News/New Launches
Why ThinkPad’s latest AI-powered laptop is winning over working professionals
Lenovo's latest ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 combines AMD's new AI processor with advanced connectivity features in a professional-grade laptop starting at $1,598. Core specifications and design: The ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 maintains the classic ThinkPad aesthetic while incorporating modern hardware capabilities. Features AMD's Ryzen AI 7 Pro 360 processor, AMD Radeon 880M graphics, and up to 32GB of RAM Includes HDMI 2.1 and dual Thunderbolt 4 ports supporting power delivery and DisplayPort functionality Maintains the traditional matte black body and renowned ThinkPad keyboard quality Performance highlights: The AMD Ryzen AI processor, supported by a neural processing unit (NPU), delivers exceptional...
read Dec 23, 2024Elon Musk’s Grok chatbot is getting its own new iPhone app
Elon Musk's xAI is expanding access to its AI chatbot Grok through a standalone iPhone app and dedicated website, marking a significant shift from its previous X-platform exclusivity. Key developments; Grok is breaking free from its X-platform constraints with the launch of a standalone iPhone app and dedicated website at grok.com. The chatbot will no longer require an X account for access, positioning it to compete more directly with ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and Claude Initial app availability is limited to Australia and a few other countries during the testing phase Grok remains free for all X users, with deeper platform...
read Dec 23, 2024GenFuse AI helps non-technical users create and deploy AI agents
The rise of no-code AI automation tools is transforming how businesses approach task automation, with GenFuse AI emerging as a notable player in this space. Product overview: GenFuse AI introduces a no-code platform designed to help businesses create and deploy AI agent automations without requiring technical expertise. The platform enables users to build multi-agent workflows that can automate repetitive business tasks Users can create these automations regardless of their technical background or coding knowledge The solution focuses on improving operational efficiency without increasing headcount Market position and reach: GenFuse AI has quickly gained attention on Product Hunt since its launch....
read Dec 22, 2024Adobe partnership brings AI creativity tools to Box’s content management platform
Adobe and Box have launched a partnership that integrates Adobe Express and its Firefly AI technology into Box's content management platform, allowing users to edit and create visual content within Box's secure environment. Partnership Overview: The collaboration marks a significant expansion of Box's content management capabilities by making Adobe Express the default image editor for all Box users. The integration enables users to edit and create visual content without leaving the Box platform Adobe's Firefly AI technology provides enterprise-safe creative tools The service is available at no additional cost to Box enterprise customers Key Features and Functionality: The integration brings...
read Dec 22, 2024Returned.com makes online returns a breeze with its new AI voice agent
Online shopping returns platform Returned.com has launched a new voice AI feature that eliminates customer service wait times by automatically handling return requests through its AI Return Agent, BoughtBot. Key innovation: The new voice AI capability integrates with Returned.com's existing AI Return Agent to manage complex return scenarios without requiring direct customer interaction with retailers. The system can bypass phone menus, communicate naturally with representatives, and negotiate return policies and exceptions The technology operates seamlessly in the background while processing returns The service currently supports over 131 major retailers Technical implementation: The voice AI leverages natural language processing to ensure...
read Dec 22, 2024Everything you need to know about Google’s latest AI releases
Timeline and Evolution: Google's Gemini AI platform has undergone significant development since its initial December 2023 launch, transforming from the Bard chatbot into a comprehensive AI system now integrated across Google's ecosystem. The platform has evolved through multiple iterations, with Gemini 2.0's release in December 2024 marking what CEO Sundar Pichai calls the "Agent Era" of AI Gemini's multimodal capabilities allow it to process and generate text, images, video, audio, and code The technology has been incorporated into key Google products including Android Assistant, Chrome, Google Photos, and Workspace Model Architecture and Variants: Google has developed a diverse range of...
