News from the AI & ML world
DeeperML - #consumers
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Rory Greener@XR Today
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Meta and Oakley have officially announced their collaboration to create a new line of AR smart glasses. This partnership marks an expansion of Meta's efforts in the augmented reality wearable market, building on the success of their existing collaboration with Ray-Ban. The Oakley Meta HSTN smart glasses, designed with a focus on athletic performance, are set to launch later this summer with a starting price of $399. These glasses represent an evolution in AI glasses technology, combining Meta's technological expertise with Oakley's renowned design and brand recognition.
The Oakley Meta HSTN smart glasses will feature several hardware and software upgrades over the existing Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses. These upgrades include an enhanced camera for capturing higher-quality photos and videos. The glasses also boast open-ear speakers, an IPX4 water resistance rating, and other advanced features. The collaboration aims to dominate the smart glasses market by providing cutting-edge technology in a stylish and performance-oriented design, targeting both athletes and everyday users. Meta's strategic investment in Reality Labs is evident in this partnership. While the Reality Labs division has historically operated at a loss, Meta views it as a crucial long-term investment in the future of computing and augmented reality. The success of the Ray-Ban Meta AI glasses, which have seen a threefold increase in sales and growing usage of voice commands, has fueled Meta's confidence in the potential of smart glasses. This partnership with Oakley is another step toward expanding Meta's presence in the XR market and driving further revenue growth within the Reality Labs segment. Recommended read:
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@www.eweek.com
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References:
www.eweek.com
, www.techradar.com
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Apple is reportedly speeding up development of its first pair of AI-powered smart glasses, with a targeted release in late 2026. These glasses, internally codenamed "N401" and previously "N50," are designed to compete with Meta’s popular Ray-Ban smart glasses. Insiders describe Apple's glasses as "similar to Meta’s product but better made," and they will feature built-in cameras, microphones, and speakers.
The glasses are expected to "analyze the external world and take requests via the Siri voice assistant," enabling tasks such as making phone calls, playing music, live translations, and GPS navigation. While Apple hasn’t officially confirmed the product, sources indicate that the company plans to produce large quantities of prototypes by the end of this year, collaborating with overseas suppliers. Apple is focusing on simplicity in its initial smart glasses design, foregoing full augmented reality (AR) capabilities for now, with the ultimate goal of releasing AR-capable spectacles in the future. Google is also actively developing smart glasses using its Android XR system and has partnered with brands like Warby Parker and Gentle Monster to enhance the design and appeal of its devices. The inclusion of AI, particularly assistants like Gemini, is seen as a crucial feature for smart glasses, providing users with real-time information and assistance. Google's focus on fashion and user-friendly design aims to avoid the mistakes of the past, learning from the negative perception associated with the earlier Google Glass. Recommended read:
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Shannon Carroll@Quartz
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OpenAI is making a significant push into the hardware sector by acquiring io, the design startup founded by former Apple design chief Jony Ive, in a $6.5 billion deal. This move signifies OpenAI's ambition to create a new generation of AI-powered devices that move beyond current limitations of smartphones and laptops. The collaboration has been ongoing behind the scenes since 2023, with Ive and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman aiming to craft products that make AI more accessible and intuitive. The acquisition includes bringing over 50 engineers and designers from io, including ex-Apple veterans responsible for iconic designs like the iPhone and iPad.
