Welcome back to your daily Futuristica talking AI, robotics, crypto and the future of tech. 👾

In today’s edition we are tackling the following:

🎵 Nvidia’s new AI audio generator creates sounds never heard before.
🤖 South Korea tops the robotic workforce with over 1,000 robots per 10,000 employees.
📊 Anthropic’s Model Context Protocol simplifies AI-dataset integrations.
📈 Ethereum gains momentum as investors rotate out of Bitcoin into derivatives activity.
💥 Elon Musk hints at Bitcoin payments for X, sparking crypto price movements.

AI

• Nvidia claims a new AI audio generator can make sounds never heard before

  • Nvidia’s Fugatto creates unique sounds, like a trumpet meowing or a saxophone howling.

  • It generates music, sounds, and speech from inputs it hasn’t been trained on.

  • Fugatto uses vast datasets to offer new sound creations beyond typical AI tools.

• Anthropic launches tool to connect AI systems directly to datasets

  • Anthropic’s Model Context Protocol links AI systems directly to datasets.

  • MCP removes the need for custom code, streamlining data integration.

  • Tools like Replit and Codeium now use MCP to improve AI performance.

• Marc Benioff on the future of AI agents and ChatGPT

  • Marc Benioff sees AI agents autonomously handling tasks like returns and invoices.

  • Criticizes Microsoft’s Copilot, calling it a failure in the shift to autonomous AI.

  • Envisions diverse AI agents reshaping work but raising workforce concerns.

ROBOTICS

• Over 10% of South Korea's Workforce Now Robotic, Survey Finds

  • South Korea leads globally with 1,012 robots per 10,000 employees.

  • Robot adoption has increased by 5% annually since 2018.

  • More than 10% of South Korea's workforce has been replaced with robots, an annual survey by World Robotics 2024 found.

• Experimental Drone Flies Like a Bird

  • The LisEagle drone mimics bird flight with morphing wings and tail.

  • Stability is achieved via seven coordinated actuators and testing took place in controlled indoor conditions.

  • Tests show potential energy savings of up to 11%.

• Report on US Killer Robots Warns of 'Reckless, Dangerous Arms Race'

  • The program aims to expand the U.S. military’s drone fleet.

  • The robots have already been used in conflicts to track and kill without a human operator.

  • The Institute for Ethics in AI, called the Biden administration's position "sad but unsurprising."

CRYPTO

• Elon Musk Just Quietly Confirmed a Bitcoin and Crypto Price Game-Changer

  • Musk confirmed X Payments integration, sparking crypto speculation and boosting Dogecoin.

  • X is acquiring money-transmitting licenses, hinting at future Bitcoin and crypto support.

  • Dogecoin surged amid Musk's 'DOGE department' initiative targeting U.S. spending inefficiencies.

• MicroStrategy Buys Record $5.4 Billion in Bitcoin, Sky Mavis Cuts 21% of Workforce

  • MicroStrategy purchased $5.4 billion in Bitcoin, its largest acquisition yet.

  • Sky Mavis announced layoffs affecting 21% of its employees.

  • Crypto companies adapt to volatile market conditions and shifting priorities.

• Ether Gains Momentum as Capital Shifts from Bitcoin and Derivatives Activity Increases

  • Ethereum sees increased interest as investors rotate out of Bitcoin.

  • Derivatives trading activity on Ether has risen significantly.

  • Analysts predict continued Ether momentum amid shifting market trends.

CONTENT

• Eric Schmidt: The Risks and Opportunities of an AI Future

  • Schmidt discusses AI's potential benefits and risks, including misinformation, inequality, and loneliness.

  • Explores how regulation, accountability, and international cooperation can mitigate AI's dangers.

  • Highlights ideas from his book Genesis on balancing human progress with AI governance.

• An Honest Review of Apple Intelligence

  • Marques Brownlee analyses Apple's AI advancements and their integration into its ecosystem.

  • Reviews the performance of features like Siri and on-device intelligence.

  • Highlights areas for improvement and future potential in Apple's AI.

• Is AI Progress Stuck?

  • Jennifer Golbeck questions whether AI advancements are accelerating or have hit a plateau.

  • She evaluates high-profile claims about AI’s promises and challenges.

  • Also clarifies what AI hype is justified and what remains overly optimistic.

AND MORE…

• Threads Tests Default Feed Selection

  • Threads is testing a feature allowing users to set their default feed to 'For You,’ 'Following,’ or custom feeds.

  • CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced this change to enhance user control over the app experience.

  • Increased competition from Bluesky has sparked many recent improvements to Threads.

• AI 'Grandma' Fights Back Against Scammers

  • Virgin Media O2 introduced 'Daisy,’ an AI-generated grandma designed to engage and waste scammers' time.

  • Daisy has had over 1,000 conversations with scammers, with some lasting up to 40 minutes.

  • The initiative aims to protect consumers and raise awareness about phone scams.

• Influencers Use AI Images to Lure People to OnlyFans, Fanvue

  • Influencers are leveraging AI-generated personas to attract users to adult platforms like OnlyFans and Fanvue.

  • Some AI 'women' promote links to adult content, often involving nude images for a subscription fee.

  • This trend raises concerns about the impact of AI on real-life adult-content creators and user trust