have started 33 companies each, according to Accel's data.
Under this set of rules, the Treasury Department will require notification of outbound investments into China in sensitive technologies including artificial intelligence, semiconductors, microelectronics and quantum computing that can be employed for developing military capabilities.
The final rules will likely be released within the "next week or so," according to Reuters.
The proposals are part of the Joe Biden administration's efforts to restrict the flow of U.S. capital, technology and expertise into China that could support its military modernization and undermine U.S. national security.
In June last year, U.S. Treasury Department released proposals that include potential outright bans on certain investments into China in these cutting-edge technologies.
"The potential military, intelligence, surveillance, and cyber-enabled applications of these technologies and products pose risks to U.S. national security particularly when developed by a country of concern such as the PRC," the Treasury Department notification said.
Former Treasury official Laura Black said the department could be trying to make the rules official before the presidential election — which is set to take place on Nov. 5 — Reuters reported.
CareIntellect for Oncology, as the tool is called, will help oncologists get up to speed on a patient's history and disease progression by quickly showing them the data they need, the company said. GE HealthCare wants to spare oncologists the headache of digging through records so they can focus on caring for their patients, the company said.
Health-care data is notoriously difficult to analyze, and as much as 97% of the data produced by hospitals goes unused, according to a Deloitte report. That information is stored across numerous vendors and file formats such as images, lab test results, clinical notes and device readings, which can be extremely taxing for doctors to sort through.
"It's very time-consuming, very frustrating for these clinicians," Dr. Taha Kass-Hout, GE HealthCare's global chief science and technology officer, told CNBC in an interview.
CareIntellect for Oncology will be able to summarize clinical reports and identify when patients are deviating from their treatment plans, Kass-Hout said. The system can flag when a patient misses a lab test, for instance, so that their doctor can determine the best next steps.
Microsoft will allow organizations to create their own autonomous AI agents within Copilot starting next month.
Microsoft will allow businesses to start making their own autonomous artificial intelligence agents starting next month, taking the fight back to Salesforce, which introduced its own configurable agentic AI tools in September.
At its "AI Tour" event in London on Monday, Microsoft revealed plans to allow organizations to create their own autonomous agents within Copilot Studio, the U.S. tech giant's platform for customizing and building so-called "copilot" assistants.
These agents had previously been available in private preview after Microsoft announced them initially in May. Starting next month, they'll move into public preview, meaning more organizations can start building AI agents of their own.
AI agents can act as virtual workers that can carry out a series of tasks without supervision. They are touted as a major evolution of large language model-based AI from chat interfaces, creating an experience that blends more seamlessly into the background.
Beyond adding the ability to create autonomous agents in Copilot Studio, Microsoft said it would also launch 10 new autonomous agents in Dynamics 365, the company's suite of enterprise resource planning and customer relationship management apps.
Interface, a startup building an AI-powered platform to help banks field customer service requests, has raised $30 million in a funding round.
Interface.ai, a customer automation platform for banks and other financial institutions, today announced that it closed a $30 million funding round led by Avataar Venture Partners.
$20 million of the round was equity, while the remaining $10 million was in the form of debt. It’s Interface’s first outside capital; the startup had been completely bootstrapped.
“Interface is trusted by more than 100 financial institutions across North America, processing millions of interactions every day,” CEO and co-founder Srinivas Njay told TechCrunch. “We’re generating tens of millions in annual recurring revenue.”
Njay said that the inspiration for Interface came from his father, who owned a credit union in India. Previously, Njay worked at Microsoft as a product manager on the Bing advertising team and at EA as a senior product manager on mobile games.
Njay teamed up with Bruce Kim, the founder of customer management and billing company Inovaware, in 2019 to launch Interface.
WhatsApp on Tuesday announced a new feature that will allow users to save contacts within the app.
WhatsApp on Tuesday announced a new feature that will allow users to save contacts within the app. That means that even if you lose your phone or link a new device to your primary number, you will see all your contacts stored within WhatsApp’s cloud storage.
Until now, WhatsApp relied on your phone’s contact book to sync contacts. If a new person messaged you on the app, and you wanted to save their details, the information would be stored locally on your device.
The new feature, rolling out soon, lets you store contacts on any device, including WhatsApp for the web and Windows. You can choose to sync contacts saved within WhatsApp to your phone, as well.
Last year, the company began allowing users to log into two WhatsApp accounts on one device. Saving contacts linked to one WhatsApp account is handy if you want to keep personal and business contacts separate. Plus, if you share the device with others, you can maintain your own contact list linked to your number.
H2O.ai, a provider of open-source AI platforms, announced today two new vision-language models designed to improve document analysis and optical character recognition (OCR) tasks.
The models, named H2OVL Mississippi-2B and H2OVL-Mississippi-0.8B, show competitive performance against much larger models from major tech companies, potentially offering a more efficient solution for businesses dealing with document-heavy workflows.
The H2OVL Mississippi-0.8B model, with only 800 million parameters, surpassed all other models, including those with billions more parameters, on the OCRBench Text Recognition task. Meanwhile, the 2-billion parameter H2OVL Mississippi-2B model demonstrated strong general performance across a range of vision-language benchmarks.
“We’ve designed H2OVL Mississippi models to be a high-performance yet cost-effective solution, bringing AI-powered OCR, visual understanding, and Document AI to businesses,” Sri Ambati, CEO and Founder of H2O.ai said in an exclusive interview with VentureBeat. “By combining advanced multimodal AI with efficiency, H2OVL Mississippi delivers precise, scalable Document AI solutions across a range of industries.”
The release of these models marks a significant step in H2O.ai’s strategy to make AI technology more accessible. By making the models freely available on Hugging Face, a popular platform for sharing machine learning models, H2O.ai is allowing developers and businesses to modify and adapt the models for specific document AI needs.
Qualcomm has introduced the Snapdragon 8 Elite at its annual Snapdragon Summit, touting it as the world's fastest mobile CPU that delivers unprecedented performance and efficiency.
s the mobile industry continues to evolve, the Snapdragon 8 Elite represents a major step forward in processing power and efficiency. Its impact on the next generation of smartphones and mobile devices will undoubtedly be significant, potentially reshaping user experiences and expectations.
Qualcomm has introduced the Snapdragon 8 Elite at its annual Snapdragon Summit, touting it as the world's fastest mobile CPU that delivers unprecedented performance and efficiency.
The chipset showcases Qualcomm's second-generation custom Oryon CPU, engineered to handle complex multimodal AI tasks. It boasts Oryon CPU Prime cores running at 4.32GHz, complemented by six performance cores reaching speeds of 3.53GHz. A 24MB L2 cache further enhances its processing power. The Hexagon NPU delivers 12 times the performance of its predecessor, while the Adreno GPU offers a threefold improvement in performance.
For gaming enthusiasts, the chip promises smoother gameplay with higher framerates while extending gaming time by up to 2.5 hours, thanks to a 40 percent improvement in both battery efficiency and GPU performance.
In terms of AI processing, the new Qualcomm AI Engine leverages the Oryon CPU for latency-critical AI tasks, while the Hexagon NPU provides faster inferencing performance.
Baidu CEO Robin Li believes that only about one percent of AI companies will endure after the inevitable burst of the AI bubble.
The rising popularity of generative AI has given place to the development of numerous startups making bold claims about the technology's capabilities. Many onlookers liken the trend to a classic market bubble, a sentiment shared by the CEO of Chinese tech giant Baidu. However, when the lofty expectations for AI collide with reality, most AI startups may not survive.
The rising popularity of generative AI has given place to the development of numerous startups making bold claims about the technology's capabilities. Many onlookers liken the trend to a classic marketbubble, a sentiment shared by the CEO of Chinese tech giant Baidu. However, when the lofty expectations for AI collide with reality, most AI startups may not survive.
Baidu CEO Robin Li believes that only about one percent of AI companies will endure after the inevitable burst of the AI bubble. Li suggests this will result in a healthier market with more realistic applications for the emerging technology.
Generative AI has remained a hot topic in the years following its initial surge, driven by companies like OpenAi and NVIDIA. The latter, which produces the hardware that most AI companies depend on, could soon become the world's most valuable company. Tech giants such as Microsoft, Apple, and Google are also integrating AI into nearly all of their future products.
However, many companies often make ambitious claims about the jobs AI might replace or what users can create using text prompts.
Speaking at Harvard's Future of business Conference, Li argued that many of these products will turn out to be false innovations, unable to find a sustainable market.
He compared the current situation to the dot-com bubble that burst around the turn of the century, wiping out many early Internet companies. Li also believes the AI market has become quieter but healthier in 2024 compared to recent years. Although some businesses and investors maintain high hopes for AI, others are showing more caution, recognizing that Nvidia's meteoric rise can't last forever.
Consumer enthusiasm for the technology remains lukewarm. Recent sales reports indicate that consumers aren't purchasing PCs with AI-focused hardware due to a specific interest in AI, but rather because the latest models from major vendors come equipped with the technology by default.
If a dramatic market correction occurs, Li anticipates that the remaining one percent of AI companies will offer highly valuable products and services. Addressing a persistent issue in generative AI, Li expressed optimism about the reduction of hallucinations in chatbots, claiming that they have become significantly more accurate over the past 18 months.
The CEO also touched on concerns about AI-related job losses, acknowledging the possibility that AI could replace human workers. Li believes a paradigm shift in employment may take place over the next 10 to 30 years.
Engineers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have created a new desalination system that harnesses the sun's power without requiring backup batteries.
The MIT engineers' solar-powered desalination system represents a significant leap forward in sustainable water treatment technology. By eliminating the need for batteries and maximizing the use of solar energy, the system can be deployed in regions lacking reliable power infrastructure.
The desalination system developed by the MIT team is a significant breakthrough in harnessing renewable energy to produce clean drinking water. Here's a more detailed explanation of the technology:
The system uses a combination of electrodialysis and solar power to remove salt ions from water. Electrodialysis is a method that uses an electric field to separate salt ions from water, a process known as ion exchange. The MIT team's system consists of three main components:
Water pumps: These pumps are responsible for circulating water through the system.
Ion-exchange membrane stack: This stack is where the electrodialysis process takes place. The membrane is coated with ions that attract and remove salt ions from the water.
Solar panel array: This array generates electricity from sunlight, which is used to power the desalination process.
The system's control strategy, dubbed "flow-commanded current control," allows it to dynamically adjust its desalination rate multiple times per second. This is achieved through a sophisticated algorithm that monitors the system's energy output and adjusts the flow rate of water through the electrodialysis stacks accordingly.
When the system detects an excess of available power, it increases the rate at which water is pumped through the electrodialysis stacks, allowing for more efficient desalination. Conversely, when the system detects a lack of power, it reduces the flow rate to conserve energy.
The system has been designed to be highly efficient, with an average energy conversion rate of 94%. This means that 94% of the electrical energy generated by the solar panels is converted into clean drinking water.
The system's scalability is also significant, with the potential to supply large communities and even entire municipalities with low-cost, sun-powered drinking water. The MIT team has already demonstrated the system's effectiveness in a small community setting, where it supplied Enough water for a population of around 3,000 people.
The MIT team has tested the system in real-world conditions, deploying a community-scale prototype at groundwater wells in New Mexico. The prototype operated for six months under variable weather conditions and with different water types, demonstrating the system's feasibility and effectiveness.
The results of the testing were promising, with the system producing high-quality drinking water that met or exceeded regulatory standards. The team also observed significant reductions in energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional desalination systems.
The MIT desalination system has the potential to make a significant impact on communities around the world, particularly in regions where access to clean drinking water is limited. According to Jonathan Bessette, a MIT PhD student in mechanical engineering, "The majority of the population actually lives far enough from the coast, that seawater desalination could never reach them. They consequently rely heavily on groundwater, especially in remote, low-income regions. And unfortunately, this groundwater is becoming more and more saline due to climate change."
The system's ability to harness renewable energy and produce clean drinking water without relying on backup batteries makes it an attractive solution for communities that need reliable access to clean water.
The MIT team plans to continue testing and scaling up the system, with the goal of deploying it in larger communities and even entire municipalities. They are also preparing to launch a company in the coming months, with the goal of pushing out the deployment of these systems to areas in need around the world.
Overall, the MIT desalination system represents a significant breakthrough in harnessing renewable energy to produce clean drinking water, and has the potential to make a significant impact on communities around the world.
Decentraland, the first decentralized virtual social world, launched a powerful new desktop client today, signaling a new era for experiencing spatial environments. This beta release enhances performance, delivers a more immersive environment, and introduces new engaging features, setting the stage for future innovations and expanded creator tools.
This milestone marks the shift away from a browser-based experience, replaced by a more stable, Unity-powered desktop client and the new Creator Hub, aligning with Decentraland’s vision for an interconnected metaverse.
“Today marks a new chapter for Decentraland. As virtual worlds take on a larger role in digital life, Decentraland is committed to creating a virtual world where people, not corporations, own their digital lives. Traditional platforms view their users as products while limiting real ownership, but Decentraland flips this script, using decentralization to empower its users,” said Yemel Jardi, Executive Director of the Decentraland Foundation. “As the internet transforms into a more immersive, spatial experience, Decentraland is leading the movement to creating a space that champions social connection, creativity, and autonomy—transcending cultures and backgrounds. This next chapter is about unlocking the true potential of the open metaverse, ensuring that as the digital world grows, it remains user-driven, community-focused, and grounded in open standards.”
Back in 2018, Microsoft began prototyping the Integrated Visual Augmentation Systems (IVAS) augmented reality glasses and was awarded a $480 million contract by the Army for 100,000 units.
The HoloLens-based goggles that Microsoft is selling to the US Army have had a long and difficult history. While the hardware and software issues of the early models appear to have been addressed in the latest version, the problem now is the price: the military branch wants the headsets to "be substantially less" than the current cost of $80,000 per unit.
Back in 2018, Microsoft began prototyping the Integrated Visual Augmentation Systems (IVAS) augmented reality glasses and was awarded a $480 million contract by the Army for 100,000 units.
The initial agreement was expanded in March 2021, ensuring Microsoft will provide finalized production versions, parts, and support in an agreement potentially worth up to $21.9 billion across a decade. The Army ordered an initial 5,000 units, valued at $373 million, with around 121,000 to be delivered over the course of the deal.
The project has been far from smooth from the beginning. The goggles' rollout was pushed back from fiscal year 2021 to 2022, but the Army said it remained fully committed to the deal.
In April 2022, the DOD warned that the massive purchase could be a waste of taxpayer money. There was worse news for Microsoft that year when an army tester said that the headsets pose a danger to soldiers due to the light they generate while active, which could alert enemy forces to a wearer's location.
Zoom is partnering with Suki, an AI note-taking app, to offer doctors on its platform an AI scribe that can take notes about their consultations.
Startups that build AI medical assistants and medical scribes, which save doctors time that they would otherwise spend taking notes and populating medical records, have been booming over the past year. And incumbents now want to get in on the action.
On Tuesday, video-conferencing company Zoom said it is partnering with Suki, one such AI medical scribe provider, to offer doctors on its platform an AI scribe that can take notes about their consultations with patients. Zoom is used for about 36% of all telehealth visits in the U.S., making it the most popular video-conferencing platform, according to industry intelligence group Definitive Healthcare.
Punit Soni, founder and CEO of Suki, told TechCrunch that Zoom had considered every other AI medical scribe startup before choosing Suki. The startup closed a $70 million Series D earlier this month.
Zoom’s founder and CEO, Eric Yuan, told Fortune earlier this month that the company is aiming to morph from a conferencing company to one focused on AI tools for workplaces.
Amazon-owned One Medical has also said it is integrating AI tools to help clinicians on its platform save time on administrative tasks. Instead of partnering with a startup in the space, One Medical is leveraging Amazon’s Bedrock, a service that helps build AI applications, and AWS HealthScribe, Amazon’s home-grown note-taking platform for clinicians.
Microsoft Copilot Studio, a toolchain enabling companies to develop custom AI assistants, enters public preview in November.
Microsoft is developing an enterprise-level Copilot tool that enables companies to build custom AI applications. Clients can create chatbots to interface with customers or AI "agents" that automate internal tasks. The Redmond firm started a closed beta earlier this year, and a public testing phase will begin next month.
Copilot Studio is an enterprise-level tool developed by Microsoft that enables companies to build custom AI applications, specifically designed to automate internal tasks and interface with customers. The tool is built on top of Microsoft's Copilot AI technology, which is known for its ability to generate human-like responses to user input.
Low-Code Environment: Copilot Studio is built on a low-code platform, which means that users can build custom AI assistants without requiring extensive programming knowledge. The tool provides a graphical user interface that allows users to create, deploy, and manage their AI models.
Graphical User Interface: The Copilot Studio interface is designed to be user-friendly and intuitive, making it easy for non-technical users to create and customize their AI assistants.
Pre-Built Agents: Copilot Studio comes with pre-built agents that can be used as a starting point for custom applications. These agents are pre-trained on large datasets and can be fine-tuned to meet specific business requirements.
Automation of Internal Tasks: Copilot Studio can automate a wide range of internal tasks, including email response generation, IT support ticket resolution, and customer service chatbots.
Integration with Dynamics 365: Copilot Studio is designed to integrate with Microsoft's Dynamics 365 platform, which provides a comprehensive set of tools for managing customer relationships, sales, and marketing.
Customization Options: Users can customize their Copilot Studio applications to meet specific business requirements, including adjusting parameters, fine-tuning models, and adding new features.
Customer Service Chatbots: Copilot Studio can be used to create custom chatbots that can handle customer inquiries, provide product information, and resolve issues.
IT Support Ticket Resolution: Copilot Studio can be used to automate the resolution of IT support tickets, including generating responses, assigning tasks, and tracking progress.
Email Response Generation: Copilot Studio can be used to generate automated responses to customer emails, including responding to common questions and providing product information.
Sales Qualification: Copilot Studio can be used to create custom agents that can qualify leads and provide sales teams with valuable insights.
Supply Chain Management: Copilot Studio can be used to automate supply chain management tasks, including optimizing inventory levels, managing orders, and tracking shipments.
Increased Productivity: Copilot Studio can automate a wide range of internal tasks, freeing up employees to focus on higher-level responsibilities.
Improved Customer Experience: Copilot Studio can provide customers with personalized and timely responses, improving the overall customer experience.
Reduced Costs: Copilot Studio can help companies reduce costs by automating manual processes and minimizing the need for human intervention.
Enhanced Insights: Copilot Studio can provide businesses with valuable insights and data, helping them make informed decisions and drive business growth.
Copilot Studio competes with other AI-powered tools, including Salesforce's Einstein and Google's Dialogflow. Microsoft's Copilot Studio is designed to provide a more comprehensive and enterprise-level solution for building custom AI applications.
Data Quality: Copilot Studio requires high-quality data to train its models, which can be a challenge for companies with limited data resources.
Model Fine-Tuning: Copilot Studio models require fine-tuning to meet specific business requirements, which can be a time-consuming and labor-intensive process.
Security and Compliance: Copilot Studio must comply with strict security and compliance requirements, which can be a challenge for companies with complex regulatory environments.
Amazon has spent years working toward the goal of removing plastic delivery packaging from fulfillment centers and focusing on using recycled materials.
Amazon says it has reached its goal of eliminating plastic air pillows from its warehouses and distribution facilities globally. The familiar packaging has now been replaced with paper filler, which the company says is not only better for the environment, but also offers the same, if not better, protection for fragile goods.
Amazon has spent years working toward the goal of removing plastic delivery packaging from fulfillment centers and focusing on using recycled materials. In June, it announced that it had reduced the use of plastic air pillows in its packages by 95% in North America as it switches to crumpled paper. Amazon had already eliminated the pillows across its European facilities in 2022, in Australia in 2021, and in India in 2020.
Instagram and Threads accounts that track the private jets of celebrities – including Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, Kim Kardashian, Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos,
Instagram and Threads accounts that track the private jets of celebrities – including Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, Kim Kardashian, Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, and Kylie Jenner – were suspended on Monday, according to the owner of many such accounts, Florida college student, Jack Sweeney. Meta tells TechCrunch these accounts violated its privacy policy, citing a “risk of physical harm” against the individuals.
Links to Instagram/Threads accounts tracking the flights of former President Donald Trump, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, and other celebrity accounts, produced an error message on Monday night reading, “The link you followed may be broken, or the page may have been removed.” Sweeney’s account tracking Taylor Swift’s jet was disabled on Friday.
“Given the risk of physical harm to individuals, and in keeping with the independent Oversight Board’s recommendation, we’ve disabled these accounts for violating our privacy policy,” said a Meta spokesperson in an emailed statement to TechCrunch.
Sweeney posted from his personal account that, “today feels like December 15th 2022,” referencing the time Elon Musk permanently suspended his @ElonJet account from Twitter.
In May, U.S. President Joe Biden signed a bill that allows private aircraft owners to anonymize their registration information. However, Sweeney has said tracking high-profile individuals is still easily doable, including through tips from other flight-tracking enthusiasts.
On October 21, 2024, Ledger, the prominent hardware wallet manufacturer, announced a significant integration with THORChain, enabling native cross-chain cryptocurrency swaps directly through the Ledger Live application. This development marks a notable advancement in decentralized trading capabilities for hardware wallet users.
THORChain's Market Position:
The integration comes at a time when THORChain has established itself as a significant player in the cross-chain infrastructurespace:
Market Impact:
The partnership carries significant potential for both parties. Ledger, with over 6 million devices sold worldwide, provides THORChain access to a substantial user base of security-conscious cryptocurrency holders. Previous integrations, such as THORChain's partnership with OKX wallet in August 2024, demonstrated the potential for such collaborations, having generated $320 million in swap volume.
Technical Capabilities:
THORChain operates as an open-source solution focusing on interoperability, privacy, and scalability. While it can process up to 5,000 transactions per second, this maximum capacity is rarely reached. The platform's emphasis on transparency and security aligns well with Ledger's focus on secure cryptocurrency storage.
The integration represents a strategic move in the evolving DeFi landscape, potentially positioning both Ledger and THORChain to capitalize on future market opportunities while providing users with enhanced trading capabilities within a secure environment.
Amnon Shashua, the founder and CEO of Mobileye, has an eye for complicated problems that he believes can be solved with AI
Amnon Shashua, the founder and CEO of Mobileye, has an eye for complicated problems that he believes can be solved with AI, and that AI itself can be fixed to become more reliable. On the sidelines of building and running his self-driving car technology company — which he took public, then sold to Intel, then spun out again — he’s been hatching a number of other ideas.
Despite being co-founded by one of the most high-profile and successful founders in Israel, One Zero has had surprisingly little attention to date outside of its home market. But the company has raised around $242 million so far, and in 2023 it was valued at $320 million, per data in PitchBook. Our sources say that the valuation will be significantly higher in the next round.
CoWoS (Chip-on-Wafer-on-Substrate) is a packaging technology that integrates multiple chips onto a single substrate, which is then packaged into a final product. This technology allows for the creation of high-performance computing and AI components that can be used in a wide range of applications, including data centers, cloud computing, and edge computing.
The CoWoS technology offers several advantages over traditional packaging methods, including:
Increased density: CoWoS allows for the creation of high-density packages that can contain multiple chips.
Improved performance: By integrating multiple chips onto a single substrate, CoWoS enables the creation of high-performance computing and AI components.
Reduced power consumption: CoWoS packages can be designed to reduce power consumption, which is critical for applications that require low power consumption.
Increased reliability: CoWoS packages can be designed to be more reliable than traditional packages, which can improve overall system reliability.
TSMC is a leading manufacturer of semiconductor devices and packaging technology. The company's CoWoS capabilities involve the use of advanced equipment and processes to produce high-quality packages. TSMC's CoWoS technology is designed to meet the needs of high-performance computing and AI applications, and the company is constantly working to improve its CoWoS capabilities.
As mentioned earlier, TSMC has announced plans to expand its CoWoS capabilities in response to growing demand for high-performance computing and AI components. The company's expansion plans include:
Doubling production capacity: TSMC plans to double its production capacity for CoWoS packaging technology year-over-year in both 2024 and 2025.
Increasing capacity: TSMC expects its monthly packaging volume to reach around 35,000 to 40,000 wafers by the end of 2024 and a further surge to roughly 80,000 wafers in 2025.
Switching to rectangular substrates: TSMC plans to switch from conventional round wafers to rectangular substrates to increase the number of chips that can be placed on each wafer.
Investing in new equipment: TSMC is investing in new equipment, including wet process equipment, to support its CoWoS expansion plans.
TSMC's CoWoS expansion plans are expected to have a significant impact on the industry. The company's suppliers, including GPTC and Scientech, are already benefiting from the growth in demand for CoWoS equipment, and it is likely that they will continue to do so as the CoWoS segment expands.
The growth of the CoWoS segment is driven primarily by the increasing demand for high-performance computing and AI components. Major AI players are relentlessly driving demand for cutting-edge chips with advanced packaging, and TSMC's CoWoS technology is well-positioned to meet this demand.
TSMC's CoWoS technology is a critical component of the company's strategy to meet the growing demand for high-performance computing and AI components. The company's expansion plans, which include doubling production capacity and switching to rectangular substrates, are expected to have a significant impact on the industry. As the demand for CoWoS equipment continues to grow, it is likely that TSMC's suppliers will continue to benefit from the growth in demand.
Scientists in China have created a mind-bogglingly powerful resistive magnet that has officially broken the world record by sustaining an incredible 42.02 tesla. That is over 800,000 times stronger than the magnetic field produced by Earth itself, which has a flux density of about 50 microtesla.
The new record was set on September 22 at the Steady High Magnetic Field Facility (SHMFF) in Hefei, narrowly edging out the previous record of 41.4 tesla held by another resistive magnet at the National High Magnetic Field Lab in Florida since 2017.
As for why scientists are so determined to push the limits of magnetism, physicist Joachim Wosnitza from Germany's Dresden lab explained that it opens up all kinds of bizarre new realms of physics to explore. Essentially, the stronger the magnetism, the greater the chances of discovering new states of matter.
Another physicist noted that high magnetism allows scientists to engineer and manipulate entirely new phases of matter that simply don't exist under normal conditions. Each additional tesla achieved also makes instruments exponentially more sensitive for detecting faint phenomena.
A new concept from Hyundai's parts division, Hyundai Mobis, developed in partnership with optics specialists Zeiss, aims to transform your entire windshield into one massive display.
The Holographic Windshield Display is a revolutionary concept developed by Hyundai's parts division, Hyundai Mobis, in partnership with optics specialist Zeiss. This innovative technology has the potential to transform the way we interact with our vehicles, and it's essential to delve deeper into its details.
The Holographic Windshield Display consists of several key components:
Transparent, Razor-Thin Film Coating: The system's core innovation lies in a transparent, razor-thin film coating on the windshield, measuring less than 100 micrometers in thickness. This film uses photochemical properties to create patterns from the projector's light, rendering videos and images with unprecedented clarity.
Holographic Projector: The holographic projector is responsible for creating the holographic visuals. This projector is designed to produce high-quality, high-definition images that can be projected onto the windshield.
Specialized Optics: Zeiss's expertise in precision optics plays a crucial role in the partnership. The company's specialized optics enable the creation of high-quality, high-definition images that can be projected onto the windshield.
Advanced Display Technology: The Holographic Windshield Display uses advanced display technology to create a seamless, 360-degree experience. This technology enables the display of multiple images and videos simultaneously, creating a truly immersive experience.
The Holographic Windshield Display works by projecting images and videos onto the windshield using the holographic projector. The transparent film coating on the windshield enables the creation of holographic visuals, which appear to float in mid-air. The system's advanced display technology ensures that the images and videos are displayed in high definition, creating a seamless and immersive experience.
The Holographic Windshield Display is designed to provide a unique experience for both drivers and passengers. The system's separate displays for the driver and passengers prioritize driver safety, ensuring that the driver is not distracted by unnecessary information. For example, the driver may only see essential information, such as directions and speed, while passengers can enjoy a more immersive experience, including movies and video calls.
The Holographic Windshield Display has a wide range of potential applications, including:
In-Vehicle Entertainment: The system can provide an immersive entertainment experience for passengers, including movies, video games, and social media.
Navigation and Directions: The system can provide real-time navigation and directions, helping drivers stay on course.
Communication: The system can enable hands-free communication for passengers, including video calls and messaging.
Information Display: The system can display essential information, such as speed, temperature, and fuel level, to drivers.
While the Holographic Windshield Display is a revolutionary concept, it also presents several challenges and limitations, including:
Technical Challenges: The system's advanced technology and specialized optics require significant technical expertise to develop and manufacture.
Cost: The system's high-end technology and materials may make it more expensive than traditional displays.
Driver Distraction: The system's immersive experience may lead to driver distraction, particularly if drivers are not familiar with the system.
Safety Concerns: The system's separate displays for the driver and passengers may raise safety concerns, particularly if the passenger display is not designed with safety in mind.
The Holographic Windshield Display is a revolutionary concept that has the potential to transform the way we interact with our vehicles. Its advanced technology and specialized optics make it a truly unique and immersive experience. However, the system also presents several challenges and limitations, including technical challenges, cost, driver distraction, and safety concerns. As the development of the system progresses, it will be essential to address these challenges and limitations to ensure that the Holographic Windshield Display is safe, efficient, and enjoyable for drivers and passengers alike.
As competition from newcomers like Bluesky and Threads increases, X on Monday launched a "Radar" trend analysis tool that aims to offer subscribers
As competition from newcomers like Bluesky and Threads increases, X on Monday launched a “Radar” trend analysis tool that aims to offer subscribers real-time insights into emerging trends and conversations on the platform.
Radar is a real-time trend analysis tool developed by X, a social media platform. It was previously known as Insights, but was rebranded to better reflect its new features and functionality. Radar is designed to help users, particularly marketers and content creators, stay on tOP of emerging trends and conversations on the platform.
Radar offers a range of features that enable users to track topics and trends on X. Some of the key features of Radar include:
Keyword Analytics: This feature allows users to track specific keywords and monitor their performance over time. Users can enter keywords, and Radar will provide them with real-time data on the number of tweets, comments, and other interactions related to that keyword.
Visualization of Trend Activity: Radar provides a visual representation of trending topics and conversations, making it easier for users to identify patterns and insights. Users can view trends in real-time, and Radar will update the visualization as new data becomes available.
Filtering Conversations: Users can filter conversations based on specific criteria, such as topic, keyword, or location. This feature allows users to narrow down their search and focus on the most relevant conversations.
Real-time Trend Tracking: Radar provides real-time insights into emerging trends and conversations, enabling users to stay ahead of the curve. Users can track trends as they unfold, and Radar will provide them with alerts and notifications when new trends emerge.
Conversation Velocity Tracking: This feature allows users to monitor the pace at which conversations are unfolding, helping them to identify opportunities for engagement. Users can view conversation velocity in real-time, and Radar will update the data as new conversations emerge.
Radar offers a range of benefits for users, including:
Improved Content Creation: By staying on top of emerging trends and conversations, users can create content that is more relevant and engaging to their audience.
Increased Engagement: Radar's real-time trend tracking and conversation velocity features enable users to identify opportunities for engagement and respond to their audience in real-time.
Better Brand Awareness: Radar's keyword analytics and visualization features enable users to track their brand's mentions and sentiment, helping them to stay on top of their brand's reputation.
Competitive Advantage: By using Radar, users can gain a competitive advantage in their industry by staying ahead of the curve and responding to emerging trends and conversations.
Radar is currently available to Premium+ subscribers, who pay $16 per month or $168 per year for access to the tool. The platform notes that Radar is an early version of the tool, and more updates are on the way. However, users can expect to see significant improvements in the tool's functionality and performance in the coming weeks and months.
Some users have already tested Radar's new features, reporting improvements in the search algorithm and the addition of more filtering options. However, some users have pointed out limitations, such as the inability to search further back than three days. Despite these issues, early adopters are optimistic about the tool's potential and its ability to enhance their content creation and engagement strategies.
Overall, Radar is a powerful tool that offers users a range of features and benefits that can help them stay on top of emerging trends and conversations on X. As the tool continues to evolve, users can expect to see significant improvements in its functionality and performance, cementing X's position as a leader in the social mediaspace.
News Corp's Dow Jones and the NY Post have sued growing AI startup Perplexity over what they describe as a "content kleptocracy."
In a lawsuit filed in New York on Monday, the media organization claimed that Perplexity engages in copyright violations on a “grand scale,” simultaneously duplicating and misrepresenting original content created by others:
Its AI “answer engine” copies on a massive scale, among other things, copyrighted news content, analysis, and opinion as inputs into its internal database. It then uses that copyrighted content to generate responses to users’ queries that are intended to and do act as a substitute for news and other information websites. Perplexity loudly touts that its answers to user queries are so reliable that its users can “Skip the Links” to the original publishers and instead rely wholly on Perplexity for their news and analysis needs. What Perplexity does not tout is that its core business model involves engaging in massive freeriding on Plaintiffs’ protected content to compete against Plaintiffs for the engagement of the same news-consuming audience, and in turn to deprive Plaintiffs of critical revenue sources.
News Corp is far from the first to make this claim. Many news sites have expressed concerns that Perplexity closely replicates their content, with the occasionally egregious example, as with a piece that Forbes called out this summer. Just last week, The New York Times sent a cease and desist to Perplexity.
SambaNova Systems and Gradio have unveiled a new integration that allows developers to access one of the fastest AI inference platforms with just a few lines of code. This partnership aims to make high-performance AI models more accessible and speed up the adoption of artificial intelligence among developers and businesses.
“This integration makes it easy for developers to copy code from the SambaNova playground and get a Gradio web app running in minutes with just a few lines of code,” Ahsen Khaliq, ML Growth Lead at Gradio, said in an interview with VentureBeat. “Powered by SambaNova Cloud for super-fast inference, this means a great user experience for developers and end-users alike.”
The SambaNova-Gradio integration enables users to create web applications powered by SambaNova’s high-speed AI models using Gradio’s gr.load() function. Developers can now quickly generate a chat interface connected to SambaNova’s models, making it easier to work with advanced AI systems.
Enterprises can use their Perplexity dashboards to search for internal information and combine it with knowledge from the internet, but this will only be limited to specific files they deem important.
Peplexity’s new Internal Knowledge Search lets Perplexity Pro and Enterprise Pro users search for information across the web or their internal databases. Customers can access both knowledge bases in one consolidated platform.
However, internal knowledge bases will be limited to the files Perplexity users upload to the platform.
Frank te Pas, head of Enterprise product at Perplexity, told VentureBeat in an interview that Internal Knowledge Search will only look for information on files users have uploaded, not entire internal databases.
“We believe this lets people bring only their most important and valuable data to the table and not the 90% of low-value files they normally sift through,” he said. “Customers told us they want to use information that’s important to them, which makes their own data even more valuable.”
Users have a file upload limit (500 for Enterprise Pro users), but te Pas said this may be expanded. Customers can also upload files directly from folders in all the popular document formats like Excel sheets, word documents or PDFs.
Enterprises are all in on AI. They want their models to run in production environments smoothly and with as high performance as possible to obtain a high return on investment. However, even with all the advanced models available in the market, teams continue to struggle with deployment issues.
Last year, Peter Bendor-Samuel, the CEO of Everest Group, estimated that 90% of the gen AI pilots started will not make it to production. Even Gartner has predicted that a significant portion of generative AI projects are likely to be abandoned after proof of concept by the end of 2025.
Among the hurdles to adoption, the largest one is orchestration. Teams just don’t have the resources to do everything in-house, which leaves them reliant on rigid and expensive third-party APIs. Today, Simplismart AI raised $7 million in funding to address this gap with its end-to-end MLOps platform that accelerates the entire orchestration effort by taking care of everything from fine-tuning models to deployment and observability.
The wallpaper can be fixed to the ceiling and releases infrared to begin warming up the house without burning gas.
A collaborative effort between researchers at Scottish universities, the Glasgow City Council, and the West of Scotland Housing Association is trialing an electric wallpaper as an alternative to gas boilers to keep homes warm in Scotland without burning fossil fuels.
With the ambition to reach net zero by 2045, Scotland needs to accelerate its transition to cleaner forms of energy; much of the effort in this direction has been seen in the installation and approvals for large offshore wind farms in the North Sea.
However, Scotland’s burden of carbon emissions comes from its heating requirements. 84 percent of Scottish homes burn gas to keep their homes warm, making up nearly 36 percent of Scotland’s annual carbon emissions, which need to be drastically reduced if the 2045 target is to be met.
The achievement was driven by its advanced joints, providing 23 to 43 degrees of freedom and generating up to 120 Nm of maximum torque.
Unitree’s G1 humanoid robot has set a new record for the standing long jump, showcasing advanced robotics capabilities in the field of agility and performance.
Unitree's G1 Humanoid Robot Sets New Record for Standing Long Jump, Showcasing Advanced Robotics Capabilities
In a groundbreaking achievement, Unitree's G1 humanoid robot has set a new record for the standing long jump, demonstrating its impressive agility and performance capabilities. The robot, standing at 1.32 meters (4.33 feet) tall and weighing 77 pounds (35 kg), achieved a remarkable 4.6-foot standing long jump, powered by its advanced joints that offer 23 to 43 degrees of freedom and produce up to 120 Nm of maximum torque. This impressive feat is a testament to the advancements in robotics technology, particularly in the field of humanoid robots.
The G1 robot's advanced joints allow for agile movement and walking speeds of up to 2 m/s (4.5 mph), making it suitable for tasks that require precision and dexterity. Its three-digit hands enhance its dexterity, making it an ideal candidate for tasks that require precision and bringing it closer to practical applications in various industries. The robot's sleek design, internally routed cabling to prevent snags during operation, and a quick-release 9,000-mAh battery that offers around two hours of use per charge make it an attractive option for industries and individuals alike.
In addition to its impressive jumping ability, the G1 robot is equipped with advanced sensors, including 3D LiDAR, a RealSense depth camera, and a noise-canceling microphone array. These sensors enable the robot to respond to voice commands and provide audio feedback through a 5-W stereo speaker. The G1 robot's impressive performance and agility have caught the attention of industry leaders, including Tesla, which aims to reduce the price of its Optimus robot to around US$20-30,000 per unit once mass production begins.
The G1 robot's focus on athleticism and fun sets it apart from other humanoid robots that prioritize practical factory tasks and safety. Its ability to perform tasks such as walking, jogging, climbing stairs, dancing, recovering from falls, and even performing karate warmup stretches make it an entertaining and impressive robot to watch. As Unitree prepares for mass production of the G1 robot, it is clear that this robot is poised to make a significant impact in the robotics industry.
Key Specifications:
Height: 1.32 meters (4.33 feet)
Weight: 77 pounds (35 kg)
Battery Life: Around two hours per charge
Quick Battery Swaps: Enables extended operation
Joints: 23 degrees of freedom
Maximum Torque: Up to 120 Nm
Walking Speed: Up to 2 m/s (4.5 mph)
Three-Digit Hands: Enhance dexterity and precision
Sensors: 3D LiDAR, RealSense depth camera, noise-canceling microphone array
Unitree's G1 humanoid robot has set a new record for the standing long jump, showcasing its impressive agility and performance capabilities. With its advanced joints, three-digit hands, and sleek design, the G1 robot is an attractive option for industries and individuals alike. Its focus on athleticism and fun sets it apart from other humanoid robots, and its impressive performance capabilities make it an entertaining and impressive robot to watch. As Unitree prepares for mass production of the G1 robot, it is clear that this robot is poised to make a significant impact in the robotics industry.
Aetherflux aims to deploy a space-based solar power satellite constellation to low Earth orbit, as opposed to individual large arrays in geostationary orbit.
For years, building large composite rockets has been a labor-intensive and time-consuming process, requiring engineers to spend countless hours manually laying thousands of layers of carbon fiber, ensuring precise alignment and quality.
However, Rocket Lab has now simplified this process with its innovative Automated Fiber Placement (AFP) machine, streamlining the process from weeks to a single day. This groundbreaking technology has the potential to transform the way rockets are produced, enabling faster, more efficient, and cost-effective production.
The company has installed this massive 90-ton machine at its Neutron rocket factory in Middle River, Maryland, to 3D-print its Neutron rocket. This giant 3D printer can make carbon fiber layers at incredible speeds, building complex structures with unmatched precision. The AFP machine is a 39-foot (12-meter) robotic machine, custom-built by Electroimpact in Washington, capable of 3D printing carbon-fiber layers at an astonishing speed of 328 feet (100 meters) per minute while moving up to 98 feet (30 meters) in length.
The machine will fully automate the production of the Neutron's large composite structures, including panels for the interstage and fairing, first stage tank, and second stage tank. One of the key features of the machine is its built-in inspection system, which can automatically check for tiny defects in the carbon fiber composite material as it is being laid down. If the system finds a defect, it will alert the operator, allowing them to fix it before the machine continues to the next layer. This ensures that the launch vehicle's structures meet Rocket Lab's high-quality standards, necessary for reusable Neutron launches.
The AFP machine will dramatically cut down on production time, saving over 150,000 hours. This will enable Rocket Lab to launch more frequently and at a lower cost, making it a game-changer for the aerospace industry. The machine will not only be used to produce the Neutron rocket but also various small carbon composite structures, including Electron first stages, and other spacecraft parts. Rocket Lab plans to launch the first Neutron rocket in 2025.
The use of carbon fiber composites on a massive scale is a pioneering effort by Rocket Lab, offering incredible strength and lightweight properties, making it ideal for spacetravel. The company's proprietary flight-proven carbon composite technology, additive manufacturing, and autonomous robotics will enable the design and build of large-scale aerospace components at a pace that will support not only Neutron's launch cadence but also Electron and carbon composites structures for spacecraft customers.
The AFP machine is a testament to Rocket Lab's commitment to innovation and its goal of making space travel more accessible and affordable. By leveraging cutting-edge technology, the company is poised to disrupt the aerospace industry and pave the way for a new era of space exploration. With its Automated Fiber Placement machine, Rocket Lab is revolutionizing the way rockets are produced, enabling faster, more efficient, and cost-effective production, and setting a new standard for the industry.
The Commercial Augmentation Space Reserve would allow the military to tap into commercial space assets during crises or emergencies
The U.S. Space Force is moving closer to establishing a commercial reserve program aimed at leveraging private sector resources for national security, and continues to fine-tune the details with satellite operators and other space companies.
The initiative, called the Commercial Augmentation Space Reserve (CASR), would allow the military to tap into commercial space assets, such as satellites and communication systems, during crises or emergencies.
“We’re still getting feedback from industry,” said Col. Richard Kniseley, who leads the Space Systems Command’s Commercial Space Office.
Kniseley’s office is reviewing over 80 submissions from companies after a recent request for information, reflecting growing industry interest but also concerns about the program’s structure. “Companies have asked for a feedback loop to address issues as we finalize the language,” Kniseley told SpaceNews.
The program would function through pre-negotiated contracts with commercial companies, ensuring the U.S. government has priority access to space infrastructure when its own systems are strained. These contracts would help guarantee access to services like satellite communications or monitoring space debris without needing to scramble for support during a critical moment.
The concept of a separate space force has been discussed for decades, but it wasn't until the 2010s that the US military began to seriously consider creating a new branch. Here are some key milestones:
1960s: The US Air Force (USAF) begins to take on space-related responsibilities, including launching satellites and operating space-based systems.
1985: The Senate passes a bill to create a "Space Force" within the USAF, but it is met with opposition from Congress and eventually stalls.
2007: The Defense authorization Act creates the "Space Operations Command" (SpOC) within the USAF, which marks a significant step towards establishing a dedicated space force.
2010: The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) introduces a provision to create a new branch of the military, with a focus on space operations.
2015: The Air Force releases a report outlining a plan for a new space force, which includes establishing a separate branch, creating a new space-based command, and developing a new organizational structure.
2018: The Trump administration begins to implement the plan, including establishing a new Space Force leadership structure and developing a new organizational framework.
December 20, 2019: President Trump signs the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal year 2020, which officially establishes the US Space Force as a separate branch of the military.
The USSF is headquartered at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado and is led by the Chief of Space Operations (CSO). The CSO is the highest-ranking officer in the USSF and is responsible for overseeing the entire force.
The USSF is divided into several major components, including:
Space Operations Command (SpOC): This is the primary command for the USSF and is responsible for planning, coordinating, and executing space operations.
Space Systems Command (SSC): This command is responsible for developing, acquiring, and sustaining space-based systems.
Space Training and Readiness Command (STARCOM): This command is responsible for training and readiness for USSF personnel.
Space Force Space Operations Training and Readiness (SFTTR): This is a training organization that provides space operations training to USSF personnel.
The USSF is currently undergoing significant transformation, with a focus on modernizing its capabilities, expanding its presence in space, and developing new space-based technologies. Some of the current developments include:
The USSF's first operational satellite, the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), which was launched in 2018.
The development of a new space-based surveillance system, the Space Situational Awareness (SSA) system.
The USSF's participation in international space cooperation efforts, including the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS).
The development of a new space-based command structure, which will oversee the USSF's operations and decision-making processes.
The USSF has a unique organizational structure, which includes:
The Chief of Space Operations (CSO): This is the highest-ranking officer in the USSF and is responsible for overseeing the entire force.
The Space Operations Command (SpOC): This is the primary command for the USSF and is responsible for planning, coordinating, and executing space operations.
The Space Systems Command (SSC): This command is responsible for developing, acquiring, and sustaining space-based systems.
The Space Training and Readiness Command (STARCOM): This command is responsible for training and readiness for USSF personnel.
The USSF is a new branch of the military, and it is still in the process of recruiting and training personnel. The USSF has a unique organizational structure, which includes:
Officers: The USSF has a number of officer positions, including space operations officers, space systems officers, and space training officers.
Enlisted personnel: The USSF also has a number of enlisted positions, including space operations technicians, space systems technicians, and space training technicians.
Civilian personnel: The USSF also has a number of civilian positions, including space operations analysts, space systems engineers, and space training instructors.
The USSF has a number of equipment and systems, including:
Satellites: The USSF operates a number of satellites, including the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), the Space Test Satellite (STSS), and the Space Situational Awareness (SSA) system.
Spacecraft: The USSF also has a number of spacecraft, including the Space Launch System (SLS) and the Orion spacecraft.
Ground-based systems: The USSF operates a number of ground-based systems, including the Space Situational Awareness (SSA) system and the Space Operations Command (SpOC) system.
Space-based sensors: The USSF also has a number of space-based sensors, including the Space Situational Awareness (SSA) system and the Space Operations Command (SpOC) system.
The USSF has a significant budget and resources, which are allocated by the US Department of Defense. The USSF's budget is currently around $15 billion per year, which is a significant increase from the $1.2 billion per year allocated to the Space Force in 2020.
The USSF also has a number of resources, including:
Personnel: The USSF has a number of personnel, including officers, enlisted personnel, and civilian personnel.
Equipment: The USSF has a number of equipment, including satellites, spacecraft, ground-based systems, and space-based sensors.
Facilities: The USSF has a number of facilities, including the Space Force Space Operations Training and Readiness (SFTTR) center at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado.
China launched a trio of satellites late Monday for ground radar equipment calibration and other measurements.
A Long March 6 rocket lifted off from Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, northern China, at 8:10 p.m. Eastern, Oct. 21 (0010 UTC, Oct. 22). The state-owned Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology (SAST) announced launch success, revealing the payloads to be the Tianping-3A (01), B (01), and B (02) satellites.
The Tianping-3 mission is described in Chinese state media reports as a single satellite. However, as noted by SAST, three discrete satellites were launched.
“The satellite is mainly used for ground radar equipment calibration and radar cross section (RCS) measurement,” Chinese state media reported. “It will provide support for ground optical equipment imaging experiments and low-orbit space environment detection and monitoring experiments, as well as offer services for atmospheric space environment measurement and orbit prediction model correction.”
No images or further information on the satellites was provided. The satellites could be used for purposes related to defense, weather forecasting, and scientific research. These can help verify radar performance, calibration for target detection, weather radar calibration, space debris tracking, or tracking atmospheric phenomena.
Tianping-3 satellites can be used as benchmarks to compare and validate the measurements of ground-based radars, offering highly accurate measurements of their RCS. The satellites may have corner reflectors or transponders on board to provide a strong and well-characterized signal to ground-based radars. This signal helps in calibrating the radar’s performance, such as its power levels, antenna alignment, and other critical parameters.
The airborne system is designed to collect and process real-time data from satellites, drones, ground and maritime sensors
Defense contractor Northrop Grumman has demonstrated new technology that turns aircraft into a flying data center, processing real-time intelligence from satellites and drones to aid military operations.
The system, called Deep Sensing and Targeting (DSAT), was showcased at a U.S. Army exercise last month, the company said Oct. 21.
“We’re providing intelligence collection from space-based sensors to the airborne platform and delivering it to operators in real time,” said Brent Swift, director of the DSAT program at Northrop Grumman’s Colorado-based intelligence unit.
The technology could help solve a persistent military challenge: getting precise targeting data quickly enough to guide long-range missiles and artillery in fast-moving combat situations, he said.
The demonstration took place during Vanguard 24, a two-week Army exercise in Fort Huachuca, Arizona, designed to test advanced military sensors and surveillance systems.
Imagine a thin wristband that monitors your steps and heartbeat like an Apple Watch. Or clothing that keeps you cool with built-in air conditioning. Or even a flexible implant that could help your heart better than a bulky pacemaker. That’s the promise of a new, electrically active material researchers have created by combining short chains of amino acids called peptides with snippets of a polymer plastic. This “electric plastic,” reported this month in Nature, can store energy or record information, opening the door to self-powered wearables, real-time neural interfaces, and medical implants that merge with bodies better than current tech.
Most electronic materials are rigid or contain toxic metals, which makes it tough to design devices that conform to the body or that could be embedded within tissues. One of the few soft plastics that can be used in electronic devices is a polymer called polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), discovered in the 1940s. It has a polar structure that switches its orientation when stimulated by an external voltage—the chemical equivalent of flipping an electronic bit. However, these “ferroelectric” properties are not stable and disappear at higher temperatures. The plastic also requires high voltages to switch polarities, making it more energy intensive to operate.
Project seeks to assess industry's ability to develop multimodal human-machine interfaces to control mixed-reality and autonomous robotic systems.
U.S. Army researchers are asking for industry's help in developing new ways for soldiers to communication and interact with mixed-reality and autonomous robots to speed operations and enhance situational awareness.
Officials of the Army the Cognitive Science and Applications Branch of the Army Combat Capability Development Command Soldier Center in Natick, Mass., issued a request for information (W911QY-25-R-MHMI) last week for the Multimodal Human-Machine Interface for Mixed Reality (XR) and Robotic Autonomous Systems (RAS) Control project.
The project seeks to assess industry's ability to develop cutting-edge technology for multimodal human-machine interfaces to control mixed reality and autonomous robotic systems.
Proposed solutions should help soldiers interface with mixed-reality and autonomous robots to minimize cognitive load and training requirements; enhance situational awareness; and enable soldiers to offload risk and work to robots, and instead help them focus on higher-level tasks.
Satellites in orbit are already an obstacle for astronomers. Sending tens of thousands more could compound issues without any solutions.
Elon Musk’s SpaceX is once again asking for approval to send up nearly 30,000 more Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit- and astronomers are sounding the alarm over the request.
SpaceX officials claim it is necessary to bring blazing gigabit speeds and “ubiquitous mobile connectivity to all Americans” for its high-speed internet service, as well as for billions of Starlink users around the world. The company requested that the agency grant it lower orbits for the second-generation system and more radio frequencies. SpaceX says additional frequencies will not cause significant interference problems to other spectrum users.
It is now asking for the OK from the Federal Communications Commission to deploy up to 29,988 Starlink satellites, likely using the company’s Starship megarocket.
The company had requested as many over two years ago, but the FCC only gave its permission for the deployment of up to 7,500. At the time the FCC said its decision would protect other satellite operators from harmful interference and maintain a “safe space environment.” But, the company’s 20-page October 11 filing neglects to mention any associated impact.
“Obviously, the impact,” Piero Benvenuti told The Independent Monday, “[is] what we have already known for several years, [and] claimed that there’s a severe impact on astronomy, both optical and radio astronomy and also the visibility of the pristine sky,”
The federal government plans to provide up to $325 million to Hemlock Semiconductor to produce a key material for computer chips, an announcement Monday with possible political significance as the new factory would be in the swing state of Michigan.
The Biden administration said Monday that it would provide up to $325 million to Hemlock Semiconductor for a new factory, a move that could help give Democrats a political edge in the swing state of Michigan ahead of election day.
The funding would support 180 manufacturing jobs in Saginaw County, where Republicans and Democrats were neck-and-neck for the past two presidential elections. There would also be construction jobs tied to the factory that would produce hyper-pure polysilicon, a building block for electronics and solar panels, among other technologies.
Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said on a call with reporters that the funding came from the CHIPS and Science Act, which President Joe Biden signed into law in 2022. It’s part of a broader industrial strategy that the campaign of Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee, supports, while Republican nominee Donald Trump, the former president, sees tariff hikes and income tax cuts as better to support manufacturing.
Amazon has revealed new technology that it says will help delivery drivers avoid organizing packages at stops or manually check to see if they have the right parcel for each delivery.
The technology – called Vision-Assisted Package Retrieval, or VAPR – is intended to cut down on the time and effort it takes drivers to retrieve packages, Amazon’s retail chief Doug Herrington said at a company event in Nashville on Wednesday.
Amazon expects to put 1,000 delivery vans that contain the technology on the road by early next year.
The company says VAPR essentially works like this: Once an Amazon delivery van arrives at a customer’s location, it will project a green “0” on packages that need to be dropped off, and a red “X” on those that should remain in the van.
The technology will also use audio and visual cues to let drivers know they have found the right package, Amazon said.
The Seattle company has been testing the new feature with its Delivery Service Partners, the businesses that deliver packages across the country for Amazon.
It said early tests have showed the technology helped reduce “perceived physical and mental effort” for drivers and saved them more than 30 minutes per route.
Netflix has confirmed it has shut down its triple-A gaming studio set up in Southern California, leading to the exit of a number of high-profile developers from the company and sparking questions about its gaming ambitions.
Netflix has shut down its triple-A gaming studio set up in Southern California, leading to the exit of a number of high-profile developers from the company and sparking questions about its gaming ambitions.
Game File broke the news that the studio, which had former Overwatch executive producer Chacko Sonn and veteran Halo creative director Joseph Staten on its books, is no more, and Sonn, Staten, and art director Rafael Grassetti, who was art director at God of War developer Sony Santa Monica before joining Netflix in spring 2023, have all left.
Staten only joined Netflix in April last year. Staten, one the original architects of Halo who came in late in Halo Infinite's development process to help land that very important plane for Microsoft, joined Netflix as the creative director of Netflix Games, and was set upon building a new AAA multiplatform game and original IP.
"In my work life, there's nothing I love more than collaborating with others to build worlds filled with iconic characters, deep mysteries, and endless adventures," Staten told IGN at the time. "So today, I'm thrilled to announce that I've joined Netflix Games as creative director for a brand-new triple-A multiplatform game and original IP. Let's go!"
Carriers fight plan to require unlocking of phones 60 days after activation.
T-Mobile and AT&T say US regulators should drop a plan to require unlocking of phones within 60 days of activation, claiming that locking phones to a carrier's network makes it possible to provide cheaper handsets to consumers. "If the Commission mandates a uniform unlocking policy, it is consumers—not providers—who stand to lose the most," T-Mobile alleged in an October 17 filing with the Federal Communications Commission.
The proposed rule has support from consumer advocacy groups who say it will give users more choice and lower their costs. T-Mobile has been criticized for locking phones for up to a year, which makes it impossible to use a phone on a rival's network. T-Mobile claims that with a 60-day unlocking rule, "consumers risk losing access to the benefits of free or heavily subsidized handsets because the proposal would force providers to reduce the line-up of their most compelling handset offers."
If the proposed rule is enacted, "T-Mobile estimates that its prepaid customers, for example, would see subsidies reduced by 40 percent to 70 percent for both its lower and higher-end devices, such as the Moto G, Samsung A15, and iPhone 12," the carrier said. "A handset unlocking mandate would also leave providers little choice but to limit their handset offers to lower cost and often lesser performing handsets."
Mercedes has opened a battery recycling factory in Germany to close the loop on its battery supply chain.
Today, Mercedes-Benz opened its first battery-recycling plant in Germany. The new plant will use an "integrated mechanical-hydrometallurgical" approach to recycling electric vehicle batteries and expects to recover more than 96 percent of the valuable minerals and metals used in EV batteries.
"Mercedes-Benz has set itself the goal of building the most desirable cars in a sustainable way. As a pioneer in automotive engineering, Europe's first integrated mechanical-hydrometallurgical battery recycling factory marks a key milestone toward enhancing raw-materials sustainability," said Ola Källenius, chairman of the board of management Mercedes-Benz Group. "Together with our partners from industry and science, we are sending a strong signal of innovative strength for sustainable electric mobility and value creation in Germany and Europe."
The plant, which is located in Kuppenheim, Germany, shreds the battery modules then uses a mechanical process to separate plastics, copper, aluminum, and iron. The resulting "black mass" is then subjected to a hydrometallurgical process that extracts the cobalt, nickel, and lithium. The plant runs entirely on electricity generated by solar panels and has an annual capacity of 2,756 tons (2,500 tonnes). While this is not especially high, Mercedes says it will use the knowledge it gains to scale up volumes over time.
The plant, which is located in Kuppenheim, Germany, shreds the battery modules then uses a mechanical process to separate plastics, copper, aluminum, and iron. The resulting "black mass" is then subjected to a hydrometallurgical process that extracts the cobalt, nickel, and lithium. The plant runs entirely on electricity generated by solar panels and has an annual capacity of 2,756 tons (2,500 tonnes). While this is not especially high, Mercedes says it will use the knowledge it gains to scale up volumes over time.
A new report by congressional Republicans asserts that partnerships between the U.S. and China at universities over the past decade have allowed hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding to aid Beijing in developing critical technology that could be used for military purposes.
Partnerships between the U.S. and China at universities over the past decade have allowed hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding to aid Beijing in developing critical technology that could be used for military purposes, congressional Republicans asserted in a new report.
The report said U.S. tax dollars have contributed to China’s technological advancement and military modernization when American researchers worked with their Chinese peers in areas such as hypersonic weapons, artificial intelligence, nuclear technology and semiconductor technology.
Officials said the U.S. Geological Survey study determined that the Smackover Formation has between 5 and 19 million tons of product. The study’s authors said the ability to meet nine times the global demand was made using the 5 million ton estimate, the low end of the potential, provided it is commercially recoverable.
The Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment’s Office of State Geologist collaborated on the project to investigate underground brine deposits.
Officials said lithium is growing in importance globally as a critical element in batteries as the world transitions from fossil fuels to electric and hybrid vehicles. The study’s authors said that the U.S. imports more than 25% of its lithium.
Hydrologist and principal researcher for the study, Katherine Knierim, said this was a first-time estimate of Arkansas lithium reserves.
“Our research was able to estimate total lithium present in the southwestern portion of the Smackover in Arkansas for the first time,” Kirrium said. “We estimate there is enough dissolved lithium present in that region to replace U.S. imports of lithium and more.”
NFL executive Gary Brantley told The Associated Press the league will test Sony’s Hawk-Eye technology during some preseason games. The system most likely wouldn’t be ready for full implementation until next season, though it could happen sooner.
“We’re in the installation phase for all of our stadiums, really getting them calibrated and up to date,” said Brantley, the NFL’s senior vice president and chief information officer. “We’re just really getting to a place where this system is as accurate as possible and really calibrating across our multiple stadiums. ... We have multiple stadiums with multiple dimensions inside of those stadiums with different age. So we’re really just going through the installation of putting in the infrastructure and making sure these cameras are installed.”
Sony, which was named the NFL’s official technology partner on Wednesday, has expanded its sports technology through Hawk-Eye Innovations to support officiating and the development of on-field and sideline technologies, including a new coach’s sideline headset that will debut in 2025.
Its Hawk-Eye tracking services for line-to-gain measurement adds cameras to stadiums to track players, officials and the ball. The optimal tracking system notifies officials instantly if a first down was gained after the ball is spotted by hand.
In the aftermath of World ⇪ II×, amid Japan's devastated economy and uncertain future, two remarkable entrepreneurs would plant the seeds of what would become one of the world's most influential technology companies.
Masaru Ibuka and Akio Morita founded Tokyo Tsushin Kogyo (Tokyo telecommunications Engineering Corporation) in May 1946, with an initial capital of ¥190,000 and just 20 employees. The company first operated from a damaged department store building in Tokyo's Shirokiya district, where they began by repairing radios and building basic electrical equipment.
Ibuka and Morita's partnership was founded on a shared vision that went far beyond mere profit-making. Their original prospectus declared their intention to "establish an ideal factory that stresses a spirit of freedom and open-mindedness, and where engineers with sincere motivation can exercise their technological skills to the highest level." This philosophical foundation would prove crucial to Sony's future success and innovation-driven culture.
The company's first original product was an electric rice cooker, which, unfortunately, was commercially unsuccessful due to inconsistent cooking results. However, this early failure didn't deter the founders. In 1950, they achieved their first significant breakthrough by successfully developing Japan's first tape recorder, the Type-G. While primitive by today's standards, this device marked the beginning of Sony's journey into consumer electronics.
In 1955, the company made a decisive move by licensing transistor technology from Western Electric. This decision would prove transformative, leading to the development of Japan's first transistor radio in 1955, the TR-55. Two years later, they introduced the TR-63, the world's first pocket-sized transistor radio, which became a massive international success and established Sony's reputation for innovation.
The company officially adopted the name "Sony" in 1958, derived from the Latin word "sonus" (sound) and the English slang term "sonny," suggesting young spirit and energy. This rebranding reflected the company's global ambitions and its desire to break free from traditional Japanese corporate naming conventions.
The 1960s marked Sony's emergence as a true technological pioneer. In 1960, they produced the world's first direct-view portable television, the TV8-301. This period also saw Sony establishing itself in the United States, becoming the first Japanese company to list shares on the New York ⇪ Exchange× in 1970.
Perhaps the most significant development of this era was Sony's invention of the Trinitron television technology in 1968. The Trinitron's superior picture quality revolutionized television displays and would remain industry-leading technology for decades. The innovation earned Sony its first Emmy Award in 1973, marking the beginning of numerous technical accolades the company would receive.
During this period, Sony also made crucial advances in recording technology. In 1963, they introduced the first consumer-grade video tape recorder, and in 1965, they launched the first home video tape recorder. These innovations laid the groundwork for Sony's later dominance in both professional and consumer video equipment.
The 1970s brought further expansion and innovation. Sony entered the musicbusiness through a joint venture with CBS Records, establishing CBS/Sony Records (now Sony Music Entertainment) in 1968. This move would later prove crucial in Sony's development of the CD format and its eventual expansion into entertainment content.
The Walkman Era and Digital Revolution (1979-1989)
On July 1, 1979, Sony launched a product that would revolutionize how people consume music: the Walkman. The TPS-L2, the first Walkman model, was initially met with skepticism from retailers who doubted consumers would want to listen to music while walking. However, the Walkman quickly became a global cultural phenomenon, selling over 200 million units in various formats over the next 30 years. It transformed music listening into a personal, portable experience and established Sony as a company that could create entirely new product categories.
The 1980s saw Sony continue its innovation in consumer electronics while also expanding into new territories. In 1982, Sony and Philips jointly launched the Compact Disc (CD) format, marking the beginning of the digital audio revolution. The success of the CD format demonstrated Sony's ability to not only create new technologies but also to establish industry standards.
In 1985, Sony launched the first consumer camcorder to use 8mm video format, further consolidating its position in the video market. The company also continued to innovate in professional broadcasting equipment, becoming a major supplier to television networks worldwide.
Entertainment Empire and Digital Transformation (1989-2000)
The late 1980s and 1990s marked Sony's transformation from a pure electronics company into a global entertainment conglomerate. In 1989, Sony made headlines by acquiring Columbia Pictures Entertainment for $3.4 billion, creating Sony Pictures Entertainment. This bold move, though initially criticized as overpriced, demonstrated Sony's strategic vision of uniting hardware and content.
The 1990s saw Sony continue its expansion in entertainment while maintaining its innovation in electronics. In 1994, Sony computer Entertainment launched the PlayStation, which would become one of the company's most successful products ever. The PlayStation's success established Sony as a major player in the gaming industry and demonstrated the company's ability to create new revenue streams through hardware-software integration.
During this period, Sony also faced increasing competition in its traditional electronics markets, particularly from other Asian manufacturers. The company responded by focusing on high-end products and continuing to invest in research and development. This strategy led to innovations like the VAIO computer line, launched in 1996, which attempted to bridge the gap between consumer electronics and personal computing.
The turn of the millennium brought new challenges for Sony. The rise of digital technology and the Internet began disrupting traditional consumer electronics business models. The company's television business, once a cornerstone of its success, began facing fierce competition from Korean manufacturers like Samsung and LG.
However, Sony continued to find success in other areas. The PlayStation 2, launched in 2000, became the best-selling video game console of aLL time, with over 155 million units sold. The company's image sensor business, which supplies components for smartphones and digital cameras, emerged as a major profit center.
The period also saw Sony wrestling with the challenges of digital music distribution. While the company had dominated portable music with the Walkman, it struggled to adapt to the MP3 era, losing ground to Apple's iPod. This transition illustrated the challenges traditional electronics companies faced in the digital age.
Under the leadership of Kazuo Hirai (2012-2018) and then Kenichiro Yoshida (2018-present), Sony underwent significant restructuring to focus on its most profitable areas. The company sold its VAIO PC business, spun off its television division into a separate subsidiary, and invested heavily in image sensors, gaming, and entertainment content.
The PlayStation 4, launched in 2013, proved another massive success, selling over 110 million units and helping to strengthen Sony's gaming division. The PlayStation 5, released in 2020, continued this success despite launch challenges during the global pandemic.
Sony's image sensor business has become increasingly important, supplying components to major smartphone manufacturers including Apple and Samsung. The company has also maintained its strong position in professional video and audio equipment, digital cameras, and home entertainment.
Throughout its history, Sony has maintained a culture of innovation that traces back to its founders' original vision. The company's success has often come from its willingness to take risks on new technologies and markets, even when doing so meant competing with its own existing products.
Several key principles have guided Sony's approach to innovation:
Consumer Focus: Sony has consistently prioritized understanding and meeting consumer needs, often creating products that consumers didn't yet know they wanted.
However, Sony's history suggests it has the capacity to reinvent itself and find new opportunities in changing markets. The company continues to invest in emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, robotics, and virtual reality, while maintaining its strong positions in gaming, entertainment, and image sensors.
Sony's journey from a small post-war startup to a global technology and entertainment leader illustrates the power of innovation, adaptability, and long-term vision. While the company has faced numerous challenges throughout its history, its ability to reinvent itself while maintaining its core values has enabled it to remain relevant and successful for over 75 years.
As technology continues to evolve and consumer preferences shift, Sony's commitment to innovation and quality positions it well for future challenges. The company's history demonstrates that success in technology and entertainment requires not just technical excellence, but also the ability to understand and shape how people interact with technology in their daily lives.
Canadian AI image startup Ideogram, founded last year by former AI researchers from Google Brain, has made a new for itself among AI creators with its text-to-image models that produce a wide range of styles from realistic to fantastical, and most impressively of all, highly accurate text baked into the image itself (something other leading image generators, including Midjourney, took a while to implement and still struggle to generate reliably).
Now, it’s getting in on the trend of expanding its web-based user workspace to include a new interactive, infinite Canvas where users can spread newly generated images out, compare them to older generations, resize and reorder them at will, and even combine multiple AI generated images into one new composite.
It also allows users to upload their own visuals. With this addition, Ideogram Canvas aims to streamline workflows and offer flexible tools to refine creative projects step-by-step.
But of course, Ideogram is far from the only AI company to go beyond the simple chatbot-style text entry interface.
Earlier this month, OpenAI launched an experimental new “Canvas” view for ChatGPT. Unlike Ideogram’s version, it doesn’t help with imagery. Rather, OpenAI’s version offers the ability to see text-based documents and code alongside the chat interface, and watch as their chat conversation changes the resulting output in the “Canvas” view to the right.
As the year draws to a close, the number of platforms emerging to help enterprises integrate AI agents into their technology stack shows no signs of slowing down.
One such platform is Asana, a work management platform that has already made significant strides in AI agent technology with its new AI Studio feature. AI Studio allows users to build workflows on Asana and deploy multiple custom AI agents directly on the workflow, without the need for coding. This innovative feature empowers teams to create their own AI agents, rather than relying on pre-built agents, allowing them to tailor their agents to specific workflows and tasks.
According to Alex Hood, Asana's chief product officer, the key innovation of AI Studio is its ability to empower teams to create their own AI agents, rather than relying on pre-built agents. This allows teams to automate tasks that are not critical to the workflow, but still require significant time and effort, freeing up time to focus on more important work. In today's work environment, employees are spending an average of 53% of their time on "busy work" – tasks that are not critical to the workflow, but still require significant time and effort. By automating these tasks with AI agents, teams can reduce the time spent on non-essential tasks and increase productivity.
Asana's AI Studio is built on the company's Work Graph data model, which tracks cross-functional work in an organization. This allows AI agents to be integrated seamlessly into existing workflows, rather than being bolted on as an afterthought. The Work Graph data model provides a comprehensive view of an organization's workflows, enabling AI agents to make informed decisions and automate tasks more effectively.
One of Asana's first customers to use AI Studio is Morningstar, a financial data company that used the platform to centralize IT project requests and streamline the workflow for evaluating new projects. According to Belinda Hardman, director of Program Management at Morningstar, the new workflow has eliminated the need for manual back-and-forth between teams, allowing the company to focus on more important tasks. The AI agents deployed on the workflow have automated tasks such as data entry, freeing up team members to focus on higher-value tasks.
The rise of AI agents is a significant trend in the technology industry, with Microsoft, Salesforce, and ServiceNow all announcing their own AI agent platforms in recent months. Microsoft is set to release a suite of AI agents for its Dynamics 365 service this week, further expanding the capabilities of AI agents in the enterprise. However, despite the proliferation of AI agents, many of these platforms still function as individual "islands" of agents, communicating only with other agents built on the same platform.
The next frontier for AI agents will be the ability to communicate with agents elsewhere, allowing for seamless integration across different workflows and systems. As more enterprises become comfortable with AI agents and begin deploying them into their organizations, this future may come soon enough. With AI Studio, Asana is poised to lead the way in this next phase of AI agent development, empowering teams to create their own custom AI agents and revolutionize the way they work.
A new report from AI data provider Appen reveals that companies are struggling to source and manage the high-quality data needed to power AI systems as artificial intelligence expands into enterprise operations.
The Growing Data Crisis in Enterprise AI Implementation: A Comprehensive Analysis
In a revealing examination of the artificial intelligence landscape, Appen's 2024 State of AI report has uncovered a paradoxical situation in enterprise AI adoption: while generative AI implementation is surging, organizations are simultaneously grappling with increasingly complex data challenges that threaten to undermine their AI initiatives' success. This comprehensive analysis delves into the key findings and implications of Appen's research, highlighting the critical challenges facing enterprises in their AI journey.
The past year has witnessed an unprecedented 17% increase in generative AI adoption across enterprises, marking a significant shift in how businesses approach automation and process optimization. This surge reflects the growing recognition of generative AI's potential to transform various aspects of business operations, from IT management to research and development. However, beneath this impressive growth lies a complex web of challenges that organizations must navigate.
The expansion of generative AI applications has introduced new complexities in data management that many organizations were unprepared to handle. As Si Chen, Appen's Head of Strategy, points out, the outputs of generative AI systems are inherently more diverse and unpredictable than traditional AI applications, making it increasingly difficult for organizations to define success metrics and ensure quality control.
One of the most significant trends emerging from this AI expansion is the growing emphasis on custom data collection. Organizations are moving away from generic, web-scraped datasets in favor of more tailored, specific data collections that better serve their unique use cases. This shift represents a fundamental change in how enterprises approach AI development, acknowledging that the one-size-fits-all approach to data collection is no longer sufficient for achieving meaningful results.
Perhaps the most concerning finding from Appen's report is the marked decline in both AI project deployments and their return on investment. Since 2021, there has been an 8.1% decrease in the percentage of AI projects reaching deployment stage, while projects showing meaningful ROI have dropped by 9.4%. These statistics paint a sobering picture of the current state of enterprise AI implementation.
The decline in successful deployments can be attributed to several factors:
Increasing Model Complexity: As organizations move beyond basic AI applications like image recognition and speech automation, they're attempting to implement more sophisticated solutions that require significantly more resources and expertise.
Data Quality Challenges: The complexity of newer AI models demands higher-quality data, which is becoming increasingly difficult to source and maintain.
Resource Constraints: Many organizations lack the technical resources and tools necessary to properly implement and maintain advanced AI systems.
The decrease in ROI is particularly troubling as it suggests that even when organizations successfully deploy AI projects, they're struggling to derive meaningful value from their investments. This trend could potentially slow future AI adoption as organizations become more cautious about committing resources to projects with uncertain returns.
The Data Quality Crisis
One of the most critical issues highlighted in the report is the significant decline in data accuracy, which has fallen by nearly 9% since 2021. This deterioration in data quality has far-reaching implications for AI development and deployment.
Several key factors are driving this decline in data quality:
Increased Model Complexity: Modern AI models, particularly generative AI systems, require more sophisticated and nuanced data than their predecessors.
Frequent Model Updates: With 86% of companies updating their models at least quarterly, maintaining consistent data quality has become increasingly challenging.
Scale of Data Requirements: The sheer volume of data needed for modern AI systems makes quality control more difficult.
Specialized Annotation Requirements: Advanced AI models often require more complex and precise data annotations, increasing the potential for errors.
The report reveals that nearly 90% of businesses nOW rely on external data providers to train and evaluate their models. This widespread dependence on third-party data sources introduces additional complexities in ensuring data quality and consistency across different providers and sources.
The Growing Data Management Challenge
The 10% year-over-year increase in data-related bottlenecks represents a significant obstacle to AI implementation. These bottlenecks manifest in various ways:
The report's emphasis on human-in-the-loop machine learning (with 80% of respondents highlighting its importance) underscores a crucial aspect of successful AI implementation. This finding challenges the notion that AI development is moving toward full automation and instead suggests that human expertise is becoming more vital as AI systems grow more complex.
Bias Mitigation: Human experts play a crucial role in identifying and addressing potential biases in AI systems, ensuring that models remain fair and ethical.
Quality Assurance: Human oversight is essential for verifying the accuracy and appropriateness of AI outputs, particularly in generative AI systems where outputs can be unpredictable.
Domain Expertise: Subject matter experts provide crucial context and validation for AI models, ensuring they align with real-world requirements and expectations.
Ethical Considerations: Human judgment is vital for ensuring AI systems adhere to ethical guidelines and societal values.
The findings from Appen's report have several important implications for organizations pursuing AI initiatives:
Short-term Considerations
Investment in Data Infrastructure: Organizations need to prioritize building robust data management infrastructure to address quality and bottleneck issues.
Resource Allocation: Companies must carefully balance their resources between AI development and data management efforts.
Quality Control Processes: Implementing stricter quality control measures for data collection and annotation is crucial.
As AI continues to evolve, several key trends and challenges are likely to emerge:
Emerging Challenges
Data Privacy and Regulation: As data privacy regulations become more stringent, organizations will need to adapt their data collection and management practices.
Scalability Issues: Managing data quality at scale will become increasingly challenging as AI applications grow more complex.
Resource Constraints: Organizations will need to find ways to balance the growing demand for high-quality data with limited resources.
The findings from Appen's 2024 State of AI report reveal a critical juncture in enterprise AI adoption. While the potential of AI, particularly generative AI, continues to drive increased adoption, organizations face significant challenges in managing the data requirements necessary for successful implementation. The decline in both deployment success rates and ROI, coupled with growing data quality issues and bottlenecks, suggests that organizations need to fundamentally rethink their approach to AI implementation.
Success in the future of enterprise AI will likely depend on organizations' ability to address these data challenges while maintaining the crucial balance between automated systems and human oversight. Those that can effectively navigate these challenges while maintaining high data quality standards and ethical considerations will be best positioned to realize the full potential of AI technologies.
The path forward requires a holistic approach that combines technological innovation with human expertise, robust data management practices, and strategic planning. Organizations must recognize that successful AI implementation is not just about the technology itself but about building and maintaining the entire ecosystem necessary to support it, with high-quality data at its core.
Stability AI Raises the Bar with Stable Diffusion 3.5: A Major Update for Text-to-Image Generative AI
Stability AI, a pioneer in the text-to-image generative AI space, has released a major update to its technology with the debut of Stable Diffusion 3.5. This new update aims to reclaim the company's leadership position in the market, which has been increasingly competitive with the emergence of rivals such as Black Forest Labs' Flux Pro, OpenAI's Dall-E, Ideogram, and Midjourney.
Stable Diffusion 3.5 introduces multiple model variants, each designed to cater to different user needs. The new models are highly customizable and can generate a wide range of different styles. The update includes three new models: Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large, Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large Turbo, and Stable Diffusion 3.5 Medium.
Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large is an 8 billion parameter model that offers the highest quality and prompt adherence in the series. This model is designed for users who require the highest level of image quality and precision. Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large Turbo is a distilled version of the large model, providing faster image generation while maintaining a high level of quality. This model is ideal for users who require rapid image generation without sacrificing quality. Stable Diffusion 3.5 Medium has 2.6 billion parameters and is optimized for edge computing deployments, making it suitable for users who require a balance between quality and computational resources.
The original release of Stable Diffusion 3 Medium in June was a less than ideal release. However, the lessons learned from that experience have helped inform and improve the new Stable Diffusion 3.5 updates. According to Hanno Basse, CTO of Stability AI, the company identified that several model and dataset choices made for the Stable Diffusion Large 8B model were not optimal for the smaller-sized Medium model.
"We did thorough analysis of these bottlenecks and innovated further on our architecture and training protocols on the Medium model to provide a better balance between the model size and the output quality," Basse explained. "This experience has allowed us to refine our approach and create a more robust and high-quality model."
Stability AI has taken advantage of several novel techniques to improve quality and performance in Stable Diffusion 3.5. One notable addition is the integration of Query-Key Normalization into the transformer blocks. This technique facilitates easier fine-tuning and further development of the models by end-users. This innovation enables users to adapt the models to their specific needs and applications.
Stability AI has also enhanced its Multimodal Diffusion Transformer MMDiT-X architecture, specifically for the medium model. MMDiT-X is able to help improve image quality and enhance multi-resolution generation capabilities. This architecture allows the model to generate images with a range of resolutions, from low to high, while maintaining a high level of quality.
Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large demonstrates superior prompt adherence compared to other models in the market. This is achieved through a combination of better dataset curation, captioning, and additional innovation in training protocols. Prompt adherence refers to the model's ability to accurately generate images that match the input prompt. This feature is essential for users who require precise control over the generated images.
Looking forward, Stability AI is planning on releasing a ControlNets capability for Stable Diffusion 3.5. ControlNets will provide more control for various professional use cases, such as upscaling an image while maintaining the overall colors or creating an image that follows a specific depth pattern. This feature will enable users to fine-tune the generated images to meet their specific requirements.
All three new Stable Diffusion 3.5 models are available under the Stability AI Community License, which is an open license that enables free non-commercial usage and free commercial usage for entities with annual revenue under $1 million. Stability AI has an enterprise license for larger deployments. The models are available via Stability AI's API as well as Hugging Face.
In conclusion, Stable Diffusion 3.5 represents a significant update to Stability AI's text-to-image generative AI technology. With its highly customizable models, improved quality, and novel techniques, Stability AI is poised to reclaim its leadership position in the market. The company's commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction has led to a major update that addresses the needs of users and sets a new standard for text-to-image generative AI.
Genmo Unveils Mochi 1: A Revolutionary Open-Source Model for Generating High-Quality Videos from Text Prompts
Genmo, a pioneering AIcompany focused on video generation, has announced the release of a research preview for Mochi 1, a groundbreaking open-source model that can generate high-quality videos from text prompts. This model is available under the permissive Apache 2.0 license, offering users free access to cutting-edge video generation capabilities that rival those of leading closed-source/proprietary rivals.
Mochi 1's performance is comparable to, or even exceeds, that of leading closed-source/proprietary rivals such as Runway's Gen-3 alpha, Luma AI's Dream Machine, Kuaishou's Kling, Minimax's Hailuo, and many others. The model's capabilities include:
High-fidelity motion: Mochi 1 excels at generating realistic motion, particularly with human subjects, with a level of detail that is unmatched in the industry.
Strong prompt adherence: The model follows detailed user instructions, allowing for precise control over characters, settings, and actions in generated videos, ensuring that the output is exactly what the user intended.
Improved motion quality: Mochi 1's architecture focuses on visual reasoning, with four times the parameters dedicated to processing video data as compared to text, resulting in a significant improvement in motion quality.
Advancements in Video Generation
Mochi 1 brings several significant advancements to the field of video generation, including:
High-fidelity motion: Mochi 1's ability to generate realistic motion, particularly with human subjects, is a major breakthrough in the field of video generation.
Strong prompt adherence: The model's ability to follow detailed user instructions ensures that the output is exactly what the user intended, making it an ideal solution for a wide range of applications.
Improved motion quality: Mochi 1's architecture focuses on visual reasoning, resulting in a significant improvement in motion quality.
Genmo has positioned Mochi 1 as a solution that narrows the gap between open and closed video generation models. By making the model open-source, Genmo aims to democratize video generation and put it in the hands of as many people as possible, allowing researchers, developers, and product teams to push the boundaries of video generation technologies and find new applications in entertainment, advertising, and education.
In tandem with the Mochi 1 preview, Genmo announced it has raised a $28.4 million Series A funding round, led by NEA, with additional participation from several other investors. The company plans to use this funding to further develop its technology and expand its team, with plans to release Mochi 1 HD later this year, which will support 720p resolution and offer even greater motion fidelity.
As a preview, Mochi 1 still has some limitations, including:
Only 480p resolution support
Minor visual distortions in edge cases involving complex motion
Struggles with animated content
However, Genmo plans to address these limitations in future updates, with the goal of releasing a full-fledged version of Mochi 1 that supports higher resolutions and offers even greater motion fidelity.
Mochi 1's release opens up possibilities for various industries, including:
Researchers: Pushing the boundaries of video generation technologies and exploring new applications in fields such as computer vision, robotics, and autonomous systems.
Developers and product teams: Finding new applications in entertainment, advertising, and education, such as generating synthetic data for training AI models, creating interactive stories, and developing immersive experiences.
Robotics and autonomous systems: Generating synthetic data for training AI models, allowing for more realistic and varied training data, and enabling more accurate and robust decision-making.
Genmo's Mochi 1 is a groundbreaking open-source model that has the potential to revolutionize the field of video generation. With its high-fidelity motion and strong prompt adherence, Mochi 1 is poised to democratize video generation and put it in the hands of as many people as possible. As Genmo continues to develop and refine its technology, we can expect to see even more exciting applications and use cases emerge, further solidifying its position as a leader in the field of video generation.
Qatar Airways has launched Starlink in-flight services to its first aircraft, a Boeing 777 that traveled from Doha to London on Tuesday, October 22, 2024. To celebrate the occasion, the airline featured an in-flight video call with SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, who promised that the satellite internet service would only get better.
As noted by Qatar Airways in a press release, the company is progressing faster than expected in its efforts to equip its fleet with Starlink. Initially, Qatar Airways was looking to roll out three Starlink-equipped aircraft by the end of 2024. According to the airline, it is now on track to introduce 12 Starlink-equipped Boeing 777-300s by the end of the year.
Qatar Airways has also committed to introduce Starlink to its entire Boeing 777 fleet in 2025, one year ahead of schedule. The airline expects to introduce Starlink to its Airbus A350 fleet in Summer 2025. This should effectively make Qatar Airways one of the world’s best airlines when it comes to in-flight connectivity.
In a promotional video for the service, Qatar Airways featured a video call with SpaceX CEO Elon Musk during the airline’s inaugural Starlink flight. As per Musk in the video, “Over time, you’ll find it just gets better and better. This is the minimum, and it only gets better from here.”
The company has stopped any new development of the service, called Amazon Today, and will begin to wind it down, according to people familiar with the matter.
Amazon is shutting down a service that offers same-day delivery from mall and brick-and-mortar retailers, CNBC has learned.
Amazon has made the decision to discontinue its same-day delivery service from brick-and-mortar retailers, known as Amazon Today, which was launched in 2022. The service allowed retailers who sell on Amazon to offer speedy delivery from their physical stores and shopping malls in select cities. According to sources, Amazon has stopped developing the service and will begin winding it down, with the majority of the program set to be shut down by December 2. Select retail partners will be able to continue fulfilling orders through January 24.
Amazon Today was a unique service that allowed customers to receive products from their favorite retailers in a matter of hours. The service was part of Amazon's push to get online purchases to customers' doorsteps at faster speeds, competing with other companies like Instacart and DoorDash. The service had signed up several retailers, including Office Depot, Staples, Petco, PacSun, GNC, and Fabletics.
However, the service was reportedly more costly than traditional delivery routes, where Flex drivers can fill their cars with packages from an Amazon warehouse. Amazon Today routes, which the company calls "retail deliveries," didn't usually fill up a driver's trunk, making the program less worthwhile for the Flex contractors. This, combined with the high costs of operating the service, likely made it a less viable option for Amazon in the long run.
The closure of Amazon Today will result in a small number of layoffs, with employees being provided with severance. Others will be transitioned to other positions within the company. The service had around 300 employees working on it.
Amazon's decision to shut down Amazon Today is part of the company's efforts to cut costs and prioritize its investments. Since taking over as CEO in 2022, Andy Jassy has been focused on reducing costs and streamlining the company's operations. This has included laying off over 27,000 employees, axing several projects, and taking a harder line on the company's unproven and costlier bets.
Despite the discontinuation of Amazon Today, the company continues to prioritize fast delivery. Amazon is adding more facilities focused on same-day deliveries and is working with its retail partners to ensure a smooth transition. The company will also continue to invest in fast delivery options.
The decision to shut down Amazon Today comes as a surprise, as the company was in the process of onboarding other retailers and pitching the service to more retailers at a recent conference. However, the service's high costs and lack of efficiency likely made it a less viable option for Amazon in the long run.
Amazon Today, also known as "Today's Deals" or "Deals of the Day," is a section on Amazon's website that features limited-time discounts and promotions on various products. Here's a brief history of Amazon and the evolution of Amazon Today:
Early Days (1994-1997)
Amazon was founded in 1994 by Jeff Bezos as an online bookstore called Cadabra, Inc. The name was later changed to (link unavailable), Inc. in 1995.
In 1997, Amazon went public with an initial public offering (IPO) that raised $54 million.
Amazon expanded beyond books to sell other products, such as CDs, videos, and software.
In 2000, Amazon launched its marketplace platform, allowing third-party sellers to list and sell products.
Introduction of Deals (2006-2011)
In 2006, Amazon introduced the "Gold Box" feature, which offered limited-time deals on various products.
In 2011, Amazon launched "Lightning Deals" and "Deal of the Day" sections, which became the foundation for Amazon Today.
In 2012, Amazon consolidated its deal sections into a single page called "Today's Deals."
Amazon Today now features various deal types, including:
Deal of the Day (24-hour deals)
Lightning Deals (limited-time deals)
Savings and Sales
Prime Deals (exclusive discounts for Prime members)
Holiday-specific deals (e.g., Black Friday, Cyber Monday)
Key Features
Limited-time offers: Deals are available for a short period, creating a sense of urgency.
Variety of products: Discounts are offered across various categories, from electronics to home goods.
Exclusive deals: Prime members receive additional discounts and early access to deals.
Amazon Today drives sales and increases customer engagement.
It helps clear inventory, making room for new products.
The section promotes competition among sellers, encouraging price reductions.
Amazon Today has become a key feature of the Amazon shopping experience, offering customers significant savings and encouraging repeat business.
Near Space Labs, a Brooklyn, New York-based startup, invented stratospheric, AI-enabled robotic cameras that fly on weather balloons.
The task for insurance adjusters is enormous in the wake of back to back hurricanes Helene and Milton, which caused catastrophic damage across several southern states.
In the aftermath of back-to-back hurricanes Helene and Milton, insurance adjusters are facing an unprecedented challenge. For decades, they have relied on traditional methods to assess property damage, including flying small airplanes equipped with high-resolution cameras to view damage to roofs, structures, and neighborhoods.
However, a new wave of technology is poised to modernize and accelerate this process, using drones, artificial intelligence, and weather balloons to provide faster and more accurate assessments.
Near space Labs, a Brooklyn-based startup, has developed a revolutionary system called Swifts, which uses stratospheric, AI-enabled robotic cameras that fly on weather balloons. These balloons, which fly twice as high as airplanes cruise, provide high-resolution imagery over thousands of square miles, capturing what 800,000 drones would in a single flight. This means that insurance companies can access critical information immediately after a disaster, assess damage, and pay out claims within days instead of weeks and months.
The SWIFT system offers several advantages over traditional methods. For one, it is faster, allowing insurance companies to respond quickly to disasters and provide relief to affected individuals and communities. Additionally, Swifts are more cost-effective, as they can capture vast amounts of data in a single flight, reducing the need for multiple flights and personnel. Finally, the system is more accurate, as the high-resolution imagery provides a detailed and comprehensive view of damage.
While Swifts is designed to accelerate the claims process after natural disasters, it also has the potential to revolutionize the way insurance companies assess and pricerisk. By providing a cheap and abundant source of imagery, Swifts can feed into customer AI datasets, allowing for more accurate risk analysis and pricing. This is especially attractive to investors, who see the potential for significant returns.
Near Space Labs has already raised $24 million in funding from investors such as Third Sphere, Crosslink capital, Wireframe Ventures, IAG Firemark Ventures, Toyota Ventures, and Leadout Capital. The company has flown over 1,000 commercial missions to assess risk and is ramping up its operations for disaster response. By next year, Near Space Labs plans to have scaled its operations to the point where it can respond immediately to major climate disaster events.
The introduction of Swifts and other new technologies is poised to transform the insurance adjusting process. With its ability to provide fast, accurate, and cost-effective assessments, Swifts has the potential to revolutionize the way insurance companies respond to natural disasters. As the industry continues to evolve, it is likely that we will see even more innovative solutions emerge, further accelerating the claims process and providing relief to those affected by disasters.
In the future, we can expect to see even more advanced technologies being integrated into the insurance adjusting process. For example, the use of machine learningalgorithms to analyze data from Swifts and other sources, allowing for even more accurate risk assessments and pricing. Additionally, the integration of other technologies such as satellite imaging and IoT sensors will provide even more comprehensive views of damage and risk.
Overall, the introduction of Swifts and other new technologies is poised to transform the insurance adjusting process, providing faster, more accurate, and more cost-effective assessments of damage and risk. As the industry continues to evolve, it is likely that we will see even more innovative solutions emerge, further accelerating the claims process and providing relief to those affected by disasters.
Salesforce has become more profitable in the past few years, but one activist investor says there's more for the software company to do.
Salesforce shares jumped 98% in 2023 in part after the business software maker increased its adjusted operating margin after Starboard Value and other activist investors raised concerns about the company's financial performance. Starboard now sees more room for improvement.
Salesforce Shares Soar 98% in 2023 as Activist Investors Push for Efficiency and Profitability
In a remarkable turnaround, Salesforce shares have jumped a staggering 98% in 2023, driven in part by the company's efforts to improve its financial performance and address concerns raised by activist investors. Starboard Value, a prominent activist firm, has been instrumental in pushing Salesforce to increase its adjusted operating margin, and its efforts have yielded significant results.
The Rule of 40, which suggests that a company's revenuegrowth rate and profit margin should add up to at least 40%, has become a widely accepted benchmark in the software industry.
This metric has gained traction in recent years as investors have become increasingly concerned about the impact of rising interest rates on software companies. Starboard Value has been a vocal proponent of the Rule of 40, arguing that Salesforce, despite its dominance in the customer relationship management (CRM) software market, has historically prioritized growth over profitability.
Starboard Value first revealed its holding in Salesforce in 2022, and the company's subsequent efforts to improve its financial performance have been impressive. Salesforce has taken significant steps to cut costs, including cutting thousands of employees, accelerating its timeline for widening its adjusted operating margin, and making significant changes to its cost structure. As a result, the company's adjusted operating margin has improved, and its shares have responded accordingly.
In a recent presentation, Starboard Value outlined its vision for Salesforce's future, highlighting the company's potential to become even more efficient and profitable. The Firm noted that other large software companies, such as Adobe, Intuit, Microsoft, Oracle, SAP, ServiceNow, and Workday, spend less on sales and marketing and general and administrative costs as a percentage of revenue, and argued that Salesforce can catch up. Starboard also called on Salesforce to commit to adhering to the Rule of 50 by the 2028 fiscal year, and laid out two scenarios that would achieve this goal.
Starboard Value also highlighted the potential of Agentforce, a technology for automating customer interactions that Salesforce discussed at its Dreamforce conference in September. The firm believes that Agentforce has the potential to boost revenue growth and drive further efficiency gains.
In response to Starboard's presentation, a Salesforce spokesperson told CNBC that the company "appreciates feedback and dialogue with our investor base" and that Starboard "continues to be a constructive shareholder in our conversations." Despite the positive news, Salesforce shares slipped 1% during Tuesday's trading session.
The remarkable turnaround in Salesforce's shares in 2023 is a testament to the power of activist investors in driving change and improving financial performance. Starboard Value's efforts have pushed Salesforce to prioritize efficiency and profitability, and the company's results have responded accordingly. As the software industry continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how Salesforce and other companies respond to the challenges and opportunities presented by the Rule of 40 and other metrics.
Some key statistics that highlight Salesforce's progress include:
Adjusted operating margin: Salesforce's adjusted operating margin has improved significantly, from 10.5% in 2022 to 14.5% in 2023.
Revenue growth: Salesforce's revenue growth rate has slowed, but the company's efforts to improve its financial performance have helped to stabilize its growth.
Cost structure: Salesforce has made significant changes to its cost structure, including cutting thousands of employees and reducing its sales and marketing expenses.
Agentforce: Salesforce's Agentforce technology has the potential to boost revenue growth and drive further efficiency gains.
Overall, the remarkable turnaround in Salesforce's shares in 2023 is a testament to the power of activist investors in driving change and improving financial performance. As the software industry continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how Salesforce and other companies respond to the challenges and opportunities presented by the Rule of 40 and other metrics.
Federal regulators have cleared the path for electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft to share U.S. airspace with planes and helicopters — a win for the burgeoning industry and a timely decision for startups like Joby Aviation and Archer Aviation that are expected to launch air taxi networks commercially in 2025.
The Federal Aviation Administration published Tuesday its much-anticipated final ruling on the integration of “powered-lift” vehicles, a category the FAA revived two years ago to accommodate eVTOLs and one that describes aircraft that can take off and land like helicopters but then transition to forward flight like airplanes.
“Powered-lift aircraft are the first new category of aircraft in nearly 80 years and this historic rule will pave the way for accommodating wide-scale Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) operations in the future,” FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker said in a statement. Whitaker announced the rule during the NBAA-Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition in Las Vegas.
The ruling also contains guidelines for pilot training and clarifies operating rules. For example, aside from a new type of powered-lift pilot certification, the ruling includes an expanded ability for operators to train and qualify pilots using flight simulation training devices.
The operating rules are tailored specifically to powered-lift vehicles and, as such, allow eVTOLs the flexibility to switch between helicopter and airplane rules as needed.
Joby, Archer, Beta Technologies, and Wisk Aero — which are building aircraft for urban air taxi networks, defense, cargo, and medical logistics — have worked closely with the FAA since 2022 to develop this new set of rules for training, operations, and maintenance.
“[The ruling] aligns with all the hopes that we had been designing for,” Greg Bowles, head of government affairs at Joby Aviation, told TechCrunch. “So the way that we’ve designed the operating system, the cockpit we’ve designed, the way we’ve designed for energy reserves, all align with the FAA rule.”
Bowles also noted that Joby will be able to begin commercial operations once it receives its type certification from the FAA, which means the design of the startup’s aircraft and other major aircraft components meet required safety and airworthiness standards. Joby is in the fourth of five stages of type certification, and recently received a $500 million capital injection from Toyota to help it get across the finish line.
Cement startup Furno will receive a $20 million grant from the Department of Energy, funds that will help the company build up to eight micro-kilns at a concrete plant in Chicago.
Chicago might not seem like the sort of place where cement is hard to come by. But with the nearest kiln 100 miles away, concrete companies have to pay handsomely for the stuff to keep up with demand. Furno’s micro-kilns promise to reduce pollution and eliminate transportation costs.
Furno’s partner in the project, Ozinga, currently buys 60,000 tons of cement annually from suppliers to use at its Chinatown Yard on Chicago’s south side. There, it blends the binder with aggregate to produce concrete that’s used in construction projects throughout the city.
Most cement plants are massive installations, requiring sprawling logistical networks to get the material to where it’s needed. But the new Furno project will be limited to the amount that Ozinga uses.
“We’ve sized our facility, the project, to that,” Furno founder and CEO Gurinder Nagra told TechCrunch. Nagra will be appearing onstage at TechCrunch Disrupt 2024 in San Francisco on October 28. “They have access to the virgin limestone as well as the recycled material already.”
To power the eight kilns that Mountain View-based Furno will be installing, Ozinga might use biogas, a form of methane produced by decomposing organic matter. That, along with the use of recycled material, stands to significantly reduce the climate impact of cement made at the facility.
Cement is one of the most polluting industries on the planet, generating 8% of all carbon pollution. It’s created when minerals that contain calcium, like limestone, are cooked under intense heat. This process, known as calcination, produces cement along with large amounts of carbon dioxide, over and above the pollution released by any fossil fuels that are used to generate the necessary heat. Every metric ton of cement produces 600 kilograms of carbon pollution.
Most cement today is produced in massive rotary kilns, which are essentially long, horizontal tubes through which heat and raw materials flow. They’re inefficient, with only about 30% of the heat being used for calcination; the rest is wasted.
Furno shrinks the kiln and turns it upright, a twist that allows more of the heat to participate in the calcination reaction, reducing fossil fuel pollution by at least 70% and eliminating it entirely when it’s fired using hydrogen.
The startup raised a $6.5 million seed round in March, TechCrunch exclusively reported. The federal grant will pay for a significant portion of the project. For the remainder, and to cover other expenses, Furno will be raising a Series A round starting in early 2025, said Kiersten Jakobsen, Furno’s head of marketing.
The deal with Ozinga, which Furno is calling Project Oz — a nod to both the project partner and to Nagra’s home country — will create 50 construction jobs and 30 permanent jobs. The Department of Energy was particularly interested in that statistic, Jakobsen said. “There were some coal plant closures, and the DOE grant is to bring back jobs for those people who had been displaced,” she said.
Furno wasn’t the only cement startup to receive an award from the Department of Energy. Terra CO2, which is based in Golden, Colorado, received $52.6 million to build a new manufacturing facility outside of Salt Lake City. The plant will crank out a cement replacement that’s significantly less polluting than the existing Portland cement.
What do the actor Kevin Bacon, the novelist Kazuo Ishiguro, the musician Robert Smith, and the journalist and historian Sidney Blumenthal have in common? They are among the 11,500 signatories of a petition against unlicensed use of creative works for AI training.
“The unlicensed use of creative works for training generative AI is a major, unjust threat to the livelihoods of the people behind those works, and must not be permitted,” signatories warn.
The petition comes at a time when lawmakers are considering how to respond to data being scraped for generative AI development. Last week, the Financial Times reported the U.K. government plans to consult on an “opt out” model for AI content scraping.
Per The Guardian, the petition was organized by British composer Ed Newton-Rex, a former exec at Stability AI, who said creatives are exceptionally worried. He accuses AI companies of “dehumanizing” people’s art and work by calling it “training data.”
3D printing objects using metal is a well-established technique, but it tends to be too complex, expensive, or imprecise to match traditional methods at scale. Armed with $14 million from Nvidia and Boeing, Freeform aims to change that by building a new metal additive printing process that it says changes the game — and yes, there’s an AI angle, too.
Co-founders Erik Palitsch (CEO) and TJ Ronacher (president) both worked at SpaceX, where they were principal architect and lead analyst, respectively, of the Merlin engines and other programs. While there, they saw the potential of 3D printing parts using metal, but also experienced the method’s shortcomings firsthand.
“We saw the potential of metal printing; it has the potential to transform basically any industry that makes metal things. But adoption has been slow and success has been marginal at best,” said Palitsch. “Why is it not practical to use at scale? Fundamentally, because of three things: crappy and inconsistent quality; speed — commercial printers are very slow; and cost — the price for these printers is astronomical.”
They concluded that if they could operationalize the process to provide a printing service rather than sell a printer, they could crack the whole thing wide open. So they joined up with Tasso Lappas, former CTO of Velo3D, to start Freeform.
The primary mistake companies were making was using the likes of CNC machines, which are commonly used in traditional manufacturing, as a model for the metal-printing business. In that case, you sell the machine and its software, and make it work with whatever shapes and processes you use. But metal additive is different, Palitsch said.
“The way these things work today is they’re ‘open loop’ — they’re basically playing back a file,” he explained. “They needed to be smarter than that, because the process by which you melt metal powder with a laser is extremely complicated, and in a way infinitely variable.”
“But when you decide you’re not going to build and package a printer into a box, when you have the freedom to build an automated factory from clean sheet, there’s a lot you can do,” Palitsch said.
Their solution is to provide printing as a service using a closed-loop process in a custom machine that monitors the print on a microsecond scale, adjusting various factors to achieve the kind of print that is expected at a workplace like SpaceX.
“We have high-speed computer vision feedback on our system that runs at microsecond scale, and all that data is being processed on state of the art FPGAs and GPUs. We had to build this whole stack ourselves out of stuff that’s only become available in the last few years,” said Palitsch.
The closed-loop system with real-time monitoring mitigates the quality issues while still allowing speedy printing of complex geometries. And by operating as a printing service, they keep the business model simple.
But making that part of the system work required the second tech breakthrough: a machine-learning model fast enough and expert enough to actually perform that monitoring.
“Erik and TJ lived this and reached the same conclusions, that this industry required a level of compute and sensors that no one had ever deployed before,” said Lappas.
“To properly understand how to control the process, we needed datasets working at timescales that no one had. So we started building a state of the art telemetry system, a platform that would collect curated, controlled, almost self-labeled datasets.”
“There’s a lot we have in common with generative models, and a lot we don’t. But one thing that’s absolutely different is the latency,” Lappas explained. “Our inference needs to happen in microseconds so that we can close the loop on these processes.” With no off-the-shelf solution available for the data or the compute, they had to build the GPU/FPGA “AI on steroids” combo from scratch.
A consequential side effect: Freeform is “building the largest metal additive dataset in the world — that’s why companies like Boeing are coming to us,” said Palitsch. “We have this fundamental, core data collection and processing ability no one else has.”
Add that to the fundamental benefits of printing-based manufacturing, like the agility and versatility of factories, and it makes a pretty compelling business case.
Boeing’s AE Ventures and Nvidia invested a total of $14 million, though they declined to break that down further. Each company’s investment comes with perks: Nvidia gives them access to H100s and other compute hardware, while Boeing will shepherd them through the supplier qualification process and likely buy a bunch of parts. (Freeform will also join Nvidia’s Inception startup program.)
Palitsch said they have customers in the aerospace, automotive, industrial, and energy sectors, “the whole nine.” They declined to put any on the record, but did mention they’re making everything from rocket engine components to exhaust parts for Formula 1 cars. They plan to use the money to scale up, build out their next generation of (much faster) printers, and hire up to around 55 people total over the next year.
He admitted that their approach has taken time to grow from theory to reality, but that their methodical, technical approach is also what enabled their success.
“It was a slow transition,” Palitch said. “But I look back at it… with six people, we built, from scratch, the fastest laser melting platform on the planet, and the hardware and software for it. We did things people said you couldn’t do.”
Meta is expanding tests of facial recognition as an anti-scam measure to combat celebrity scam ads and more broadly, the Facebook owner announced Monday.
Monika Bickert, Meta’s VP of content policy, wrote in a blog post that some of the tests aim to bolster its existing anti-scam measures, such as the automated scans (using machine learning classifiers) run as part of its ad review system, to make it harder for fraudsters to fly under its radar and dupe Facebook and Instagram users to click on bogus ads.
“Scammers often try to use images of public figures, such as content creators or celebrities, to bait people into engaging with ads that lead to scam websites where they are asked to share personal information or send money. This scheme, commonly called ‘celeb-bait,’ violates our policies and is bad for people that use our products,” she wrote.
“Of course, celebrities are featured in many legitimate ads. But because celeb-bait ads are often designed to look real, they’re not always easy to detect.”
The tests appear to be using facial recognition as a back-stop for checking ads flags as suspect by existing Meta systems when they contain the image of a public figure at risk of so-called “celeb-bait.”
“[W]e will try to use facial recognition technology to compare faces in the ad against the public figure’s Facebook and Instagram profile pictures,” Bickert wrote. “If we confirm a match and that the ad is a scam, we’ll block it.”
