News/New Launches
Grok AI chatbot debuts on iPhone for US users
X's AI chatbot Grok is now available as a standalone iPhone app for users in the United States, marking an expansion of xAI's artificial intelligence offerings beyond the X platform. Key details: The iOS app release represents a beta version of Grok that maintains full functionality from its X platform integration. Users can access real-time information, ask questions, and generate images through the mobile interface The app launched after initial testing in select countries during December 2023 Android availability remains unannounced Market positioning: Grok's wider accessibility aligns with broader industry trends in AI chatbot deployment. The service became free for...
read Jan 9, 2025Narvar launches AI platform using data from 42 billion customer interactions to enhance retail experiences
Narvar introduces IRIS, a new AI platform designed to enhance post-purchase retail experiences and combat fraud while improving customer retention. The core innovation: Narvar's Intelligent Retail Insights Service (IRIS) combines AI, data analytics, and machine learning to transform post-purchase operations for retailers. The platform processes data from over 42 billion consumer interactions across 1,500 global retailers, including major brands like Gap, Levi's, and Sonos IRIS's first service, Narvar Assist, focuses on automating claims management and reducing delivery fraud Early testing with 20 retailers showed an 80% reduction in fraud-related inquiries and a 25% decrease in shipping-related compensation costs Technical implementation:...
read Jan 9, 2025Diffbot’s new AI model aims to improve AI accuracy with its trillion-fact knowledge graph
Silicon Valley company Diffbot has released a new AI model that combines Meta's LLama 3.3 with their trillion-fact Knowledge Graph to improve factual accuracy in AI responses. The innovation: Diffbot's new AI model introduces Graph Retrieval-Augmented Generation (GraphRAG), which queries a constantly updated knowledge database instead of relying solely on pre-trained data. The system leverages Diffbot's Knowledge Graph, an automated database that has been crawling the web since 2016 The Knowledge Graph refreshes every 4-5 days with millions of new facts The model can search for real-time information and cite original sources when responding to queries Technical implementation: The model...
read Jan 9, 2025Amazon launches AI-powered SQL generator to bring Gen AI to marketing teams
At CES, Amazon introduced an AI-powered SQL generator for Amazon Marketing Cloud (AMC) that transforms natural language inputs into SQL queries, launching in early 2025. Core functionality and benefits: The new SQL generator leverages generative AI to simplify the process of developing advertising insights and building custom audiences within AMC. Advertisers can describe their desired audience parameters using plain language, receiving both the SQL query and an explanation of how it was constructed The tool significantly reduces query development time from hours to minutes Generated queries can be used to create custom audiences for campaigns across Amazon's advertising channels, including...
read Jan 9, 2025VLC demos real-time AI-powered subtitles at CES
VLC media player has demonstrated new AI-powered capabilities that automatically generate and translate subtitles in real-time across more than 100 languages, all while running locally on users' devices without requiring internet connectivity. Core feature announcement: VideoLAN showcased its latest innovation at CES 2025, integrating AI-powered subtitle generation directly into the VLC media player. The demonstration, led by VideoLAN president Jean-Baptiste Kempf, highlighted real-time subtitle creation and translation capabilities The system operates entirely offline, processing all AI functions locally on the user's device Support for more than 100 languages is planned for the feature Technical implementation: The new functionality represents a...
read Jan 9, 2025Cohere just launched ‘North’ in a big bet to bring AI to privacy-focused enterprises
Microsoft's Copilot and Google Vertex AI face new competition as Cohere launches North, a secure AI workspace platform designed specifically for enterprise deployment in regulated industries. The platform overview: North combines large language models, search capabilities, and automation tools in a secure environment that prioritizes data privacy and control. The platform can be deployed in private cloud environments or on-premises installations North includes Compass, a built-in search system that processes multiple data types including images, presentations, spreadsheets, and documents across languages Internal testing indicates Compass reduces task completion times by over 80% compared to manual searches Performance metrics: Cohere's internal...
