Chaos & Amazement #2403 Davos AI Talks, Visa’s Web3 Initiative, and Tree.fm
Discover the latest from Davos AI Talks, Snap's AR innovation, and Visa's Web3 loyalty tool in this week's edition—unraveling the complexities of AI, immersive experiences, and cutting-edge rewards.
Tech News
Leaders at the World Economic Forum 2024 event in Davos talked about how AI affects our world. Last year they were super enthusiastic about tech like ChatGPT. This year, they’re worrying about fake info and job loss. They dug into using AI responsibly, dealing with rules, money matters, work changes, and fairness. We’ll need those rules if we want to keep the impact of AI on our daily lives a positive one. https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2024/01/artificial-intelligence-ai-innovation-technology-davos-2024/
Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, discussed the current capabilities and limitations of large language models (LLMs) like GPT-3. Altman believes that LLMs have the potential to make a positive impact on the world, but it is important to use them responsibly. More videos of the WEF talks are being uploaded as we speak: https://youtube.com/@worldeconomicforumvideo4982
Snap is not just a social media platform. Earlier this week showcased its innovative use of Augmented Reality (AR) through a groundbreaking collaboration with the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, allowing museum visitors to virtually try on iconic ensembles using Snap's AR Mirrors, marking a notable milestone in integrating AR into cultural experiences and reinforcing Snap's commitment to immersive technologies. https://www.marketingdive.com/news/snap-augmented-reality-san-francisco-art-museum-ar-mirrors/704889/
This year, I’m going to try and find Web3 use cases apart from gaming. Here’s one: Visa's Web3 loyalty tool for cash-back rewards. Offering digital collectibles taps into the trend of blending virtual experiences with Web3 for rewards. https://www.americanbanker.com/payments/news/what-visas-web3-loyalty-tool-means-for-cash-back-rewards
Fresh AI
TikTok is testing AI Song, a feature letting users create songs with AI assistance, though early experiments show mixed results in terms of tune and vocals. Currently, it’s not very good yet. But I’m keeping an eye on TikTok’s generative AI moves nevertheless. https://www.theverge.com/2024/1/18/24043432/tiktok-generative-ai-music-viral-bloom
Pablo Delcan's Prompt Brush website offers a unique twist on generative art, turning text prompts into artworks hand-made by a human - not by AI, showcasing the artist's ability to infuse intention and humor into each creation. https://www.delcan.co/promptbrush
From my blog
Tardigrades: Microscopic Marvels of Resilience
I've shared my fascination with tardigrades in previous blog posts, and once, during a keynote, I spent a good chunk of time gushing about them. Tardigrades, those adorable "water bears" and "moss piglets," have always intrigued me. Recently, a study in the journal PLOS ONE uncovered a fantastic secret about their toughness.
Weird and Wonderful
Loving the soothing sounds of nature on http://tree.fm! It's like having a mini forest in my home.
120 ski instructors create a synchronised performance on the slopes of St. Moritz for the Bogner ski brand.
e.l.f. cosmetics' true crime mockumentary flips Netflix tropes, blending humor and absurdity in a captivating 14-minute video. Surpassing expectations, it's hit almost 850k views in just six days.
33-year-old Kimberly Winter, of Virginia, holds the World Record for Loudest Burp (Female) 🗣️, with hers measured at 107.3 decibels – louder than some motorcycles.