INN024: AI 10x CHEAPER| Robots build own Brains | GeoSpy knows your Location

Remember when AI was just about chatbots and image generation? Those days are fading fast. From French tech giants entering the arena to robots developing their own brains, we're seeing AI evolve in ways that even the optimists didn't predict.

And what a couple of weeks it's been. Sam Altman dropped a bombshell about AI's plummeting costs (think iPhone prices in freefall), Figure's robots are declaring independence from OpenAI, and OpenAI itself just turned research into a superpower with Deep Research.

Meanwhile, AI cinema is transforming from short clips to full features, location AI is pushing the boundaries of what's possible (and comfortable), and Europe's finally showing up to the party with Mistral's impressive debut.

First stop: we'll explore why AI's deflationary trend might be our best shot at a democratic tech future, dive into what happens when robots start thinking for themselves, and uncover how AI is about to revolutionize everything from academic research to Hollywood. Plus, we'll look at why having multiple global AI powerhouses might actually be good news for everyone.

Why does it matter? 
Stick with us and find out. Let’s keep riding this tech wave together, and don’t forget to follow us on socials for more.

Cheers,
Patrick, Nikola & Aragorn 🚀

The AI Price Revolution: Moore's Law Just Met Its Match

Remember when mobile phones went from luxury items to something everyone carries? That's happening with AI, but at warp speed. Sam Altman dropped a bombshell that's reshaping the AI landscape: costs are plummeting 10x every year. This makes Moore's Law look like a casual stroll. We're not talking about gentle price drops – we're witnessing an economic earthquake in the tech world.

The evidence is clear: operations that demanded enterprise-level budgets last year now cost less than your Netflix subscription. This isn't incremental change – it's a fundamental restructuring of who gets to play in the AI sandbox. Just as the smartphone revolution turned mobile computing from luxury to necessity, AI is following the same path at lightspeed.

Why does it matter?
When everyone from students to startups can access top-tier AI, we level the playing field. The future of AI isn't exclusive penthouses – it's affordable housing for all. This democratization is our best shield against a future where only the wealthy control AI's power.

Robot Rebellion: Figure's Break for Independence

Figure, the robotics company making waves with their humanoid robots, just threw a curveball at the industry. They're cutting ties with OpenAI to develop their own AI models. This isn't your typical corporate breakup – it's a declaration that robotics needs its own breed of AI.

The company's founder, Brett Adcock, explains that while language models excel at conversation, they're just one piece of the robotics puzzle. The real challenge lies in developing AI that can understand and interact with the physical world. Figure's robots are already working in BMW factories, and this move signals they're ready to take full control of their destiny.

Why does it matter?
This is like a car manufacturer deciding to build their own engines instead of buying them from suppliers. When robotics companies control their entire AI stack, they control their destiny. The result? Robots that don't just follow scripts but understand their environment at a fundamental level. This isn't about better machines – it's about creating true mechanical partners in human progress.

Deep Research: AI Transforms from Librarian to Research Professor

OpenAI's Deep Research marks a fundamental shift in AI behavior. Unlike earlier models that rush to answer, Deep Research approaches problems like a seasoned academic – it interrogates the question first. Ask for an analysis of universal basic income, and it responds with precise questions about scope, timeframe, and context. This isn't AI playing 20 questions – it's AI thinking critically about what it needs to know.

The results speak for themselves. While standard AI might skim the surface, Deep Research dives deep, surfacing insights from obscure sources and connecting dots that even experienced researchers might miss. Academics using the tool report that it’s approaching research with a level of sophistication that rivals expert human researchers.

Why does it matter?
This transforms how organizations handle knowledge. Think of it as giving your company not just a perfect memory, but the analytical capabilities of an entire research department. Every document, every decision, every piece of institutional knowledge becomes instantly accessible and actionable. Deep Research goes beyond storing information – it understands it, analyzes it, and puts it in context.

AI Cinema: Hollywood's New Frontier

The world of AI-generated video is experiencing a dramatic evolution. What started as simple image-to-video conversions and basic animations has exploded into a full-fledged creative medium. The rapid advancement in AI video generation is following the same trajectory we saw with AI images – from crude experiments to sophisticated creative tools in a matter of months.

Enter escape.ai, the self-proclaimed "Netflix of AI-generated movies." This platform exemplifies how far we've come: what started as 30-second clips has evolved into 10-minute short films.

One of our own Innovation Network members, Jan-Willem Blom (because having AI video pioneers in our community is just how we roll), is pushing these boundaries with his latest work "Obsidian Rift." The platform isn't just hosting videos – it's fostering a new creative ecosystem where AI and human creativity intersect.

Current AI-generated films still show their artificial origins in subtle ways – inconsistencies that human eyes can catch. But rather than seeing these as limitations, forward-thinking creators are embracing them, transforming technical quirks into artistic features.

Why does it matter?
This democratization of video production reshapes the creative landscape. When sophisticated filmmaking tools become accessible to anyone with an idea, we unlock stories that would never have made it past traditional gatekeepers. The rise of AI video platforms is unleashing a wave of creativity that was previously locked behind million-dollar budgets and industry connections.

Behind AI Cinema's Curtain: Our Guy's Got Stories

Remember our Innovation Network pioneer Jan-Willem Blom, who's been turning heads with AI-generated cinema? He's back, and this time he's pulling back the curtain.

Now he's teaming up with music producer Wolter Rebergen to show exactly how they turned 'The Obsidian Rift' from concept to mind-bending reality. This isn't your typical tech talk. Jan-Willem and Wolter are ripping open their creative playbook – from model training secrets with Pimento to the dark arts of AI soundtrack creation. Live demos included, no technical jargon required.

Want in?

🗓️ Thursday, February 13th
⏰ 8:00 PM CET
💻 Online Event
🎟️ Free Registration

Why does it matter?
While everyone's talking about AI cinema, Jan-Willem's actually making it happen. This isn't theory – it's the real deal from someone shaping the future of storytelling. Plus, he's part of our crew, so you know it's going to be good.

GeoSpy: The World's New Digital Map

Recent developments in AI location technology have crossed a threshold that seemed impossible a year ago. GeoSpy can now determine the exact location of any photograph – even from a partial view through a window.

The technology combines visual analysis with deep learning to match even the smallest environmental clues against a global database. A glimpse of architecture, a street sign in the background, or even the angle of sunlight – everything becomes a data point for precise location identification.

Why does it matter?
While this raises obvious privacy discussions, its potential for good is transformative. Emergency services can locate distress calls more accurately. Search and rescue operations can pinpoint missing persons from photos shared on social media. Law enforcement can track criminal activity more effectively.

French AI's First Shot: Mistral Takes on Image Generation

While American AI dominates headlines, France's Mistral AI just proved it can play in the big leagues – at least when it comes to creating images. In our first 24 hours of testing, Mistral's image generation capabilities are impressively polished, producing detailed scenes that rival established players in the field.

The results speak for themselves: when asked to generate "two girls shopping for shoes in a comic store," Mistral delivered with striking attention to detail – from perfectly placed comic books on shelves to contextually appropriate shoes on display. While it still lacks some advanced features like inpainting (the ability to edit specific parts of an image), the quality of its base generation is turning heads.

Why does it matter?
A multi-polar AI world is a stronger AI world. When development spreads across different regions and cultures, we get more than just competition – we get diversity of thought and approach. For users, this means more choices, different approaches to AI development, and ultimately, a healthier AI ecosystem.

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