Meta claims the feature is not being used for any other purpose than for fighting scam ads. “We immediately delete any facial data generated from ads for this one-time comparison regardless of whether our system finds a match, and we don’t use it for any other purpose,” she said.
The company said early tests of the approach — with “a small group of celebrities and public figures” (it did not specify whom) — has shown “promising” results in improving the speed and efficacy of detecting and enforcing against this type of scam.
Meta also told TechCrunch it thinks the use of facial recognition would be effective for detecting deepfake scam ads, where generative AI has been used to produce imagery of famous people.
The social media giant has been accused for many years of failing to stop scammers misappropriating famous people’s faces in a bid to use its ad platform to shill scams like dubious crypto investments to unsuspecting users. So it’s interesting timing for Meta to be pushing facial recognition-based anti-fraud measures for this problem now, at a time when the company is simultaneously trying to grab as much user data as it can to train its commercial AI models (as part of the wider industry-wide scramble to build out generative AI tools).
In the coming weeks Meta said it will start displaying in-app notifications to a larger group of public figures who’ve been hit by celeb-bait — letting them know they’re being enrolled in the system.
Meta is also testing use of facial recognition for spotting celebrity imposer accounts — for example, where scammers seek to impersonate public figures on the platform in order to expand their opportunities for fraud — again by using AI to compare profile pictures on a suspicious account against a public figure’s Facebook and Instagram profile pictures.
Additionally, Meta has announced that it’s trialing the use of facial recognition applied to video selfies to enable faster account unlocking for people who have been locked out of their Facebook/Instagram accounts after they’ve been taken over by scammers (such as if a person were tricked into handing over their passwords).
This looks intended to appeal to users by promoting the apparent utility of facial recognition tech for identity verification — with Meta implying it will be a quicker and easier way to regain account access than uploading an image of a government-issued ID (which is the usual route for unlocking access access now).
“Video selfie verification expands on the options for people to regain account access, only takes a minute to complete and is the easiest way for people to verify their identity,” Bickert said. “While we know hackers will keep trying to exploit account recovery tools, this verification method will ultimately be harder for hackers to abuse than traditional document-based identity verification.”
The facial recognition-based video selfie identification method Meta is testing will require the user to upload a video selfie that will then be processed using facial recognition technology to compare the video against profile pictures on the account they’re trying to access.
Meta claims the method is similar to identity verification used to unlock a phone or access other apps, such as Apple’s Face ID on the iPhone. “As soon as someone uploads a video selfie, it will be encrypted and stored securely,” Bickert added. “It will never be visible on their profile, to friends, or to other people on Facebook or Instagram. We immediately delete any facial data generated after this comparison regardless of whether there’s a match or not.”
Conditioning users to upload and store a video selfie for ID verification could be one way for Meta to expand its offerings in the digital identity space — if enough users opt in to uploading their biometrics.
All these tests of facial recognition are being run globally, per Meta. However the company noted, rather conspicuously, that tests are not currently occurring in the U.K. or the European Union — where comprehensive data protection regulations apply. (In the specific case of biometrics for ID verification, the bloc’s data protection framework demands explicit consent from the individuals concerned for such a use case.)
Given this, Meta’s tests appear to fit within a wider PR strategy it has mounted in Europe in recent months to try to pressure local lawmakers to dilute citizens’ privacy protections. This time, the cause it’s invoking to press for unfettered data-processing-for-AI is not a (self-serving) notion of data diversity or claims of lost economic growth but the more straightforward goal of combating scammers.
“We are engaging with the U.K. regulator, policymakers, and other experts while testing moves forward,” Meta spokesman Andrew Devoy told TechCrunch. “We’ll continue to seek feedback from experts and make adjustments as the features evolve.”
However, while use of facial recognition for a narrow security purpose might be acceptable to some — and, indeed, might be possible for Meta to undertake under existing data protection rules — using people’s data to train commercial AI models is a whole other kettle of fish.
The Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses are the top selling product in 60% of all Ray-Ban stores throughout Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, according to Upload VR. The detail came from EssilorLuxottica CFO Stefano Grassi, who revealed during the eyewear giant’s earnings call last week that Ray-Ban Meta proved to be a significant driver for the company’s sales.
In Europe, Meta has yet to roll out multimodal AI features for its Ray-Ban smart glasses, citing a lack of clarity from regulators in the EU. The company says it’s committed to bringing all of its Meta AI features to Europe at some point, but the current lack of AI features doesn’t appear to be hindering Ray-Ban Meta’s sales in the region. It’s possible some consumers are drawn to the glasses’ speakers and cameras more than its AI capabilities.
In any case, the Ray-Ban Meta glasses are proving to be a larger success than Meta originally expected. That early traction may have been a factor in Meta expanding its partnership with EssilorLuxottica into the next decade.
Los Angeles is known for glitz, but there’s also a lot of grit in the air — literally. Thousands of containers are moved off and on ships at the area’s two major ports every day, almost always transferred via pollution-spewing diesel trucks. This has made Los Angeles a hotbed for all kinds of new electric vehicle and charging infrastructure projects.
“It’s the best place in the country” for electric trucks, founder Sami Khan told TechCrunch in a recent interview. “The incentives are the strongest,” he remarked, “and there’s just a huge market here.”
It appears Nevoya is already making some headway. The startup’s carrying goods on electric trucks in the LA area for Fortune 500 companies that Khan declined to disclose. Nevoya also revealed to TechCrunch that it raised $3 million in a seed round led by Third Sphere and RedBlue Capital, with Necessary Ventures, Ciri Ventures, and Never Lift coming aboard as well.
Nevoya is billing itself as the “first zero-emissions technology and trucking platform” in the U.S. The startup is exclusively buying electric trucks — all Freightliner eCascadias, so far — to offer to shippers who want to move goods cleanly. It’s also using artificial intelligence software to optimize the usage, routing, and charging of its trucks, which Nevoya says allows it to keep its prices lower than diesel.
Khan and his co-founders make up a triumvirate of complementary expertise that seems appropriate for such an endeavor. Khan spent a few years at McLaren Applied, the British automaker’s innovation arm, but he also spent a half-decade working in private equity. John Verdon led business development and commercial partnerships at Waymo. And Tom Atwood built a predictive analytics startup that sold to supply chain company Project44, where he spent the last two years working on route optimization and infrastructure planning software.
The funding will go toward growing operations, but not to acquiring trucks. Khan said those purchases will be made with debt — a strategy he’s comfortable with following his experiences in private equity. Khan believes this approach also makes Nevoya more attractive to investors in an environment where there’s still a lot of hesitance around hard tech. While he said his team “kissed a lot of frogs,” that process led them to investors like RedBlue — which is run by the former founding partner of transportation startup fund Maniv Mobility, Olaf Sakkers.
“Those guys were people that we had a first conversation with, and within a week it was at a term sheet, because they got it, and they understood,” he said. “The size of the pie, and the opportunity, is so, so huge.”
Khan stressed that competing with diesel trucks on cost will be hard. But that pressure is mitigated by how easy it has been to strike up conversations with companies that ship goods through the LA area.
“All of these Fortune 500 brands are looking to reduce their Scope 3 emissions (indirect emissions) and effectively have no solutions,” he said. With Nevoya, the promise Khan makes to these companies is: “There is no difference to your business, because we take care of the charging. We have the drivers. We have the trucks.”
Even as Nevoya is still working to get to cost parity with diesel, Khan said these big companies almost don’t care. “They want to decarbonize so badly that they are willing to pay a premium, and so for those [customers], we are actually going out at a rate that is higher than diesel.”
“What is so exciting about building this business is that you will get through the door at any shipper in the United States,” Khan said. “We have not failed there once — as soon as you say you have electric vehicles, they pick up the phone. They escalate.”
As it signs on more companies, Nevoya’s software can efficiently piggyback shipments from different customers to get the most out of the electric trucks in its fleet. That helps it lower costs.
Khan said Nevoya is currently hopping around different charging locations — this is another place where the optimization software will really have to shine — but eventually wants to build its own charging infrastructure. At that point, Khan said he could see Nevoya moving into smaller-class trucks, too.
Nevoya is also eyeing geographic expansion in the United States. It’s starting that push with a market that is about as different as its home base as one can find: Texas.
Despite the myriad social and political differences, Khan views Texas as a similarly well-suited state to drum up business. It may not have the pot-of-gold incentives like California, but Khan said Texas’ looser regulatory framework and cheaper electricity put it on par with the financial modeling his team has done for operating in Nevoya’s home state.
In a pitch to investors last spring, Anthropic said it intended to build AI to power virtual assistants that could perform research, answer emails, and handle other back-office jobs on their own. The company referred to this as a “next-gen algorithm for AI self-teaching” — one it believed that could, if all goes according to plan, automate large portions of the economy someday.
“All of the models in the Claude 3 model family have their individual uses for customers,” the Anthropic spokesperson said. “Claude 3.5 Opus is on our roadmap and we’ll be sure to share more as soon as we can.”
Anthropic on Tuesday released an upgraded version of its Claude 3.5 Sonnet model that can understand and interact with any desktop app. Via a new “Computer Use” API, now in open beta, the model can imitate keystrokes, button clicks, and mouse gestures, essentially emulating a person sitting at a PC.
“We trained Claude to see what’s happening on a screen and then use the software tools available to carry out tasks,” Anthropic wrote in a blog post shared with TechCrunch. “When a developer tasks Claude with using a piece of computer software and gives it the necessary access, Claude looks at screenshots of what’s visible to the user, then counts how many pixels vertically or horizontally it needs to move a cursor in order to click in the correct place.”
Developers can try out Computer Use via Anthropic’s API, Amazon Bedrock, and Google Cloud’s Vertex AI platform. The new 3.5 Sonnet without Computer Use is rolling out to Claude apps, and brings various performance improvements over the outgoing 3.5 Sonnet model.
A tool that can automate tasks on a PC is hardly a novel idea. Countless companies offer such tools, from decades-old RPA vendors to newer upstarts like Relay, Induced AI, and Automat.
In the race to develop so-called “AI agents,” the field has only become more crowded. AI agents remains an ill-defined term, but it generally refers to AI that can automate software.
Some analysts say AI agents could provide companies with an easier path to monetizing the billions of dollars that they’re pouring into AI. Companies seem to agree: According to a recent Capgemini survey, 10% of organizations already use AI agents and 82% will integrate them within the next three years.
Salesforce made splashy announcements about its AI agent tech this summer, while Microsoft touted new tools for building AI agents yesterday. OpenAI, which is plotting its own brand of AI agents, sees the tech as a step toward super-intelligent AI.
Anthropic calls its take on the AI agent concept an “action-execution layer” that lets the new 3.5 Sonnet perform desktop-level commands. Thanks to its ability to browse the web (not a first for AI models, but a first for Anthropic), 3.5 Sonnet can use any website and any application.
“Humans remain in control by providing specific prompts that direct Claude’s actions, like ‘use data from my computer and online to fill out this form’,” an Anthropic spokesperson told TechCrunch. “People enable access and limit access as needed. Claude breaks down the user’s prompts into computer commands (e.g. moving the cursor, clicking, typing) to accomplish that specific task.”
Software development platform Replit has used an early version of the new 3.5 Sonnet model to create an “autonomous verifier” that can evaluate apps while they’re being built. Canva, meanwhile, says that it’s exploring ways in which the new model might be able to support the designing and editing process.
But how is this any different than the other AI agents out there? It’s a reasonable question. Consumer gadget startup Rabbit is building a web agent that can do things like buying movie tickets online; Adept, which was recently acqui-hired by Amazon, trains models to browse websites and navigate software; and Twin Labs is using off-the-shelf models, including OpenAI’s GPT-4o, to automate desktop processes.
Anthropic claims the new 3.5 Sonnet is simply a stronger, more robust model that can do better on coding tasks than even OpenAI’s flagship o1, per the SWE-bench Verified benchmark. Despite not being explicitly trained to do so, the upgraded 3.5 Sonnet self-corrects and retries tasks when it encounters obstacles, and can work toward objectives that require dozens or hundreds of steps.
In an evaluation designed to test an AI agent’s ability to help with airline booking tasks, like modifying a flight reservation, the new 3.5 Sonnet managed to complete less than half of the tasks successfully. In a separate test involving tasks like initiating a return, 3.5 Sonnet failed roughly a third of the time.
Anthropic admits the upgraded 3.5 Sonnet struggles with basic actions like scrolling and zooming, and that it can miss “short-lived” actions and notifications because of the way it takes screenshots and pieces them together.
“Claude’s Computer Use remains slow and often error-prone,” Anthropic writes in its post. “We encourage developers to begin exploration with low-risk tasks.”
A recent study found that models without the ability to use desktop apps, like OpenAI’s GPT-4o, were willing to engage in harmful “multi-step agent behavior,” such as ordering a fake passport from someone on the dark web, when “attacked” using jailbreaking techniques. Jailbreaks led to high rates of success in performing harmful tasks even for models protected by filters and safeguards, according to the researchers.
One can imagine how a model with desktop access could wreak more havoc — say, by exploiting app vulnerabilities to compromise personal info (or storing chats in plaintext). Aside from the software levers at its disposal, the model’s online and app connections could open avenues for malicious jailbreakers.
Anthropic doesn’t deny that there’s risk in releasing the new 3.5 Sonnet. But the company argues that the benefits of observing how the model is used in the wild ultimately outweigh this risk.
“We think it’s far better to give access to computers to today’s more limited, relatively safer models,” the company wrote. “This means we can begin to observe and learn from any potential issues that arise at this lower level, building up computer use and safety mitigations gradually and simultaneously.”
Anthropic also says it has taken steps to deter misuse, like not training the new 3.5 Sonnet on users’ screenshots and prompts, and preventing the model from accessing the web during training. The company says it developed classifiers to “nudge” 3.5 Sonnet away from actions perceived as high-risk, such as posting on social media, creating accounts, and interacting with government websites.
As the U.S. general election nears, Anthropic says it is focused on mitigating election-related abuse of its models. The U.S. AI Safety Institute and U.K. Safety Institute, two separate but allied government agencies dedicated to evaluating AI model risk, tested the new 3.5 Sonnet prior to its deployment.
Anthropic told TechCrunch it has the ability to restrict access to additional websites and features “if necessary,” to protect against spam, fraud, and misinformation, for example. As a safety precaution, the company retains any screenshots captured by Computer Use for at least 30 days — a retention period that might alarm some devs.
We asked Anthropic under which circumstances, if any, it would hand over screenshots to a third party (e.g. law enforcement) if asked. A spokesperson said that the company would “comply with requests for data in response to valid legal process.”
“There are no foolproof methods, and we will continuously evaluate and iterate on our safety measures to balance Claude’s capabilities with responsible use,” Anthropic said. “Those using the computer-use version of Claude should take the relevant precautions to minimize these kinds of risks, including isolating Claude from particularly sensitive data on their computer.”
Today’s headliner might’ve been the upgraded 3.5 Sonnet model, but Anthropic also said an updated version of Haiku, the cheapest, most efficient model in its Claude series, is on the way.
Claude 3.5 Haiku, due in the coming weeks, will match the performance of Claude 3 Opus, once Anthropic’s state-of-the-art model, on certain benchmarks at the same cost and “approximate speed” of Claude 3 Haiku.
“With low latency, improved instruction following, and more accurate tool use, Claude 3.5 Haiku is well suited for user-facing products, specialized sub-agent tasks, and generating personalized experiences from huge volumes of data–like purchase history, pricing, or inventory data,” Anthropic wrote in a blog post.
The UK parliament is considering clamping down on how young people use smartphones. A bill brought forward by a Labour member of parliament proposes both banning phones in schools and raising the age at which children can consent to social media companies using their data.
Calls for smartphone bans have been growing in the UK, driven by fears that the devices are driving a decline in kids’ mental health and ability to focus. Smartphone Free Childhood, a prominent pressure group inspired by Jonathan Haidt’s book The Anxious Generation, calls for parents to delay getting smartphones for their children until they are at least 13. Florida has already passed a law that bans under-14s from holding social media accounts, and Australia is considering similar restrictions.
But academics warn that smartphone and social media bans are unlikely to be a catch-all solution to the problems facing young people. Experts on the impact of digital technologies argue that the legislation could end up shutting children out from the potential benefits of smartphones, and that more pressure should be put on social media companies to design better digital worlds for children.
The latest proposed clampdown in the UK is thin on details, but the MP bringing the bill, Josh MacAllister, told the radio show Today that it would prevent social media companies making use of young peoples’ data until they are 16. “We can protect children from lots of the addictive bad design features that come from social media,” he said. The bill would also make a ban on phones in schools legally binding.
The bill was introduced to the House of Commons on October 16 and is set to be debated on March 7, 2025. MacAllister submitted it as a private members’ bill—a way for MPs who are not members of the government to propose legislation. Private members’ bills rarely become law, but they can be a way to raise publicity and influence government legislation. Labour health secretary Wes Streeting posted on X in support of the bill, writing that concerns about smartphone use and its impact on mental health make for “a really timely debate.”
The UK’s Department for Education already asks schools to prohibit access to phones throughout the school day, including during break and lunchtimes. According to research from the Policy Exchange think tank, 99 percent of secondary schools had some form of phone ban, although only 11 percent required children to either leave their phone at home or to lock it away at the start of the day. Other countries, such as Greece and France, have similar regulations.
We know surprisingly little about the impact of smartphone bans in schools, says Sonia Livingstone, a professor at the London School of Economics who studies how digital technologies affect young people. There are relatively few good studies in this area, and those studies that have been done often point in contradictory directions. There is just about enough evidence to suggest that preventing children from accessing their phones improves concentration, says Livingstone, but it’s much harder to say that banning phones leads to less bullying or more play. “The research is just really insufficient for that,” she says.
Separating out how specific issues like bullying, mental health, sleep time, exercise, and concentration are impacted by smartphones is extremely tricky, says Livingstone. She points to the lack of mental health services for young people and poor pay and conditions for teachers as other potential issues that get overlooked in favor of smartphone bans. Phones might be part of the problem, she says, but they’re also seized upon as an all-purpose solution. “They seem the bit we can do something about,” she says, “and they seem the most obvious new thing.”
The proposed new bill would also raise the age at which children can consent to allow social media companies to use their date from 13 to 16. “If we can create a version of those apps and a version of smartphones effectively for U16s, it will make it easier for them to clock out and go do real-world activities,” MacAllister told the Today show. The UK already passed a law in 2023—the Online Safety Act—that is supposed to protect children from some kinds of content, but most parts of the act have yet to come into force.
Rather than focusing on bans, legislators should think more about how to teach children to have healthier relationships with technology and hold tech companies to account, says Pete Etchells, a professor at Bath Spa University and author of Unlocked: The Real Science of Screen Time. “We need to think about how we design [digital technologies] better, and support people in understanding how to use them,” he says.
And getting there, according to Etchells, means moving past simplistic narratives like assuming that restricting screen time will lead to more outdoor play. He points to a 2011 law in South Korea that banned children from playing online games between midnight and 6 in the morning. After four years, the ban had made no meaningful difference in terms of internet use or sleeping hours. The law was dropped in 2021.
“If you talk to any mental health professional, any researcher in this area, they will tell you there’s no such thing as a single root cause for things getting worse or better,” Etchells says. Looking to smartphone restrictions as the main response to the problems facing young people might turn out to be the easy answer rather than the right one.
The first cracks are starting to show in Netflix’s push into gaming. First reported in Game File and confirmed by Netflix, the streaming company has quietly closed of one of its studios, the first in the three years since the company began its foray into gaming.
According to Game File, the shuttered studio was known as Blue. In 2022, Netflix announced it hired former Overwatch executive producer Chacko Sonny to run the studio. Since then, Blue had brought on a number of game industry veterans with experience working on high profile franchises including Halo and God of War. Reportedly, Blue was developing a multi-platform AAA game for an original IP but was closed before the game could be announced or released.
Netflix has released a steady stream of games on its platform since the beginning of its gaming experiment in 2021. Though it started with a small handful of hyper-casual mobile games, Netflix’s offerings have expanded to include mobile exclusive ports of iconic games like Grand Theft Auto and Hades its own internally developed exclusives like Cozy Grove: Camp Spirit and Oxenfree II: Lost Signals.
Netflix has also acquired or spun-up a number of studios to support its gaming pipeline. The most recent additions were a mobile game studio in Helsinki, a new studio in southern California, and Cozy Grove developer Spry Fox. But with the closure of Blue, Netflix’s trend of expansion may be over as well as its grander AAA ambitions.
A communications satellite built by Boeing has fallen apart while in orbit, as reported earlier by Jalopnik. On Saturday, Intelsat said its 33e satellite stopped working due to an “anomaly” before confirming its “total loss” on Monday.
“We are coordinating with the satellite manufacturer, Boeing, and government agencies to analyze data and observations,” Intelsat said. The company has since established a board to conduct a “comprehensive analysis of the cause of the anomaly.”
The satellite’s breakup doesn’t have great timing for Boeing, following the company’s troubled Starliner mission and a criminal fraud charge over 737 Max plane crashes,
U.S. Space Forces-Space (S4S) has confirmed the breakup of Intelsat 33E (#41748, 2016-053B) in GEO on October 19, 2024, at approximately 0430 UTC. Currently tracking around 20 associated pieces - analysis ongoing. S4S has observed no immediate threats and is continuing to conduct routine conjunction assessments to support the safety and sustainability of the space domain.
It’s unclear how many pieces there are, as satellite-tracking company ExoAnalytic Solutions says it’s monitoring 57 pieces of debris, Space News reports.
Intelsat 33e launched in 2016 to provide communications across Europe, Asia, and Africa. The satellite experienced a propulsion issue shortly after launch and reached orbit later than expected. Another propulsion problem in 2017 decreased its estimated 15-year lifespan by 3.5 years. Intelsat 29e — a satellite Boeing also made — was declared a “total loss” in 2019 after just three years in space.
The Federal Aviation Administration published highly anticipated final regulations for electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles that it says will chart the path for the “air travel of the future.”
The FAA says these “powered-lift” vehicles will be the first completely new category of aircraft since helicopters were introduced in 1940. These aircraft will be used for a variety of services, including air taxis, cargo delivery, and rescue and retrieval operations. The final rules published today contain guidelines for pilot training as well as operational requirements regarding minimum safe altitudes and visibility.
“Powered lift aircraft are the first new category of aircraft in nearly 80 years,” FAA administrator Mike Whitaker said in a statement. “This historic rule will pave the way for accommodating wide-scale Advanced Air Mobility operations in the future.”
Powered lift includes aircraft described by industry watchers as electric vertical takeoff and landing, or eVTOL. Using tilt rotors, eVTOL aircraft are designed to take off and land vertically like a helicopter and then transition into forward flight on fixed wings like a plane.
Numerous startups, including Joby Aviation, Archer, and Wisk, are planning on launching commercial air taxi services with these new types of aircraft in the next few years. And for years, the FAA has promised there would be a regulatory pathway for powered-lift designs certified under Part 23 as normal aircraft.
But, in 2022, the agency changed course, determining instead that the aircraft would need to obtain Part 21 certification for special class vehicles. That kicked off a yearslong process to develop an entirely new set of rules for training, operations, maintenance, and more.
The rules that were eventually introduced last year were panned by industry groups as too strict. They called for performance-based operational rules, rather than the creation of a new powered-lift category, as proposed by the FAA. The agency argues its newly finalized rules should address those concerns, while also maintaining the safety and rigor the industry is known for. Earlier this year, Congress gave the FAA more sway in regulating these new types of aircraft.
“The FAA will continue to prioritize the safety of our system as we work to seamlessly integrate innovative technology and operations,” Whitaker said. “This final rule provides the necessary framework to allow powered lift aircraft to safely operate in our airspace.”
Based on the final rules, it would appear that the FAA took those criticisms to heart. A new pilot training and qualifications rule was needed because “existing regulations did not address this new category of aircraft, which can take off and land vertically like a helicopter and fly like an airplane during cruise flight,” the FAA said. The rule also provides a “comprehensive framework” for certifying the initial group of powered-lift instructors and pilots.
Makes changes to numerous existing regulations and establishes a Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) with new requirements to facilitate instructor and pilot certification and training.
Allows pilots to train in powered-lift with a single set of flight controls; legacy rules require two flight controls – one for the student and one for the instructor.
There are no powered-lift aircraft in commercial operation in the US, as it takes years for companies to obtain the necessary certificates from the FAA. Several companies are well on their way, including Archer and Joby. The latter released a statement praising the FAA for releasing the final rules ahead of schedule.
“The regulation published today will ensure the U.S. continues to play a global leadership role in the development and adoption of clean flight,” said JoeBen Bevirt, founder and CEO of Joby, in a statement. “Delivering the rules ahead of schedule is testament to the dedication, coordination and hard work of the rulemaking team.”
The grants will go toward hiring AI fellows at outlets like The Seattle Times and The Minnesota Star Tribune, focused on using the tech for analysis, engagement, and more.
Microsoft and OpenAI announced they’re offering a select group of media outlets up to $10 million ($2.5 million in cash plus $2.5 million worth of “software and enterprise credits” from each) to try out AI tools in the newsroom.
This news comes while the two companies are still facing a slew of copyright lawsuits, including from The New York Times, The Intercept, Raw Story, AlterNet, the Center for Investigative Reporting, and Alden Global Capital, the hedge fund behind the New York Daily News and Chicago Tribune. Those have continued despite licensing deals reached with many media outlets, including The Verge’s parent company, Vox Media.
These outlets will receive a grant to hire a two-year fellow who will work to develop and implement AI tools using Microsoft Azure and OpenAI credits. The program is part of a collaboration between Microsoft, OpenAI, and the Lenfest Institute for Journalism, which aims to promote local media.
“While nothing will replace the central role of reporters, we believe that AI technology can help in the research, investigation, distribution, and monetization of important journalism,” Tom Rubin, the chief of intellectual property and content at OpenAI, said in the press release.
Microsoft and OpenAI will provide grants to three more media organizations at a later date. Some AI applications that the outlets will explore include leveraging the technology for, transcription, content summaries, and creating a “conversational” search tool for archives.
The trend toward remote working over the last several years has bred all kinds of tools intended to help us improve productivity and facilitate easier, faster digital communications with colleagues. So why does workplace productivity still feel impossible to achieve?
Unfortunately, email—one of the most integral vehicles for business communication—is also one of the biggest drains on employee time and energy. According to data from Microsoft, employees spend as much as 8.8 hours each week checking and responding to email. And while many email communications are essential, one recent report found that nearly half of all emails are spam or other unwanted mail.
And while that may not sound like a security team problem, it becomes one when end users start reporting every unwanted email as an attack—taking valuable time away from the SOC, which must remediate and respond to those user reports. So how can security teams help to manage email overload? The key is to banish it from their inboxes.
Graymail is a type of spam that’s harmless (from a security standpoint) but largely irrelevant and rarely useful, such as promotional messages and marketing ads. Even though users may have opted to receive communications from graymail senders at some point, not all of a sender’s emails provide immediate value to the recipient. Instead, they form yet another layer of digital clutter to manage.
Sifting through graymail can be a meticulous process, siphoning away employees’ limited mental bandwidth. Plus, the promotional nature of graymail often makes them enticing and distracting—pulling away employees’ focus and interrupting vital deep work.
In addition, large amounts of graymail make it harder to find important and time-sensitive emails, resulting in delayed responses, stalled decisions, and bottlenecked projects. And with Abnormal Security data showing that executives receive 230% more graymail than other employees, it’s clear that the people whose input is often critical in resolving concerns or advancing projects are also the most bogged down.
Unfortunately, graymail is a tricky problem to solve. While traditional spam filters are often designed to catch unsolicited emails or communications from senders on blocklists, graymail usually falls outside these rules. Additionally, legacy solutions like email quarantines or spam digest summaries are cumbersome for employees and create even more headaches for IT teams, who have to field user tickets about deliverability issues and manage blocklists and allowlists. Plus, every user defines graymail differently; a newsletter or product announcement that’s integral to one user’s work may be junk to another.
So how do you solve the problem? The best way to address graymail is to use an AI-powered solution that adapts to each employee’s unique email habits—learning which promotional messages they interact with most and which they’d prefer to deal with later and then moving graymail to its own dedicated folder within the mailbox. This ensures a streamlined email experience for all employees while eliminating the hassle of maintaining allowlists or blocklists.
What does it look like to use an AI-powered email productivity solution? Here are a couple examples of how implementing adaptive graymail protection can boost email efficiency and help employees claw back their time.
Like many companies, printer and imaging equipment manufacturer Lexmark struggled with a deluge of graymail. In fact, the organization’s CISO waded through hundreds of these messages in his own inbox every day. To finally get a handle on this challenge, the Lexmark security team adopted automated graymail detection and remediation, and today, the company consistently saves more than 1,000 hours per month across the employee base.
Educational consulting firm EAB saw similar productivity gains after adopting AI-powered graymail protection. Today, EAB employees save hundreds of hours each month by automatically filtering graymail into a separate “Promotions” folder, where users can still access those messages whenever they want. In the first 90 days of using the solution, EAB employees saved nearly 2,000 hours of time on managing their inboxes.
The fact of the matter is that whether you love it or hate it, email isn’t going away anytime soon. As long as it continues to be a primary tool for communication—and I expect it will be, far into the future—sorting unwanted mail will continue to be a problem. The organizations who can intelligently automate this process will be in the best position to optimize their employees’ productivity amid growing volumes of digital clutter.
A Meta suspendeu nesta segunda-feira (22) contas no Threads e Instagram que rastreiam jatos particulares de figuras públicas como Mark Zuckerberg (dono da Meta), Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos e Donald Trump.
Em nota publicada em sua conta pessoal do Threads, JackSweeney, dono de vários desses perfis que seguem os aviões, afirma que a Meta promoveu os bloqueios sem explicar os motivos da ação. A suspensão teria começado no Instagram e Threads pelos perfis @elonmusksjet, que mostravam informações públicas sobre voos do jato de Musk, e evoluído para outras páginas administradas por Sweeney.
"Com o passar do dia, todas as minhas outras contas rastreando jatos de celebridades foram suspensas. As únicas exceções eram @desantis.Jet e @trump_jets, mas até isso mudou depois que o portal Fortune publicou um artigo apontando que essas duas contas ainda não haviam sido afetadas", diz.
Ao portal TechCrunch, um porta-voz da Meta afirmou: "Dado o risco de danos físicos a indivíduos, e de acordo com a recomendação do Conselho de Supervisão independente, desabilitamos essas contas por violar nossa política de privacidade".
O endereço das contas desativadas exibem a mensagem: "Esta página não está disponível. O link que você acessou pode estar corrompido ou a página pode ter sido removida".
Não seria a primeira vez que Sweeney é alvo da moderação das plataformas. No final de 2022, o X, já sob o comando Musk, suspendeu dezenas de perfis que seguiam os voos de bilionários, entre eles os de Sweeney. O dono da SpaceX teria contatado o universitário no início daquele mesmo ano com uma proposta em dinheiro para a derrubada das contas.
A conta de Sweeney que rastreia o jato de Musk e divulga informações no X teve que concordar em liberar as informações com um atraso de 24 horas, para cumprir regra do site que proíbe rastreamento de localização em tempo real.
Em fevereiro de 2024, Sweeney foi abordado por advogados de Taylor Swift solicitando a interrupção do acompanhamento do jato da cantora feito pelas contas. Ele afirma que teve o perfil referente à cantora suspenso nas redes da Meta na mesma época.
As informações levantadas por perfis como os administrados por Sweedney levantam discussões sobre a pegada ambiental deixada pelos voos dos mais ricos. Em novembro de 2023, um estudo da empresa Yard afirmou que Swift era a artista que mais emitia carbono em viagens com sua aeronave.
A NASA apresentou o primeiro protótipo em escala real de seis telescópios que, atuando juntos em órbita terrestre, formarão o telescópio LISA. O instrumento será o primeiro detector de ondas gravitacionais a partir do espaço, com potencial de descobrir alguns dos maiores eventos do universo.
O detector LISA (Laser Interferometer Space Antenna) é um projeto liderado pela ESA (Agência Espacial Europeia) em parceria com a NASA. Ao todo são três espaçonaves, cada uma servindo de plataforma para dois telescópios.
Esses telescópios usarão lasers para medir distâncias com precisão de picômetros entre três espaçonaves, dispostas em formato de triângulo equilátero. Cada lado do triângulo formado pelas espaçonaves medirá 2,5 milhões de quilômetros, quase o dobro do diâmetro do Sol.
A NASA revelou agora o Engineering Development Unit Telescope, o conjunto de protótipos dos seis instrumentos em tamanho real da missão LISA. Eles fornecerão aos cientistas e engenheiros uma compreensão melhor do projeto enquanto trabalham para construir o hardware de navegação.
O protótipo, fabricado pela L3Harris Technologies em Rochester, de Nova York, chegou ao Goddard Space Flight Center da NASA em maio. Ele apresenta o espelho primário revestido em ouro para refletir melhor os lasers infravermelhos e minimizar a perda de calor.
Além disso, ele é feito de uma vitrocerâmica âmbar chamada Zerodur, produzida pela Schott em Mainz, da Alemanha. Esse é o material que costuma ser usado em espelhos de telescópios, pois é ideal para lidar com amplas faixa de temperaturas, sem sofrer deformações.
Cientistas esperam utilizar o LISA para detectar ondas gravitacionais produzidas por buracos negros distantes. Essas ondas são semelhantes às ondulações formadas na superfície de um lago ao atirarmos uma pedra.
No caso dos eventos ondulatórios cósmicos, são os objetos altamente massivos no espaço que distorcem o tecido do espaço-tempo. Muitas vezes isso ocorre em colisões envolvendo buracos negros ou estrelas de nêutrons.
As ondulações provocadas por esses impactos farão com que as três espaçonaves da missão LISA se movam ligeiramente em relação umas às outras, "surfando" nas ondas gravitacionais. Os instrumentos detectarão o padrão característico desses fenômenos no sinal combinado do feixe de laser.
Os sinais ajudarão os cientistas a determinar a localização e as propriedades físicas da fonte das ondas, isto é, dos objetos que as produziram. Como consequência, será possível encontrar eventos que estão produzindo ouro no universo e formando novos buracos negros com dezenas de massas solares.
While precision, perseverance, and engineering are necessary skills in building a Moon rocket, Casey Wolfe knows that one of the most important aspects for the job is teamwork.
“Engineering is vital, but to get this type of work done, you need to take care of the human element,” said Wolfe, the assistant branch chief of the advanced manufacturing branch in the Materials and Processes Laboratory at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama.
Together with her team, Wolfe is developing and producing the next generation payload adapter for NASA’s SLS (Space Launch System) super-heavy lift rocket. The adapter is made with some of the world’s most advanced composite manufacturing techniques.
Wolfe’s work integrates the technical day-to-day operations and personnel management of the composites manufacturing team and additive manufacturing team, balancing production of SLS hardware with the creation of new engines using the latest manufacturing technologies.
“A lot of my day to day is in managing our two teams, making connections, building relationships, and making sure people feel supported,” Wolfe explains. “I conduct individual tag ups with each team member so we can be proactive about anticipating and addressing problems.”
Wolfe grew up in Huntsville, a place known as the “Rocket City,” but it wasn’t until she visited a job fair while studying at Auburn University for a polymer and fiber engineering degree that she began to consider a career at NASA Marshall. Wolfe applied for and was selected to be a NASA intern through the Pathways Program, working in the non-metallic materials branch of the Materials and Processes Laboratory.
Wolfe supported a coating system for electrostatic discharge on the first uncrewed test flight of the Orion spacecraft. Launching December 5, 2014, Orion traveled to an altitude of 3,600 miles, orbited Earth twice, and splashed down in the Pacific Ocean. It was during her internship that Wolfe realized how inspirational it felt to be treated like a vital part of a team:
“The SLS program gave everyone permission to sign the hardware, even me – even though I was just an intern,” says Wolfe. “It was impactful to me, knowing that something I had worked on had my name on it and went to space.”
Since being hired by NASA, Wolfe’s work has supported development of the Orion stage adapter diaphragms for Artemis II and Artemis III, and the payload adapters for Artemis IV and beyond. The first three Artemis flights use the SLS Block 1 rocket variant, which can send more than 27 metric tons (59,500 pounds) to the Moon in a single launch. Beginning with Artemis IV, the SLS Block 1B variant will use the new, more powerful exploration upper stage to enable more ambitious missions to deep space, with the cone-shaped payload adapter situated atop the rocket’s exploration upper stage. The new variant will be capable of launching more than 38 metric tons (84,000 pounds) to the Moon in a single launch.
“While the engineering development unit of the payload adapter is undergoing large-scale testing, our team is working on the production of the qualification article, which will also be tested,” Wolfe says. “Flight components should be starting fabrication in the next six months.”
When Wolfe isn’t working, she enjoys hiking, gardening, and hanging out with her dogs and large family. Recently, she signed another piece of SLS hardware headed to space: the Orion stage adapter for the second Artemis mission.
With as many responsibilities as Wolfe juggles, it’s easy to lose sight of her work’s impact. “I work in the lab around the hardware all the time, and in many ways, it can become very rote,” she says.
But Wolfe won’t forget what she saw one evening when she worked late: “Everybody was gone, and as I walked past the launch vehicle stage adapter, there were two security guards taking pictures of each other in front of it. It was one of those things that made me step back and reflect on what my team accomplishes every day: making history happen.”
NASA is working to land the first woman, first person of color, and its first international partner astronaut on the Moon under Artemis. SLS is part of NASA’s backbone for deep space exploration, along with the Orion spacecraft, supporting ground systems, advanced spacesuits and rovers, the Gateway in orbit around the Moon, and commercial human landing systems. SLS is the only rocket that can send Orion, astronauts, and supplies to the Moon in a single launch.
Empresas privadas estão desenvolvendo conceitos de estruturas infláveis, conhecidas como "softgoods", para criar habitats no espaço. A proposta visa oferecer moradias confortáveis para futuros astronautas em missões fora da Terra.
Atualmente, estruturas infláveis são um dos focos das agências espaciais e empresas privadas que atuam no ramo da exploração do espaço. Um dos principais benefícios é que elas oferecem maior volume com menor massa, permitindo que grandes espaços habitáveis sejam lançados em foguetes relativamente pequenos.
Um dos projetos mais antigos de tecnologia inflável criados pela NASA foi o Projeto Echo, que lançou dois satélites de balão em 1960 e 1964, visando testar a reflexão de sinais de micro-ondas.
Em 1965, o cosmonauta Alexei Leonov realizou a primeira caminhada espacial usando uma câmara de descompressão inflável, demonstrando aplicações da tecnologia para as missões tripuladas.
No comecinho do século 21, a Bigelow Aerospace lançou dois protótipos não tripulados em 2006 e 2007 sob o programa Genesis. Ambos permanecem em órbita terrestre.
Anos mais tarde, a empresa aproveitou o projeto cancelado do TransHab da NASA e desenvolveu o Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM), sob contrato com a agência espacial.
O BEAM foi anexado à Estação Espacial Internacional (ISS), mais precisamente ao módulo Tranquility. A tecnologia foi bem sucedida em demonstrar que módulos infláveis são econômicos, mais fáceis de transportar e se expandem corretamente no espaço.
Além disso, são desenvolvidos para oferecer proteção contra radiação solar e cósmica, detritos espaciais e outros perigos do ambiente espacial. Isso os torna ideais para a criação de habitações na Lua e Marte.
No caso do BEAM, a Bigelow utilizou o inovador tecido de proteção Vectran, que conta com uma fibra de polímero de cristal líquido de alto desempenho, proporcionando resistência superior à do Kevlar.
Em 2022, a NASA lançou o escudo térmico inflável LOFTID de 6 metros de diâmetro, que reentrou na atmosfera e pousou no Oceano Pacífico, perto do Havaí. A ideia era demonstrar a eficiência do escudo em atravessar a atmosfera sem sofrer danos.
Essa tecnologia pode ser crucial para futuras missões de transporte de humanos a Marte, onde seria combinada com paraquedas e retrofoguetes para guiar módulos de pouso até a superfície.
Atualmente, várias empresas estão desenvolvendo estruturas expansíveis para o espaço, como a Max Space, focada em habitats infláveis para a órbita terrestre, Lua e Marte.
Outro exemplo é a Sierra Space, que trabalha no habitat LIFE (Large Integrated Flexible Environment), medindo 6 metros de altura e 300 metros cúbicos, também usando a tecnologia Vectran. No futuro, o LIFE poderá ter 5.000 metros cúbicos e mais de 22 metros de comprimento.
Inicialmente, a Sierra Space lançará uma estrutura expansível de três andares, com mais de 8 m de diâmetro, projetada para acomodar quatro astronautas e oferecer espaço para experimentos científicos, ginástica, um centro médico e cultivo de alimentos.
Para futuras explorações em Vênus, a Northrop Grumman desenvolveu a VAMP (Venus Atmospheric Maneuverability Platform), uma aeronave leve e auto-inflável capaz de planar com pouca energia, além de ser resistente ao ácido sulfúrico presente na atmosfera venusiana.
Já a Max Space planeja lançar uma tecnologia de escudo de detritos espaciais em 2026, e apresentar uma gama de habitats espaciais. Eles variam de 20 a 1.000 metros cúbicos, mas a empresa planeja criar "megaestruturas" de até 10.000 metros cúbicos até 2030.
Estruturas infláveis no espaço também poderiam ser usadas como elementos conectores de módulos na superfície lunar. A tecnologia é uma ótima opção para acomodar as habitações em diferentes níveis de superfície — algo essencial tratando-se do solo lunar.
Security researchers have developed an autonomous artificial intelligence tool that can detect remote code flaws and arbitrary zero-day code in software. The AI tool still gives some inconsistent results, but researchers said it identifies fewer false positives.
Security firm Protect AI developed the Python static code analyzer called Vulnhuntr, built on Anthropic's Claude 3.5 Sonnet large language model, to identify vulnerabilities in code and develop proofs of concept for compromises.
The researchers found vulnerabilities in GitHub projects using OpenAI, Nvidia and YandexGPT APIs. For example, an OpenAI file - "get_api_provider_stream_iter function in api_provider.py" - that included server-side-request forgery flaw could enable attackers to control API requests and redirect them to arbitrary endpoints.
"Generally, a Vulnhuntr confidence score of 7 means that it's likely a valid vulnerability but it may require some tweaking of the proof of concept. Confidence scores of 8, 9 or 10 are extremely likely to be valid vulnerabilities, and confidence scores of 1 to 6 are unlikely to be valid vulnerabilities," the researchers said.
To develop the solution, Protect AI researchers had to overcome context windows limitations typically found in LLM models - which limit the amount of information an LLM can parse when processing a prompt or question.
To overcome context windows limitations, researchers used retrieval-augmented generation to parse large amounts of text directly into tokens, and they fine-tuned the tool with pre-patch and post-patch code and combined it with vulnerability databases such as CVEFixes. The researchers then isolated sections of code into smaller units.
"Instead of overwhelming the LLM with multiple whole files, it requests only the relevant portions of the code," Protect AI said. "It automatically searches the project files for files that are likely to be the first to handle user input. Then it ingests that entire file and responds with all the potential vulnerabilities."
The tool uses four prompts designed to guide the LLM, shape its responses for complex reasoning and filter outputs to identify flaws. Vulnhuntr analyzed data such as functions, classes or other related snippets to gain a full picture of the code or to confirm or deny the presence of any vulnerabilities.
"Once the full picture is clear, it returns a detailed final analysis, pointing out trouble spots, providing a proof-of-concept exploit, and attaching a confidence rating for each vulnerability," the researchers added.
Although it can be trained using additional prompts to recognize more flaws, the researchers said this would increase the application run time. Since the tool only supports Python code, the application also generates less accurate data for code that is developed in any other programming languages, researchers added.
Regardless of the limitations of the application, the researchers added Vulnhuntr is an improvement over other static code analyzers for finding complex vulnerabilities and limiting false positives. Protect AI researchers said they plan to add more tokens to enable the tool to parse entire codebases rather than smaller units.
It's the evening already and I am free now. Today most of the tasks has been finished before the time and so I have a good amount of time to be active here I also plan to watch some drama episodes after writing the article for today.
The fan following for TV shows is enormous and it is only growing and with that the demands for specific things in a show also gets influenced. One of the most debated parts of a show has to be it's ending which is often the most crticised part
Personally there have been a lot of shows whose ending I found to be not so satisfying personally but there are a lot of factors for the filmmakers to consider as well but regardless of that people are often left wanting for more.
I always forget to collect the diamonds from the coinmarketcap. I think it's because of my laziness. The diamonds of there were never useful to me any time and maybe that's why I am not so interested in it.
I use to collect in past but not now.
And in past also most of time forget to claim. I do not know if there is any usecase till now, and that is the reason many of us not taking it seriously.
Can't see it if I scroll through my notifications but I can find it on activity on peakd?#feedback why don't I get a notification when someone this account answer me?
I think it's because of low reputation, when I created an account for my bot @reminder.ping, it took a few upvotes before its comments actually started appearning in my notification.
peakd's notification system is good, ecency's is good too, but for me if there was a combination of the two, it would be the pinnacle of notifications. I really miss the sound it makes when favorites are posted, for example
Yes, that's because votes of less than $0.02, for example, don't appear, I think there are some other notifications that they filter out, that's good, it doesn't tie us to every notification that sometimes doesn't even make a difference.
Well in this case it just plain stupid. If a new account answers to a comment I left on their thread. I want to know, how will newbies otherwise get any attention?
Hmm... that's strange, if I'm not mistaken any reply appears in my peakd notifications, regardless of whether it's a new account or one with a low reputation. Can you do this test? Do you have a new account? Ask to reply to one of my posts so we can try it out.
Just published another Subscribers-only post. It contains a source code for a simple app I created to help me write my 'Getting to Know 1000 Hivers' series of posts! #freecompliments #cent #bbh
(Link below but you have to subscribe to be able to read it.)
That's a nice perspective and it's true. Just because the day didn't turn out as we would have loved it doesn't mean we didn't accomplish something good.
Formed by the Okavango River, it floods seasonally, creating lush wetlands amidst the Kalahari Desert. Visitors can explore by traditional mokoro (canoe) for an up-close view of wildlife like elephants, hippos, lions, and rare birds.
The best time to visit is during the dry season (May-September) when animals gather around the delta. It’s a must-visit for those seeking untouched nature and unforgettable wildlife experiences!
Name 3 things that you think can drive the price up for $LEO?
The coming integration with Dash. There will drop in new people interested to earn crypto.
Subscription. Its not gonna do anything alone but this feature is a great opportunity to attract business minded people on chain.
LeoAI. As more and more people are turning their head to AI, we will have a really competitive for only 10 HBD.
What do you think?
These are exactly the reasons I'm converting most of my liquid HIVE to $LEO, I staked a lot of my liquid $LEO, and don't mind it being so low right now!
LeoAI could be used to bring more and more people here, even if by curiosity. I'm excited for the upcoming DASH integration, but I'm currently in the wait-and-see stage.
While I don't think Creator's Subscription will bring any noticeable value by itself, if the community becomes more active, or if $HIVE price improved a lot, we'll see more people subscribing to each other.
1/🧵
AI isuch awaited feature and as the AI willhave the direction access (I assume) to the Hive blockchain data, it will be interesting to use it to get different stats.
#freecompliments #gf
2/🧵
Dash community will also help as we will see new players coming to the community.
I am not found of subscription for now.
#freecompliments #gf
LeoAI has to hit the market in a big way. Until them, we are talking about small potatoes.
If LeoAI has the basic needed features and is marketed properly, it can be huge.
And just as a prediction. I think @taskmaster4450le would answer LeoAI, LeoAI and LeoAI.
My favorite project $RUNE. Or well second, $LEO first ;)
https://inleo.io/threads/view/khaleelkazi/re-leothreads-fmcy8g5v
Our base for this week. On the Sophienalpe above Vienna. Beautiful place. It has been shut down for the last two years because someone decided to grow marihuana on an industrial scale…
INLEO AMA #threadcast | Threads V2, MAUs and Earning in Other Cryptos
👇🏽 Engage2Earn 👇🏽
Are you covering Dash stuff today? If so, I can hop on the space and talk a little about stuff from our end.
We should do that on a Chain Chatter Pod (since this one is audio + video and it's not easy to pull people up and off with the recordings)
We can do that too. Either/or/both.
It grows both economies. It's a very clear win for Dash, very clear win for InLeo and LeoDEX, very clear win for Maya, and a win for Hive too (but we need to talk this up more)
The Dash Integration has all the ingredients of a huge development in the History of Hive!
s bridging between community is the way to go.
I agree, it's hard to swim across an ocean of a river, but walking across a bridge, many of us and others can too.
Here is @jongolson's threadcast. https://inleo.io/threads/view/jongolson/re-leothreads-q4dpebig?referral=jongolson
Well, investing in Runes looks more sane than investing in ruins.
I think letting people chose their Subscription Cost will be better... But I think for now, a $5 standard is doing its job! Only for now!
Threadcast came from a Mets blog that would have a game cast in the comment section.
So @jimmy.adames and I tried it on here and the developers added more to it.
Proud to have been a Guinea Pig for such an important part of Threads 🧵🦁
Yeah. Now building another use case.
This is totally true, if I, someone who loves #inleo finds it inconvenient, imagine people who are just checking it out for testing. Automation is key!
https://inleo.io/threads/view/thedessertlinux/re-khaleelkazi-35en7rmkm?referral=thedessertlinux
Automated is necessary, otherwise it's a non-starter for others. They'll just use a CEX.
yep ironic but true
Oh can you do sub-only threadcasts?
Me too, didn't do the 'Conversation with AI' threadcast today...
https://inleo.io/threads/view/selfhelp4trolls/re-khaleelkazi-nucpuqs8?referral=selfhelp4trolls
Join the INLEO Telegram Group
Here is the Food Talk Threadcast On Leo. You can join for some food conversation. 😋
https://inleo.io/threads/view/winanda/re-leothreads-2hnvtd99e?referral=winanda
I do a Threadcast most days alternating between books and travel. Here's today's TravelCast:
https://inleo.io/threads/view/adambarratt/re-leothreads-xcvm5k8h
InLEO having a greater attention propositions and making users enjoy using it is one of the better bargains and gains one could ask of.
in fine with you guys putting it off for a while and I’ll be here regardless. But I do think it’s worth opening the pricing once you build up Leo ads and Leo ai
went to check out steemit the other day. It was so depressing. Like more depressing than I expected
like a symbiotic relationship? Maya Torchain and Leo
Question
So technically speaking there is nothing like scarcity of $HBD since dash is gonna make it possible to earn other tokens too?
I'd love to be able to love on my income here, but I don't see it happening in a couple of years. Maybe in 5?
https://inleo.io/threads/view/selfhelp4trolls/re-khaleelkazi-2efttj7fr?referral=selfhelp4trolls
Yes ..hope that happens soon .!
Editing the "Subscribe" Button Pop-Up is an AMAZING Idea!!
Wen?
Wen?!
Wen?!!
Wen?!!!
Please add it soon!
I love that the DHF is being used to help platforms get started…but to rely on it indefinitely is not good.
I've read the critics and they have no idea how anything works, they are just making assumptions and talking from those assumptions
Most of us don't give a shite, Steem is forgotten.
Let's onboard these "non-leo people" 😉
I like seeing this kind of alliance though, Leo Dash Maya and Thor
On the 20th I was 100% of this volume 🤣
https://www.mayascan.org/pools/ARB.LEO-0X93864D81175095DD93360FFA2A529B8642F76A6E
lol. Love it ;)
Is it possible to earn 10 LEO daily out of engagement?
Yes absolutely
I just gave you a few LEO here
Be active on Threads and engage with the community. You'll find it's very easy to earn 10 $LEO per day
Oh yes, thanks 4 tipping me. I am delighted to see your reply.
It is simple :) Be extremely active ;)
!BBH !DOOK
Extreme activity, like engaging with 10-15 people daily?
At least ;) More if you can !BBH !DOOK
@bradleyarrow likes your content! so I just sent 1 BBH(11/100)@littymumma! to your account on behalf of @bradleyarrow.
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@bradleyarrow likes your content! so I just sent 1 BBH(30/100)@littymumma! to your account on behalf of @bradleyarrow.
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Leodex opens up so many possibilities for us
That's a lot of money.
https://inleo.io/threads/view/khaleelkazi/re-khaleelkazi-khatcw6t?referral=khaleelkazi
Shared on X and here, upvoted, etc. Intently watching!
🦁
I'm all for bridging but the fees can be horrible...small fish can save a lot by going through CEXs
This is why we need to get the Dash community on here. We need volumes.
Better to have a bunch of users cashing out to Dash than for InLeo to go broke, and Hive loses it entirely.
