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  • IKEA Research Studio uses AI to create sofa

IKEA Research Studio uses AI to create sofa

Also: Creators of Replika launches new AI dating app

Hey there!

First up, IKEA's Space10 studio, with the help of AI, has reinvented the flat-pack sofa. So lightweight and compact, it fits into an envelope! Crafted in collaboration with Swiss designers, this design marvel is not only versatile and social, but also champions sustainability. Meanwhile, Goldman Sachs is bullish about AI's potential impact on the S&P 500, predicting AI-driven productivity increases could boost profits by 30% over the next decade. They advise diversified investments to reap the benefits, keeping an eye on the energy and healthcare sectors. 💰 On the romantic front, the minds behind AI pal Replika have launched a new AI dating app, Blush. It's a training ground for emotional intimacy and relationship building, with a variety of AI "crushes" to interact with. 💘 Over in healthcare, research indicates that AI is outshining traditional methods in predicting breast cancer risk, offering a potentially powerful tool for earlier diagnosis and improved prevention. 🩺 Lastly, it seems Generative AI skills are in high demand, with job ads referencing this skillset experiencing a 14-fold increase since January, according to Adzuna. So, if you've got the knack, it might be time to freshen up your CV!

What are we slicing today?

  • 🛋️ IKEA Research Studio Uses AI to Create a Folding Sofa that Fits in an Envelope

  • 📈 Goldman Sachs says A.I. could push S&P 500 profits up by 30% in the next decade

  • 💗 The creators of Replika unveil a new AI dating app called Blush

  • 🏥AI outperformed standard risk model for predicting breast cancer

Space10, an independent design studio supported by IKEA, has utilized machine learning to develop a lightweight, 22-pound flat-pack sofa that can be packed inside an envelope. This inventive application of AI was born from a challenge to pack a foldable sofa into such a confined space. The sofa, created in collaboration with Swiss designers Panter&Tourron, features a modular design with rearrangeable wings and cushions. After hundreds of design iterations, the final design was influenced by the concept of a "conversation pit," which led to a layout encouraging face-to-face interaction. Notably, the project seeks to enhance the sustainability of furniture through its tool-less and screw-less design, making it simple to assemble and disassemble, and more efficient and less energy-consuming to transport when folded.

Goldman Sachs is optimistic about the role of AI in driving profit growth, predicting that AI could boost productivity by 1.5% annually over the next decade. This could potentially lead to a 30% or greater increase in S&P 500 profits over the same period. The immediate beneficiaries of this growth are expected to be technology companies, but the longer-term winners are yet to be determined. To capitalize on this growth, Goldman Sachs' senior strategist Ben Snider recommends that investors diversify their U.S. equity investments across cyclical and defensive sectors, particularly emphasizing the energy and healthcare sectors due to their attractive valuations. In the shorter term, Snider notes the potential economic impacts of the U.S. Federal Reserve's monetary policy tightening, including increased interest rates and decreased corporate spending.

The creators of the AI friendship bot Replika have introduced a new AI dating application called Blush, designed to help users build relationship and intimacy skills. Users can interact with over 1,000 AI "crushes", each with unique backstories and profiles, to practice emotional intimacy and navigate complexities often found in real-life relationships. The app provides a safe space for users to discuss sexuality and engage in intimate interactions, but it also ensures avatars set boundaries and maintain different relationship dynamics. Blush, which is available on the App Store, offers a premium version for $99/year that allows more NSFW conversations.

Researchers have discovered that AI programs are more accurate than traditional methods in predicting breast cancer risk, potentially facilitating earlier diagnosis and better preventive measures. Using data from mammograms performed at Kaiser Permanente Northern California in 2016, the researchers followed 13,628 women until 2021, and found that AI algorithms outperformed the standard Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium (BCSC) model, which typically uses factors such as age, family history, race/ethnicity, breast density, and history of benign breast biopsies to estimate risk. AI algorithms predicted up to 28% of cancers in the highest risk group, compared to 21% by the BCSC method. The AI models were noteworthy for their reliance solely on a one-time mammogram examination, and their ability to identify complex breast tissue patterns that may signal a higher risk of cancer, something which may be imperceptible to the human eye. Experts believe this technology could be integrated into women's screening management, alongside more sensitive resources like breast ultrasound or Breast MRI, and risk reduction techniques like endocrine blockade, provided there are adequate human controls.

Job ads asking for Generative AI skills is on the rise according to a new study from job search engine Adzuna. Job ads referencing Generative AI increased to 1,496 in May compared to only around 100 in January.

⭐️ Midjourney prompt of the day

A ceramic hand with some of the fingers broken and levitating above it, shiny, glossy, meticulous attention to detail

Have a wonderful day ahead! ✌️