Apple’s Chinese AI app purge

Today we are covering…

❌ Apple’s AI app purge ahead of China’s gen AI crackdown

⚠️ AI can mess with high-earning jobs: Report

🍕 How food and beverage brands tap into NFTs

Did you read this newsletter from anywhere that’s not your inbox?

Hello everyone! We are launching a brand new newsletter covering the ins and outs of how emerging technologies like AI, web3, and VR are transforming the gaming industry.

Subscribe to metaverse gaming!

Apple’s AI app purge ahead of China’s gen AI crackdown [Link]

Apple has reportedly removed 100+ generative AI apps from the Chinese version of the Apple App Store, as new rules prohibiting AI models from generating content considered subversive go into effect in China.

The inside details:

• The country’s strict new regulations go after “subversive” speech generated by ChatGPT-style chatbots.

• The restrictions officially come into effect on Aug 15, prohibiting content that appears to question state power.

• The penalty? The product in question will be censored and potentially shut down.

Apple, in a letter it sent to developers and consequently shared on X (formerly Twitter) by ChatGPT client OpenCat, said the apps’ removal was due to their inclusion of “content that is illegal in China.” Some of the reportedly removed apps include popular apps such as Spark, ChatGAi Plus, OpenCat, and ChatbotAI.

AI can mess with high-earning jobs: Report [Link]

Some 1 in 5 Americans are likely to have their job with “high exposure” to AI - although the jury is still out on whether AI would enhance or displace their jobs, according to a new report from the Pew Research Center.

The sobering findings include:

• 19% of US workers are in jobs with high exposure to AI, the term “exposure” used as it remains unclear whether the effect will be positive or negative. The high-exposure group includes budget analysts, data entry keyers, tax preparers, technical writers, and web developers.

• Workers with the most exposure to AI tools like ChatGPT tend to be women, white or Asian, higher earners and have a college degree.

• Conversely, 23% of US workers have low exposure to AI, including barbers, dishwashers, firefighters, pipelayers, nannies and other child care workers, and those who tend to perform physical activities that AI can’t easily replicate with its current capabilities. The remaining 58% have varying AI exposure.

Experts warn that those who will likely “lose out” largely include workers substituted by technology and are directly replaced by machines.

How food and beverage brands tap into NFTs [Link]

NFTs can be valuable based on rarity and popularity, some selling for millions. In the food industry, NFTs are gaining traction due to the need for transparency and traceability to ensure quality and safety for consumers, retailers, and regulators.

Current use cases include:

• Pizza Hut Canada launched an NFT-based digital pizza collection, 1 Byte Favorites, featuring popular options like Hawaiian, pepperoni, Canadian, and margherita flavors. The NFTs sold out quickly, serving as a promotional campaign to promote their pan pizzas and engage customers.

• Papa John' launched the Hot Bags collection of NFTs to promote their new segment, Papa John's X Cheddar. These NFTs were minted on the Tezos blockchain with the numbers representing the company's founding year (1984).

While NFTs offer unique ownership opportunities and VR integration, technical complexities and limited awareness among smaller producers remain as challenges for wider adoption in the F&B space.

Roundup: AI developments on our radar

• Microsoft Teams has introduced new AI-powered Copilot capabilities, enabling users to make and receive calls with real-time summarization and insights. Additionally, the AI can synthesize key information from chat threads, enhancing the user experience for those in the Microsoft 365 Copilot Early Access Program.

• AI chatbots generate large amounts of text efficiently but remain prone to hallucinations, where they falsely generate information, according to a new study. And the problem might not be correctable at all: The weakness is baked into the LLM itself, and the "hallucinations" might be diminished in future iterations but aren’t likely to be permanently fixed, thus the risk of failure.

• The FBI has raised concerns about criminals using open-source gen AI programs to develop malicious activities like malware and phishing attacks. Cybercriminals are exploiting AI to refine and deploy scams, while terrorists are using the tech to devise more potent chemical attacks. The FBI has been engaging in discussions with AI companies to address these issues.