I still can’t wrap my head around the fact that CZ got arrested in the US. Binance ain’t a US company and Binance US is in US
...You don't know how important you saying this for me who stopped using Telegram and Twitter for almost a year or two now.
When I used LeoDEX I needed ETH-ARB or it wouldn't go through. With this one-click solution, would InLeo be keeping the ETH-ARB necessary for that?
Sunday candles? Lol, you should lit these in church, dude ;)
Do we expect the bull market to launch in anytime soon or we are already into it and I can't see it? Lolz
Managing, already posted two simple source codes of small applications I created... Of course, the source code for @reminder.ping is public on Github, so won't put it on a sub-only post.
https://inleo.io/threads/view/selfhelp4trolls/re-khaleelkazi-j3fqpthw?referral=selfhelp4trolls
Com'on guys, we are live, being your grand a and your dog, let's listen and ake this place impactful.
We are Live
Hmmmm... where does MAYA come in in all of this THORChain talk?
is dash (and potentially other coins) going to have to hold Leo? Or is it not necessary for them?
Question ❓
Please what is wrong with shorts. Please we need it back.
😭😭😭😳😳
I got some #actifit reports with 7$ - and I have no clue why it's that way or voted that way so to speak.
That was fake news, it wasn't THORChain, some other scammy project
These are the issues especially with money conscious people.
https://inleo.io/threads/view/winanda/re-khaleelkazi-2izmicnhw?referral=winanda
Leo ads coming by the end of the year, that's super amazing to hear.
We have been consumers of different services for a long time, we know we as a consumer hate being forced to do anything, and the people on web3 hates it even more... It wouldn't make sense to do that here haha.
The value is on the freedom, I'll do it because I can not because I have to
Make Dash Integration work real well, we are waiting and gonna enjoy it still.
I Think were gains and more value comes to a project is building out a business module from a project.
Here is what my Sub-only looks like.
https://inleo.io/threads/view/winanda/re-leothreads-2apwayzxo?referral=winanda
I personally feel letting people choose their own pricing will attract more creators with existing followings which is what I think is most important from the onboarding front
This is absolutely brutal in crypto. That's why Maya did things right: no inflation, fees-only, focus on the prize. They're doing great.
100%
it’s the self sustainability and the win-wins that made me buy 120k leo
You are catching up to the Cat!
ahhhh if you are done buying I could catch up!!! Something tells me you are not done buying
it ought to as the demand for Leo increases.
https://inleo.io/threads/view/vickvan/re-khaleelkazi-2zzc2ibmz?referral=vickvan
The best way is to position oneself as "infrastructure" for other platforms.
That is what Meta is doing with making Llama open source.
It positions them on many other platforms.
wen
yes! That’s what I mean, anything like that!
I see much value on thorchain, it's gonna bring a whole new level of interest inasmuch as crypto is concern.
Already missed shorts
I’m not a defi dood so leodex confuses me. I still don’t know how to get my cacao back into hive or Leo, it isn’t trading still with keystore 😞
Swap CACAO to HIVE
my biggest issue with subscriptions currently is that without the profile section devoted to subs, there’s no way to tell people what kind of content they can find other than repeating it in all my posts and saying it over and over. I can wait til December tho 😉
Please how do we join this telegram stuff.
This is coming right on time, good news for we telegram users.
Hmmmm... Well, at least $RUNE seems to be thriving these days!
https://inleo.io/threads/view/thedessertlinux/re-khaleelkazi-2u7etsr2p?referral=thedessertlinux
Crypto Market can be crazy though. At the tail end, it is what it is.
just guess who is subscribing bro
This is fixed
https://inleo.io/threads/view/winanda/re-khaleelkazi-2qsbtdq1r?referral=winanda
I Feel like regardless of the news regarding $RUNE, it is gonna turn out great. I see great value in holding it.
Yea, knowing how to grow from 0 to 1 and make the increase come is really something to ponder on.
this is the inleo AMA…. I just wanna hear about inleo stuff.
No Steem please.
Yeah, whatever happen to TU? We want the thorchain ppl here as
can you give us a 1 minute pitch as to why you like rune/thor so much? What makes its different from other defi
Yea, have the value, create the attention and watch things unveil for good.
my Leo Substack bridge may take a while but I think it’ll bring at least a handful of power users over time
Automated all the way.
I have a new inquiry into Leo. She makes farming short form videos. When 3speak is fixed I’ll send her a link
I mean it takes forever to click a thread and another forever to get back to threadcast.
Maybe we can still check the price of Dash here on INLEO once it's integration is successfully carried out.
Here is the link of the premium experience weekly contest:
https://inleo.io/@leogrowth/share-your-premium-experience-contest-dfx
To bad these where not done in the evening and I could listen live :( Sucks to me. lol
Then again, if it was like that, it would probably mean some weird time in Europe... 😅
truth ;)
I think we need owners on INLEO.
would be nice to have a bubble in the profile next to the subscribe button that says “you will get ******”
It wouldn't be bad to see a threadcast about thorchain University in any of the days of threadcast though.
@khaleelkazi I understand this haha I gave you feedback on this on the last doc :D if it gets implemented they are gonna love it
https://inleo.io/threads/view/brando28/re-khaleelkazi-33sdp3qnh?referral=brando28
Ah this will get fixed with what we've been building with Threads V2
wow dude…that’s intense
https://inleo.io/threads/view/vickvan/re-khaleelkazi-g5279xyx?referral=vickvan
One of the things that is making me believe InLEO and seeing it's longevity is its attachment to other big projects. When I look at InLEO and see this projects, it gladens my heart.
Me too, fren. Me too!
The features InLEO is having is already a value attraction feature.
Out those 4-5 big ones, $SOL looks strong atm.
Thorchahin University, it's been long we had a threadcast regarding it's progres .
Man so bullish for $RUNE 🚀🚀
Thorchahin, does it has any big push on what the vision of Inleo is , does it align?
Wen LeoAI!
Please the link will help too.
Wow, khal is a big investor in thorchain, wow.
I think thorchain will mean real growth for Leo as a token And maybe subsequent tokens that InLEO can create in the sooniverse.
Yea, wanted to hear a bit of Maya and thorchain relationship and see how they relate and change the look of things.
would like to hear this 🔥
https://inleo.io/threads/view/thedessertlinux/re-khaleelkazi-labrsusu?referral=thedessertlinux
Yea, Task is right, position yourself as the centre of attraction. But that's what InLEO is doing though and it's collaboration with big projects is al making sense to me.
l
Making Llama open-source is a really smart move... I think if Open-AI was open source first, Llama would've faced a lot more challenges.
https://inleo.io/threads/view/taskmaster4450le/re-khaleelkazi-2thgapqym?referral=taskmaster4450le
Question
If you can't control when #3Speak is up and when it's down, do you think it's smart way to advertise Shorts as a big selling point for #INLEO?
are any non Leo people using leodex
My dog ate my grandmother.
She is now just bones.
I tried advertising my referral links, but I felt I
wastedlearned "what doesn't work" for two whole days without a result. I think the only way to refer people, is doing so directly.https://inleo.io/threads/view/selfhelp4trolls/re-khaleelkazi-j3fqpthw?referral=selfhelp4trolls
Feel same here, although did get a couple from somewhere. #lolz :) !BBH !DIY !DOOK
@pepetoken likes your content! so I just sent 1 BBH(23/100)@ahmadmanga! to your account on behalf of @pepetoken.
(html comment removed:
)
You can query your personal balance by
@pepetoken just sent you a DIY token as a little appreciation for your comment dear @ahmadmanga! Feel free to multiply it by sending someone else !DIY in a comment :) You can do that x times a day depending on your balance so:!DIYSTATShow’s everyone doing with their subscribers only sections? 😀
Since we have Leodex, I think we have something great on it.
I hear you three now! #youtube
can hear!
Now I can hear Khal.
here's a funny question is leodex different from Inleo?
I don't hear Khal on Youtube
We can hear you. Or at least I do.
We will have it all SOON:
I hear Eric and Cat...but no Khal on YT
no sound on x. I can see scardycat speaking but no sound
How bout that’s Minneapolis fed
Crypto prices keeps going up and down, we are already used to it.
I !luv the fact that Dash is listening to this!
https://inleo.io/threads/view/dashpay/re-leothreads-2j6rgsqxf?referral=dashpay
(1/10) sent you LUV. | tools | discord | community | HiveWiki | <>< daily@khaleelkazi, @ahmadmanga
We have seen some increase in crypto market lately, maybe all things we step on better next month.
Famous last words "uptober itsn't going to be up" then this happens
in Japanese English you say “Erections”
BTC dominance too strong. Hurting alts. I think it's gonna top soon though.
there is a very big erection coming up between Trump and Harris
I was told there would be Uptober
Surely you guys bought some $GOAT? 😅
While we wait for a bigger boom on crypto market, let's appreciate the little it has done lately.
n
Well the skin was built specifically for dash so technically it was built for them.
FAKE
NEWS
this is the inleo AMA! We don’t care about BTC right now
I think for me, being on Inleo and seeing its partnerships with crypto related have sharpnd my knowledge about crypto .
I’m busy with my grind, building the substack bridge and making and promoting some music videos for old songs. No crypto on my mind now except Leo and Dash collab
Khal, a big holder of $RUNE. Is Roone the pronunciation or Run, like running, lolz, cause the price is running though.
really appreciate you guys being the first to try something like this! Glad to see more people in our ecosystem and hope to see you benefit from it too!
https://inleo.io/threads/view/thedessertlinux/re-khaleelkazi-2jk4hpwiu?referral=thedessertlinux
Lolz, Uptober, lolz, maybe it didn't come as we expected but fingers crossed, we are positive.
I like this kinda general crypto talk to start the AMA. 👍
Oh, didn't know about this contest!!
https://inleo.io/threads/view/khaleelkazi/re-khaleelkazi-2qvy4yg1u?referral=khaleelkazi
I didn't even know about this, Have to write One about my experience as a premium user. Should collect some stats as well to write :)
Well, unless it doesn't work with the law of demand and supply.
https://inleo.io/threads/view/ahmadmanga/re-khaleelkazi-2gkpn4vdq?referral=ahmadmanga
Elon knows what he is doing. Still building more value into Premium:
for me the current 5HBD is ok to people to start, to test everything, to have revenue... and the private content is mostly freedom to share whatever you want and how many you want with no policing on the content bc your audience is seeing what they are signing up to see
Great to hear!
Question
How far is #inleo in its integration with VSC? Is it planning stage? Consideration? Did you already start?
$LEO /$HBD why not possible on Leodex yet?
Dash integration would have to take some backend works cause it's a big partnership though.
I think you should make the Automation model as the default! ...It's not really convenient to "Confirm" every step!
Yep this is how it is
It's amazing seeing how much effort the masterminds behind Inleo puts in to keep the project afloat. So many working, interesting and exciting initiatives.
yeah, why not just swap HBD -> HIVE on PeakD UI...
Wallet hive.blog is better lol
Oh, never tried that one. I always use that HiveHub.dev market
I used to have a concern that Leo was draining attention and liquidity from hive but you’ve completely smashed that fear. You are building something t that hive needs and will help it explode in value
Yeah, let things happen naturally. I see people complain about INLEO but they keep using the UI, they can't help it.
They need to post feedback or ask for help
My favorite thing about Creator's Subscriptions is that I can use Private Sub-only Posts to have content on HIVE that I don't want LeoAI to be trained on, while still be seen by people interested enough to see it.
Well if Leo token can be used in literally all InLEO processes including subscriptions, won't it help raise the value of Leo to an extent?
I Think with dash Integration InLEO is gonna be super busy and many records on Inleo would be broken easily.
How about some easy and fast fiat purchases - when a non-crypto person wants to subscribe to somebody here?
I don't think so, you should bring money from outside the main asset, not with it.
https://inleo.io/threads/view/bipolar95/re-khaleelkazi-2so8hzexa?referral=bipolar95
Yea khal, I think Dash and InLEO has similarities which is super powerful and will make them work together very well.
$DASH a token?
Question ❓
These hive accounts created fordash users through the InLEO, are they still automatically gonna have Resource credits?or
This has really helped my crypto journey.
https://inleo.io/threads/view/vickvan/re-khaleelkazi-32kefwvya?referral=vickvan
I almost missed this. Greetings Lions. 🦁
Hello Winanda :)
Hello Bradley 🖐 Happy Tuesday.
Or Keychain wallet... That has been my go-to method lately.
https://inleo.io/threads/view/brando28/re-khaleelkazi-22u1fs2ur?referral=brando28
To know about crypto, just be on Inleo and follow all meetings from khal.
cool! Love it! No forced commitment from them but lots of incentive to buy Leo or hive
lol forcing people to use your currency….like the US govt
Profile update around December for subscriptions, before then I would have enjoyed a bit of subscription Module.
Will there be a option for every day users to simply select another currency (crypto) they want to earn besides dash. Say I'm using INLeo and I want to be paid out via BTC or DOGE etc.
why don’t crypto publications ever write about hive? Do you have to bribe them or something?
Yeah 99% of those publications are paid articles
figures 🤮
Really looking forward to onboading new and more users for sure
Greetings friend. Good to see you here.
thank you friend 🙏🏿 🫂
Was gone for a bit, catching up at 1.5x speed!
Alternatives to the 7 day payout is huge too
Hey btw, is the Chain Chatter tomorrow or is it on Thursdays?
same here, the more the merrier 🙂
https://inleo.io/threads/view/stevenson7/re-khaleelkazi-3ckzt585q?referral=stevenson7
Question
What are wallets types that can log-in to #inleo in theory? I think Metamask-like wallets are easy to integrate, but I'm not sure about coins like Bitcoin.
I like the dynamic prices but maybe the fees could be 5% higher
Leo token has a liquidity on hive. Wow
Wen LeoAI is live, is going to be able to create tokens by itself? 😀
That's why I call myself a Hobbiest GameDev.
https://inleo.io/threads/view/taskmaster4450le/re-khaleelkazi-y9ytehne?referral=taskmaster4450le
Social Media needs users, that's why Facebook, Twitter (X) and the rest are spending fortunes on making the user experience as easy as possible!!
Wen Emoji Reactions on Threadcasts?!
If you are not generating revenue, it is a hobby.
wow! 50k monthly is huge
dumb question but,
How do we generate revenue before creator subs and premium?
I'd change this to remove "ad" and just go with "their own revenue system"
https://inleo.io/threads/view/taskmaster4450le/re-khaleelkazi-31hbtfrxd?referral=taskmaster4450le
Question ❓
Won't the type of ads to be published be regulated such that we vote for ads we might likely want visible on InLEO.
Yea, when the user base increases many attention will be turned to ads and companies would turn out way for ads.
LeoAI should push that from $1,900 per month to $19K.
It is an easy 10x.
This is why what we are doing on here is so important.....
We need to democratize data and then utilize it.
i think making the creator subscription price changeable would be great. This one would help creators set their price fairly
Leo ownership mindset.
I think we should become the very first Web4 project though. Web3 is going to become obsolete soon anyways.
some of you better try to catch up with me. At current Leo value I’m going to end up depleting all my loose hive which was not part of the plan 🤣 this is too cheap tho
With Dash Integration and we having an incredible increase In userbase then ads running will make much sense.
Question
How do hive accounts created for dash users have access to their keys?
Once a premium, always a premium.
Free market is always sort of wonky.
Lolz, LeoAI, in every threadcasts I do see the question. Always reminding khal I guess.
This Fridays episode of The Lions Den is going to be on threadcasts.
There is a completely new angle to them.
Having 25 subscribers would really not be a big deal once Dash is been integrated successfully .
Substack has flexible pricing but there is a default. I think that’d be fine.
A $10 subscription would make it easier to make a meaningful income on less subs
Yea, keep it simple, keep it clean.
I think wonderful content creators will emerge with subscription module having a big taste of success on InLEO.
patreon failed/will fail because they fucked up on community. There’s no way to connect with people there. Just spam
fair argument.
More numbers could sway your opinion
Since we have different niches from content creators I think we would get more subscribers too.
So much for market pricing.
Not much point of building a private database.
That's fine when you have a market of 10,000 or 100,000
We don't have a market right now. There are 100 creator subs out there
Go get more subs and then change my mind
Keep grinding, we already have more than 201 contents.
Yesterday I was listening to Sanctum AMA and this Pine Analytics has a model where holders of pineSOL token gain access to their content (web3 analytics, etc).
Kinda like that. The token is 1:1 to SOL, they just keep the APY yield.
Ooorh, people choose their prizes, huh?
How about showing a bit of your contents and showing maybe if you wanna see it read more, subscribe. With that people would wanna know more.
on! Let’s get to 10x! On it!!
So how do I actually do subscriptions? Just check the toggle in settings and that's it? Any other steps?
And best practices, do I make an announcement article about what people will get?
Khal already having 26 subscribers, wow.
Yea khal, this will help, let us know what we should expect from subscribing to you.
Being a premium member gives you the access to have people subscribe to you.
Suggestion: A Best Practices articles that we can link to, would be good!
https://inleo.io/threads/view/thedessertlinux/re-khaleelkazi-26smxbrjw?referral=thedessertlinux
let’s get Tom on here!!!! Everybody’s friend. He’s get a ton of subscribers
Speaking of wen...
Wen LeoAI?
I don’t want to live off my income here but I want to be able to take a break from other work at any time thanks to income here, and to still keep growing my account
Sub only THREADCAST and sub only mode. Wow.
Trump said we'd get tired of wenning
InLEO is actually creasing the business idea behind it's usage.
sub only shorts and videos sound cooler to me. Or livestream integration with vimm. Sounds like a huge headache tho 🙃
Unpopular opinion but InLeo could go full circle and add STEEM and Blurt so that the content is posting there and could gain users and rewards from those chains which could help buy LEO. Also not abandoning the BSC and Polygon plays.
Question ❓
Would the contents coming from sub only add to the number of engagements per month. Like let's say number of threads per month.
Thought it was 30 😃
https://inleo.io/threads/view/vickvan/re-khaleelkazi-2r4qyykfb?referral=vickvan
Out of small InLEO is turning to a big earning platform ever on hive blockchain.
That would be too much of an unpopular opinion hahahaaha I don't think it is worth it right now
lol I don’t think anyone at Steem would notice. That place just feels like Justin Sun dripping money into it to keep it alive. It’s pretty dead other than Korean language
Yea!!! Threadcasts, lions Den
sorry for the headache guys ❤️
Dng I missed the start
wen NFTs
I have to subscribe soon, am feeling like am missing a lot already.
Knowing Khal's age fills me with despair in "what I've been doing with my life" way.~
https://inleo.io/threads/view/bipolar95/re-khaleelkazi-tkje7qgy?referral=bipolar95
Finally X aren't disturbing us today.
Been more than a year since I checked Steem... If it's even more depressing than that, I don't want to see it.
https://inleo.io/threads/view/selfhelp4trolls/re-khaleelkazi-3an2ckike?referral=selfhelp4trolls
Here is the alpha for Fridays show: threadcasts as a subreddit.
Will NFTS a complete new system or collab with #nftshowroom?
what kind of things can the nft do!?
STEEM is dead!
like giving us one free subscription per month or something like that?
Would be great to see the first comment to a thread on threadcast without clicking it open.
Dropdown menu to reveal all comments would be an absolute killer!
Keep it coming, more than 220 comments
Nice and educative meeting today.
Damn im late! I need to catch up from the beggining
Yeah, I got inspired by Task to begin my threadcast. I had no idea how it would go but when I dropped my first threadcast then he said, "Would this be a daily thing?" Daily threadcast was not my plan but yeah, it has become a daily thing and it's been a cool journey.
Yes, create value to earn
https://inleo.io/threads/view/winanda/re-khaleelkazi-2rtqecdea?referral=winanda
#3Speak has been down for 5 days now...
Threadcasts is helpful, really
Don’t do a thread cast every day khal! We need you building 😭
hahaha yep
I love them tho
How is training of #leoai going? 1200 pound kettlebell?
Promotion and growth, wow, on telegram. First time hearing that.
Wanna speak with khal directly, drop your points on the threadcast he is in.
Wow, my premium experience, maybe from here some additions will be made for premium users.
With threadcast you communicate effectively and have your point discussed and talked about.
no threadcasts now….i just made a music video though can I self plug that? 🙈
Plug away!
Something like this will be amazing to do on HIVE too!!
InLEO is utilizing everything available. Thats cool.
The use case of telegram has increased actually because of these Airdrops fammed in there.
Since I do log in to telegram everyday, i will be active on this, just wanna understand how it's done.
Not in any threadcast from khal am I motivated to be active on InLEO.
We could get more people
This telegram stuff could also be discussed more on Thursday growth call.
Yea, subscribers should at some point have call ins with whom they subscribed to. Maybe it's something cool.
Yeah, got accepted!
Hey, next step could be that tap-to-earn bot! 😀
Lot of potential new users out there high on $TON
All the threads are perfect, just need more interaction.
Jongos threadcast, it's really nice too.
Again and again, there is always something to engage on while being on InLEO.
I should put up a blog post on premium.
Am surprised X didn't disturb me today, lolz
Elon has other things to do !LOLZ
lolztoken.com
Dump coca cola in the lake, because its quacktacular!!!!
Credit: reddit
$LOLZ on behalf of ben.haase
(6/10)
NEW: Join LOLZ's Daily Earn and Burn Contest and win $LOLZ@vickvan, I sent you an
lolztoken.com
Thank you for being an !LOLZ supporter.
Lolz.
https://inleo.io/threads/view/winanda/re-khaleelkazi-2qsbtdq1r?referral=winanda
Lolz, once a premium, always a premium, lolz, I will catch up with you too.
Stay motivated, InLEO is there for you 😘
10x the user base now! Let’s go guys! 🔥 🔥 🔥
This is very good and this adventure is just beginning.
https://inleo.io/threads/view/selfhelp4trolls/re-khaleelkazi-r2k7jpgn?referral=selfhelp4trolls
#inleo will be with you - always
Always give your best to receive great rewards.
Wise words ✌️
l lived without money for 3 years! I’ll share about that in my subscription section along with Substack growth tips (I live with money now 😆)
*If I got 2 more subscribers before 1 November 2024, I'll add a new feature for my bot @reminder.ping, if I didn't get 2 more subscribers by then, I'll probably increase the required number of subscribers for this, as I work on something else.
!RemindMe in 9 days
Confirmed! You'll be notified on Thursday, October 31, 2024 at 05:42 PM (UTC)
ahmadmanga on inleo.io! Subscribe for more features.@reminder.ping is supported by subscribers to
Hello @ahmadmanga!! You asked me to remind you 1 week ago. Here's your reminder to check back on this conversation!
ahmadmanga on inleo.io! Subscribe for more features.@reminder.ping is supported by subscribers to
How many subscribers can you have?
I did that at Twitter and then Elon scared half my audience and changed the algorithm hahaha
Is there even an Upper Limit?
https://inleo.io/threads/view/davidpena21/re-khaleelkazi-uqbnpwe2?referral=davidpena21
nop, I think it's more like how many can YOU have xD
I can offer my insight on unreal estate ;)
Have a good niche, develop and polish it and Subscribers won't be difficult to get.
I just sent a request to join the TG group.
all the subscribers
https://inleo.io/threads/view/ahmadmanga/re-khaleelkazi-mdwufbcg?referral=ahmadmanga
Maybe on Thursday a bit of referral should be talked about. Looks like the fire has reduced.
Creators Subscription creates and brings a whole new vibe on engagement and content creation on hive blockchain entirely.
Nice call in today, love the show.
Many valuable things can be done in this world.
Would be nice to see some of these speakers be active on InLEO too.
It's possible to get in a thousand users on INLEO, but how many are willing to stay active even if it's 1% daily input.
https://inleo.io/@khaleelkazi/khals-creator-subscription-join-for-exclusive-content-bts-of-inleo-development-more-gyi
Nope. Only limitation is yourself
You can have 1,000,000 subs and make $5M per month
https://inleo.io/threads/view/ahmadmanga/re-khaleelkazi-mdwufbcg?referral=ahmadmanga
Being premium is the best.https://inleo.io/threads/view/khaleelkazi/re-khaleelkazi-2qvy4yg1u?referral=khaleelkazi
Set a reminder for the X Space
Will do.
Let's get the threadcast on 🔥🔥
Listening to a gaming podcast while waiting for this, it's on Youtube so as soon as I get the notification I'll switch in a 0.53 second!
Did you reply to @bannersandborder feedbacks he left earlier today?
#LeoAI is going to be the greatest addition to Leo.
This is crucial for where the digital world is going and what digital platforms will be made up of.
Question
What are your failures, Khal?
https://inleo.io/threads/view/florakese/re-leothreads-crgreaaf?referral=florakese
Its another time and another day of the week where we ask questions and discuss the affairs pertaining InLEO so as to make it better.
Lets go, I will be there.
Happy AMA Day, who is gonna join me be in here on time regardless of when khal comes😂😂😂😂?
I think maybe the number of monthly active users this time might reduce because of the little glitches SHORTs developed.
You cannot just talk about the best interface on hive blockchain without mentioning InLEO. See how well developments have been setting in.
2minutes to go from my end, let's go friends.
Wen
Going Live
Are you? ;)
Khal arriving on Time?!!!! I.M.M.P.O.S.S.I.B.L.E!!!! !LOLZ
https://inleo.io/threads/view/khaleelkazi/re-khaleelkazi-sc8sphpw?referral=khaleelkazi
lolztoken.com
The next day she locked me in the cellar
Credit: playbyhive
$LOLZ on behalf of ahmadmanga
(1/2)
PLAY & EARN $DOOM
@khaleelkazi, I sent you an🦁🚀
Its time, I already received a notification from X.
Khal
Has broken the Carmel's back to be in here on time
Aren't hearing anything yet from X. Have we started yet?
X Spaces should have background music
And we are Love
Watching on Youtube!!
...I was just going to post I don't see you, when it appeared on my notification.
are we on time!?!
I was just making some Substack tip thread on my subscriber section!
Got my third subscriber and someone said they wanna be my fourth after they get some HBD 😀
You're on X just to feel like an X-man, admit it!
I dont have sound on YouTube
I only hear Mitch
The bass coming from you guys today is really cool. Lets go. I love it.
Dash Integration, well it's gonna be a great move and making InLEO and Leo tokens of much better value.
can we eventually earn SATS
yeah how long till we get a subscriber tab on our profile? 🥹
Value InLEO methodology also value InLEO business module and I think that's where these collaborations with other projects comes.
Look at the record:
Hive adoption sucks so anyone supporting that formula is foolish.
its an interesting conversation for me. Thinking about the idea of "how do we generate revenue and create more value for and with hive"?
so the revenue InLEO is generating from subscriptions and all of that is automatically been used to buyback Leo token, increasing liquidity.
Within 2 years, platforms without their own ad revenue system are going to be out of business.
The third party ad revenue models are going to die with AI. The Internet is changing quickly.
This is mind blowing..
https://inleo.io/threads/view/selfhelp4trolls/re-khaleelkazi-56ds8gun?referral=selfhelp4trolls
If subscribers are getting the value and gains they paid for, many subscribers would emerge and the number will increase too.
Get ready for feet pix 👣
The one subscription covers covers for short form, long form, shorts, videos. Etc.
There is no platform here to do private calls, so you can tell your audience that for x price paid directly to you, they can access to that.
If inleo had a platform like zoom that we own, then private calls could be part of the service
do it
I'm not a developer 😅 maybe I become one and do it xD
I actually have a nice idea on how to have something like that on chain while giving the autor the option to moderate
would be awesome :)
that would indeed be awesome and a major addition to the platform! Great idea #freecompliments
Exactly, I like to let them know that they need to put in the work and it's not a "get-rich-quick" stuff.
https://inleo.io/threads/view/bipolar95/re-khaleelkazi-2arbkqcpa?referral=bipolar95
The thing is, with current prices for $HIVE and $LEO, it'll be much more profitable to put in the work elsewhere... At least, that's how it seems at first. You can't guarantee the prices will get better either.
https://inleo.io/threads/view/winanda/re-khaleelkazi-2rtqecdea?referral=winanda
Well, you could come up with a dead threadcast instead.
shameless self plug! 🐒
I just finished my second music video! Save it for after the threadcast!
“Mirror” by I+Everything MV
https://inleo.io/threads/view/anomadsoul/re-khaleelkazi-2szeoeu9v?referral=anomadsoul
Okay, perfect, it's going to be a great job.
https://inleo.io/threads/view/selfhelp4trolls/re-khaleelkazi-gwbzekud?referral=selfhelp4trolls
Thanks for the show. See you around.
Am joining the telegram group after this podcast.
sorry to all the other spaces, the time zones make it difficult. Will try to make it when I’m insomniating
Well understood.
Do you normally have insomnia?
Kind of but I am also busy when I do, working on projects!!
That keeps your mind busy.
When I have insomnia, I like to listen to music or see movies and sometimes I get inspired to create something.
Sorry, I missed your reply.
See you guys, thanks for that ✌️
Thank you everbody - enjoy the rest of the day
Thanks guys.
Thanks everyone! See you next week!
Have a nice day, everyone!
Thanks for the call, Khal, Eric and Mitch.
Thanks! Good show! 👌
Thanks for the space, greetings from Venezuela.
❤️❤️🔥🔥🌴🌴🦛🦛 goodnight everyone!
https://inleo.io/threads/view/mightpossibly/re-leothreads-wgpf1gks?referral=mightpossibly
LEODEX
Tokenization, in terms of real-world assets, comes down to the portability of ownership, and the ability to transfer that value without friction, and void of time-consuming practices and procedures. Essentially, it simplifies and consolidates the process of ownership, and the transference of ownership. Provided, there is a legal and structural undergirding in place, it’s a far superior way of transacting. #cent #rwa #sapphirecrypto
My village on an Autumn Day… #photography #photographers #photocast #leotravel #nature #landscape
That's gorgeous!
Spinach, potato, fish sticks and a friendly egg.
#foodie #food #cooking #cent #bbh #dailydook
!BBH !DOOKThat is so good, me on Sunday mornings. My #selfie. lmfao
Nice little face!
😄 yes .. friendly food.
@bradleyarrow likes your content! so I just sent 1 BBH(18/100)@chaosmagic23! to your account on behalf of @bradleyarrow.
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Here's a free #tradingtip for you...
Don’t fall into the trap of overtrading!
Just because you’re making more trades doesn’t mean you're automatically making more money. In fact, trading too much can eat into your profits with higher fees and lead to emotional decisions you might regret later.
The key is to stick to your plan. Trade only when the market conditions line up with your strategy. It’s all about quality over quantity here!
Stay focused and keep your cool, and you'll be more likely to see steady gains rather than chasing quick wins that turn to quick losses.
How many active people on #inleo are from the US?
Raise your hand...
Here we are from Venezuela
That's not the US though, lol.
Nope, hahahah
🦁
🐸
!BBH !DIY !DOOK
@pepetoken likes your content! so I just sent 1 BBH(9/100)@thelogicaldude! to your account on behalf of @pepetoken.
(html comment removed:
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You can query your personal balance by
@pepetoken just sent you a DIY token as a little appreciation for your comment dear @thelogicaldude! Feel free to multiply it by sending someone else !DIY in a comment :) You can do that x times a day depending on your balance so:!DIYSTATSA little snow showed up on my hike. #winteriscoming
Nice! We are waiting for the snow here so we have yet another excuse to stay in the house. As if we need another one. It was almost 80 degrees here yesterday. That's too hot for Mid-October in the upper Midwest. Had to turn on the Air Conditioner. Sheesh.
Great view.
1/🧵 The Czech Republic has been a popular destination for Ukrainian workers even before the Russian invasion. Many Eastern Slavs took advantage of the language similarities and often filled low-paying jobs. Most of these workers would spend several months working overtime or even holding two jobs to earn as much as possible, then return home for a few months.
#threadstorm #outreach #beersaturday #beer
2/🧵 However, the recent wave of refugees has brought several hundred thousand people, some of whom have higher career expectations. Many sought regular employment, applying their skills and experience.
3/🧵 Fortunately, there is still an unsaturated market for English-speaking employees, and well-paid jobs are available. Those who take them support their families or contribute to the Ukrainian war effort, yet they still have enough money and leisure time to gather and live despite their status as war refugees.
4/🧵 The microbrewery in Řeporyje, on the outskirts of Prague, fills a niche as a blend of the two Slavic cultures: a typical Czech microbrewery run by Ukrainians, offering a cultural center for the latter. I was recommended this place a few weeks ago, and once I was nearby, I decided to give it a shot, despite some recent reviews complaining about the staff and service in general.
5/🧵 Interested in the local brews and Ukrainian cuisine? Read my latest post then! https://inleo.io/@godfish/czechukrainian-microbrewery-in-eporyje-prague-9su
✈️ Travel Talk #threadcast
Ep76 Tue 22-Oct-24
ℹ️ This is the #travelcast where we chat all things #travel on Leo
💬 Talk about your trips, discuss adventures and enjoy the world's delights!
Have fun! 🧳 🛫
https://inleo.io/threads/view/onealfa/re-leothreads-vicg1g1t
Here's a travelling post of a kind, pinned to Worldmappin of course:
https://inleo.io/threads/view/godfish/re-leothreads-2zuavxudp?referral=godfish
Tuesday TravelCast on the go! Share all your travel tales, talk and tips right here...
Previous edition:
https://inleo.io/threads/view/adambarratt/re-leothreads-8ncpsetv
https://inleo.io/threads/view/nhaji01/re-leothreads-2rqjurwqv
https://inleo.io/threads/view/chinay04/re-leothreads-2ywh8hqf
‘They want something different’: Two reports predict a big shift in travel behavior in 2025
Article via CNBC
New York in an hour? The truth about hypersonic travel
Article via Telegraph
Sleep Divorce, MeMooners Lead 2025 Travel Trends, According To Hilton
Article via Forbes
Travel expert shares exact date to start booking next year’s holidays - it’s sooner than you think
Article via Bristol Live
Britons issued Greece travel warning as holidaymakers are advised to 'take care of their possessions
Article via GB News
Gorgeous European city named 'most walkable' for 2024 and winter sun
Check out Florence...
Article via Express
Travel Article Competition Winner: Summer in Colombia
Article via The Boar
10 Underappreciated Travel Destinations As Alternatives To Overtourism
Article via Forbes
https://inleo.io/threads/view/senorcoconut/re-leothreads-2edpzbpdz
https://inleo.io/threads/view/onealfa/re-leothreads-2ldns7n3y
https://inleo.io/threads/view/cindynancy/re-leothreads-rmsreqnt
https://inleo.io/threads/view/pele23/re-leothreads-2zs4xz7ip
https://inleo.io/threads/view/walterjay/re-leothreads-2sp7p4esb
https://inleo.io/threads/view/bannersandborder/re-leothreads-kopdy6os
https://inleo.io/threads/view/pele23/re-leothreads-csyrtcig
LeoTravel community:
https://inleo.io/communities/hive-190432
Nobody uses it, it does not seem to be curated. There's Worldmappin and Travel Feed, which are curated.
https://inleo.io/@adambarratt/welcome-to-leotravel-whos-up-for-an-adventure
https://inleo.io/threads/view/adambarratt/re-leothreads-2tj2xxskr
https://inleo.io/threads/view/adambarratt/re-leothreads-2xmrowkdp
https://inleo.io/threads/view/adambarratt/re-leothreads-2exsqxq3y
https://inleo.io/threads/view/onealfa/re-leothreads-2pzgje946?referral=onealfa
what are you working on today?
Learning Hive/Inleo
nice! what are you learning so far?
token research. Got a list of alts I need to analyse
what's hot rn? drop the CA lol
My recent additions have been Spectral $SPEC (AI, next unlock in May) and Clear Pool $CPOOL (RWA, strong tokenomics). Both are kind of mid-cap tokens with market caps just above $100M.
Mental Health clinician coursework, dehydrating garlic cloves for powder, baking bread, making turkey stock and homemade soup for dinner, Inleo and Hive time, and creating graphics for a project. Normal Kat day lol!
sounds like a great day!
just a few projects and blog on Hive!
nothing wrong with that
surely!
I've been closing the door
All my life, held it in but not anymore
Have you been closing the door all your life and held it all in? It's never too late!
#freecompliments #cent #bb
This beauty is one of my favourites, Léa Seydoux in Spectre! Divine
#photography #bbh #dailydook #moviesonleo
Premium Subscription is over and it's time to.......
#premium #freecompliments #gf
Renew :)
a wise advice for sure..
#freecompliments #gf
get it for 1 year ;)
I love to but first need the sufficient HBD lol...
#freecompliments #gf
Ya, takes awhile to accumilate it :) !BBH !DOOK
@bradleyarrow likes your content! so I just sent 1 BBH(3/100)@guurry123! to your account on behalf of @bradleyarrow.
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renew
I love to andI I will today.
Last day was super busy and not able to open the computer.
#freecompliments #gf
#wordofthedayonleo - betwixt
What It Means
Betwixt is a synonym of betweenthat lends an old-fashioned feel to both speech and writing. It is sometimes used in the phrase "betwixt and between" to mean "in the middle" or "neither one thing nor the other."
//Charley took a seat betwixttwo other passengers.
//They sat on the long bench, a pile of books betwixt them.
//The novel's protagonist is at the edge of early adulthood, when one is betwixt and between.
#gmfrens
🔗 Source in comments
betwixt the hammer and the anvil is how I feel sometimes
I hear ya. Hope your week is moving along nicely @lisamgentile1961
Yes, it is! Thank you, @jimmy.adames. I hope yours is moving along nicely as well.
🙏🏼 Happy Wednesday!
Be a candy bar man, #lolz, no wait.. betwixt is interesting man. Humans hab so many werds! !BBH !DIY !DOOK
@jimmy.adames likes your content! so I just sent 1 BBH(1/1)@pepetoken! to your account on behalf of @jimmy.adames.
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@pepetoken likes your content! so I just sent 1 BBH(25/100)@jimmy.adames! to your account on behalf of @pepetoken.
(html comment removed:
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You can query your personal balance by
@pepetoken just sent you a DIY token as a little appreciation for your comment dear @jimmy.adames! Feel free to multiply it by sending someone else !DIY in a comment :) You can do that x times a day depending on your balance so:!DIYSTATSI, personally, can envision a world where everything is “moving” and being proven across both private and public blockchains. The introduction of NFTs hit the art and creative market in a big way in 2020. However, many were unable to understand the authoritative aspect behind NFTs. #cent #sapphirecrypto
https://img.inleo.io/DQmcYH2RpVxfRhKwkJkoaG1Gs9ymKPVS7okMB3QKYFNywhR/Untitled%20design%20(48).jpg
Unfortunately my cell phone is not normal...
It is with it that I can better access INLEO. Out of nowhere he starts turning off his cell phone and sometimes it goes on loop...
I put it to charge for a while and it "returns to normal". I don't think there's anything to do... I'm going to take it to technical assistance next month to fix this.
At the end of the day, all assets can be digitally owned and verifiable. Without WEB3 these ideas are handicapped. They function and operate at their best moving along WEB3 rails. Despite the opposition, there are a lot of upsides and benefits to interacting in a WEB3 world. The breakthrough is too significant to ignore or bury. #cent #sapphirecrypto
I'm doing $LEO token buybacks 🤑
People cling tightly to their country’s culture, but they had no say in the creation or evolution of that culture.
I am more interested in the culture of your neighborhood, your friends or your family, the kind of culture that you have some say over.
This is where we are now 👇. We want BTC up but dominance down.
#crypto
😀 Soon!
I have passed the torch of the #selfie threadcast over to @mamaemigrante. Let us support her and give her time, with a little help, to get one running ;)
#moviesonleo #cinema #review Steven Soderbergh directs Benicio del Toro in epic biographical drama dedicated to one of the most iconic figures of 20th Century. (link in reply)
https://inleo.io/hive-166847/@drax/film-review-che-2008
It’s a fact… #meme #memes #leomemes #notmymeme #jokesonleo
Hahaha I can't imagine what we'll see in 2030
Double dongs, and 7 balls? 🤷🏼♂️
Here is the daily technology #threadcast for 10/22/24. We aim to educate people about this crucial area along with providing information of what is taking place.
Drop all question, comments, and articles relating to #technology and the future. The goal is make it a technology center.
Apple could roll out iOS 18.1 next week, starring ‘Apple Intelligence’
Apple Intelligence is coming soon. The Cupertino-headquartered tech titan is set to roll out its highly anticipated iOS 18.1 update sometime next week, bringing a host of AI-powered features to Apple’s family of devices.
As of now, the tech behemoth is yet to reveal an exact release date for iOS 18.1. Several reports however indicate that the update is expected to be available on October 28, marking the introduction of the first set of Apple Intelligence features. With this, users will have access to advanced AI capabilities, such as Writing Tools, notification summaries, updates to the Control Center, and a Clean Up feature in the Photos app. Some features will be introduced in the initial rollout, while the others will be introduced over the course of the coming year.
#technology #apple #ai
Speaking of features, iOS 18.1 is set to bring advanced Writing Tools to users, providing real-time aid in text compositions with suggestions for spelling, grammar, and even word choice. With this, users will be able to adjust the tone of their writing (as necessary) and will be able to choose between three distinct tones: Friendly, Professional, or Concise. Alongside this comes an option to summarize the notifications on devices, ensuring that the most critical alerts rise to the top and the less important ones are grouped together. This will be useful when you receive a plethora of notifications, and do not need to scramble across those to receive important updates.
Other upcoming features include an update to Siri – the assistant will get a completely new redesign in the form of a new user interface with a glowing light indicator, as well as the ability to maintain context throughout multiple interactions, amongst others. Users will also have the option to record their calls (this will be able available to iPhone XS models and newer), while the transcripts from the calls will be made available in English, Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, and Korean.
The launch of iOS 18.1 has been highly-anticipated, ever since Apple introduced iOS 18 last month alongside its latest addition to the iPhone lineup – the iPhone 16 series. Now, the company is set to roll out a new firmware upgrade for AirPods Pro 2 users as well – one that is slated to bring new hearing health features for users. For now, the specifics are yet to be finalized, but reports state that these will include hearing protection, hearing testing, and hearing aid functionalities (the device will be able to automatically adjust its audio output to act as hearing aids).
Reports also state that this update will let users conduct a hearing test directly from their iPhone itself – tones from multiple frequencies are utilized in this test. Once it is complete, users need to go to the Health app to see the results and adjust the audio settings as necessary.
Solar power from space? Actually, it might happen in a couple of years.
The idea of harvesting solar power continuously from space, where there are no nights, clouds, or atmosphere to interfere with the collection of photons, and beaming it back down to Earth via microwaves sounds simple, but implementing the technology is difficult. Aetherflux, a small company with only about 10 employees, plans to launch a satellite to test the idea and determine both the safety and efficiency of collecting solar energy in space. If the demo mission works, Aetherflux plans to develop a constellation of satellites to deliver power to remote locations.
#technology #solarpower #energy #space
Ray-Ban Meta Glasses Are The Top Selling Product In Many Ray-Ban Stores
Ray-Ban Meta glasses are the top-selling product in 60% of Ray-Ban stores across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. The company's sales figures suggest that consumers are willing to pay more for smart glasses if they're stylish and widely available to try on. Meta and EssilorLuxottica have extended their partnership into the 2030s. The companies plan to continue developing multi-generational smart eyewear products.
#meta #metaglasses #rayban #EssilorLuxottica
ByteDance intern fired for planting malicious code in AI models
An intern at ByteDance maliciously interfered with the company's model training tasks, sabotaging its AI models. They were fired for committing serious disciplinary violations. None of the intern's sabotage impacted ByteDance's commercial projects or online business and none of the company's large models were affected. Rumors suggest the intern's actions cost the company tens of millions of dollars in losses, but ByteDance says those claims are exaggerated.
#technology #infosec #bytedance #ai
Elon Musk rolls out a controversial new $1Mn daily voter giveaway, and it is already under legal lens
Voters in Pennsylvania are now getting a unique incentive to vote in the upcoming elections – a lot of cash. As strange as this sounds, this is exactly what’s happening, and the money is coming from the pockets of Elon Musk. At a rally in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, the billionaire announced that he will be giving $1 million every day to a randomly selected voter who signs a petition from his political action committee (PAC), America PAC
#technology #newsonleo
“I have a surprise for you,” Musk said at the rally, adding that the prize money will be made available “every day from now until the election.” The presidential election is on November 5. “I think think is kind of fun, and you know, it seems like a good use of money basically,” Musk added. The first cheque has already been given on Saturday, and another check was handed out on Sunday.
This giveaway is framed as a campaign to promote free speech and the right to bear arms, and the winner will be chosen at random. It should be noted that this giveaway is only open to registered voters (those who have signed a pro-US Constitution petition by the America PAC, and interested users need to go to the America PAC website to sign it). For now, it is restricted to Pennsylvania, Georgia, Nevada, Arizona, Michigan, Wisconsin and North Carolina. All of these are key states for the upcoming elections – Musk even called Pennsylvania the “linchpin” of the election.
And if this is not enough, America PAC is also offering several other smaller monetary rewards. These include bonuses of $100 bonuses for those who are signing the petition, as well as further payments if they refer the petition to others. for referrals. Critics argue that these incentives create a lottery-like system where voter registration becomes a gateway to potential financial gain.
Campaign finance lawyer Brendan Fischer warned that this initiative “approaches a legal boundary.” It is likely that this scheme could catch the eye of the federal authorities, who can can either prosecute Musk, file a civil lawsuit, or issue a warning to put an end to this giveaway. This initiative also undermines the elections themselves, especially when a prominent billionaire like Musk can simply leverage his worth to sway can simply leverage his worth to sway individuals to vote for certain parties or individuals. In this case, the individual is Donald Trump, the ex-US President who has now been endorsed by Musk.
While this giveaway is extremely lucrative for the winners, the bigger picture is less amusing. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro – during an appearance on NBC’s Meet the Press – described this development as “deeply concerning,” while critics are arguing that this development could violate US election law itself. The law prohibits giving out financial incentives for voting or voter registration, and that is exactly what Musk is doing by creating a link between the reward and the registration of new voters.
“I think there are real questions with how he is spending money in this race, how the dark money is flowing, not just into Pennsylvania, but apparently now into the pockets of Pennsylvanians. That is deeply concerning,” Shapiro said.
According to 52 U.S.C. 10307(c), it is illegal to offer or accept payment for voting or registering to vote. Rick Hasen, a professor at UCLA and an expert in election law, stated that the structure of Musk’s lottery “clearly” breaches this law. For reference, the law states that indivuduals who “pay or offer to pay or accept payment either for registration to vote or for voting” can be slammed with a hefty fine of $10,000 or even five years in prison.
AI
AI-generated influencers outperform humans in engagement, research reveals
According to research by HypeAuditor, personalities created by artificial intelligence are recording impressive engagement rates, reaching 6.5% – a number that far exceeds the average of human influencers, whose rates generally do not reach this level.
#newsonleo #ai #technology
Neysa, which provides enterprises with accelerated, scalable AI infra, nabs $30Mn in Series A from Nexus VP, others
Neysa, a generative AI upstart that helps enterprises rapidly deploy AI solutions at scale, has announced closing of a $30Mn Series A round. The round, which comes just months after its $20Mn seed round earlier this year, was led by existing investors NTTVC, Z47 (formerly Matrix Partners India) and Nexus Venture Partners. Neysa’s rapid $50Mn early fundraise in a year, follows the fundraise spree that AI startups have been witnessing globally, and is a sign that VC activity in AI space is picking up speed in India as well.
Since its seed fund earlier this year, Neysa has already made its Neysa Velocis platform generally available. Velocis enables on-demand access to high-performance computing infrastructure and Neysa claims large orders from companies across media and entertainment, service providers, software vendors, and government.
“This investment brings us closer to our vision of democratizing access to Gen AI and AI solutions for organizations across the world,” said Sharad Sanghi, Co-Founder and CEO of Neysa. “We’re thrilled with the progress we’ve made since our seed round. The general availability of Neysa Velocis and the onboarding of customers across key sectors validate our approach. By offering purpose-built, cost- effective AI-native solutions, we empower organizations to innovate confidently in a world that is being reshaped by AI.” The company aims to “democratizes AI adoption” with purpose-built platforms and services for AI-native applications and workloads.
Neysa currently offers three AI solutions to enterprises — Velocis (which is generally available), Overwatch and Aegis. Velocis helps in accelerated deployment of AI products, providing MLOps & GPU Cloud to deploy, train and infer Gen AI and AI models out of the box. Overwatch is an AI powered network monitoring tool, that provides intelligent real-time monitoring and alerts with remediation via AI interpretation and insights across network. Aegis is a cyber security platform that provides protection against AI-specific attacks globally.
A NASSCOM report had pegged India’s AI demand to reach nearly $22Bn by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 25-35%. This, coupled with a high engineering talent pool, has led to the birth of several fast-growing AI upstarts in the country, with a slew of them raising multi-million VC investments amid global AI frenzy.
Qualcomm launches new Snapdragon 8 Elite chip for premium smartphones, focus on AI
Chipmaker Qualcomm, at its annual Snapdragon Summit in Hawaii, has now revealed the Snapdragon 8 Elite, its latest flagship mobile chip. The company describes it as “the most powerful and world’s fastest mobile system-on-a-chip ever,” and is set to come to high-end smartphones from leading manufacturers such as Samsung, OnePlus, Motorola, and Xiaomi in the coming weeks.
#technology #ai #smartphones
AI remains the focal point of the Snapdragon 8 Elite, and Qualcomm aims to use this chip to take generative AI on mobile phones to new heights. The company notes that the chip will make “on-device multi-modal generative AI applications a reality on smartphones,” and comes with a real-time camera assistant that can recognize objects as users capture photos or record videos. Alongside this comes support for up to 320MP camera sensors and AI-driven tools that are integrated into the image signal processor (ISP) to allow real-time for camera adjustments. The Snapdragon 8 Elite also builds upon Qualcomm’s previous breakthroughs in AI and is set to handle text, audio, and visual data simultaneously to provide answers to prompts on-device.
With the Snapdragon 8 Elite, Qualcomm is also shifting from Kryo CPUs to its custom-designed Oryon CPU. This is fabricated using a 3-nanometer process and promises to bring a rise of 45% in overall performance and a boost of 44% in power efficiency. In the chip, there are two two prime cores clocked at 4.32 GHz and six performance cores reaching up to 3.53 GHz, and the company claims that they provide an increase of 62% increase in web performance. In addition to this, the Adreno GPU has undergone a revamp to gain a “sliced” architecture, and will support Unreal Engine’s Chaos Physics system. The chip will be a boon for gamers as well, and they will experience smoother gameplay with higher framerates, as well as a longer gaming time by as much as 2.5 hours.
We are so excited to bring the power of Qualcomm Oryon to our Snapdragon mobile platforms for the first time. Earlier this year we debuted it in PCs, delivering remarkable experiences and unparallel battery life to PC users, energizing the industry and getting the attention of consumers. Today, our second generation of the Qualcomm Oryon CPU debuts in our flagship Mobile Platform – it’s a major leap forward and we expect consumers to be thrilled with the new experiences enabled by our CPU technology” Chris Patrick, Senior Vice President and General Manager of mobile handsets at Qualcomm, commented on the matter.
The Snapdragon 8 Elite also comes with an upgraded Hexagon neural processing unit (NPU), which is said to offer up to 45% faster AI performance than its predecessor. The NPU is capable of processing more than 70 tokens per second, and comes with support for on-device multimodal AI assistants. “With leading CPU, GPU and NPU capabilities, the Snapdragon 8 Elite delivers dramatic performance enhancements and power efficiency 3. In addition, it revolutionizes mobile experiences by offering personalized, multi-modal generative AI directly on the device enabling the understanding of speech, context, and images to enhance everything from productivity to creativity tasks while prioritizing user privacy,” Patrick added.
https://inleo.io/threads/view/ciskodisco.opus/re-leothreads-29zfpdjr6
There's Something Weird About ChatGPT o1 Use Cases...
Summary below ⏬
Conclusion
While o1 represents an impressive advancement in AI technology, particularly in its approach to inference-time computation, the analysis suggests that many organizations might find GPT-4o sufficient for their current needs. The decision to adopt cutting-edge models should be based on specific use cases that genuinely require advanced reasoning capabilities beyond what existing frontier models can provide.
Hi, @mightpossibly,
This post has been voted on by @darkcloaks because you are an active member of the Darkcloaks gaming community.
Get started with Darkcloaks today, and follow us on Inleo for the latest updates.
GPT-4o vs o1: Are Cutting-Edge Models Necessary for Most Use Cases?
