News/New Launches
Android users can now access Google Gemini AI — how to get started
Gemini Live rolls out for Android: Google has announced the free availability of Gemini Live, its advanced AI assistant, for all Android users through the Gemini app. Initially launched with the Google Pixel 9 series, Gemini Live offers a faster, more intuitive, and immersive experience compared to the standard Gemini assistant. The rollout, announced on X (formerly Twitter), makes Gemini Live accessible to a broader audience beyond Gemini Advance subscribers. Currently, only the US English version is available for download, though users can select different accents, including British "Capella." How to access Gemini Live: Android users can now easily set...
read Oct 1, 2024Inside Microsoft’s optimistic memo about the future of AI companions
AI companionship on the horizon: Microsoft is launching a redesigned version of Copilot, aiming to transform it into a personalized AI assistant and companion that adapts to individual users' needs and preferences. Microsoft's new AI CEO, Mustafa Suleyman, has released a memo outlining his vision for the future of AI companions and their potential impact on human-technology interactions. The redesigned Copilot incorporates new Vision and Voice features, enhancing its ability to understand and respond to visual and auditory inputs from users. Suleyman emphasizes that Copilot will evolve over time, developing capabilities tailored to each user's preferences and requirements. A paradigm...
read Oct 1, 2024iPhone 16 struggles to gain early traction, analysts still optimistic
iPhone 16 launch faces tepid reception: Apple's latest flagship smartphone, the iPhone 16, has encountered a lukewarm response in its initial pre-sale period, falling short of expectations despite the promise of new AI features. Ming-Chi Kuo, a prominent analyst, estimates that Apple sold 37 million iPhone 16 units during the first weekend of pre-sales, marking a 12% decrease compared to the previous year's launch. Demand for the higher-end iPhone 16 Pro models has seen a particularly sharp decline, with Pro sales down 27% and Pro Max sales down 16% year-over-year. In contrast, the standard iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus...
read Oct 1, 2024MIT startup invents new breed of AI model and it’s already state of the art
Liquid AI unveils groundbreaking non-transformer AI models: Liquid AI, a startup with roots in MIT's CSAIL, has introduced a new class of AI models that challenge the dominance of transformer-based architectures in the field of artificial intelligence. Revolutionary approach to AI model design: Liquid AI's new Liquid Foundation Models (LFMs) are built from first principles, eschewing the transformer architecture that has been the cornerstone of most recent AI advancements. The company's goal is to explore alternative methods for building foundation models beyond Generative Pre-trained Transformers (GPTs). LFMs are based on computational units grounded in dynamical systems theory, signal processing, and...
read Oct 1, 2024Microsoft unveils framework for data-enhanced AI apps
A new framework for categorizing RAG tasks: Microsoft researchers have proposed a four-level framework for categorizing retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) tasks for large language models (LLMs), based on the complexity of external data retrieval and reasoning required. The framework aims to help enterprises make informed decisions about integrating external knowledge into LLMs and understanding when more complex systems may be necessary. The categorization ranges from simple explicit fact retrieval to complex hidden rationale queries requiring domain-specific reasoning. This approach recognizes the varying levels of sophistication needed for different types of user queries and LLM applications. Breaking down the four-level categorization: The...
read Oct 1, 2024PyTorch’s releases ‘torchao’ to boost AI model performance
PyTorch Introduces torchao: Boosting Model Performance with Advanced Optimization Techniques: PyTorch has officially launched torchao, a native library designed to enhance model speed and reduce size through low-bit data types, quantization, and sparsity, offering significant improvements for both inference and training workflows. Key features and performance gains: torchao provides a toolkit of optimization techniques written primarily in PyTorch code, making it accessible and easy to implement. The library has been benchmarked on popular GenAI models, including LLama 3 and Diffusion models, with minimal accuracy loss. Impressive results for LLama 3: 97% speedup for LLama 3 8B inference using autoquant with...
