ChAIos Media News - January 15

Hello and welcome to edition 4 of the ChAIos Media newsletter. Like every week, a lot has happened in the past week. Here are the most important things you’ll want to know about as a creative using generative AI. Let’s dig right into it!

Amazing creations from the community

A stunning video about the meeting between Martin Luther King and Muhammad Ali by The Singularity Project

Dave Villalva making the art work

Martin Haerlin continues to push the boundaries with his body-swap videos

Niceaunties adds cornflakes :)

MIn Choi continues to post amazing threads highlighting videos made with AI:

New in generative AI this week

Like every week of recent times we have another huge week of announcements of new software, services, and this week there have been 100s of new AI powered hardware devices that debuted at CES in Las Vegas. Let’s jump right in.

The Rabbit R1, A new kind of computer for $199

The Rabbit R1, an AI-powered device unveiled at CES, has been stirring considerable interest. This sleek and modern device is notably compact, about the size of a stack of Post-It notes, which contributes to its easy portability. It features a 2.88-inch touchscreen for interaction and display, along with an analog scroll wheel for navigation. The R1's standout feature is the "Rabbit Eye," a 360-degree rotating camera, allowing seamless switching between front and rear camera modes. What sets the R1 apart is its integration of advanced AI services, notably the "Large Action Model" (LAM). This innovation marks a significant advancement in smart assistants, capable of executing tasks based on user conversations. LAM's functionalities range from ordering services like Uber and grocery deliveries, facilitated by simple device interactions. Remarkably, the R1 saw its first batch of 10,000 units sell out on the first day of orders, prompting the release of a second batch. While some skeptics view the device as a mere marketing ploy with a short lifespan, others like Ben see it as a revolutionary tool for those who prefer not to use their phones. Considering its price, equivalent to three bags of groceries from Whole Foods, Ben regards the R1 as an excellent value proposition.

More info: https://www.rabbit.tech/

In addition to the device’s popularity, many designers and meme makers have taken to parodying the device with fun takes mimicking its design and usefulness. Here are two of our favorites including Ben’s old school phone.  

OpenAi launches the GPT Store, also finding itself in a bit of controversy.

The ChatGPT store is designed as a hub for discovering a variety of popular and specialized ChatGPT versions. Similar to typical app stores, it organizes these custom GPTs into familiar categories such as 'Featured' and 'Trending'. Public reception has been somewhat lukewarm due to the store's limited functionality, particularly the absence of a feature for authors to monetize their GPT creations. Currently, the store primarily serves as a straightforward interface for sorting through the thousands of GPTs already in existence. The introduction of paid GPT options is anticipated within this quarter. However, the store faces additional criticisms, including the allowance of duplicate names and unclear policies regarding user privacy.

Check out the store here: https://chat.openai.com/gpts

Our own Marco has a specialized custom GPT in the store that allows you to define user personas for UX and marketing purposes and then chat with it as if it’s a real person. Check out: Persona Personified.

https://chat.openai.com/g/g-xVQTtjmtn-persona-personified

Microsoft Introduces $20 Consumer-Focused AI Subscription Plan

Microsoft's rolling out Copilot Pro, a $20 monthly subscription for its AI "Copilot." This service spices up apps like Word and Excel with cool AI features, like smart text drafting and data crunching, and also includes access to the latest AI tools and models, like GPT-4 Turbo. Additionally, with Designer powered by Dall-E 3, you can now create up to 100 designs daily.

Our buddy Ashu breaks it down in this thread:

Alexa Collaborates with Splash Pro Music to Offer Voice-Command Music Generation for Enhanced User Experience

Hey, check this out! You can now create AI-generated music just by talking to your smart speaker, thanks to Splash Pro Music's latest integration with Alexa. Just use the same prompts you find on Splash Pro's web interface, talk to Alexa, and voila – you get AI-generated tunes with custom lyrics and voices. AmliArt really shows off how cool this is with her awesome demo style. Don't miss her demonstration, have a look here:

AI powered comedy ‘George Carlin: I'm Glad I'm Dead!’ stirs up mixed emotions

Dudesy, an AI comedy character, has sparked debate with its latest YouTube show, 'George Carlin: I'm Glad I'm Dead!' In this special, Dudesy humorously imitates the late George Carlin, discussing American politics, class dynamics, reality TV, and the influence of AI on society. While the AI's take on Carlin's style has been met with both admiration for its technological prowess and humor, it has also raised ethical concerns about posthumous impersonation. The show is also notable for featuring a plethora of AI-generated images, further emphasizing AI's growing role in the entertainment industry.

Watch the comedy special here:

Or if you’d like to see something more G-rated check out Ben’s Karl video from last year:

Recent movers and shakers

Imagine AI Live ‘24

The Imagine AI Live conference which will be held in Las Vegas on March 27 and 28 is rapidly advancing. Many familiar faces have been signed to speak at this amazing AI conference, including our own Marco.

Check out the ever expanding list of speakers here. Also make sure you follow the @ImagineAILive account on X to stay up too date with the latest news about the conference.

Do you want to get involved, volunteer or do you have cool ideas to make this conference even better? Don’t hesitate to reach out to @AIandDesign on X.

Pika Labs updated paid plans

After getting feedback from their userbase, Pika Labs has updated their paid plan structure. The most notable differences are:

Unlimited generations at a much lower price (Unlimited plan)
Infinited credits (for faster generations) come with the new pro plan

Prices are 20% cheaper when signing up for a whole year.

Getting unlimited video generations for just $35 a month is a pretty great deal if you ask us. Well done, Pika Labs!

And that’s a wrap!

That wraps up this week's ChAIos Media News. What a rollercoaster it's been in the AI world! As we continue navigating through an eventful year, we're open to your insights. Got a tip, want to be featured, interviewed, or have something you think should make it into next week's edition? Reach out to Marco or Ben on X, or drop us an email at [email protected]. Your input is always welcome!

See you next week!

Marco and Ben