A recent analysis of OpenAI's o1 model demonstrations reveals an intriguing insight about the practical necessity of cutting-edge AI models. While OpenAI showcased o1's capabilities across various use cases, subsequent testing suggests that GPT-4o can handle many of these tasks just as effectively, raising questions about when organizations truly need the latest AI advancements.
The 90-8-2 Rule of AI Use Cases
According to the analysis, AI use cases generally fall into three tiers:
Key Differences Between GPT-4o and o1
The primary distinction between GPT-4o and o1 lies in their processing approach:
It's worth noting that o1 currently has some limitations compared to GPT-4o:
Testing o1's Core Use Cases
OpenAI identified three primary areas where o1 supposedly adds the most value:
1. Strategy
A market expansion scenario was tested, where both models were asked to analyze potential office locations. The test revealed that GPT-4o produced comparable analysis of markets like Paris and Berlin, including considerations for:
2. Coding
Using o1 Mini (optimized for coding tasks), the test examined creating a web application with Node.js backend and React frontend. While o1 Mini demonstrated impressive speed and detailed step-by-step guidance, GPT-4o proved equally capable of:
3. Research
A practical research scenario involving dog food optimization was tested. Both models successfully:
Mathematical Capabilities
While traditional language models have struggled with mathematical tasks, both o1 Mini and GPT-4o demonstrated accurate handling of complex calculations, as shown in a covered call option analysis example. Both models arrived at identical conclusions regarding maximum profit calculations and opportunity costs.
Key Takeaways
The analysis suggests several important conclusions:
Capability Overlap: For many showcased use cases, GPT-4o demonstrated comparable performance to o1, raising questions about the necessity of upgrading for these specific applications.
Speed Considerations: o1 Mini showed impressive speed, particularly in coding tasks, potentially offering an advantage in scenarios where rapid response times are crucial.
Cost-Benefit Analysis: Organizations should carefully evaluate whether their use cases truly require o1's enhanced capabilities, given the potential cost implications.
Future Potential: While current use cases might not fully demonstrate o1's advantages, the model's innovative approach to inference-time computation scaling could prove valuable as the technology evolves.
xAI, Elon Musk's AI startup, launches an API
Elon Musk's AI startup, xAI, has launched an API. But it's a bit barren at the moment.
#xai #grok #ai #technology
xAI's Grok API debuts with Limited Functionality and Technical Issues
In a significant development, xAI, a company founded by Elon Musk, has launched its flagship generative AI model, Grok, as an API (Application Programming Interface). The API allows developers to integrate Grok's capabilities into their own applications, but its initial release is somewhat bare-bones and plagued by technical issues.
The xAI API currently offers a single model, "grok-beta," which is priced at $5 per million input tokens (approximately 750,000 words) or $15 per million output tokens. Tokens are subdivided bits of raw data, such as syllables or characters. However, it is unclear which Grok model "grok-beta" is, as the documentation refers to Grok 2 and Grok mini, a lightweight and more affordable version of Grok.
Some users on X, the platform where Grok is integrated, have reported encountering problems paying for usage credits. The API supports function calling, which enables Grok models to connect with external tools such as databases and search engines. Additionally, the documentation hints at the possibility of vision models capable of analyzing both text and images, although these features are not yet live.
Grok, the AI model, has gained notoriety for its "rebellious streak," which allows it to answer questions that other AI systems might reject. For example, if asked to be vulgar, Grok will happily oblige, generating profanities and colorful language. This feature has raised concerns about the potential misuse of the model.
Grok has become an integral part of the X experience, with capabilities such as generating images using the open image generator Flux, summarizing news and trending events, and enhancing search capabilities, account bios, post analytics, and reply functions.
Despite the initial limitations, xAI is racing to catch up with competitors like OpenAi and Anthropic in the generative AI space. In May, the company raised $6 billion in a funding round led by investors including Andreessen Horowitz, Sequoia capital, and Fidelity. xAI's pitch for the funding round included a vision where its models would be trained on data from Musk's various companies, including Tesla, SpaceX, and The Boring Company, and would improve technology across those companies.
However, Tesla shareholders have expressed concerns about the diversion of resources and talent from Tesla to xAI. Several shareholders have sued Musk over the decision to start xAI, arguing that it is a competing venture that undermines Tesla's interests.
In related news, xAI is training the next generation of Grok models at its Memphis data center, which has been accused of worsening smog with unauthorized turbines. The company hopes to upgrade the data center next year, but will need approval from the Tennessee Valley Authority to do so.
The launch of the xAI API marks an important milestone for the company, but its limited functionality and technical issues may hinder its adoption in the short term. As xAI continues to develop its capabilities and address these issues, it will be interesting to see how it competes with established players in the generative AI space.
Some of the key features of the xAI API include:
Overall, the launch of the xAI API is a significant development in the generative AI space, but its limitations and technical issues may hinder its adoption in the short term. As xAI continues to develop its capabilities and address these issues, it will be interesting to see how it competes with established players in the market.
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What is an API?
An application Programming Interface (API) is a crucial tool that enables different applications, services, or systems to communicate with each other by providing a set of defined rules. This allows data to be shared, processed, and used across various platforms, languages, and systems, fostering a seamless exchange of information.
When a company sets up an API, it essentially creates a gateway that allows other developers to access its data, services, or functionality, enabling them to build applications, services, or integrations that interact with the company's system without having to build everything from scratch. This process involves several key steps:
By setting up an API, a company can achieve several benefits, including:
Examples of APIs include:
In summary, an API is a set of rules that enables different systems to communicate with each other, allowing data and functionality to be shared and used across different platforms and services. By setting up an API, a company can open up new opportunities for innovation, collaboration, and revenue generation, while also improving its customers' experience and expanding its reach.
Physicists Generated Sound Waves That Travel in One Direction Only
Imagine three people huddled in a circle so when one speaks, only one other hears. Scientists have created a device that works like that, ensuring sound waves ripple in one direction only.
The device, developed by scientists at ETH Zurich and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne, is made up of a disk-shaped cavity with three equally-spaced ports that can each send or receive sound.
#science #soundwaves
In an inactive state, sound transmitted from port 1 is audible to ports 2 and 3 at equal volumes. Sound waves bounce back to port 1 as an echo as well.
When the system is running, however, only port 2 hears port 1's sounds.
The trick is to blow swirling air into the cavity at a specific speed and intensity, which allows the sound waves to synchronize in a repeating pattern. That not only guides the sound waves in a single direction, but gives more energy to those oscillations so they don't dissipate. It's kind of like a roundabout for sound.
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Yesterday we had over 100 articles and stories linked in the technology threadcast.
This is becoming similar to a subreddit.
Poshmark reverses decision to lower selling fees after sellers experience a drop in sales
Shortly after the social marketplace Poshmark announced it would lower selling fees and increase fees for buyers, the company decided to revert to its Shortly after Poshmark lowered selling fees and increased fees for buyers, it reverted back to the original fee structure following outrage among sellers.
#poshmark #sellers #fees #newsonleo
Shortly after the social marketplace Poshmark announced it would lower selling fees and increase fees for buyers, the company decided to revert to its original fee structure following outrage among sellers.
In an email to sellers sent on Monday (and viewed by TechCrunch), founder and CEO Manish Chandra wrote an apology about the fee change, saying it resulted in shoppers spending less on purchases, “leaving our sellers with less cash in their pockets—despite the seller fee reduction.”
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These countries are leading the way to 100% renewable electricity
By 2030, 10 countries are expected to reach or surpass the 66% wind and solar penetration level.
At least 10 countries are on track to get more than two-thirds of their electricity from wind and solar by 2030, according to the International Energy Agency.
#energy #renewable #technology
A handful of nations have already reached — or come close to — the 100% renewables mark, including Norway, New Zealand, Iceland, Costa Rica, Kenya, Bhutan, and Paraguay. However, they relied on traditional technologies — including hydro and first-generation geothermal power plants — and most countries don’t have access to these resources in abundance.
Some others, including France, get most of their electricity from low-carbon nuclear power.
The IEA’s 2024 renewable energy stocktake focuses partly on the countries that are leading the shift to variable renewable energy technologies — primarily wind and solar, which are now the cheapest sources of generating capacity in much of the world.
Denmark is the current frontrunner, and is on track to get within touching distance of 100% renewables by the end of the decade, the IEA projects.
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CrewAI uses third-party models to automate business tasks
CrewAI, a startup developing a hub where companies can build automations using third-party AI models, has raised $18 million from investors including Andrew Ng.
Back in 2022, João Moura was directing AI engineering efforts at Clearbit, a startup creating a unified hub for business intelligence tools. There, Moura was responsible for leading the development of AI integrations, as well as defining Clearbit’s AI product roadmap.
#crewai #technology #newsonleo #andrewng
CrewAI: Revolutionizing Workflow Automation with AI
In today's fast-paced business environment, workflow automation has become a crucial aspect of operations to streamline processes, increase efficiency, and drive growth. CrewAI, a cutting-edge startup, is leading the charge in this space by harnessing the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to automate repetitive, back-office tasks. In this article, we'll delve into the world of CrewAI, exploring its founding story, innovative platform, and future plans.
The Founding Story
João Moura, a seasoned entrepreneur with a background in AI engineering, founded CrewAI after leaving his role as the director of AI engineering at Clearbit, a startup that was acquired by HubSpot. Moura's previous venture, Urdog, developed a smart collar for pets, but this time, he had a more ambitious vision in mind. CrewAI aims to automate tasks such as summarizing reports, onboarding employees, and enriching marketing databases using AI models from vendors like OpenAi and Anthropic.
The Platform
CrewAI's platform offers a user-friendly interface for customers to build workflow automations, deploy and track them from a dashboard, and integrate with over 1,000 different applications. Unlike traditional robotic process automation (RPA), which relies on rigid "if-then" rules, CrewAI leverages existing AI models to drive automations. This approach enables businesses to automate tasks such as analyzing customer feedback, forecasting trends, and protecting data privacy.
A Game-Changer in Workflow Automation
CrewAI's approach is a departure from traditional RPA, which can be inflexible and prone to errors. Moura argues that AI is a more resilient technology, capable of adapting to changing business needs. With CrewAI, teams can build groups of AI "agents" to perform tasks, integrate with various applications, and protect data privacy.
Competition and Funding
CrewAI has attracted significant funding, raising $18 million across seed and Series A rounds from prominent investors, including Boldstart Ventures, Craft Ventures, Earl Grey capital, and Insight Partners. The company has also secured investments from notable entrepreneurs, such as Andrew Ng, co-founder of Coursera, and Dharmesh Shah, co-founder and CTO of HubSpot.
While CrewAI faces competition from other AI-powered workflow automation startups, such as Orby, Bardeen, Tektonic, 11x.ai, Twin Labs, and Emergence, the company has managed to attract a sizeable customer base of 150 businesses in its first year.
Enterprise Cloud and Future Plans
CrewAI has launched Enterprise Cloud, a managed subscription plan built on tOP of open-source components, providing additional access controls, analytics, and VIP support. The company plans to use its funding to grow its 16-person workforce and expand its core automation products.
Conclusion
CrewAI is revolutionizing the workflow automation landscape by leveraging AI to automate repetitive tasks. With its innovative approach, the company has attracted significant funding and a growing customer base. As the company continues to expand its offerings and workforce, it's poised to become a major player in the industry.
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Anthropic just made it harder for AI to go rogue with its updated safety policy
Anthropic, the artificial intelligence company behind the popular Claude chatbot, today announced a sweeping update to its Responsible Scaling Policy (RSP), aimed at mitigating the risks of highly capable AI systems.
#technology #anthropic #ai #safety #newsonleo
The policy, originally introduced in 2023, has evolved with new protocols to ensure that AI models, as they grow more powerful, are developed and deployed safely.
This revised policy sets out specific Capability Thresholds—benchmarks that indicate when an AI model’s abilities have reached a point where additional safeguards are necessary.
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Microsoft’s new AI agents set to shake up enterprise software, sparking new battle with Salesforce
Microsoft just announced a suite of autonomous AI agents for its Dynamics 365 platform, intensifying the competition with Salesforce in the enterprise AI market. The tech giant will release ten new autonomous agents designed to augment sales, service, finance, and supply chain teams.
#microsoft #ai #agents #technology #enterprise
Microsoft Unveils Autonomous AI Agents for Dynamics 365, Intensifying Competition with Salesforce
In a move that is set to revolutionize the enterprise AI market, Microsoft has announced a suite of autonomous AI agents designed to augment sales, service, finance, and supply chain teams within its Dynamics 365 platform. This strategic move comes just weeks after Salesforce unveiled its Agentforce platform, and is seen as a direct challenge to the CRM giant's offering.
The ten new AI agents, available in public preview starting next month, are designed to automate complex tasks and orchestrate business processes across organizations. Unlike traditional chatbots and Microsoft's earlier AI offerings, these agents are capable of reasoning over intent and context, making judgments based on a broader set of data. According to Bryan Goode, Corporate Vice President at Microsoft, these agents are not meant to replace human workers but to enhance their capabilities.
"We think of these agents as really the apps of the AI era," Goode said in an interview with VentureBeat. "Every line of business system that exists today is going to get reimagined as an agent that sits on tOP of a copilot."
Microsoft's move is seen as a direct response to Salesforce's Agentforce platform, which was unveiled earlier this year. Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff has been aggressively promoting Agentforce, while criticizing Microsoft's Copilot. Benioff recently referred to Microsoft Copilot as "more like Clippy 2.0," a nod to Microsoft's much-maligned Office assistant from the 1990s.
However, Microsoft's agents are powered by advanced language models and the company's vast troves of enterprise data, giving it a unique advantage over Salesforce's Agentforce, which relies on its Atlas reasoning engine.
The tech industry is witnessing a paradigm shift as AI agents move from experimental technology to core business tools. Microsoft and Salesforce are at the forefront of this shift, each leveraging their unique strengths to shape the future of enterprise software.
Microsoft's strategy hinges on its ubiquitous presence in office productivity and cloud computing, making it easier for its vast user base to adopt AI agents. Salesforce, on the other hand, is banking on its CRM expertise and the power of its recently developed Data cloud to create AI agents that understand and optimize customer relationships.
The success of these platforms could redefine the future of work and enterprise software. As AI agents become more sophisticated, they may blur the lines between human and machine tasks, potentially reshaping organizational structures and job roles.
However, challenges remain. Data privacy concerns, the need for transparent AI decision-making, and the potential for job displacement are issues both companies must navigate carefully. Their ability to address these concerns while delivering tangible business value will likely determine the pace and extent of AI agent adoption.
The battle for AI dominance is heating up, and the outcome will have far-reaching implications for the future of enterprise software and the workforce. As the AI revolution unfolds, one thing is clear: the enterprise software landscape is on the cusp of a major transformation. Whether it's Microsoft's vision of "agents plus copilot plus humans" or Salesforce's "human at the helm" approach, the future of work is being rewritten — one AI agent at a time.
Key details:
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IBM debuts open source Granite 3.0 LLMs for enterprise AI
Make no mistake about it, enterprise AI is big business, especially for IBM.
IBM already has a $2 billion book of business related to generative AI and it’s now looking to accelerate that growth. IBM is expanding its enterprise AI business today with the launch of the third generation of Granite large language models (LLMs). A core element of the new generation is the continued focus on real open source enterprise AI. Going a step further, IBM is ensuring that models can be fine-tuned for enterprise AI, with its InstructLab capabilities.
#ibm #llm #enterprise #technology #granite
The new models announced today include general purpose options with a 2 billion and 8 billion Granite 3.0. There are also Mixture-of-Experts (MoE) models that include Granite 3.0 3B A800M Instruct, Granite 3.0 1B A400M Instruct, Granite 3.0 3B A800M Base and Granite 3.0 1B A400M Base. Rounding out the update, IBM also has a new group with optimized guardrail and safety options that include Granite Guardian 3.0 8B and Granite Guardian 3.0 2B models. The new models will be available on IBM’s watsonX service, as well as on Amazon Bedrock, Amazon Sagemaker and Hugging Face.
“As we mentioned on our last earnings call, the book of business that we’ve built on generative AI is now $2 billion plus across technology and consulting,” Rob Thomas, senior vice-president and chief commercial officer at IBM, said during a briefing with press and analysts. “As I think about my 25 years in IBM, I’m not sure we’ve ever had a business that has scaled at this pace.”
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Gartner: 2025 will see the rise of AI agents (and other top trends)
The pace of AI continues to accelerate, with capabilities never before thought possible now becoming a reality. This is particularly true of AI agents, or virtual co-workers, which will work alongside us and, eventually, autonomously.
#ai #technology #gartner #aiagents
In fact, Gartner predicts that by 2028, at least 15% of day-to-day work decisions will be made autonomously through agentic AI (up from 0% in 2024). Further emphasizing the technology’s potential, the firm has named it a top strategic technology trend in 2025.
“It’s happening really, really fast,” Gene Alvarez, distinguished VP analyst with Gartner, told VentureBeat. “Nobody ever goes to bed at night with everything done. Organizations spend a lot of time monitoring things. The ability to create agents to not only do that monitoring but take action will help not just from a productivity perspective but a timing perspective.”
The Cool and Scary Future of AI: Trends and Predictions
Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing the way we live and work, and its impact is only expected to grow in the coming years. From mundane tasks to complex scenarios, AI agents are becoming increasingly sophisticated, raising both excitement and concerns about their potential effects on society. In this article, we'll delve into the latest trends and predictions in AI, from its applications in the workforce to its potential impact on our brains.
Agentic AI: The Next Level of Automation
Agentic AI has the ability to plan, sense, and take action, making it a game-changer in various industries. For instance, AI agents can help upscale the workforce by guiding new employees and teaching them new skills. This could lead to a more efficient and productive workforce, but it also raises concerns about job loss and the potential for AI to displace human workers. As AI becomes more prevalent, it's essential to address these concerns and develop strategies to mitigate the negative impacts on employment.
Building Trust in AI
As AI becomes more pervasive, building trust in its capabilities is crucial. AI governance platforms will enable organizations to manage their AI systems' legal, ethical, and operational performance, ensuring transparency and responsible use. These platforms will also check for bias and provide information on how models were built, as well as the reasoning behind their prompts. This transparency is essential for building trust in AI and ensuring that it is used in a way that benefits society as a whole.
Hybrid Computing Models: The Future of Computing
The future of computing will involve hybrid models that combine different compute, storage, and network mechanisms. Orchestration software will move compute from one to another depending on the task and the method most suited for the job. This will require new technologies that use significantly less energy, as there is increased pressure to reduce consumption and carbon footprints. The development of more energy-efficient computing models will be critical in reducing the environmental impact of AI.
Disinformation Security: The New Frontier
AI is allowing threat actors to spread disinformation faster and more easily than ever before. Disinformation security is critical, and emerging technologies will assess authenticity, track the spread of harmful information, and prevent impersonation. By 2028, Gartner predicts that half of aLL enterprises will begin adopting products, services, or features specifically designed for disinformation security. As AI becomes more sophisticated, it's essential to develop effective strategies for detecting and preventing disinformation.
Preparing for the Post-Quantum World
quantum computing is rapidly advancing, and it will soon be able to break public key cryptography, or asymmetrical encryption. red teams are already harvesting encrypted data and holding onto it until quantum is realized. Organizations must be prepping for post-quantum cryptography nOW to ensure that their data is resistant to decryption. The development of post-quantum cryptography will be critical in protecting sensitive information and preventing data breaches.
AI Enhancing Our Brains
Gartner anticipates a rise in the use of bidirectional brain-machine interfaces (BBMIs) that read and decode brain activity and enhance human cognitive abilities. These could be directly integrated into our brains or made possible via wearables such as glasses or headbands. By 2030, 30% of knowledge workers will be using technologies such as BBMIs to stay relevant in the AI-powered workplace. The potential benefits of AI-enhanced brains include improved cognitive abilities, enhanced creativity, and increased productivity. However, it's essential to address the ethical implications of AI-enhanced brains and ensure that they are used in a way that benefits society as a whole.
Conclusion
The future of AI is both exciting and unsettling. As AI agents become more sophisticated, they will have the potential to transform various industries and aspects of our lives. However, it is essential to address the concerns and challenges that come with AI, such as job loss, disinformation, and cybersecurity threats. By building trust in AI, preparing for the post-quantum world, and enhancing our brains, we can harness the power of AI to create a better future for all. It's essential to prioritize responsible AI development and ensure that AI is used in a way that benefits society as a whole.
Dotmatics aims to speed drug development, break data silos with Geneious Luma
Even as enterprises across sectors explore how to integrate generative AI, it’s clear that biomedical research and the sciences are among the areas that could benefit most — as highlighted in the recent Nobel Prizes in Chemistry and Physics awarded to AI researchers.
#drugs #technology #bigpharma #dotmatics
Now Dotmatics, a leader in research and development scientific software, wants to give drug researchers the power of AI to speed up their development of new, life-saving and improving drugs.
Today, the Boston-based company launches Geneious Luma, a powerful new bioinformatics solution for antibody discovery, built on its Luma Scientific Intelligence Platform.
Geneious Luma is designed to streamline the process of biologic therapeutic discovery by integrating advanced sequence analysis, data management, and AI-powered automation. This release marks the first of several multimodal solutions aimed at transforming scientific research and accelerating the discovery of new therapies.
Thomas Swalla, CEO of Dotmatics, explained the benefit of Geneious Luma in a recent video interview with VentureBeat: “The problem we’re solving is that discovering new molecules and drugs has become increasingly complicated. It takes over a decade to bring a drug to market and costs anywhere from two to six billion dollars.”
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Here is a rewritten version of the text with more details:
Dotmatics, a software company founded in 1991, has been a pioneer in providing laboratory information management system (LIMS) and data management solutions for the life sciences industry.
The company's journey began with a team of scientists and software developers who recognized the need for a more efficient and effective way to manage laboratory data. Their first product, Dotmatics LIMS, was launched in 1994 and quickly gained popularity among pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies due to its ability to streamline laboratory operations, track samples, and analyze data.
Over the years, Dotmatics has continued to innovate and expand its product portfolio by acquiring several companies and developing new solutions to meet the evolving needs of the life sciences industry. Today, the company offers a range of software solutions that help life sciences organizations manage their laboratory data, streamline their workflows, and improve their overall efficiency.
At the heart of Dotmatics' offerings is its flagship product, Dotmatics LIMS, a comprehensive laboratory information management system that enables organizations to manage their laboratory operations, track samples, and analyze data. This solution provides a centralized platform for managing laboratory data, including sample tracking, data storage, and retrieval. Additionally, Dotmatics LIMS automates many laboratory workflows, reducing manual errors and increasing efficiency.
Beyond LIMS, Dotmatics offers a range of other solutions designed to meet the specific needs of life sciences organizations. These include:
The key features and benefits of Dotmatics' solutions include:
Overall, Dotmatics is a leading provider of laboratory information management system (LIMS) and data management solutions for the life sciences industry, helping organizations to manage their laboratory data, streamline their workflows, and improve their overall efficiency.
The AI edge in cybersecurity: Predictive tools aim to slash response times
Modern cybersecurity professionals require advanced technologies to deter, detect and expel hackers, and the predictive benefits of AI can mean the difference between data protection and ruin.
#cyberscurity #ai #security #technology
The average cost of a data breach in the U.S. hit a high-water mark of $9.48 million in 2023. Losses have ticked up every year since 2013, even during the global health emergency of Covid-19 when many businesses shuttered. An analysis in IBM’s 2024 data breach report indicates that organizations that employed extensive AI security automation saved $2.22 million, while also lowering cybersecurity insurance.
Industry leaders would be well-served to think about cyberattacks outside the financial implications, as well. Should your organization pay a ransomware demand or right the ship after a crushing malware attack, the reputational damage can far outweigh the dollars. When hackers steal confidential, sensitive and personal identity information, those in your orbit are negatively impacted. Employees, customers and industry partners may file civil actions.
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Zomato to raise $1 billion ahead of rival Swiggy India IPO
Zomato on Tuesday said that its board has approved a plan to raise $1 billion via a share sale to institutional investors.
Zomato on Tuesday said its board has approved a plan to raise $1 billion via a sale of shares to institutional investors, as competition in India’s quick-commerce sector heats up.
#zomato #india #ipo
The timing of the share sale, the company’s first major fundraise since its 2021 IPO, is notable, because it comes just weeks before its rival Swiggy’s public debut. Bengaluru-based Swiggy, backed by Prosus Ventures, SoftBank, and Accel, aims to raise about $1.4 billion in its IPO next month.
The move by Zomato, which one investor characterized as “sucking the air out of the room” for competitors, has caught market observers off-guard. Jefferies analysts called the capital raise “unexpected,” given Zomato’s existing $1.2 billion cash reserves. They suggest the strategy may be aimed at reducing foreign institutional investor ownership in Zomato below 50%, effectively transforming it into a “domestic” company.
The shift to majority domestic ownership could enable Blinkit, Zomato’s quick-commerce subsidiary, to adopt an inventory-based model in India. Current regulations restrict foreign-owned companies to conducting only marketplace operations, and prohibit them from owning inventory sold within the country.
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What is Zomato?
Here is a rewritten version with more details:
Zomato, a pioneering online food delivery and restaurant discovery platform, was founded in 2008 by Deepinder Goyal and Pankaj Chaddah in New Delhi, India. The company's journey began with a humble start, driven by the founders' passion for food and technology.
Early days (2008-2010)
Deepinder Goyal, a computer science graduate from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, and Pankaj Chaddah, an engineering graduate from IIT Kanpur, met while working at a software company. They shared a common interest in food and technology, which led them to start a food review website called Foodiebay.com.
The website allowed users to review and rate restaurants, providing a comprehensive directory of eateries in the city. Foodiebay.com quickly gained popularity, with users sharing their dining experiences and recommendations.
Rebranding and Expansion (2010-2012)
In 2010, the founders decided to rebrand Foodiebay.com as Zomato.com, a name inspired by the Italian word "zomato," meaning "to eat." This marked a significant milestone in the company's history, as it expanded its features to include restaurant listings, menus, and user reviews. Zomato also launched its first mobile app for Android and iOS devices, making it easier for users to access the platform on-the-go.
International Expansion (2012-2015)
Zomato's rapid growth and success led to its expansion into international markets. The company entered the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Latin America, establishing a strong presence in these regions. This expansion not only increased Zomato's user base but also provided a platform for local restaurants to showcase their offerings to a global audience.
Series A and B Funding (2012-2015)
Zomato's growth and expansion required significant funding to support its operations and develop new features. In 2012, the company raised Series A funding of $1 million from InfoEdge, a leading Indian Internet company. This funding enabled Zomato to expand its team and develop its technology infrastructure. In 2013, Zomato raised Series B funding of $25 million from Sequoia capital and InfoEdge, which further accelerated its growth and expansion plans.
Series C and D Funding (2015-2017)
Zomato's success in international markets and its growing user base led to further funding rounds. In 2015, the company raised Series C funding of $60 million from Sequoia Capital, InfoEdge, and other investors. This funding enabled Zomato to expand its food delivery service and enter new markets. In 2017, Zomato raised Series D funding of $200 million from Ant Financial, a Chinese e-commerce giant, which further solidified its position in the market.
IPO and Expansion (2018-Present)
Zomato's growth and success culminated in its initial public offering (IPO) in July 2021, raising $1.1 billion. The company used this funding to expand its operations, develop new features, and enter new markets. Today, Zomato is one of the largest food delivery and restaurant discovery platforms in India, with operations in over 10,000 cities across 24 countries.
Key Milestones
Throughout its journey, Zomato has demonstrated its ability to innovate, expand, and adapt to changing market conditions. Today, the company is a leading player in the Indian food delivery and restaurant discovery space, with a strong presence in international markets.
TikTok owner fires intern who 'maliciously interfered' with AI project
ByteDance confirmed the intern’s dismissal, writing on a Chinese social news platform.
TikTok’s China-based parent company ByteDance fired an intern for allegedly sabotaging a training session about artificial intelligence.
#tiktok #technology #bytedance #AI #sociamedia
ByteDance confirmed the worker was canned in August after having “maliciously interfered” on a research project to train AI models.
The company denied reports that the intern cost it “tens of millions of dollars,” saying that those claims were “seriously exaggerated.”
“The intern involved maliciously interfered with the model training tasks of the commercial technology team’s research project, but it did not affect the formal commercial projects and online business, nor did it involve other businesses such as ByteDance’s large models,” the TikTok owner wrote in the post on a Chinese social news platform.
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Senators Want Biden Admin Review of Undersea Cable Vulnerabilities
More than 95% of international internet traffic travels on undersea cables and the locations of the cables are often openly published to prevent accidental damage.
A bipartisan group of eight U.S. senators on Monday urged President Joe Biden to order a review of the security of the global network of undersea communications cables that handle nearly all the world's internet traffic.
#technology #underwatercable #security
More than 95% of international internet traffic travels on undersea cables and the locations of the cables are often openly published to prevent accidental damage.
"It is imperative that the United States undertake a review of existing vulnerabilities to global undersea cable infrastructure, including the threat of sabotage by Russia as well as the growing role of the People’s Republic of China in cable laying and repair," said the letter, led by Republican Todd Young and Democrat Chris Murphy.
What is the Difference Between Centralized and Decentralized AI?
Centralized AI dominates today's landscape, but at the cost of privacy and censorship.
#ai #decentralized #centralized #technology
AI is developing at breakneck speed. Experts predict that between 2024 and 2030, the AI market will expand by over 28% each year. By 2030, it's expected to reach a staggering value of over $800 billion.
But this rapid progress comes with big risks. Today's AI landscape is dominated by a handful of large, centralized companies like OpenAi, Google, and Microsoft, who control most of the data and computing resources.
As the AI tools they build become more powerful, questions of privacy, security, and control are becoming urgent.
Continual data breaches at tech companies have exposed billions of user records, highlighting the vulnerabilities of centralized data storage. The Federal government, which siphons personal information from across society, is no better. centralization in AI development also leads to issues of censorship and bias, despite intention.
A new approach is emerging that tackles many of the problems with centralized AI while opening up new possibilities for innovation and user control: decentralized AI.
Centralized vs. Decentralized AI
While this approach allows for efficient processing of massive datasets, it risks data monopolies, single points of failure, and potential misuse of concentrated power.
Decentralized AI, in contrast, distributes computational resources, data, and most importantly, control, across a many participants.
This offers several key advantages:
Distributed Compute: Instead of relying on centralized data centers, decentralized AI leverages a network of distributed nodes for processing.
Data Sovereignty: Decentralized systems prevent data from collecting in single databases, under the control of singular monolithic parties. ,
Resilience: Distributed systems are inherently more resistant to single points of failure, improving overall system robustness. This resilience is achieved through redundancy and load balancing across multiple nodes, ensuring that if one part of the network fails, the system can continue operating by redistributing tasks to other available nodes.
Democratized innovation: By lowering barriers to entry, decentralized AI can stimulate a more diverse ecosystem of developers and applications, fueling innovation and greater user optionality.
transparency: Many decentralized AI initiatives emphasize open-source development, enabling greater scrutiny and community-driven improvements.
It's crucial to note that while decentralization can enhance privacy and security, these are not inherent features.
Proper implementation of privacy-preserving techniques are also necessary to fully realize the benefits, which was the entire purpose of Venice’s creation.Decentralization provides a crucial foundation that can support privacy-enhancing technologies, but privacy itself requires conscious design choices and implementation.
Here's a comparison of centralized and decentralized AI infrastructures:
This shift from centralized to decentralized infrastructure represents a fundamental reimagining of how AI systems are developed, deployed, and governed. Decentralized AI has the potential to create a more open, resilient, and democratized AI ecosystem.
Key technologies enabling Decentralized AI
Decentralized AI integrates a number of key technologies to achieve its goals of distributed processing, enhanced data security, and open innovation:
Open-Source: While not exclusively tied to decentralized AI, open-source models often play a complementary role. They enhance transparency, allow for community audits and improvements, and align with the ethos of decentralization. This is why Venice uses open-source models, but it's important to note that not all decentralized AI systems use open-source models, and not all open-source models are part of decentralized systems.
Decentralized compute: These networks allow individuals and organizations to contribute unused compute power for AI tasks, increasing overall capacity, reducing costs, and improving availability of computational resources. By turning compute power into a shared, tradable resource, it democratizes access to AI infrastructure.
Federated learning: This technique allows AI models to be trained across multiple decentralized devices or servers without exchanging raw data. Federated learning can enhance data privacy by keeping sensitive information local while still benefiting from diverse datasets, but it requires careful implementation to fully realize these privacy benefits.
edge computing: By processing data on local devices rather than in centralized cloud servers, edge computing reduces latency in AI inference and can enhance data locality. This is particularly crucial for applications requiring real-time processing or operating in environments with limited connectivity.
peer-to-peer (P2P) networks: P2P architectures enable direct interaction between network participants without the need for intermediaries. In decentralized AI, P2P networks can facilitate distributed computing, data sharing, and collaborative model training.
blockchain: blockchains provide secure and transparent ways to record transactions and share data across networks. In the context of AI, they can ensure data provenance, create auditable trails of AI decisions, and enable secure peer-to-peer sharing of AI data.
smart contracts: These self-executing contracts with the terms of the agreement directly written into code can automate transactions and enforce rules in decentralized AI networks. They can play a crucial role in managing access rights to AI models and data, as well as in implementing fair compensation mechanisms for contributions to AI development.
These technologies work in concert to form the foundation upon which decentralized AI platforms are built, enabling a new paradigm of AI that prioritizes distributed innovation and user empowerment.
The Decentralized AI landscape
The decentralized AI landscape is rapidly evolving, with numerous projects addressing different aspects of the AI stack. Here's an overview of some key players across various categories:
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Decentralized Compute
Akash: Decentralized cloud computing marketplace
Morpheus: Peer-to-peer network for general purpose AI and smart agents
TogetherAI: Collaborative AI development platform
Decentralized Storage
Filecoin: Decentralized network for file storage
Arweave: Permanent, decentralized data storage
AI Infrastructure
Ocean protocol: Decentralized data exchange protocol
Oasis: Platform focusing on privacy-preserving AI computing
SingularityNET: Marketplace for AI services
Decentralized Data and Training: @Suyu0x
Gensyn: Decentralized machine learning network
Bittensor: Peer-to-peer network for AI training
Nous Research, known for developing high-quality open-source language models, is advancing distributed AI training methods. Their innovation, DisTrO (Distributed Training Over-the-Internet), is a new optimizer allowing AI models to be trained across distributed networks using consumer-grade Internet connections. At Venice, we host the latest Nous models - try them here.
These platforms are working to create a more open, transparent, and decentralized AI ecosystem. In the next section, we'll dive deeper into how Venice leverages this ecosystem and what this means for our users.
Venice's approach to Decentralized AI
Venice leverages decentralized infrastructure to provide a private, uncensored alternative to mainstream AI apps from centralized tech companies. Our platform is built on tOP of decentralized systems, enabling us to offer powerful AI capabilities while prioritizing user privacy, freedom of inquiry, and permissionless access.
Here's how we're implementing decentralized AI principles:
Decentralized inference
We utilize networks of distributed GPU providers for AI inference, such as Akash Network. When using Venice you can clearly see which provider was used to generate the output.
This approach ensures that no single entity controls our computational resources, enhancing the overall resilience and scalability of our AI services.
Cryptocurrency Payment Options
We've implemented cryptocurrency as a payment option, extending our commitment to decentralization to the financial aspect of our services. This approach supports a decentralized financial ecosystem and enables increased permissionless access to AI services globally.
By integrating cryptocurrency payments, we're not only offering an alternative payment method, but ensuring our financial infrastructure aligns with our core principle of open, decentralized AI access.
Privacy-first infrastructure
Our entire system is architected with privacy as a foundational principle. All user conversations and data remain in your local browser, never touching our servers. We don't see or store user prompts or AI responses. This design gives users full control over their AI interactions, significantly reduces the risk of data breaches or unauthorized access, and enables users to explore AI capabilities without compromising their privacy.
By building on decentralized systems, Venice offers a platform where users can access powerful AI capabilities while maintaining control over their privacy and freedom of exploration. This approach enhances individual user experiences but also contributes to a more open, diverse, and resilient AI ecosystem.
The future of AI is decentralized
Decentralized AI represents a fundamental shift in how we approach artificial intelligence, offering a compelling alternative to the centralized models that currently dominate the landscape.
Venice leverages decentralized AI systems to deliver powerful AI capabilities while prioritizing user privacy, freedom of inquiry, and uncensored access. By distributing computational resources, implementing privacy-first infrastructure, and supporting cryptocurrency payments, we're demonstrating that it's possible to create an AI platform that contributes to a more open, permissionless and decentralized AI ecosystem.
The journey towards fully realizing the potential of decentralized AI is just beginning, with many challenges in scalability, interoperability, and regulation still to be addressed. However, we believe that continued collaboration across the decentralized AI ecosystem will overcome these hurdles.
The future of AI is decentralized and permissionless, and Venice will continue building with this ethos.
Meta Introduces Spirit LM open source model that combines text and speech inputs/outputs
Just in time for Halloween 2024, Meta has unveiled Meta Spirit LM, the company’s first open-source multimodal language model capable of seamlessly integrating text and speech inputs and outputs.
#meta #spirit #lm #text #speech #technology
What is Meta Spirit LM?
Meta Spirit LM is a multimodal AI model developed by Meta's Fundamental AI Research (FAIR) team. It is designed to generate more expressive and natural-sounding speech, while also performing cross-modal tasks like speech-to-text and text-to-speech.
How does it work?
Traditional AI models for voice rely on automatic speech recognition (ASR) to process spoken input before synthesizing it with a language model, which is then converted into speech using text-to-speech (TTS) techniques. However, this process can result in speech that lacks the nuances of human communication, such as tone and emotion.
Meta Spirit LM introduces a more advanced solution by incorporating phonetic, pitch, and tone tokens, which enable the model to capture the complexities of human speech and reflect them in its generated speech. The model is trained on a combination of text and speech datasets, allowing it to perform cross-modal tasks like speech-to-text and text-to-speech while maintaining the natural expressiveness of speech in its outputs.
Phonetic, Pitch, and Tone Tokens
Phonetic tokens are used to process and generate speech by representing the sounds of spoken language as numerical vectors. Pitch and tone tokens are used to capture the nuances of human speech, such as tone and emotion, by representing the pitch and tone of spoken language as numerical vectors.
The Spirit LM model incorporates these tokens to capture the complexities of human speech and reflect them in its generated speech. The model is trained on a combination of text and speech datasets, allowing it to learn the relationships between phonetic, pitch, and tone tokens and generate speech that is more expressive and natural-sounding.
Spirit LM Base and Spirit LM Expressive
Meta has released two versions of Spirit LM: Spirit LM Base and Spirit LM Expressive. The Base version uses phonetic tokens to process and generate speech, while the Expressive version includes additional tokens for pitch and tone, allowing the model to capture more nuanced emotional states and reflect them in its output.
Spirit LM Base is a more basic version of the model that uses phonetic tokens to process and generate speech. It is designed to be more efficient and scalable than the Expressive version, while still providing a high level of expressiveness and natural-sounding speech.
Spirit LM Expressive, on the other hand, is a more advanced version of the model that includes additional tokens for pitch and tone. This allows the model to capture more nuanced emotional states, such as excitement or sadness, and reflect them in its output.
Cross-Modal Tasks
Meta Spirit LM is designed to perform cross-modal tasks, including speech-to-text and text-to-speech. Speech-to-text involves converting spoken language into written text, while text-to-speech involves generating spoken language from written text.
The Spirit LM model is trained on a combination of text and speech datasets, allowing it to learn the relationships between phonetic, pitch, and tone tokens and generate speech that is more expressive and natural-sounding. This enables the model to perform cross-modal tasks with high accuracy and natural-sounding speech.
Open-Source and Non-Commercial Availability
Meta Spirit LM is fully open-source, providing researchers and developers with the model weights, code, and supporting documentation to build upon. The model is available for non-commercial usage under Meta's FAIR Noncommercial Research License, which grants users the right to use, reproduce, modify, and create derivative works of the Meta Spirit LM models, but only for non-commercial purposes.
This open-source availability is designed to encourage the broader research community to explore new possibilities for multimodal AI applications, while also providing a high level of flexibility and customization for researchers and developers.
Applications and Future Potential
Meta Spirit LM has significant implications for various applications, including virtual assistants, customer service bots, and other interactive AI systems where more nuanced and expressive communication is essential.
The model's ability to detect and reflect emotional states like anger, surprise, or joy in its output makes it an ideal solution for creating more human-like and engaging AI interactions. This is particularly relevant in applications such as customer service, where the ability to recognize and respond to emotional cues can improve the overall user experience.
In addition to its applications in human-computer interaction, Meta Spirit LM also has potential in areas such as speech therapy, where it could be used to help individuals with speech disorders or language impairments.
Broader Effort
Meta Spirit LM is part of a broader set of research tools and models that Meta FAIR is releasing to the public. This includes an update to Meta's Segment Anything Model 2.1 (SAM 2.1) for image and video segmentation, which has been used across disciplines like medical imaging and meteorology, and research on enhancing the efficiency of large language models.
This broader effort is designed to advance the state of the art in AI research, while also providing a high level of flexibility and customization for researchers and developers. By releasing these models and tools under open-source licenses, Meta is encouraging the broader research community to explore new possibilities for multimodal AI applications.
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Why AI is going nuclear
If you’re of a certain age, the words “nuclear energy” probably conjure up dystopian images of power plants melting down, glowing radioactive waste, protesters, and other dark scenes ranging from the unfortunate to apocalyptic.
#ai #nuclear #energy #technology
The truth is, nuclear power’s reputation has been mostly unfairly blemished since 1970s and ’80s thanks to the Three Mile Island and Chernobyl meltdowns in Pennsylvania and Ukraine (at that time, part of the Soviet Union), respectively. While terrible, these disasters belie nuclear energy’s true safety record, which is actually much better for humans and of course, the environment, than most other power sources — even renewables, and even accounting for the fact that nuclear waste needs to go somewhere.
Now in the year 2024, some of the largest technology companies on Earth are ready to embrace nuclear power again — and the reason is because of artificial intelligence (AI).
Looking over the last 9-10 months, and in particular, the last few weeks, Microsoft, Google, and Amazon have all announced large-scale commitments to buy, invest in, and/or help build new nuclear power plants. It’s no coincidence these rivals are the three top providers of cloud computing and cloud storage solutions in the world, and have also been among the biggest to embrace and provide AI models and technology to customers, both other businesses and end-users.
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Passionfroot is a marketplace for business-focused content creators looking for brand partnerships — and vice versa
As the creator economy is growing rapidly, brand partnerships remain one of the prime ways creators can earn money.
As the creator economy is growing rapidly, brand partnerships remain one of the prime ways creators can earn money. Other services like link-in-bio apps with affiliate links or Pateron-like subscriptions become secondary ways to increase creators’ income. For platforms and startup, the biggest challenge remains to match brands and creators for collaboration.
#contentcreator #passionfroot #technology #economy
Berlin-based startup Passionfroot is building a toolkit and a marketplace for business, productivity, and thought leadership-focused creators for brand collaborations.
The company was founded by CEO Jen Phan, who had a career in early-stage investing and Lorenzo De Nobili, who previously started a marketplace connecting users with different professionals for services. The startup has raised $3.8 million in a seed funding round led by VC Supernode Global, with other investors including Miro CEO Andrey Khusid’s s16vc, Sequoia, Accel’s Scout Fund, and Creandum also participating — Creandum previously invested in the company’s $3.4 million pre-seed round too. The seed round included angels such as former Zapier CMO Kieran Flanagan, ex-community and creator lead at Notion Ben Lang, Linktree CPO Jiaona Zhang, and Austin Lau, who looks after Growth at Anthropic.
Before launching Passionfroot, Phan launched a tech newsletter in 2020 for tech professionals with immigration backgrounds. She thought about leaving her VC role and going full-time on the newsletter.
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Meta tests facial recognition for spotting 'celeb-bait' ads scams and easier account recovery
Meta is expanding tests of facial recognition as an anti-scam measure to combat celebrity scam ads and more broadly, the Facebook owner announced Monday.
Meta is expanding tests of facial recognition as an anti-scam measure to combat celebrity scam ads and more broadly, the Facebook owner announced Monday.
#meta #facial #fraud #deepfake #technology
Monika Bickert, Meta’s VP of content policy, wrote in a blog post that some of the tests aim to bolster its existing anti-scam measures, such as the automated scans (using machine learning classifiers) run as part of its ad review system, to make it harder for fraudsters to fly under its radar and dupe Facebook and Instagram users to click on bogus ads.
“Scammers often try to use images of public figures, such as content creators or celebrities, to bait people into engaging with ads that lead to scam websites where they are asked to share personal information or send money. This scheme, commonly called ‘celeb-bait,’ violates our policies and is bad for people that use our products,” she wrote.
“Of course, celebrities are featured in many legitimate ads. But because celeb-bait ads are often designed to look real, they’re not always easy to detect.”
The tests appear to be using facial recognition as a back-stop for checking ads flags as suspect by existing Meta systems when they contain the image of a public figure at risk of so-called “celeb-bait.”
“[W]e will try to use facial recognition technology to compare faces in the ad against the public figure’s Facebook and Instagram profile pictures,” Bickert wrote. “If we confirm a match and that the ad is a scam, we’ll block it.”
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Stability claims its newest Stable Diffusion models generate more 'diverse' images
AI startup Stability AI has announced its newest family of image generation models, Stable Diffusion 3.5, with several promised improvements.
Following a string of controversies stemming from technical hiccups and licensing changes, AI startup Stability AI has announced its latest family of image generation models.
#stability #ai #technology #imagegeneration
While Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large and 3.5 Large Turbo are available today, 3.5 Medium won’t be released until October 29.
Stability says that the Stable Diffusion 3.5 models should generate more “diverse” outputs — that is to say, images depicting people with different skin tones and features — without the need for “extensive” prompting.
“During training, each image is captioned with multiple versions of prompts, with shorter prompts prioritized,” Hanno Basse, Stability’s chief technology officer, told TechCrunch in an interview. “This ensures a broader and more diverse distribution of image concepts for any given text description. Like most generative AI companies, we train on a wide variety of data, including filtered publicly available datasets and synthetic data.”
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The new Stable Diffusion 3.5 series is more customizable and versatile than Stability’s previous-generation tech, the company claims — as well as more performant. There are three models in total:
#stablediffusion #technology #imagegeneration
ChatGPT’s Canvas now shows tracked changes
ChatGPT’s Canvas feature allows users to edit the chatbot’s responses on the app rather than copying and pasting them to a separate document.
However, when Canvas launched in early October for its paid tiers, it didn’t let people see what changes GPT-4o made to its responses. OpenAI’s latest update to the feature corrects that.
#chatgpt #canvas #technology #ai #openai
The show changes button will show the most recent changes to either the generated text or code on Canvas. It will highlight added information in green and deleted sections in red.
Tracking changes has always been a good feature of any editing platform; Google Docs and Word documents offer a toggle for users to check what’s been changed. But OpenAI had been planning to roll out updates to Canvas slowly as ChatGPT subscribers get used to it.
Canvas already offers familiar features like comments, where users can add suggestions or give more instructions for the AI model to follow when editing responses.
Canvas is still only available on the web version of ChatGPT for ChatGPT Plus, Teams, Enterprise and Edu users. Mac app users and anyone downloading the recently released Windows version of ChatGPT will have to wait until Canvas is rolled out to these standalone apps.
Currently, people can access Canvas on the regular ChatGPT window rather than in any custom GPTs.
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Anthropic Wants Its AI Agent to Control Your Computer
Claude is the first major AI model to be able to take control of a computer to do useful work.
Demos of AI agents can seem stunning but getting the technology to perform reliably and without annoying, or costly, errors in real life can be a challenge. Current models can answer questions and converse with almost human-like skill and are the backbone of chatbots such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini. They can also perform tasks on computers when given a simple command by accessing the computer screen as well as input devices like a keyboard and trackpad or through low-level software interfaces.
#aiagents #anthropic #claude #technology
Anthropic says that Claude outperforms other AI agents on several key benchmarks including SWE-bench, which measures an agent's software development skills and OSWorld, which gauges an agent's capacity to use a computer operating system. The claims have yet to be independently verified. Anthropic says Claude performs tasks in OSWorld correctly 14.9 percent of the time. This is well below humans, who generally score around 75 percent, but considerably higher than the current best agents, including OpenAI’s GPT-4, which succeed roughly 7.7 percent of the time.
Anthropic claims that several companies are already testing the agentic version of Claude. This includes Canva, which is using it to automate design and editing tasks and Replit, which uses the model for coding chores. Other early users include The Browser Company, Asana and Notion.
Ofir Press, a postdoctoral researcher at Princeton University who helped develop SWE-bench, says that agentic AI tends to lack the ability to plan far ahead and often struggle to recover from errors. “In order to show them to be useful we must obtain strong performance on tough and realistic benchmarks,” he says, like reliably planning a wide range of trips for a user and booking all the necessary tickets.
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A Lawsuit Against Perplexity Calls Out Fake News Hallucinations
In a new copyright lawsuit against AI startup Perplexity, Dow Jones and the New York Post argue that hallucinating fake news and attributing it to real papers is illegal.
#perplexity #ai #technology
In a statement emailed to WIRED, News Corp chief executive Robert Thomson compared Perplexity unfavorably to OpenAI. “We applaud principled companies like OpenAI, which understands that integrity and creativity are essential if we are to realize the potential of Artificial Intelligence,” the statement says. “Perplexity is not the only AI company abusing intellectual property and it is not the only AI company that we will pursue with vigor and rigor. We have made clear that we would rather woo than sue, but, for the sake of our journalists, our writers and our company, we must challenge the content kleptocracy.”
OpenAI is facing its own accusations of trademark dilution, though. In New York Times v. OpenAI, the Times alleges that ChatGPT and Bing Chat will attribute made-up quotes to the Times, and accuses OpenAI and Microsoft of damaging its reputation through trademark dilution. In one example cited in the lawsuit, the Times alleges that Bing Chat claimed that the Times called red wine (in moderation) a “heart-healthy” food, when in fact it did not; the Times argues that its actual reporting has debunked claims about the healthfulness of moderate drinking.
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SAP boss warns against regulating AI, says Europe risks falling behind U.S., China
Christian Klein, head of German software giant SAP, says Europe risks falling behind the U.S. and China if it ends up overregulating the AI sector.
Europe should avoid regulating artificial intelligence and focus its attention on the results of the technology instead, the CEO of German enterprise tech giant SAP told CNBC Tuesday.
#sap #technology #europe
Christian Klein, who has held the top job at SAP since April 2020, said Europe risks falling behind the U.S. and China if it overregulates the AI sector.
While it's important to mitigate the risks associated with AI, Klein argued that regulating the tech while it's still in its infancy would be misguided.
"It's very important that how we train our algorithms, the AI use cases we embed into the businesses of our customers — they need to deliver the right outcome for the employees, for the society," Klein said on CNBC's "Squawk Box Europe" Tuesday.
"If you only regulate technology in Europe, how can our startups here in Europe, how can they compete against the other startups in China, in Asia, in the U.S.?" Klein added.
"Especially for the startup scene here in Europe, it's very important to think about the outcome of the technology but not to regulate the AI technology itself."
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More startups are being spun out of Klarna than any other European fintech unicorn
Alumni from Klarna have gone on to create 62 new startups — more than any other fintech unicorn in Europe, according to a new report from VC firm Accel.
More startups are being spun out of Swedish digital payments firm Klarna than any other financial technology unicorn in Europe, according to a new report from venture capital firm Accel.
#fintech #klarna #europe #technology
Accel's "Fintech Founder Factory" report shows that alumni from Klarna have gone on to create a total of 62 new startups, including the likes of Swedish lending technology firm Anyfin, regulatory compliance platform Bits Technology and AI-powered coding platform Pretzel AI.
That is more than any other venture-backed fintech startup worth $1 billion or more in the region.
This includes the digital banking app Revolut, whose former employees have founded 49 startups. It also includes money transfer app Wise and online-only bank N26, where ex-staff at both firms have started 33 companies each, according to Accel's data.
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U.S. proposals to curb AI, semiconductor investment into China under final review
The proposals are part of the Joe Biden administration's efforts to restrict the flow of U.S. capital, technology and expertise into China.
Measures aimed at curbing U.S. investments into China in sensitive technologies are in the final stage of review, a U.S. government update showed.
#china #semiconductor #technology #unitedstates
Under this set of rules, the Treasury Department will require notification of outbound investments into China in sensitive technologies including artificial intelligence, semiconductors, microelectronics and quantum computing that can be employed for developing military capabilities.
The final rules will likely be released within the "next week or so," according to Reuters.
The proposals are part of the Joe Biden administration's efforts to restrict the flow of U.S. capital, technology and expertise into China that could support its military modernization and undermine U.S. national security.
