The Biggest Advancements in AI This Week

Aug 2

Emerging Tech Roundup — August 2

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

This week in tech: Canva acquires Leonardo.ai to boost its generative AI efforts, Apple gives developers first taste of Apple Intelligence, Perplexity to put ads in its AI search engine, OpenAI opens limited access to ChatGPT’s advanced voice mode, Wix’s AI can now write whole blog posts, Google Maps is getting even more like Waze, and Neura shows off humanoid robot 4NE-1.

Canva Acquires Leonardo.ai to Boost its Generative AI Efforts

(Tech Crunch, July 29)

Canva has acquired Leonardo.ai — a generative AI content and research startup — to expand its AI tech stack. Leonardo.ai’s 120 employees will join Canva, with the startup continuing to operate independently to focus on innovation and development. This acquisition aims to enhance Leonardo.ai’s platform, expand its API business, and invest in foundational model R&D, leveraging Canva’s resources.

Apple Gives Developers First Taste of Apple Intelligence with iOS 18.1 Developer Beta

(Yahoo Finance, July 30)

Apple has released the latest developer betas for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, offering an early look at its upcoming Apple Intelligence AI platform. These betas, named iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia, include features such as Writing Tools, an improved Siri, AI options in Mail, and AI-powered transcription summarization. Future developer betas will introduce ChatGPT integration and the ability for Siri to take actions in third-party apps.

Perplexity Will Put Ads in its AI Search Engine and Share Revenue with Publishers

(Engadget, July 30)

Perplexity is introducing ads to its AI search engine and will share revenue with publishers, with the program launching around the end of September. The Perplexity Publishers’ Program has been in development since January and aims to provide a meaningful revenue share to publishers. Initial partners include TIME and Fortune, and Perplexity plans to run targeted ads while exploring formats such as video units at the top of the page.

OpenAI Opens Limited Access to ChatGPT Advanced Voice Mode on Mobile

(Venture Beat, July 30)

OpenAI has initiated the alpha rollout of its Advanced Voice Mode for a select group of ChatGPT Plus users on the ChatGPT mobile app for iOS and Android. The company announced on X that the feature would be gradually extended to all ChatGPT Plus users by fall, with initial users receiving instructions via email and in-app messages. Showcased at OpenAI’s Spring Update event in May 2024, this mode allows real-time, naturalistic conversations with the AI chatbot using four AI-generated voices, capable of handling interruptions and conveying emotions.

Wix’s AI Will Now Write Whole Blog Posts for You

(The Verge, July 31)

Wix is launching new generative AI tools that can create SEO-optimized blog posts, including imagery, for English-speaking users. These tools generate drafts or outlines to help writers produce high-quality, authentic content. The goal is to boost organic traffic, as sites with blogs receive 86% more traffic — though the increase in AI-generated content may impact the overall quality of information on the web.

Google Maps is Getting Even More Like Waze

(The Verge, July 31)

Google is updating Google Maps and Waze with new features, including improved incident reporting in Maps that mirrors Waze’s capabilities, like sharing updates on road closures and speed cameras. Despite the convergence of features, the two apps will remain separate as both have dedicated user bases with distinct preferences. Additionally, Google Maps is introducing new destination guidance that highlights building entrances and nearby parking lots, with incident reporting available now and destination guidance rolling out in the coming weeks.

Neura Shows Off Humanoid Robot 4NE-1

(Tech Crunch, July 31)

German robotics manufacturer Neura showcased its humanoid robot, 4NE-1, performing tasks like ironing and moving boxes. This reveal coincides with Nvidia’s introduction of new tools for humanoids at the Siggraph conference, where Neura is among thirteen firms given early access to these tools. Other notable firms include 1X, Boston Dynamics, and ByteDance Research, with Neura CEO David Reger previously promising a closer look at 4NE-1 at an upcoming humanoid robotics panel.