Welcome to the cutting edge ⚔️ 

Read time: 7 min

Today’s Slate

• Mike Tyson vs Jake Paul sets live streaming records while frustrating millions

• OpenAI is developing an AI agent to help run your day

• Coca Cola pisses off creatives with their new AI advertisement

• Baidu and Niantic continue pushing on Spatial Computing

• The social media landscape continues to evolve as consumer try new platforms

• Some guy tried the leaked Apple Smart Display 5 years ago

• The. future. is. here.

Artificial Intelligence

At a glance

• OpenAI's New Agent: OpenAI is reportedly launching "Operator," an AI agent designed to handle everyday tasks, such as writing code or booking travel, with minimal human input.

• Broader AI Trend: Competitors like Anthropic, Microsoft, and Google are also developing multi-task AI agents to enhance productivity, highlighting a significant industry shift.

• Core Functionality: Operator can execute multi-step tasks, particularly in the browser, and is expected to release as a research version and API for developers in January.

• CEO Insight: Sam Altman describes agents as a "big breakthrough" in AI, reflecting their potential to revolutionize how tasks are automated and managed.

Our vision

AI agents like OpenAI's Operator signal a transformative shift in workplace productivity, enabling professionals to delegate routine and complex tasks to intelligent systems. By automating multi-step processes, AI agents will free up time for creative, strategic work, empowering employees across industries to focus on higher-value contributions and reshaping how we interact with technology in our jobs.

At a glance

• AI-Generated Ad Backlash: Coca-Cola released an AI-made holiday ad meant to honor its 1995 classic “Holidays Are Coming,” but faced criticism for being “soulless” and lacking human creativity.

• Generative AI Involved: Created by three AI studios—Secret Level, Silverside AI, and Wild Card—the ad used four different AI models, sparking debate about the role of AI in creative industries.

• Industry Concerns: Artists and creatives criticized Coca-Cola, arguing that AI undermines human talent and exploits artists’ works without fair credit or compensation.

• Coca-Cola’s Response: The company framed the ad as a collaboration between human creativity and AI, emphasizing its history of innovation and storytelling in holiday marketing.

Our vision

AI’s integration into creative industries, as seen with Coca-Cola’s controversial holiday ad, underscores its potential to streamline production and unlock new possibilities. However, it also highlights the need for ethical frameworks that respect human artistry and foster collaboration rather than replacement. As AI becomes a tool for amplifying creativity, businesses must balance innovation with inclusivity, ensuring technology enhances rather than diminishes human contribution in the workplace.

Spatial Computing

At a glance

• Launch Announcement: Baidu introduced the Xiaodu AI Glasses, the world’s first smart glasses powered by a native Chinese language AI model, at the 2024 Baidu World Conference.

• Cutting-Edge Features: Weighing just 45 grams, the glasses boast a 16MP ultra-wide-angle camera with AI stabilization, four-microphone array, open-ear anti-leakage speakers, and six AI-powered functionalities, including real-time Q&A, object identification, and audio-visual translation.

• Enhanced Usability: Provides 56 hours of standby time, 5+ hours of continuous audio playback, and a 30-minute rapid charge for seamless daily use.

• Integrated Ecosystem: Powered by Baidu’s DuerOS AI operating system, the glasses integrate with Baidu Maps, Baike, and other native apps, enriching user interactions in the Chinese market.

• Affordable Pricing: Retailing at under 2,100 yuan (~$290), the Xiaodu AI Glasses will be available in the first half of 2025.

Our vision

The Xiaodu AI Glasses signify a step toward making advanced AI tools more accessible and practical, particularly for Chinese-speaking users. As AI-powered wearables like these expand in capabilities, they stand to enhance productivity in daily life and professional contexts, streamlining tasks such as real-time translation, object recognition, and smart assistance.

Baidu's innovation showcases how tailored AI ecosystems can transform technology into an intuitive partner, shaping a future where AI tools amplify human efficiency and connectivity.

At a glance

• Niantic's Innovation: Niantic is pioneering Large Geospatial Models (LGMs) to enable AI-powered spatial intelligence, connecting scenes globally for real-world positioning and interaction.

• Human-Like Spatial Understanding: LGMs extrapolate unseen areas by learning from global patterns, akin to human perception of familiar structures from incomplete angles.

• Applications Beyond Gaming: AR glasses, robotics, spatial design, and logistics will benefit, with LGMs enhancing real-world navigation, interaction, and content creation.

• Current Implementation: Niantic’s Visual Positioning System (VPS) enables precise AR content placement, with over 10 million scanned locations and 1 million activated for use.

Our vision

Niantic’s development of Large Geospatial Models (LGMs) marks a transformative step in AI, making spatial intelligence an integral part of our work and daily lives. By enabling machines to perceive, interpret, and interact with the physical world, LGMs are poised to revolutionize productivity, from guiding workers through complex tasks to creating immersive AR experiences.

