- Not Just Product
- Posts
- Meta's Upcoming Code-Generating AI Bot, Google's Life Advice AI Assistant, Leaked Details on Pixel Watch 2, and More
Meta's Upcoming Code-Generating AI Bot, Google's Life Advice AI Assistant, Leaked Details on Pixel Watch 2, and More
The latest from the world of tech
Not Just Product
August 19, 2023
👋Hi, welcome to Not Just Product Weekly Round-up!
Every Saturday, in this quick and insightful edition, we bring you the latest updates from the world of tech, consumer electronics, and gadgets.
We've curated this round-up to provide you with a concentrated dose of valuable information and insights.
So, let's dive in and explore the fascinating world of tech together!
Read time: 4 minutes
Discover what's inside this week's round-up:
Meta’s next big open-source AI venture will reportedly be a code-generating bot 🤖
Google reportedly building AI assistant that offers life advice 🧠
WhatsApp now lets users send ‘HD’ photos 📸
Google and Universal Music using AI to make music together 🎹
Linus Tech Tips halts production amid controversy swirls 🌪️
iPhone 15 rumors: A new charging port expected 🔌
Pixel Watch 2 emerges with Snapdragon W5, 2GB RAM, Wear OS 4 ⌚
Meta’s next big open-source AI venture will reportedly be a code-generating bot
Image credit: Ilya Pavlov on Unsplash
Meta is reportedly preparing to release an open-source coding tool called "Code Llama," based on its LlaMA 2 language model.
The tool will suggest code to developers automatically as they type and is intended to compete against proprietary coding AI software from companies like OpenAI and Google.
It is expected to be available for free online. The release of this tool aligns with Meta's strategy of providing widely accessible AI software.
This new addition follows Meta's previous open-source initiatives, including Audiocraft AI and Voicebox AI.
The move is seen as part of Meta's larger strategy to integrate AI into various products and maintain its competitive edge.
Google reportedly building AI assistant that offers life advice
Image credit: Aideal Hwa on Unsplash
Google's AI unit, DeepMind, is reportedly using generative AI to develop over 21 different tools for life advice, planning, and tutoring.
The tools are being tested to see if they can offer relationship advice or help users answer intimate questions.
Google has partnered with Scale AI, a startup focused on training and validating AI software, for testing.
These tools are not intended for therapeutic use and come after Google's own AI safety experts raised concerns about users taking life advice from AI.
Google's publicly available Bard chatbot already offers mental health support resources for therapeutic advice.
WhatsApp now lets users send ‘HD’ photos
Image credit: Christian Wiediger on Unsplash
WhatsApp is introducing a feature that allows users to send higher-quality "HD" images on the messaging platform.
This upgrade, announced by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, will roll out globally in the coming weeks, enabling users to send higher-resolution images from Android, iOS, or the web.
A small icon will indicate these HD images to recipients. Users will find an "HD" gear icon when attaching images to messages, with options for standard quality or HD quality.
Recipients on slow connections can choose to keep the standard quality version or upgrade to HD. The default for senders remains standard quality.
Google and Universal Music use AI to make music together
Image credit: Faisal Mehmood from Pixabay
Google and Universal Music Group (UMG) are collaborating to create music using AI, allowing renowned artists' voices to be part of AI-generated songs.
This partnership aims to balance authenticity, copyright rules, and reputation while embracing AI as a tool for creativity in music.
UMG's shift from criticizing AI's impact on music to using it for innovative musical combinations is highlighted.
The role of AI in music creation is debated, with some seeing it as a tool for innovation and others expressing concerns about losing human creativity and emotion.
This collaboration also reflects how AI is influencing platforms beyond music, such as YouTube's content recommendations.
Linus Tech Tips halts production amid controversy swirls
Image credit: Linus Tech Tips / Youtube
Linus Media Group, known for Linus Tech Tips, has suspended production amid accusations of theft, ethical lapses, and sexual harassment.
The controversy began with allegations of factual errors and ethical concerns in recent videos by the YouTube channel Gamers Nexus.
Linus Media Group's CFO announced the pause, and an external investigator will be hired to address harassment claims.
The situation escalated when a former employee accused the group of cultivating a toxic work environment and sexual harassment.
The company denies the allegations and is conducting internal and external investigations.
The controversy has prompted a pause in production to address the issues raised.
iPhone 15 rumors: A new charging port expected
Image credit: Felix Fischer on Unsplash
The upcoming iPhone 15 models, expected to be launched in September, might feature a significant upgrade — a USB Type-C charging port.
This port could replace Apple's proprietary Lightning port, which has been used on iPhones since 2012.
The shift to USB-C is due to European Union regulations that mandate USB-C ports on new smartphones by 2024.
This change could result in benefits such as reduced e-waste and easier compatibility between devices.
While not confirmed by Apple, this move is expected to address charging standardization and make iPhones compatible with commonly used USB-C cables and chargers.
Pixel Watch 2 emerges with Snapdragon W5, 2GB RAM, Wear OS 4
Image credit: Triyansh Gill on Unsplash
Google's upcoming smartwatch, the Pixel Watch 2, has been spotted on the Google Play Console, confirming several key specifications.
The watch, codenamed "Eos," will feature the Snapdragon W5 series chip (Qualcomm SW5100) and run Wear OS 4, with Android 13 pre-installed.
It will retain 2GB of RAM, and support the new "backup" feature of Wear OS 4.
The watch's screen will have a 384x384 resolution with 320ppi density.
Although an image is included in the listing, it's not an accurate representation of the Pixel Watch 2.
This watch is expected to launch in the fall alongside the Pixel 8, featuring new bands and an aluminum casing.
Don't miss out! Here are some valuable reads from our recent newsletters:
Wrapping up this week's tech buzz
With that, we wrap up our Weekly Round-up!
We hope you've enjoyed diving into the exciting world of tech alongside us.
Stay in the know by subscribing to our newsletter and with our curated content delivered directly to your inbox.
We value your feedback and ideas. Share your thoughts, suggestions, or topics you'd like us to cover in future newsletters.
Join the conversation on our social media platforms and be part of our thriving community.