Sep 6, 2024

A former tech executive covering AI, XR and The Metaverse for Forbes. NurPhoto via Getty Images On Monday, September 9th, Apple Unveils It’s AI and the new Siri. iOS 18 introduces Apple Intelligence, enhancing Siri with on-device AI processing for tasks like generating summaries, refining sketches, and contextual interactions across apps. Siri will now understand on-screen content, maintain conversation context, and integrate with Apple's ecosystem for seamless device interactions. The update includes extensive customization for Control Center and Lock Screen, a redesigned Photos app for easier navigation, and new privacy features like locked and hidden apps. Apple Intelligence, limited to newer hardware, balances on-device and cloud processing for privacy. iOS 18 also brings generative AI features, like creating Memory Movies, and Siri can now perform cross-app actions, significantly boosting its utility and integration within the Apple ecosystem. Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks at the Economic Club ... [+] of New York on September 5, 2024. Trump announced during his speech that if elected president he would appoint Tesla CEO Elon Musk to lead an audit of government spending and implement "drastic" reform. Trump said at Musk's suggestion, he would "create a government efficiency commission tasked with conducting a complete financial and performance audit of the entire federal government," with musk as its chief. (Photo by David Dee Delgado / AFP) (Photo by DAVID DEE DELGADO/AFP via Getty Images) AFP via Getty Images Billionaire Business Efficiency Expert Elon Musk Turns On Xai’s Massive Memphis AI Gigacluster . xAI has established what's being described as the world's most powerful AI training cluster in Memphis, Tennessee, utilizing 100,000 Nvidia H100 GPUs. This facility, dubbed the "Gigafactory of Compute," aims to train xAI's chatbot, Grok. The project is anticipated to create over 300 jobs and generate substantial tax revenue but the data center requires significant electricity, up to 150 megawatts, and draws up to one million gallons of water per day for cooling. Much of this power comes from gas-generators, which are choking Shelby County, which already gets an “F” for air quality. Toronto , Canada - 22 June 2022; Eric Schmidt, Founder, Schmidt Futures, on Centre Stage during day ... [+] two of Collision 2022 at Enercare Centre in Toronto, Canada. (Photo By Lukas Schulze/Sportsfile for Collision via Getty Images) Sportsfile via Getty Images Magic, a generative AI coding startup, has raised $320 million in funding led by former Google CEO Eric Schmidt , with contributions from Atlassian, CapitalG, and Sequoia Capital. The company, founded in 2022, focuses on automating software development through AI models that generate code and perform other programming tasks. This funding round brings Magic's total investment to nearly $465 million. The startup is partnering with Google Cloud to build AI supercomputers, leveraging NVIDIA's H100 GPUs and next-gen Blackwell chips to scale their operations. Magic aims to push the boundaries of AI's role in software development and is targeting the growing coding AI market, which is projected to reach $27.17 billion by 2032. Their Long-term Memory Network (LTM) model is designed to handle massive context windows, surpassing industry standards and positioning Magic as a major player in the generative AI landscape. MORE FOR YOU getty Andreessen Leads $80 M Series B Round For Story Protocol led by a16z crypto, with participation from Polychain, Stability AI SVP and board member Scott Trowbridge, K11 founder Adrian Cheng, and digital art collector Cozomo de' Medici. This marks one of the few times Andreessen Horowitz's crypto arm has led three funding rounds in a single company—another notable example is Coinbase The funding will support the development of PIP Labs’ intellectual property-focused blockchain, reducing middleman friction and unlocking new revenue streams as users experiment with IP. Cofounder Jason Zhao, who previously led product development at DeepMind, likens it to “legos”—blocks programmed with metadata that define pricing and any restrictions on use for automated distribution to creators. This allows creators to experiment with the confidence that they have permission to use the assets, while IP owners benefit from a share of fees and a steady stream of user-generated ideas. Miris has emerged from stealth with $26 M seed funding to advance its spatial streaming technology. The company wants to make the distribution of spatial 3D content as easy as selecting a song on your media player. The IAG-led round will help Miris scale its operations and further develop its platform. Viggle Gen AI Animation Raises $19 M. The investment led by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), with participation from Two Small Fish, will enable the Canadian company to accelerate product development, expand its team, and solidify its position as a leader in controllable video generation and AI animation. Sandbox VR retail location in San Francisco bay area is now shuttered. Charlie Fink Sandbox VR announced plans to open 280 new franchise locations globally. The announcement highlights strong growth in its immersive entertainment business. The company reported selling over 1.2 million tickets in 2023 and a 33% year-over-year increase in 2024 ticket sales. Its corporate locations have averaged $1.9 million in annual revenue per store. Sandbox VR also saw 60% growth in franchise deals in Q2, with projected 2024 revenue for London alone expected to top $5 million. These expansions reflect the growing demand for immersive VR experiences globally. Meta Shuts Down Spark AR Effects for Insta and FB With No Fanfare. I know, I didn’t remember Insta and FB having AR effects built-in, either. Did you? Meta’s quietly buried Spark behind the shed where Farmville was laid to rest. Meta’s not going to compete with Snap in camera effects. Some creators say the company abandoned them, not yet able to see Meta’s doing them a favor. Snap and its 750 million monthly users will welcome more Lens Creators. Wall Town Wonders is a new mixed reality game that turns your living room into a lively miniature town, your living room becomes the foundation for a vibrant, miniature town populated by colorful, lively characters. With over 40 different characters to meet, close to 100 buildings to unlock, and countless skins and customization options, no two towns will ever look the same. You'll help these tiny residents rebuild their town, unlocking a treasure trove of unique buildings, characters, and customization options along the way.. Now available for pre order on Meta Quest Store! This column, formerly called “This Week in XR,” is also a podcast hosted by author Charlie Fink, Ted Schilowitz, former studio executive and co-founder of Red Camera, and Rony Abovitz, founder of Magic Leap. This week our guest is Liam Braza, CEO of Infinite Reality. We can be found on Spotify , iTunes , and YouTube . What We’re Reading