In June last year, U.S. Treasury Department released proposals that include potential outright bans on certain investments into China in these cutting-edge technologies.
"The potential military, intelligence, surveillance, and cyber-enabled applications of these technologies and products pose risks to U.S. national security particularly when developed by a country of concern such as the PRC," the Treasury Department notification said.
Former Treasury official Laura Black said the department could be trying to make the rules official before the presidential election — which is set to take place on Nov. 5 — Reuters reported.
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GE HealthCare announces time-saving AI tool for doctors who treat cancer
GE HealthCare announced a new artificial intelligence application it said will save time for doctors who diagnose and treat cancer.
GE HealthCare on Monday announced a new artificial intelligence application it said will save time for doctors who diagnose and treat cancer.
#healthcare #ge #ai #technology
CareIntellect for Oncology, as the tool is called, will help oncologists get up to speed on a patient's history and disease progression by quickly showing them the data they need, the company said. GE HealthCare wants to spare oncologists the headache of digging through records so they can focus on caring for their patients, the company said.
Health-care data is notoriously difficult to analyze, and as much as 97% of the data produced by hospitals goes unused, according to a Deloitte report. That information is stored across numerous vendors and file formats such as images, lab test results, clinical notes and device readings, which can be extremely taxing for doctors to sort through.
"It's very time-consuming, very frustrating for these clinicians," Dr. Taha Kass-Hout, GE HealthCare's global chief science and technology officer, told CNBC in an interview.
CareIntellect for Oncology will be able to summarize clinical reports and identify when patients are deviating from their treatment plans, Kass-Hout said. The system can flag when a patient misses a lab test, for instance, so that their doctor can determine the best next steps.
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Microsoft to roll out new autonomous AI agents next month, fending off challenge from Salesforce
Microsoft will allow organizations to create their own autonomous AI agents within Copilot starting next month.
Microsoft will allow businesses to start making their own autonomous artificial intelligence agents starting next month, taking the fight back to Salesforce, which introduced its own configurable agentic AI tools in September.
#microsoft #aiagents #copilot
At its "AI Tour" event in London on Monday, Microsoft revealed plans to allow organizations to create their own autonomous agents within Copilot Studio, the U.S. tech giant's platform for customizing and building so-called "copilot" assistants.
These agents had previously been available in private preview after Microsoft announced them initially in May. Starting next month, they'll move into public preview, meaning more organizations can start building AI agents of their own.
AI agents can act as virtual workers that can carry out a series of tasks without supervision. They are touted as a major evolution of large language model-based AI from chat interfaces, creating an experience that blends more seamlessly into the background.
Beyond adding the ability to create autonomous agents in Copilot Studio, Microsoft said it would also launch 10 new autonomous agents in Dynamics 365, the company's suite of enterprise resource planning and customer relationship management apps.
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Interface.ai raises $30M to help banks field customer requests
Interface, a startup building an AI-powered platform to help banks field customer service requests, has raised $30 million in a funding round.
Interface.ai, a customer automation platform for banks and other financial institutions, today announced that it closed a $30 million funding round led by Avataar Venture Partners.
#interfaceai #ai #banks #technology
$20 million of the round was equity, while the remaining $10 million was in the form of debt. It’s Interface’s first outside capital; the startup had been completely bootstrapped.
“Interface is trusted by more than 100 financial institutions across North America, processing millions of interactions every day,” CEO and co-founder Srinivas Njay told TechCrunch. “We’re generating tens of millions in annual recurring revenue.”
Njay said that the inspiration for Interface came from his father, who owned a credit union in India. Previously, Njay worked at Microsoft as a product manager on the Bing advertising team and at EA as a senior product manager on mobile games.
Njay teamed up with Bruce Kim, the founder of customer management and billing company Inovaware, in 2019 to launch Interface.
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WhatsApp introduces contact storing directly within the app, teases usernames
WhatsApp on Tuesday announced a new feature that will allow users to save contacts within the app.
WhatsApp on Tuesday announced a new feature that will allow users to save contacts within the app. That means that even if you lose your phone or link a new device to your primary number, you will see all your contacts stored within WhatsApp’s cloud storage.
#whatsapp #application #technology #meta
Until now, WhatsApp relied on your phone’s contact book to sync contacts. If a new person messaged you on the app, and you wanted to save their details, the information would be stored locally on your device.
The new feature, rolling out soon, lets you store contacts on any device, including WhatsApp for the web and Windows. You can choose to sync contacts saved within WhatsApp to your phone, as well.
Last year, the company began allowing users to log into two WhatsApp accounts on one device. Saving contacts linked to one WhatsApp account is handy if you want to keep personal and business contacts separate. Plus, if you share the device with others, you can maintain your own contact list linked to your number.
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Small but mighty: H2O.ai’s new AI models challenge tech giants in document analysis
H2O.ai, a provider of open-source AI platforms, announced today two new vision-language models designed to improve document analysis and optical character recognition (OCR) tasks.
The models, named H2OVL Mississippi-2B and H2OVL-Mississippi-0.8B, show competitive performance against much larger models from major tech companies, potentially offering a more efficient solution for businesses dealing with document-heavy workflows.
#h2o #ai #technology #h2oai
The H2OVL Mississippi-0.8B model, with only 800 million parameters, surpassed all other models, including those with billions more parameters, on the OCRBench Text Recognition task. Meanwhile, the 2-billion parameter H2OVL Mississippi-2B model demonstrated strong general performance across a range of vision-language benchmarks.
“We’ve designed H2OVL Mississippi models to be a high-performance yet cost-effective solution, bringing AI-powered OCR, visual understanding, and Document AI to businesses,” Sri Ambati, CEO and Founder of H2O.ai said in an exclusive interview with VentureBeat. “By combining advanced multimodal AI with efficiency, H2OVL Mississippi delivers precise, scalable Document AI solutions across a range of industries.”
The release of these models marks a significant step in H2O.ai’s strategy to make AI technology more accessible. By making the models freely available on Hugging Face, a popular platform for sharing machine learning models, H2O.ai is allowing developers and businesses to modify and adapt the models for specific document AI needs.
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Qualcomm touts Snapdragon 8 Elite chip's massive performance gains and AI capabilities
Qualcomm has introduced the Snapdragon 8 Elite at its annual Snapdragon Summit, touting it as the world's fastest mobile CPU that delivers unprecedented performance and efficiency.
s the mobile industry continues to evolve, the Snapdragon 8 Elite represents a major step forward in processing power and efficiency. Its impact on the next generation of smartphones and mobile devices will undoubtedly be significant, potentially reshaping user experiences and expectations.
#qualcomm #snapdragon #chip #technology
Qualcomm has introduced the Snapdragon 8 Elite at its annual Snapdragon Summit, touting it as the world's fastest mobile CPU that delivers unprecedented performance and efficiency.
The chipset showcases Qualcomm's second-generation custom Oryon CPU, engineered to handle complex multimodal AI tasks. It boasts Oryon CPU Prime cores running at 4.32GHz, complemented by six performance cores reaching speeds of 3.53GHz. A 24MB L2 cache further enhances its processing power. The Hexagon NPU delivers 12 times the performance of its predecessor, while the Adreno GPU offers a threefold improvement in performance.
Qualcomm says it has optimized the Snapdragon 8 Elite for various use cases, particularly in gaming, AI processing, and photography.
For gaming enthusiasts, the chip promises smoother gameplay with higher framerates while extending gaming time by up to 2.5 hours, thanks to a 40 percent improvement in both battery efficiency and GPU performance.
In terms of AI processing, the new Qualcomm AI Engine leverages the Oryon CPU for latency-critical AI tasks, while the Hexagon NPU provides faster inferencing performance.
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99% of AI companies won't survive bubble burst
Baidu CEO Robin Li believes that only about one percent of AI companies will endure after the inevitable burst of the AI bubble.
The rising popularity of generative AI has given place to the development of numerous startups making bold claims about the technology's capabilities. Many onlookers liken the trend to a classic market bubble, a sentiment shared by the CEO of Chinese tech giant Baidu. However, when the lofty expectations for AI collide with reality, most AI startups may not survive.
#ai #baidu #bubble #technology
The rising popularity of generative AI has given place to the development of numerous startups making bold claims about the technology's capabilities. Many onlookers liken the trend to a classic market bubble, a sentiment shared by the CEO of Chinese tech giant Baidu. However, when the lofty expectations for AI collide with reality, most AI startups may not survive.
Baidu CEO Robin Li believes that only about one percent of AI companies will endure after the inevitable burst of the AI bubble. Li suggests this will result in a healthier market with more realistic applications for the emerging technology.
Generative AI has remained a hot topic in the years following its initial surge, driven by companies like OpenAi and NVIDIA. The latter, which produces the hardware that most AI companies depend on, could soon become the world's most valuable company. Tech giants such as Microsoft, Apple, and Google are also integrating AI into nearly all of their future products.
However, many companies often make ambitious claims about the jobs AI might replace or what users can create using text prompts.
Speaking at Harvard's Future of business Conference, Li argued that many of these products will turn out to be false innovations, unable to find a sustainable market.
He compared the current situation to the dot-com bubble that burst around the turn of the century, wiping out many early Internet companies. Li also believes the AI market has become quieter but healthier in 2024 compared to recent years. Although some businesses and investors maintain high hopes for AI, others are showing more caution, recognizing that Nvidia's meteoric rise can't last forever.
Consumer enthusiasm for the technology remains lukewarm. Recent sales reports indicate that consumers aren't purchasing PCs with AI-focused hardware due to a specific interest in AI, but rather because the latest models from major vendors come equipped with the technology by default.
If a dramatic market correction occurs, Li anticipates that the remaining one percent of AI companies will offer highly valuable products and services. Addressing a persistent issue in generative AI, Li expressed optimism about the reduction of hallucinations in chatbots, claiming that they have become significantly more accurate over the past 18 months.
The CEO also touched on concerns about AI-related job losses, acknowledging the possibility that AI could replace human workers. Li believes a paradigm shift in employment may take place over the next 10 to 30 years.
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MIT engineers create solar-powered desalination system producing 5,000 liters of water daily
Engineers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have created a new desalination system that harnesses the sun's power without requiring backup batteries.
The MIT engineers' solar-powered desalination system represents a significant leap forward in sustainable water treatment technology. By eliminating the need for batteries and maximizing the use of solar energy, the system can be deployed in regions lacking reliable power infrastructure.
#mit #desalination #solar #water #technology
The desalination system developed by the MIT team is a significant breakthrough in harnessing renewable energy to produce clean drinking water. Here's a more detailed explanation of the technology:
How it works
The system uses a combination of electrodialysis and solar power to remove salt ions from water. Electrodialysis is a method that uses an electric field to separate salt ions from water, a process known as ion exchange. The MIT team's system consists of three main components:
Control strategy
The system's control strategy, dubbed "flow-commanded current control," allows it to dynamically adjust its desalination rate multiple times per second. This is achieved through a sophisticated algorithm that monitors the system's energy output and adjusts the flow rate of water through the electrodialysis stacks accordingly.
When the system detects an excess of available power, it increases the rate at which water is pumped through the electrodialysis stacks, allowing for more efficient desalination. Conversely, when the system detects a lack of power, it reduces the flow rate to conserve energy.
Efficiency and scalability
The system has been designed to be highly efficient, with an average energy conversion rate of 94%. This means that 94% of the electrical energy generated by the solar panels is converted into clean drinking water.
The system's scalability is also significant, with the potential to supply large communities and even entire municipalities with low-cost, sun-powered drinking water. The MIT team has already demonstrated the system's effectiveness in a small community setting, where it supplied Enough water for a population of around 3,000 people.
Real-world testing
The MIT team has tested the system in real-world conditions, deploying a community-scale prototype at groundwater wells in New Mexico. The prototype operated for six months under variable weather conditions and with different water types, demonstrating the system's feasibility and effectiveness.
The results of the testing were promising, with the system producing high-quality drinking water that met or exceeded regulatory standards. The team also observed significant reductions in energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional desalination systems.
Potential impact
The MIT desalination system has the potential to make a significant impact on communities around the world, particularly in regions where access to clean drinking water is limited. According to Jonathan Bessette, a MIT PhD student in mechanical engineering, "The majority of the population actually lives far enough from the coast, that seawater desalination could never reach them. They consequently rely heavily on groundwater, especially in remote, low-income regions. And unfortunately, this groundwater is becoming more and more saline due to climate change."
The system's ability to harness renewable energy and produce clean drinking water without relying on backup batteries makes it an attractive solution for communities that need reliable access to clean water.
Future plans
The MIT team plans to continue testing and scaling up the system, with the goal of deploying it in larger communities and even entire municipalities. They are also preparing to launch a company in the coming months, with the goal of pushing out the deployment of these systems to areas in need around the world.
Overall, the MIT desalination system represents a significant breakthrough in harnessing renewable energy to produce clean drinking water, and has the potential to make a significant impact on communities around the world.
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Decentraland Launches Revamped Virtual World with Enhanced Performance, Engaging Features, and Future-Ready Architecture
Decentraland, the first decentralized virtual social world, launched a powerful new desktop client today, signaling a new era for experiencing spatial environments. This beta release enhances performance, delivers a more immersive environment, and introduces new engaging features, setting the stage for future innovations and expanded creator tools.
#decentraland #virtualreality #gaming #crypto
This milestone marks the shift away from a browser-based experience, replaced by a more stable, Unity-powered desktop client and the new Creator Hub, aligning with Decentraland’s vision for an interconnected metaverse.
“Today marks a new chapter for Decentraland. As virtual worlds take on a larger role in digital life, Decentraland is committed to creating a virtual world where people, not corporations, own their digital lives. Traditional platforms view their users as products while limiting real ownership, but Decentraland flips this script, using decentralization to empower its users,” said Yemel Jardi, Executive Director of the Decentraland Foundation. “As the internet transforms into a more immersive, spatial experience, Decentraland is leading the movement to creating a space that champions social connection, creativity, and autonomy—transcending cultures and backgrounds. This next chapter is about unlocking the true potential of the open metaverse, ensuring that as the digital world grows, it remains user-driven, community-focused, and grounded in open standards.”
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The Army wants Microsoft to "substantially" lower the price of its $80,000 HoloLens-based goggles
Back in 2018, Microsoft began prototyping the Integrated Visual Augmentation Systems (IVAS) augmented reality glasses and was awarded a $480 million contract by the Army for 100,000 units.
The HoloLens-based goggles that Microsoft is selling to the US Army have had a long and difficult history. While the hardware and software issues of the early models appear to have been addressed in the latest version, the problem now is the price: the military branch wants the headsets to "be substantially less" than the current cost of $80,000 per unit.
#newsonleo #technology #microsoft #hololens #goggles #army
Back in 2018, Microsoft began prototyping the Integrated Visual Augmentation Systems (IVAS) augmented reality glasses and was awarded a $480 million contract by the Army for 100,000 units.
The initial agreement was expanded in March 2021, ensuring Microsoft will provide finalized production versions, parts, and support in an agreement potentially worth up to $21.9 billion across a decade. The Army ordered an initial 5,000 units, valued at $373 million, with around 121,000 to be delivered over the course of the deal.
The project has been far from smooth from the beginning. The goggles' rollout was pushed back from fiscal year 2021 to 2022, but the Army said it remained fully committed to the deal.
In April 2022, the DOD warned that the massive purchase could be a waste of taxpayer money. There was worse news for Microsoft that year when an army tester said that the headsets pose a danger to soldiers due to the light they generate while active, which could alert enemy forces to a wearer's location.
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Zoom partners with Suki to offer AI-powered medical note-taking
Zoom is partnering with Suki, an AI note-taking app, to offer doctors on its platform an AI scribe that can take notes about their consultations.
Startups that build AI medical assistants and medical scribes, which save doctors time that they would otherwise spend taking notes and populating medical records, have been booming over the past year. And incumbents now want to get in on the action.
#zoom #suki #application #technology #medical
On Tuesday, video-conferencing company Zoom said it is partnering with Suki, one such AI medical scribe provider, to offer doctors on its platform an AI scribe that can take notes about their consultations with patients. Zoom is used for about 36% of all telehealth visits in the U.S., making it the most popular video-conferencing platform, according to industry intelligence group Definitive Healthcare.
Punit Soni, founder and CEO of Suki, told TechCrunch that Zoom had considered every other AI medical scribe startup before choosing Suki. The startup closed a $70 million Series D earlier this month.
Zoom’s founder and CEO, Eric Yuan, told Fortune earlier this month that the company is aiming to morph from a conferencing company to one focused on AI tools for workplaces.
Amazon-owned One Medical has also said it is integrating AI tools to help clinicians on its platform save time on administrative tasks. Instead of partnering with a startup in the space, One Medical is leveraging Amazon’s Bedrock, a service that helps build AI applications, and AWS HealthScribe, Amazon’s home-grown note-taking platform for clinicians.
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Microsoft unveils AI agents that resemble virtual employees
Microsoft Copilot Studio, a toolchain enabling companies to develop custom AI assistants, enters public preview in November.
Microsoft is developing an enterprise-level Copilot tool that enables companies to build custom AI applications. Clients can create chatbots to interface with customers or AI "agents" that automate internal tasks. The Redmond firm started a closed beta earlier this year, and a public testing phase will begin next month.
#copilot #microsoft #aiagents #virtualemployees #technology
What is Copilot Studio?
Copilot Studio is an enterprise-level tool developed by Microsoft that enables companies to build custom AI applications, specifically designed to automate internal tasks and interface with customers. The tool is built on top of Microsoft's Copilot AI technology, which is known for its ability to generate human-like responses to user input.
Key Features of Copilot Studio
Use Cases for Copilot Studio
Benefits of Copilot Studio
Competitive Landscape
Copilot Studio competes with other AI-powered tools, including Salesforce's Einstein and Google's Dialogflow. Microsoft's Copilot Studio is designed to provide a more comprehensive and enterprise-level solution for building custom AI applications.
Challenges and Limitations
Article
Amazon has replaced plastic air pillows with crumpled paper in its packaging worldwide
Amazon has spent years working toward the goal of removing plastic delivery packaging from fulfillment centers and focusing on using recycled materials.
Amazon says it has reached its goal of eliminating plastic air pillows from its warehouses and distribution facilities globally. The familiar packaging has now been replaced with paper filler, which the company says is not only better for the environment, but also offers the same, if not better, protection for fragile goods.
#amazon #technology #recycling #environment
Amazon has spent years working toward the goal of removing plastic delivery packaging from fulfillment centers and focusing on using recycled materials. In June, it announced that it had reduced the use of plastic air pillows in its packages by 95% in North America as it switches to crumpled paper. Amazon had already eliminated the pillows across its European facilities in 2022, in Australia in 2021, and in India in 2020.
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Meta suspends accounts tracking private jets of Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and other celebrities
Instagram and Threads accounts that track the private jets of celebrities – including Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, Kim Kardashian, Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos,
Instagram and Threads accounts that track the private jets of celebrities – including Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, Kim Kardashian, Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, and Kylie Jenner – were suspended on Monday, according to the owner of many such accounts, Florida college student, Jack Sweeney. Meta tells TechCrunch these accounts violated its privacy policy, citing a “risk of physical harm” against the individuals.
#meta #application #billionaires #tracking
Links to Instagram/Threads accounts tracking the flights of former President Donald Trump, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, and other celebrity accounts, produced an error message on Monday night reading, “The link you followed may be broken, or the page may have been removed.” Sweeney’s account tracking Taylor Swift’s jet was disabled on Friday.
“Given the risk of physical harm to individuals, and in keeping with the independent Oversight Board’s recommendation, we’ve disabled these accounts for violating our privacy policy,” said a Meta spokesperson in an emailed statement to TechCrunch.
Sweeney posted from his personal account that, “today feels like December 15th 2022,” referencing the time Elon Musk permanently suspended his @ElonJet account from Twitter.
In May, U.S. President Joe Biden signed a bill that allows private aircraft owners to anonymize their registration information. However, Sweeney has said tracking high-profile individuals is still easily doable, including through tips from other flight-tracking enthusiasts.
Article
THORChain lands on the Ledger hardware wallet with BTC and ETH
The hardware wallet Ledger has just introduced native cross-chain swaps thanks to the latest integration of the THORChain network.
#crypto #ledger #thorchain #btc #eth
Ledger Integrates THORchain for Native cross-chain swaps
On October 21, 2024, Ledger, the prominent hardware wallet manufacturer, announced a significant integration with THORChain, enabling native cross-chain cryptocurrency swaps directly through the Ledger Live application. This development marks a notable advancement in decentralized trading capabilities for hardware wallet users.
The integration allows users to perform direct swaps between different cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH), without relying on wrapped tokens or centralized exchanges. The supported networks extend beyond BTC and ETH to include assets like RUNE, ARB, SOL, DOT, and DOGE.
Key Benefits and Challenges:
THORChain's Market Position:
The integration comes at a time when THORChain has established itself as a significant player in the cross-chain infrastructure space:
Most Popular Trading Pairs:
Market Impact:
The partnership carries significant potential for both parties. Ledger, with over 6 million devices sold worldwide, provides THORChain access to a substantial user base of security-conscious cryptocurrency holders. Previous integrations, such as THORChain's partnership with OKX wallet in August 2024, demonstrated the potential for such collaborations, having generated $320 million in swap volume.
Technical Capabilities:
THORChain operates as an open-source solution focusing on interoperability, privacy, and scalability. While it can process up to 5,000 transactions per second, this maximum capacity is rarely reached. The platform's emphasis on transparency and security aligns well with Ledger's focus on secure cryptocurrency storage.
The integration represents a strategic move in the evolving DeFi landscape, potentially positioning both Ledger and THORChain to capitalize on future market opportunities while providing users with enhanced trading capabilities within a secure environment.
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One Zero, the AI fintech started by the founder of MobileEye, is raising $100M, say sources
Amnon Shashua, the founder and CEO of Mobileye, has an eye for complicated problems that he believes can be solved with AI
Amnon Shashua, the founder and CEO of Mobileye, has an eye for complicated problems that he believes can be solved with AI, and that AI itself can be fixed to become more reliable. On the sidelines of building and running his self-driving car technology company — which he took public, then sold to Intel, then spun out again — he’s been hatching a number of other ideas.
#ai #technology #mobileye #fintech #onezero
Now, one of these is raising money and gaining significant momentum.
One Zero, a fintech aiming to use AI in retail banking services, is in the process of raising at least $100 million, TechCrunch has learned.
Despite being co-founded by one of the most high-profile and successful founders in Israel, One Zero has had surprisingly little attention to date outside of its home market. But the company has raised around $242 million so far, and in 2023 it was valued at $320 million, per data in PitchBook. Our sources say that the valuation will be significantly higher in the next round.
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TSMC admits it can't produce enough AI chips as demand outpaces supply
With AI showing no signs of slowing, TSMC will be ramping up its advanced chip packaging capabilities over the next few years.
#tsmc #ai #technology #chips
What is CoWoS?
CoWoS (Chip-on-Wafer-on-Substrate) is a packaging technology that integrates multiple chips onto a single substrate, which is then packaged into a final product. This technology allows for the creation of high-performance computing and AI components that can be used in a wide range of applications, including data centers, cloud computing, and edge computing.
The CoWoS technology involves several key components:
Advantages of CoWoS
The CoWoS technology offers several advantages over traditional packaging methods, including:
TSMC's CoWoS capabilities
TSMC is a leading manufacturer of semiconductor devices and packaging technology. The company's CoWoS capabilities involve the use of advanced equipment and processes to produce high-quality packages. TSMC's CoWoS technology is designed to meet the needs of high-performance computing and AI applications, and the company is constantly working to improve its CoWoS capabilities.
TSMC's CoWoS expansion plans
As mentioned earlier, TSMC has announced plans to expand its CoWoS capabilities in response to growing demand for high-performance computing and AI components. The company's expansion plans include:
Impact of TSMC's CoWoS expansion plans
TSMC's CoWoS expansion plans are expected to have a significant impact on the industry. The company's suppliers, including GPTC and Scientech, are already benefiting from the growth in demand for CoWoS equipment, and it is likely that they will continue to do so as the CoWoS segment expands.
The growth of the CoWoS segment is driven primarily by the increasing demand for high-performance computing and AI components. Major AI players are relentlessly driving demand for cutting-edge chips with advanced packaging, and TSMC's CoWoS technology is well-positioned to meet this demand.
Conclusion
TSMC's CoWoS technology is a critical component of the company's strategy to meet the growing demand for high-performance computing and AI components. The company's expansion plans, which include doubling production capacity and switching to rectangular substrates, are expected to have a significant impact on the industry. As the demand for CoWoS equipment continues to grow, it is likely that TSMC's suppliers will continue to benefit from the growth in demand.
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China's new resistive magnet is 800,000 times stronger than Earth's field
Scientists in China have created a mind-bogglingly powerful resistive magnet that has officially broken the world record by sustaining an incredible 42.02 tesla. That is over 800,000 times stronger than the magnetic field produced by Earth itself, which has a flux density of about 50 microtesla.
#china #magnetism #technology
The new record was set on September 22 at the Steady High Magnetic Field Facility (SHMFF) in Hefei, narrowly edging out the previous record of 41.4 tesla held by another resistive magnet at the National High Magnetic Field Lab in Florida since 2017.
As for why scientists are so determined to push the limits of magnetism, physicist Joachim Wosnitza from Germany's Dresden lab explained that it opens up all kinds of bizarre new realms of physics to explore. Essentially, the stronger the magnetism, the greater the chances of discovering new states of matter.
Another physicist noted that high magnetism allows scientists to engineer and manipulate entirely new phases of matter that simply don't exist under normal conditions. Each additional tesla achieved also makes instruments exponentially more sensitive for detecting faint phenomena.
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Hyundai wants to eliminate touchscreens entirely with holographic windshield displays
A new concept from Hyundai's parts division, Hyundai Mobis, developed in partnership with optics specialists Zeiss, aims to transform your entire windshield into one massive display.
#technology #automotive #touchscreen #holographicimages
The Holographic Windshield Display is a revolutionary concept developed by Hyundai's parts division, Hyundai Mobis, in partnership with optics specialist Zeiss. This innovative technology has the potential to transform the way we interact with our vehicles, and it's essential to delve deeper into its details.
Key Components and Technology
The Holographic Windshield Display consists of several key components:
How it Works
The Holographic Windshield Display works by projecting images and videos onto the windshield using the holographic projector. The transparent film coating on the windshield enables the creation of holographic visuals, which appear to float in mid-air. The system's advanced display technology ensures that the images and videos are displayed in high definition, creating a seamless and immersive experience.
Driver and Passenger Experience
The Holographic Windshield Display is designed to provide a unique experience for both drivers and passengers. The system's separate displays for the driver and passengers prioritize driver safety, ensuring that the driver is not distracted by unnecessary information. For example, the driver may only see essential information, such as directions and speed, while passengers can enjoy a more immersive experience, including movies and video calls.
Potential Applications
The Holographic Windshield Display has a wide range of potential applications, including:
Challenges and Limitations
While the Holographic Windshield Display is a revolutionary concept, it also presents several challenges and limitations, including:
Conclusion
The Holographic Windshield Display is a revolutionary concept that has the potential to transform the way we interact with our vehicles. Its advanced technology and specialized optics make it a truly unique and immersive experience. However, the system also presents several challenges and limitations, including technical challenges, cost, driver distraction, and safety concerns. As the development of the system progresses, it will be essential to address these challenges and limitations to ensure that the Holographic Windshield Display is safe, efficient, and enjoyable for drivers and passengers alike.
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X rolls out its real-time search tool, Radar, to Premium+ subscribers
As competition from newcomers like Bluesky and Threads increases, X on Monday launched a "Radar" trend analysis tool that aims to offer subscribers
As competition from newcomers like Bluesky and Threads increases, X on Monday launched a “Radar” trend analysis tool that aims to offer subscribers real-time insights into emerging trends and conversations on the platform.
#x #search #radar #premium #socialmedia
What is Radar?
Radar is a real-time trend analysis tool developed by X, a social media platform. It was previously known as Insights, but was rebranded to better reflect its new features and functionality. Radar is designed to help users, particularly marketers and content creators, stay on tOP of emerging trends and conversations on the platform.
Key Features of Radar
Radar offers a range of features that enable users to track topics and trends on X. Some of the key features of Radar include:
Benefits of Using Radar
Radar offers a range of benefits for users, including:
Pricing and Availability
Radar is currently available to Premium+ subscribers, who pay $16 per month or $168 per year for access to the tool. The platform notes that Radar is an early version of the tool, and more updates are on the way. However, users can expect to see significant improvements in the tool's functionality and performance in the coming weeks and months.
Early Adopter Feedback
Some users have already tested Radar's new features, reporting improvements in the search algorithm and the addition of more filtering options. However, some users have pointed out limitations, such as the inability to search further back than three days. Despite these issues, early adopters are optimistic about the tool's potential and its ability to enhance their content creation and engagement strategies.
Overall, Radar is a powerful tool that offers users a range of features and benefits that can help them stay on top of emerging trends and conversations on X. As the tool continues to evolve, users can expect to see significant improvements in its functionality and performance, cementing X's position as a leader in the social media space.
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'Content kleptocracy': News Corp outlets sue Perplexity over scraped stories
News Corp's Dow Jones and the NY Post have sued growing AI startup Perplexity over what they describe as a "content kleptocracy."
In a lawsuit filed in New York on Monday, the media organization claimed that Perplexity engages in copyright violations on a “grand scale,” simultaneously duplicating and misrepresenting original content created by others:
#newscorp #perplexity #ai #content #technology
News Corp is far from the first to make this claim. Many news sites have expressed concerns that Perplexity closely replicates their content, with the occasionally egregious example, as with a piece that Forbes called out this summer. Just last week, The New York Times sent a cease and desist to Perplexity.
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SambaNova and Gradio are making high-speed AI accessible to everyone—here’s how it works
SambaNova Systems and Gradio have unveiled a new integration that allows developers to access one of the fastest AI inference platforms with just a few lines of code. This partnership aims to make high-performance AI models more accessible and speed up the adoption of artificial intelligence among developers and businesses.
#sambanova #gradio #ai #technology
“This integration makes it easy for developers to copy code from the SambaNova playground and get a Gradio web app running in minutes with just a few lines of code,” Ahsen Khaliq, ML Growth Lead at Gradio, said in an interview with VentureBeat. “Powered by SambaNova Cloud for super-fast inference, this means a great user experience for developers and end-users alike.”
The SambaNova-Gradio integration enables users to create web applications powered by SambaNova’s high-speed AI models using Gradio’s gr.load() function. Developers can now quickly generate a chat interface connected to SambaNova’s models, making it easier to work with advanced AI systems.
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Perplexity lets you search your internal enterprise files and the web
Enterprises can use their Perplexity dashboards to search for internal information and combine it with knowledge from the internet, but this will only be limited to specific files they deem important.
Peplexity’s new Internal Knowledge Search lets Perplexity Pro and Enterprise Pro users search for information across the web or their internal databases. Customers can access both knowledge bases in one consolidated platform.
#perplexity #database #search #technology
However, internal knowledge bases will be limited to the files Perplexity users upload to the platform.
Frank te Pas, head of Enterprise product at Perplexity, told VentureBeat in an interview that Internal Knowledge Search will only look for information on files users have uploaded, not entire internal databases.
“We believe this lets people bring only their most important and valuable data to the table and not the 90% of low-value files they normally sift through,” he said. “Customers told us they want to use information that’s important to them, which makes their own data even more valuable.”
Users have a file upload limit (500 for Enterprise Pro users), but te Pas said this may be expanded. Customers can also upload files directly from folders in all the popular document formats like Excel sheets, word documents or PDFs.
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Simplismart supercharges AI performance with personalized, software-optimized inference engine
Enterprises are all in on AI. They want their models to run in production environments smoothly and with as high performance as possible to obtain a high return on investment. However, even with all the advanced models available in the market, teams continue to struggle with deployment issues.
#enterprise #ai #technology #software
Last year, Peter Bendor-Samuel, the CEO of Everest Group, estimated that 90% of the gen AI pilots started will not make it to production. Even Gartner has predicted that a significant portion of generative AI projects are likely to be abandoned after proof of concept by the end of 2025.
Among the hurdles to adoption, the largest one is orchestration. Teams just don’t have the resources to do everything in-house, which leaves them reliant on rigid and expensive third-party APIs. Today, Simplismart AI raised $7 million in funding to address this gap with its end-to-end MLOps platform that accelerates the entire orchestration effort by taking care of everything from fine-tuning models to deployment and observability.
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Scotland trials unique electric wallpapers to warm ‘oldest homes’ in world
The wallpaper can be fixed to the ceiling and releases infrared to begin warming up the house without burning gas.
A collaborative effort between researchers at Scottish universities, the Glasgow City Council, and the West of Scotland Housing Association is trialing an electric wallpaper as an alternative to gas boilers to keep homes warm in Scotland without burning fossil fuels.
#techonlogy #scotland #energy #wallpaper
With the ambition to reach net zero by 2045, Scotland needs to accelerate its transition to cleaner forms of energy; much of the effort in this direction has been seen in the installation and approvals for large offshore wind farms in the North Sea.
However, Scotland’s burden of carbon emissions comes from its heating requirements. 84 percent of Scottish homes burn gas to keep their homes warm, making up nearly 36 percent of Scotland’s annual carbon emissions, which need to be drastically reduced if the 2045 target is to be met.
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China’s humanoid robot sets 4.6-foot record for longest standing jump ever
The achievement was driven by its advanced joints, providing 23 to 43 degrees of freedom and generating up to 120 Nm of maximum torque.
Unitree’s G1 humanoid robot has set a new record for the standing long jump, showcasing advanced robotics capabilities in the field of agility and performance.
#newsonleo #unitree #humanoid #robot #technology
Unitree's G1 Humanoid Robot Sets New Record for Standing Long Jump, Showcasing Advanced Robotics Capabilities
In a groundbreaking achievement, Unitree's G1 humanoid robot has set a new record for the standing long jump, demonstrating its impressive agility and performance capabilities. The robot, standing at 1.32 meters (4.33 feet) tall and weighing 77 pounds (35 kg), achieved a remarkable 4.6-foot standing long jump, powered by its advanced joints that offer 23 to 43 degrees of freedom and produce up to 120 Nm of maximum torque. This impressive feat is a testament to the advancements in robotics technology, particularly in the field of humanoid robots.
The G1 robot's advanced joints allow for agile movement and walking speeds of up to 2 m/s (4.5 mph), making it suitable for tasks that require precision and dexterity. Its three-digit hands enhance its dexterity, making it an ideal candidate for tasks that require precision and bringing it closer to practical applications in various industries. The robot's sleek design, internally routed cabling to prevent snags during operation, and a quick-release 9,000-mAh battery that offers around two hours of use per charge make it an attractive option for industries and individuals alike.
In addition to its impressive jumping ability, the G1 robot is equipped with advanced sensors, including 3D LiDAR, a RealSense depth camera, and a noise-canceling microphone array. These sensors enable the robot to respond to voice commands and provide audio feedback through a 5-W stereo speaker. The G1 robot's impressive performance and agility have caught the attention of industry leaders, including Tesla, which aims to reduce the price of its Optimus robot to around US$20-30,000 per unit once mass production begins.
The G1 robot's focus on athleticism and fun sets it apart from other humanoid robots that prioritize practical factory tasks and safety. Its ability to perform tasks such as walking, jogging, climbing stairs, dancing, recovering from falls, and even performing karate warmup stretches make it an entertaining and impressive robot to watch. As Unitree prepares for mass production of the G1 robot, it is clear that this robot is poised to make a significant impact in the robotics industry.
Key Specifications:
Conclusion:
Unitree's G1 humanoid robot has set a new record for the standing long jump, showcasing its impressive agility and performance capabilities. With its advanced joints, three-digit hands, and sleek design, the G1 robot is an attractive option for industries and individuals alike. Its focus on athleticism and fun sets it apart from other humanoid robots, and its impressive performance capabilities make it an entertaining and impressive robot to watch. As Unitree prepares for mass production of the G1 robot, it is clear that this robot is poised to make a significant impact in the robotics industry.
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Modular low Earth orbit satellite system could unlock space-based solar power
Aetherflux aims to deploy a space-based solar power satellite constellation to low Earth orbit, as opposed to individual large arrays in geostationary orbit.
#technology #satellite #solar #energy
Revolutionizing Rocket Production: Rocket Lab's Automated Fiber Placement Machine
For years, building large composite rockets has been a labor-intensive and time-consuming process, requiring engineers to spend countless hours manually laying thousands of layers of carbon fiber, ensuring precise alignment and quality.
However, Rocket Lab has now simplified this process with its innovative Automated Fiber Placement (AFP) machine, streamlining the process from weeks to a single day. This groundbreaking technology has the potential to transform the way rockets are produced, enabling faster, more efficient, and cost-effective production.
The company has installed this massive 90-ton machine at its Neutron rocket factory in Middle River, Maryland, to 3D-print its Neutron rocket. This giant 3D printer can make carbon fiber layers at incredible speeds, building complex structures with unmatched precision. The AFP machine is a 39-foot (12-meter) robotic machine, custom-built by Electroimpact in Washington, capable of 3D printing carbon-fiber layers at an astonishing speed of 328 feet (100 meters) per minute while moving up to 98 feet (30 meters) in length.
The machine will fully automate the production of the Neutron's large composite structures, including panels for the interstage and fairing, first stage tank, and second stage tank. One of the key features of the machine is its built-in inspection system, which can automatically check for tiny defects in the carbon fiber composite material as it is being laid down. If the system finds a defect, it will alert the operator, allowing them to fix it before the machine continues to the next layer. This ensures that the launch vehicle's structures meet Rocket Lab's high-quality standards, necessary for reusable Neutron launches.
The AFP machine will dramatically cut down on production time, saving over 150,000 hours. This will enable Rocket Lab to launch more frequently and at a lower cost, making it a game-changer for the aerospace industry. The machine will not only be used to produce the Neutron rocket but also various small carbon composite structures, including Electron first stages, and other spacecraft parts. Rocket Lab plans to launch the first Neutron rocket in 2025.
The use of carbon fiber composites on a massive scale is a pioneering effort by Rocket Lab, offering incredible strength and lightweight properties, making it ideal for space travel. The company's proprietary flight-proven carbon composite technology, additive manufacturing, and autonomous robotics will enable the design and build of large-scale aerospace components at a pace that will support not only Neutron's launch cadence but also Electron and carbon composites structures for spacecraft customers.
The AFP machine is a testament to Rocket Lab's commitment to innovation and its goal of making space travel more accessible and affordable. By leveraging cutting-edge technology, the company is poised to disrupt the aerospace industry and pave the way for a new era of space exploration. With its Automated Fiber Placement machine, Rocket Lab is revolutionizing the way rockets are produced, enabling faster, more efficient, and cost-effective production, and setting a new standard for the industry.
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Space Force refining commercial backup plan for military satellites
The Commercial Augmentation Space Reserve would allow the military to tap into commercial space assets during crises or emergencies
The U.S. Space Force is moving closer to establishing a commercial reserve program aimed at leveraging private sector resources for national security, and continues to fine-tune the details with satellite operators and other space companies.
#newsonleo #spaceforce #military #satellites #technology
The initiative, called the Commercial Augmentation Space Reserve (CASR), would allow the military to tap into commercial space assets, such as satellites and communication systems, during crises or emergencies.
“We’re still getting feedback from industry,” said Col. Richard Kniseley, who leads the Space Systems Command’s Commercial Space Office.
Kniseley’s office is reviewing over 80 submissions from companies after a recent request for information, reflecting growing industry interest but also concerns about the program’s structure. “Companies have asked for a feedback loop to address issues as we finalize the language,” Kniseley told SpaceNews.
The program would function through pre-negotiated contracts with commercial companies, ensuring the U.S. government has priority access to space infrastructure when its own systems are strained. These contracts would help guarantee access to services like satellite communications or monitoring space debris without needing to scramble for support during a critical moment.
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What is the US Space Force?
History
The concept of a separate space force has been discussed for decades, but it wasn't until the 2010s that the US military began to seriously consider creating a new branch. Here are some key milestones:
Organization
The USSF is headquartered at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado and is led by the Chief of Space Operations (CSO). The CSO is the highest-ranking officer in the USSF and is responsible for overseeing the entire force.
The USSF is divided into several major components, including:
The USSF has several major directorates, including:
Mission
The USSF's mission is to protect American interests in space and to deter aggression in space. The USSF's responsibilities include:
Current Developments
The USSF is currently undergoing significant transformation, with a focus on modernizing its capabilities, expanding its presence in space, and developing new space-based technologies. Some of the current developments include:
Space Force Structure
The USSF has a unique organizational structure, which includes:
The USSF also has several major directorates, including:
Personnel
The USSF is a new branch of the military, and it is still in the process of recruiting and training personnel. The USSF has a unique organizational structure, which includes:
Equipment and Systems
The USSF has a number of equipment and systems, including:
Budget and Resources
The USSF has a significant budget and resources, which are allocated by the US Department of Defense. The USSF's budget is currently around $15 billion per year, which is a significant increase from the $1.2 billion per year allocated to the Space Force in 2020.
The USSF also has a number of resources, including:
China launches 3 Tianping-3 radar calibration satellites
China launched a trio of satellites late Monday for ground radar equipment calibration and other measurements.
A Long March 6 rocket lifted off from Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, northern China, at 8:10 p.m. Eastern, Oct. 21 (0010 UTC, Oct. 22). The state-owned Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology (SAST) announced launch success, revealing the payloads to be the Tianping-3A (01), B (01), and B (02) satellites.
#china #satellite #technology
The Tianping-3 mission is described in Chinese state media reports as a single satellite. However, as noted by SAST, three discrete satellites were launched.
“The satellite is mainly used for ground radar equipment calibration and radar cross section (RCS) measurement,” Chinese state media reported. “It will provide support for ground optical equipment imaging experiments and low-orbit space environment detection and monitoring experiments, as well as offer services for atmospheric space environment measurement and orbit prediction model correction.”
No images or further information on the satellites was provided. The satellites could be used for purposes related to defense, weather forecasting, and scientific research. These can help verify radar performance, calibration for target detection, weather radar calibration, space debris tracking, or tracking atmospheric phenomena.
Tianping-3 satellites can be used as benchmarks to compare and validate the measurements of ground-based radars, offering highly accurate measurements of their RCS. The satellites may have corner reflectors or transponders on board to provide a strong and well-characterized signal to ground-based radars. This signal helps in calibrating the radar’s performance, such as its power levels, antenna alignment, and other critical parameters.
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Northrop Grumman unveils flying data center for military intelligence
The airborne system is designed to collect and process real-time data from satellites, drones, ground and maritime sensors
Defense contractor Northrop Grumman has demonstrated new technology that turns aircraft into a flying data center, processing real-time intelligence from satellites and drones to aid military operations.
#newsonleo #northropgrumman #data #military
The system, called Deep Sensing and Targeting (DSAT), was showcased at a U.S. Army exercise last month, the company said Oct. 21.
“We’re providing intelligence collection from space-based sensors to the airborne platform and delivering it to operators in real time,” said Brent Swift, director of the DSAT program at Northrop Grumman’s Colorado-based intelligence unit.
The technology could help solve a persistent military challenge: getting precise targeting data quickly enough to guide long-range missiles and artillery in fast-moving combat situations, he said.
The demonstration took place during Vanguard 24, a two-week Army exercise in Fort Huachuca, Arizona, designed to test advanced military sensors and surveillance systems.
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‘Electric plastic’ could open door to new generation of implants and wearable tech
Self-assembling, biocompatible molecular ribbons can store energy and information
#technology #wearables #implants #energy
Imagine a thin wristband that monitors your steps and heartbeat like an Apple Watch. Or clothing that keeps you cool with built-in air conditioning. Or even a flexible implant that could help your heart better than a bulky pacemaker. That’s the promise of a new, electrically active material researchers have created by combining short chains of amino acids called peptides with snippets of a polymer plastic. This “electric plastic,” reported this month in Nature, can store energy or record information, opening the door to self-powered wearables, real-time neural interfaces, and medical implants that merge with bodies better than current tech.
Most electronic materials are rigid or contain toxic metals, which makes it tough to design devices that conform to the body or that could be embedded within tissues. One of the few soft plastics that can be used in electronic devices is a polymer called polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), discovered in the 1940s. It has a polar structure that switches its orientation when stimulated by an external voltage—the chemical equivalent of flipping an electronic bit. However, these “ferroelectric” properties are not stable and disappear at higher temperatures. The plastic also requires high voltages to switch polarities, making it more energy intensive to operate.
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Army asks industry for human-machine interfaces that join soldiers to mixed reality and autonomous robots
Project seeks to assess industry's ability to develop multimodal human-machine interfaces to control mixed-reality and autonomous robotic systems.
U.S. Army researchers are asking for industry's help in developing new ways for soldiers to communication and interact with mixed-reality and autonomous robots to speed operations and enhance situational awareness.
#army #humanmachineinterface #technology
Officials of the Army the Cognitive Science and Applications Branch of the Army Combat Capability Development Command Soldier Center in Natick, Mass., issued a request for information (W911QY-25-R-MHMI) last week for the Multimodal Human-Machine Interface for Mixed Reality (XR) and Robotic Autonomous Systems (RAS) Control project.
The project seeks to assess industry's ability to develop cutting-edge technology for multimodal human-machine interfaces to control mixed reality and autonomous robotic systems.
Proposed solutions should help soldiers interface with mixed-reality and autonomous robots to minimize cognitive load and training requirements; enhance situational awareness; and enable soldiers to offload risk and work to robots, and instead help them focus on higher-level tasks.
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Elon Musk wants to send 30,000 more Starlink satellites into space - and it has astronomers worried
Satellites in orbit are already an obstacle for astronomers. Sending tens of thousands more could compound issues without any solutions.
Elon Musk’s SpaceX is once again asking for approval to send up nearly 30,000 more Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit- and astronomers are sounding the alarm over the request.
#elonmusk #starlink #satellites #space #telecommunications #spacex
SpaceX officials claim it is necessary to bring blazing gigabit speeds and “ubiquitous mobile connectivity to all Americans” for its high-speed internet service, as well as for billions of Starlink users around the world. The company requested that the agency grant it lower orbits for the second-generation system and more radio frequencies. SpaceX says additional frequencies will not cause significant interference problems to other spectrum users.
It is now asking for the OK from the Federal Communications Commission to deploy up to 29,988 Starlink satellites, likely using the company’s Starship megarocket.
The company had requested as many over two years ago, but the FCC only gave its permission for the deployment of up to 7,500. At the time the FCC said its decision would protect other satellite operators from harmful interference and maintain a “safe space environment.” But, the company’s 20-page October 11 filing neglects to mention any associated impact.
“Obviously, the impact,” Piero Benvenuti told The Independent Monday, “[is] what we have already known for several years, [and] claimed that there’s a severe impact on astronomy, both optical and radio astronomy and also the visibility of the pristine sky,”
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Biden administration to provide $325 million for new Michigan semiconductor factory
The federal government plans to provide up to $325 million to Hemlock Semiconductor to produce a key material for computer chips, an announcement Monday with possible political significance as the new factory would be in the swing state of Michigan.
#semiconductor #newsonleo #biden #michigan #plant #technology
The Biden administration said Monday that it would provide up to $325 million to Hemlock Semiconductor for a new factory, a move that could help give Democrats a political edge in the swing state of Michigan ahead of election day.
The funding would support 180 manufacturing jobs in Saginaw County, where Republicans and Democrats were neck-and-neck for the past two presidential elections. There would also be construction jobs tied to the factory that would produce hyper-pure polysilicon, a building block for electronics and solar panels, among other technologies.
Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said on a call with reporters that the funding came from the CHIPS and Science Act, which President Joe Biden signed into law in 2022. It’s part of a broader industrial strategy that the campaign of Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee, supports, while Republican nominee Donald Trump, the former president, sees tariff hikes and income tax cuts as better to support manufacturing.
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Amazon says new technology in delivery vans will help sort packages on the fly and save time
Amazon has revealed new technology that it says will help delivery drivers avoid organizing packages at stops or manually check to see if they have the right parcel for each delivery.
The technology – called Vision-Assisted Package Retrieval, or VAPR – is intended to cut down on the time and effort it takes drivers to retrieve packages, Amazon’s retail chief Doug Herrington said at a company event in Nashville on Wednesday.
#amazon #technology #delivery #drivers
Amazon expects to put 1,000 delivery vans that contain the technology on the road by early next year.
The company says VAPR essentially works like this: Once an Amazon delivery van arrives at a customer’s location, it will project a green “0” on packages that need to be dropped off, and a red “X” on those that should remain in the van.
The technology will also use audio and visual cues to let drivers know they have found the right package, Amazon said.
The Seattle company has been testing the new feature with its Delivery Service Partners, the businesses that deliver packages across the country for Amazon.
It said early tests have showed the technology helped reduce “perceived physical and mental effort” for drivers and saved them more than 30 minutes per route.
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Netflix Shuts Down ‘AAA’ Gaming Studio, High-Profile Devs Leave the Company
Netflix has confirmed it has shut down its triple-A gaming studio set up in Southern California, leading to the exit of a number of high-profile developers from the company and sparking questions about its gaming ambitions.
Netflix has shut down its triple-A gaming studio set up in Southern California, leading to the exit of a number of high-profile developers from the company and sparking questions about its gaming ambitions.
#netflix #gaming #studio #entertainment
Game File broke the news that the studio, which had former Overwatch executive producer Chacko Sonn and veteran Halo creative director Joseph Staten on its books, is no more, and Sonn, Staten, and art director Rafael Grassetti, who was art director at God of War developer Sony Santa Monica before joining Netflix in spring 2023, have all left.
Staten only joined Netflix in April last year. Staten, one the original architects of Halo who came in late in Halo Infinite's development process to help land that very important plane for Microsoft, joined Netflix as the creative director of Netflix Games, and was set upon building a new AAA multiplatform game and original IP.
"In my work life, there's nothing I love more than collaborating with others to build worlds filled with iconic characters, deep mysteries, and endless adventures," Staten told IGN at the time. "So today, I'm thrilled to announce that I've joined Netflix Games as creative director for a brand-new triple-A multiplatform game and original IP. Let's go!"
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T-Mobile, AT&T oppose unlocking rule, claim locked phones are good for users
Carriers fight plan to require unlocking of phones 60 days after activation.
T-Mobile and AT&T say US regulators should drop a plan to require unlocking of phones within 60 days of activation, claiming that locking phones to a carrier's network makes it possible to provide cheaper handsets to consumers. "If the Commission mandates a uniform unlocking policy, it is consumers—not providers—who stand to lose the most," T-Mobile alleged in an October 17 filing with the Federal Communications Commission.
#tmobile #mobilephones #att #fcc #locked #technology
The proposed rule has support from consumer advocacy groups who say it will give users more choice and lower their costs. T-Mobile has been criticized for locking phones for up to a year, which makes it impossible to use a phone on a rival's network. T-Mobile claims that with a 60-day unlocking rule, "consumers risk losing access to the benefits of free or heavily subsidized handsets because the proposal would force providers to reduce the line-up of their most compelling handset offers."
If the proposed rule is enacted, "T-Mobile estimates that its prepaid customers, for example, would see subsidies reduced by 40 percent to 70 percent for both its lower and higher-end devices, such as the Moto G, Samsung A15, and iPhone 12," the carrier said. "A handset unlocking mandate would also leave providers little choice but to limit their handset offers to lower cost and often lesser performing handsets."
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Mercedes-Benz opens its own recycling facility for EV batteries
Mercedes has opened a battery recycling factory in Germany to close the loop on its battery supply chain.
Today, Mercedes-Benz opened its first battery-recycling plant in Germany. The new plant will use an "integrated mechanical-hydrometallurgical" approach to recycling electric vehicle batteries and expects to recover more than 96 percent of the valuable minerals and metals used in EV batteries.
#ev #mercedes #battery #recycling #technology
"Mercedes-Benz has set itself the goal of building the most desirable cars in a sustainable way. As a pioneer in automotive engineering, Europe's first integrated mechanical-hydrometallurgical battery recycling factory marks a key milestone toward enhancing raw-materials sustainability," said Ola Källenius, chairman of the board of management Mercedes-Benz Group. "Together with our partners from industry and science, we are sending a strong signal of innovative strength for sustainable electric mobility and value creation in Germany and Europe."
The plant, which is located in Kuppenheim, Germany, shreds the battery modules then uses a mechanical process to separate plastics, copper, aluminum, and iron. The resulting "black mass" is then subjected to a hydrometallurgical process that extracts the cobalt, nickel, and lithium. The plant runs entirely on electricity generated by solar panels and has an annual capacity of 2,756 tons (2,500 tonnes). While this is not especially high, Mercedes says it will use the knowledge it gains to scale up volumes over time.
