Biohackers, AI, Virtual World, and More!

Welcome to week 2! 2024 got off to a hot start, let’s get right into it…

First up, we're diving into Próspera, Honduras's start-up city aiming to be a haven for tech innovators and a paradise for those chasing eternal youth. Then, we're talking Microsoft's game-changing Copilot key, because who needs a boring old menu key when you can have AI at your fingertips? Speaking of AI, Louis Rosenberg's chatting up 'augmented mentality' in 2024 - think Siri on steroids, whispering sweet nothings of wisdom in your ear.

Peter Diamandis is throwing his hat in the ring too, talking about a future where AI assistants are so entwined in our lives, we'll feel like Iron Man with his buddy JARVIS. Over in the metaverse, "Ready Player One" is getting a real-life (well, virtual) makeover, thanks to Futureverse and Warner Bros. And let's not forget Figure.ai's humanoid robot - this thing is set to strut into our lives and workplaces like it owns the place.

But wait, there's more! Xreal is stepping up the AR game with its new Air 2 Ultra glasses. Priced at $699, these sunnies are ready to rival Apple’s Vision Pro and Meta’s Quest 3, boasting full 6DOF tracking and dual 3D cameras for an immersive experience. These are not just for developers anymore – they're hitting the consumer market with a bang.

Don’t miss out on the big Vision Pro news! New patent filings showcasing technology so advanced, it's like peering into a sci-fi future…and a RELEASE DATE!. For our crypto enthusiasts, the SEC is waving a big red flag at FOMO around digital assets. And for the space buffs, SpaceX's Falcon 9 is orbiting and returning in style, with footage you need to see to believe.

So, grab your popcorn and settle in for a tech update that's sure to keep you on the edge of your seat! 🚀👓🤖

Health

Próspera is a start-up city in Honduras, aiming to become a hub for technological innovation and human longevity. Created by a US-registered firm, the city attracts tech innovators and entrepreneurs, offering minimal regulatory barriers and incentives like tax breaks. Próspera's environment is designed to facilitate rapid drug development and medical tourism, focusing on regenerative medicine.

The city has already attracted attention from longevity experts and tech enthusiasts, despite challenges posed by Honduras's new government's repeal of laws supporting its autonomous structure. Read the full article on South China Morning Post for more details here.

Artificial Intelligence

Microsoft is launching a Copilot key on new Windows keyboards as part of its 2024 vision to make it the "year of the AI PC". This key, replacing the menu key, offers direct access to the AI-powered Windows Copilot experience. Positioned next to the right-hand alt key, its functionality varies by OEM and market. If Windows Copilot isn't available locally, it defaults to Windows Search. Microsoft, yet to announce OEM partners, plans to reveal more at the Consumer Electronics Show, with availability starting soon and including upcoming Surface devices.

Louis Rosenberg, a researcher in AI and augmented reality, discusses the emergence of 'augmented mentality' in 2024. This concept revolves around AI assistants providing context-aware guidance in everyday life, leveraging multi-modal large language models (LLMs) capable of processing text, images, audio, and video. Such assistants will offer real-time advice, enhancing social interactions and decision-making.

However, Rosenberg highlights potential risks, including manipulation and loss of privacy. He emphasizes the need for urgent regulation to manage AI's influence on individual behavior and calls for policymakers to focus on these challenges to ensure AI's benefits don't lead society down a dangerous path.

In his latest blog, Peter Diamandis explores the future of AI-human collaboration, drawing inspiration from Iron Man's JARVIS. He envisions a world where AI assistants, like Alexa and Siri, are integral to daily life, managing everything from personal health monitoring to problem-solving. These AI agents will understand individual preferences and anticipate needs, making life more efficient and personalized.

Diamandis predicts that AI will be seamlessly integrated into Windows, from the system to the hardware, enhancing both personal and professional lives. This AI-assisted future promises to revolutionize how we interact with technology, blurring the lines between human and artificial intelligence.

The Metaverse

Apple has announced that its revolutionary spatial computer, the Apple Vision Pro, will be available from February 2, 2024, at all U.S. Apple Store locations and online. 

This new device, priced starting at $3,499, offers groundbreaking spatial experiences powered by visionOS, allowing users to interact with digital content seamlessly integrated with the physical world using their eyes, hands, and voice. Vision Pro is designed to transform work, collaboration, connection, memory reliving, and entertainment, featuring an all-new App Store with over 1 million compatible apps across iOS and iPadOS.

The Vision Pro boasts a three-dimensional user interface controlled by intuitive gestures, and it's compatible with a range of computing devices, including macOS and Windows-based computers, and the iPhone 15. Its advanced capabilities include a 52-degree field of view, dual 3D cameras for environmental mapping and hand tracking, and it supports Xreal’s Nebula AR environment.

Aimed primarily at developers, the Vision Pro is also available to consumers, shipping in the US, UK, China, Japan, Korea, France, Germany, Italy, the Czech Republic, and the Netherlands. The device represents a significant step in mixed reality technology, directly competing with major players like Meta.

Xreal has introduced the Air 2 Ultra, a new augmented reality (AR) glasses model priced at $699, aimed at competing with Meta’s Quest 3 and Apple’s upcoming Vision Pro headsets. These glasses, which developers can preorder for shipment starting in March, offer advanced features compared to the earlier $399 Air 2 model. The Air 2 Ultra includes full positional (6DOF) tracking in a sunglasses-style form factor, dual 3D cameras for environmental mapping and hand tracking, and are designed for immersive AR applications.

The glasses feature a 52-degree field of view, 500 nits of brightness, a 1080p screen per eye, and a 120Hz refresh rate. Initially targeted at developers, the Air 2 Ultra will also be available to consumers and will support Xreal’s Nebula AR environment on various devices. The launch follows Xreal's announcement of expanding its AR glasses availability in 2024.

"Ready Player One" is set to be transformed into a massive metaverse experience through a partnership between Futureverse, an AI and metaverse technology company, and Warner Bros. Discovery. Readyverse Studios, co-founded with Ernest Cline, the creator of "Ready Player One," and producer Dan Farah, aims to bring the franchise to life in the metaverse across web3, with exclusive rights to all future intellectual property by Cline.

While details are sparse, the launch is expected in 2024, promising a multi-world, interoperable open metaverse experience. The initiative emphasizes digital ownership, community infrastructure, and decentralization. The project, which aligns with the vision of Cline's novel and its successful film adaptation, offers new opportunities for Hollywood studios, talent, and brands in the metaverse.

Company Spotlight: Figure.ai

Figure.ai is a pioneering AI robotics company focused on bringing a general-purpose humanoid robot to life. Their flagship product, Figure 01, is the world's first commercially viable autonomous humanoid robot. Designed to match the human form, Figure 01 stands at 5'6" tall, can handle a payload of 20kg, and is equipped with capabilities like a 5-hour runtime and a top speed of 1.2M/S. The robot is intended for use in manufacturing, logistics, warehousing, and retail, addressing labor shortages and reducing the need for human workers in unsafe jobs.

Figure's humanoid robot is designed to integrate seamlessly into human-designed environments, utilizing the dexterity of the human form combined with cutting-edge AI. This allows it to perform a wide range of tasks more efficiently than single-function robots.

The company has assembled a world-class team with over 100 years of combined experience in AI and humanoid robotics. They aim to enhance human capabilities in the workforce, create a higher quality of life, repair supply chains, and support emerging economies. Figure.ai has been featured in various news outlets and is actively involved in the development and innovation of humanoid robotics.

A Little Extra