OpenAI tries to recreate Her without her permission

This week, delve into the innovative realm of AI, spatial Computing, biotechnology, transportation and and cutting-edge gadgets. We cover Scarlett Johansson’s latest legal battle with OpenAI trying to steal her voice amdist challenges with departures in their safety team. In the realm of spatial computing a hater is converted to a believer for the Quest 3 while “the floor is lava” takes on a whole new meaning.

Tesla continues to make waves in transportation with their push towards full self driving and cyber taxis while Peter Diamandis charts our biotechnological future in order to live another 100 years.

We wrap up this week with some newly minted gadgets included Sonos’ first pair of sleek looking headphones and impressive cyclist glasses that rapidly respond to changing light conditions.

Artificial Intelligence

Scarlett Johansson declined OpenAI's offer to be the voice of ChatGPT, yet the deployed voice, named "Sky," closely resembled hers, causing her distress and leading to legal action. Despite OpenAI's denial and subsequent withdrawal of Sky's voice due to the controversy, Johansson seeks transparency on how the voice was created. This mirrors ongoing concerns in AI regarding the ethical use of likenesses and the need for clear regulations.

OpenAI's "Superalignment" team, dedicated to addressing AI's existential risks, has been dissolved due to internal disagreements on priorities. Key figures, including Ilya Sutskever and Jan Leike, resigned citing the company's focus on product development over AI safety.

Their departures led to the integration of the team's functions into other projects, amidst broader organizational restructuring and governance issues.

The Metaverse and Spatial Computing

The Quest 3 offers a compelling mix of fun and affordability in VR, standing out in a market validated by high-end devices like Apple's Vision Pro. Its accessible price and robust game library make advanced VR experiences more attainable, accelerating the technology's adoption among a broader audience.

Taking “The Floor is Lava” to the next level. Check out the video to see the latest in AR tech powering the latest iteration our childhood game

Biotechnology

The $101M XPRIZE Healthspan aims to add 20 healthy years to human life, focusing on closing the gap between lifespan and healthspan. This global competition challenges teams to develop therapies that extend quality life, potentially adding trillions to the global economy. With life expectancy rising but quality of life lagging, the prize incentivizes innovation in healthy aging solutions.

If successful, this could fundamentally transform our approach to aging, making a healthy, extended life possible for all.

Peter Diamandis discusses three approaches to organ regeneration aimed at overcoming organ scarcity and improving healthspan by providing "spare organs" for aging individuals. This aligns with the previously summarized $101M XPRIZE Healthspan initiative, which incentivizes extending quality of life through technological innovations.

Both efforts focus on revolutionary health solutions that promise a future where longevity and quality of life go hand-in-hand, supporting a broader movement towards significantly enhanced human health and lifespan.

Transportation

It is becoming more and more clear that Tesla is going all in on FSD and its Cyber Cab venture. The majority of R&D expenses will be allocated as such and Tesla is committed to scaling its data centers to accommodate the growing amounts of data it is using to build out its model.

Gadgets

Some recent gadgets that are noteworthy. The first one is the announcement of Sonos’ first headphones. Their products have been well received by the public so we expect a similar response to their first set of headphones. Next up is these impressive cycler glasses that rapidly respond to changing light conditions. These seem like quite an improvement over current transitions lenses. Check them both out below.