The plant, which is located in Kuppenheim, Germany, shreds the battery modules then uses a mechanical process to separate plastics, copper, aluminum, and iron. The resulting "black mass" is then subjected to a hydrometallurgical process that extracts the cobalt, nickel, and lithium. The plant runs entirely on electricity generated by solar panels and has an annual capacity of 2,756 tons (2,500 tonnes). While this is not especially high, Mercedes says it will use the knowledge it gains to scale up volumes over time.
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US-China research has given Beijing's military technology a boost, House GOP says
A new report by congressional Republicans asserts that partnerships between the U.S. and China at universities over the past decade have allowed hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding to aid Beijing in developing critical technology that could be used for military purposes.
#technology #military #china #unitedstates
Partnerships between the U.S. and China at universities over the past decade have allowed hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding to aid Beijing in developing critical technology that could be used for military purposes, congressional Republicans asserted in a new report.
The report said U.S. tax dollars have contributed to China’s technological advancement and military modernization when American researchers worked with their Chinese peers in areas such as hypersonic weapons, artificial intelligence, nuclear technology and semiconductor technology.
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A new federal study claims Arkansas has enough lithium to meet at least nine times the projected 2030 global demand for the product.
Officials said the U.S. Geological Survey study determined that the Smackover Formation has between 5 and 19 million tons of product. The study’s authors said the ability to meet nine times the global demand was made using the 5 million ton estimate, the low end of the potential, provided it is commercially recoverable.
#arkansas #lithium #technology #battery
The Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment’s Office of State Geologist collaborated on the project to investigate underground brine deposits.
Officials said lithium is growing in importance globally as a critical element in batteries as the world transitions from fossil fuels to electric and hybrid vehicles. The study’s authors said that the U.S. imports more than 25% of its lithium.
Hydrologist and principal researcher for the study, Katherine Knierim, said this was a first-time estimate of Arkansas lithium reserves.
“Our research was able to estimate total lithium present in the southwestern portion of the Smackover in Arkansas for the first time,” Kirrium said. “We estimate there is enough dissolved lithium present in that region to replace U.S. imports of lithium and more.”
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NFL is moving closer to replacing the chain gang with new technology to measure line to gain
The NFL is moving closer to replacing the chain gang with new technology to measure line to gain.
#nfl #technology #chaingang #football #sports
NFL executive Gary Brantley told The Associated Press the league will test Sony’s Hawk-Eye technology during some preseason games. The system most likely wouldn’t be ready for full implementation until next season, though it could happen sooner.
“We’re in the installation phase for all of our stadiums, really getting them calibrated and up to date,” said Brantley, the NFL’s senior vice president and chief information officer. “We’re just really getting to a place where this system is as accurate as possible and really calibrating across our multiple stadiums. ... We have multiple stadiums with multiple dimensions inside of those stadiums with different age. So we’re really just going through the installation of putting in the infrastructure and making sure these cameras are installed.”
Sony, which was named the NFL’s official technology partner on Wednesday, has expanded its sports technology through Hawk-Eye Innovations to support officiating and the development of on-field and sideline technologies, including a new coach’s sideline headset that will debut in 2025.
Its Hawk-Eye tracking services for line-to-gain measurement adds cameras to stadiums to track players, officials and the ball. The optimal tracking system notifies officials instantly if a first down was gained after the ball is spotted by hand.
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The History of Sony: From Post-War Innovation to Global Technology Leader
Origins and Early Years (1946-1960)
In the aftermath of World ⇪ II×, amid Japan's devastated economy and uncertain future, two remarkable entrepreneurs would plant the seeds of what would become one of the world's most influential technology companies.
Masaru Ibuka and Akio Morita founded Tokyo Tsushin Kogyo (Tokyo telecommunications Engineering Corporation) in May 1946, with an initial capital of ¥190,000 and just 20 employees. The company first operated from a damaged department store building in Tokyo's Shirokiya district, where they began by repairing radios and building basic electrical equipment.
Ibuka and Morita's partnership was founded on a shared vision that went far beyond mere profit-making. Their original prospectus declared their intention to "establish an ideal factory that stresses a spirit of freedom and open-mindedness, and where engineers with sincere motivation can exercise their technological skills to the highest level." This philosophical foundation would prove crucial to Sony's future success and innovation-driven culture.
The company's first original product was an electric rice cooker, which, unfortunately, was commercially unsuccessful due to inconsistent cooking results. However, this early failure didn't deter the founders. In 1950, they achieved their first significant breakthrough by successfully developing Japan's first tape recorder, the Type-G. While primitive by today's standards, this device marked the beginning of Sony's journey into consumer electronics.
In 1955, the company made a decisive move by licensing transistor technology from Western Electric. This decision would prove transformative, leading to the development of Japan's first transistor radio in 1955, the TR-55. Two years later, they introduced the TR-63, the world's first pocket-sized transistor radio, which became a massive international success and established Sony's reputation for innovation.
The company officially adopted the name "Sony" in 1958, derived from the Latin word "sonus" (sound) and the English slang term "sonny," suggesting young spirit and energy. This rebranding reflected the company's global ambitions and its desire to break free from traditional Japanese corporate naming conventions.
The Golden Age of Innovation (1960-1979)
The 1960s marked Sony's emergence as a true technological pioneer. In 1960, they produced the world's first direct-view portable television, the TV8-301. This period also saw Sony establishing itself in the United States, becoming the first Japanese company to list shares on the New York ⇪ Exchange× in 1970.
Perhaps the most significant development of this era was Sony's invention of the Trinitron television technology in 1968. The Trinitron's superior picture quality revolutionized television displays and would remain industry-leading technology for decades. The innovation earned Sony its first Emmy Award in 1973, marking the beginning of numerous technical accolades the company would receive.
During this period, Sony also made crucial advances in recording technology. In 1963, they introduced the first consumer-grade video tape recorder, and in 1965, they launched the first home video tape recorder. These innovations laid the groundwork for Sony's later dominance in both professional and consumer video equipment.
The 1970s brought further expansion and innovation. Sony entered the music business through a joint venture with CBS Records, establishing CBS/Sony Records (now Sony Music Entertainment) in 1968. This move would later prove crucial in Sony's development of the CD format and its eventual expansion into entertainment content.
The Walkman Era and Digital Revolution (1979-1989)
On July 1, 1979, Sony launched a product that would revolutionize how people consume music: the Walkman. The TPS-L2, the first Walkman model, was initially met with skepticism from retailers who doubted consumers would want to listen to music while walking. However, the Walkman quickly became a global cultural phenomenon, selling over 200 million units in various formats over the next 30 years. It transformed music listening into a personal, portable experience and established Sony as a company that could create entirely new product categories.
The 1980s saw Sony continue its innovation in consumer electronics while also expanding into new territories. In 1982, Sony and Philips jointly launched the Compact Disc (CD) format, marking the beginning of the digital audio revolution. The success of the CD format demonstrated Sony's ability to not only create new technologies but also to establish industry standards.
In 1985, Sony launched the first consumer camcorder to use 8mm video format, further consolidating its position in the video market. The company also continued to innovate in professional broadcasting equipment, becoming a major supplier to television networks worldwide.
Entertainment Empire and Digital Transformation (1989-2000)
The late 1980s and 1990s marked Sony's transformation from a pure electronics company into a global entertainment conglomerate. In 1989, Sony made headlines by acquiring Columbia Pictures Entertainment for $3.4 billion, creating Sony Pictures Entertainment. This bold move, though initially criticized as overpriced, demonstrated Sony's strategic vision of uniting hardware and content.
The 1990s saw Sony continue its expansion in entertainment while maintaining its innovation in electronics. In 1994, Sony computer Entertainment launched the PlayStation, which would become one of the company's most successful products ever. The PlayStation's success established Sony as a major player in the gaming industry and demonstrated the company's ability to create new revenue streams through hardware-software integration.
During this period, Sony also faced increasing competition in its traditional electronics markets, particularly from other Asian manufacturers. The company responded by focusing on high-end products and continuing to invest in research and development. This strategy led to innovations like the VAIO computer line, launched in 1996, which attempted to bridge the gap between consumer electronics and personal computing.
Challenges and Reinvention (2000-2012)
The turn of the millennium brought new challenges for Sony. The rise of digital technology and the Internet began disrupting traditional consumer electronics business models. The company's television business, once a cornerstone of its success, began facing fierce competition from Korean manufacturers like Samsung and LG.
However, Sony continued to find success in other areas. The PlayStation 2, launched in 2000, became the best-selling video game console of aLL time, with over 155 million units sold. The company's image sensor business, which supplies components for smartphones and digital cameras, emerged as a major profit center.
The period also saw Sony wrestling with the challenges of digital music distribution. While the company had dominated portable music with the Walkman, it struggled to adapt to the MP3 era, losing ground to Apple's iPod. This transition illustrated the challenges traditional electronics companies faced in the digital age.
Modern Era and Future Direction (2012-Present)
Under the leadership of Kazuo Hirai (2012-2018) and then Kenichiro Yoshida (2018-present), Sony underwent significant restructuring to focus on its most profitable areas. The company sold its VAIO PC business, spun off its television division into a separate subsidiary, and invested heavily in image sensors, gaming, and entertainment content.
The PlayStation 4, launched in 2013, proved another massive success, selling over 110 million units and helping to strengthen Sony's gaming division. The PlayStation 5, released in 2020, continued this success despite launch challenges during the global pandemic.
Sony's image sensor business has become increasingly important, supplying components to major smartphone manufacturers including Apple and Samsung. The company has also maintained its strong position in professional video and audio equipment, digital cameras, and home entertainment.
Innovation Culture and Corporate Philosophy
Throughout its history, Sony has maintained a culture of innovation that traces back to its founders' original vision. The company's success has often come from its willingness to take risks on new technologies and markets, even when doing so meant competing with its own existing products.
Several key principles have guided Sony's approach to innovation:
Technical Excellence: The company has maintained high standards for engineering and product quality, even when facing pressure to reduce costs.
Long-term Vision: Sony has often been willing to invest in new technologies and markets that might take years to become profitable.
Global Perspective: From its early days, Sony has thought globally, both in terms of markets and talent.
Legacy and Impact
Sony's influence on consumer electronics and entertainment cannot be overstated. The company has:
Challenges and Future Outlook
As Sony moves forward, it faces several key challenges:
However, Sony's history suggests it has the capacity to reinvent itself and find new opportunities in changing markets. The company continues to invest in emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, robotics, and virtual reality, while maintaining its strong positions in gaming, entertainment, and image sensors.
Conclusion
Sony's journey from a small post-war startup to a global technology and entertainment leader illustrates the power of innovation, adaptability, and long-term vision. While the company has faced numerous challenges throughout its history, its ability to reinvent itself while maintaining its core values has enabled it to remain relevant and successful for over 75 years.
As technology continues to evolve and consumer preferences shift, Sony's commitment to innovation and quality positions it well for future challenges. The company's history demonstrates that success in technology and entertainment requires not just technical excellence, but also the ability to understand and shape how people interact with technology in their daily lives.
AI startup Ideogram launches infinite Canvas for manipulating, combining generated images
Canadian AI image startup Ideogram, founded last year by former AI researchers from Google Brain, has made a new for itself among AI creators with its text-to-image models that produce a wide range of styles from realistic to fantastical, and most impressively of all, highly accurate text baked into the image itself (something other leading image generators, including Midjourney, took a while to implement and still struggle to generate reliably).
#ideogram #ai #images #canvas #technology
Now, it’s getting in on the trend of expanding its web-based user workspace to include a new interactive, infinite Canvas where users can spread newly generated images out, compare them to older generations, resize and reorder them at will, and even combine multiple AI generated images into one new composite.
It also allows users to upload their own visuals. With this addition, Ideogram Canvas aims to streamline workflows and offer flexible tools to refine creative projects step-by-step.
But of course, Ideogram is far from the only AI company to go beyond the simple chatbot-style text entry interface.
Earlier this month, OpenAI launched an experimental new “Canvas” view for ChatGPT. Unlike Ideogram’s version, it doesn’t help with imagery. Rather, OpenAI’s version offers the ability to see text-based documents and code alongside the chat interface, and watch as their chat conversation changes the resulting output in the “Canvas” view to the right.
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Asana AI Studio now offers AI agent creation for workflow management
As the year draws to a close, the number of platforms emerging to help enterprises integrate AI agents into their technology stack shows no signs of slowing down.
#asana #ai #aiagent #creation #technology
One such platform is Asana, a work management platform that has already made significant strides in AI agent technology with its new AI Studio feature. AI Studio allows users to build workflows on Asana and deploy multiple custom AI agents directly on the workflow, without the need for coding. This innovative feature empowers teams to create their own AI agents, rather than relying on pre-built agents, allowing them to tailor their agents to specific workflows and tasks.
According to Alex Hood, Asana's chief product officer, the key innovation of AI Studio is its ability to empower teams to create their own AI agents, rather than relying on pre-built agents. This allows teams to automate tasks that are not critical to the workflow, but still require significant time and effort, freeing up time to focus on more important work. In today's work environment, employees are spending an average of 53% of their time on "busy work" – tasks that are not critical to the workflow, but still require significant time and effort. By automating these tasks with AI agents, teams can reduce the time spent on non-essential tasks and increase productivity.
Asana's AI Studio is built on the company's Work Graph data model, which tracks cross-functional work in an organization. This allows AI agents to be integrated seamlessly into existing workflows, rather than being bolted on as an afterthought. The Work Graph data model provides a comprehensive view of an organization's workflows, enabling AI agents to make informed decisions and automate tasks more effectively.
One of Asana's first customers to use AI Studio is Morningstar, a financial data company that used the platform to centralize IT project requests and streamline the workflow for evaluating new projects. According to Belinda Hardman, director of Program Management at Morningstar, the new workflow has eliminated the need for manual back-and-forth between teams, allowing the company to focus on more important tasks. The AI agents deployed on the workflow have automated tasks such as data entry, freeing up team members to focus on higher-value tasks.
The rise of AI agents is a significant trend in the technology industry, with Microsoft, Salesforce, and ServiceNow all announcing their own AI agent platforms in recent months. Microsoft is set to release a suite of AI agents for its Dynamics 365 service this week, further expanding the capabilities of AI agents in the enterprise. However, despite the proliferation of AI agents, many of these platforms still function as individual "islands" of agents, communicating only with other agents built on the same platform.
The next frontier for AI agents will be the ability to communicate with agents elsewhere, allowing for seamless integration across different workflows and systems. As more enterprises become comfortable with AI agents and begin deploying them into their organizations, this future may come soon enough. With AI Studio, Asana is poised to lead the way in this next phase of AI agent development, empowering teams to create their own custom AI agents and revolutionize the way they work.
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Generative AI grows 17% in 2024, but data quality plummets: Key findings from Appen’s State of AI Report
A new report from AI data provider Appen reveals that companies are struggling to source and manage the high-quality data needed to power AI systems as artificial intelligence expands into enterprise operations.
#ai #technology #generativeai #data #appen
The Growing Data Crisis in Enterprise AI Implementation: A Comprehensive Analysis
In a revealing examination of the artificial intelligence landscape, Appen's 2024 State of AI report has uncovered a paradoxical situation in enterprise AI adoption: while generative AI implementation is surging, organizations are simultaneously grappling with increasingly complex data challenges that threaten to undermine their AI initiatives' success. This comprehensive analysis delves into the key findings and implications of Appen's research, highlighting the critical challenges facing enterprises in their AI journey.
The Generative AI Boom and Its Hidden Challenges
The past year has witnessed an unprecedented 17% increase in generative AI adoption across enterprises, marking a significant shift in how businesses approach automation and process optimization. This surge reflects the growing recognition of generative AI's potential to transform various aspects of business operations, from IT management to research and development. However, beneath this impressive growth lies a complex web of challenges that organizations must navigate.
The expansion of generative AI applications has introduced new complexities in data management that many organizations were unprepared to handle. As Si Chen, Appen's Head of Strategy, points out, the outputs of generative AI systems are inherently more diverse and unpredictable than traditional AI applications, making it increasingly difficult for organizations to define success metrics and ensure quality control.
The Shift Toward Custom Data Collection
One of the most significant trends emerging from this AI expansion is the growing emphasis on custom data collection. Organizations are moving away from generic, web-scraped datasets in favor of more tailored, specific data collections that better serve their unique use cases. This shift represents a fundamental change in how enterprises approach AI development, acknowledging that the one-size-fits-all approach to data collection is no longer sufficient for achieving meaningful results.
The Troubling Decline in AI Project Success
Perhaps the most concerning finding from Appen's report is the marked decline in both AI project deployments and their return on investment. Since 2021, there has been an 8.1% decrease in the percentage of AI projects reaching deployment stage, while projects showing meaningful ROI have dropped by 9.4%. These statistics paint a sobering picture of the current state of enterprise AI implementation.
Understanding the Deployment Crisis
The decline in successful deployments can be attributed to several factors:
Increasing Model Complexity: As organizations move beyond basic AI applications like image recognition and speech automation, they're attempting to implement more sophisticated solutions that require significantly more resources and expertise.
Data Quality Challenges: The complexity of newer AI models demands higher-quality data, which is becoming increasingly difficult to source and maintain.
Resource Constraints: Many organizations lack the technical resources and tools necessary to properly implement and maintain advanced AI systems.
The ROI Challenge
The decrease in ROI is particularly troubling as it suggests that even when organizations successfully deploy AI projects, they're struggling to derive meaningful value from their investments. This trend could potentially slow future AI adoption as organizations become more cautious about committing resources to projects with uncertain returns.
The Data Quality Crisis
One of the most critical issues highlighted in the report is the significant decline in data accuracy, which has fallen by nearly 9% since 2021. This deterioration in data quality has far-reaching implications for AI development and deployment.
Factors Contributing to the Data Quality Crisis
Several key factors are driving this decline in data quality:
Increased Model Complexity: Modern AI models, particularly generative AI systems, require more sophisticated and nuanced data than their predecessors.
Frequent Model Updates: With 86% of companies updating their models at least quarterly, maintaining consistent data quality has become increasingly challenging.
Scale of Data Requirements: The sheer volume of data needed for modern AI systems makes quality control more difficult.
Specialized Annotation Requirements: Advanced AI models often require more complex and precise data annotations, increasing the potential for errors.
The External Data Dependency
The report reveals that nearly 90% of businesses nOW rely on external data providers to train and evaluate their models. This widespread dependence on third-party data sources introduces additional complexities in ensuring data quality and consistency across different providers and sources.
The Growing Data Management Challenge
The 10% year-over-year increase in data-related bottlenecks represents a significant obstacle to AI implementation. These bottlenecks manifest in various ways:
Data Sourcing Challenges
Organizations are finding it increasingly difficult to:
Data Cleaning and Preparation Issues
The cleaning and preparation of data has become more complex due to:
Labeling Complexities
Data labeling challenges have intensified because:
The Critical Role of Human Oversight
The report's emphasis on human-in-the-loop machine learning (with 80% of respondents highlighting its importance) underscores a crucial aspect of successful AI implementation. This finding challenges the notion that AI development is moving toward full automation and instead suggests that human expertise is becoming more vital as AI systems grow more complex.
Key Areas of Human Involvement
Bias Mitigation: Human experts play a crucial role in identifying and addressing potential biases in AI systems, ensuring that models remain fair and ethical.
Quality Assurance: Human oversight is essential for verifying the accuracy and appropriateness of AI outputs, particularly in generative AI systems where outputs can be unpredictable.
Domain Expertise: Subject matter experts provide crucial context and validation for AI models, ensuring they align with real-world requirements and expectations.
Ethical Considerations: Human judgment is vital for ensuring AI systems adhere to ethical guidelines and societal values.
Strategic Implications for Enterprises
The findings from Appen's report have several important implications for organizations pursuing AI initiatives:
Short-term Considerations
Investment in Data Infrastructure: Organizations need to prioritize building robust data management infrastructure to address quality and bottleneck issues.
Resource Allocation: Companies must carefully balance their resources between AI development and data management efforts.
Quality Control Processes: Implementing stricter quality control measures for data collection and annotation is crucial.
Long-term Strategic Planning
Partnerships and Collaboration: Organizations should consider strategic partnerships with data providers and AI experts to address capability gaps.
Skill Development: investment in training and development of internal AI and data management expertise is essential.
Process Optimization: Companies need to develop more efficient processes for data collection, cleaning, and annotation.
Looking Ahead: Future Challenges and opportunities
As AI continues to evolve, several key trends and challenges are likely to emerge:
Emerging Challenges
Data Privacy and Regulation: As data privacy regulations become more stringent, organizations will need to adapt their data collection and management practices.
Scalability Issues: Managing data quality at scale will become increasingly challenging as AI applications grow more complex.
Resource Constraints: Organizations will need to find ways to balance the growing demand for high-quality data with limited resources.
Future Opportunities
Automated Data Quality Tools: Development of more sophisticated tools for automated data quality assessment and improvement.
Collaborative Data Initiatives: Industry-wide collaboration on data collection and standardization could help address common challenges.
Innovation in Data Management: New approaches to data collection and preparation could help alleviate current bottlenecks.
Conclusion
The findings from Appen's 2024 State of AI report reveal a critical juncture in enterprise AI adoption. While the potential of AI, particularly generative AI, continues to drive increased adoption, organizations face significant challenges in managing the data requirements necessary for successful implementation. The decline in both deployment success rates and ROI, coupled with growing data quality issues and bottlenecks, suggests that organizations need to fundamentally rethink their approach to AI implementation.
Success in the future of enterprise AI will likely depend on organizations' ability to address these data challenges while maintaining the crucial balance between automated systems and human oversight. Those that can effectively navigate these challenges while maintaining high data quality standards and ethical considerations will be best positioned to realize the full potential of AI technologies.
The path forward requires a holistic approach that combines technological innovation with human expertise, robust data management practices, and strategic planning. Organizations must recognize that successful AI implementation is not just about the technology itself but about building and maintaining the entire ecosystem necessary to support it, with high-quality data at its core.
Fortunately, we have the possibility of asking a chatbot about the existence of several websites about technology, AI and robotics.
Now I have a list of these sites that will help me understand this fantastic universe even more, I can also bring these articles here.
It's incredible how it's already close to 500 comments.
When I start adding more articles here, I have no doubt that we will break a new record.
Stable Diffusion 3.5 debuts as Stability AI aims to improve open models for generating images
Stability AI Raises the Bar with Stable Diffusion 3.5: A Major Update for Text-to-Image Generative AI
Stability AI, a pioneer in the text-to-image generative AI space, has released a major update to its technology with the debut of Stable Diffusion 3.5. This new update aims to reclaim the company's leadership position in the market, which has been increasingly competitive with the emergence of rivals such as Black Forest Labs' Flux Pro, OpenAI's Dall-E, Ideogram, and Midjourney.
Customizable Models and Improved Quality
Stable Diffusion 3.5 introduces multiple model variants, each designed to cater to different user needs. The new models are highly customizable and can generate a wide range of different styles. The update includes three new models: Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large, Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large Turbo, and Stable Diffusion 3.5 Medium.
Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large is an 8 billion parameter model that offers the highest quality and prompt adherence in the series. This model is designed for users who require the highest level of image quality and precision. Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large Turbo is a distilled version of the large model, providing faster image generation while maintaining a high level of quality. This model is ideal for users who require rapid image generation without sacrificing quality. Stable Diffusion 3.5 Medium has 2.6 billion parameters and is optimized for edge computing deployments, making it suitable for users who require a balance between quality and computational resources.
Lessons Learned from Previous Release
The original release of Stable Diffusion 3 Medium in June was a less than ideal release. However, the lessons learned from that experience have helped inform and improve the new Stable Diffusion 3.5 updates. According to Hanno Basse, CTO of Stability AI, the company identified that several model and dataset choices made for the Stable Diffusion Large 8B model were not optimal for the smaller-sized Medium model.
"We did thorough analysis of these bottlenecks and innovated further on our architecture and training protocols on the Medium model to provide a better balance between the model size and the output quality," Basse explained. "This experience has allowed us to refine our approach and create a more robust and high-quality model."
Novel Techniques and Improvements
Stability AI has taken advantage of several novel techniques to improve quality and performance in Stable Diffusion 3.5. One notable addition is the integration of Query-Key Normalization into the transformer blocks. This technique facilitates easier fine-tuning and further development of the models by end-users. This innovation enables users to adapt the models to their specific needs and applications.
Stability AI has also enhanced its Multimodal Diffusion Transformer MMDiT-X architecture, specifically for the medium model. MMDiT-X is able to help improve image quality and enhance multi-resolution generation capabilities. This architecture allows the model to generate images with a range of resolutions, from low to high, while maintaining a high level of quality.
Prompt Adherence and ControlNets
Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large demonstrates superior prompt adherence compared to other models in the market. This is achieved through a combination of better dataset curation, captioning, and additional innovation in training protocols. Prompt adherence refers to the model's ability to accurately generate images that match the input prompt. This feature is essential for users who require precise control over the generated images.
Looking forward, Stability AI is planning on releasing a ControlNets capability for Stable Diffusion 3.5. ControlNets will provide more control for various professional use cases, such as upscaling an image while maintaining the overall colors or creating an image that follows a specific depth pattern. This feature will enable users to fine-tune the generated images to meet their specific requirements.
Availability and Licensing
All three new Stable Diffusion 3.5 models are available under the Stability AI Community License, which is an open license that enables free non-commercial usage and free commercial usage for entities with annual revenue under $1 million. Stability AI has an enterprise license for larger deployments. The models are available via Stability AI's API as well as Hugging Face.
In conclusion, Stable Diffusion 3.5 represents a significant update to Stability AI's text-to-image generative AI technology. With its highly customizable models, improved quality, and novel techniques, Stability AI is poised to reclaim its leadership position in the market. The company's commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction has led to a major update that addresses the needs of users and sets a new standard for text-to-image generative AI.
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AI video startup Genmo launches Mochi 1, an open source rival to Runway, Kling, and others
Genmo Unveils Mochi 1: A Revolutionary Open-Source Model for Generating High-Quality Videos from Text Prompts
Genmo, a pioneering AI company focused on video generation, has announced the release of a research preview for Mochi 1, a groundbreaking open-source model that can generate high-quality videos from text prompts. This model is available under the permissive Apache 2.0 license, offering users free access to cutting-edge video generation capabilities that rival those of leading closed-source/proprietary rivals.
Unparalleled Performance
Mochi 1's performance is comparable to, or even exceeds, that of leading closed-source/proprietary rivals such as Runway's Gen-3 alpha, Luma AI's Dream Machine, Kuaishou's Kling, Minimax's Hailuo, and many others. The model's capabilities include:
Advancements in Video Generation
Mochi 1 brings several significant advancements to the field of video generation, including:
Open-Source and Democratizing Video Generation
Genmo has positioned Mochi 1 as a solution that narrows the gap between open and closed video generation models. By making the model open-source, Genmo aims to democratize video generation and put it in the hands of as many people as possible, allowing researchers, developers, and product teams to push the boundaries of video generation technologies and find new applications in entertainment, advertising, and education.
Series A Funding and Future Plans
In tandem with the Mochi 1 preview, Genmo announced it has raised a $28.4 million Series A funding round, led by NEA, with additional participation from several other investors. The company plans to use this funding to further develop its technology and expand its team, with plans to release Mochi 1 HD later this year, which will support 720p resolution and offer even greater motion fidelity.
Limitations and Roadmap
As a preview, Mochi 1 still has some limitations, including:
However, Genmo plans to address these limitations in future updates, with the goal of releasing a full-fledged version of Mochi 1 that supports higher resolutions and offers even greater motion fidelity.
Expanding Use Cases via Open source Video AI
Mochi 1's release opens up possibilities for various industries, including:
Conclusion
Genmo's Mochi 1 is a groundbreaking open-source model that has the potential to revolutionize the field of video generation. With its high-fidelity motion and strong prompt adherence, Mochi 1 is poised to democratize video generation and put it in the hands of as many people as possible. As Genmo continues to develop and refine its technology, we can expect to see even more exciting applications and use cases emerge, further solidifying its position as a leader in the field of video generation.
Article
Qatar Airways celebrates Starlink in-flight service with Elon Musk video call
Qatar Airways has launched Starlink in-flight services to its first aircraft, a Boeing 777 that traveled from Doha to London on Tuesday, October 22, 2024. To celebrate the occasion, the airline featured an in-flight video call with SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, who promised that the satellite internet service would only get better.
#qatar #starlink #internet
As noted by Qatar Airways in a press release, the company is progressing faster than expected in its efforts to equip its fleet with Starlink. Initially, Qatar Airways was looking to roll out three Starlink-equipped aircraft by the end of 2024. According to the airline, it is now on track to introduce 12 Starlink-equipped Boeing 777-300s by the end of the year.
Qatar Airways has also committed to introduce Starlink to its entire Boeing 777 fleet in 2025, one year ahead of schedule. The airline expects to introduce Starlink to its Airbus A350 fleet in Summer 2025. This should effectively make Qatar Airways one of the world’s best airlines when it comes to in-flight connectivity.
In a promotional video for the service, Qatar Airways featured a video call with SpaceX CEO Elon Musk during the airline’s inaugural Starlink flight. As per Musk in the video, “Over time, you’ll find it just gets better and better. This is the minimum, and it only gets better from here.”
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Marc Andreeson is likely correct on this one.
Amazon to shut down speedy brick-and-mortar delivery service
The company has stopped any new development of the service, called Amazon Today, and will begin to wind it down, according to people familiar with the matter.
Amazon is shutting down a service that offers same-day delivery from mall and brick-and-mortar retailers, CNBC has learned.
#amazon #delivery #technology
Amazon has made the decision to discontinue its same-day delivery service from brick-and-mortar retailers, known as Amazon Today, which was launched in 2022. The service allowed retailers who sell on Amazon to offer speedy delivery from their physical stores and shopping malls in select cities. According to sources, Amazon has stopped developing the service and will begin winding it down, with the majority of the program set to be shut down by December 2. Select retail partners will be able to continue fulfilling orders through January 24.
Amazon Today was a unique service that allowed customers to receive products from their favorite retailers in a matter of hours. The service was part of Amazon's push to get online purchases to customers' doorsteps at faster speeds, competing with other companies like Instacart and DoorDash. The service had signed up several retailers, including Office Depot, Staples, Petco, PacSun, GNC, and Fabletics.
However, the service was reportedly more costly than traditional delivery routes, where Flex drivers can fill their cars with packages from an Amazon warehouse. Amazon Today routes, which the company calls "retail deliveries," didn't usually fill up a driver's trunk, making the program less worthwhile for the Flex contractors. This, combined with the high costs of operating the service, likely made it a less viable option for Amazon in the long run.
The closure of Amazon Today will result in a small number of layoffs, with employees being provided with severance. Others will be transitioned to other positions within the company. The service had around 300 employees working on it.
Amazon's decision to shut down Amazon Today is part of the company's efforts to cut costs and prioritize its investments. Since taking over as CEO in 2022, Andy Jassy has been focused on reducing costs and streamlining the company's operations. This has included laying off over 27,000 employees, axing several projects, and taking a harder line on the company's unproven and costlier bets.
Despite the discontinuation of Amazon Today, the company continues to prioritize fast delivery. Amazon is adding more facilities focused on same-day deliveries and is working with its retail partners to ensure a smooth transition. The company will also continue to invest in fast delivery options.
The decision to shut down Amazon Today comes as a surprise, as the company was in the process of onboarding other retailers and pitching the service to more retailers at a recent conference. However, the service's high costs and lack of efficiency likely made it a less viable option for Amazon in the long run.
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Amazon Today, also known as "Today's Deals" or "Deals of the Day," is a section on Amazon's website that features limited-time discounts and promotions on various products. Here's a brief history of Amazon and the evolution of Amazon Today:
Early Days (1994-1997)
Amazon was founded in 1994 by Jeff Bezos as an online bookstore called Cadabra, Inc. The name was later changed to (link unavailable), Inc. in 1995.
In 1997, Amazon went public with an initial public offering (IPO) that raised $54 million.
Expansion and Growth (1998-2006)
Amazon expanded beyond books to sell other products, such as CDs, videos, and software.
In 2000, Amazon launched its marketplace platform, allowing third-party sellers to list and sell products.
Introduction of Deals (2006-2011)
In 2006, Amazon introduced the "Gold Box" feature, which offered limited-time deals on various products.
In 2011, Amazon launched "Lightning Deals" and "Deal of the Day" sections, which became the foundation for Amazon Today.
Amazon Today (2012-Present)
In 2012, Amazon consolidated its deal sections into a single page called "Today's Deals."
Amazon Today now features various deal types, including:
Deal of the Day (24-hour deals)
Lightning Deals (limited-time deals)
Savings and Sales
Prime Deals (exclusive discounts for Prime members)
Holiday-specific deals (e.g., Black Friday, Cyber Monday)
Key Features
Limited-time offers: Deals are available for a short period, creating a sense of urgency.
Variety of products: Discounts are offered across various categories, from electronics to home goods.
Exclusive deals: Prime members receive additional discounts and early access to deals.
Impact
Amazon Today drives sales and increases customer engagement.
It helps clear inventory, making room for new products.
The section promotes competition among sellers, encouraging price reductions.
Amazon Today has become a key feature of the Amazon shopping experience, offering customers significant savings and encouraging repeat business.
Stratospheric, AI-enabled robotic cameras on balloons could help you get your insurance claim check faster
Near Space Labs, a Brooklyn, New York-based startup, invented stratospheric, AI-enabled robotic cameras that fly on weather balloons.
The task for insurance adjusters is enormous in the wake of back to back hurricanes Helene and Milton, which caused catastrophic damage across several southern states.
#technology #ai #camera #robot #balloons
Revolutionizing Insurance Adjusting: How New Technology is Accelerating the Claims Process
In the aftermath of back-to-back hurricanes Helene and Milton, insurance adjusters are facing an unprecedented challenge. For decades, they have relied on traditional methods to assess property damage, including flying small airplanes equipped with high-resolution cameras to view damage to roofs, structures, and neighborhoods.
However, a new wave of technology is poised to modernize and accelerate this process, using drones, artificial intelligence, and weather balloons to provide faster and more accurate assessments.
Enter Near Space Labs and Swifts
Near space Labs, a Brooklyn-based startup, has developed a revolutionary system called Swifts, which uses stratospheric, AI-enabled robotic cameras that fly on weather balloons. These balloons, which fly twice as high as airplanes cruise, provide high-resolution imagery over thousands of square miles, capturing what 800,000 drones would in a single flight. This means that insurance companies can access critical information immediately after a disaster, assess damage, and pay out claims within days instead of weeks and months.
The Benefits of Swifts
The SWIFT system offers several advantages over traditional methods. For one, it is faster, allowing insurance companies to respond quickly to disasters and provide relief to affected individuals and communities. Additionally, Swifts are more cost-effective, as they can capture vast amounts of data in a single flight, reducing the need for multiple flights and personnel. Finally, the system is more accurate, as the high-resolution imagery provides a detailed and comprehensive view of damage.
Beyond Disaster Response
While Swifts is designed to accelerate the claims process after natural disasters, it also has the potential to revolutionize the way insurance companies assess and price risk. By providing a cheap and abundant source of imagery, Swifts can feed into customer AI datasets, allowing for more accurate risk analysis and pricing. This is especially attractive to investors, who see the potential for significant returns.
Investment and Funding
Near Space Labs has already raised $24 million in funding from investors such as Third Sphere, Crosslink capital, Wireframe Ventures, IAG Firemark Ventures, Toyota Ventures, and Leadout Capital. The company has flown over 1,000 commercial missions to assess risk and is ramping up its operations for disaster response. By next year, Near Space Labs plans to have scaled its operations to the point where it can respond immediately to major climate disaster events.
The Future of Insurance Adjusting
The introduction of Swifts and other new technologies is poised to transform the insurance adjusting process. With its ability to provide fast, accurate, and cost-effective assessments, Swifts has the potential to revolutionize the way insurance companies respond to natural disasters. As the industry continues to evolve, it is likely that we will see even more innovative solutions emerge, further accelerating the claims process and providing relief to those affected by disasters.
In the future, we can expect to see even more advanced technologies being integrated into the insurance adjusting process. For example, the use of machine learning algorithms to analyze data from Swifts and other sources, allowing for even more accurate risk assessments and pricing. Additionally, the integration of other technologies such as satellite imaging and IoT sensors will provide even more comprehensive views of damage and risk.
Overall, the introduction of Swifts and other new technologies is poised to transform the insurance adjusting process, providing faster, more accurate, and more cost-effective assessments of damage and risk. As the industry continues to evolve, it is likely that we will see even more innovative solutions emerge, further accelerating the claims process and providing relief to those affected by disasters.
Article
Starboard Value's Jeff Smith says Salesforce has 'a lot more to go' and can increase profitability
Salesforce has become more profitable in the past few years, but one activist investor says there's more for the software company to do.
Salesforce shares jumped 98% in 2023 in part after the business software maker increased its adjusted operating margin after Starboard Value and other activist investors raised concerns about the company's financial performance. Starboard now sees more room for improvement.
#salesforce #starboardventure #technology #software
Salesforce Shares Soar 98% in 2023 as Activist Investors Push for Efficiency and Profitability
In a remarkable turnaround, Salesforce shares have jumped a staggering 98% in 2023, driven in part by the company's efforts to improve its financial performance and address concerns raised by activist investors. Starboard Value, a prominent activist firm, has been instrumental in pushing Salesforce to increase its adjusted operating margin, and its efforts have yielded significant results.
The Rule of 40, which suggests that a company's revenue growth rate and profit margin should add up to at least 40%, has become a widely accepted benchmark in the software industry.
This metric has gained traction in recent years as investors have become increasingly concerned about the impact of rising interest rates on software companies. Starboard Value has been a vocal proponent of the Rule of 40, arguing that Salesforce, despite its dominance in the customer relationship management (CRM) software market, has historically prioritized growth over profitability.
Starboard Value first revealed its holding in Salesforce in 2022, and the company's subsequent efforts to improve its financial performance have been impressive. Salesforce has taken significant steps to cut costs, including cutting thousands of employees, accelerating its timeline for widening its adjusted operating margin, and making significant changes to its cost structure. As a result, the company's adjusted operating margin has improved, and its shares have responded accordingly.
In a recent presentation, Starboard Value outlined its vision for Salesforce's future, highlighting the company's potential to become even more efficient and profitable. The Firm noted that other large software companies, such as Adobe, Intuit, Microsoft, Oracle, SAP, ServiceNow, and Workday, spend less on sales and marketing and general and administrative costs as a percentage of revenue, and argued that Salesforce can catch up. Starboard also called on Salesforce to commit to adhering to the Rule of 50 by the 2028 fiscal year, and laid out two scenarios that would achieve this goal.
Starboard Value also highlighted the potential of Agentforce, a technology for automating customer interactions that Salesforce discussed at its Dreamforce conference in September. The firm believes that Agentforce has the potential to boost revenue growth and drive further efficiency gains.
In response to Starboard's presentation, a Salesforce spokesperson told CNBC that the company "appreciates feedback and dialogue with our investor base" and that Starboard "continues to be a constructive shareholder in our conversations." Despite the positive news, Salesforce shares slipped 1% during Tuesday's trading session.
The remarkable turnaround in Salesforce's shares in 2023 is a testament to the power of activist investors in driving change and improving financial performance. Starboard Value's efforts have pushed Salesforce to prioritize efficiency and profitability, and the company's results have responded accordingly. As the software industry continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how Salesforce and other companies respond to the challenges and opportunities presented by the Rule of 40 and other metrics.
Some key statistics that highlight Salesforce's progress include:
Overall, the remarkable turnaround in Salesforce's shares in 2023 is a testament to the power of activist investors in driving change and improving financial performance. As the software industry continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how Salesforce and other companies respond to the challenges and opportunities presented by the Rule of 40 and other metrics.
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Startups
Feds clear way for EVTOL startups to bring flying vehicles to U.S. airspace
Federal regulators have cleared the path for electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft to share U.S. airspace with planes and helicopters — a win for the burgeoning industry and a timely decision for startups like Joby Aviation and Archer Aviation that are expected to launch air taxi networks commercially in 2025.
#newsonleo #technology #startups
The Federal Aviation Administration published Tuesday its much-anticipated final ruling on the integration of “powered-lift” vehicles, a category the FAA revived two years ago to accommodate eVTOLs and one that describes aircraft that can take off and land like helicopters but then transition to forward flight like airplanes.
“Powered-lift aircraft are the first new category of aircraft in nearly 80 years and this historic rule will pave the way for accommodating wide-scale Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) operations in the future,” FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker said in a statement. Whitaker announced the rule during the NBAA-Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition in Las Vegas.
The ruling also contains guidelines for pilot training and clarifies operating rules. For example, aside from a new type of powered-lift pilot certification, the ruling includes an expanded ability for operators to train and qualify pilots using flight simulation training devices.
The operating rules are tailored specifically to powered-lift vehicles and, as such, allow eVTOLs the flexibility to switch between helicopter and airplane rules as needed.
Joby, Archer, Beta Technologies, and Wisk Aero — which are building aircraft for urban air taxi networks, defense, cargo, and medical logistics — have worked closely with the FAA since 2022 to develop this new set of rules for training, operations, and maintenance.
“[The ruling] aligns with all the hopes that we had been designing for,” Greg Bowles, head of government affairs at Joby Aviation, told TechCrunch. “So the way that we’ve designed the operating system, the cockpit we’ve designed, the way we’ve designed for energy reserves, all align with the FAA rule.”
Bowles also noted that Joby will be able to begin commercial operations once it receives its type certification from the FAA, which means the design of the startup’s aircraft and other major aircraft components meet required safety and airworthiness standards. Joby is in the fourth of five stages of type certification, and recently received a $500 million capital injection from Toyota to help it get across the finish line.
Startups
Cement startup Furno lands $20M grant to build low-carbon micro-kilns in Chicago
Cement startup Furno will receive a $20 million grant from the Department of Energy, funds that will help the company build up to eight micro-kilns at a concrete plant in Chicago.
#newsonleo #technology #startups
Chicago might not seem like the sort of place where cement is hard to come by. But with the nearest kiln 100 miles away, concrete companies have to pay handsomely for the stuff to keep up with demand. Furno’s micro-kilns promise to reduce pollution and eliminate transportation costs.
Furno’s partner in the project, Ozinga, currently buys 60,000 tons of cement annually from suppliers to use at its Chinatown Yard on Chicago’s south side. There, it blends the binder with aggregate to produce concrete that’s used in construction projects throughout the city.
Most cement plants are massive installations, requiring sprawling logistical networks to get the material to where it’s needed. But the new Furno project will be limited to the amount that Ozinga uses.
“We’ve sized our facility, the project, to that,” Furno founder and CEO Gurinder Nagra told TechCrunch. Nagra will be appearing onstage at TechCrunch Disrupt 2024 in San Francisco on October 28. “They have access to the virgin limestone as well as the recycled material already.”
To power the eight kilns that Mountain View-based Furno will be installing, Ozinga might use biogas, a form of methane produced by decomposing organic matter. That, along with the use of recycled material, stands to significantly reduce the climate impact of cement made at the facility.
Cement is one of the most polluting industries on the planet, generating 8% of all carbon pollution. It’s created when minerals that contain calcium, like limestone, are cooked under intense heat. This process, known as calcination, produces cement along with large amounts of carbon dioxide, over and above the pollution released by any fossil fuels that are used to generate the necessary heat. Every metric ton of cement produces 600 kilograms of carbon pollution.
Most cement today is produced in massive rotary kilns, which are essentially long, horizontal tubes through which heat and raw materials flow. They’re inefficient, with only about 30% of the heat being used for calcination; the rest is wasted.
Furno shrinks the kiln and turns it upright, a twist that allows more of the heat to participate in the calcination reaction, reducing fossil fuel pollution by at least 70% and eliminating it entirely when it’s fired using hydrogen.
The startup raised a $6.5 million seed round in March, TechCrunch exclusively reported. The federal grant will pay for a significant portion of the project. For the remainder, and to cover other expenses, Furno will be raising a Series A round starting in early 2025, said Kiersten Jakobsen, Furno’s head of marketing.
The deal with Ozinga, which Furno is calling Project Oz — a nod to both the project partner and to Nagra’s home country — will create 50 construction jobs and 30 permanent jobs. The Department of Energy was particularly interested in that statistic, Jakobsen said. “There were some coal plant closures, and the DOE grant is to bring back jobs for those people who had been displaced,” she said.
Furno wasn’t the only cement startup to receive an award from the Department of Energy. Terra CO2, which is based in Golden, Colorado, received $52.6 million to build a new manufacturing facility outside of Salt Lake City. The plant will crank out a cement replacement that’s significantly less polluting than the existing Portland cement.
AI
Thousands of creatives sign petition against AI data scraping
What do the actor Kevin Bacon, the novelist Kazuo Ishiguro, the musician Robert Smith, and the journalist and historian Sidney Blumenthal have in common? They are among the 11,500 signatories of a petition against unlicensed use of creative works for AI training.
#newsonleo #technology #ai
“The unlicensed use of creative works for training generative AI is a major, unjust threat to the livelihoods of the people behind those works, and must not be permitted,” signatories warn.
The petition comes at a time when lawmakers are considering how to respond to data being scraped for generative AI development. Last week, the Financial Times reported the U.K. government plans to consult on an “opt out” model for AI content scraping.
Per The Guardian, the petition was organized by British composer Ed Newton-Rex, a former exec at Stability AI, who said creatives are exceptionally worried. He accuses AI companies of “dehumanizing” people’s art and work by calling it “training data.”
3D Printing
Ex-SpaceX engineers land $14M to scale new method for 3D printing metal
3D printing objects using metal is a well-established technique, but it tends to be too complex, expensive, or imprecise to match traditional methods at scale. Armed with $14 million from Nvidia and Boeing, Freeform aims to change that by building a new metal additive printing process that it says changes the game — and yes, there’s an AI angle, too.
#newsonleo #technology #3DPrinting
Co-founders Erik Palitsch (CEO) and TJ Ronacher (president) both worked at SpaceX, where they were principal architect and lead analyst, respectively, of the Merlin engines and other programs. While there, they saw the potential of 3D printing parts using metal, but also experienced the method’s shortcomings firsthand.
“We saw the potential of metal printing; it has the potential to transform basically any industry that makes metal things. But adoption has been slow and success has been marginal at best,” said Palitsch. “Why is it not practical to use at scale? Fundamentally, because of three things: crappy and inconsistent quality; speed — commercial printers are very slow; and cost — the price for these printers is astronomical.”
They concluded that if they could operationalize the process to provide a printing service rather than sell a printer, they could crack the whole thing wide open. So they joined up with Tasso Lappas, former CTO of Velo3D, to start Freeform.
The primary mistake companies were making was using the likes of CNC machines, which are commonly used in traditional manufacturing, as a model for the metal-printing business. In that case, you sell the machine and its software, and make it work with whatever shapes and processes you use. But metal additive is different, Palitsch said.
“The way these things work today is they’re ‘open loop’ — they’re basically playing back a file,” he explained. “They needed to be smarter than that, because the process by which you melt metal powder with a laser is extremely complicated, and in a way infinitely variable.”
Selling people a machine and saying “become an expert to make it work, good luck,” isn’t a recipe for success.
“But when you decide you’re not going to build and package a printer into a box, when you have the freedom to build an automated factory from clean sheet, there’s a lot you can do,” Palitsch said.
Their solution is to provide printing as a service using a closed-loop process in a custom machine that monitors the print on a microsecond scale, adjusting various factors to achieve the kind of print that is expected at a workplace like SpaceX.
The company has plenty of tech advances to boast of, but the two most immediately relevant are the feedback loop and the AI that manages it.
“We have high-speed computer vision feedback on our system that runs at microsecond scale, and all that data is being processed on state of the art FPGAs and GPUs. We had to build this whole stack ourselves out of stuff that’s only become available in the last few years,” said Palitsch.
The closed-loop system with real-time monitoring mitigates the quality issues while still allowing speedy printing of complex geometries. And by operating as a printing service, they keep the business model simple.
But making that part of the system work required the second tech breakthrough: a machine-learning model fast enough and expert enough to actually perform that monitoring.
“Erik and TJ lived this and reached the same conclusions, that this industry required a level of compute and sensors that no one had ever deployed before,” said Lappas.
“To properly understand how to control the process, we needed datasets working at timescales that no one had. So we started building a state of the art telemetry system, a platform that would collect curated, controlled, almost self-labeled datasets.”
This data allowed them to bootstrap a model to generate more data for a better model, and so on.
But then they ran into the necessity of speed.
“There’s a lot we have in common with generative models, and a lot we don’t. But one thing that’s absolutely different is the latency,” Lappas explained. “Our inference needs to happen in microseconds so that we can close the loop on these processes.” With no off-the-shelf solution available for the data or the compute, they had to build the GPU/FPGA “AI on steroids” combo from scratch.
A consequential side effect: Freeform is “building the largest metal additive dataset in the world — that’s why companies like Boeing are coming to us,” said Palitsch. “We have this fundamental, core data collection and processing ability no one else has.”
Add that to the fundamental benefits of printing-based manufacturing, like the agility and versatility of factories, and it makes a pretty compelling business case.
Boeing’s AE Ventures and Nvidia invested a total of $14 million, though they declined to break that down further. Each company’s investment comes with perks: Nvidia gives them access to H100s and other compute hardware, while Boeing will shepherd them through the supplier qualification process and likely buy a bunch of parts. (Freeform will also join Nvidia’s Inception startup program.)
Palitsch said they have customers in the aerospace, automotive, industrial, and energy sectors, “the whole nine.” They declined to put any on the record, but did mention they’re making everything from rocket engine components to exhaust parts for Formula 1 cars. They plan to use the money to scale up, build out their next generation of (much faster) printers, and hire up to around 55 people total over the next year.
He admitted that their approach has taken time to grow from theory to reality, but that their methodical, technical approach is also what enabled their success.
“It was a slow transition,” Palitch said. “But I look back at it… with six people, we built, from scratch, the fastest laser melting platform on the planet, and the hardware and software for it. We did things people said you couldn’t do.”
Meta
Meta tests facial recognition for spotting ‘celeb-bait’ ads scams and easier account recovery
Meta is expanding tests of facial recognition as an anti-scam measure to combat celebrity scam ads and more broadly, the Facebook owner announced Monday.
#newsonleo #technology #meta
Monika Bickert, Meta’s VP of content policy, wrote in a blog post that some of the tests aim to bolster its existing anti-scam measures, such as the automated scans (using machine learning classifiers) run as part of its ad review system, to make it harder for fraudsters to fly under its radar and dupe Facebook and Instagram users to click on bogus ads.
“Scammers often try to use images of public figures, such as content creators or celebrities, to bait people into engaging with ads that lead to scam websites where they are asked to share personal information or send money. This scheme, commonly called ‘celeb-bait,’ violates our policies and is bad for people that use our products,” she wrote.
“Of course, celebrities are featured in many legitimate ads. But because celeb-bait ads are often designed to look real, they’re not always easy to detect.”
The tests appear to be using facial recognition as a back-stop for checking ads flags as suspect by existing Meta systems when they contain the image of a public figure at risk of so-called “celeb-bait.”
“[W]e will try to use facial recognition technology to compare faces in the ad against the public figure’s Facebook and Instagram profile pictures,” Bickert wrote. “If we confirm a match and that the ad is a scam, we’ll block it.”
Meta claims the feature is not being used for any other purpose than for fighting scam ads. “We immediately delete any facial data generated from ads for this one-time comparison regardless of whether our system finds a match, and we don’t use it for any other purpose,” she said.
The company said early tests of the approach — with “a small group of celebrities and public figures” (it did not specify whom) — has shown “promising” results in improving the speed and efficacy of detecting and enforcing against this type of scam.
Meta also told TechCrunch it thinks the use of facial recognition would be effective for detecting deepfake scam ads, where generative AI has been used to produce imagery of famous people.
The social media giant has been accused for many years of failing to stop scammers misappropriating famous people’s faces in a bid to use its ad platform to shill scams like dubious crypto investments to unsuspecting users. So it’s interesting timing for Meta to be pushing facial recognition-based anti-fraud measures for this problem now, at a time when the company is simultaneously trying to grab as much user data as it can to train its commercial AI models (as part of the wider industry-wide scramble to build out generative AI tools).
In the coming weeks Meta said it will start displaying in-app notifications to a larger group of public figures who’ve been hit by celeb-bait — letting them know they’re being enrolled in the system.
“Public figures enrolled in this protection can opt-out in their Accounts Center anytime,” Bickert noted.
