A remarkable startup is developing a groundbreaking AI system that promises to give creators unprecedented capabilities for generating cinematic worlds. The company, named Odyssey, employs a unique approach: having staff carry specialized camera systems to gather scene data from around the globe. Founded by autonomous driving experts Oliver Cameron and Jeff Hawke, Odyssey recently completed an $18 million Series A funding round led by EQT Ventures.

With the rapid development of generative AI technology, the amount of e-waste generated is expected to increase significantly in the coming years. A global research analysis predicts that by 2030, AI-related e-waste will skyrocket from 2,600 tons in 2023 to 2.5 million tons. This figure is equivalent to nearly two discarded iPhones for each of the 8.5 billion people worldwide, raising serious concerns about environmental impacts. Image source note: Image generated by AI, provided by the image licensing service Midjourney.

Google has officially launched the ChromeOS 130 update, introducing multiple new features including Fast Insert, Focus Mode, Welcome Back, and other practical tools. This version also introduces some unique features for Chromebook Plus models equipped with NPU (Neural Processing Unit), such as a brand new AI Recorder app, enhanced microphone and camera effects, and the 'Read to Me' summary feature of Gemini AI tools. Among this update, the Fast Insert feature is particularly noteworthy.

Apple CEO Tim Cook recently visited China and, when asked by a reporter from Jiemian, stated that Apple Intelligence is working hard to enter the Chinese market. He mentioned, 'We are working hard to move this forward, and there is a very specific regulatory process behind it that we need to complete, and we hope to bring it to Chinese consumers soon.' It is reported that this is Cook's second visit to China in 2024. During the third quarter earnings call for fiscal year 2024 in August this year, Cook was asked about the timeline for Apple Intelligence services.

In the wave of digital creativity, a unique AI toy designer has quietly emerged. Toy Box Flux, an artificial intelligence model focused on generating 3D toy designs, is changing the way we conceive and create toys. It not only transforms text descriptions into vivid 3D toy visuals but also extends into the interior design realm, bringing new inspiration to spatial layouts. The uniqueness of Toy Box Flux lies in its training method. The development team has ingeniously combined existing 3D LoRA technology with original Co...

Follow is an application that allows you to follow your favorite websites, blogs, social media accounts, podcasts, and notifications all in one place. It is designed as a modern, fast, and convenient one-stop information hub. Follow leverages advanced artificial intelligence to assist your operations. In addition to basic AI translation, summarization, and recommendation features, it provides twice-daily AI reports highlighting key information from your subscriptions. Moreover, it offers a personalized AI knowledge base built around your subscriptions.

Kind Humanoid is a robotics startup based in Palo Alto, founded by Christoph Kostol, who has a background in Silicon Valley. The company's workspace is filled with various electronic components and fabrication tools, reflecting the spirit of DIY computing that has characterized Silicon Valley. The design of Kind Humanoid's robots is inspired by the surrealistic art style of Belgian painter René Magritte. The company's designer, Yves Béhar, stated that he hopes to convey a message through the design of the robots.

It is reported that ChatGPT is rolling out a new UI in a gradual release, where the input box is smaller and resembles a search input box. This new UI appears to be a preparation for the upcoming GPT-4o model (which might be renamed to GPT-auto). In this new UI, users can input the tasks they want to accomplish, and GPT-auto will provide corresponding assistance, including creating images, brainstorming, summarizing text, writing code, composing, offering suggestions, and planning. All these features come with input hints, allowing users to easily find the help they need.

At the 'All-In Summit 2024', Google co-founder and former Alphabet president Sergey Brin expressed his excitement about the latest advancements in AI and stated that he is working at Google almost every day. Brin confirmed his return to Google's headquarters last year to participate in AI projects, emphasizing the value of the rapid development in the AI field. He noted that algorithm improvements may have already surpassed the increase in computational power requirements, maintaining an optimistic view on AI and believing that future AI model training will not require a significant increase in computational capabilities. Brin's return has implications for Google's future development and AI.

ComfyUI version 0.2.0 introduces Flux ControlNets technology, including Canny and Union control nets, significantly enhancing image processing capabilities. The optimized queue management features, new 'Go-to Node' for quick navigation, 'Contain' image display, and task output folder view, greatly improve work efficiency. Enhanced node library functionalities such as bookmarks, recursive expand/collapse, and search filters make resource management easier. The user interface and experience have been completely revamped.

Amazon has announced the hiring of the core team from robotics startup Covariant, comprising about a quarter of its staff, and has signed a non-exclusive licensing agreement to use Covariant's robotic foundation models. This move represents Amazon's strategic positioning in the field of artificial intelligence and robotics, aiming to advance foundational research in AI and robotics technology and apply it to Amazon's existing robotic systems, providing greater practical value to customers. Through a 'reverse acquisition' strategy, Amazon gains new technologies while avoiding a direct acquisition of the startup.