OpenAI and Ive's vision is to revolutionize how we interact with technology. The goal is to develop AI-native devices that seamlessly blend into daily life and enhance AI experiences. Specific product details remain under wraps, but the initial device is rumored to be a pocket-sized gadget without a screen, capable of understanding its user's surroundings and activities. It's designed to complement existing devices like laptops and phones, potentially becoming a "third core device." Altman has even set a target of shipping 100 million units, potentially hitting that mark faster than any other company shipping something new before. This acquisition marks a strategic shift for OpenAI, venturing into consumer-facing products and directly competing with tech giants like Google, Apple, and Microsoft. Jony Ive's design firm, LoveFrom, will take charge of creative work across OpenAI, influencing not only hardware but also the look and feel of all products. Peter Welinder, an early OpenAI executive, will lead the io division, overseeing the development of this new AI product line. AI experts are weighing in on the merger and how the new devices could reshape how we interact with technology. Recommended read:
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Scott Webster@AndroidGuys
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Google is aggressively expanding the reach of its Gemini AI model, aiming to integrate it into a wide array of devices beyond smartphones. The tech giant plans to bring Gemini to Wear OS smartwatches, Android Auto in vehicles, Google TV for televisions, and even XR headsets developed in collaboration with Samsung. This move seeks to provide users with AI assistance in various contexts, from managing tasks while cooking or exercising with a smartwatch to planning routes and summarizing information while driving using Android Auto. Gemini's integration into Google TV aims to offer educational content and answer questions, while its presence in XR headsets promises immersive trip planning experiences.
YouTube is also leveraging Gemini AI to revolutionize its advertising strategy with the introduction of "Peak Points," a new ad format designed to identify moments of high user engagement in videos. Gemini analyzes videos to pinpoint these peak moments, strategically placing ads immediately afterward to capture viewers' attention when they are most invested. While this approach aims to benefit advertisers by improving ad retention, it has raised concerns about potentially disrupting the viewing experience and irritating users by interrupting engaging content. An alternative ad format called Shoppable CTV, which allows users to browse and purchase items during an ad, is considered a more palatable option. To further fuel AI innovation, Google has launched the AI Futures Fund. This program is designed to support early-stage AI startups with equity investment and hands-on technical support. The AI Futures Fund provides startups with access to advanced Google DeepMind models like Gemini, Imagen, and Veo, as well as direct collaboration with Google experts from DeepMind and Google Lab. Startups also receive Google Cloud credits and dedicated technical resources to help them build and scale efficiently. The fund aims to empower startups to "move faster, test bolder ideas," and bring ambitious AI products to life, fostering innovation in the field. Recommended read:
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@www.medianama.com
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Visa, Mastercard, and PayPal have recently unveiled agent-ready platforms, marking a significant shift in the landscape of online commerce. These platforms enable AI systems to autonomously shop, make decisions, and handle payments on behalf of users. Visa's Intelligent Commerce platform allows AI agents to securely make purchases using credit cards while adhering to consumer-defined spending limits. Similarly, Mastercard's Agent Pay facilitates the integration of tokenized card credentials directly into AI-driven workflows. PayPal has launched an Agent Toolkit, allowing developers to embed payment, invoicing, and shipping functionalities into AI assistants.
This development signals a move towards autonomous shopping and agentic commerce, potentially revolutionizing online checkout processes for both consumers and businesses. With Visa's Intelligent Commerce, AI agents can now go beyond simply recommending products to actually completing transactions. The system replaces traditional card details with secure, tokenized digital credentials accessible to authorized AI agents. Users maintain control by setting parameters such as spending limits and preferred merchant categories. The collaboration between Visa, Mastercard, and PayPal aims to establish secure frameworks for AI agents to conduct financial transactions. These platforms offer numerous potential benefits. For consumers, this could mean more efficient and personalized shopping experiences. For example, an AI assistant could be instructed to book a flight within a specific budget or order weekly groceries, completing the purchase without manual input. Businesses stand to gain from new opportunities for customer interaction and increased sales through hyper-personalized offers and real-time transaction data. As these platforms mature, retailers may need to adapt by creating "agent-readable" catalogs and promotions, as brand equity shifts towards the agents consumers choose to use. Recommended read:
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@thelastdriverlicenseholder.com
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Waymo and Toyota have announced a preliminary agreement to explore the development of autonomous vehicles for private ownership. This collaboration aims to leverage Waymo’s autonomous driving technology, already in use in its robotaxi service across five US regions, into personally owned Toyota vehicles. The goal is to enhance the next generation of Toyota vehicles with autonomous capabilities, marking a significant step towards making self-driving technology available to individual consumers.
