Jun 25

Google is reportedly building AI chatbots based on celebrities and influencers

Posted in: Today's Chili

Google is reportedly building new AI-powered chatbots based on celebrities and YouTube influencers. The idea isn’t groundbreaking — startups like Character.ai and companies like Meta have already launched products like this — but neither is Google’s AI strategy so far.

Google’s celebrity chatbots will be powered by the company’s Gemini family of large language models according to The Information, which broke the story on Monday. The company is trying to strike partnerships with influencers as well as celebrities, and is also working on a feature that will let people create their own chatbots simply by describing their personalities and appearance — something that Character.ai already lets you do. A fun fact: Noam Shazeer, one of the co-founders of Character.ai, is a former Google engineer and one of the creators of “transformers,” the fundamental tech that made today’s generative AI possible.

It isn’t yet clear which celebrities or influencers Google might partner with. Meta’s chatbots, for instance, are based on personalities like TikTok star Charli D’Amelio, YouTube phenomenon Mr. Beast, Snoop Dogg, Tom Brady and Paris Hilton among others, while Character.ai’s characters include politicians, philosophers, fictional characters, and even objects like a block of cheese that talks. Google’s project is reportedly being led by a longtime executive called Ryan Germick who works on Google Doodles, and a team of ten.

It also sounds like Google’s bots could be just an experiment — according to the report, the bots might only show up on Google Labs, the company’s website for experimental products, instead of being available more broadly.

It isn’t clear why Google’s doing this. Meta’s AI chatbots based on celebrities never really took off despite the company stuffing them in every product it makes. As The Information pointed out, the company’s chatbot based on Snoop Dogg has only 15,000 followers on Instagram compared with 87.5 million followers who follow the human rapper.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/google-is-reportedly-building-ai-chatbots-based-on-celebrities-and-influencers-235731655.html?src=rss

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Jun 25

Tesla Unveils Optimus Gen 2 Robot Priced From $10,000

Posted in: Today's Chili

If you’re a fan of robotics, you probably already heard about Optimus — No, we’re not talking about the brand name that was once owned by LG for their flagship phones (check out our review for the Optimus G here), but instead, a Tesla brand now.

During the company’s 2024 stockholder meeting, Elon Musk introduced the Optimus Gen 2 humanoid robot, priced between $10,000 and $20,000. The advanced robot aims to revolutionize the labor market and potentially enhance Tesla’s market value significantly.

Dexterity and Adaptability

Optimus Gen 2 brings sophisticated engineering with 22 degrees of freedom in its hands, allowing it to perform intricate tasks such as playing the piano. Enhanced by AI, the robot can understand and anticipate user needs, adapting to various environments and preferences. It is capable of executing up to 70 tasks and features customizable personality and voice options.

Impact on the Labor Market

The introduction of Optimus could drastically alter the global labor market. By taking over tasks traditionally performed by humans, the robot may reduce Tesla’s workforce by 60% by 2030. This shift, while potentially displacing some jobs, also opens up new opportunities in manufacturing and robot technology development.

Tesla aims to produce Optimus cost-effectively, with an estimated production cost of around $10,000. The company plans to use mass production techniques to further reduce costs. Initially, the robots will be available for leasing, with broader sales anticipated between 2028 and 2030. This phased approach ensures accessibility and cost efficiency.

Tesla plans to incorporate existing automotive technology into Optimus, enhancing both cost efficiency and functionality. This strategy positions Tesla to lead the robotics industry and capture a substantial market share over the next 10-15 years.

Challenges and Future Prospects

Despite its potential, Optimus faces significant challenges, including developing a supply chain for specialized components and achieving scalable mass production. While experts have mixed opinions on Musk’s ambitious timeline, Tesla’s history suggests they may overcome these obstacles. Additionally, legal and financial challenges related to Musk’s compensation package could arise.

The Optimus robot represents a major technological leap with the potential to reshape work and industry. As Tesla continues to innovate, the widespread deployment of these robots could lead to unprecedented efficiency and productivity, marking a significant milestone in human-machine collaboration.

Tesla Unveils Optimus Gen 2 Robot Priced From $10,000

, original content from Ubergizmo. Read our Copyrights and terms of use.

