speculations

Babies may start to learn language before they are born

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2404345-babies-may-start-to-learn-language-before-they-are-born/ We’ve nearly finished decorating the nursery. We swapped bedrooms because we read that the positioning of the projectors and sound systems had a real effect on the wellness benefits. We also had problems with the smartcrib not sending the feeds to the monitors but it connects now and the… Read the rest

Callyope monitors mental health through speech-based technology

https://techcrunch.com/2023/11/21/callyope-monitors-mental-health-through-speech-based-technology/ When he was a baby we had the baby monitor and the babycam. Like all new parents we spent hours glued to them in the early days but then they became everyday, sitting in the corner of the room unnoticed until we head something unusual. It was just good… Read the rest

Powder, an AI clipping tool for gaming, can detect when a creator yells during a stream

https://techcrunch.com/2023/11/20/powder-an-ai-clipping-tool-for-gaming-can-detect-when-a-creator-yells-during-a-stream/ The inquiry had asked for the recordings. He was happy to oblige. Nothing to hide. Nothing to see or hear here. He’d told the Chair of the inquiry that he’d get the recordings over the next day. He’d proudly explained that his was a transparent company and that its… Read the rest

The latest Google phone promises to transform my children into perfect, smiling angels. Why would I want that?

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/nov/19/phone-children-google-pixel-retouch-childhood-snaps I was a bit disappointed when there wasn’t a couch and the therapist didn’t have a cigar waiting in an ash tray. Counselling was a hard step for me and I wanted some clichés to hold onto. Still, it’s been good. Until now. I was asked to bring in… Read the rest

OpenAI board attempts to hit “Ctrl-Z” in talks with Altman to return as CEO

https://arstechnica.com/?p=1985272 No, a u-turn doesn’t look good. You’re right, it never does. But what choice have we got? It’s not just the media and the online storm. It’s not even the shareholders – one of whom told me they are being lobbied hard internally and externally. No we’ve got to… Read the rest

OpenAI fires co-founder and CEO Sam Altman for allegedly lying to company board

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/nov/17/openai-ceo-sam-altman-fired We’ve been in business together since the start. We can both remember those long nights with you and I brainstorming ideas, strategies. Our complementary skills powered the whole thing. We built it together. A real partnership. So I’m a little, how shall I put this?.. puzzled, no actually pissed… Read the rest

Fortnite is blocking some outfits in experiences made for kids

https://www.theverge.com/2023/11/16/23964778/fortnite-blocking-outfits-experiences-kids The avatar on the gate was smiling. “Welcome,” it said. It knew them by name. “Good to see you again.” Moments of small talk pulled from data streams and databases: “Heh how was the match? Glad your mum is feeling better.” Encouraging comments in response to wearables: “This is… Read the rest

Parental Advisory: This Chatbot May Talk to Your Child About Sex and Alcohol

https://www.wired.com/story/parental-advisory-chatbots-children-sex-and-alcohol/ The picket line outside the school was good-natured but passionate. Some children, kept out of school, stood with their parents. Others filed past, some embarrassed as their friends laughed and joked. The protest grew louder as the teacher closed the gates, The parents shouted demands that the headteacher come… Read the rest

How Brands Are Humanizing AI

https://www.adweek.com/media/how-brands-are-humanizing-ai/ No, I don’t want an away day. We need something much more fundamental. Yes, it’s ‘team building’ but no, paint-balling won’t do it. We need to do something more permanent. A reset. A rethink of how we work together. You’ve seen the tensions. You seen the dysfunctional ‘teams’ .… Read the rest

Introducing the AI-dience: The most accurate consumer model in advertising today

https://www.marketing-interactive.com/introducing-ai-dience-consumer-model-in-advertising-today My mate said it was easy money. Apparently some researcher comes round to your house and, well talks to you. Just a conversation about all sorts of stuff. It’s not: “what do you think of this washing powder” – which is good. Frankly I don’t care. No my mate… Read the rest