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Apple marches ahead on plans to launch AI table-top robot by 2027: Report

Apple marches ahead on plans to launch AI table-top robot by 2027: Report

by | Aug 16, 2024 | Technology


2 min read Last Updated : Aug 16 2024 | 12:03 PM IST


Apple is reportedly accelerating the development of a table-top robotic device. According to a Bloomberg report, Apple is working on a home device featuring an iPad-like screen connected to a robotic limb that can move and reposition the display. The device is expected to serve as a smart home command centre and could also function as a video conferencing tool.


The Bloomberg report indicates that the project, internally codenamed J595, was approved by Apple in 2022. The company is now intensifying development, aiming for a launch in 2026 or 2027. The project is reportedly led by Kevin Lynch, Apple’s vice-president of technology, who previously oversaw the self-driving car initiative.


The anticipated device will likely use actuators to tilt the display and enable it to spin 360 degrees. Currently in the early stages of development, the device is expected to run on a customised version of iPadOS. The final version is anticipated to be controlled by an updated version of Siri and incorporate Apple Intelligence features. According to the report, the device will respond to voice commands such as “Look at Me” to turn the display towards the speaker.


Apple is also working on additional smart home products. The report mentions that the company is developing robotic devices capable of moving around the user’s house. Additionally, a humanoid version of the smart robot has been discussed within the company. These projects are in the exploratory phase and are led by Hanns Wolfram Tappeiner, a robotics expert, with support from a team of over 100 engineers previously involved in the Apple Car project.


Beyond smart home devices, Apple is reportedly exploring ideas such as Augmented Reality (AR) glasses and a version of AirPods with built-in cameras and AI to assist users based on their surroundings.

First Published: Aug 16 2024 | 12:03 PM IST



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Google releases text-to-image AI generator tool 'Imagen 3' in US: Report

Google releases text-to-image AI generator tool 'Imagen 3' in US: Report

by | Aug 16, 2024 | Technology


2 min read Last Updated : Aug 16 2024 | 11:54 AM IST

Google has launched the latest version of its AI text-to-image generator, Imagen 3, to users in the US, according to technology website VentureBeat. The image generator tool is available through Google’s ImageFX platform and can be accessed on Google’s AI Test Kitchen. Imagen 3 was first announced during Google I/O in May and was previously available to select Vertex AI users only.


“Imagen 3 is our highest quality text-to-image model. It generates an incredible level of detail, producing photorealistic, lifelike images with far fewer distracting visual artifacts than our prior models,” said Google.


The upgraded AI image generator can create images based on user prompts. Users can also edit the image by highlighting an area and instructing the AI to make the desired changes. The tool has some restrictions, such as not generating images of public figures or weapons. Additionally, while it does not create images of named copyrighted characters, users may still work around this limitation by providing a description of the character they wish to create.


Google has also published a research paper explaining the technology. According to technology news website The Verge, some Reddit users were able to access Imagen 3 last week.


The launch of Google’s AI image generator coincides with the release of xAI’s competing AI system, Grok-2, in the same week. Previously, after users discovered that Google’s Gemini AI chatbot was producing historically incorrect images, Google paused Gemini’s image generation capabilities.

First Published: Aug 16 2024 | 11:54 AM IST



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Valve to challenge Microsoft with SteamOS for third-party handheld consoles

Valve to challenge Microsoft with SteamOS for third-party handheld consoles

by | Aug 16, 2024 | Technology


SteamOS on Steam Deck OLED

2 min read Last Updated : Aug 16 2024 | 10:53 AM IST


Valve, the American game developer and maker of the Steam Deck handheld gaming console, has confirmed that it is working on supporting SteamOS on third-party handheld consoles, including ASUS ROG Ally devices. With SteamOS coming to other handhelds, Valve poses a challenge to Microsoft, as most competitors to the Steam Deck run on its Windows platform.


In a community post detailing changes in the latest beta version of SteamOS, Valve announced that it has added support for “extra ROG Ally keys.” The company has also confirmed plans to allow other companies to use SteamOS on their devices. In a statement to The Verge, Valve designer Lawrence Yang said, “The note about ROG Ally keys is related to third-party device support for SteamOS. The team is continuing to work on adding support for additional handhelds on SteamOS.”


