Apple’s AI Debut (stil no EU), Denmark’s Pig-Whispering Tech, and Meta’s Bold Move Against Google
Sebastian Krogh
October 30, 2024 • Reading time: 11 minutes
In todays Download: Apple launches Apple Intelligence, bringing AI-driven features to iOS and macOS. Meanwhile, Danish researchers unveil AI that interprets pig emotions to enhance animal welfare, and Meta’s new search engine aims to reduce its reliance on Google and more.
Todays Download
🍎 Apple Unveils First Wave of Apple Intelligence Features (Still no EU)
Apple has taken its first official steps into the AI realm with the release of Apple Intelligence, rolled out in the iOS 18.1 and macOS Sequoia 15.1 updates. This debut offers new AI-driven tools designed to enhance productivity, creativity, and privacy on iPhone, iPad, and Mac, giving users a taste of Apple’s approach to artificial intelligence in their ecosystem.
Key Features:
Text tools across the system: New writing aids for rewriting, proofreading, and summarizing make it easier to handle text across apps.
Enhanced photo search: Advanced image recognition capabilities allow users to search their photo libraries more intuitively.
Revamped Siri: Now equipped with typing support, Siri can better understand context and handle detailed Apple product questions.
Device restrictions: The AI features are exclusive to devices with M1 / A17 Pro chips or newer, and some users will need to join a waitlist for access.
Upcoming Additions: In December, Apple Intelligence will expand with notable updates, including integration with ChatGPT, a creative Image Playground, and an avatar feature called Genmoji. This next wave promises to bring the major functionality users have been anticipating.
Apple’s first rollout of Apple Intelligence represents a significant moment, yet it feels somewhat restrained—more a foundational release than a breakthrough in AI capabilities. Many users and analysts were expecting more revolutionary updates, especially following years of anticipation. While Apple Intelligence holds promise, the upcoming December enhancements will be the real test of Apple’s AI strategy.
Yet again, we see the European union being excluded from a major AI roll out, with Apple stating that Apple Intelligence will be available in “most regions” - which does not include Europe and China.
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🐷 Danish Researchers Develop AI to Interpret Pig Emotions
Source: Reuters
Danish researchers have created an AI platform that deciphers pig sounds to assess their emotions, aiming to enhance animal welfare on farms. Led by behavioral biologist Elodie Mandel-Briefer from the University of Copenhagen, the project utilizes thousands of recorded pig sounds to determine if pigs are experiencing positive or negative emotions.
Key Insights:
Emotional tracking: The algorithm distinguishes various sounds—short grunts for happiness, longer grunts for discomfort, and squeals indicating stress—offering real-time insights into pigs’ emotional well-being.
Focus on animal welfare: Findings indicate that pigs on outdoor or organic farms exhibit fewer stress calls, underscoring the welfare benefits of such environments.
Future tool for farmers: Once fully developed, this AI platform could be accessible via a smartphone app, allowing farmers to monitor pigs’ emotional health alongside physical metrics.
Providing farmers with insights into pigs’ emotional states could transform animal welfare practices, with potential applications in ethical labeling to guide consumer choices. This innovative AI tool showcases how technology can drive more humane and sustainable farming methods in Denmark and beyond.
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🔎 Meta Builds AI-Powered Google Search Rival
Source: Meta
Meta is stepping up its AI game, reportedly developing an in-house search engine aimed at reducing reliance on external players like Google and Bing. This move positions Meta to harness its own real-time information in Meta AI interactions across its platforms.
Key Features:
Proprietary web crawling: Meta’s new tech infrastructure is designed to equip its AI with real-time web knowledge, eliminating the need for search data from competing sources.
In-house development: Meta’s internal teams have been quietly working on this project since early 2024, laying the groundwork for an independent AI-powered search system.
Reuters partnership: A recent collaboration with Reuters signals Meta’s broader ambition to directly control news and information sources for its AI.
