Mark Zuckerberg’s thoughts on Vision Pro

Today we are covering…

🥽 How Mark Zuckerberg reacted to Apple Vision Pro

🤖 Samsung’s AI services for employees

🛋️ IKEA’s AI-aided foldable flat-pack sofa

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How Mark Zuckerberg reacted to Apple Vision Pro [Link]

The gist of it is the Meta CEO is unfazed by Apple’s recent high-profile launch of the Vision Pro.

In a company-wide Meta meeting, he dubs the headset as something that “could be the vision of the future of computing, but like, it’s not the one that I want.”

A few choice words from Zuckerberg:

• Meta’s upcoming Quest 3 headset will be much cheaper at $499 compared to the Vision Pro’s $3,499 price tag, opening up a wider user base.

• The Apple announcement “showcases the difference in the values and the vision that our companies bring to this in a way that I think is really important.”

• The vision shown by Apple of people sitting on the couch by themselves goes against Meta’s “vision for the metaverse” where “presence is fundamentally social,” emphasizing that the Quest is about “people interacting in new ways and feeling closer.”

While Meta has found early success in VR gaming and fitness, it’s struggling to satisfy the higher-end and general computing market that Apple is chasing after, with the Quest Pro mostly failing in 2022.

Samsung’s AI services for employees [Link]

Samsung Electronics reportedly plans to roll out an in-house AI-based service for its own staff amid security concerns raised over ChatGPT.

The key details from sources:

• Co-CEO Kyung Kye-hyun, who oversees Samsung’s chip division, recently unveiled the plan at a lecture attended by employees.

• Kyung pinpointed a large language model (LLM) to support workers’ tasks, with plans around launching the basic service in December and a more integrated one in February2024.

• The AI-based system will support 9 areas including automatic response for product purchases and cost management; knowledge search and data analysis for chip production; and translation, transcribing minutes of internal meetings, along with other administration tasks.

This development comes on the heels of the company’s DS division finding misuse cases, with engineers uploading sensitive company information, including source codes and meeting of the minutes, on ChatGPT for work. It has since limited the use of external generative AI tools.

Meta’s AI-focused tools and the raging debate on AI pause

Meta gives its employees a preview of upcoming products during an all-hands meeting at its headquarters in Menlo Park. Among the new offerings are:

• ChatGPT-like chatbots for Messenger and WhatsApp, capable of conversing using different personas

• New Instagram features that allow users to modify photos via text prompts and create emoji stickers for messaging services

Meta has faced identity and financial issues since rebranding and shifting focus to the metaverse. CEO Mark Zuckerberg appears to shift priorities in favor of AI integration while restructuring AI divisions and infrastructure, although he publicly notes that they remain committed to both AI and the metaverse.

Meanwhile, The Future of Life Institute releases an open letter, signed by tech titans Elon Musk and Steve Wozniak, calling for a halt in AI research on models larger than GPT-4, and suggesting governments should impose a moratorium if not done promptly.

Palantir CEO Alex Karp opposes the research pause, asserting that those who support it lack product experience in AI and that ceasing research could grant adversaries a competitive edge in both commercial and military arenas.

IKEA’s AI-aided foldable flat-pack sofa [Link]

IKEA's design lab, SPACE10, through a collaboration with design and tech firm Panter & Tourron, reveals its AI-driven innovation called Couch in an Envelope.

The reimagined couch defies the conventions of traditional couch designs with its features:

• Lightweight, weighing just 22 pounds

• Environment-friendly, incorporating an aluminum frame and cellulose-based fabrics

• Fully compostable and biodegradable, reducing its environment impact

• Assembly requires no tools or screws, ensuring a hassle-free setup

• Prioritizes comfort, featuring adjustable "wings" that can be raised or lowered to comfortably accommodate 2-3 persons

Georgina McDonald, creative and partnerships at SPACE10, shares their vision:

"The project is an agenda for change. To inspire designers to challenge other outdated archetypes and move towards designs that are lighter and more sustainable. Better for people and the planet."

