News
1. Smart home
At CES 2024, LG emphasized its transition towards becoming a “Smart Life Solution” company, focusing heavily on AI integration across its range of appliances, mobile devices, and EV software. Key announcements included a new Alpha 11 processor for OLED TVs, a transparent-screen OLED, a Smart Home AI Agent robot, and plans for EV charging stations, alongside a shift towards subscription services for appliance features and data collection for personalized user experiences (ZDNet).
Samsung unveiled an updated version of its Ballie robot, now featuring a projector that can display images on floors, walls, or ceilings, and also functions as a smart home assistant capable of controlling various home devices (The Verge).
At CES 2024, a range of high-tech kitchen gadgets were showcased, including chef-like robots, AI-powered appliances, and devices for food and drink preparation, signaling a future where cooking and mixing drinks could become automated tasks. Highlights included an indoor smoker by GE Appliances, a smart grill using AI technology, a rapid ice cream maker by ColdSnap, an AI-driven air fryer, a cocktail-mixing appliance by Bartesian, and Artly Coffee’s robot barista that mimics human movements in coffee preparation (APNews).
2. Smart car
Volkswagen announced at CES 2024 that it will integrate an AI-powered chatbot, based on OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Cerence’s Chat Pro product, into its vehicles equipped with the IDA voice assistant. This feature, starting in Europe in the second quarter, will be included in Volkswagen’s EV line and other models like Tiguan, Passat, and Golf, offering enhanced conversational capabilities and vehicle-specific information, while adhering to content limitations set by Cerence (TechCrunch).
At CES, the automotive industry is rapidly adopting AI for various critical functions, including vehicle design, engineering, manufacturing, marketing, and sales, driven by the growing significance of generative AI and software-defined computing. NVIDIA announced collaborations with several electric vehicle makers like Li Auto, GWM, ZEEKR, and Xiaomi, who have chosen NVIDIA’s DRIVE platforms for their automated driving systems, showcasing a range of technology from NVIDIA’s automotive partners (Nvidia).
Waymo has announced that its fully driverless vehicles will start operating on Phoenix’s freeways, initially offering rides to employees and their friends, and later to paying passengers using the Waymo One ridehailing app. This move marks a significant shift from the typical avoidance of freeways by self-driving cars, aiming to provide faster routes and improve service efficiency, especially for airport trips, which are a major source of revenue for ridehailing services (The Verge).
Intel announced its AI-focused chip for the automotive sector, described as “the first-generation AI-enhanced software-defined vehicle system-on-chip,” marking a significant step in integrating AI into cars. The company is also acquiring an energy management company and working on standardizing battery power for electric vehicles, with Zeekr, an EV subbrand of China’s Geely, being the first to install these chips in its vehicles (The Verge).
3. Humanoid robot
The robotics AI company Figure has developed a humanoid robot, Figure 101, which can make coffee after a 10-hour training period using an end-to-end AI system. This development signifies a potential increase in productivity and a solution to labor shortages, as humanoids like Figure 101 are designed to think, learn, and safely interact with their environment alongside humans (Interesting Engineering).
4. Gene editing
Prime editing is a technique for making precise genetic changes like substitutions, insertions, and deletions in living organisms, but delivering the necessary components into cells efficiently is challenging. Researchers have developed prime editor engineered virus-like particles (PE-eVLPs) that improve editing efficiency in human cells by up to 170 times and have successfully used them in mouse models of genetic blindness, achieving restoration of protein expression and partial recovery of vision, while also reducing potential safety risks like off-target editing and oncogenic transgene integration (Nature Biotechnology).
5. Automated lab
A self-driving laboratory system uses artificial intelligence and robotics to reengineer enzymes for higher temperature tolerance. The system, which requires minimal human input, represents a significant advancement in protein engineering, automating monotonous tasks and potentially accelerating scientific discovery (Nature).
6. Amazon
At CES 2024, Amazon announced several key partnerships and innovations, including a global collaboration with Panasonic to integrate Fire TV into Panasonic smart TVs, a demonstration of in-car generative AI with BMW, the introduction of Matter Casting for Fire TV and Echo Show 15 devices, and the display of the latest Zoox robotaxi. Additionally, Amazon showcased new generative AI-powered Alexa experiences, advancements in AI with the Alexa Fund, and Siemens’ integration of AWS generative AI technology, Amazon Bedrock (About Amazon).
7. Walmart
At CES 2024, Walmart introduced two new AI-powered tools: the GenAI search tool, which allows shoppers to search for products using specific scenarios rather than brand names or items, and the “Walmart InHome Replenishment” tool for automating the reordering of frequently purchased items. Additionally, Walmart announced the expansion of its AI tool “My Assistant” to employees in 11 countries and a pilot AI and computer vision service at Sam’s Club stores to streamline payment verification and reduce checkout wait times (Reuters).
