Strawberry Promises and another Meta Fail
New Apple AI
Hey AI fam,
So Apple had an announcement. And if you’re not a fanboy (or maybe just don’t have 3+ hours to waste) here is the info:
Apple Brings in AI Features and Better Hardware
Apple's "Glowtime" event on September 9, 2024, unveiled several significant product updates and features, highlighting advancements in the iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods lineup. Same but better?
iPhone 16 Series: The new iPhone 16 and 16 Pro models were introduced, featuring the A18 and A18 Pro chips. Key enhancements include a 48MP Fusion camera, an Action button for quick access to functions, and improved photo experiences. The iPhone 16 Pro is touted as the most advanced iPhone yet, with larger displays and an industry-leading camera system. Is that why most people buy iPhones?
Apple Watch Series 10: This model is the thinnest yet, boasting a larger display and faster charging capabilities. It includes features for sleep apnea detection and is equipped with watchOS 11. Additionally, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 was announced, available in Black Titanium, designed for extreme conditions.
AirPods Updates: The event also introduced AirPods 4, featuring a new design, enhanced audio performance, and Active Noise Cancellation. AirPods Max will now come with USB-C charging and new color options. A notable feature is the use of AirPods Pro 2 as a clinical-grade hearing aid, expanding their functionality significantly.
Apple Intelligence: A major focus of the event was the rollout of Apple Intelligence, an AI system that integrates across devices, enhancing user experience with features like smart notifications, writing tools, and improved Siri capabilities. This system aims to simplify tasks and improve interaction with Apple's ecosystem, launching with iOS 18.1 and expanding to other platforms later.
We’ll see about that. Overall, pretty much what was expected, and pretty light in terms of the advancement of other tech AI products.
But, what do you think?
Elon Gone Wild
Elon Musk, who professed his love for free speech which he cited as hisreason for buying Twitter, has been posting cringe-AI photos with wild-eyed AI-generated Kamala Harris.
Unfortunately, Elon does not get the irony that the empty shelves were from when Trump was president 🤦.
But more concerning is that fact that he in a leader in AI development. He does not look like a steady hand on deck.
Strawberry Coming to ChatGPT?
OpenAI's got a new AI model on the block, codenamed Strawberry, and it's hitting the virtual shelves way sooner than we thought—like, within the next couple of weeks.
Strawberry is all about deep thinking and solving those brain-busting problems. Imagine it pondering over complex questions for up to 20 seconds before hitting you with a text-only response. And while it's rumored to have the ability to surf the web for research, it won’t be accessible for image or voice at launch.
But, it's not all sunshine and rainbows. For starters, if you're looking for quick answers, Strawberry's thoughtful pause might test your patience. Plus, it's sticking to texts at its launch, so no funky image processing or listening to your tunes. And, there might be a cap on how chatty you can be with it per hour.
Integration-wise, it looks like ChatGPT is going to get a Strawberry flavor. There’s chatter about a pricier option for those who can't stand slow responses. This launch is kind of a big deal because it's pushing the envelope on what AI can figure out on its own.
Everyone's buzzing about its potential, although we're all still waiting for OpenAI to give the official word. The countdown is on, and Strawberry might just be around the corner, ready to challenge what we expect from AI brains.
After all, we are still waiting for them to finish releasing SORA!
Facebook admits to scraping every Australian adult user's public photos and posts to train AI, with no opt-out option
In the latest episode of "Oh No, They Didn't!", Facebook, our beloved digital overlord, has been caught with its virtual hands in the data cookie jar, yet again. This time, the tech giant has been hoovering up public photos, posts, and whatnots from Australian adults on Facebook and Instagram since 2007.
And guess what? They didn't even offer a polite "opt-out" button because, apparently, Australian law is chill like that, or so Facebook claims.
Kids' accounts are safe, though! They're not scraping data from anyone under 18, which is a relief because we all know teenagers never post anything they might regret later. But here's the kicker: if you were a minor when you signed up but you're all grown up now, your data's status is as clear as mud.
Why is Facebook on this data-gobbling spree, you ask? To train its AI models, of course. Because nothing says "innovation" like using pictures of your brunch from 2010 to fine-tune the robots of tomorrow. Forget privacy, but at least their AI won’t be prone to as many biases!
This all came out when Meta's global privacy director, who probably had better days, got a bit tongue-tied under the stern gaze of Australian senators, finally admitting to the practice. So, yeah. Another AI misstep.
Just another week in AI.
By the way, I am loving the AI tool, Writeseed.
I got a headache, so I’m outta here!