read Oct 1, 2024Perplexity’s AI-powered search will come to Mac desktops next month
AI-powered search comes to macOS: Perplexity AI, a generative AI-based conversational and search tool, is set to launch its native Mac app on October 15, 2024, expanding its platform to desktop users. Perplexity, founded in 2022, utilizes its own large language models (LLMs) to provide precise answers and better summarize web content, similar to OpenAI's ChatGPT. The app will be available for download on the Mac App Store, setting it apart from ChatGPT's macOS app, which is not distributed through Apple's official store. Users can pre-save and enable notifications for the app's release, ensuring they're among the first to access...
read Sep 30, 2024Meta’s new AI voice feature will be available ‘in the coming days’
Meta AI Introduces Celebrity Voices: Meta AI is set to launch a new feature that allows users to interact with their AI assistant using the voices of popular celebrities, bringing a personalized touch to AI interactions across Meta's platforms. Meta's Generative AI lead, Ahmad Al-Dahle, shared a behind-the-scenes video on X (formerly Twitter) showcasing the recording process with celebrities. The 48-second clip features Keegan-Michael Key, Kristen Bell, John Cena, Awkwafina, and Dame Judi Dench recording lines for the AI assistant. Dame Judi Dench appears to be taking the recording process most seriously among the featured celebrities. Rollout and Availability: The...
read Sep 30, 2024Microsoft just gave Copilot a redesign — here’s who has access
Copilot's makeover: Microsoft's AI chatbot gets a fresh look: Microsoft is revamping its AI chatbot, Copilot, with a new design and performance improvements, aiming to compete more effectively with ChatGPT and other AI assistants. Key changes and improvements: The redesigned web interface offers a card-based design with time-of-day specific prompts Performance enhancements reportedly bring Copilot's speed "on par with ChatGPT" The chatbot now features day and night themes for improved user experience A text-entry box remains visible at all times, enhancing accessibility Four voice options are available, although voice mode is not yet enabled Rollout and availability: The new version,...
read Sep 30, 2024Politico Pro launches AI tool to enhance policy analysis
AI-powered summarization tool for Politico Pro: Politico is partnering with Y Combinator-backed startup Capitol AI to develop a custom AI tool that will quickly summarize its journalism for subscribers of its premium platform, Politico Pro. The new AI tool, set to launch later this year, will enable users to generate comprehensive reports on topics instantly by pulling information from Politico and Politico Pro content. Capitol AI CEO Shaun Modi demonstrated a version of the product that highlights citations from Politico's journalism, emphasizing that the tool relies entirely on Politico reporting. The partnership aims to enhance the value of Politico Pro...
read Sep 30, 2024NetApp unveils ambitious AI-driven data management strategy
NetApp's AI-driven data management vision: NetApp has unveiled a new strategy to address the data challenges faced by enterprises deploying AI, combining its existing ONTAP-based products with a disaggregated architecture and enhanced data manipulation capabilities. The company introduced its "Data First" AI vision at the recent NetApp Insight customer event, focusing on improving the efficiency of AI workloads through better data management. NetApp's approach aims to solve two key challenges: scalability issues in traditional legacy systems and the inefficiencies associated with moving data between storage and external tools in the AI lifecycle. Key components of NetApp's new strategy: Disaggregated Storage...
read Sep 30, 2024UPDF is a ChatGPT-infused PDF editor that will even create mind maps
Revolutionary AI-powered PDF editing for Apple users: UPDF introduces a comprehensive suite of tools designed to streamline PDF management, offering unique features like AI-driven mind map conversion and ChatGPT integration. Key features and capabilities: UPDF's all-in-one platform provides a wide range of functionalities, from basic editing to advanced AI-assisted tools, catering to diverse user needs across Apple devices. Users can easily edit, annotate, and manage PDF pages, as well as convert documents between various formats. The AI-powered PDF to mind map conversion feature stands out as a unique offering, enhancing document visualization and understanding. UPDF includes practical tools such as...
