Apple Intelligence, X’s Version of Zoom, and Much More!

Aug 30

Emerging Tech Roundup — August 30

The Quantious team’s top picks for timely trending news in the tech world.

This week in tech: Meta and Instagram potentially developing new social music-sharing feature, X is working on its own version of Zoom, Google Meet’s automatic AI note-taking launches, Snapchat releases new teen safety resources for educators, Plaud introduces new AI pin that can transcribe conversations, Microsoft’s AI software is gaining traction with enterprise customers, and new iOS 18.1 beta adds more Apple Intelligence features.

Meta and Instagram Spotted Developing a New Social Music-Sharing Feature

(Tech Crunch, August 27)

Meta and Spotify are testing a feature that would allow Instagram users to continuously share their current music from Spotify through Instagram’s Notes, enhancing music integration within the app. It’s unclear if it will be publicly launched, as companies often test new concepts that may not be released. If implemented, it would expand on Instagram’s existing feature that allows users to share 30-second song clips, potentially automating music sharing and integrating it more seamlessly with user activity across both platforms.

X is Working on Its Own Version of Zoom

(Engadget, August 27)

X is developing a new video conferencing feature called X Conference, seemingly intended more for internal use by its employees rather than for the general public. The tool, described by an X employee as a basic version of existing platforms like Zoom and Google Meet, is still being tested and might include features like spatial audio and built-in captions. Despite these developments, it remains unclear if there’s a broader demand for an X-owned video conferencing platform.

Google Meet’s Automatic AI Note-Taking is Here

(The Verge, August 27)

Google Meet has introduced a new AI-powered feature called “take notes for me,” which summarizes meeting discussions and automatically generates a Google Doc with the notes. The feature is now available to Google Workspace customers with specific Gemini add-ons. This tool, currently supporting only spoken English, attaches the summarized notes to the calendar event and shares them with the meeting organizer and others who enabled the feature, making it easier to catch up on missed meetings.

Snapchat Releases New Teen Safety Resources for Educators

(Tech Crunch, August 28)

Snapchat has introduced new resources for educators to help them understand and manage how students use the app, including a dedicated website called the “Educator’s Guide to Snapchat.” This initiative aims to create safer environments in schools, addressing concerns raised by lawmakers and mental health experts about the risks social media poses to teens. The website offers tools and downloadable resources for educators, parents, and counselors to address online issues like bullying.

Watch out, There’s a New AI Pin in Town That Can Transcribe All Your Conversations

(Engadget, August 28)

Plaud has introduced the NotePin, a new AI-powered device that transcribes and records conversations. It is designed primarily for note-taking rather than as a comprehensive digital assistant. The pin can transcribe and translate 59 languages, organize conversations into scripts, and summarize the content through AI analysis. While reasonably priced at $170, with an $80 annual subscription for extended use, Plaud’s long-term vision includes creating a “digital twin” of users based on the trove of recorded conversations.

Microsoft’s AI Software is Gaining Traction with Enterprise Customers

(Yahoo Finance, August 28)

Microsoft is seeing increased adoption of its generative AI-based Copilot software, with usage among Microsoft 365 customers growing by over 60% last quarter. The company’s significant investments in AI are driving this growth, as it integrates the technology across its Azure cloud offerings, productivity suite, and Windows OS. Despite strong revenue growth in its Intelligent Cloud segment, Microsoft’s latest earnings report slightly missed Wall Street expectations, leading to a dip in its stock price.

New iOS 18.1 Beta Adds More Apple Intelligence Features — Here’s What’s Available on the iPhone

(Tom’s Guide, August 28)

Apple has introduced new AI-powered features in the latest iOS 18.1 developer beta, available starting August 28. These features include a smart image editing tool called Clean Up in Photos, similar to Google’s Magic Eraser, and expanded notification summaries for all apps, providing key details on the lock screen. These updates suggest that Apple Intelligence will likely be released separately from the main iOS 18 update, expected to go live later this year.