read Dec 21, 2024The first mini PC with CoPilot Plus and Intel Core Ultra processors is here
The Asus NUC 14 Pro AI represents a significant advancement in mini PC technology, combining Intel's latest Core Ultra processors with dedicated AI capabilities in a compact form factor. Product Overview: Asus has unveiled its latest mini PC, marking a milestone as the first Copilot Plus-enabled device featuring Intel's Core Ultra 9 processors. The device maintains a compact footprint measuring 130mm in width and depth, standing just 34mm tall, making it slightly larger than Apple's Mac Mini A distinctive black design houses advanced hardware components while maintaining a minimalist aesthetic The system features a fingerprint sensor and dedicated Copilot button...
read Dec 21, 2024Chipset details and AI features confirmed for OnePlus 13R smartphone
Tech enthusiasts await the OnePlus 13R launch, set to debut alongside the OnePlus 13 at the company's Winter Launch event on January 7, 2025, with promising specifications and AI capabilities now confirmed through official channels and an Amazon listing. Key specifications confirmed: The OnePlus 13R will feature a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, positioning it firmly in the flagship smartphone category. The device will sport a flat display with Gorilla Glass 7i protection, following current premium smartphone design trends A substantial 6000mAh battery will power the device, suggesting impressive battery life Despite housing a large battery, the phone...
read Dec 21, 2024OpenAI’s latest o3 AI model excels at math and coding
Breakthroughs in AI reasoning capabilities are accelerating as major tech companies race to develop systems that can solve complex mathematical, scientific, and programming challenges step-by-step. Key announcement: OpenAI has introduced OpenAI o3, a new AI system specifically designed to tackle reasoning tasks in mathematics, science, and computer programming. The system is currently limited to safety and security testing phase OpenAI o3 has demonstrated superior performance compared to leading AI technologies on standardized benchmark tests The technology outperformed its predecessor, o1, by more than 20% in common programming tasks In a notable achievement, the system surpassed OpenAI's chief scientist Jakub Pachocki...
read Dec 21, 2024Instagram will replace AR filters with AI video editing tools
Instagram's shift from traditional augmented reality (AR) filters to AI-generated video modifications marks a significant evolution in social media content creation technology. The core announcement: Meta plans to replace Instagram's current AR filters with a new AI-powered feature called "Movie Gen" that can modify videos through text prompts. Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri unveiled the new feature in a demonstration video, showing its ability to alter outfits, backgrounds, and accessories in real-time The transition will officially begin on January 14, 2025, when Meta discontinues its Spark AR filters platform Movie Gen will allow users to modify "nearly any aspect" of their...
read Dec 20, 2024Backflip’s new AI design platform lets creators turn text into 3D-printable models
The emergence of AI-powered 3D design platforms marks a significant shift in how physical products can be conceptualized and manufactured, with Backflip leading the charge through its innovative text-to-3D model technology. Major funding announcement: Backflip has secured $30 million in funding, co-led by prominent venture capital firms NEA and Andreessen Horowitz, positioning the company at the forefront of AI-driven manufacturing innovation. The funding round attracted notable angel investors including Microsoft CTO Kevin Scott, Android founder Rich Miner, and Ashish Vaswani, co-author of the seminal "Attention is All You Need" paper The company emerged from stealth mode on December 19, revealing...
read Dec 20, 2024Google’s Deep Research AI tool supports even more languages now
Artificial intelligence-powered research tools are becoming more accessible globally as Google expands language support for its Deep Research feature. Major expansion of AI research capabilities: Google's Deep Research tool, a component of Gemini Advanced that helps users conduct comprehensive research and analysis, is now accessible in 45 languages beyond English and available in over 150 countries. The expansion significantly broadens the tool's reach, making AI-assisted research accessible to non-English speaking users worldwide Deep Research leverages Google's Gemini AI model to help users analyze topics, gather information, and synthesize findings The feature is exclusively available to Gemini Advanced subscribers, positioning it...
