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- Apple releases first preview of its long-awaited iPhone AI
Apple releases first preview of its long-awaited iPhone AI
Also: Gen Z Is Relying on AI To Make Financial Decisions
Morning!
In today's newsletter, we explore Apple's unveiling of its comprehensive Apple Intelligence AI suite, integrated into the iOS 18.1 beta, marking a significant stride in AI functionality for iPhones. Apple’s strategic choice of Google’s TPUs for AI model training, detailed in a recent research paper, further emphasizes its innovative approach. Additionally, we delve into discussions from SIGGRAPH 2024, where Meta and NVIDIA leaders envision a future with personalized AI assistants and open-source AI advancements. Microsoft's AI investments face investor scrutiny as the company navigates high capital expenditures amidst promising but gradual returns. Moreover, Gen Z's increasing reliance on AI for financial decisions highlights a generational shift in technology use. Lastly, Canva’s acquisition of Leonardo.ai signals its aggressive expansion to challenge Adobe in the creative software domain. Enjoy the detailed insights and stay updated with the latest developments in AI.
Sliced:
📱Apple releases first preview of its long-awaited iPhone AI
⚠️Apple used Google's chips to train two AI models, research paper shows
🤖 Creators to Have Personalized AI Assistants, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg Tells NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang
📈 Microsoft's costs in focus as fears rise over slow payoff from AI
🙋♀️ Gen Z Is Relying on AI To Make Financial Decisions
💰 Canva to Buy AI Startup in Year’s Second Deal to Catch Adobe
Apple has unveiled Apple Intelligence, a suite of AI features integrated into the developer beta of iOS 18.1, available to registered developers. This suite includes enhanced functionalities for Siri, such as a new interface and improved understanding of commands, as well as capabilities like automated email and image generation, notification sorting, and troubleshooting for Apple products. Additional features include AI-generated summaries for Mail and Messages, writing tools, image and emoji generation, and automated photo cleanup. Apple Intelligence also integrates OpenAI’s ChatGPT for more advanced AI interactions. Investors anticipate this integration will drive significant upgrades, starting with the iPhone 15 Pro and newer models. While some features are set to roll out over the next year, the current release marks a major step in Apple’s AI strategy.
Apple leveraged Google's tensor processing units (TPUs) instead of Nvidia's popular GPUs to train two key AI models for its upcoming suite of AI tools and features. This decision, detailed in an Apple research paper, highlights the use of 2,048 TPUv5p chips for models operating on devices like iPhones and 8,192 TPUv4 processors for server-side models. While Nvidia dominates the AI processor market with an 80% share through its GPUs, Apple's choice of Google's TPUs, available via Google Cloud Platform, reflects a strategic move in its AI infrastructure. This shift comes as Apple integrates advanced AI functionalities, including those developed with OpenAI's ChatGPT, into its software ecosystem. Despite the notable absence of Nvidia hardware, Apple asserts the potential for even larger, more sophisticated models using Google's technology.
🤖 Creators to Have Personalized AI Assistants, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg Tells NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang
At SIGGRAPH 2024, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang discussed the potential of open-source AI and personalized AI assistants. Zuckerberg introduced AI Studio, a platform enabling creators to design and share AI characters, emphasizing that every business might soon have its own AI, much like having a social media presence today. They highlighted Meta's leadership in AI advancements, including the new open-source model Llama 3.1, trained on NVIDIA GPUs. Zuckerberg and Huang envision a future where AI enhances productivity and personalization, from creating digital avatars to integrating AI into daily tasks. They foresee a shift from turn-based AI interactions to more dynamic, predictive systems that enhance real-world applications through collaborations, such as Meta's work with Luxotic on AI-integrated eyeglasses. The discussion ended on a lighter note with the two exchanging leather jackets, symbolizing their collaborative spirit.