This evolution from text-based AI to geospatial intelligence underscores a future where AI empowers industries and individuals, bridging the digital and physical worlds seamlessly.

Social Media

At a glance

• Bluesky's Surge: Bluesky gained 2M users in a week, now surpassing 17M, as discontent with X (formerly Twitter) grows.

• Threads' Growth: Threads, Meta’s Twitter alternative, saw 15M new sign-ups in November.

• Shift from Centralization: Decentralized platforms like Bluesky, Nostr, and Mastodon offer tailored user experiences, moderation control, and algorithm-free timelines.

• Key Technology: Bluesky leverages the open AT Protocol, enabling custom feeds, flexible moderation, and interoperability across services.

• Cultural Differentiation: Decentralized networks foster distinct user experiences and niche communities, contrasting with monolithic platforms.

Our vision 

The rise of decentralized social media marks a shift in how AI and technology enhance productivity and control in our online interactions. Platforms like Bluesky and Threads signal the end of centralized feeds, offering tools for individuals to customize their digital experiences and moderate content.

As this evolution unfolds, it empowers users to curate diverse, personalized networks, reflecting a broader trend toward technology putting more agency into our hands. This fragmented future holds challenges but also immense potential for redefining how we connect and collaborate.

Smart Home

At a glance

• Apple's New Smart Display: Expected in March 2025, Apple’s wall-mounted smart display aims to act as a central control for smart homes, featuring a 6-inch display, a camera, rechargeable battery, and speakers.

• Inspiration: Similar to DIY setups like repurposed iPads, this display targets usability for non-tech-savvy users.

• Core Features: Focused on simplicity, it will provide easy access to scenes, devices, and automations via the Home app.

• Design & Functionality: Designed to mount on walls like traditional security panels, with detachable options for flexibility, available in black and silver.

• Market Impact: Positioned to make smart home technology more accessible and appealing to everyday users.

Our vision

Apple's forthcoming smart display could redefine productivity in smart home management by blending intuitive design with AI-driven automation. As AI increasingly powers smart home systems, products like this will make complex technology more approachable, enhancing our ability to manage energy, comfort, and convenience efficiently. This device reflects the future of AI-driven tools—offering solutions that are not only powerful but also user-friendly, democratizing smart home tech for all.

Streaming

At a glance

• Netflix's Live Fight Event: The highly anticipated live-streamed bout between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul at AT&T Stadium faced significant technical issues, including freezing, sound outages, and pixelated video quality.

• Fan Reactions: Viewers criticized the stream heavily on social media, with many demanding refunds and hashtags like #NetflixCrash trending online.

• Event Highlights: The undercard featured top fighters like Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano, while celebrity appearances by Charlize Theron, Shaq, and others added star power. Locker room interviews and promotional tie-ins echoed the style of classic HBO boxing broadcasts.

• Technical Challenges: Despite being Netflix’s most ambitious live sports broadcast, the platform’s glitches drew comparisons to past streaming failures, raising questions about its readiness for upcoming live sports like NFL games.

Our vision

As streaming technologies evolve, events like Netflix’s live Tyson vs. Paul fight underscore the challenges of scaling live-streaming for global audiences. The future of digital entertainment hinges on flawless, immersive experiences that seamlessly blend live events, interactive elements, and celebrity-driven content.

Netflix’s venture into live sports demonstrates a pivotal shift in how platforms aim to enhance productivity in user engagement, showcasing both the potential and pitfalls of this rapidly growing space.

Transportation

At a glance

• Robotaxis on the Rise: Cruise and Waymo’s driverless taxis are increasingly visible in cities like San Francisco, Austin, and Phoenix, with expansion plans for Los Angeles and beyond.

• Safety and Technical Issues: While operationally stable in controlled environments, incidents like unexpected stops and interference with emergency services highlight gaps in reliability.

• Regulatory Lag: Cities lack authority over robotaxis, and there’s no standardized framework for evaluating autonomous vehicle safety.

• Economic Impact: Robotaxis could displace taxi and ride-hail drivers, raising urgent questions about labor protections and compensation.

• Transportation Policy Challenges: Potential for increased congestion, undermined public transit, and insufficient road use regulations underscore the need for proactive planning.

Our vision

Robotaxis represent the next major step in autonomous transportation, with the potential to make travel safer and more efficient. However, the technology demands a balanced approach to ensure it doesn’t exacerbate societal challenges. Public discourse and forward-looking policies must guide the integration of robotaxis to protect workers, support public transit, and mitigate urban congestion. With thoughtful oversight, this innovation could redefine mobility while maintaining equitable and sustainable urban systems.