Meta is also testing use of facial recognition for spotting celebrity imposer accounts — for example, where scammers seek to impersonate public figures on the platform in order to expand their opportunities for fraud — again by using AI to compare profile pictures on a suspicious account against a public figure’s Facebook and Instagram profile pictures.
“We hope to test this and other new approaches soon,” Bickert added.
Additionally, Meta has announced that it’s trialing the use of facial recognition applied to video selfies to enable faster account unlocking for people who have been locked out of their Facebook/Instagram accounts after they’ve been taken over by scammers (such as if a person were tricked into handing over their passwords).
This looks intended to appeal to users by promoting the apparent utility of facial recognition tech for identity verification — with Meta implying it will be a quicker and easier way to regain account access than uploading an image of a government-issued ID (which is the usual route for unlocking access access now).
“Video selfie verification expands on the options for people to regain account access, only takes a minute to complete and is the easiest way for people to verify their identity,” Bickert said. “While we know hackers will keep trying to exploit account recovery tools, this verification method will ultimately be harder for hackers to abuse than traditional document-based identity verification.”
The facial recognition-based video selfie identification method Meta is testing will require the user to upload a video selfie that will then be processed using facial recognition technology to compare the video against profile pictures on the account they’re trying to access.
Meta claims the method is similar to identity verification used to unlock a phone or access other apps, such as Apple’s Face ID on the iPhone. “As soon as someone uploads a video selfie, it will be encrypted and stored securely,” Bickert added. “It will never be visible on their profile, to friends, or to other people on Facebook or Instagram. We immediately delete any facial data generated after this comparison regardless of whether there’s a match or not.”
Conditioning users to upload and store a video selfie for ID verification could be one way for Meta to expand its offerings in the digital identity space — if enough users opt in to uploading their biometrics.
No tests in U.K. or EU — for now
All these tests of facial recognition are being run globally, per Meta. However the company noted, rather conspicuously, that tests are not currently occurring in the U.K. or the European Union — where comprehensive data protection regulations apply. (In the specific case of biometrics for ID verification, the bloc’s data protection framework demands explicit consent from the individuals concerned for such a use case.)
Given this, Meta’s tests appear to fit within a wider PR strategy it has mounted in Europe in recent months to try to pressure local lawmakers to dilute citizens’ privacy protections. This time, the cause it’s invoking to press for unfettered data-processing-for-AI is not a (self-serving) notion of data diversity or claims of lost economic growth but the more straightforward goal of combating scammers.
“We are engaging with the U.K. regulator, policymakers, and other experts while testing moves forward,” Meta spokesman Andrew Devoy told TechCrunch. “We’ll continue to seek feedback from experts and make adjustments as the features evolve.”
However, while use of facial recognition for a narrow security purpose might be acceptable to some — and, indeed, might be possible for Meta to undertake under existing data protection rules — using people’s data to train commercial AI models is a whole other kettle of fish.
Meta
Meta’s smart glasses outsell traditional Ray-Bans in some stores, even before AI features roll out
The Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses are the top selling product in 60% of all Ray-Ban stores throughout Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, according to Upload VR. The detail came from EssilorLuxottica CFO Stefano Grassi, who revealed during the eyewear giant’s earnings call last week that Ray-Ban Meta proved to be a significant driver for the company’s sales.
#newsonleo #technology #meta
In Europe, Meta has yet to roll out multimodal AI features for its Ray-Ban smart glasses, citing a lack of clarity from regulators in the EU. The company says it’s committed to bringing all of its Meta AI features to Europe at some point, but the current lack of AI features doesn’t appear to be hindering Ray-Ban Meta’s sales in the region. It’s possible some consumers are drawn to the glasses’ speakers and cameras more than its AI capabilities.
In any case, the Ray-Ban Meta glasses are proving to be a larger success than Meta originally expected. That early traction may have been a factor in Meta expanding its partnership with EssilorLuxottica into the next decade.
EV Truck
Nevoya wants to break the EV truck adoption logjam
Los Angeles is known for glitz, but there’s also a lot of grit in the air — literally. Thousands of containers are moved off and on ships at the area’s two major ports every day, almost always transferred via pollution-spewing diesel trucks. This has made Los Angeles a hotbed for all kinds of new electric vehicle and charging infrastructure projects.
#newsonleo #technology #ev #energy
A new startup called Nevoya is pouncing on the opportunity.
“It’s the best place in the country” for electric trucks, founder Sami Khan told TechCrunch in a recent interview. “The incentives are the strongest,” he remarked, “and there’s just a huge market here.”
It appears Nevoya is already making some headway. The startup’s carrying goods on electric trucks in the LA area for Fortune 500 companies that Khan declined to disclose. Nevoya also revealed to TechCrunch that it raised $3 million in a seed round led by Third Sphere and RedBlue Capital, with Necessary Ventures, Ciri Ventures, and Never Lift coming aboard as well.
Nevoya is billing itself as the “first zero-emissions technology and trucking platform” in the U.S. The startup is exclusively buying electric trucks — all Freightliner eCascadias, so far — to offer to shippers who want to move goods cleanly. It’s also using artificial intelligence software to optimize the usage, routing, and charging of its trucks, which Nevoya says allows it to keep its prices lower than diesel.
Khan and his co-founders make up a triumvirate of complementary expertise that seems appropriate for such an endeavor. Khan spent a few years at McLaren Applied, the British automaker’s innovation arm, but he also spent a half-decade working in private equity. John Verdon led business development and commercial partnerships at Waymo. And Tom Atwood built a predictive analytics startup that sold to supply chain company Project44, where he spent the last two years working on route optimization and infrastructure planning software.
The funding will go toward growing operations, but not to acquiring trucks. Khan said those purchases will be made with debt — a strategy he’s comfortable with following his experiences in private equity. Khan believes this approach also makes Nevoya more attractive to investors in an environment where there’s still a lot of hesitance around hard tech. While he said his team “kissed a lot of frogs,” that process led them to investors like RedBlue — which is run by the former founding partner of transportation startup fund Maniv Mobility, Olaf Sakkers.
“Those guys were people that we had a first conversation with, and within a week it was at a term sheet, because they got it, and they understood,” he said. “The size of the pie, and the opportunity, is so, so huge.”
Khan stressed that competing with diesel trucks on cost will be hard. But that pressure is mitigated by how easy it has been to strike up conversations with companies that ship goods through the LA area.
“All of these Fortune 500 brands are looking to reduce their Scope 3 emissions (indirect emissions) and effectively have no solutions,” he said. With Nevoya, the promise Khan makes to these companies is: “There is no difference to your business, because we take care of the charging. We have the drivers. We have the trucks.”
Even as Nevoya is still working to get to cost parity with diesel, Khan said these big companies almost don’t care. “They want to decarbonize so badly that they are willing to pay a premium, and so for those [customers], we are actually going out at a rate that is higher than diesel.”
“What is so exciting about building this business is that you will get through the door at any shipper in the United States,” Khan said. “We have not failed there once — as soon as you say you have electric vehicles, they pick up the phone. They escalate.”
As it signs on more companies, Nevoya’s software can efficiently piggyback shipments from different customers to get the most out of the electric trucks in its fleet. That helps it lower costs.
Khan said Nevoya is currently hopping around different charging locations — this is another place where the optimization software will really have to shine — but eventually wants to build its own charging infrastructure. At that point, Khan said he could see Nevoya moving into smaller-class trucks, too.
Nevoya is also eyeing geographic expansion in the United States. It’s starting that push with a market that is about as different as its home base as one can find: Texas.
Despite the myriad social and political differences, Khan views Texas as a similarly well-suited state to drum up business. It may not have the pot-of-gold incentives like California, but Khan said Texas’ looser regulatory framework and cheaper electricity put it on par with the financial modeling his team has done for operating in Nevoya’s home state.
AI
Anthropic’s new AI model can control your PC
In a pitch to investors last spring, Anthropic said it intended to build AI to power virtual assistants that could perform research, answer emails, and handle other back-office jobs on their own. The company referred to this as a “next-gen algorithm for AI self-teaching” — one it believed that could, if all goes according to plan, automate large portions of the economy someday.
#newsonleo #technology #ai
“All of the models in the Claude 3 model family have their individual uses for customers,” the Anthropic spokesperson said. “Claude 3.5 Opus is on our roadmap and we’ll be sure to share more as soon as we can.”
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It took a while, but that AI is starting to arrive.
Anthropic on Tuesday released an upgraded version of its Claude 3.5 Sonnet model that can understand and interact with any desktop app. Via a new “Computer Use” API, now in open beta, the model can imitate keystrokes, button clicks, and mouse gestures, essentially emulating a person sitting at a PC.
“We trained Claude to see what’s happening on a screen and then use the software tools available to carry out tasks,” Anthropic wrote in a blog post shared with TechCrunch. “When a developer tasks Claude with using a piece of computer software and gives it the necessary access, Claude looks at screenshots of what’s visible to the user, then counts how many pixels vertically or horizontally it needs to move a cursor in order to click in the correct place.”
Developers can try out Computer Use via Anthropic’s API, Amazon Bedrock, and Google Cloud’s Vertex AI platform. The new 3.5 Sonnet without Computer Use is rolling out to Claude apps, and brings various performance improvements over the outgoing 3.5 Sonnet model.
A tool that can automate tasks on a PC is hardly a novel idea. Countless companies offer such tools, from decades-old RPA vendors to newer upstarts like Relay, Induced AI, and Automat.
In the race to develop so-called “AI agents,” the field has only become more crowded. AI agents remains an ill-defined term, but it generally refers to AI that can automate software.
Some analysts say AI agents could provide companies with an easier path to monetizing the billions of dollars that they’re pouring into AI. Companies seem to agree: According to a recent Capgemini survey, 10% of organizations already use AI agents and 82% will integrate them within the next three years.
Salesforce made splashy announcements about its AI agent tech this summer, while Microsoft touted new tools for building AI agents yesterday. OpenAI, which is plotting its own brand of AI agents, sees the tech as a step toward super-intelligent AI.
Anthropic calls its take on the AI agent concept an “action-execution layer” that lets the new 3.5 Sonnet perform desktop-level commands. Thanks to its ability to browse the web (not a first for AI models, but a first for Anthropic), 3.5 Sonnet can use any website and any application.
“Humans remain in control by providing specific prompts that direct Claude’s actions, like ‘use data from my computer and online to fill out this form’,” an Anthropic spokesperson told TechCrunch. “People enable access and limit access as needed. Claude breaks down the user’s prompts into computer commands (e.g. moving the cursor, clicking, typing) to accomplish that specific task.”
Software development platform Replit has used an early version of the new 3.5 Sonnet model to create an “autonomous verifier” that can evaluate apps while they’re being built. Canva, meanwhile, says that it’s exploring ways in which the new model might be able to support the designing and editing process.
But how is this any different than the other AI agents out there? It’s a reasonable question. Consumer gadget startup Rabbit is building a web agent that can do things like buying movie tickets online; Adept, which was recently acqui-hired by Amazon, trains models to browse websites and navigate software; and Twin Labs is using off-the-shelf models, including OpenAI’s GPT-4o, to automate desktop processes.
Anthropic claims the new 3.5 Sonnet is simply a stronger, more robust model that can do better on coding tasks than even OpenAI’s flagship o1, per the SWE-bench Verified benchmark. Despite not being explicitly trained to do so, the upgraded 3.5 Sonnet self-corrects and retries tasks when it encounters obstacles, and can work toward objectives that require dozens or hundreds of steps.
But don’t fire your secretary just yet.
In an evaluation designed to test an AI agent’s ability to help with airline booking tasks, like modifying a flight reservation, the new 3.5 Sonnet managed to complete less than half of the tasks successfully. In a separate test involving tasks like initiating a return, 3.5 Sonnet failed roughly a third of the time.
Anthropic admits the upgraded 3.5 Sonnet struggles with basic actions like scrolling and zooming, and that it can miss “short-lived” actions and notifications because of the way it takes screenshots and pieces them together.
“Claude’s Computer Use remains slow and often error-prone,” Anthropic writes in its post. “We encourage developers to begin exploration with low-risk tasks.”
But is the new 3.5 Sonnet capable enough to be dangerous? Possibly.
A recent study found that models without the ability to use desktop apps, like OpenAI’s GPT-4o, were willing to engage in harmful “multi-step agent behavior,” such as ordering a fake passport from someone on the dark web, when “attacked” using jailbreaking techniques. Jailbreaks led to high rates of success in performing harmful tasks even for models protected by filters and safeguards, according to the researchers.
One can imagine how a model with desktop access could wreak more havoc — say, by exploiting app vulnerabilities to compromise personal info (or storing chats in plaintext). Aside from the software levers at its disposal, the model’s online and app connections could open avenues for malicious jailbreakers.
Anthropic doesn’t deny that there’s risk in releasing the new 3.5 Sonnet. But the company argues that the benefits of observing how the model is used in the wild ultimately outweigh this risk.
“We think it’s far better to give access to computers to today’s more limited, relatively safer models,” the company wrote. “This means we can begin to observe and learn from any potential issues that arise at this lower level, building up computer use and safety mitigations gradually and simultaneously.”
Anthropic also says it has taken steps to deter misuse, like not training the new 3.5 Sonnet on users’ screenshots and prompts, and preventing the model from accessing the web during training. The company says it developed classifiers to “nudge” 3.5 Sonnet away from actions perceived as high-risk, such as posting on social media, creating accounts, and interacting with government websites.
As the U.S. general election nears, Anthropic says it is focused on mitigating election-related abuse of its models. The U.S. AI Safety Institute and U.K. Safety Institute, two separate but allied government agencies dedicated to evaluating AI model risk, tested the new 3.5 Sonnet prior to its deployment.
Anthropic told TechCrunch it has the ability to restrict access to additional websites and features “if necessary,” to protect against spam, fraud, and misinformation, for example. As a safety precaution, the company retains any screenshots captured by Computer Use for at least 30 days — a retention period that might alarm some devs.
We asked Anthropic under which circumstances, if any, it would hand over screenshots to a third party (e.g. law enforcement) if asked. A spokesperson said that the company would “comply with requests for data in response to valid legal process.”
“There are no foolproof methods, and we will continuously evaluate and iterate on our safety measures to balance Claude’s capabilities with responsible use,” Anthropic said. “Those using the computer-use version of Claude should take the relevant precautions to minimize these kinds of risks, including isolating Claude from particularly sensitive data on their computer.”
Hopefully, that’ll be enough to prevent the worst from occurring.
A cheaper model
Today’s headliner might’ve been the upgraded 3.5 Sonnet model, but Anthropic also said an updated version of Haiku, the cheapest, most efficient model in its Claude series, is on the way.
Claude 3.5 Haiku, due in the coming weeks, will match the performance of Claude 3 Opus, once Anthropic’s state-of-the-art model, on certain benchmarks at the same cost and “approximate speed” of Claude 3 Haiku.
“With low latency, improved instruction following, and more accurate tool use, Claude 3.5 Haiku is well suited for user-facing products, specialized sub-agent tasks, and generating personalized experiences from huge volumes of data–like purchase history, pricing, or inventory data,” Anthropic wrote in a blog post.
3.5 Haiku will initially be available as a text-only model and later as part of a multimodal package that can analyze both text and images.
So once 3.5 Haiku is available, will there be much reason to use 3 Opus? What about 3.5 Opus, 3 Opus’ successor, which Anthropic teased back in June?
UK
UK Considers New Smartphone Bans for Children
The UK parliament is considering clamping down on how young people use smartphones. A bill brought forward by a Labour member of parliament proposes both banning phones in schools and raising the age at which children can consent to social media companies using their data.
#newsonleo #technology #uk #Smartphone
Calls for smartphone bans have been growing in the UK, driven by fears that the devices are driving a decline in kids’ mental health and ability to focus. Smartphone Free Childhood, a prominent pressure group inspired by Jonathan Haidt’s book The Anxious Generation, calls for parents to delay getting smartphones for their children until they are at least 13. Florida has already passed a law that bans under-14s from holding social media accounts, and Australia is considering similar restrictions.
But academics warn that smartphone and social media bans are unlikely to be a catch-all solution to the problems facing young people. Experts on the impact of digital technologies argue that the legislation could end up shutting children out from the potential benefits of smartphones, and that more pressure should be put on social media companies to design better digital worlds for children.
The latest proposed clampdown in the UK is thin on details, but the MP bringing the bill, Josh MacAllister, told the radio show Today that it would prevent social media companies making use of young peoples’ data until they are 16. “We can protect children from lots of the addictive bad design features that come from social media,” he said. The bill would also make a ban on phones in schools legally binding.
The bill was introduced to the House of Commons on October 16 and is set to be debated on March 7, 2025. MacAllister submitted it as a private members’ bill—a way for MPs who are not members of the government to propose legislation. Private members’ bills rarely become law, but they can be a way to raise publicity and influence government legislation. Labour health secretary Wes Streeting posted on X in support of the bill, writing that concerns about smartphone use and its impact on mental health make for “a really timely debate.”
The UK’s Department for Education already asks schools to prohibit access to phones throughout the school day, including during break and lunchtimes. According to research from the Policy Exchange think tank, 99 percent of secondary schools had some form of phone ban, although only 11 percent required children to either leave their phone at home or to lock it away at the start of the day. Other countries, such as Greece and France, have similar regulations.
We know surprisingly little about the impact of smartphone bans in schools, says Sonia Livingstone, a professor at the London School of Economics who studies how digital technologies affect young people. There are relatively few good studies in this area, and those studies that have been done often point in contradictory directions. There is just about enough evidence to suggest that preventing children from accessing their phones improves concentration, says Livingstone, but it’s much harder to say that banning phones leads to less bullying or more play. “The research is just really insufficient for that,” she says.
Separating out how specific issues like bullying, mental health, sleep time, exercise, and concentration are impacted by smartphones is extremely tricky, says Livingstone. She points to the lack of mental health services for young people and poor pay and conditions for teachers as other potential issues that get overlooked in favor of smartphone bans. Phones might be part of the problem, she says, but they’re also seized upon as an all-purpose solution. “They seem the bit we can do something about,” she says, “and they seem the most obvious new thing.”
The proposed new bill would also raise the age at which children can consent to allow social media companies to use their date from 13 to 16. “If we can create a version of those apps and a version of smartphones effectively for U16s, it will make it easier for them to clock out and go do real-world activities,” MacAllister told the Today show. The UK already passed a law in 2023—the Online Safety Act—that is supposed to protect children from some kinds of content, but most parts of the act have yet to come into force.
Rather than focusing on bans, legislators should think more about how to teach children to have healthier relationships with technology and hold tech companies to account, says Pete Etchells, a professor at Bath Spa University and author of Unlocked: The Real Science of Screen Time. “We need to think about how we design [digital technologies] better, and support people in understanding how to use them,” he says.
And getting there, according to Etchells, means moving past simplistic narratives like assuming that restricting screen time will lead to more outdoor play. He points to a 2011 law in South Korea that banned children from playing online games between midnight and 6 in the morning. After four years, the ban had made no meaningful difference in terms of internet use or sleeping hours. The law was dropped in 2021.
“If you talk to any mental health professional, any researcher in this area, they will tell you there’s no such thing as a single root cause for things getting worse or better,” Etchells says. Looking to smartphone restrictions as the main response to the problems facing young people might turn out to be the easy answer rather than the right one.
Now let's go in search of the 800 comments!
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Netflix
Netflix closes AAA game studio before it ever released a game
The first cracks are starting to show in Netflix’s push into gaming. First reported in Game File and confirmed by Netflix, the streaming company has quietly closed of one of its studios, the first in the three years since the company began its foray into gaming.
#newsonleo #technology #netflix
According to Game File, the shuttered studio was known as Blue. In 2022, Netflix announced it hired former Overwatch executive producer Chacko Sonny to run the studio. Since then, Blue had brought on a number of game industry veterans with experience working on high profile franchises including Halo and God of War. Reportedly, Blue was developing a multi-platform AAA game for an original IP but was closed before the game could be announced or released.
Netflix has released a steady stream of games on its platform since the beginning of its gaming experiment in 2021. Though it started with a small handful of hyper-casual mobile games, Netflix’s offerings have expanded to include mobile exclusive ports of iconic games like Grand Theft Auto and Hades its own internally developed exclusives like Cozy Grove: Camp Spirit and Oxenfree II: Lost Signals.
Netflix has also acquired or spun-up a number of studios to support its gaming pipeline. The most recent additions were a mobile game studio in Helsinki, a new studio in southern California, and Cozy Grove developer Spry Fox. But with the closure of Blue, Netflix’s trend of expansion may be over as well as its grander AAA ambitions.
Space
A satellite made by Boeing just fell apart in space
A communications satellite built by Boeing has fallen apart while in orbit, as reported earlier by Jalopnik. On Saturday, Intelsat said its 33e satellite stopped working due to an “anomaly” before confirming its “total loss” on Monday.
#newsonleo #technology #space
“We are coordinating with the satellite manufacturer, Boeing, and government agencies to analyze data and observations,” Intelsat said. The company has since established a board to conduct a “comprehensive analysis of the cause of the anomaly.”
The satellite’s breakup doesn’t have great timing for Boeing, following the company’s troubled Starliner mission and a criminal fraud charge over 737 Max plane crashes,
The US Space Force also confirmed the incident:
It’s unclear how many pieces there are, as satellite-tracking company ExoAnalytic Solutions says it’s monitoring 57 pieces of debris, Space News reports.
Intelsat 33e launched in 2016 to provide communications across Europe, Asia, and Africa. The satellite experienced a propulsion issue shortly after launch and reached orbit later than expected. Another propulsion problem in 2017 decreased its estimated 15-year lifespan by 3.5 years. Intelsat 29e — a satellite Boeing also made — was declared a “total loss” in 2019 after just three years in space.
Technology
Air taxis and other electric-powered aircraft cleared for takeoff with final FAA rules
The Federal Aviation Administration published highly anticipated final regulations for electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles that it says will chart the path for the “air travel of the future.”
#newsonleo #technology
The FAA says these “powered-lift” vehicles will be the first completely new category of aircraft since helicopters were introduced in 1940. These aircraft will be used for a variety of services, including air taxis, cargo delivery, and rescue and retrieval operations. The final rules published today contain guidelines for pilot training as well as operational requirements regarding minimum safe altitudes and visibility.
“Powered lift aircraft are the first new category of aircraft in nearly 80 years,” FAA administrator Mike Whitaker said in a statement. “This historic rule will pave the way for accommodating wide-scale Advanced Air Mobility operations in the future.”
Powered lift includes aircraft described by industry watchers as electric vertical takeoff and landing, or eVTOL. Using tilt rotors, eVTOL aircraft are designed to take off and land vertically like a helicopter and then transition into forward flight on fixed wings like a plane.
Numerous startups, including Joby Aviation, Archer, and Wisk, are planning on launching commercial air taxi services with these new types of aircraft in the next few years. And for years, the FAA has promised there would be a regulatory pathway for powered-lift designs certified under Part 23 as normal aircraft.
But, in 2022, the agency changed course, determining instead that the aircraft would need to obtain Part 21 certification for special class vehicles. That kicked off a yearslong process to develop an entirely new set of rules for training, operations, maintenance, and more.
The rules that were eventually introduced last year were panned by industry groups as too strict. They called for performance-based operational rules, rather than the creation of a new powered-lift category, as proposed by the FAA. The agency argues its newly finalized rules should address those concerns, while also maintaining the safety and rigor the industry is known for. Earlier this year, Congress gave the FAA more sway in regulating these new types of aircraft.
“The FAA will continue to prioritize the safety of our system as we work to seamlessly integrate innovative technology and operations,” Whitaker said. “This final rule provides the necessary framework to allow powered lift aircraft to safely operate in our airspace.”
Based on the final rules, it would appear that the FAA took those criticisms to heart. A new pilot training and qualifications rule was needed because “existing regulations did not address this new category of aircraft, which can take off and land vertically like a helicopter and fly like an airplane during cruise flight,” the FAA said. The rule also provides a “comprehensive framework” for certifying the initial group of powered-lift instructors and pilots.
According to the agency, the rule would:
There are no powered-lift aircraft in commercial operation in the US, as it takes years for companies to obtain the necessary certificates from the FAA. Several companies are well on their way, including Archer and Joby. The latter released a statement praising the FAA for releasing the final rules ahead of schedule.
“The regulation published today will ensure the U.S. continues to play a global leadership role in the development and adoption of clean flight,” said JoeBen Bevirt, founder and CEO of Joby, in a statement. “Delivering the rules ahead of schedule is testament to the dedication, coordination and hard work of the rulemaking team.”
Hi, @taskmaster4450le,
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OpenAI
Microsoft and OpenAI are giving news outlets $10 million to use AI tools
The grants will go toward hiring AI fellows at outlets like The Seattle Times and The Minnesota Star Tribune, focused on using the tech for analysis, engagement, and more.
#newsonleo #technology #openai #Microsoft
Microsoft and OpenAI announced they’re offering a select group of media outlets up to $10 million ($2.5 million in cash plus $2.5 million worth of “software and enterprise credits” from each) to try out AI tools in the newsroom.
This news comes while the two companies are still facing a slew of copyright lawsuits, including from The New York Times, The Intercept, Raw Story, AlterNet, the Center for Investigative Reporting, and Alden Global Capital, the hedge fund behind the New York Daily News and Chicago Tribune. Those have continued despite licensing deals reached with many media outlets, including The Verge’s parent company, Vox Media.
The first round of funding will go to Newsday, The Minnesota Star Tribune, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Chicago Public Media, and The Seattle Times.
These outlets will receive a grant to hire a two-year fellow who will work to develop and implement AI tools using Microsoft Azure and OpenAI credits. The program is part of a collaboration between Microsoft, OpenAI, and the Lenfest Institute for Journalism, which aims to promote local media.
“While nothing will replace the central role of reporters, we believe that AI technology can help in the research, investigation, distribution, and monetization of important journalism,” Tom Rubin, the chief of intellectual property and content at OpenAI, said in the press release.
Microsoft and OpenAI will provide grants to three more media organizations at a later date. Some AI applications that the outlets will explore include leveraging the technology for, transcription, content summaries, and creating a “conversational” search tool for archives.
AI
How AI Can Eliminate Graymail to Increase Employee Productivity
The trend toward remote working over the last several years has bred all kinds of tools intended to help us improve productivity and facilitate easier, faster digital communications with colleagues. So why does workplace productivity still feel impossible to achieve?
#newsonleo #technology #ai
Unfortunately, email—one of the most integral vehicles for business communication—is also one of the biggest drains on employee time and energy. According to data from Microsoft, employees spend as much as 8.8 hours each week checking and responding to email. And while many email communications are essential, one recent report found that nearly half of all emails are spam or other unwanted mail.
And while that may not sound like a security team problem, it becomes one when end users start reporting every unwanted email as an attack—taking valuable time away from the SOC, which must remediate and respond to those user reports. So how can security teams help to manage email overload? The key is to banish it from their inboxes.
Graymail is a type of spam that’s harmless (from a security standpoint) but largely irrelevant and rarely useful, such as promotional messages and marketing ads. Even though users may have opted to receive communications from graymail senders at some point, not all of a sender’s emails provide immediate value to the recipient. Instead, they form yet another layer of digital clutter to manage.
Sifting through graymail can be a meticulous process, siphoning away employees’ limited mental bandwidth. Plus, the promotional nature of graymail often makes them enticing and distracting—pulling away employees’ focus and interrupting vital deep work.
In addition, large amounts of graymail make it harder to find important and time-sensitive emails, resulting in delayed responses, stalled decisions, and bottlenecked projects. And with Abnormal Security data showing that executives receive 230% more graymail than other employees, it’s clear that the people whose input is often critical in resolving concerns or advancing projects are also the most bogged down.
Unfortunately, graymail is a tricky problem to solve. While traditional spam filters are often designed to catch unsolicited emails or communications from senders on blocklists, graymail usually falls outside these rules. Additionally, legacy solutions like email quarantines or spam digest summaries are cumbersome for employees and create even more headaches for IT teams, who have to field user tickets about deliverability issues and manage blocklists and allowlists. Plus, every user defines graymail differently; a newsletter or product announcement that’s integral to one user’s work may be junk to another.
So how do you solve the problem? The best way to address graymail is to use an AI-powered solution that adapts to each employee’s unique email habits—learning which promotional messages they interact with most and which they’d prefer to deal with later and then moving graymail to its own dedicated folder within the mailbox. This ensures a streamlined email experience for all employees while eliminating the hassle of maintaining allowlists or blocklists.
What does it look like to use an AI-powered email productivity solution? Here are a couple examples of how implementing adaptive graymail protection can boost email efficiency and help employees claw back their time.
Like many companies, printer and imaging equipment manufacturer Lexmark struggled with a deluge of graymail. In fact, the organization’s CISO waded through hundreds of these messages in his own inbox every day. To finally get a handle on this challenge, the Lexmark security team adopted automated graymail detection and remediation, and today, the company consistently saves more than 1,000 hours per month across the employee base.
Educational consulting firm EAB saw similar productivity gains after adopting AI-powered graymail protection. Today, EAB employees save hundreds of hours each month by automatically filtering graymail into a separate “Promotions” folder, where users can still access those messages whenever they want. In the first 90 days of using the solution, EAB employees saved nearly 2,000 hours of time on managing their inboxes.
The fact of the matter is that whether you love it or hate it, email isn’t going away anytime soon. As long as it continues to be a primary tool for communication—and I expect it will be, far into the future—sorting unwanted mail will continue to be a problem. The organizations who can intelligently automate this process will be in the best position to optimize their employees’ productivity amid growing volumes of digital clutter.
Rede Social
Threads e Instagram suspendem contas que rastreiam jatinhos de bilionários
A Meta suspendeu nesta segunda-feira (22) contas no Threads e Instagram que rastreiam jatos particulares de figuras públicas como Mark Zuckerberg (dono da Meta), Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos e Donald Trump.
#newsonleo #technology #RedeSocial #hivebr
Em nota publicada em sua conta pessoal do Threads, JackSweeney, dono de vários desses perfis que seguem os aviões, afirma que a Meta promoveu os bloqueios sem explicar os motivos da ação. A suspensão teria começado no Instagram e Threads pelos perfis @elonmusksjet, que mostravam informações públicas sobre voos do jato de Musk, e evoluído para outras páginas administradas por Sweeney.
"Com o passar do dia, todas as minhas outras contas rastreando jatos de celebridades foram suspensas. As únicas exceções eram @desantis.Jet e @trump_jets, mas até isso mudou depois que o portal Fortune publicou um artigo apontando que essas duas contas ainda não haviam sido afetadas", diz.
Ao portal TechCrunch, um porta-voz da Meta afirmou: "Dado o risco de danos físicos a indivíduos, e de acordo com a recomendação do Conselho de Supervisão independente, desabilitamos essas contas por violar nossa política de privacidade".
A reportagem também pediu esclarecimentos à Meta, mas não recebeu resposta até a publicação deste texto.
O endereço das contas desativadas exibem a mensagem: "Esta página não está disponível. O link que você acessou pode estar corrompido ou a página pode ter sido removida".
Não seria a primeira vez que Sweeney é alvo da moderação das plataformas. No final de 2022, o X, já sob o comando Musk, suspendeu dezenas de perfis que seguiam os voos de bilionários, entre eles os de Sweeney. O dono da SpaceX teria contatado o universitário no início daquele mesmo ano com uma proposta em dinheiro para a derrubada das contas.
A conta de Sweeney que rastreia o jato de Musk e divulga informações no X teve que concordar em liberar as informações com um atraso de 24 horas, para cumprir regra do site que proíbe rastreamento de localização em tempo real.
Em fevereiro de 2024, Sweeney foi abordado por advogados de Taylor Swift solicitando a interrupção do acompanhamento do jato da cantora feito pelas contas. Ele afirma que teve o perfil referente à cantora suspenso nas redes da Meta na mesma época.
As informações levantadas por perfis como os administrados por Sweedney levantam discussões sobre a pegada ambiental deixada pelos voos dos mais ricos. Em novembro de 2023, um estudo da empresa Yard afirmou que Swift era a artista que mais emitia carbono em viagens com sua aeronave.
NASA
NASA revela protótipo de telescópios de ondas gravitacionais
A NASA apresentou o primeiro protótipo em escala real de seis telescópios que, atuando juntos em órbita terrestre, formarão o telescópio LISA. O instrumento será o primeiro detector de ondas gravitacionais a partir do espaço, com potencial de descobrir alguns dos maiores eventos do universo.
#newsonleo #technology #NASA
O detector LISA (Laser Interferometer Space Antenna) é um projeto liderado pela ESA (Agência Espacial Europeia) em parceria com a NASA. Ao todo são três espaçonaves, cada uma servindo de plataforma para dois telescópios.
Esses telescópios usarão lasers para medir distâncias com precisão de picômetros entre três espaçonaves, dispostas em formato de triângulo equilátero. Cada lado do triângulo formado pelas espaçonaves medirá 2,5 milhões de quilômetros, quase o dobro do diâmetro do Sol.
A NASA revelou agora o Engineering Development Unit Telescope, o conjunto de protótipos dos seis instrumentos em tamanho real da missão LISA. Eles fornecerão aos cientistas e engenheiros uma compreensão melhor do projeto enquanto trabalham para construir o hardware de navegação.
O protótipo, fabricado pela L3Harris Technologies em Rochester, de Nova York, chegou ao Goddard Space Flight Center da NASA em maio. Ele apresenta o espelho primário revestido em ouro para refletir melhor os lasers infravermelhos e minimizar a perda de calor.
Além disso, ele é feito de uma vitrocerâmica âmbar chamada Zerodur, produzida pela Schott em Mainz, da Alemanha. Esse é o material que costuma ser usado em espelhos de telescópios, pois é ideal para lidar com amplas faixa de temperaturas, sem sofrer deformações.
Cientistas esperam utilizar o LISA para detectar ondas gravitacionais produzidas por buracos negros distantes. Essas ondas são semelhantes às ondulações formadas na superfície de um lago ao atirarmos uma pedra.
No caso dos eventos ondulatórios cósmicos, são os objetos altamente massivos no espaço que distorcem o tecido do espaço-tempo. Muitas vezes isso ocorre em colisões envolvendo buracos negros ou estrelas de nêutrons.
As ondulações provocadas por esses impactos farão com que as três espaçonaves da missão LISA se movam ligeiramente em relação umas às outras, "surfando" nas ondas gravitacionais. Os instrumentos detectarão o padrão característico desses fenômenos no sinal combinado do feixe de laser.
Os sinais ajudarão os cientistas a determinar a localização e as propriedades físicas da fonte das ondas, isto é, dos objetos que as produziram. Como consequência, será possível encontrar eventos que estão produzindo ouro no universo e formando novos buracos negros com dezenas de massas solares.
NASA
I Am Artemis: Casey Wolfe
While precision, perseverance, and engineering are necessary skills in building a Moon rocket, Casey Wolfe knows that one of the most important aspects for the job is teamwork.
#newsonleo #technology #NASA #space
“Engineering is vital, but to get this type of work done, you need to take care of the human element,” said Wolfe, the assistant branch chief of the advanced manufacturing branch in the Materials and Processes Laboratory at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama.
Together with her team, Wolfe is developing and producing the next generation payload adapter for NASA’s SLS (Space Launch System) super-heavy lift rocket. The adapter is made with some of the world’s most advanced composite manufacturing techniques.
Wolfe’s work integrates the technical day-to-day operations and personnel management of the composites manufacturing team and additive manufacturing team, balancing production of SLS hardware with the creation of new engines using the latest manufacturing technologies.
“A lot of my day to day is in managing our two teams, making connections, building relationships, and making sure people feel supported,” Wolfe explains. “I conduct individual tag ups with each team member so we can be proactive about anticipating and addressing problems.”
Wolfe grew up in Huntsville, a place known as the “Rocket City,” but it wasn’t until she visited a job fair while studying at Auburn University for a polymer and fiber engineering degree that she began to consider a career at NASA Marshall. Wolfe applied for and was selected to be a NASA intern through the Pathways Program, working in the non-metallic materials branch of the Materials and Processes Laboratory.
Wolfe supported a coating system for electrostatic discharge on the first uncrewed test flight of the Orion spacecraft. Launching December 5, 2014, Orion traveled to an altitude of 3,600 miles, orbited Earth twice, and splashed down in the Pacific Ocean. It was during her internship that Wolfe realized how inspirational it felt to be treated like a vital part of a team:
“The SLS program gave everyone permission to sign the hardware, even me – even though I was just an intern,” says Wolfe. “It was impactful to me, knowing that something I had worked on had my name on it and went to space.”
Since being hired by NASA, Wolfe’s work has supported development of the Orion stage adapter diaphragms for Artemis II and Artemis III, and the payload adapters for Artemis IV and beyond. The first three Artemis flights use the SLS Block 1 rocket variant, which can send more than 27 metric tons (59,500 pounds) to the Moon in a single launch. Beginning with Artemis IV, the SLS Block 1B variant will use the new, more powerful exploration upper stage to enable more ambitious missions to deep space, with the cone-shaped payload adapter situated atop the rocket’s exploration upper stage. The new variant will be capable of launching more than 38 metric tons (84,000 pounds) to the Moon in a single launch.
“While the engineering development unit of the payload adapter is undergoing large-scale testing, our team is working on the production of the qualification article, which will also be tested,” Wolfe says. “Flight components should be starting fabrication in the next six months.”
When Wolfe isn’t working, she enjoys hiking, gardening, and hanging out with her dogs and large family. Recently, she signed another piece of SLS hardware headed to space: the Orion stage adapter for the second Artemis mission.
With as many responsibilities as Wolfe juggles, it’s easy to lose sight of her work’s impact. “I work in the lab around the hardware all the time, and in many ways, it can become very rote,” she says.
But Wolfe won’t forget what she saw one evening when she worked late: “Everybody was gone, and as I walked past the launch vehicle stage adapter, there were two security guards taking pictures of each other in front of it. It was one of those things that made me step back and reflect on what my team accomplishes every day: making history happen.”
NASA is working to land the first woman, first person of color, and its first international partner astronaut on the Moon under Artemis. SLS is part of NASA’s backbone for deep space exploration, along with the Orion spacecraft, supporting ground systems, advanced spacesuits and rovers, the Gateway in orbit around the Moon, and commercial human landing systems. SLS is the only rocket that can send Orion, astronauts, and supplies to the Moon in a single launch.
Espaço
E se usássemos habitats infláveis para explorar o Sistema Solar?
Empresas privadas estão desenvolvendo conceitos de estruturas infláveis, conhecidas como "softgoods", para criar habitats no espaço. A proposta visa oferecer moradias confortáveis para futuros astronautas em missões fora da Terra.
#newsonleo #technology #space #hivebr
Atualmente, estruturas infláveis são um dos focos das agências espaciais e empresas privadas que atuam no ramo da exploração do espaço. Um dos principais benefícios é que elas oferecem maior volume com menor massa, permitindo que grandes espaços habitáveis sejam lançados em foguetes relativamente pequenos.
Um dos projetos mais antigos de tecnologia inflável criados pela NASA foi o Projeto Echo, que lançou dois satélites de balão em 1960 e 1964, visando testar a reflexão de sinais de micro-ondas.
Tecnologias infláveis no passado
Em 1965, o cosmonauta Alexei Leonov realizou a primeira caminhada espacial usando uma câmara de descompressão inflável, demonstrando aplicações da tecnologia para as missões tripuladas.
No comecinho do século 21, a Bigelow Aerospace lançou dois protótipos não tripulados em 2006 e 2007 sob o programa Genesis. Ambos permanecem em órbita terrestre.
Anos mais tarde, a empresa aproveitou o projeto cancelado do TransHab da NASA e desenvolveu o Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM), sob contrato com a agência espacial.
O BEAM foi anexado à Estação Espacial Internacional (ISS), mais precisamente ao módulo Tranquility. A tecnologia foi bem sucedida em demonstrar que módulos infláveis são econômicos, mais fáceis de transportar e se expandem corretamente no espaço.
Além disso, são desenvolvidos para oferecer proteção contra radiação solar e cósmica, detritos espaciais e outros perigos do ambiente espacial. Isso os torna ideais para a criação de habitações na Lua e Marte.
No caso do BEAM, a Bigelow utilizou o inovador tecido de proteção Vectran, que conta com uma fibra de polímero de cristal líquido de alto desempenho, proporcionando resistência superior à do Kevlar.
Em 2022, a NASA lançou o escudo térmico inflável LOFTID de 6 metros de diâmetro, que reentrou na atmosfera e pousou no Oceano Pacífico, perto do Havaí. A ideia era demonstrar a eficiência do escudo em atravessar a atmosfera sem sofrer danos.
Essa tecnologia pode ser crucial para futuras missões de transporte de humanos a Marte, onde seria combinada com paraquedas e retrofoguetes para guiar módulos de pouso até a superfície.
Atualmente, várias empresas estão desenvolvendo estruturas expansíveis para o espaço, como a Max Space, focada em habitats infláveis para a órbita terrestre, Lua e Marte.
Outro exemplo é a Sierra Space, que trabalha no habitat LIFE (Large Integrated Flexible Environment), medindo 6 metros de altura e 300 metros cúbicos, também usando a tecnologia Vectran. No futuro, o LIFE poderá ter 5.000 metros cúbicos e mais de 22 metros de comprimento.
Inicialmente, a Sierra Space lançará uma estrutura expansível de três andares, com mais de 8 m de diâmetro, projetada para acomodar quatro astronautas e oferecer espaço para experimentos científicos, ginástica, um centro médico e cultivo de alimentos.
Para futuras explorações em Vênus, a Northrop Grumman desenvolveu a VAMP (Venus Atmospheric Maneuverability Platform), uma aeronave leve e auto-inflável capaz de planar com pouca energia, além de ser resistente ao ácido sulfúrico presente na atmosfera venusiana.
Já a Max Space planeja lançar uma tecnologia de escudo de detritos espaciais em 2026, e apresentar uma gama de habitats espaciais. Eles variam de 20 a 1.000 metros cúbicos, mas a empresa planeja criar "megaestruturas" de até 10.000 metros cúbicos até 2030.
Estruturas infláveis no espaço também poderiam ser usadas como elementos conectores de módulos na superfície lunar. A tecnologia é uma ótima opção para acomodar as habitações em diferentes níveis de superfície — algo essencial tratando-se do solo lunar.
AI
Researchers Debut AI Tool That Helps Detect Zero-Days
Security researchers have developed an autonomous artificial intelligence tool that can detect remote code flaws and arbitrary zero-day code in software. The AI tool still gives some inconsistent results, but researchers said it identifies fewer false positives.
#newsonleo #technology #ai
Security firm Protect AI developed the Python static code analyzer called Vulnhuntr, built on Anthropic's Claude 3.5 Sonnet large language model, to identify vulnerabilities in code and develop proofs of concept for compromises.
The researchers found vulnerabilities in GitHub projects using OpenAI, Nvidia and YandexGPT APIs. For example, an OpenAI file - "get_api_provider_stream_iter function in api_provider.py" - that included server-side-request forgery flaw could enable attackers to control API requests and redirect them to arbitrary endpoints.
"Generally, a Vulnhuntr confidence score of 7 means that it's likely a valid vulnerability but it may require some tweaking of the proof of concept. Confidence scores of 8, 9 or 10 are extremely likely to be valid vulnerabilities, and confidence scores of 1 to 6 are unlikely to be valid vulnerabilities," the researchers said.
To develop the solution, Protect AI researchers had to overcome context windows limitations typically found in LLM models - which limit the amount of information an LLM can parse when processing a prompt or question.
To overcome context windows limitations, researchers used retrieval-augmented generation to parse large amounts of text directly into tokens, and they fine-tuned the tool with pre-patch and post-patch code and combined it with vulnerability databases such as CVEFixes. The researchers then isolated sections of code into smaller units.
"Instead of overwhelming the LLM with multiple whole files, it requests only the relevant portions of the code," Protect AI said. "It automatically searches the project files for files that are likely to be the first to handle user input. Then it ingests that entire file and responds with all the potential vulnerabilities."
The tool uses four prompts designed to guide the LLM, shape its responses for complex reasoning and filter outputs to identify flaws. Vulnhuntr analyzed data such as functions, classes or other related snippets to gain a full picture of the code or to confirm or deny the presence of any vulnerabilities.
"Once the full picture is clear, it returns a detailed final analysis, pointing out trouble spots, providing a proof-of-concept exploit, and attaching a confidence rating for each vulnerability," the researchers added.
Accuracy Challenges
Like most AI applications still in early stages of development, the tool is prone to accuracy and other training data limitations, Protect AI said
Since the application is trained to identify only seven types of flaws, it cannot identify additional types of vulnerabilities, the researchers said.
Although it can be trained using additional prompts to recognize more flaws, the researchers said this would increase the application run time. Since the tool only supports Python code, the application also generates less accurate data for code that is developed in any other programming languages, researchers added.
"Last, because LLMs aren't deterministic, one can run the tool multiple times on the exact same project and get different results," Protect AI said.
Regardless of the limitations of the application, the researchers added Vulnhuntr is an improvement over other static code analyzers for finding complex vulnerabilities and limiting false positives. Protect AI researchers said they plan to add more tokens to enable the tool to parse entire codebases rather than smaller units.
One day... one day I'll buy mine hahaha...
#robot #technology #ai
It's the evening already and I am free now. Today most of the tasks has been finished before the time and so I have a good amount of time to be active here I also plan to watch some drama episodes after writing the article for today.
#evening #task #activity #drama #cent #freecompliments
that is great that you can spendpre time here on platform. Its already dark here but still have to do list with pending work for today
lol
#freecompliments #gf
This has to be the best analogy I've seen explaining trading 🤩
https://inleo.io/threads/view/thelogicaldude/re-leothreads-czls9dcw
🧵/1
How much ending of a show matter for the overall show ?
#threadstorm #outreach #octoberinleo
🧵/2
The fan following for TV shows is enormous and it is only growing and with that the demands for specific things in a show also gets influenced. One of the most debated parts of a show has to be it's ending which is often the most crticised part
🧵/3
Personally there have been a lot of shows whose ending I found to be not so satisfying personally but there are a lot of factors for the filmmakers to consider as well but regardless of that people are often left wanting for more.
End of 🧵/4
For much more on the same you can read the following article,
https://inleo.io/@sayu907/building-a-masterpiece-the-impact-of-endings-on-iconic-tv-shows-j7b
Do Drop Your Thoughts below
Thanks for stopping by
Esta 4ta semana ya lleva 2 días seguidos el $BGB en primera posición 🙌🏼
Estas son las monedas mas buscadas en el SPOT de Bitget Exchange
Hello friends! May everyone have a great Tuesday.
It's amazing how time is flying. It's already Christmas.
time flies so fast!
You're right my friend. So fast.
Where do you access INLEO for the longest time?
#inleo #polls #askleo
I mostly use my phone for easy access. But it's actually a bit laggy. I prefer laptop, but it's not portable haha
I know what that's like hahaha...
how about you? Which device do you use?
I think I spend 90% on my cell phone hahaha...
Unfortunately, my cell phone is having problems and lately I've been using my laptop more.
You should buy a new one
usually using phone. But it's actually a better UX on laptop 💻
I agree with you, using a laptop is much better.
Ideogram isn't the best at making real flags :)
Price $HIVE #hive #threads #cent #freecompliments
A very good price and if you notice the graphs of said currency, an interesting rise could come
China Unveils A Train On Magnetic Levitation Capable Of Reaching 1000 Km/h
#tech #cent
I'm excited for what the DASH community will bring!! $DASH #cent #crypto
https://inleo.io/threads/view/khaleelkazi/re-leothreads-2cddtyq5g
I always forget to collect the diamonds from the coinmarketcap. I think it's because of my laziness. The diamonds of there were never useful to me any time and maybe that's why I am not so interested in it.
#coinmarketcap #diamonds #use #cent #freecompliments
I use to collect in past but not now.
And in past also most of time forget to claim. I do not know if there is any usecase till now, and that is the reason many of us not taking it seriously.
#freecompliments #gf
I think I need to search the use case otherwise I will leave it forever. But I am too lazy to search for it.😅
#freecompliments
I can relate to the laziness, at least you are honest about it, lol!
It's been months since I collected any of it, even the Candies on Coingecko. Forgetfulness is one to blame😁
#freecompliments
Today I also collected it after several months🤣🤣. I think we are the same in this case.🤣 I don't feel guilty for it either.
#freecompliments
Can't see it if I scroll through my notifications but I can find it on activity on peakd?#feedback why don't I get a notification when someone this account answer me?
I think it's because of low reputation, when I created an account for my bot @reminder.ping, it took a few upvotes before its comments actually started appearning in my notification.
Yes, it's for reputation, as for notifications, I also use ecency to look and filter, one doesn't miss anything.
Hmm well that isnt good for onboarding. Especially
I think INLEO uses the same notification system as PeakD and it won't show everything, Ecency's notification system is better in my opinion.
Well hopefully they will look into it while doing Threads V2
peakd's notification system is good, ecency's is good too, but for me if there was a combination of the two, it would be the pinnacle of notifications. I really miss the sound it makes when favorites are posted, for example
Can just mention that PeakDs system didnt show the comment in notification either.
I saw it under the activity tab.
Yes, that's because votes of less than $0.02, for example, don't appear, I think there are some other notifications that they filter out, that's good, it doesn't tie us to every notification that sometimes doesn't even make a difference.
Well in this case it just plain stupid. If a new account answers to a comment I left on their thread. I want to know, how will newbies otherwise get any attention?
Hmm... that's strange, if I'm not mistaken any reply appears in my peakd notifications, regardless of whether it's a new account or one with a low reputation. Can you do this test? Do you have a new account? Ask to reply to one of my posts so we can try it out.
Well I already tested it. Help aa friend and their comment didnt show as a notification in my inbox.
Thats why I complained 😅
Feel its unfair to newbies.
We are neighbours then :D
Lion's roar 🦁
glad to share this home with you. May many more tenants come to live here!
The Lion's den
The pride is here.
Thank you for your hospitality, $LEO, and bOOms in your home. lol :)
GM! Today we start a new season of #selfie threads. Share as much as you want, the more original, the better! Have fun #selfie, #memories
you have to put # threadcast (with the space) in your thread:
"GM! Today we start a new season of #selfie # threadcast. Share as much as you want, the more original, the better! Have fun #selfie, #memories"
Don't forget to remove the space between # threadcast.
Ok. It will not happen again number one.
haha, number 1. Thanks ;) !BBH !DOOK
@bradleyarrow likes your content! so I just sent 1 BBH(16/100)@mamaemigrante! to your account on behalf of @bradleyarrow.
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Just published another Subscribers-only post. It contains a source code for a simple app I created to help me write my 'Getting to Know 1000 Hivers' series of posts! #freecompliments #cent #bbh
(Link below but you have to subscribe to be able to read it.)
Link to the article: https://inleo.io/@ahmadmanga/source-code-my-username-art-article-organizer-code-awq
Still going according to plan.
We are near the place where we need to look for reversal signs.
I will soon have $ to deploy, going to keep looking for a reversal to get in.
#markets #leofinance #finance #crypto #cryptocurrencies
How's y'all doing on the block
Hi and welcome @branden01. What is your impression of Inleo so far?
clean interface. It feels like something I could use as an x alternative.
I get feedback and responses from people really quick too. You guys are building a community not just a platform. That's impressive
That was a great feedback! Hope to see you around in the future as well :)
Definitely Anderssinho. Would buy some Hives for RC to continue the journey here.
Hey there! Doing good, what about you?
It's not too far off to imagine Maya and $LEO swaps through a similar process 🦁 👨🚀
https://inleo.io/threads/view/khaleelkazi/re-leothreads-zsf941kx
Daily mental health quote
No matter how bad your day has been you have done something to be proud of.
#freecompliments #mentalhealth #dailydook
That's a nice perspective and it's true. Just because the day didn't turn out as we would have loved it doesn't mean we didn't accomplish something good.
#freecompliments
My wife and I always end our day asking each other what the best thing about our day was.
Discover Botswana:
A stunning African gem known for its wildlife, vast savannas, and Okavango Delta—a UNESCO World Heritage site.
#botswana #geography
The Okavango Delta in Botswana is one of the world's largest inland deltas, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a top destination for safari lovers.
Formed by the Okavango River, it floods seasonally, creating lush wetlands amidst the Kalahari Desert. Visitors can explore by traditional mokoro (canoe) for an up-close view of wildlife like elephants, hippos, lions, and rare birds.
The best time to visit is during the dry season (May-September) when animals gather around the delta. It’s a must-visit for those seeking untouched nature and unforgettable wildlife experiences!
On my way to get more LEO POWER! 🦁
It's addicted. 😅
It's wonderful what you can do with a large amount of Leo power.
We all have those people in our lives who are writing with us the best chapters of it.
#quotes #freecompliments