Welcome, humans.

AI researchers have cranked up the heat in 2024. Just yesterday, 200 papers were published to arxiv tagged with AI. A year ago, there were only 36. Gee, thanks—this makes my bad habit of collecting unread books look like child’s play!

Here’s what you need to know about AI today:

• Samsung's Galaxy S24 is bursting with cool, new AI features.

• Meanwhile, iPhones are yet to match up in the AI race...

• Google DeepMind created an incredible geometry-solving AI model.

• Sam Altman said Ilya Sutskever’s status at OpenAI remains TBD.

Smartphones have officially entered the AI era.

Good news for Galaxy fans who've been the odd ones out in iPhone group chats (we still love you!): Samsung just announced the first truly AI-powered smartphone: the Galaxy S24.

For us AI power users, the features aren’t exactly new, but it’s the first time we’ve seen them packaged up into a smartphone (Siri doesn’t count, sorry).

First, those who take excessive amounts of photos get cool new toys that:

• fill in the edges of images.

• fill in missing video frames.

• suggest tweaks for photos.

• erase reflections.

• & more.

Then, there are a few nice-to-have features that used to require a ChatGPT intervention, like AI-generated summaries of notes and calls, or AI-suggested emails and captions.

Many of these capabilities, BTW, are fueled by Google’s ChatGPT rival, Gemini Pro. Google, too, is smacking Gemini onto its Pixel phones this winter, starting with Gemini Nano on the Pixel 8 Pro.

Our fav feature is this thing called “Circle to Search”, which is exactly how it sounds: circle anything on your screen to search questions about it.

Notably missing from the conversation? Here’s a hint: it rhymes with Snapple.

Sure, Apple reigns supreme in blue-message group chats, but they’re lagging in the AI department.

This could be due to their lack of a proprietary AI model like Google's Gemini, or internal alignment issues (Apple just shut down a 121-person team that was responsible for improving Siri).

Nevertheless, things move very quickly in AI, and we wouldn’t be surprised if Apple unveiled a cutting-edge AI device later this year that blows everything else out of the water. This is what they did with the Vision Pro, which made Zuck’s Meta Quest headsets look like a high school science project.

FROM OUR PARTNERS

Registration for the MindStudio Developer Certification is now open. 

Join this expert-led full-day certification course on Saturday, January 27th, designed for developers eager to master AI with MindStudio.

This course offers an immersive experience in AI development, covering everything from the basics to advanced techniques.

Perfect for both beginners and seasoned developers, this program will empower you with the skills to create sophisticated no-code AI applications.

Spaces are limited, so secure your spot today and be part of this exclusive AI development adventure!

Register Here.

This Should (Probably) Exist.

In 2023, we saw a surge in folks using ChatGPT as makeshift therapists. It's not ideal, but hey, it's something (Pi is a notch above for those emotional heart-to-hearts).

Soren Iverson floated this great idea (first published here) to upsell mental health services inside ChatGPT when questions get too personal.

It's kind of a riot, but honestly, we're betting on high-EQ chatbots like Pi to outperform those $65/hr BetterHelp sessions pretty soon.

Around the Horn.

• Google DeepMind created an AI model that solves Olympiad geometry problems at roughly the level of a human gold medalist.

• Sam Altman per Axios: we can’t avoid training on NYT, Ilya Sutskever’s future at OpenAI is unknown, & OpenAI will require “uncomfortable” decisions.

• Sam Altman per Reuters: an energy breakthrough is necessary for AI, which will consume more power than expected.

• Politico announced a new feature that summarizes Federal Bills.

Thursday Trivia.

Despite the somewhat creepy vibes of a 'Ready Player One' future where the metaverse rules all, we've got to admit: Apple's Vision Pro is objectively cool.

One glance, everyone knows the rules: one of these is Midjourney and one is real.

Which is which?

A/

B/

A Cat's Commentary.

Trivia Answer: Click here to see the AI photo.