SteamOS is a Linux-based operating system currently running on Valve’s Steam Deck gaming console. While other handhelds, such as the Nintendo Switch line and PlayStation Portal, run on custom operating systems, the majority of handheld gaming consoles use the Microsoft Windows platform. This includes devices like the ASUS ROG Ally, ROG Ally X, MSI Claw, and Lenovo Legion Go.


With Valve confirming that it will allow third-party handhelds to run SteamOS, it now challenges Microsoft, which has yet to optimise the Windows platform for the growing handheld gaming console segment. Microsoft’s lack of interest has forced OEMs such as ASUS and Lenovo to build their own custom layers on top of the Windows platform to make the user interface more suitable for handheld devices.


In contrast, SteamOS has been specifically designed for handheld gaming consoles. Valve was among the first companies to produce current-generation handheld gaming devices, giving it the opportunity to fine-tune SteamOS for this form factor.


Microsoft is reportedly working on an Xbox handheld gaming console; however, it is unlikely that this console would run Windows. The anticipated Xbox handheld might feature its own interface, similar to SteamOS, or Microsoft could adopt a strategy similar to Sony’s by making the handheld a remote play device that works alongside traditional gaming consoles.

First Published: Aug 16 2024 | 10:53 AM IST



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Google expands AI-generated answers for search queries in 6 new countries

Google expands AI-generated answers for search queries in 6 new countries

by | Aug 15, 2024 | Technology


Google acknowledged the “odd and erroneous overviews” and announced updates to the product in a blog post in late May.

3 min read Last Updated : Aug 15 2024 | 9:51 PM IST


Google parent Alphabet said on Thursday it was expanding its AI-generated summaries for search queries to six new countries, just two months after it rolled back some capabilities following a problem-riddled launch.

 


The search giant made AI Overviews – which are displayed atop a search results page before traditional links to the Web – available to all US users in May after spending one year trialing a limited earlier version.

 


The feature was widely panned after screenshots of factually inaccurate answers circulated across the internet, such as a pizza recipe that listed glue as an ingredient and an answer wrongly stating that former US President Barack Obama is Muslim.

 


Google acknowledged the “odd and erroneous overviews” and announced updates to the product in a blog post in late May.

 


These updates added restrictions to which queries would display AI answers and curbed user-generated content from websites like Reddit from serving as source material for answers.

 


“I have enough evidence to say that quality is only improving,” Hema Budaraju, a senior director of product at Google, told Reuters in an interview on Wednesday.

 


She pointed to data Google collects internally, which showed that users with access to the feature reported higher levels of satisfaction and searched for longer, more specific queries than users who did not.

 


AI Overviews is now coming to the Brazil, India, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico and Britain, in local languages such as Portuguese and Hindi.

 


Google is also adding more hyperlinks to the feature.

 


Websites will be displayed to the right side of the AI-generated answer.

 


The company is also internally testing a further update that would add links directly within the text of the overview, part of an effort “prioritizing approaches that drive traffic to relevant websites,” it said in a Thursday blog post.

 


The updates come amid concerns the media industry has been voicing for more than a year about the possibility that the AI-generated search feature could cost media companies referral traffic to their sites. Budaraju said the new update would have a “three-way benefit” for Google, consumers and publishers.

 

Last week a US judge ruled Google had an illegal monopoly on search, clearing the way for a trial that could force the breakup of Alphabet. AI advances from rivals like Microsoft-backed OpenAI could pose an even bigger threat.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

First Published: Aug 15 2024 | 9:51 PM IST



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Tech wrap Aug 15: Samsung Circle to Search, WhatsApp GIPHY stickers, more

Tech wrap Aug 15: Samsung Circle to Search, WhatsApp GIPHY stickers, more

by | Aug 15, 2024 | Technology


4 min read Last Updated : Aug 15 2024 | 8:03 PM IST


Samsung has expanded the availability of its gesture-driven “Circle to Search” feature to more devices. The latest recipients include the Galaxy Tab S9 FE and Galaxy Tab S9 FE Plus tablets, as well as the Galaxy A55, Galaxy A54, Galaxy A35, and Galaxy A34 in the Galaxy A-series. Announcing the broader availability of the feature, Samsung stated that Circle to Search has evolved since its launch and now supports full-page translation, homework help, and QR and barcode scanning capabilities.


WhatsApp users can now access stickers from GIPHY directly within the app. WhatsApp has partnered with GIPHY to include searchable stickers, allowing users to find and send stickers from within the app. To access this new feature, simply tap on the sticker icon and search by typing or using an emoji.


