August 2024 – Tech News

Why AI can’t spell ‘strawberry’

How many times does the letter “r” appear in the word “strawberry”? According to formidable AI products like GPT-4o and Claude, the answer is twice. Large language models (LLMs) can write essays and solve equations in seconds. They can synthesize terabytes of data faster than humans can open up a book. Yet, these seemingly omniscient AIs sometimes fail so spectacularly that the mishap turns into a viral meme, and we all rejoice in relief that maybe there’s still time before we must bow down to our new AI overlords.
https://techcrunch.com/2024/08/27/why-ai-cant-spell-strawberry/

Meta pulls plug on plans for high-end Vision Pro competitor

According to The Information, Meta had already started developing the La Jolla headset in November but told employees to stop working on the device this past week. The decision was due in part to the fact that the La Jolla headset would’ve used pricey MicroOLED displays. The move suggests that Meta as a whole may be souring on the idea of premium VR. Purportedly, the goal was to keep the cost of the headset under $1,000, which was looking increasingly difficult given how expensive MicroOLED can be to produce.
https://www.theverge.com/2024/8/23/24226856/meta-vr-ar-la-jolla-rumor-quest-pro-2

Could Trump’s AI-generated Taylor Swift endorsement be illegal?

On Sunday, former President Donald Trump posted a collection of memes on Truth Social — the platform owned by his media company — that make it seem like Taylor Swift and her fans are coming out in support of his candidacy. But as new legislation takes effect, these images could have deeper implications about the use of AI-generated images in political campaigns, especially when those images misrepresent a celebrity’s likeness.
https://techcrunch.com/2024/08/19/could-trumps-ai-generated-taylor-swift-endorsement-be-illegal/

You can now use the Meta Quest as a screen for HDMI devices

Meta has released a new app for the Quest 3, 2, and Pro, letting you use the headsets as a screen for consoles, laptops, or any device with video out capabilities. Using the free Meta Quest HDMI Link app does require additional hardware, but it’s still a relatively cheap way to repurpose the headset, instead of buying single-purpose video glasses that can cost just as much.
https://www.theverge.com/2024/8/15/24221146/meta-quest-hdmi-link-app-displayport-usb-c

Procreate takes a stand against generative AI, vows to never incorporate the tech into its products

Popular iPad design app Procreate is coming out against generative AI, and has vowed never to introduce generative AI features into its products. The company said on its website that although machine learning is a “compelling technology with a lot of merit,” the current path that generative AI is on is wrong for its platform.
https://techcrunch.com/2024/08/19/procreate-takes-a-stand-against-generative-ai-vows-to-never-incorporate-the-tech-into-its-products/

Linktree acquires social media scheduler tool Plann

Link-in-bio platform Linktree announced Thursday that it has acquired social media scheduling tool Plann for an undisclosed amount. While Sydney, Australia-headquartered Plann will continue to operate as usual for now, Linktree is set to integrate its social scheduling tool into its platform in the coming months. This means that users will soon have access to features like social media planning and auto-posting for platforms like TikTok, Facebook, Lin
https://techcrunch.com/2024/08/15/linktree-acquires-plann-social-media-scheduling-tool/

FTC finalizes rule banning fake reviews, including those made with AI

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced on Wednesday a final rule that will tackle several types of fake reviews and prohibit marketers from using deceptive practices, such as AI-generated reviews, censoring honest negative reviews and compensating third parties for positive reviews. According to the final rule, the maximum civil penalty for fake reviews is $51,744 per violation. However, the courts could impose lower penalties depending on the specific case.
https://techcrunch.com/2024/08/14/ftc-finalizes-rule-banning-fake-reviews/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=mastodon