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Jun 25

Julian Assange has been released from prison in a plea deal with the US

Posted in: Today's Chili

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been released from prison and has agreed to plead guilty to violating the Espionage Act. The WikiLeaks account on X, formerly Twitter, has announced his release after being granted bail by the High Court in London. It also tweeted a video that appears to show Assange boarding a plane at Stansted Airport. The WikiLeaks founder and former editor-in-chief is expected to appear in a courtroom in the US Northern Mariana Islands on June 26 in order to finalize his plea deal with the US government. 

According to a letter from the US Department of Justice obtained by The Washington Post, Assange is specifically pleading guilty to “conspiring to unlawfully obtain and disseminate classified information relating to the national defense of the United States.” He will also be returning to Australia, his country of citizenship, right after the proceedings. CBS News reports that Justice Department prosecutors recommended a sentence of 62 months, and seeing as Assange already spent more than five years in a UK prison, he won’t be spending any time behind bars in the US. 

Assange was the editor-in-chief of WikiLeaks when the website published US classified information, obtained by whistleblower and former Army intelligence officer Chelsea Manning, about the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. In 2010, Sweden issued an arrest warrant for Assange over allegations of sexual assault by two women. Swedish authorities dropped their investigation into the rape allegations in 2017. 

Assange sought asylum at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London after losing his appeal against the warrant, and he lived there for seven years until he was evicted. Lenín Moreno, the president of Ecuador at the time, explained that his asylum was “unsustainable and no longer viable” because he displayed “discourteous and aggressive behavior.” London’s Metropolitan Police Service removed Assange from the embassy and arrested him on behalf of the US under an extradition warrant.

In WikiLeaks’ announcement of his release, it said Assange left Belmarsh maximum security prison “after having spent 1,901 days there.” The organization said that the “global campaign” by “press freedom campaigners, legislators and leaders from across the political spectrum” enabled “a long period of negotiations with the US Department of Justice” that led to the plea deal. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/julian-assange-has-been-released-from-prison-in-a-plea-deal-with-the-us-044226610.html?src=rss

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Jun 25

Julian Assange has been released from prison in a plea deal with the US

Posted in: Today's Chili

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been released from prison and has agreed to plead guilty to violating the Espionage Act. The WikiLeaks account on X, formerly Twitter, has announced his release after being granted bail by the High Court in London. It also tweeted a video that appears to show Assange boarding a plane at Stansted Airport. The WikiLeaks founder and former editor-in-chief is expected to appear in a courtroom in the US Northern Mariana Islands on June 26 in order to finalize his plea deal with the US government. 

According to a letter from the US Department of Justice obtained by The Washington Post, Assange is specifically pleading guilty to “conspiring to unlawfully obtain and disseminate classified information relating to the national defense of the United States.” He will also be returning to Australia, his country of citizenship, right after the proceedings. CBS News reports that Justice Department prosecutors recommended a sentence of 62 months, and seeing as Assange already spent more than five years in a UK prison, he won’t be spending any time behind bars in the US. 

Assange was the editor-in-chief of WikiLeaks when the website published US classified information, obtained by whistleblower and former Army intelligence officer Chelsea Manning, about the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. In 2010, Sweden issued an arrest warrant for Assange over allegations of sexual assault by two women. Swedish authorities dropped their investigation into the rape allegations in 2017. 

Assange sought asylum at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London after losing his appeal against the warrant, and he lived there for seven years until he was evicted. Lenín Moreno, the president of Ecuador at the time, explained that his asylum was “unsustainable and no longer viable” because he displayed “discourteous and aggressive behavior.” London’s Metropolitan Police Service removed Assange from the embassy and arrested him on behalf of the US under an extradition warrant.

In WikiLeaks’ announcement of his release, it said Assange left Belmarsh maximum security prison “after having spent 1,901 days there.” The organization said that the “global campaign” by “press freedom campaigners, legislators and leaders from across the political spectrum” enabled “a long period of negotiations with the US Department of Justice” that led to the plea deal. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/julian-assange-has-been-released-from-prison-in-a-plea-deal-with-the-us-044226610.html?src=rss

No Comments
Jun 25

Julian Assange has been released from prison in a plea deal with the US

Posted in: Today's Chili

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been released from prison and has agreed to plead guilty to violating the Espionage Act. The WikiLeaks account on X, formerly Twitter, has announced his release after being granted bail by the High Court in London. It also tweeted a video that appears to show Assange boarding a plane at Stansted Airport. The WikiLeaks founder and former editor-in-chief is expected to appear in a courtroom in the US Northern Mariana Islands on June 26 in order to finalize his plea deal with the US government. 