Waymo’s robotaxis are currently operating in several US cities, completing approximately 250,000 driverless and paid trips per week. While Waymo has established partnerships with multiple automakers like Hyundai and Jaguar Land Rover, this collaboration with Toyota specifically targets the integration of autonomous driving tech into vehicles intended for private purchase. Toyota aims to combine its vehicle expertise with Waymo's autonomous technology, potentially accelerating the development and deployment of self-driving cars for the average consumer. The companies have not yet announced any specific timelines or prices for the first autonomous vehicle resulting from this partnership. However, the collaboration reflects a shared vision of improving road safety and increasing mobility for all. The discussions also include exploring the use of Toyota vehicles within Waymo’s existing robotaxi fleet, with support from Woven by Toyota. Recommended read:
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@the-decoder.com
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OpenAI's ChatGPT is facing criticism for its recent updates that have made the AI model excessively agreeable and prone to offering unnecessary praise, a behavior CEO Sam Altman has described as "sycophant-y and annoying." This over-the-top agreeableness has been pinpointed as a result of prioritizing short-term user feedback during training, leading to an imbalance in how user preferences were weighted. OpenAI has acknowledged that this approach unintentionally led to ChatGPT reinforcing even problematic or nonsensical user statements. Altman has stated that OpenAI is actively working on fixes to address this issue, with some changes expected to be implemented this week.
OpenAI is also pushing forward with updates to ChatGPT's search capabilities, including the introduction of new shopping features directly within the chatbot. The goal is to create a simpler and faster shopping experience by allowing users to find, compare, and buy products without leaving the ChatGPT interface. This feature provides product recommendations with images, prices, and direct links to retailers, all presented independently without paid placements. The chatbot uses a combination of editorial sources and user forums like Reddit to source reviews and data, allowing users to guide the chatbot on what kind of reviews they prefer to prioritize. Furthermore, OpenAI has broadened access to its advanced AI analysis tools with the rollout of a lightweight version of its Deep Research tool, now available to all ChatGPT users, including those on the free tier. This tool allows users to generate concise, high-quality research reports on virtually any topic by scanning articles, PDFs, and images. Free users receive five Deep Research queries per month, while paid subscribers get expanded access. This Deep Research feature is designed to perform in-depth, multi-step investigations using public web data and generates detailed reports, complete with citations and a summary of its research methodology, making it a valuable asset for anyone seeking trustworthy information. Recommended read:
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Ken Yeung@Ken Yeung
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References:
Ken Yeung
, Salesforce
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Salesforce research indicates a rising consumer interest in AI agents that extends beyond mere productivity tools. Everyday users are increasingly eager to utilize AI agents for personalized support in their daily lives, highlighting a significant opportunity for businesses. The study has identified four key consumer personas, including "Smarty Pants," "Minimalists," "Life-Hackers," and "Tastemakers," each with distinct expectations and desires regarding AI agent functionalities. This information is crucial for businesses aiming to design AI agents that resonate with their target audiences.
Vala Afshar, Salesforce’s chief digital evangelist, emphasized the asymmetric nature of the AI conversation, noting that while much focus has been placed on business efficiency and optimization, the consumer perspective has been comparatively overlooked. The Salesforce survey of 2,552 U.S. consumers offers compelling insights for organizations looking to inform their product development and marketing strategies. The research reveals that consumers value personalized, proactive, and conversational experiences provided by AI agents. One of the standout findings from the Salesforce report shows that 65% of respondents expressed interest in tools that help them make better decisions and simplify their lives. The "Smarty Pants" persona, representing 43% of respondents, particularly values detailed and well-presented analyses to aid in confident and strategic decision-making. Salesforce’s research underscores the growing importance of the customer experience, suggesting it could become a make-or-break factor for brands as consumers increasingly expect personalized and supportive AI interactions. Recommended read:
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