o1-preview | Roblox | 3D AI Generation | NotebookLM | PIxel 9 | Project SID | Nothing Earbuds

Hey there innovators!

Ready for another whirlwind ride through the land of cutting-edge tech? This week's edition is packed tighter than qubits in a quantum computer.

First off: OpenAI just dropped its new model, o1. The best AI models couldn’t even beat a toddler at reasoning until just a month ago. o1, however, is a paradigm shift again in Ai, as it can compete with and even beat PHDs in some areas due to it’s much improved reasoning capabilities. 🧠 Curious? Check out our video below where we geek out on all things o1. 🎥

But wait, there's more! There’s news from the Metaverse! Roblox, to be precise, has moved forward with more GenAi integration. Next up; Google’s latest gem, NotebookLM. Imagine chatting with your documents and turning them into podcasts. Yes, it’s as cool as it sounds, and we couldn't resist giving it a spin.

And in case you haven't noticed, we're mixing things up! Expect more recaps of our social media escapades? We're ramping up our activity on LinkedIn and X. So, if you’re not following us yet on socials, now’s the time to join the party!

By the way.. If YOU like to help sharing great innovation news to help people increase productivity and happiness. Let us know!

Aragorn is over the moon with his shiny new Pixel 9 Pro Fold, which is a mouth full indeed, now with instant access to Gemini Advanced. 🚀 You can almost hear the techno soundtrack playing in the background as he explores how to get a new Suno tune for our newsletter. 🎵

Also, don't miss out on Project SID, a complete Roblox world bustling with a thousand individual AI agents. It’s one of those short videos that makes you think about the agency of AI and yourself.

Finally, mark your calendars for our upcoming meetups, likely happening in the second week of December. We aim for the 9th of december. It’s going to be a blast, and we can’t wait to see you all there! 

Until then, sit back, relax, and enjoy this edition of the newsletter. And remember, we love hearing your thoughts, so don’t be a stranger!

Cheers,
Patrick, Ricardo, Nikola & Aragorn 🚀✨

OpenAI O1: A reasonable upgrade

AI is shifting into a new gear with OpenAI's o1. Think of it as an upgrade to reasoning, filling in a critical gap where AI models often fumbled with basic logic. Historically, models topped out at a mere 27% on reasoning benchmarks – pretty underwhelming for something that’s supposed to be intelligent.

But o1-preview? It's blowing those limits out of the water. Experts are calling it a paradigm shift, and the improvement in reasoning skills is jaw-dropping. So much that it now handles PhD-level challenges! It's not just solving riddles or basic logic puzzles anymore; it's making strides in complex fields like physics and math.

What’s next? If this rate of improvement continues, AI will outperform humans in reasoning-based tasks by the end of next year. Jobs that rely on logical problem-solving? Say goodbye to the last bastion of human superiority.

The future is here, and AI is getting smarter. Fast.

Why does it matter?
This is a quantum leap in AI reasoning capabilities, a potential step towards AGI, potentially rendering human intellectual superiority obsolete across numerous fields. On short notice!. And this breakthrough could rapidly accelerate AI adoption as a companion in daily life, while further consolidating power in the hands of tech giants.

From Text to 3D Worlds: The Next Digital Frontier

The shift from text to 3D worlds is already on the horizon, and Roblox is leading the charge. Imagine typing a few lines and… boom! Your entire virtual environment is created. What started as a tool for developers is now evolving into something accessible to anyone. No coding needed, just imagination.

Roblox has quietly built an empire where anyone can create and sell inside its ecosystem. With AI integration ramping up, 3D world creation is getting easier. Combine that with major brands like Adidas setting up shop in these digital realms, and we’re witnessing the blending of commerce and virtual spaces like never before.

As these worlds expand, they’ll become more ingrained in everyday life, especially for younger generations. It’s not just a game, it’s a new reality, and it’s only getting started.

Why does it matter?
The ability for anyone to easily create 3D virtual worlds is opening up new ways for people to interact, work, and shop online. This shift is not just changing how we use technology, it's creating new economic opportunities and could transform how we experience the digital world in our daily lives.

Check out how Shopify is using Roblox.

Your Personal AI Podcast? Yeah, It's Happening

Imagine a future where you’re playing your favourite game and want to learn a new character. Without pausing. Enter NotebookLM, Google's AI assistant that can whip up a podcast from any document or website in minutes. Imagine you’re playing a game and you get stuck at a particular spot, or need to learn how to play a new character. Instead of watching a tutorial video, you can have NotebookLM read a guide, create a podcast, and voilà! Learn on the go!

