Welcome to the newest edition of ID Tech’s AI update. Here’s the latest big news on the shifting landscape of AI and identity technology:
OpenAI’s Advanced Voice Mode can now see, enabling it to fluently converse with users while analyzing what it is shown through their mobile device camera. In a live demo, the AI assistant was able to remember and recognize OpenAI staffers after being introduced to them. The feature was launched as part of the ongoing “12 Days of OpenAI” announcement parade, which also saw the launch of Sora, OpenAI’s video generation tool.
Meta has launched a “Video Seal” watermarking tool for AI-generated videos. The Video Seal won’t be visible to the human eye, and could be used to detect deepfakes. Meta also launched Motivo, an AI model meant to help digital avatars embody realistic human movements—a system that could enhance metaverse experiences.
Google and Samsung are working together on an AR/VR/XR/whatever-we’re-calling-it headset in an effort called Project “Moohan”, which means “Infinity” in Korean. The headset will have hand and eye-tracking capabilities and a voice interface, and is expected to integrate Google’s Gemini AI system—which also just got a big upgrade.
WaveForms has reached a $200 million valuation after a $40 million seed round led by Andreessen Horowitz. The startup is working on interactive voice agents that have synthetic emotional intelligence, aiming for applications in things like AI customer service agents and other digital assistants.
Apple is working on an AI chip with Broadcom. Codenamed “Baltra“, the AI server chip is intended to reduce Apple’s reliance on Nvidia. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company’s (TSMC) advanced N3P manufacturing process will be used for mass production, which is expected to get underway by 2026.
TSMC has reported a 34 percent year-over-year revenue increase for November, with monthly sales of about $8.5 billion. Analysts predict that the firm’s sales will increase 36.3 percent this quarter, thanks mainly to AI demand.
Broadcom reached a market cap of $1 trillion today, thanks to a surge in its stock price after posting strong quarterly results. Revenues reached $14.05 billion thanks in large part to its AI-related business activities, which have seen a 220 percent revenue jump in fiscal 2024.
China has opened an antitrust investigation into Nvidia, via its State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR), which is looking into potential violations of China’s Anti-Monopoly Law as well as the US chipmaker’s $6.9 billion acquisition of Mellanox Technologies. The move comes shortly after the White House announced new export controls aimed at China’s chip sector.
The chatbot’s take: We are a little unnerved by all of this rapid progress.
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December 13, 2024 – by Alex Perala
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