WednesdAI // Week 48

AI Pioneers of 2024 as Granny dAIsy Outsmarts Scammers, Robotaxis Gain Trust, and Innovation Shapes the Future!

Let’s get into it!
 
Welcome to WednesdAI – Pixel Dreams’ weekly update with top stories from the rapidly evolving world of Artificial Intelligence.

This Week’s News

New version of Dream Machine

 
Luma Labs has introduced Dream Machine 1.5, a major update to its AI video and image generation platform. Key improvements include a faster video creation process—five seconds of high-quality video in two minutes—and enhanced realism in visuals and movement. It also features the Photon Image Model, which delivers high-quality, faster image generation for a wide range of users, including creators and educators. The update includes a redesigned interface for more intuitive editing, support for image prompts, and various pricing tiers for hobbyists to enterprises. This innovation expands creative possibilities and positions Luma as a leader in AI-driven visual storytelling.

Visit Lumalabs, The Letter Two and, Toms Guide.

Pickle Avatars: Skip Meetings, Stay Present

 
Pickle, a startup backed by Krew Capital, offers a service that creates digital avatars to attend web conference calls on your behalf. Users upload a five-minute video of themselves, and within 24 hours, an avatar is ready to simulate their presence on apps like Zoom, Google Meet, and Teams.

Currently available only for macOS, with Windows support expected next month, the service costs $300 to $1,150 annually, depending on the plan. Despite high demand causing delays in avatar generation, the technology aims to offer convenience for users in various scenarios, from staying in bed to calling from unconventional locations like the beach.

For more, visit Tech Crunch.

Fondo Raises $7M for AI Bookkeeping Expansion

 
Fondo, a startup founded in 2020 by serial entrepreneur David Phillips, is addressing the U.S. accountant shortage with its AI-driven bookkeeping and tax platform tailored for startups and small to medium-sized businesses. The company has achieved profitability, serving approximately 1,200 customers—including ElevenLabs, Karat, and PostHog—and generating $6 million in annual recurring revenue. To further its mission, Fondo secured a $7 million seed round led by Tokyo-based fintech firm Money Forward, with participation from Y Combinator and others, valuing the company at $66 million. The funds will enhance product development and automation, including the creation of an AI agent to provide financial insights.

For more details, Rejoice Hub and Tech Crunch.
 
 

Hoffman Cites Musk’s xAI Ownership as AI Policy Conflict

 
LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman has criticized Elon Musk for a potential conflict of interest as Musk advises President-elect Trump on AI policies while running his AI startup, xAI. Hoffman acknowledges that Trump’s pro-innovation stance could drive technological advancement, but fears Musk’s involvement could lead to policies favoring his own businesses. Musk’s growing role in politics, including endorsing Trump and joining the Department of Government Efficiency initiative, has drawn fire from skeptics, but it also highlights his influence as a leading figure in AI and tech policy.

For more details, visit the full article Tech Crunch and Business Insider.
 
 

Apple’s Siri to Get More Conversational with LLMs

Apple is reportedly developing a more conversational version of Siri, powered by large language models (LLMs) to improve its natural language processing capabilities. The new system would allow users to have more fluid, human-like interactions with their devices, moving beyond the traditional command-based structure. Apple’s goal is to integrate advanced conversational AI to offer more context-aware responses, making Siri smarter and better at handling complex requests. This shift comes as Apple seeks to compete with other AI-driven voice assistants, including Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, which are already leveraging similar technologies​.

For the complete list and further details, check out Tech Crunch.

Videos of the Week

What’s exciting, a short statement about what’s exciting. Just a short sentence or two about what’s most exciting.
 

The images accompanying the news items in this article were generated in Midjourney using the following prompts:

Luma Dream Machine
Whimsical AI dreamscape, the Dream Machine appears as a floating, candy-colored zeppelin covered in kinetic screens displaying animated ideas. The setting is a fantastical land where user prompts rise as glowing orbs from the ground, drawn into the machine, and emerge as playful characters dancing on rainbow-tinted clouds. The lighting is soft and radiant, with vibrant pastel hues creating an atmosphere of joyous innovation.

Playful cyber-dream, an AI-generated avatar dances on a whimsical Zoom call interface surrounded by floating icons of margaritas, hammocks, and palm trees. The actual user, a tiny figure, floats in a surreal hammock made of light beams suspended in a cosmic void. The lighting is vibrant and kaleidoscopic, creating a surreal yet lighthearted scene of escapism through technology.

Whimsical minimalism, a friendly robotic accountant sits at a desk made of hovering financial documents, surrounded by tiny anthropomorphic business applications with cartoon faces. The applications cheer as they jump into filing cabinets that sort themselves automatically. The scene is set against a dreamy pastel gradient background, with soft glowing light emanating from the robot’s eyes, creating a playful yet efficient atmosphere.

Abstract political caricature, Hoffman is portrayed as a digital oracle made of shimmering code, projecting visions of collaborative AI futures, while Elon Musk’s figure morphs into a massive, labyrinthine circuit board covered in conflict of interest warning signs. The scene is set within an infinite, glitchy void, with bursts of chaotic light and distortions symbolizing the challenges of AI policy-making.

Neo-renaissance mixed with crystalline design with Apple’s logo as a translucent, angelic sculpted from shimmering quartz, placed on a throne of hovering intertwined with golden geometric frameworks. The setting is a vast marble hall lit by refracted beams of light from a colossal, AI-generated stained-glass dome depicting data streams. The composition is regal and serene, with prismatic colors dancing across the reflective surfaces and soft mist curling at the base of Apple’s throne./em>