BMW to deploy humanoid robots

PLUS Google adds new gen AI features to Chrome

Author

Jack Shields
January 24, 2024

Welcome back!

We have another loaded menu on deck. Let’s get right to it. 

In today’s Daily Update:

  • 🗞️ Parents raise concerns about AI influencers

  • 🤖 Google adds new gen AI features to Chrome

  • 📸 BMW Manufacturing to deploy Figure’s humanoid robots    

  • 🚨 AI Roundup: Four quick hits

Read time: 2 minutes

TOP STORY

🗞️ Parents raise concerns about AI influencers

Generated by DALL-E 3

Over 12,000 parents have signed an online petition urging TikTok to clearly label AI-generated influencer accounts. 

The details:

  • The parents say AI influencers create unattainable beauty standards that may lead to body dysmorphia for children and teenagers. 

  • They argue that young users are often unable to distinguish AI-generated accounts from real people. 

  • TikTok usage has been linked to negative body image, especially among female teenagers. 

  • The letter is sponsored by the ParentsTogether nonprofit. 

Reality check: AI-enabled synthetic social media content has quickly become a huge area of concern, but misinformation and election risks are much more pressing threats than AI influencers. Most AI-generated models/influencers are relatively easy to spot. Keep an eye out for flawless skin and physical features that seem too perfect. 

AI TOOL OF THE DAY

🤖 Google adds new gen AI features to Chrome

Source: Google

Google just released Chrome (M121) with three new experimental AI features. 

What’s new:

  • Tab Organizer: Right-click on a tab and select ‘Organize Similar Tabs.’ Chrome will automatically suggest and create tab groups based on your open tabs. 

  • Custom Themes: Personalize your browser with AI. Find the ‘Customize Chrome’ side panel, click ‘Change theme’ and then ‘Create with AI.’

  • Draft with AI: Right-click a text box or field on any site and select ‘Help me write.’ Type a few words and Google’s AI will kickstart your writing process. 

You can enable these features from the “Experimental AI” page in Chrome’s settings. They are currently disabled for enterprise and educational accounts.

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

 📸 BMW Manufacturing to deploy Figure’s humanoid robots

Source: Figure

BMW plans to deploy Figure’s general purpose humanoid robots at its manufacturing facility in South Carolina as soon as this year. 

Key points:

  • Figure’s humanoid robots aim to automate difficult, unsafe and tedious tasks throughout the manufacturing process. 

  • The robotics startup will identify initial use cases for its robots in automotive production. BMW will then launch a staged deployment of the Figure robots. 

  • The companies hope to automate positions with high turnover, allowing employees to focus on skills and processes that cannot be automated. 

Crucial quote: “Figure’s robots will enable companies to increase productivity, reduce costs, and create a safer and more consistent environment,” Founder and CEO of Figure Brett Adcock said. “We look forward to working side-by-side with BMW Manufacturing to integrate AI and robotics into automotive production.”

MORE TRENDING NEWS

🚨 AI Roundup: Four quick hits

DALL-E 3

  • The Glaze Project releases Nightshade, a free tool that allows artists to “poison” AI models seeking to train on their works. 

  • Coursera says it gained 7.4 million new users for its AI courses in 2023. 

  • Alphabet cuts ties with Australian AI firm that helped train Bard and Google Search.

  • Stability AI unveils a smaller, more efficient 1.6B language model. 

THAT’S ALL FOR TODAY

Want to continue the conversation? Connect with me on LinkedIn and I’m happy to discuss any of today’s news. Thanks for reading The Daily Update!

(P.S. If you want to share this newsletter with a friend or colleague you can find it here.)