Beginners in AI

Thank you for joining us again!

Welcome to this week's edition of Beginners in AI, where we explore the latest trends, tools, and news in the world of AI and the tech that surrounds it.

This week, we check out how Niantic is leveraging Pokémon Go data to build geospatial mapping, explore the rise of an "AI Jesus" taking confessions, and learn how Amazon's massive AI investment is reshaping Alexa. From free AI training for educators to Microsoft’s voice-cloning feature in Teams, there's plenty to uncover. Plus, we spotlight the world’s fastest humanoid robot and break down what neural networks are.

Ready to explore? Let’s get started!

AI TOP STORY
MAPPING THE FUTURE WITH POKÉMON GO
Niantic Uses Pokémon Go Data to Train AI Model

What’s Happening? Niantic, the company behind Pokémon Go, is leveraging data from its users to build advanced geospatial AI models. This data helps refine maps, enhance augmented reality (AR) experiences, and improve navigation in apps.

Why This Matters: Niantic’s approach highlights how consumer activity in games can generate invaluable datasets for broader technological innovations. Pokémon Go had millions of people(232 million at its height) roaming the streets of their cities looking at their phone to locate the fantasy creatures tied to different coordinates in the real world, leading to entertainment for themselves and onlookers trying to figure out what they were up to.

The Bottom Line: One the one hand, this could lead to more immersive AR experiences and even better geospatial tech for applications like autonomous driving or enhanced city planning. On the other, the implication here is that if a video game about catching fantasy creatures is using player data to train its AI, nothing is off limits. Read More

PAST WEEK IN AI AND TECH

"AI Jesus": Confessions from the Cloud

A church in Switzerland now features an AI-powered "Jesus" exhibition capable of taking confessions from churchgoers. While innovative, it raises questions about spirituality in the age of automation, what involvement churches should have with modern technology and if AI will ever be capable of answering questions about the divine and the afterlife. Read More

Alexa’s Brain Boost

Amazon’s partnership with Anthropic promises a smarter, more conversational Alexa. Anthropic created Claude(AI), which will power Alexa.The $4 billion investment aims to integrate advanced AI into Amazon’s ecosystem, setting the stage for Alexa to compete against OpenAI’s ChatGPT and the upgraded Siri from Apple once that is released. Amazon, by their own reckoning, supports 96% of AI unicorns(companies valued at a billion or more) and is well positioning to benefit from any AI advances. Read More

Clone Yourself in Teams Calls

Microsoft is introducing a feature in Teams that lets users clone their voices for meetings. Speakers who are using a different language can have their voice translated and relayed back using AI, creating an almost instant, seamless translation. Almost like the universal translator device popularized by Star Trek. Read More

AI in the Classroom: Free Training for Educators and Students

OpenAI and Common Sense Media are offering free training resources for edutors to navigate AI in schools. This program aims to empower teachers with the knowledge to integrate AI effectively in classrooms. Read More

TECH TERMS TO KNOW

Neural Network: a type of artificial intelligence modeled after the human brain. They consist of layers of nodes (neurons) that process data and "learn" patterns to make predictions or decisions.

Example Uses: Neural networks are behind technologies like facial recognition, natural language processing(ChatGPT), and voice assistants(Siri, Alexa).

TOOL SPOTLIGHT (non-sponsored)

Pickle AI is an innovative platform that introduces an AI-powered "clone" technology for virtual meetings, allowing users to maintain their presence in calls even when they are unavailable or need a break. In the image above, the man in the car is on a video call, speaking and having a conversation while his avatar in the business suit is all the other people on the call will see.

The software enables users to have an AI avatar that can step in during meetings, ensuring continuity and participation when the real person cannot be physically or digitally present. Pickle aims to redefine digital communication and connectivity, providing flexibility for professionals who need to manage their time and meeting commitments more dynamically. Or who don’t want to change out of their pajamas.

COURSE
Join the growing community of AI enthusiasts starting from the ground up right here

ROBOTICS AND AI: 400% FASTER HUMANOID ROBOT

Humanoid Robot Figure 02 Speeds Past Competition

A cutting-edge humanoid robot, Figure 02, is making waves with speeds 400% faster than its predecessor, named Figure 01. This development represents a leap in robotic agility and practical applications for industries like logistics and manufacturing. The robot weighs 154 pounds, can work for 5 hours with a battery pack located in its torso for greater balance, and is 5 feet 4 inches tall, making it safe to carry around and in the event it falls on or near a human.

With speed and precision like this, robots like Figure 02 could soon become a mainstay in high-demand tasks requiring both dexterity and efficiency around the job site and the home. It uses multiple cameras and sensors to perceive their environment, obstacle avoidance, and hand-eye coordination. They even have onboard AI models, including those developed with OpenAI, to process sensory input to understand the environment and plan actions.
Read More

TRY THIS PROMPT (copy and paste) 🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄

I need help creating a detailed holiday shopping list. Here's what I want to include:

1. A list of people I'm shopping for (I'll provide their names and interests).
2. Gift ideas for each person with a brief explanation of why the gift fits.

3. A comparison of prices for each gift item across popular online stores (like Amazon, Walmart, or Target).
An estimated total budget and suggestions for cost-saving alternatives if necessary.

Can you organize this in a clear and readable table format?

DID YOU KNOW?

Did you know that CAPTCHA, those tests to "prove you're not a robot," stands for "Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart"? They were created in 2000 to prevent bots from spamming websites. Ironically, they were used to help train AI using the input from humans in labeling the items on screen and modern AI is now better at solving CAPTCHAs than most humans!

AI-GENERATED IMAGE OF THE WEEK

Thank you for reading. We’re all beginners in something. With that in mind, your questions and feedback are always welcome and I read every single email!

-James

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