Microsoft is under investor scrutiny as it reports earnings, focusing on whether growth in its Azure cloud business can justify its substantial investments in AI infrastructure. Despite maintaining a steady 31% growth in Azure, fueled partly by AI, Microsoft's capital expenditure surged by 53% year-over-year to $13.64 billion. This spending spike mirrors concerns seen with other tech giants like Alphabet, raising questions about the short-term payoff from these massive investments. Microsoft aims to alleviate capacity constraints and capitalize on AI demand, with services like the $30-per-month 365 Copilot already being utilized by half of the Fortune 500 companies. Analysts are watching for clearer revenue contributions from AI initiatives, especially given the slower growth in Microsoft's personal computing segment. Despite recent dips in stock value, Microsoft remains well-positioned in the AI sector, leveraging its extensive enterprise client base and strategic investments.
A new survey by BMO Financial reveals that Generation Z is increasingly turning to AI to manage their finances and investments. Sixty-one percent of Gen Z respondents reported using AI tools, more than any other generation, to learn about personal finance, create budgets, build savings, and develop investment strategies. Despite potential errors in AI guidance, 58% believe these tools help make more informed financial decisions, and 55% feel confident in AI’s ability to aid financial progress. The survey, conducted among over 2,500 adults in the U.S., highlights Gen Z's significant reliance on AI for various financial tasks, reflecting their trust in technology to navigate economic challenges and opportunities.
Canva is set to acquire Leonardo.ai, an image generation startup, marking its second acquisition of the year as it aims to rival Adobe in the creative software market. This swift acquisition, finalized in about a month, follows Canva's recent purchase of the Affinity software suite, popular among Apple Mac users. Leonardo.ai, founded in 2022 and backed by Canva-investor Blackbird Ventures, has created a platform for generating and editing images with text prompts, amassing over a billion images created by users. The 120-person team at Leonardo.ai will integrate their video and image generation models into Canva's products, enhancing its suite of AI tools and potentially attracting some of Adobe's largest enterprise customers. Canva, valued at $26 billion this year, continues to expand its capabilities with this acquisition, which is expected to accelerate its revenue growth and competitive positioning against Adobe, which has also been integrating AI features into its products.
🧑🏽💻 AI Jobs
🇸🇬 TikTok - Multimodal Algo Researcher-AI Innovation Center-2025 Start Singapore
🇸🇬 Temasek Polytechnic - Lecturer /School of Informatics & IT (Applied AI) Singapore
🇸🇬 Aiwallex - Senior Data Scientist, Algorithm (Risk) Singapore
🇸🇬 Mediacorp - Assistant Program Manager, AI (1-Year Contract) Singapore
🛠️ AI tools updates
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 introduces AI-powered tools and significant upgrades, making it a notable contender among smartwatches. It features a bright AMOLED display, improved sleep apnea detection, and an enhanced processor that boosts battery life. New AI functionalities, like a daily Energy score and personalized Wellness Tips, offer users tailored health insights. The watch also includes a double-pinch gesture for convenient control. Despite lacking the physical rotating bezel of its predecessor, it boasts double the storage and a lighter design. While some advanced features are exclusive to Galaxy phone users, the Galaxy Watch 7's comprehensive health and fitness tracking, combined with the Samsung Health app, make it a strong choice for Android users. Starting at $299, it provides a robust package for those seeking a reliable and feature-rich smartwatch.
💵 Venture Capital updates
Bee AI has secured $7 million in funding led by Exor to develop its wearable AI assistant, which learns from user conversations to provide contextual reminders, build lists, and take notes. Co-founded by Maria de Lourdes Zollo and Ethan Sutin, Bee AI aims to create a “cloud phone” that mirrors a user's phone, offering features like reading notifications, writing emails, and giving shopping suggestions. The device includes a mute button for privacy and will eventually ensure non-users' voices are not recorded without consent. Priced at $49 with a $19 monthly subscription, Bee AI plans to begin orders before Black Friday. The company is focused on refining a few key features, aiming to stand out in the burgeoning AI wearable market.
🫡 Meme of the day
⭐️ Generative AI image of the day
Before you go, check out Japan snack giant Calbee looks to bring AI to potato chips.