According to a letter from the US Department of Justice obtained by The Washington Post, Assange is specifically pleading guilty to “conspiring to unlawfully obtain and disseminate classified information relating to the national defense of the United States.” He will also be returning to Australia, his country of citizenship, right after the proceedings. CBS News reports that Justice Department prosecutors recommended a sentence of 62 months, and seeing as Assange already spent more than five years in a UK prison, he won’t be spending any time behind bars in the US. 

Assange was the editor-in-chief of WikiLeaks when the website published US classified information, obtained by whistleblower and former Army intelligence officer Chelsea Manning, about the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. In 2010, Sweden issued an arrest warrant for Assange over allegations of sexual assault by two women. Swedish authorities dropped their investigation into the rape allegations in 2017. 

Assange sought asylum at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London after losing his appeal against the warrant, and he lived there for seven years until he was evicted. Lenín Moreno, the president of Ecuador at the time, explained that his asylum was “unsustainable and no longer viable” because he displayed “discourteous and aggressive behavior.” London’s Metropolitan Police Service removed Assange from the embassy and arrested him on behalf of the US under an extradition warrant.

In WikiLeaks’ announcement of his release, it said Assange left Belmarsh maximum security prison “after having spent 1,901 days there.” The organization said that the “global campaign” by “press freedom campaigners, legislators and leaders from across the political spectrum” enabled “a long period of negotiations with the US Department of Justice” that led to the plea deal. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/julian-assange-has-been-released-from-prison-in-a-plea-deal-with-the-us-044226610.html?src=rss

No Comments
Jun 25

Tesla Unveils Optimus Gen 2 Robot Priced From $10,000

Posted in: Today's Chili

If you’re a fan of robotics, you probably already heard about Optimus — No, we’re not talking about the brand name that was once owned by LG for their flagship phones (check out our review for the Optimus G here), but instead, a Tesla brand now.

During the company’s 2024 stockholder meeting, Elon Musk introduced the Optimus Gen 2 humanoid robot, priced between $10,000 and $20,000. The advanced robot aims to revolutionize the labor market and potentially enhance Tesla’s market value significantly.

Dexterity and Adaptability

Optimus Gen 2 brings sophisticated engineering with 22 degrees of freedom in its hands, allowing it to perform intricate tasks such as playing the piano. Enhanced by AI, the robot can understand and anticipate user needs, adapting to various environments and preferences. It is capable of executing up to 70 tasks and features customizable personality and voice options.

Impact on the Labor Market

The introduction of Optimus could drastically alter the global labor market. By taking over tasks traditionally performed by humans, the robot may reduce Tesla’s workforce by 60% by 2030. This shift, while potentially displacing some jobs, also opens up new opportunities in manufacturing and robot technology development.

Tesla aims to produce Optimus cost-effectively, with an estimated production cost of around $10,000. The company plans to use mass production techniques to further reduce costs. Initially, the robots will be available for leasing, with broader sales anticipated between 2028 and 2030. This phased approach ensures accessibility and cost efficiency.

Tesla plans to incorporate existing automotive technology into Optimus, enhancing both cost efficiency and functionality. This strategy positions Tesla to lead the robotics industry and capture a substantial market share over the next 10-15 years.

Challenges and Future Prospects

Despite its potential, Optimus faces significant challenges, including developing a supply chain for specialized components and achieving scalable mass production. While experts have mixed opinions on Musk’s ambitious timeline, Tesla’s history suggests they may overcome these obstacles. Additionally, legal and financial challenges related to Musk’s compensation package could arise.

The Optimus robot represents a major technological leap with the potential to reshape work and industry. As Tesla continues to innovate, the widespread deployment of these robots could lead to unprecedented efficiency and productivity, marking a significant milestone in human-machine collaboration.

Tesla Unveils Optimus Gen 2 Robot Priced From $10,000

, original content from Ubergizmo. Read our Copyrights and terms of use.

