### WEEK 32 ###

This is the last SundAI you will ever read…

After much deliberation, I decided to make some changes.

SundAI Recap is becoming MondAI. Initial growth has been off the charts, with 511 subs in just three weeks. However I believe we can and need to go faster and harder, moving to Monday morning will hopefully increase engagement and tell the LinkedIn algorithm to share this newsletter with more people.

Thank you for all your support. Let's dive into this week's top stories!

Dutch privacy watchdog sounds alarm after data leaks

The Dutch privacy authority warns companies about potential data breaches through AI chatbots. Recently, medical data of patients and customer addresses were exposed in recent incidents. Why? Because workers wanted to make their lives easier by asking AI to summarize large files for them.

Key points:

• A family doctor's assistant fed patient data into ChatGPT, exposing sensitive information
• Companies urged to establish clear agreements on AI chatbot usage
• Once information is in the system, users lose control over it

Why it matters: Companies need to adopt AI in a safe way or risk losing control. A simple ChatGPT or Claude subscription can increase productivity anywhere between 20% and 80%. No-brainer, right?

OpenAI's 'project Strawberry': A step closer to AGI?

Sam Altman's cryptic tweet this week hints at a summer release of the secretive OpenAI project Strawberry, which aims for advanced AI reasoning. Last year, there were many conspiracy theories about Q* reaching AGI, which led to Sam Altman leaving the company due to security implications.

Now that Q* has been rebranded to Strawberry (sounds less threatening, right?), it seems we might be in for a treat…

Key points:

• Project Strawberry (formerly Q*) focuses on advanced AI reasoning
• Aims to enable "deep research" and autonomous internet navigation
• Exact timeline and plans remain unknown

Why it matters: Project Strawberry could represent a significant advancement towards AGI, potentially reshaping various industries and sparking new ethical debates about AI capabilities.

Welcome FLUX.1, The new "best" image generator?

The creators of Stable Diffusion secured $31M funding and released FLUX.1, a powerful new AI image generator. Could this open-source initiative disrupt the dominance of closed-source AI models? I tested it this week and absolutely loved it.

Key points:

• Three variants: closed-source pro version, open-weight dev version, and Apache 2.0 licensed schnell version
• 12 billion parameter models using hybrid architecture
• Early demos easily rival Midjourney v6.1 and DALL-E 3

Why it matters: Open source is making waves, after Llama405B, it's FLUX.1's release that that could reinvigorate the open-source AI community, potentially accelerating innovation in image generation and related fields while challenging the market position of closed-source alternatives.

Sonova unveils world's first real-time AI hearing aid

Swiss company Sonova Group has introduced Sphere Infinio, a revolutionary hearing aid leveraging real-time AI to enhance speech clarity. This device could be the breakthrough that millions with hearing loss have been waiting for, potentially reshaping the entire hearing aid industry.

Key points:

• Uses real-time AI to separate speech from background noise, a first in the global market
• Powered by new DEEPSONIC chip with 53 times more processing power than current industry standards
• Launches alongside new Infinio platform, offering tailored solutions for various hearing needs

Why it matters: This innovation could significantly improve the quality of life for millions of people with hearing impairments, potentially setting a new standard in hearing aid technology. This could have far-reaching implications for social interactions, workplace productivity, and overall quality of life for users. The use of real-time AI processing is a fundamental shift from current market offerings, which typically use AI only for sound classification.

Sonova's CEO, Arnd Kaldowski, emphasizes that this technology will be available to consumers this year, a surprise move that could accelerate the company's growth in a challenging market.

Lumen strikes gold in the AI infrastructure rush

Lumen Technologies , once struggling with debt and a sub-dollar stock price, has emerged as an unexpected player in the AI boom. The company has secured $5 billion in contracts to connect data centers to its fiber network, with another $7 billion in potential deals on the horizon.

Key points:

• $5 billion in contracts to connect data centers to Lumen's fiber network, largely consisting of 20-year dark fiber agreements
• Largest fiber optic cable purchase from Corning, reserving 10% of global capacity for two years
• Stock price surged 500% in a month, outpacing even Nvidia's gains

Why it matters: Lumen's success signals a significant shift in the telecom industry, highlighting the crucial role of network infrastructure in supporting the growing demands of AI technologies. This pivot could breathe new life into legacy telecom companies facing secular pressures in their traditional business lines.

Humane's AI Pin faces high return rates

Did Marques Brownlee kill the AI pin? Humane's ambitious AI Pin sees more returns than sales in its first months. Is this a stumbling block for wearable AI, or just growing pains for a revolutionary product?

Key points:

• Returns outpacing sales between May and August
• Only around 7,000 units still in customer hands
• $1 million in returns against $9 million in total sales

Why it matters: The struggles of Humane's AI Pin highlight the challenges of bringing novel AI-powered devices to market, potentially influencing future developments and investments in wearable AI technology.

OpenAI invests $60M in webcam startup Opal

ChatGPT maker OpenAI continues to dominate the news this week by leading a $60 million funding round for high-end webcam startup Opal Camera . Looking at their investment portfolio it's clear they are trying to marry their software to different types of hardware. Will they be able to beat open-source projects and become the new Windows?

Key points:

• OpenAI expected to lead $60M Series B funding for Opal Camera Inc.
• Opal known for its high-end $149 Tadpole webcam
• Company plans to develop AI-powered devices as "creative tools"

Why it matters: When viewed alongside their recent acquisition of video conferencing startup Multi, a pattern emerges that seems to lead to innovative AI-powered solutions for remote work, content creation, and possibly even advancements in computer vision and image processing capabilities for AI models. The future is exciting indeed.

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See you next Monday for another round of AI insights!

Leandro

P.S. Got a burning question about AI? Slide into my DM's and I might feature it in next week's edition!