The newsletter also discusses the popularity of livestream e-commerce in China, where over 500 million people regularly watch these streams, accounting for more than a quarter of all online purchases in the country. Developers are now creating deepfake streamers for brands on China’s e-commerce platforms. Other topics covered include Google's Bard AI, the US Space Force's efforts to speed up satellite launches, federal investigations into Elon Musk's Tesla perks, Europe's dependence on China for rare earth minerals, and Huawei's shipment of Chinese-made surveillance chips.
Key takeaways:
- Director Gareth Edwards attempted to use AI to create a soundtrack in the style of Hans Zimmer for his upcoming movie, _The Creator_. The experiment highlights the ongoing debate about the use of generative AI in creative fields.
- Google DeepMind has trained an AI system that can predict which DNA variations are likely to cause disease. This could potentially speed up the diagnosis of rare disorders and provide insights for drug development.
- AI-generated deepfake streamers are being used on Chinese e-commerce platforms, with over 500 million Chinese people regularly watching these streams. This technology could potentially change the landscape of livestream shopping in the US and other countries.
- Urban technology projects, including smart city initiatives, are increasingly taking on administrative and infrastructure responsibilities traditionally fulfilled by governments. This raises concerns about the potential exacerbation of urban inequalities.