Good morning! This is your daily ☕️ Techpresso.
On this day, 18 years ago, Apple launched its first Intel-powered iMac and MacBook Pro, marking a pivotal shift that allowed Macs to run Windows software and broadened their appeal to a wider audience.
In today's Techpresso:
🔋 AI discovers a new material in record time
🐇 Rabbit R1: a new AI-powered gadget that can mimic human app usage
🎥 Microsoft’s latest model pushes the bar in AI video
🍎 China claims it has cracked Apple Airdrop’s encryption to identify senders
🎙️ Actors can start selling AI voice clones to game companies under new deal
🎁 + 9 other news you might like
🔮 + 3 handpicked research papers and tools
🔋 AI discovers a new material in record timeLINK
Researchers used AI to create a new battery material, using 70% less lithium, which could alleviate environmental and cost issues associated with lithium mining. The AI system evaluated over 23.6 million candidate materials for the battery's electrolyte, ultimately identifying a promising new composition that replaces some lithium atoms with sodium, offering a novel approach to battery design. The project was completed in just nine months from initial concept to a working prototype.
🐇 Rabbit R1: a new AI-powered gadget that can mimic human app usageLINK
Rabbit has launched the r1, an AI companion designed to perform a wide variety of digital tasks using a new operating system, rabbit OS.
The r1 device simplifies online activities without storing personal data, offering robust security and seamless integration across apps and platforms.
Unveiled at CES 2024, the r1 features a retro-inspired design, standalone functionality with internet connectivity, and prioritizes user privacy.
🎥 Microsoft’s latest model pushes the bar in AI videoLINK
Microsoft has released DragNUWA, a new video generation model that combines text, image, and trajectory-based inputs to allow for highly controllable and detailed video production. With this model, users gain the ability to specify detailed aspects like camera movements and object motion in video content, utilizing a blend of images, text prompts, and defined trajectories for creating highly controlled outputs. The model has been released in its early version on Hugging Face.
🍎 China claims it has cracked Apple Airdrop’s encryption to identify sendersLINK
Chinese state experts claim to crack Apple's AirDrop, identifying users involved in pro-democracy activities and spreading government-critical leaflets. The 'Beijing Wangshen Dongjian Institute' reportedly accessed AirDrop's encrypted data, revealing user phone numbers and emails, with arrest details unclear. In response, Apple restricted AirDrop sharing in China to a 10-minute window, aligning with China's extensive digital surveillance and censorship practices.
🎙️ Actors can start selling AI voice clones to game companies under new dealLINK
SAG-AFTRA, representing actors and voice/motion-capture game performers, has signed a deal with AI firm Replica Studios to regulate AI voice technology in video games, allowing the creation of digital voice doubles with actor consent. The agreement ensures informed consent and fair compensation for actors, amidst concerns over AI's impact on their careers, following a 118-day strike. The deal specifically involves Replica and doesn't cover large language models used by companies like Ubisoft and Tencent.
Other news you might like
AI-driven misinformation ‘biggest short-term threat to global economy’.LINK
The SEC's Twitter account hack led to false Bitcoin ETF approval claims, causing market fluctuation and raising platform security concerns.LINK
Twitch CEO announces over 500 job cuts, reflecting 35% of its staff, amid wider Amazon layoffs and restructuring.LINK
Apple says its new Vision Pro isn't VR or AR, it's 'spatial computing'.LINK
Humane announces 10 layoffs as CTO ‘transitions’ into advisor role.LINK
Valve opens the door to more Steam games developed with AI.LINK
Amazon faces a surge of scammy AI-generated book summaries, misleading customers and infringing on real authors' works, despite platform restrictions.LINK
HP faces a lawsuit claiming it forced printer firmware updates, blocking cheaper third-party ink and promoting a costly ink monopoly.LINK
Tier and Dott, key players in the European micromobility market, are merging to scale operations and strive for profitability amidst industry challenges.LINK
Latest research and tools
Mariposa: a programming language that allows developers to move through different states of their code like traveling in time.LINK
Atuin: replaces your shell history with a more powerful SQLite database for better management and searchability.LINK
MoE-Mamba: the paper presents a method that combines different models to improve predictions in systems that change over time.LINK
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