This is just the beginning. Soon, you'll curate exactly the type of content you want, whether it’s a podcast about a complex scientific paper or a digestible summary for your morning commute. We’re heading toward an era where you control not only what you consume, but how. From creating podcasts to Netflix shows tailored to your emotional state, this tech could fundamentally shift how we interact with information.

Who’s ready to automate their media diet?

Why does it matter?
These technologies are revolutionizing how we consume information, allowing us to effortlessly transform any content into personalized, easily digestible formats (like podcasts) and change how we acquire knowledge and interact with media in our daily lives.

Google Snatches Character.AI for $2.5 Billion. What’s the Real Play?

Did you miss it? Google quietly snagged Character.AI for a whopping $2.5 billion. That might not seem massive compared to Facebook's $19 billion for WhatsApp, but it's still a big move in the AI world. And here’s the kicker, it’s not just about the platform.

Character AI had already built a strong foothold in the AI companion market, so why did Google swoop in? It's all about the talent. Google’s adding Character.AI’s top minds to fuel their Gemini project, which could shake up the entire AI landscape. Sure, Google could recreate Character.AI’s tech from scratch, but talent? That’s the real gold.

With the industry consolidating fast (look at Microsoft and Amazon) this move signals one thing: AI dominance isn't just about the tech; it’s about who’s behind it.

Why does it matters?

Google buying Character.AI shows big tech companies are competing to get the best AI experts. This trend is leading to a few large companies controlling most advanced AI technology, which gives them significant power over how AI develops and is used in society, raising important concerns about the concentration of such influential technology.

Get more context here

Project SID: AI Agents Taking Over Minecraft

Ever imagined AI agents learning in real-time? Welcome to Project SID, where autonomous AI agents are set loose in Minecraft’s infinite sandbox. This groundbreaking experiment uses Minecraft as a virtual testing ground for AI, teaching these agents to navigate, collaborate, and thrive in complex environments. The goal? To evolve AI agents capable of real-world problem-solving.

And it worked! The 1000 fully autonomous agents have successfully created their own society in-game, complete with politics and its own economy. They started from zero and cooperated to collect over 300 unique items!

These agents started in Minecraft but they are not limited to it. They can use other apps and games. Now that we know that AI can effectively cooperate, will we be seeing fully automated workspaces in the near future?

Why does it matter?

Project SID shows that AI can create its own societies in virtual worlds like Minecraft, working together to solve problems and build economies. This breakthrough could help us better understand and simulate real-world social systems, potentially leading to new insights in economics, politics, and how societies function.

The future of AI assistance, coming from Nothing

Nothing is revolutionizing the world of wearables with Ear, the world’s first earbuds with ChatGPT integration! Imagine having your personal AI assistant right in your ear, ready to help you at any time, anywhere.

Let’s say you’re walking down the street, listening to your favorite podcast, and you hear something that piques your curiosity. With just a pinch, you can ask ChatGPT directly, without needing to take your phone out of your pocket! ChatGPT will pause the podcast for you and resume once it’s done helping you.

This is the prime example of how AI has infinite applications to enhance human lifestyles, and what every wearable will look like in the next five years.

Why does it matter?

The integration of AI assistants into wearable devices marks a significant shift in how we interact with technology in our daily lives. This hands-free, voice-activated AI access could make information and assistance more readily available, potentially changing how we work, learn, and communicate while on the go.

Foldable Phones and AI: The Future is Here, So Why Aren’t We Talking About It?

Let’s wrap this up: Aragorn is rocking his first foldable phone, and it's honestly blowing his mind. While foldables aren’t new, it’s the AI integration that makes the difference. We’ve played with most AI models out there, but the o1-Preview has taken reasoning to a new level.

However, the real game-changer for consumers will be AI voice assistants becoming ubiquitous. Google’s Gemini is fast and responsive, yet it’s flying under the radar. No major ads, no fanfare. And sure, Gemini’s responses aren’t always perfect, but that’s where good old critical thinking comes in. You don't need to be a prompt engineer to ask better questions. Just be curious and push for clearer answers.

As AI evolves, so will our interaction with tech. We’re not just consumers anymore. We’re collaborators.

Stay curious, stay sharp.

Why does it matter?

Previous voice assistants like Siri and Alexa have often been frustrating to use compared to modern assistance like ChatGPT. Google's Gemini Assistant is showing how it’s possible to have more natural, helpful conversations with our devices. And it’s available in the EU, unlike Apple Intelligence. This improvement will lead to AI assistants becoming a constant, reliable source of help in our daily lives.

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