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Jun 25

Amazon Prime Day 2024 returns on July 16 and 17

Posted in: Today's Chili

Amazon has officially announced the dates for its next annual shopping event. Amazon Prime Day 2024 will be on July 16 and 17 this year — the event will begin at 12AM PT/3AM ET on Tuesday, July 16, and conclude at the end of the day on Wednesday, July 17. As to be expected, Prime Day will actually last two full days and it will bring thousands of exclusive, Prime-only deals on everything from electronics to fashion. If you can’t wait a few more weeks, there are some Prime Day deals you can already shop now.

In addition to spurring a large number of sales in a short period of time, Amazon Prime Day has always been a way for the online retail giant to increase the overall number of Prime subscribers. Prime Day isn’t necessarily a perk of the service like access to Prime Video content or free two-day shipping are, but it certainly helps that most deals you’ll find on Amazon during the two-day event are exclusively available to Prime members. However, it’s worth noting that the cost of Prime has increased significantly since the service debuted in 2005: an annual membership will set you back $139 right now, nearly double the price it was at launch ($79 per year).

Prime Day in July has been the main shopping event for Amazon for a decade now, but that hasn’t stopped the company from expanding the event’s reach. For the past couple of years, we’ve seen a “fall Prime Day” of sorts pop up in October, presumably as Amazon’s official kickoff for the holiday shopping season. There’s no word on if October Prime Day will return for 2024, but since most online retailers have started their holiday sales earlier and earlier since 2020, we think there’s a good chance it’ll return this year as well.

If you do plan on putting that Prime membership to use next month, you can turn to Engadget to find the tech deals worth your month during the two-day event. Unsurprisingly, Amazon Prime Day is one of the best times of the year to get Amazon devices, since most of them will likely be down to all-time-low prices. But we also expect to see worthwhile sales on headphones, robot vacuums, laptops, SSDs and much more. You can also follow Engadget Deals on Twitter for the latest news during Prime Day, and sign up for the new Engadget Deals newsletter to get the best deals delivered right to your inbox.

Your Prime Day Shopping Guide: See all of our Prime Day coverage. Shop the best Prime Day deals on Yahoo Life. Follow Engadget for Prime Day tech deals. Hear from Autoblog’s experts on the best Amazon Prime Day deals for your car, garage, and home, and find Prime Day sales to shop on AOL, handpicked just for you.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/amazon-prime-day-2024-returns-on-july-16-and-17-050559661.html?src=rss

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Jun 25

Tesla Unveils Optimus Gen 2 Robot Priced From $10,000

Posted in: Today's Chili

If you’re a fan of robotics, you probably already heard about Optimus — No, we’re not talking about the brand name that was once owned by LG for their flagship phones (check out our review for the Optimus G here), but instead, a Tesla brand now.

During the company’s 2024 stockholder meeting, Elon Musk introduced the Optimus Gen 2 humanoid robot, priced between $10,000 and $20,000. The advanced robot aims to revolutionize the labor market and potentially enhance Tesla’s market value significantly.

Dexterity and Adaptability

Optimus Gen 2 brings sophisticated engineering with 22 degrees of freedom in its hands, allowing it to perform intricate tasks such as playing the piano. Enhanced by AI, the robot can understand and anticipate user needs, adapting to various environments and preferences. It is capable of executing up to 70 tasks and features customizable personality and voice options.

Impact on the Labor Market

The introduction of Optimus could drastically alter the global labor market. By taking over tasks traditionally performed by humans, the robot may reduce Tesla’s workforce by 60% by 2030. This shift, while potentially displacing some jobs, also opens up new opportunities in manufacturing and robot technology development.

Tesla aims to produce Optimus cost-effectively, with an estimated production cost of around $10,000. The company plans to use mass production techniques to further reduce costs. Initially, the robots will be available for leasing, with broader sales anticipated between 2028 and 2030. This phased approach ensures accessibility and cost efficiency.

Tesla plans to incorporate existing automotive technology into Optimus, enhancing both cost efficiency and functionality. This strategy positions Tesla to lead the robotics industry and capture a substantial market share over the next 10-15 years.