read Jan 9, 2025MSI shows off next-gen gaming and productivity laptops at CES 2025
CES 2025 sees MSI unveiling a comprehensive lineup of next-generation laptops featuring the latest processors from Intel and AMD, alongside NVIDIA's new RTX 50 series GPUs. Product Overview; MSI's 2025 portfolio spans high-end gaming machines to productivity-focused laptops, with significant upgrades across all categories. The flagship Titan 18 HX Dragon Edition features Norse mythology-inspired design elements, Intel Core Ultra 9 processor 275HX, and supports up to 96GB DDR5 RAM All gaming models incorporate NVIDIA's latest RTX 50 series GPUs, with options ranging from the RTX 5090 to 5070 Ti Display technology advances include Mini LED and OLED panels, offering up...
read Jan 9, 2025Internal email from Google CEO offers glimpse of forthcoming AI features
Google CEO Sundar Pichai has informed employees about upcoming AI product launches and features planned for early 2025, highlighting recent successes and ongoing innovation across the company's product lineup. Key developments; Google is preparing to roll out several new AI products and features in the coming months, building on the momentum of recent launches like Gemini 2.0, Willow, and Veo 2. Internal demos of upcoming products have impressed leadership, though specific details remain under wraps Gemini 2.0 Flash is expected to become generally available to developers in January The experimental status of Gemini 2.0 Flash in the Gemini app may...
read Jan 9, 2025NVIDIA’s new microservices and blueprints help simplify AI for personal computers
The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50 Series GPUs and new AI software tools are bringing advanced generative AI capabilities to personal computers and workstations. Key Announcements: NVIDIA unveiled several major developments at CES 2025, introducing new hardware and software solutions designed to make AI more accessible on personal computers. The GeForce RTX 50 Series GPUs, built on the NVIDIA Blackwell architecture, deliver up to 3,352 trillion AI operations per second New GPUs feature 32GB of VRAM and FP4 compute capabilities, doubling AI inference performance The company launched NVIDIA NIM microservices and AI Blueprints to simplify AI development on PCs Technical Innovations:...
read Jan 9, 2025MacPaw’s ‘Eney’ is an on-device AI assistant for Mac computers
MacPaw has announced Eney, a new AI-powered desktop assistant designed to automate tasks and streamline workflows on Mac computers, with a focus on privacy through on-device processing. The big picture: MacPaw, known for popular Mac applications like CleanMyMac and Setapp, revealed their latest innovation at CES 2025, positioning Eney as an intelligent companion that can execute various tasks through natural language commands. The assistant will operate through a compact window interface on Mac systems Most operations will run in the background without requiring users to open separate applications Third-party developers can create miniature interfaces within Eney for specific functionalities Core...
read Jan 8, 2025Automakers unveil AI-powered in-cabin tech at CES 2025
The big picture: Major automakers unveiled advanced in-cabin technologies at CES in Las Vegas, focusing on enhanced driver experiences and innovative display systems. Key technological advancements: Hyundai Mobis introduced groundbreaking holographic windshield technology that enables differentiated displays for drivers and passengers. The full-windshield display system represents a significant leap forward in heads-up display technology, projecting customized information across the entire windscreen BMW presented its new "iDrive" panoramic display system, featuring lower windscreen projections with personalization capabilities Interior lighting systems designed to reduce motion sickness were demonstrated, showing how automotive comfort continues to evolve [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="717"] Hyundai's new in-cabin...
read Jan 8, 2025Microsoft doubles down on AI for Windows 11, delays Windows 12
Microsoft's focus remains on enhancing Windows 11 with AI capabilities rather than developing Windows 12, as revealed at CES 2025, while also promoting its new line of AI-powered Copilot+ PCs. Key developments: Microsoft is doubling down on artificial intelligence integration within Windows 11 and its new Copilot+ PC initiative, postponing any potential Windows 12 release. Copilot+ PCs, featuring built-in AI capabilities, are claimed to perform up to 50% faster than M3 MacBooks The company's AI assistant, Copilot, is now accessible directly from the taskbar, aiming to become an integral part of users' daily computing experience Early reviews of devices like...