read Dec 20, 2024Everything we know about OpenAI’s new o3 AI models
OpenAI is developing two new advanced reasoning models that promise significant improvements in complex problem-solving capabilities, particularly in coding, mathematics, and scientific applications. Breaking developments: OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced two new frontier models, o3 and o3-mini, during the company's final "12 Days of OpenAI" livestream event. The announcement comes just one day after Google's release of Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking, intensifying competition in the AI reasoning model space Initial access will be limited to selected third-party researchers for safety testing O3-mini is expected to launch by January 2025, with o3 following shortly after Performance benchmarks: The o3 model has...
read Dec 20, 2024Pika’s latest AI video model lets you include your own characters and objects in scenes
Pika has launched its latest AI video generation model, Pika 2.0, offering enhanced customization and control features for creating AI-generated video content. Key innovations and features: Pika 2.0 represents a significant upgrade to the company's AI video generation capabilities, focusing on accessibility and user control. The new model delivers improved text alignment, allowing for more precise translation of prompts into video content Enhanced motion rendering capabilities create more natural movements and realistic physics A new "Scene Ingredients" feature enables users to upload and customize individual elements like characters, objects, and settings Advanced image recognition technology ensures seamless integration of custom...
read Dec 20, 2024AI-powered Amazon Shopping Guides streamline product research
The launch of Amazon's AI-powered Shopping Guides marks a significant advancement in personalized e-commerce assistance, leveraging generative AI to streamline product research and decision-making for customers. Key Features and Functionality; Amazon's new AI Shopping Guides tool provides comprehensive product information and recommendations across more than 100 product categories on mobile platforms and apps. The feature is currently available in the US through Amazon's mobile website and iOS/Android applications Product categories span a wide range, including electronics, home goods, pet supplies, and personal care items Shopping Guides automatically appear within autocomplete suggestions during product searches User Experience and Implementation; The system...
read Dec 20, 2024Mobile pioneers claim their new breakthrough platform will make agentic AI a reality
A new AI startup aims to fundamentally change how we interact with technology by replacing traditional mobile apps with automated AI agents. Major funding secured: AI startup /dev/agents has raised $56 million in seed funding to develop a cloud-based operating system that orchestrates AI agents. The company was founded by technology industry veterans David Singleton, Hugo Barra, Ficus Kirkpatrick, and Nicholas Jitkoff, who previously held leadership positions at Google, Meta, and Stripe. Rather than developing their own AI models, the platform will leverage existing foundation models to power its agent ecosystem. The substantial seed funding indicates strong investor confidence in...
read Dec 20, 2024OpenAI just made its smartest AI model even more powerful with o3 upgrade
OpenAI has officially unveiled its latest AI model upgrade, showcasing significant improvements in reasoning and problem-solving capabilities. Core improvements: The new o3 model represents a substantial upgrade over its predecessor o1, introducing enhanced deliberation capabilities and superior performance across multiple benchmarks. The model's distinguishing feature is its ability to spend more time contemplating questions, resulting in more accurate responses for complex logical reasoning tasks Benchmark testing shows o3 performing three times better than o1 on ARC-AGI, a sophisticated assessment tool for mathematical and logical reasoning In software engineering evaluations (SWE-Bench), o3 demonstrates a 20% improvement over o1 and surpasses Google's...
read Dec 20, 2024IBM’s new 10-hour AI course may be a big resume booster — and it’s free
IBM's new free AI Fundamentals credential program offers professionals a concise yet comprehensive introduction to artificial intelligence fundamentals, providing a valuable opportunity to enhance their resume with an industry-recognized certification. Program Overview: IBM's SkillsBuild learning portal hosts a 10-hour certification program consisting of six courses that cover essential aspects of artificial intelligence technology and applications. The program is completely free and accessible through IBM's SkillsBuild platform Upon completion, participants receive an official certificate that can be showcased on LinkedIn The curriculum is designed to be vendor-agnostic, with only one course specifically focused on IBM's Watson Studio Course Structure and Content:...
