NEWS YOU CAN’T MISS

Meet the AI That's Always in Your Ear

I've been saying for a while now that AI is about to revolutionize how we interact with the world. Case in point: TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, just announced AI-powered earbuds.

Here’s why this is a big deal: TikTok has over 1 billion monthly active users worldwide, and people spend an average of 95 minutes per day on the app, opening it 8 times a day! 🤯

Now imagine if you could access that level of engagement without needing to open an app. Instead, you talk to your AI assistant all day because it's right there … in your ear.

Here’s what ByteDance says users can do with its AI earbuds.

• Get personalized travel advice and recommendations.

• Understand conversations in different languages.

• Receive companionship and emotional support when feeling down.

These earbuds cost US$170 and are currently only available for pre-order in China.

This push for “AI wearables,” as they are called, is a major trend. ByteDance joins a growing number of tech giants, including Meta with its new AI-enabled Ray-Ban smart glasses, vying for dominance in this emerging market.

Of course, advancements like this always raise concerns about cybersecurity and privacy. But if we can get such AI assistants from trusted companies that are regulated, I’m ready to ditch my mobile phone.

ps. I’m no branding guru, but I would recommend ByteDance choose a better name for their AI earbuds than Ola Friend. 🤔

Source: SCMP

Tesla’s New AI-Powered Cybercab

Does anyone throw a better unveiling party than Elon Musk? Musk showcased Tesla's AI-powered vehicles and robots in Hollywood with his usual flair for showmanship.  

The Cybercab Robotaxi

The star of the show was the long-awaited Cybercab, Tesla's fully autonomous robotaxi featuring:

• No steering wheel or pedals

• Gull-wing doors for easy entry and exit

• Inductive charging capabilities, eliminating the need for plugs

• Advanced AI systems for navigation and passenger interaction

• A price tag under $30,000, making it potentially accessible to a wide market

Plus, in a surprising twist, Musk also unveiled the Robovan, a larger autonomous vehicle designed to carry up to 20 people or transport goods.

The Robots

Tesla's Optimus robots were also seen mingling with the ground, and impressed many with smooth moves while serving drinks and dancing, but were revealed to be human-controlled, disappointing many who saw it as deceptive.

Musk claims these robots will eventually be capable of performing a wide range of tasks, from babysitting to lawn mowing, with an estimated price range of $20,000 to $30,000. (I don’t think I would go as far as babysitting 😬)

Bottom line: Musk's vision of transforming Tesla into an "AI robotics company" rather than just an automaker was evident throughout the event.

ps. Needless to say, the market was not impressed, and Tesla shares went down by 9%. Investors are skeptical, believing Musk lacks a proper plan for autonomous vehicles and is shifting focus to robotics due to the drop in EV sales.

I don’t agree with everything Musk says these days, but I wouldn’t count him out when it comes to grand visions and getting things done! #justsayin’

WOMAN IN TECH

Woman in Tech: Meet May Habib, CEO of Writer

Celebrating this Week's Woman in tech 🥳: Meet May Habib, CEO and co-founder of Writer, an AI-assisted writing platform that serves 250 enterprise clients including Accenture, Uber and L’Oréal. 

Born in Lebanon, Habib emigrated with her family to Canada at a young age and later completed her Bachelor's in Economics from Harvard University.

Her career journey:

• Habib worked on building investment portfolios at Lehman Brothers and Mubadala Development Company. 

• In 2015, she co-founded Qordoba, an AI-powered platform helping organisations localise and align all types of content, from communications and marketing to product and HR. 

• In 2020, she rebranded Qordoba into Writer, a full-stack AI platform for enterprises that offers customised AI apps. Businesses use Write to automate content creation (from LinkedIn posts to job descriptions), analyze data, and even build custom AI applications for tasks like market analysis.

Habib was lauded recently when Writer's new AI model, Palmyra x 004, made headlines for its cost-effectiveness. Trained on "synthetic" data for just $700k, it rivals models costing millions to develop while enhancing privacy.

Habib has been named in the Forbes AI 50 (2023) and Inc.’s Female Founder Award (2023). She is also a Young Global Leader with the World Economic Forum (2024) and a recognized Fellow with the Aspen Global Leadership Network.

In a male-dominated generative AI world, Habib stands out as an inspiring leader, driving innovation and promoting diversity in the tech industry.

ps. Writer is in the process of securing up to $200 million in new funding, which would boost its valuation to $1.9 billion. Wishing Habib all the best for the raise!

Food for Thought

Dating apps Bumble and Grindr are exploring AI dating assistants to enhance online dating experiences.

Bumble's founder envisions AI dating concierges that could date on behalf of users and figure out if their “bosses” are compatible. Grindr is developing an AI Wingman that learns your preferences like a best friend, suggesting matches that truly align with your ideal partner.

Both companies aim to address "dating app fatigue" which is becoming prevalent these days.

It’s not often that a data and AI geek like me gets asked to do a social media advertisement for luxury brand. So I was psyched to do the shoot for Japan’s Clé de Peau Beauté.

Check out the video on my Instagram and let me know when you think.

Until next time!

Ayesha ♥️