Expanding user base: Meta AI has already seen rapid adoption, boasting 185 million weekly active users across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
Meta’s foray into search underscores the shifting focus in the AI industry — from powering user interactions to directly managing information access. As Meta aims to build a self-sufficient AI ecosystem, the competition among tech giants for search dominance and real-time info control is heating up. Meta’s entry into the search space may usher in a new era of AI-driven search innovation, challenging Google’s long-held dominance.
🎶 Universal Music Partners with Klay Vision on ‘Ethical’ AI Music Model
Universal Music Group (UMG) has teamed up with AI startup Klay Vision to develop an ethical AI music generator amid ongoing legal disputes with companies like Anthropic, Suno, and Udio over copyright issues.
Key Points:
Focus on ethics: The partnership aims to create AI music models that respect copyright and lessen risks to human creators.
Innovative tech: Klay Vision is developing KLayMM, a Large Music Model designed for copyright-safe, commercial use.
Industry expertise: Led by ex-Sony Music and DeepMind execs, Klay Vision has also collaborated with YouTube’s AI Incubator and SoundLabs.
UMG’s selective AI partnerships reflect the music industry’s effort to control AI’s role, balancing innovation with copyright protection as it adapts to an AI-driven future.
🖼️ Stability AI Unveils Stable Diffusion 3.5
Stability AI has launched Stable Diffusion 3.5, an 8B Parameter Open-Source Image Generation Model, which is a major upgrade in open-source image generation. This release introduces three model variants—each catering to different user needs—with the model designed for customization, ease of use on consumer hardware, and free access under the Stability AI Community License.
Key Features:
Multiple variants: The lineup includes Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large, Large Turbo, and the soon-to-be-released Medium model (October 29).
Performance range: The Large model, with 8 billion parameters, delivers 1-megapixel resolution and enhanced prompt precision, while Large Turbo offers similar quality at reduced computational requirements.
Enhanced fine-tuning: Query-Key Normalization supports improved customization.
Commercial use: The model is free for commercial use by entities with revenue under $1M, making it accessible for small businesses and individual creators.
Stable Diffusion 3.5 represents a significant leap in accessible, high-quality image generation for the open-source community. By refining model architecture and offering free commercial use, Stability AI is empowering a wider range of users to leverage cutting-edge image generation without prohibitive costs, pushing forward the boundaries of AI-driven creativity.
🎧 Guide: Create AI-Powered Research Sessions with NotebookLM
NotebookLM’s new Audio Overview feature lets you turn study and research materials into AI-driven discussions, creating an interactive, efficient approach to exam prep.
Step-by-Step Guide:
Start a Notebook: Open NotebookLM, create a new notebook, and upload your research materials (PDFs, notes, slides).
Customize Your Audio Session: Select Audio Overview, then click the customize icon.
Set Your Study Focus: Enter a prompt like, “Create a [topic] review focusing on [subjects]. Explain as if teaching a new student, include memory tricks and potential exam questions.”
Listen and Learn: Generate and listen to your tailored study session, jotting down notes as you go.
Pro Tip: Leverage the chat feature for follow-up questions to reinforce understanding and make your study session even more productive.
⚡ Quick News
New ‘red_panda’ Model: A mysterious new model called ‘red_panda’ has claimed the top spot on the Artificial Analysis Text-to-Image Arena Leaderboard, surpassing popular models like Flux, Ideogram, and Midjourney.
Google Search Expands AI Overviews: Google is broadening its AI Overviews in Search to over 100 countries and more languages, aiming to reach over 1 billion users monthly.
OpenAI’s Revenue Insights: CFO Sarah Friar shared that 75% of OpenAI’s revenue now comes from ChatGPT subscriptions, with a 5-6% conversion rate from free users and a weekly active user base of 250 million.
xAI’s Grok Gains Vision: Elon Musk’s xAI chatbot Grok has gained new vision capabilities, demonstrated through its analysis of a meme to break down a joke.
Hollywood Union SAG-AFTRA & Ethovox Agreement: Hollywood union SAG-AFTRA partnered with AI firm Ethovox to create a foundational voice model for digital replicas, securing compensation for performers through session fees and revenue sharing.
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