read Jan 8, 2025Halliday AI smart glasses may outperform Ray-Ban Metas
Google, Meta, and Apple have been working to develop AI-enabled smart glasses, but Halliday has beaten them to market with a innovative design that integrates the display into the frame rather than the lens. Key Innovation: Halliday's smart glasses feature what the company claims is the world's smallest optical module, measuring just 3.6mm, which enables a display that's built into the frame instead of the lens. The display provides a viewing experience comparable to a 3.5-inch screen The frames weigh only 35 grams, significantly lighter than Meta's 48-gram Ray-Ban smart glasses Available in three colors (Amber, Black, and Gradient), the...
read Jan 8, 2025Samsung’s new ‘AI Subscription Club’ aims to make phones, AI robot more affordable
Key Development: Samsung's Vice Chair Han Jong-hee announced the expansion of the company's "AI Subscription Club" to include Galaxy smartphones and the upcoming Ballie AI robot, starting February 2025. The program will initially launch in South Korea, with potential for US expansion based on its success Despite its name, the service is primarily a hardware installment plan that includes after-sales maintenance services The Ballie AI robot will be introduced in both Korea and the US markets, with the subscription option available in Korea Program Details: The AI Subscription Club aims to reduce the upfront costs of Samsung devices while bundling...
read Jan 8, 2025Adobe’s new TransPixar system takes AI VFX to the next level
Adobe Research and Hong Kong University of Science and Technology have unveiled TransPixar, an AI system that generates transparent visual effects like smoke and reflections for videos, addressing a significant limitation in current AI video generation tools. The breakthrough technology: TransPixar enables the creation of transparent visual effects through AI by incorporating alpha channels, which control transparency in digital images and videos. The system can generate effects like swirling storm clouds, magical portals, and billowing smoke from simple text prompts The technology can also animate still images with transparency effects The code has been made publicly available on GitHub with...
read Jan 8, 2025Tonal announces AI upgrades to its smart home gym at CES 2025
Tonal has launched its second-generation smart home gym at CES 2025, featuring increased weight capacity, AI-powered form correction, and new workout modes. Core upgrades and features: The Tonal 2 Smart Home Gym introduces significant improvements over its predecessor, with enhanced resistance capabilities and intelligent workout features. The system now supports up to 250 pounds of adaptive weight resistance A new high-resolution smart view camera provides real-time form analysis and coaching The redesigned hardware is 75% stronger than the previous model The aesthetic features an all-black design with chrome accents [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="714"] Image credit: Tonal[/caption] Advanced training innovations: The...
read Jan 8, 2025This smart ring maker is rolling out a chatbot trained on medical research
The Evie Ring maker Movano has launched EvieAI, a specialized healthcare chatbot trained exclusively on peer-reviewed medical journals, setting it apart from general-purpose AI assistants. Core innovation: Movano has developed a bounded Large Language Model (LLM) that relies solely on over 100,000 medical journals and FDA-approved sources, aimed at providing accurate health information. The chatbot cross-references data with reputable institutions like Mayo Clinic, Harvard, and UCLA before providing answers According to Movano, this specialized training enables 99 percent accuracy in responses The system is designed to acknowledge when it lacks information rather than provide potentially incorrect answers [caption id="" align="alignnone"...
read Jan 8, 2025The best AI wearables and smart devices at CES 2025 so far
The 2025 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) showcased numerous AI-integrated products across consumer technology categories, with several standout innovations in wearables, smart home devices, and personal assistance technology. Key Innovations: The most noteworthy AI products at CES 2025 demonstrated practical applications ranging from smart glasses to neural wristbands and health monitoring devices. Halliday AI Glasses introduced an "invisible display" technology that projects information without traditional lenses, priced at $369 The Natura Humana HumanPods offered seamless integration with AI assistants through comfortable earbuds using a unique Gravity Hook design Roborock Saros Z70 featured a mechanical arm capable of removing obstacles under 300...