read Dec 20, 2024Cohere’s smallest, fastest R-series AI model excels at RAG and foreign language
Cohere's latest AI model release demonstrates the company's growing focus on practical, efficient enterprise solutions that balance performance with resource optimization. Key Model Features and Capabilities: Command R7B represents Cohere's smallest and fastest offering in its R series, designed to provide efficient AI capabilities without requiring extensive computational resources. The model features a 128K context length and supports 23 languages, making it versatile for various enterprise applications Built with retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) technology, which enhances accuracy by grounding responses in external data Specifically optimized for tasks including math, reasoning, code, and translation capabilities Performance Benchmarks: Command R7B has demonstrated superior...
read Dec 20, 2024New AI device transcribes conversations for less than competitors
The rising wave of AI hardware has produced a new contender in Pocket, a minimalist device focused on conversation recording and analysis at a fraction of the cost of its competitors. Product overview: Open Vision Engineering's Pocket device offers conversation recording, transcription, and organization capabilities in a compact form factor for $79. The device magnetically attaches to smartphones and can be activated with a single button press It captures both live conversations and phone calls, storing them with encryption A companion app for Android and iOS provides access to transcribed content and analysis tools Key features and functionality: Pocket's AI...
read Dec 20, 2024Princeton professors’ new book ‘AI Snake Oil’ offers smart perspective on navigating AI
The rapid rise of artificial intelligence has sparked intense debate between those heralding its revolutionary potential and others dismissing it as overhyped, prompting two Princeton scholars to offer a more nuanced perspective in their new book "AI Snake Oil." The core argument: Princeton computer science professor Arvind Narayanan and Ph.D. candidate Sayash Kapoor aim to help people distinguish between AI's genuine capabilities and empty promises. Their book "AI Snake Oil" focuses on providing foundational knowledge to separate legitimate AI advances from misleading claims The authors argue that while some AI applications show remarkable progress, many marketed AI products make unfounded...
read Dec 20, 2024If you just downloaded iOS 18.2, try these cool new settings first
The latest iOS 18.2 update introduces significant changes to the iPhone user experience, balancing AI features with practical everyday improvements that enhance usability and customization options. Core system upgrades: The iOS 18.2 update brings notable quality-of-life improvements alongside its headline AI features like Visual Intelligence and Image Playground. Installation requires a compatible device, such as an iPhone 13 Pro or newer model AI features are exclusively available on iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 series devices Users can access the update through Settings > General > Software Update Home Screen customization: Apple has significantly expanded personalization options for the iPhone's...
read Dec 20, 2024AI assistant Cora helps users tame overflowing inboxes
The Product Launch: Cora, a new AI-powered email management tool developed by Every, promises to transform inbox management through intelligent filtering and automated responses. The tool employs AI to identify and surface only emails requiring replies while automatically archiving less urgent messages Cora's AI technology can draft responses to common requests, mimicking the user's personal writing style The system delivers twice-daily briefings that consolidate non-urgent communications, including action items, calendar updates, payment information, and newsletter highlights Users can customize Cora's behavior through AI prompts to align with their specific email management preferences Technical Architecture: The platform integrates AI capabilities to...
read Dec 20, 2024ChatGPT now integrates with Notes, Quip and Notion — here’s what it can do
Latest developments: OpenAI unveiled new ChatGPT integrations with popular productivity tools as part of their "12 Days of OpenAI" event. Chief Product Lead Kevin Weil introduced 'Agentic' functionality, allowing ChatGPT to perform tasks autonomously on behalf of users The platform now directly integrates with Apple Notes, Quip, and Notion, with Windows integrations planned for future release A new ChatGPT desktop app for Mac features a floating window that can understand context from other active applications Key features and demonstrations: The OpenAI team showcased practical applications of ChatGPT's enhanced capabilities through live demonstrations. Within Notion, ChatGPT created a detailed walking tour...
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