Google has announced a price reduction for its previous-generation Pixel smartphones in India, following the launch of the Pixel 9 series. The prices have been revised for the Pixel 8 series models and the Pixel 7a smartphone. The Google Pixel 8 Pro with 256GB of on-board storage, initially launched at Rs 113,999, is now priced at Rs 106,999. The price of the Pixel 8a smartphone, launched in May this year, has also been reduced.


The Lenovo Legion Tab, a gaming tablet powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chip, is now available for purchase in India. Launched on August 13, the tablet is designed specifically for gamers, offering features that enhance performance and manage thermals during gaming sessions. Lenovo aims to bridge the gap between PC and mobile gaming with this Android tablet.


Apple is reportedly planning a significant overhaul of its iPhone lineup, starting from 2025. According to a Bloomberg report, Apple will introduce a new iPhone “Air” model in the iPhone 17 series next year, positioned between the standard iPhone and the Pro models. The report also mentioned that this year’s iPhone 16 will not feature a substantial upgrade over the current generation, with Apple Intelligence being the primary selling point for the new iPhones.


Microsoft is reportedly planning to launch its own portable virtual reality (VR) headset next year. According to a post on X, spotted by consumer technology publication Android Authority, Microsoft has signed a supply contract with Samsung Display to receive hundreds of thousands of micro-OLED panels for the mixed reality headset. The VR headset will reportedly be geared towards gaming and entertainment, rather than focusing on the metaverse.


Apple is reportedly planning to put its Apple Intelligence features behind a paywall in the future. According to a report by 9To5Google, citing Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple may eventually charge a fee for access to its suite of artificial intelligence (AI) features, called Apple Intelligence. However, the subscription model is not expected to be implemented during the initial rollout phase.


The Pad 2 is a second-generation Android tablet from China’s OnePlus. Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, the OnePlus Pad 2 appears to be a premium flagship tablet on paper, offered at a competitive price.


Facebook and Instagram parent Meta Platforms has shut down CrowdTangle, a tool widely used by researchers, watchdog organisations and journalists to monitor social media posts, notably to track how misinformation spreads on the company’s platforms.


Google is intensifying its focus on India with the introduction of advanced AI tools aimed at breaking down language barriers and enhancing agricultural practices, a senior company official said.

First Published: Aug 15 2024 | 8:03 PM IST



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'Work from home' culture hindered Google's ability to innovate: Ex-CEO

'Work from home' culture hindered Google's ability to innovate: Ex-CEO

by | Aug 15, 2024 | Technology


Google has struggled to maintain its lead against emerging AI companies. | Photo: Reuters

2 min read Last Updated : Aug 15 2024 | 5:49 PM IST


Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt has made a sensational claim regarding the search giant saying the company did not anticipate the early rise of ChatGPT and generative AI because its employees “prioritised working from home”. He also blamed Google’s lagging performance in the AI race on its prioritisation of work-life balance over competitive drive.


Speaking at Stanford University, Schmidt said, “Google decided that work-life balance and going home early and working from home was more important than winning,” Schmidt told students. “And the reason the startups work is because the people work like hell.”


Speaking about the intensity required to compete in the fast-paced tech industry, Schmidt, who led Google from 2001 to 2011, argued that allowing employees to work from home and maintaining flexible schedules hindered Google’s ability to innovate at the same rate as its more agile competitors. “I’m sorry to be so blunt, but the fact of the matter is, if you all leave the university and go start a company, you’re not going to let people work from home and only come in one day a week if you want to compete against the other startups,” Schmidt said.


Eric Schmidt bats for in-office work


Earlier too, Eric Schmidt had voiced strong support for in-office work, maintaining that it’s crucial for building effective management and fostering innovation.


In an April 2022 interview with CNBC, he said, “I don’t know how you build great management” in a virtual environment. Eric Schmidt was the chairman and CEO of Google till 2015, when he exited the company. 


Currently, most Google employees work from the office at least three days a week. The company has begun tracking office attendance as part of performance reviews, according to media reports.


Is Google behind in the AI race?


Eric’s comments come at a time when Google is facing mounting pressure in the AI field. Despite the company’s early breakthroughs, including significant advancements in 2017, Google has struggled to maintain its lead against emerging AI companies.


It is worth mentioning that after the launch of Sam Altman-led OpenAI, Google founder Sergey Brin returned to help the tech giant in its AI efforts.

First Published: Aug 15 2024 | 5:49 PM IST



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