🏢 Meta Connect 2024 - Zuckerberg to Unveil AI Innovations and Next-Gen Hardware👓

Tech Insights AI 0019, Thursday 26th September 2024

🏢 Meta Connect 2024 - Zuckerberg to Unveil AI Innovations and Next-Gen Hardware👓

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is set to take center stage at the highly anticipated Meta Connect event, scheduled for this Wednesday and Thursday. The two-day conference promises to showcase cutting-edge technologies that will shape the future of human interaction and computing

AI Advancements

Zuckerberg is expected to reveal significant upgrades to Meta's AI systems, building on last year's introduction of AI Personas for WhatsApp and Instagram. Industry insiders anticipate the unveiling of more advanced AI chatbot capabilities, further integrating artificial intelligence into Meta's ecosystem

Hardware Innovations

• Meta Quest Headsets The event is likely to feature the next generation of Meta's virtual and mixed reality hardware. Speculation is rife about potential updates to the Meta Quest line, with some expecting details on the Meta Quest 3S headset

• Smart Glasses Zuckerberg is poised to introduce enhancements to Meta's smart glasses, developed in collaboration with Ray-Ban. These wearables are expected to incorporate new AI features, blending style with cutting-edge technology

• Project Orion Rumors suggest that Zuckerberg may unveil a groundbreaking pair of glasses codenamed "Orion." These glasses are said to feature advanced augmented reality capabilities, potentially overlaying computer-generated images onto the real world

Developer Focus

Meta Connect isn't just about consumer products. The event will also cater to developers, offering insights into Meta's vision for the future of technology platforms. This focus underscores Meta's commitment to fostering a robust ecosystem around its products and services

Livestream and Keynote

Tech enthusiasts worldwide can tune in to the livestreamed keynote address from Silicon Valley, where Zuckerberg will personally introduce the latest gadgets and upgrades. This presentation is expected to provide a comprehensive look at Meta's strategy for shaping the next era of computing and human connection

🔊 OpenAI Unveils Advanced Voice Mode for ChatGPT, Revolutionizing 🤖 AI Interactions

OpenAI has launched an innovative Advanced Voice Mode for ChatGPT, marking a significant leap in AI-human interaction. This cutting-edge feature is now available to ChatGPT Plus and Team users on iOS and Android mobile apps, version 1.2024.261 or later

Advanced Voice Mode leverages GPT-4o's native audio capabilities, enabling more natural, real-time conversations that can pick up on non-verbal cues and respond with emotion. This groundbreaking update allows users to engage in spoken dialogues with ChatGPT, creating a more immersive and intuitive experience

Key features of the Advanced Voice Mode include:

1. Nine lifelike output voices, each with distinct personalities

2. Background conversation support for multitasking

3. Daily usage limits to ensure responsible AI interaction

4. Enhanced privacy controls and data sharing options

While Standard Voice Mode remains available to all signed-in ChatGPT users, the Advanced Voice Mode offers a premium experience with its ability to understand context and nuance in spoken language

⚙️10,000 GPUs in 24 Months - 🇮🇳India's Audacious Plan to Dominate the AI Race

Ever wondered what it takes to supercharge a nation's AI capabilities? India has the answer, and it's not just ambitious—it's revolutionary.

The Power Play

In a bold move to catapult India into the AI big leagues, the government is set to procure a staggering 10,000 GPUs within the next 18-24 months

This isn't just about keeping up with global trends; it's about leapfrogging into the future of technology.

NVIDIA Joins India's AI Journey

NVIDIA tech giant, is now part of India's AI push. Jensen Huang, who started NVIDIA and leads it as CEO, has shared ideas on how AI can help solve India's big problems. In a key meeting last August, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnav sat down with important NVIDIA folks. These included Vishal Dhupar, who manages NVIDIA's business in South Asia, Nitiraj Singh, who heads strategic business, and Ganesh Mahbala, a director in strategic business at NVIDIA. This meetup shows how serious both India and NVIDIA are about working together on AI.

