AI is the rage and talent is hard to find while graphics advances are inching towards truly life-like video games

Read time: 5 min

Welcome to this week’s edition of This Week in Tech. From Elon Musk’s latest comments on the fierce AI talent war—where salaries soar to the million-dollar range—to Microsoft and OpenAI's ambitious plans for a $100 billion AI supercomputer project, we’re tracking the pulse of technological evolution.

Plus, we'll peek into Apple's foray into home robotics, potentially bringing a new competitor for Roomba into your living room. Stay tuned as we explore these exciting developments, painting a picture of a future where the lines between technology and reality are increasingly blurred.

Artificial Intelligence

Elon Musk revealed that OpenAI is actively recruiting Tesla's engineers with substantial compensation offers, intensifying the AI talent war. Despite raising pay for Tesla’s AI team based on progress milestones, some engineers, including Tesla's computer vision chief, have moved to OpenAI. 

Musk described the ongoing competition for AI expertise as the most intense he has ever seen, with industry salaries reportedly reaching up to $1 million. This battle for talent continues despite broader tech layoffs, underscoring a significant demand shift within the sector.

OpenAI reportedly offered a median salary (including bonus and equity) of $925,000, Zuhayeer Musa, co-founder of compensation data and career platform Levels.fyi, told The Journal, based on the platform’s consultations with six OpenAI job candidates. And Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has reportedly written personal emails to Google DeepMind’s AI researchers to convince them to work with him.

Microsoft and OpenAI are reportedly planning a colossal $100 billion data-center project, including an artificial intelligence supercomputer named "Stargate" slated for launch in 2028. This initiative, poised to be significantly more costly than existing data centers, aims to meet the burgeoning demand for AI capabilities that exceed those of traditional data centers. The project, financed by Microsoft, will unfold in five phases with "Stargate" marking the final phase. 

Current efforts involve sourcing expensive AI chips, with significant investments anticipated in infrastructure to support advanced AI developments. This project reflects Microsoft's commitment to leading the next generation of AI infrastructure innovation.

Apple is reportedly developing a smart home robot, according to Bloomberg. This personal bot aims to follow users around their homes, integrating features like a built-in display that could mimic head movements during FaceTime calls or frame individuals in a crowd. However, the project is in its early stages, and challenges such as the display's weight affecting the robot's motor could influence its viability. 

With stiff competition from established products like Roomba, it remains to be seen if Apple will proceed with this venture or shift focus towards enhancing AI capabilities in other products like Siri.

Viggle AI - What is it?

Viggle AI is a new AI startup that just launched its latest model. Joining the AI image generation and manipulation battle, it offers the ability to streamline character animation. Their technology understands real-world physics, making your characters move naturally. This means we now can have stunning animations in minutes. (src)

Check out these examples:

The Metaverse and Spatial Computing

Meta Quest 3 owners are eagerly anticipating the release of a new VR pinball controller, as revealed in a recent video by the company. The controller, designed by GibsonPinball, mimics the end of a pinball table and enhances the gaming experience on the Quest 3, making games feel more immersive and realistic. 

While the controller is not yet available for purchase, its demonstration has generated excitement among the VR community, particularly for its compatibility with PC streaming through SteamVR and direct connection via USB-C to the Quest 3. Enthusiastic responses from users underscore the potential for niche controllers to significantly enhance the VR gaming experience.

The photorealistic overhaul of Cyberpunk 2077 has reached such a level of fidelity that viewers are struggling to distinguish it from reality. This mod showcases vehicles and environments so lifelike that they verge on the "uncanny valley" effect, where they appear almost too real. As PC hardware continues to evolve, enabling quick rendering of realistic lighting and textures, the graphics in video games are fast approaching indistinguishability from real life. 

However, this hyper-realism has sparked debate among gamers, with some feeling that such high fidelity can strip a game of its unique aesthetic and character. This trend raises questions about the future of gaming visuals and whether the pursuit of photorealistic graphics might ultimately sacrifice the artistic direction that gives games their soul.

Energy

A groundbreaking redesign of the triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) by researchers at Central South University in Changsha, China, heralds a promising future for the use of wave energy in technology. By more than doubling the electrical output of their TENG, the team has set the stage for its potential use in powering small devices remotely, especially in marine and offshore settings.

This innovation could lead to sustainable energy solutions for environmental monitoring, underwater exploration, and even underwater communication networks, marking a significant step towards harnessing the abundant, renewable resource of ocean waves to meet the growing energy demands of the technology industry.

Something Extra

That wraps up this week's journey through the tech landscape in our latest edition of This Week in Tech. From the fierce battleground of AI talent wars to revolutionary leaps in AI infrastructure and the allure of home robotics, we've covered the pulse of innovation that keeps reshaping our world. As we continue to navigate these exciting developments, let’s stay curious and informed about the technologies that are not only evolving around us but also redefining our future.

Thanks for joining us—keep an eye on tomorrow and stay tech-savvy! Until next time, keep pushing the boundaries of what's possible.