read Sep 29, 2024AMD releases AMD-135M, its first open-source small language model
AMD's Foray into Small Language Models: AMD has unveiled its first small language model (SLM), AMD-135M, marking a significant step in the company's artificial intelligence initiatives. AMD-135M is part of the Llama family of models and was trained from scratch on AMD Instinct™ MI250 accelerators. The model comes in two variants: AMD-Llama-135M for general use and AMD-Llama-135M-code, which is fine-tuned for code-related tasks. This release aligns with AMD's commitment to an open approach to AI, aiming to foster inclusive, ethical, and innovative technological progress. Training Process and Specifications: The development of AMD-135M involved substantial computational resources and time investment to...
read Sep 29, 2024Spigen’s new iPhone 16 case adds AI-powered camera button
New Spigen Case Enhances iPhone 16 Camera Control: Spigen has introduced the Tough Armor T (Ai) MagFit case for iPhone 16, featuring a conductive cover for the new Camera Control button, expanding their lineup of compatible cases. Product Details and Pricing: The Tough Armor T (Ai) MagFit case has an MSRP of $60 but is currently available on Amazon for $32.99. An additional 5% on-page coupon brings the price down to $31.34 with free Prime shipping. The case is temporarily out of stock on Spigen's official Amazon storefront but is expected to be available soon. Key Features of the Tough...
read Sep 29, 2024AI chip race heats up as Google and Meta upgrade models
AI model advancements reshape the competitive landscape: Google and Meta have unveiled significant updates to their AI models, while Google's AI-powered chip designer makes waves in the semiconductor industry. Google Gemini updates bring performance gains and cost reductions: Google has released new versions of its Gemini models, offering improved capabilities and more attractive pricing for developers. The new Gemini-1.5-Pro-002 and Gemini-1.5-Flash-002 models boast enhanced performance across various tasks, including a 7% increase in MMLU-Pro benchmark scores and a 20% improvement in math-related tasks. Google has dramatically reduced pricing for Gemini 1.5 Pro, cutting input token costs by 64% and output...
read Sep 28, 2024HP EliteBook X tested: Powerful AI laptop or overhyped?
Introducing the HP EliteBook X: HP's latest offering in the AI PC market, the EliteBook X, is positioned as the "most powerful AI device" available, boasting impressive specifications and design features that aim to set a new standard in the industry. Impressive hardware and AI capabilities: The EliteBook X's standout feature is its AMD-powered NPU, which runs at an exceptional 55 TOPs, potentially giving it a significant edge in AI processing capabilities. The laptop's high-speed memory further enhances its performance potential, supporting HP's claim of market-leading power. While exact specifications are not fully disclosed, the combination of advanced NPU and...
read Sep 27, 2024SFChronicle unveils AI tool to answer your Kamala Harris questions
Innovative AI tool launched for Kamala Harris coverage: The San Francisco Chronicle has introduced a groundbreaking AI-powered interactive tool, the Kamala Harris News Assistant, designed to provide readers with comprehensive information about the Democratic vice president and potential presidential candidate. Leveraging decades of reporting: The News Assistant combines generative AI technology with 29 years of the Chronicle's political reporting on Harris, offering users a unique opportunity to explore her life, career, and political journey. The tool draws from thousands of Chronicle articles dating back to 1995, creating a vast knowledge base on Harris's trajectory from local politics to the national...
read Sep 27, 2024Gmail replaces Smart Replies with ‘contextual’ AI suggestions
Gmail's AI-powered upgrade: Google is enhancing its Smart Reply feature in Gmail with new "Contextual Smart Replies" powered by the company's advanced Gemini AI technology. The upgraded feature promises to generate more detailed and contextually relevant responses compared to the previous generic Smart Reply options. Contextual Smart Replies can address multiple queries within a single email, demonstrating a more comprehensive understanding of the message content. Users can preview suggested replies by tapping and holding each option, allowing them to select the most appropriate response. AI-generated replies can be edited before sending, giving users the flexibility to refine the suggested text....
