Is Apple Cooked?

Summary

In Meta Connect 2024, Mark Zuckerberg unveiled the Quest 3S, a more affordable VR headset, alongside advancements in AI, including LLaMA 3.2 and virtual influencers. OpenAI introduced advanced voice features for ChatGPT, while Microsoft rolled out a tool to correct AI-generated content. MKBHD faced backlash over his new wallpaper app's privacy concerns. Cloudflare now offers bot management for web scraping, and Kaspersky began uninstalling itself from U.S. PCs. Meanwhile, scientists explored nuclear options for asteroid deflection, and Twitter's transparency report showed increased compliance with government requests. Panasonic revealed an innovative mist projector for art displays.

Takeaways

• 🎮 Meta Connect 2024 showcased the Quest 3S, a more affordable version of the Quest 3, set to launch on October 15th with similar features at a $200 lower price.
• 📦 Mark Zuckerberg announced the Llama 3.2, Meta's first open-source multimodal AI model, which requires access requests and is not available in the EU.
• 👓 The Rayan smart glasses will integrate multimodal video AI for real-time assistance and object recognition, enhancing user experience.
• 🌌 The Prototype Orion AR glasses offer innovative holographic capabilities, allowing users to see the real world augmented with digital content.
• 🗣️ ChatGPT's advanced voice mode is rolling out for paid subscribers, featuring emotion detection and responses to non-verbal cues, but is restricted in the EU.
• 🔍 Microsoft introduced a new AI correction tool to help address hallucinations in generated text, although it may introduce its own errors.
• 📱 MKBHD's Panels app faced criticism for its permissions and storing wallpapers in a public bucket, alongside subscription pricing concerns.
• 🛡️ Cloudflare launched new tools enabling customers to block web-scraping bots easily as part of their AI audit suite.
• 🚨 Kaspersky began deleting itself from U.S. PCs while installing another antivirus program without user consent, raising privacy concerns.
• 🚀 Scientists are exploring nuclear options for asteroid deflection, showing potential for future planetary defense strategies.

Q & A

What was the main announcement from Meta Connect 2024 regarding the Quest 3S?

Mark Zuckerberg announced the official reveal of the Quest 3S, a cheaper version of the Quest 3, which will ship on October 15th at a starting price of $200 less than the Quest 3, while maintaining most of its features.

What is Llama 3.2, and what does it signify for Meta's AI capabilities?

Llama 3.2 is Meta's first open-source multimodal model. However, access to it requires a request and it is currently unavailable in the EU, highlighting the limitations of its open-source status.

What feature does Meta's smart glasses now include?

Meta's smart glasses will now feature multimodal video AI, providing real-time assistance and referencing objects that are no longer in view.

How does OpenAI's advanced voice mode work and what new capabilities does it introduce?

The advanced voice mode, using GPT-4, can now detect emotion and respond to non-verbal cues when visuals are used. However, this feature is not available in the EU and certain other countries due to regulatory restrictions.

What controversy surrounded the launch of MKBHD's Panels app?

The Panels app faced backlash due to the permissions it requested, which included usage data and user location, as well as the discovery that the wallpapers were stored in a publicly accessible bucket.

What did Cloudflare introduce to combat AI scraping?

Cloudflare introduced a tool that allows customers to block bots that scrape websites for AI training with a single click, part of a suite called AI audit.

What actions did Kaspersky take regarding its antivirus software in the US?

Kaspersky, deemed a national security concern, began deleting itself from American users' PCs while automatically installing a different antivirus, Ultra AV, without prior notice to users.

What is the significance of the research being conducted at Sandia National Laboratory regarding asteroids?

Scientists at Sandia are researching the possibility of using nuclear blasts to deflect asteroids as a method of planetary defense, potentially enhancing our ability to protect Earth from future asteroid collisions.

How has Twitter's compliance with government requests changed under Elon Musk's management?

Twitter's transparency report indicated that the platform complied with 71% of legal requests it received, a significant increase compared to the typical 30% compliance rate under previous management.

What innovative technology is Panasonic developing using silky fine mist?

Panasonic is repurposing an outdoor air conditioning system that uses a spray of extremely small water droplets to create transparent projector screens for art displays, offering a unique approach to visual presentations.