Challenges and Future Prospects

Despite its potential, Optimus faces significant challenges, including developing a supply chain for specialized components and achieving scalable mass production. While experts have mixed opinions on Musk’s ambitious timeline, Tesla’s history suggests they may overcome these obstacles. Additionally, legal and financial challenges related to Musk’s compensation package could arise.

The Optimus robot represents a major technological leap with the potential to reshape work and industry. As Tesla continues to innovate, the widespread deployment of these robots could lead to unprecedented efficiency and productivity, marking a significant milestone in human-machine collaboration.

Tesla Unveils Optimus Gen 2 Robot Priced From $10,000

, original content from Ubergizmo. Read our Copyrights and terms of use.

No Comments
Jun 25

Google is reportedly building AI chatbots based on celebrities and influencers

Posted in: Today's Chili

Google is reportedly building new AI-powered chatbots based on celebrities and YouTube influencers. The idea isn’t groundbreaking — startups like Character.ai and companies like Meta have already launched products like this — but neither is Google’s AI strategy so far.

Google’s celebrity chatbots will be powered by the company’s Gemini family of large language models according to The Information, which broke the story on Monday. The company is trying to strike partnerships with influencers as well as celebrities, and is also working on a feature that will let people create their own chatbots simply by describing their personalities and appearance — something that Character.ai already lets you do. A fun fact: Noam Shazeer, one of the co-founders of Character.ai, is a former Google engineer and one of the creators of “transformers,” the fundamental tech that made today’s generative AI possible.

It isn’t yet clear which celebrities or influencers Google might partner with. Meta’s chatbots, for instance, are based on personalities like TikTok star Charli D’Amelio, YouTube phenomenon Mr. Beast, Snoop Dogg, Tom Brady and Paris Hilton among others, while Character.ai’s characters include politicians, philosophers, fictional characters, and even objects like a block of cheese that talks. Google’s project is reportedly being led by a longtime executive called Ryan Germick who works on Google Doodles, and a team of ten.

It also sounds like Google’s bots could be just an experiment — according to the report, the bots might only show up on Google Labs, the company’s website for experimental products, instead of being available more broadly.

It isn’t clear why Google’s doing this. Meta’s AI chatbots based on celebrities never really took off despite the company stuffing them in every product it makes. As The Information pointed out, the company’s chatbot based on Snoop Dogg has only 15,000 followers on Instagram compared with 87.5 million followers who follow the human rapper.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/google-is-reportedly-building-ai-chatbots-based-on-celebrities-and-influencers-235731655.html?src=rss

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Jun 25

Google is reportedly building AI chatbots based on celebrities and influencers

Posted in: Today's Chili

Google is reportedly building new AI-powered chatbots based on celebrities and YouTube influencers. The idea isn’t groundbreaking — startups like Character.ai and companies like Meta have already launched products like this — but neither is Google’s AI strategy so far.

Google’s celebrity chatbots will be powered by the company’s Gemini family of large language models according to The Information, which broke the story on Monday. The company is trying to strike partnerships with influencers as well as celebrities, and is also working on a feature that will let people create their own chatbots simply by describing their personalities and appearance — something that Character.ai already lets you do. A fun fact: Noam Shazeer, one of the co-founders of Character.ai, is a former Google engineer and one of the creators of “transformers,” the fundamental tech that made today’s generative AI possible.

It isn’t yet clear which celebrities or influencers Google might partner with. Meta’s chatbots, for instance, are based on personalities like TikTok star Charli D’Amelio, YouTube phenomenon Mr. Beast, Snoop Dogg, Tom Brady and Paris Hilton among others, while Character.ai’s characters include politicians, philosophers, fictional characters, and even objects like a block of cheese that talks. Google’s project is reportedly being led by a longtime executive called Ryan Germick who works on Google Doodles, and a team of ten.

It also sounds like Google’s bots could be just an experiment — according to the report, the bots might only show up on Google Labs, the company’s website for experimental products, instead of being available more broadly.

It isn’t clear why Google’s doing this. Meta’s AI chatbots based on celebrities never really took off despite the company stuffing them in every product it makes. As The Information pointed out, the company’s chatbot based on Snoop Dogg has only 15,000 followers on Instagram compared with 87.5 million followers who follow the human rapper.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/google-is-reportedly-building-ai-chatbots-based-on-celebrities-and-influencers-235731655.html?src=rss

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