read Sep 27, 2024Samsung Galaxy S24 FE will pack high-end AI features at midrange price
Samsung's latest mid-range contender: The Samsung Galaxy S24 FE aims to bring premium features and Galaxy AI capabilities to a more affordable price point, positioning itself as a compelling option for budget-conscious consumers seeking high-end smartphone experiences. The Galaxy S24 FE is set to begin shipping on October 3, 2024, with a starting price of $649.99 for the 128GB model and $709.99 for the 256GB variant. This device seeks to bridge the gap between Samsung's flagship offerings and more budget-friendly options, incorporating many premium features while making strategic compromises to maintain a lower price point. Design and display: The Galaxy...
read Sep 27, 2024Google’s NotebookLM will now summarize and analyze YouTube videos
Introducing NotebookLM's YouTube Integration: Google's AI note-taking app, NotebookLM, has expanded its capabilities to include summarization and in-depth analysis of YouTube videos, offering users a powerful tool to extract key information from lengthy content. The new feature works by analyzing the text from a YouTube video's transcript, including auto-generated ones, to provide concise summaries and topic breakdowns. Users can simply add a YouTube link to NotebookLM, which then uses AI to generate a brief overview of the main topics discussed in the video. The app allows for further exploration by enabling users to click on specific topics for more detailed...
read Sep 26, 2024New Meta AI tools will translate audio reels in real time
AI-powered translation revolutionizes social media content consumption: Meta has unveiled a groundbreaking AI translation tool that promises to transform how users interact with Facebook and Instagram Reels across language barriers. Key features of the new AI translation tool: Automatically translates audio in Reels to the viewer's preferred language Utilizes advanced dubbing and lip-syncing technology to simulate the speaker's voice in the target language Synchronizes lip movements to match the translated audio, creating a more natural viewing experience Current testing and future expansion: Meta is conducting small-scale tests on its platforms, focusing on English and Spanish translations Initial tests involve creators...
read Sep 26, 2024Facebook, Instagram now use AI to edit, answer questions about photos
AI-powered photo analysis and editing come to Meta platforms: Meta has announced significant AI enhancements to its chatbot, Meta AI, enabling users to interact with and manipulate images across Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger. Multimodal capabilities for image understanding: Meta AI can now "see" and analyze photos shared in chats, offering users the ability to ask questions about image content. Users can inquire about objects, animals, or scenes in photos, with Meta AI providing accurate identifications and descriptions. The AI can offer practical information based on image content, such as providing recipes and ingredient lists when shown a photo of...
read Sep 26, 2024Asus unveils AI-powered Copilot+ PCs with Intel’s latest chips
Intel's AI-powered PC revolution: Asus has unveiled a new lineup of Copilot+ PCs in India, featuring Intel's latest Core Ultra Series 2 processors and advanced AI capabilities. Key product launches: The new Asus Copilot+ PC lineup includes the Zenbook S 14 laptop, ASUS NUC 14 Pro AI mini-desktop, and ExpertBook P5405 business laptop, all designed to leverage on-device AI for enhanced user experiences. These devices will receive a free update to the Copilot+ PC experience when it becomes available, further expanding their AI capabilities. The integration of Intel's Core Ultra Series 2 processors provides up to 47 TOPS (Tera Operations...
read Sep 26, 2024The biggest announcements from Meta Connect 2024
Meta Connect 2024 unveils AI innovations and new hardware: Meta's annual Connect conference showcases the company's latest advancements in AI, AR, and VR technologies, highlighting its vision for the future of social media and the metaverse. Key announcements and product launches: Meta introduces a range of new features and products, including AI-powered voice assistants, smart glasses, and VR headsets. Meta debuts AI voice mode with celebrity voices, allowing users to interact with AI assistants voiced by Awkwafina, John Cena, and Judi Dench. The company announces plans to integrate AI-generated images into Facebook and Instagram feeds, enhancing user content creation capabilities....
read