Why This Matters

• 🚀Startup Boost: This initiative aims to democratize access to high-powered computing for startups, potentially unleashing a wave of innovation

• 🤝Public-Private Synergy: The procurement will be executed through a public-private partnership, ensuring both sectors have skin in the game

• 📈AI Ecosystem Growth: With a Rs 10,372 crore allocation over five years, India is laying the groundwork for a robust AI ecosystem

The Bigger Picture

S Krishnan, Secretary of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, emphasized the development of India-centric AI foundation models

This isn't just about raw computing power—it's about crafting AI that understands and serves India's unique needs.

🌍 Key 12 AI Titans - A Global Perspective

The list, curated by Tortoise Media, showcases a diverse group of innovators and leaders from various countries and sectors

Academic Powerhouses

• Fei-Fei Li, known as 'the godmother of AI,' has launched World Labs, a new AI startup that's already secured billions in investments

• Yann LeCun, Meta's head AI scientist, is championing open-source AI development, bucking the trend of proprietary models

Government and Policy Shapers

• Elizabeth Kelly, director of the US Artificial Intelligence Safety Institute, played a crucial role in drafting Biden's AI executive order

• Zhang Linghan, a key figure in China's AI law development, also sits on the UN High-Level Advisory Body on AI

Industry Disruptors

• Bhavish Aggarwal founded India's first AI unicorn, OlaKrutrim

• Arthur Mensch leads Mistral AI, France's national AI champion challenging American and Chinese counterparts

Middle Eastern Influencers

• Yasir Al-Rumayyan, governor of Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, is spearheading massive investments in AI and related technologies

• Faisal Al Bannai, from the UAE's Advanced Technology Research Council, oversaw the development of the Falcon language models

Emerging Trends and Focus Areas

The list also highlights key areas of focus in the AI landscape

• AI safety and ethics, with Geoffrey Irving leading research at the UK AI Safety Institute

• Environmental impact of AI, with Sasha Luccioni's groundbreaking work on the carbon footprint of large language models

• Advancements in AI capabilities, exemplified by Dario Amodei's Anthropic and their powerful Claude 3.5 Sonnet model

This insightful compilation by Tortoise Media offers a snapshot of the current AI landscape and the individuals driving its evolution. As the field continues to advance rapidly, these 12 names are certainly ones to watch in the coming years.

Credit for this scoop goes to Tortoise Media and their article "Key people in AI: 12 names to watch in artificial intelligence,"

🤖 Digital Workers - The Next Frontier in AI-Powered ⚙️ Automation

The rise of digital workers powered by artificial intelligence is ushespecializedew era of automation in the business world. Several startups have recently secured significant funding to develop AI-driven digital employees that can handle various tasks traditionally performed by human workers.

11x, a startup creating AI-powered digital workers for sales and marketing operations, recently raised $24 million in Series A funding led by Benchmark. The company's digital workers, like Alice (an AI Sales Development Representative) and Jordan (an AI phone rep for lead qualification), aim to automate prospecting, multi-channel engagement, and personalization at scale.

Similarly, Artisan has developed an AI Business Development Representative named Ava, designed to automate outbound sales workflows. The company positions itself as building the future of software with AI employees called Artisans. Arisan raised $7.6 Million earlier this year

AiSDR is another player in this space, offering AI-powered sales automation for outreach. Their AI SDR can analyze LinkedIn posts, engage in personalized conversations, and handle various aspects of the sales process autonomously. AiSDR had raised €2.7M back in December 2023.

This trend is reminiscent of the "Uber economy" that emerged following Uber's launch, where companies like Lyft, DoorDash, Deliveroo, and Careem sprang up in different regions or the same country of origin. The digital worker space could potentially see a similar boom, with opportunities for entrepreneurs to replicate and adapt these concepts for different markets or industries.

As AI technology continues to advance, we may witness the emergence of an entire ecosystem of digital worker startups catering to various business functions and regional needs. This could lead to increased efficiency and productivity across industries, while also raising important questions about the future of work and the role of human employees.

For investors and entrepreneurs, this emerging trend presents an opportunity to get in on the ground floor of what could be the next major shift in how businesses operate. However, it's crucial to consider the ethical implications and potential societal impacts of widespread adoption of AI-powered digital workers.

As this space evolves, we can expect to see further innovations, more specialized digital workers, and potentially new business models built around the concept of AI employees.