Quick Hits

🎮 Gaming

• Cyan Worlds sees pushback from players after its new adventure game Firmament gets developed using help from AI. (Link)

• What diversity? Summer Game Fest gets all the hype, yet doesn’t feature a single woman onstage. (Link)

• Fortnite trailers gets “wild” in its new trailer, and features Optimus Prime. (Link)

• Mino Games unveils Dimensionals, a new gaming franchise featuring the 1st character-driven RPG to use AI for unscripted character interactions and real-time, shareable mods. (Link)

• Discover Life Beyond, a science fiction adventure set in a spatial metaverse where players build a civilization on the remote planet Dolos. (Link)

• Branching into more genres in search of new audiences, Laguna Games rolls out Unicorn Party, a series of casual games based on its Crypto Unicorn web3 games. (Link)

• The upcoming simulator Ships At Sea offers new and expanded features, brand-new gameplay mechanics, and a multiplayer mode. (Link)

🕶 Fashion

• The British Fashion Council issues a call to arms as the industry faces a wealth of issues, including making a renewed focus on web3. (Link)

• H&M doubles its Global Change Awards (GCA) grant amount and winners to transform fashion, including supporting digital and AI-driven industry startups. (Link)

• Meet Nigeria’s first virtual influencer, Mojirade. (Link)

• High street retailer Weekday steps into the digital realm with The Fabricant, releasing a pair of sunglasses in two colourways. (Link)

• In India, upcoming beauty brand SOEZI taps into AI models. (Link)

🏀 Sports

• The league introduces 3D goal recreations in NHL Blast on Roblox. (Link)

• How does AI enhance performance and strategy in sports? (Link)

• Mercedes-Benz drops 1K unique NFTs on June 7, each of which depicting the theme of velocity and fast-moving car wheels. (Link)

• NBA legend Wilt Chamberlain’s voice is recreated by AI in his documentary series from Showtime Sports. (Link)

• Golf legend Lorie Kane is new brand ambassador to Xonic Golf, whose AI golf App Xonic iTQTM is shaping the future for amateur golfers. (Link)

• Web3 app Locker Token enhances fan engagement by allowing fans to collect and invest in Oshawa Generals’ NFT memorabilia. (Link)

🎥 Media & Entertainment

• Meta develops Project 92 or Threads, a new social media app based on Instagram integrating with ActivityPub protocol. (Link)

• Apollo, a popular Reddit app for iOS, is shutting down due to increased API costs. (Link)

• VIP Entertainment establishes a metaverse and web3 advisory board to strategize and implement free-to-play and for-profit gaming in the metaverse. (Link)

• Horror movie legend John Carpenter is making a new zombie game. (Link)

• Metaverse K-pop girl group Aespa throws the first pitch for the New York Yankees. (Link)

• Fans can't get enough of the AI song used in the announcement of new Liverpool player Alexis Mac Allister. (Link)

• The Clay Nation x The Sandbox brings Sonic Sands, an immersive world of music, collectibles, and creativity to users. (Link)

🖼 Art

• NFT marketplace Foundation launches Dynamic Pricing, an auction-facilitating process for creators and collectors. (Link)

• Justin Aversano, creator of Twin Flames NFT project, unveils Smoke and Mirrors, a series blending photography, painting, mysticism, healing, and blockchain. (Link)

• Emily Xie explores the relationship between textile and tech in a LACMA solo exhibition. (Link)

• 67% of newly created Ethereum NFTs are showing a positive ROI, per a Nansen report. (Link)

• US crypto exchange Kraken launches NFT marketplace with over 250 NFTs across multiple blockchains. (Link)

• Auction houses thrive on Asian millennials’ art-buying power. (Link)

🤖 AI

• Researchers at the University of Kansas develop a method to identify AI-generated academic writing - with 99% accuracy. (Link)

• Adobe Express now has simple AI generation via text prompts. (Link)

• Major Google Bard update allows it to not just write code, but execute it. (Link)

• Samsung Bespoke Jet AI is deemed as the electronics giant’s most powerful cordless stick vacuum to date. (Link)

• Ride hailing taxi app firm Uber debuts AI smart-charging features for London drivers in its sustainability push. (Link)

• Revenues of generative AI tech offerings are predicted to reach $3.7B in 2023 and expand to $36B by 2028 at a CAGR of 58%. (Link)

💸 Funding & Partnerships

• AI startup Cohere raises funds valued at $2.2B. (Link)

• Lens Protocol raises $15M to expand decentralized social media. (Link)

• HyperPlay raises $12M to accelerate web3 game launcher. (Link)

• Forkast Labs and The Sandbox join forces in a global partnership to index the metaverse. (Link)

• Stockholm-based blockchain tech firm ChromaWay acquires Swedish-American fashion brand BLK DNM. (Link)

• Perfect Corp. partners with Parfums Christian Dior to launch online consultation with AR makeup virtual try-on experience. (Link)

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