read Jan 8, 2025Vay’s Las Vegas car services will have human drivers… operating from miles away
The teledriving car service Vay, which enables remote drivers to operate vehicles from a control center, is expanding its operations in Las Vegas with plans for significant fleet growth and new facilities. Service overview and expansion plans: Vay is scaling up its innovative remote-operated car service in Las Vegas, with ambitious growth targets for 2025. The company plans to expand its fleet to 100 vehicles in Las Vegas by 2025 A new 8,500-square-foot production facility is under construction, capable of processing up to 16 vehicles weekly The service currently operates in central Las Vegas, including coverage of the Strip and...
read Jan 8, 2025Easily embed RAG into your product with Ragie’s new ‘Connect’ platform
Ragie Connect is a platform that helps developers integrate Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) capabilities into their applications using customers' existing data sources. Core functionality; Ragie Connect simplifies the implementation of RAG systems by providing seamless integration with popular data sources like Google Drive, Salesforce, and Notion. The platform automates user authentication and data synchronization processes, reducing development complexity and time-to-market RAG technology, which combines AI language models with specific data retrieval, allows applications to generate responses based on users' own information Developers can implement AI features into their products rapidly without building complex data integration pipelines Technical details; The platform offers...
read Jan 8, 2025Nvidia’s Mega Omniverse framework will be a boon to industrial robot fleets
The Nvidia Omniverse "Mega" Blueprint introduces a comprehensive framework for creating digital twins of industrial robot fleets, announced at CES 2025. Core technology announcement; Nvidia's Mega framework enables companies to develop, test, and optimize AI-powered robot fleets in virtual environments before real-world implementation. The system leverages Omniverse Cloud Sensor RTX APIs to deliver high-fidelity sensor simulation at scale Digital twins can be created using various data sources including CAD files, video feeds, lidar scans, and AI-generated content The framework integrates with Nvidia Isaac ROS for testing AI robot capabilities across unlimited virtual scenarios Key industry partnerships; Supply chain leader Kion...
read Jan 8, 2025Nvidia’s biggest CES 2025 announcements
The big picture: Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang announced major advances in "physical AI" - systems that can perceive, reason, plan and act in the real world - during his CES 2025 keynote address. Huang described AI's evolution from perception (understanding images and sounds) to generative capabilities (creating content) and now to physical applications that interact with real environments The announcement represents Nvidia's push to expand AI beyond digital applications into tangible, real-world systems [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k82RwXqZHY8[/embed] Autonomous vehicle developments: Nvidia introduced its latest Drive Hyperion platform, powered by the new AGX Thor system-on-a-chip, marking significant progress in self-driving technology. Toyota, Mercedes-Benz, and...
read Jan 8, 2025AI wearable Omi wants to interpret your thoughts starting with always-on conversation tracking
The Omi AI wearable device combines always-on conversation tracking with ambitious plans for brain-computer interface technology. Core technology overview: Omi is an $89 wearable device that continuously listens to conversations and interacts with users through a companion app. The device can be worn around the neck on a lanyard or attached to the temple, featuring a three-day battery life It processes conversations in real-time, providing summaries, action items, and information lookups without requiring a wake word The system includes an app store with over 250 applications, allowing integration with services like Zapier and Google Drive Current capabilities: The device primarily functions...
read Jan 8, 2025Lenovo unveils 4 new AI-powered tablets at CES 2025
Lenovo has unveiled four new Android tablets at CES 2025, ranging from a premium AI-enabled device to an entry-level offering, expanding their tablet portfolio across multiple price points. Product Overview and Positioning: The new lineup demonstrates Lenovo's strategy to address diverse market segments with tablets optimized for different use cases and budgets. The flagship Yoga Tab Plus introduces on-device AI capabilities and premium specifications, including a high-resolution 12.7-inch display and the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor The Legion Tab targets mobile gamers with a compact 8.8-inch form factor and high-performance hardware The Idea Tab Pro positions itself as a...
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