Quick Hits

🎮 Gaming

• The Yuga Labs and Roar Studios mega-merger envisions an extraordinary metaverse. (Link)

• Bandai Namco levels up with AI virtual pet NFT game launch. (Link)

• Conductive AI’s new platform hits the scene for improved developer-player engagement. (Link)

• Lenovo leaps into gaming with the new Ultimate handheld gaming device. (Link)

• Web3 game Mojo Melee enters Amazon Prime Gaming with an epic launch. (Link)

• Gala Games and Elixir Games Launcher unite to expand web3 gaming reach. (Link)

• VR sensation: Local teens craft an extraordinary gaming experience. (Link)

🕶 Fashion

• Fashion meets gaming: Lifestyle brand Hurley expands into the metaverse with an NFT-integrated game. (Link)

• Luxury powerhouse LVMH sets sights on metaverse domination - will it triumph? (Link)

• Meet Imma, Japan’s hottest AI fashion icon gone viral. (Link)

• Asos and Rokt’s recent collaboration offers exciting AI-driven post-purchase perks. (Link)

• Italian streetwear brand Garment Workshop bets on AI as it ties up with AI startup Double Avatars. (Link)

• Virtual thrift shops are on the rise in e-commerce. (Link)

🏀 Sports

• The NFT World Cup 2023 incorporates the WAX blockchain, attracting a robust gaming community and expanding the tournament’s reach. (Link)

• AI takes the field after Six Nations rugby trials this AI solution. (Link)

• Is AI capable of reshaping Kenyan football? (Link)

• Muhammad Ali springs to life in a mobile game’s special limited edition. (Link)

• Next-Level sports broadcasts made possible by new AI cameras for the Nigeria Professional Football League. (Link)

🎥 Media & Entertainment

• An NY bill wants to ensure rights for writers and actors against AI threats. (Link)

• Gaming outshines movies and music, claims throne as a leading entertainment sector. (Link)

• K11 and Azuki launch digital delights with their 1st-ever web3 mooncakes collab. (Link)

• AI sensation Milla Sofia’s persona garners global media attention. (Link)

• Twitter grants users control to hide blue check marks via paid membership. (Link)

• Google Search upgrades and now includes related videos and images. (Link)

🖼 Art

• New York artist Harvey Rayner amazes with Quasi-Dragon creations. (Link)

• Symbiogenesis and Million Arthur’s Square Enix’s NFT journey continues. (Link)

• Digital artist Beeple invests big in $208K NFT. (Link)

• Yue Minjun leads the charge with his web3 NFT debut. (Link)

• Create NFTs with ease: Binance introduces Bixel AI generator. (Link)

• Cohart’s marketplace opens doors to all kinds of art lovers. (Link)

🤖 AI

• Google AI researchers make music from the brain’s reaction to songs. (Link)

• An affordable, programmable robotic arm designed to paint furniture? (Link)

• Inside Meta’s open-source AI music creation process inspired by text prompts. (Link)

• Aussie evangelist Nick Vujicic taps AI and digital media to share the gospel. (Link)

• Windows 11 beta testers get access to Microsoft’s AI-infused sidebar. (Link)

• Grammarly launches new features to help students and workers use AI responsibly. (Link)

💸 Funding & Partnerships

• Tenstorrent secures $100M funding with support from Hyundai Motor Group and Samsung investment fund for AI chip development. (Link)

• Inworld AI raises $50M round at a $500M valuation for AI game characters. (Link)

• AI crypto signals platform yPredict secures $3.2M in funding. (Link)

• Dentsu Group partners with Microsoft to deliver secure access to Azure OpenAI tech. (Link)

• Terminal 3 raises pre-seed funding for decentralized user data infrastructure. (Link)

—

All content on this newsletter is for informational purposes only and does not aim to serve as or replace expert investment advice.

📈 If you are a startup building in the metaverse / web3 ecosystem and are raising capital, please reach out to Sfermion. Sfermion is an investment firm focused on accelerating the emergence of the metaverse 📈

Stay informed via our Twitter and Subscribe here to get your metaverse news every day.