In partnership with

Welcome to the cutting edge ⚔️ 

Read time: 5 min

Today’s Slate

• Apple Intelligence has landed

• A mysterious GenAI image generator appears

• Transparent tech is back baby

• Space is the final - next frontier

• Can the internet of trees prevent wildfire spread?

• The. future. is. here.

Artificial Intelligence

At a glance

• Apple Intelligence debuts with features like AI-generated email summaries, photo cleanup, and notification management.

• It's useful but underwhelming compared to expectations, with tools similar to Google's Magic Eraser.

• Siri's AI upgrade is incremental, with bigger improvements expected in 2025.

• AI in Mail, Photos, and messaging helps reduce clutter but lacks significant time-saving impact.

Our vision

Apple is playing catch-up with AI, offering basic improvements while promising more powerful features in the future. As AI tools mature, Apple aims to redefine device utility, but the first iteration feels more like a teaser than a transformation.

At a glance

• AI and XR Integration: AI models and Extended Reality (XR) are transforming personal devices into a seamless "personal area network" (PAN) that interconnects wearables like smartwatches and glasses.

• Edge AI: On-device AI enables real-time data processing, increasing privacy and reducing cloud reliance.

• Next Step for Wearables: Smart glasses with AI-powered displays, context-aware assistance, and integration across wearables are expected within 1-2 years.

Our vision

The future lies in AI-driven wearable ecosystems offering richer, context-aware experiences, minimizing the need for smartphones and enhancing daily tasks through intelligent inter-device communication.

At a glance

• New AI Model: “red_panda” is a mysterious image generation model outperforming top competitors like OpenAI’s DALL-E 3 and Black Forest Labs' Flux1.1 Pro.

• Performance: It ranks around 40 Elo points higher on the crowdsourced Artificial Analysis benchmark, using Elo-based ratings to compare model performance.

• Generation Speed: red_panda is faster than competitors, with a median image generation time of 7 seconds, about twice as fast as DALL-E 3.

• Unknown Origins: The company behind red_panda is yet to be revealed, but AI labs often tease such models before official announcements.

Our vision

The rise of "red_panda" showcases an emerging trend in AI models: high-speed generation and crowd-ranked performance benchmarks. With growing interest in community-based evaluations, we can expect more models to gain visibility through public-driven platforms.

If this continues, the broader AI ecosystem may increasingly prioritize speed and accuracy, with user interaction shaping future AI development. If “red_panda” maintains this momentum, it could push boundaries on text-to-image AI, challenging giants like OpenAI and Midjourney for dominance in the creative AI space.

Spatial Computing

At a glance

• Palmer Luckey's Return: Oculus founder Palmer Luckey partners with Microsoft on the U.S. Army’s troubled IVAS headset program, leveraging his company Anduril's AI technology, Lattice, to integrate advanced situational awareness for soldiers.

• Program Struggles: IVAS, plagued by delays, soldier complaints, and potential budget cuts, aims to revolutionize battlefield headsets, though it faces skepticism.

• Mixed Reality's Military Potential: Luckey sees the military as a key testing ground for AR and AI, focusing on life-saving technology over consumer trends.

Our vision

Luckey’s focus on AI-enhanced mixed reality for defense signifies a shift from consumer VR to military-grade AR systems that can automate threat detection and decision-making. With programs like IVAS and Anduril’s Lattice, Luckey aims to transform how soldiers engage on the battlefield, blending augmented reality and AI in ways that might soon influence consumer-facing technologies.

This intersection of AI-driven situational awareness and mixed reality hardware marks a pivotal moment in how technology could redefine real-world defense applications.

Hardware

At a glance

• Transparent Tech Resurgence: Transparent gadgets, once a dominant design in the late 90s and early 2000s, are making a strong comeback with modern tech like the Nothing Phone, Meta's Ray-Ban smart glasses, and Xbox controllers.

• Modern Spin: New products embrace the clear casing aesthetic, offering a fresh look at device internals with advancements in functionality.

• Current Offerings: From see-through smartphones to game controllers and earbuds, transparent designs are merging the past with today’s tech innovations.

Our vision

Transparent gadgets were once a must-have style, showing off internals with flair. Now, modern tech has breathed new life into this design trend, combining the transparency of yesteryears with today’s advanced features. The appeal of showcasing the inner workings of devices is back in a big way, from smartphones and game controllers to wearable tech.

Brands are tapping into this trend, offering a new generation of products that bring functionality and style to the forefront.

Space

At a glance

• Cislunar Exploration: The vast space between Earth and the Moon is emerging as the next frontier for exploration and commercial development. NASA, international partners, and private companies are heavily involved.

• Key Initiatives: NASA’s Artemis program will focus on long-term lunar presence, including human landings, space stations, and technology maturation for Mars missions.

• Tech Developments: Advanced communication systems, refueling stations in space, and international cooperation are vital components in this growing sector.

Our vision

With Cislunar space becoming a critical area for future exploration, the opportunities extend beyond government agencies. Private companies and startups can leverage public-private partnerships and global cooperation to develop cutting-edge technologies, such as high-bandwidth communications and autonomous lunar systems.

This new wave of space exploration envisions sustained human presence on the Moon, advancing capabilities to reach Mars and beyond, fostering innovation, and creating vast business opportunities.

At a glance

• Competition: Aerospace's Future of Space pitch at TechCrunch Disrupt 2024.

• Focus Areas: Autonomous satellite systems, space debris removal, high-precision GPS, and scalable space infrastructure.

• Notable Startups: Think Orbital (space construction tools), Lumi Space (space debris removal via lasers), and EdZona (GPS enhancement).

• Opportunity: Finalists pitched to industry experts for a chance to win feedback from aerospace and commercial leaders.

Our vision

The future of space operations will be defined by advanced autonomous systems, precise GPS solutions, and scalable infrastructure. Companies like Think Orbital and Lumi Space are leading the charge in enabling cost-effective space construction and debris management, ensuring safer and more efficient orbital environments.

As startups continue to develop and deploy their technologies, the next decade will see unprecedented growth in space commercialization, fostering a more interconnected and sustainable space economy driven by innovation and global collaboration.

Climate

At a glance

• Technology: Solar-powered sensors attached to tree trunks to detect wildfires

• Key Features: Wide-spectrum sensors with satellite connectivity; measures gas levels, air resistance, and other data to create "air fingerprints"

• Target Applications: Early wildfire detection, industrial fire prevention

• Deployment: 2 million square meters of forest monitored, with ongoing tests in France, Australia, and England

• Customers: Forestry ministries, industrial facilities, hotels, and insurance companies

Our vision

ForestGuard's satellite-connected sensor system could redefine wildfire detection by providing real-time, location-specific data from forests and industrial sites. Its ability to analyze air composition and detect early signs of fires—whether through cigarette smoke or increased gas levels—positions it as a key tool in fire prevention.

As the technology scales globally, we may see a significant reduction in wildfire response times, making firefighting efforts more proactive and minimizing damage to high-risk areas. The "Internet of Trees" might become a standard in fire-prone regions worldwide.

Looking for your next job? Express can help.

Express Employment Professionals has put more than 10 million people to work in the last 40 years. Express has a wide variety of jobs available, in all industries. With flexible schedules, competitive pay, and access to a variety of benefits, what are you waiting for? Let ExpressPros help you land your next great job today. And the best part? They don’t charge any fees to help you find one.

Get started today