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• AI TRENDS

• TECH TRENDS

• STARTUP SCENE

AI TRENDS

Time’s 100 AI Power Players Revealed

Time Magazine has dropped its 2024 edition of the Time 100 AI, honoring the world’s most influential voices in artificial intelligence. Here are the key highlights:

• Sundar Pichai: The Alphabet CEO leads the list. His leadership has been pivotal in Google’s AI expansion, despite legal and competitive challenges.

• Sam Altman: The CEO of OpenAI returns to the spotlight after his brief ousting in 2023. He’s now working on raising $7 trillion for AI chip manufacturing.

• Satya Nadella: The Microsoft CEO secured his spot through strategic AI partnerships, including a $13 billion profit-sharing deal with OpenAI.

• Mark Zuckerberg: After his metaverse setbacks, the Meta CEO is back with the success of his open-source Llama AI model.

• Demis Hassabis: The co-founder and CEO of Google DeepMind continues to push AI boundaries with innovations like Project Astra.

• Dario Amodei: The Anthropic CEO focuses on the dual nature of AI and its potential risks, from advanced AI control to cyber threats.

• Jensen Huang: The Nvidia CEO has made a massive impact by dominating the hardware space with his company’s specialized AI chips.

AI is reshaping the world—and these leaders are at the helm.

AI PCs Take Center Stage at IFA 2024

• Europe's largest consumer electronics show, the Internationale Funkausstellung (IFA), has kicked off in Berlin, with AI-powered personal computers as the main attraction. Here are the key highlights:

  • PC Makers & Chip Titans: Companies like Lenovo, Qualcomm, Intel, AMD, and Microsoft are showcasing their AI innovations, vying to establish AI PCs as the future of computing.

  • Intel: Launched its next-gen Core Ultra 200V processor (formerly Lunar Lake), aiming to match or surpass AMD and Qualcomm in performance and power efficiency. Major PC vendors like Lenovo, Acer, and Dell have already announced laptops featuring the new chip.

  • Qualcomm: Introduced its Snapdragon X Plus 8-core processor, designed for Windows PCs. It offers long battery life and aims to power AI processes on-device, with prices starting as low as $700.

  • Lenovo: Leading the charge with the largest lineup of AI PCs in collaboration with Intel, AMD, Qualcomm, and Microsoft. They unveiled the Copilot Plus "Aura edition" laptops, featuring advanced modes like Smart Share and voice command capabilities for Auto Twist AI PC, which can transform between laptop and tablet modes.

  • Acer: Showcased Project DualPlay, a gaming laptop concept with a cutout for a custom controller.

  Key takeaway: The race for AI PCs is heating up as major players aim to revolutionize personal computing with AI-powered capabilities, from enhanced battery life to innovative new modes for work and play.

How AI is making Apple rethink the insides of an iPhone

As Apple gears up for its iPhone 16 reveal at the ‘Glowtime’ event, expectations are set high for significant AI integration. Here’s what’s anticipated:

• On-device AI processing: Like its competitors, Apple is expected to leverage on-device AI for enhanced privacy and performance, allowing users to benefit from AI features without data being sent to the cloud.

• Generative AI capabilities: Potential AI features similar to those in Google’s Pixel devices could be introduced, such as smarter photo editing, voice commands, and contextual suggestions.

• Camera improvements: Anticipated upgrades include enhanced computational photography, better low-light performance, and advanced zoom capabilities, which could use AI to process images more efficiently.

Phil Solis, Research Director at IDC, discusses these updates with John Xavier, pointing out that AI is increasingly reshaping how Apple designs its devices from the inside out.

Key takeaway: The iPhone 16 is expected to bring AI-driven innovations that will focus on improving user experience through privacy-centered, on-device processing and advanced camera features.

TECH TRENDS

Protecting Kids From Immersive Tech Could Lead to Over-Censorship

Efforts to protect children from harmful online content could negatively impact augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) platforms, according to a report by the Information Technology & Innovation Foundation. Legislative moves like the Kids Online Safety and Privacy Act (KOPSA) could force AR/VR platforms to over-censor content, much like traditional social media platforms. Here are the key points:

• KOPSA's Impact: If passed, KOPSA may lead to over-censorship on AR/VR platforms by giving the FTC authority to deem content harmful. This could stifle educational and creative experiences for children.

• Expert Concerns: Policy Analyst Alex Ambrose warns that the FTC might censor content on topics like climate change or environmental protection, deeming them too anxiety-inducing for children.

• Balanced Regulation: Andy Lulham, COO of VerifyMy, advocates for a nuanced regulatory approach that enhances safety without overreaching. He emphasizes transparency and robust safety systems over heavy-handed content removal.

• AR/VR Safety Challenges: Immersive tech poses unique challenges as most platforms are not designed for children under 13, exposing them to inappropriate content and risks. Proper safety will require a mix of market innovation and thoughtful policymaking.

NOTE : While protecting children online is crucial, policymakers must ensure that regulations for AR/VR technologies do not lead to over-censorship, stifling innovation and educational opportunities. A balanced approach that fosters trust, transparency, and safety by design is essential for the future of immersive tech.

Google Faces Accusations of Abusing Ad Tech Dominance

The UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has provisionally found Google guilty of using anti-competitive practices to dominate the online advertising market, potentially harming thousands of UK publishers and advertisers. Here are the key points:

• Anti-competitive Practices: Google allegedly prevents rivals from competing fairly in the online advertising technology space, giving its services an unfair advantage in the billions spent by UK businesses on digital ads.

• CMA Concerns: The watchdog claims Google’s dominance limits effective competition, which could negatively impact publishers who rely on ad revenue to keep digital content free for users.

• Potential Penalties: If found in violation of competition laws, Google could face a fine of up to 10% of its annual global revenue and be subject to legally binding directions.

• Google’s Response: Google calls the CMA’s findings "flawed," arguing that its ad tech helps businesses grow and supports free content online. It plans to respond to the allegations.

• Wider Scrutiny: Google’s ad tech activities are also under investigation by the US Department of Justice and the European Commission, with the EU suggesting that Google might need to sell part of its ad-tech business.

Key takeaway: Google is under growing scrutiny for its ad-tech dominance. While it defends its practices, regulators worldwide are increasingly concerned about the company's influence on fair competition in the digital ad space.

STARTUP SCENE

ZipBio, a Seattle Biotech Startup, Raises $4M to Revolutionize Protein Design

Seattle-based ZipBio officially launched this week, announcing a $4 million seed funding round led by NFX. Founded last year, the biotech startup is focused on compressing complex biological structures into smaller, more efficient proteins that maintain full functionality for better delivery and therapeutic impact.

• Generative AI: ZipBio utilizes AI to create de novo genes and proteins, optimizing their size while retaining their therapeutic effectiveness. This approach aims to tackle significant unmet needs in medicine.

• Leadership: CEO and co-founder Roee Farber, along with Ariel J. Ben-Sasson, Ori Hassin, and Ori Zelichov, lead the company. Farber was formerly head of product at Lokavant.

• Global Presence: ZipBio operates out of Seattle and Tel Aviv, Israel, showcasing a cross-continental effort in biotech innovation.

With $4M in seed funding, ZipBio is poised to disrupt the biotech field by using AI to design compact, efficient proteins that enhance therapeutic delivery and effectiveness.

That’s all for tody’s updates! From Google's ad-tech dominance facing scrutiny to the AI-driven future of computing and ZipBio's innovative biotech breakthrough, it’s clear that AI is shaping the trajectory of industries worldwide.

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