Photorealistic Video Calls From The Metaverse

Author

Great Lakes Beacon
September 29, 2023

Brought to you by:

Welcome, visionaries and innovators!

Did you know that the Great Lakes Region is an economic powerhouse producing a GDP of $3.2 trillion!đź’˛

Here’s the big stuff going down today:

  1. Character.AI is growing fast.

  2. A new “AI Device” coming from OpenAI and Jony Ive?

  3. Metaverse photorealistic video calls impressive.

1. Impersonate anyone or anything

Character.ai’s dream of achieving sci-fi level, open-ended conversations with computers is inching closer to reality as they pursue hundreds of millions in new investment while targeting a valuation between $5B and $10B - a considerable leap from the $1B valuation from its most recent funding round.

Character, an emerging favorite in the realm of generative AI, is a neural language model chatbot service crafted by former developers of Google’s LaMDA. It was launched just last year and boasts the ability to "impersonate virtually anyone or anything."

A spokesman for the company declined to comment on the valuation for the startup, but said that Character.AI has achieved “significant milestones” after raising $150 million from investors earlier this year.

2. OpenAI and iPhone designer discussing new AI Device

Sam Altman, co-founder of OpenAI, and Jony Ive, the visionary designer behind the iPhone, are currently in discussions with SoftBank to raise $1 billion for an innovative AI device venture.

Word on the street is this new device promises a more “natural and intuitive experience” than our current smartphones. Envision an omnipotent AI assistant, ready and equipped to handle all your heavy lifting.

3. “Really feels like we’re in the same room.”

Step into the future and chat with a lifelike digital friend, just as Lex Fridman experienced with Mark Zuckerberg. However, it first requires a sophisticated and thorough body scan which Zuckerberg aims to simplify using just an iPhone.

Participants view each other as photorealistic "Kodak Avatars" in 3D with spatial audio. Fridman believes this technology will allow human beings to connect in a deeply meaningful way on the internet.

Other AI Headlines

AlphaSense raises $150M at $2.5B valuation.

Evozyne, AI drug developer, raises $81M.

VCs attract founders with AI chips and server access.

Jasper, an early Generative AI winner, cuts internal valuation as growth slows.

That’s it for today!

We’re new and eager for feedback. Tell us how we can make the Great Lakes Beacon more relevant to you! Simply reply to this email with your comments and suggestions. 🤗