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Does AI know you better than you do? 🤯

Apple Intelligence: genius or gimmick?

Welcome back! Taco Bell is turning up the heat with a new recipe: AI-powered drive-thrus. The chain’s parent company, Yum Brands, is rolling out AI ordering in hundreds of locations by the end of 2024 to reduce labor costs and speed up service, joining the ranks of Wendy’s and White Castle. 

What do you think about AI taking your taco orders?

Meet Your New (AI) Friend

Friend

Imagine a Tamagotchi that texts back. Meet “Friend,” a new AI companion designed not to help you get things done but to be there for you—anytime, anywhere. Avi Schiffmann, the brains behind Friend, envisions it as a supportive, intelligent buddy you can carry around your neck or clip onto your clothes.

You got a friend in AI: In an age when AI is primarily seen as a productivity tool, Friend focuses on companionship. This highlights the growing trend of AI being integrated into our daily lives not just as assistants but as—well, friends.

Features at a glance:

  • Companion on the go: Friend is a round glowing orb with a built-in microphone. It records ambiently or can be spoken to directly, but it doesn’t talk back; it communicates via text through the Friend app.

  • Conversation starter: Talk to Friend about anything. It’s designed to be supportive and validating, a companion for those moments when you need to bounce ideas or just need a friendly presence.

A league of its own: Unlike productivity-focused AI tools from tech giants like Apple and Microsoft, Friend isn’t trying to be an all-seeing assistant. “No one is going to beat Apple or OpenAI at building Jarvis,” Schiffman says. Instead, Friend is a companion, a brainstorming buddy, and a source of emotional support.

What’s next for Friend: Friend is still in its early stages, with the first 30,000 devices set to ship in January for $99 each. Schiffmann also plans to enhance the device with more features, possibly including a camera.

Why it stands out: Friend is carving out its own niche, not competing directly with major tech players. By focusing on companionship rather than productivity, it offers a refreshing take on what AI can be in our lives. 

As Schiffmann puts it, “It’s a digital relationships company. That’s it.”

Is AMD Following in Nvidia’s Footsteps?

AMD is stepping up its game in the AI chip arena, aiming to follow the successful path of Nvidia. Known for its powerful CPUs and GPUs, AMD is making a significant shift in focus toward AI. The company’s Q2 2024 earnings report revealed nearly half of its sales now come from data center products, driven primarily by its AI chips.

By the numbers:

  • $1 billion: Sales of the AMD Instinct MI300 accelerator in a single quarter, a massive leap from its previous cumulative sales milestone

  • 115%: AMD’s data center segment’s rise in revenue, reflecting the growing demand for AI capabilities

Zooming out: Just like Nvidia, AMD is now focusing heavily on AI chip development, planning to release new models annually. While Nvidia still holds a significant lead, AMD’s aggressive push into the AI chip market suggests that the future of AI will be shaped not just by software advancements but also by the capabilities of the underlying hardware.

What’s next: As AMD continues to innovate and release new AI chips, the competition with Nvidia is likely to intensify, driving further advancements in AI technology. This could lead to faster improvements and more powerful AI solutions, benefiting industries and consumers alike.

NVIDIA Unveils a New Release

NVIDIA’s ChatRTX is widely used as a personalized GPT LLM that you’re able to connects to your own content.

With its latest version released just yesterday, there’s even more that makes ChatRTX the go-to personalized chatbot.

Now using the Electron + Material UI framework, ChatRTX offers a cleaner, more polished experience. This also makes it easier for developers to add their own UI elements or extend the tech’s functionality, as well as more seamlessly integrate different UIs. Check out this newly minted makeover.

Apple’s Latest iOS 18.1 and Apple (Un)Intelligence

Apple’s new AI suite, Apple Intelligence, is now available in the iOS 18.1 developer beta, but there are significant limitations. Only users with the latest devices and U.S. settings can access the new features.

Feature highlights:

  • Siri enhancements: Invoke Siri using text prompts and enjoy new animations

  • Writing tools: Proofread, rewrite, and adjust the tone of your text with options like Friendly, Professional, and Concise

  • Mail app upgrades: One-line email summaries and smart replies for quicker responses

  • Focus mode: AI-powered “Reduce Interruptions” mode to filter essential notifications

The big but: Despite these exciting features, the rollout is limited and requires users to join a waitlist. Moreover, many features like ChatGPT integration and Image Playground are still missing due to ongoing bug fixes.

Why it matters: Apple is known for pushing technological boundaries, but the limitations of this initial rollout raise questions about the practical utility of these features. With many key functionalities still under development and challenges integrating advanced AI into consumer devices, users may find the current offering underwhelming.

  • Your teeth and data could be in the hands of AI powered toothbrushes.

  • Runway unveils the faster video AI model Gen-3 Alpha Turbo.

  • Vimeo launches AI powered video translation with authentic voice cloning.

  • The era of Meta's celebrity AI chatbots is coming to an end.

  • OpenAI endorses a Senate bill that could shake up America’s AI policy.

  • AI development takes a leap with Activision's Call of Duty data.

It’s always a big week in AI. Want to catch up on the most major takeaways from last week? Follow along as I break down the hottest developments.

Will XR change the future of work? Join us as we unpack that very question and more on this week’s The Next Wave episode.

That’s a wrap for this week! And once again, we’re entering into a whole new world of AI. Imagine ordering a taco with AI for your AI Friend. What do you think of the future of human-machine interaction? Hit reply and let me know!

—Matt (FutureTools.io)

P.S. This newsletter is 100% written by a human. Okay, maybe 96%.