8. Bitcoin ETF
U.S.-listed bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) experienced a significant trading volume of $4.6 billion on their first day, marking a major milestone for the cryptocurrency industry and indicating a growing acceptance of digital assets as an investment. The launch of eleven spot bitcoin ETFs, including those from major players like BlackRock, Grayscale, and ARK, led to intense competition for market share, with the SEC’s approval highlighting the evolving regulatory landscape and investor interest in cryptocurrencies (Reuters).
9. AI device
Rabbit has introduced the R1, an innovative AI-powered mobile device designed to operate without traditional apps, offering a more intuitive, conversational user experience. The R1, priced at $199, features a touch screen, push-to-talk button, analog scroll wheel, microphones, speakers, a rotating camera, and integrates with services like Spotify and Uber, while also boasting capabilities like computer vision for tasks such as generating recipes or editing documents, and a unique “teach rabbit” function for personalized task training (Rabbit).
10. Personal aircraft
Pivotal, a company backed by Larry Page and based in Palo Alto, California, has launched the Helix, a lightweight electric personal aircraft that doesn’t require a pilot’s license to fly. The Helix, which is available in three configurations starting at $190,000, offers a range of over 20 miles, a battery charge time of about 75 minutes, and can be assembled in 30 minutes to fit into a 16-foot trailer, with deliveries beginning June 10, 2024 (TechCrunch).
11. AI doctor
An AI system, trained to conduct medical interviews, has matched or surpassed human doctors in conversing with simulated patients and listing possible diagnoses, particularly in diagnosing respiratory and cardiovascular conditions. This chatbot, based on a large language model developed by Google, demonstrated higher accuracy and empathy compared to board-certified primary-care physicians, although it remains experimental and has not been tested on real patients (Nature).
12. Direct to cell satellites
SpaceX has successfully demonstrated the first text messages sent between T-Mobile phones using one of Starlink’s low Earth orbit satellites, showcasing the new Direct to Cell satellite technology. This service, expected to start providing text messaging this year and voice and data service in 2025, aims to fill coverage gaps in T-Mobile’s network in the US and potentially other countries, overcoming challenges like satellite movement, Doppler shift, and low phone antenna gain (Ars Technica).
13. AI in retail
Google has launched a suite of new tools for retailers, leveraging generative AI to enhance online shopping experiences and retail operations. These tools include a generative AI-powered chatbot for websites and mobile apps, a large language model feature to improve product searches, and additional tools for customer service and product cataloging (CNBC).
14. Rocket launch at sea
Chinese space startup Orienspace successfully launched a rocket into low-Earth orbit from the sea, marking a “complete success” and setting a new record with the world’s largest solid launch vehicle and China’s biggest commercial space launch system. The launch, which deployed three satellites using the Gravity 1 commercial launch system, highlights the advantages of sea-based launches, such as reduced debris damage and lower costs (The Messenger).
Articles
1. AI will unleash the next level of human potential (ZDNet)
The article, based on the Accenture Technology Vision Report 2024, discusses how AI is set to unleash the next level of human potential by becoming more human-centric in its design and application. It highlights the importance of ethical considerations and purposeful innovation in this process, and outlines four key trends: reshaping our relationship with knowledge, ecosystems for AI agents, creating value in new realities, and developing a new human interface with technology.
2. There are too many chatbots (Vox)
OpenAI has launched the GPT Store, an online platform similar to an app store but for chatbots, where users can share custom versions of ChatGPT created with simple text prompts. The store, which has already seen over 3 million chatbots created, is initially available to paying ChatGPT subscribers, and OpenAI plans to share revenue with chatbot creators, signaling a significant step in the commodification and expansion of AI chatbot applications.
3. Robots Learn, Chatbots Visualize (New York Times)
The AI industry in 2024 is poised for a significant leap forward, with advancements enabling AI to generate new media types, mimic human reasoning more effectively, and extend into the physical world through advanced robotics. This rapid improvement will see AI-powered image generators like DALL-E creating instant videos, chatbots handling various media types and performing complex tasks, and the development of ‘AI agents’ capable of autonomously operating software and websites, leading to smarter, more versatile robots capable of handling diverse and novel tasks.
4. It’s already time to think about an AI tax (Financial Times)
The article discusses the need for a tax on artificial intelligence (AI) companies, as AI is expected to cause significant job displacement and societal challenges. It argues that while AI may bring economic growth, it also risks concentrating wealth and exacerbating inequality, necessitating government intervention to ensure the costs of AI’s impact, such as welfare and reskilling for laid-off workers, are not borne solely by the public.
