OpenAI Archives - Boardroom

ChatGPT, Voice Engine, Sam Altman & More Updates from OpenAI

Michelai Graham — Sun, 07 Apr 2024 19:00:00 +0000

Google‘s flagship email service, Gmail, turned 20 years old this week, marking two decades since the Big Tech giant introduced it on April Fool’s Day in 2004. Initially, people thought it was a joke since Google offered 1 gigabyte of storage at launch, a massive offering that was unusual at that time.

A peek into today’s edition:

Updates at OpenAI
The NFL launches new mobile game
Apple Vision Pro digital personas are here

OpenAI Shakeups and Updates

OpenAI’s ChatGPT will no longer require users to make an account to use its platform, though those who don’t won’t be able to save or share chats. Essentially, without an account, users will be able to access a limited version of the conversation AI chatbot.

Elsewhere, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has stepped back from overseeing the OpenAI Startup Fund, the company’s venture arm that invests in early-stage AI companies. Ian Hathaway, an executive who has helped manage the fund since its inception in 2021, will succeed Altman.

More updates from OpenAI:

Users can now edit DALL-E images directly in ChatGPT by selecting parts of images and texting out the changes they want to make.
OpenAI teased its new AI-powered voice cloning tool, Voice Engine, to a select group of businesses.
Microsoft and OpenAI are teaming up to build a $100 billion supercomputer coined Stargate

A16z to Invest $30M in Tech & Gaming Startups

A16z general partner Andrew Chen announced via X that he’s investing $30 million in startups building at the intersection of tech and gaming, specifically across the web3, AI, and augmented reality industries. The $30 million fund is part of the venture capital firm’s Speedrun program, which is an early-stage accelerator for startups at the intersection of tech and games. Accepted startups will receive a $750,000 investment and participate in a 12-week intensive program running between July and October in LA later this year.

The deadline to apply is May 19, and selected startups will be notified in June.

Apple officially launched Spatial Personas from beta for the Vision Pro to help solve the device’s isolating experience. This new offering allows users to display digital versions of themselves in SharePlay-enabled apps to interact with other Apple Vision Pro users.
Three TikTok-fueled trends are coming together as one. Alo, the omnipresent sportswear company, is teaming up with Beats by Dre for a special edition headphone drop. The campaign features singer Tyla and is soundtracked by her song Safer. The collaboration is a “celebration of the rhythm of life and the practice of being present.”
Stevie Wonder, Nicki Minaj, Billie Eilish, and more than 200 other artists signed an open letter penned by the Artist Rights Alliance that calls on AI developers and digital music services to stop using AI to infringe on artists’ rights.
In an effort to bring more educational content to its platform globally, TikTok is expanding its dedicated STEM feed to Europe after first launching it in the US last year.
It’s been a busy week over at Microsoft. As the US House of Representatives announced that it’s banning the Big Tech company’s AI chatbot, Copilot, on government devices, Microsoft also announced that it’s unbundling Teams from the rest of its Office subscription services following complaints from the European Union and rivals like Slack.
Google has agreed to delete millions of users’ web browsing data as part of a settlement for a 2020 class action lawsuit that alleged the Big Tech giant wasn’t being honest about how Chrome tracks web activity.
AT&T is investigating a widespread data leak that resulted in sensitive information from 73 million of its current and former customers being released on the dark web a few weeks ago.
Popular NFT collection Doodles is expanding its range with an animated special featuring Pharrell, Lil Wayne, and Coi Leray. The campaign, titled “Project Grey,” will begin its rollout this summer. This isn’t the first time Doodles and Pharrell have linked up, having been named the company’s Chief Brand Officer in 2022.

Tesla‘s annual sales are down for the first time since 2020 due to increased competition. To entice interested buyers, I’m going to bet that Tesla will kick down prices for its EVs at least one more time this year.

The post ChatGPT, Voice Engine, Sam Altman & More Updates from OpenAI appeared first on Boardroom.

Believe the Hype: The Apple Vision Pro is Here & It’s a Game Changer

Michelai Graham — Sun, 04 Feb 2024 20:00:00 +0000

I’m spicing it up a bit today in light of the Apple Vision Pro launch this week. I got to partake in some exclusive experiences throughout the week, so I wanted to detail and download everything I learned for you all. Let’s jump right into it.

A peek into today’s edition:

My Apple Vision Pro Review (finally!)
Big Tech CEOs on Capitol Hill
UMG vs TikTok rages on

Believe the Hype: The Apple Vision Pro is Here & It’s a Game Changer

“MVP! MVP! MVP!”

That’s what the staffers at Apple Fifth Avenue were chanting for Apple CEO Tim Cook as he walked up to open the doors of the store to customers eager to get their hands on the Apple Vision Pro on Friday morning. Cook shook hands with early adopters of his company’s newest device, spending about an hour in the store interacting with customers and the media. Every way I turned in the store, there were excited customers unboxing their Vision Pros, doing demos, and spectating the electric scenery.

Entertainment and the freedom to work on multiple screens were the top two things people told me they were most excited about experiencing with the Vision Pro. It was very obvious to me that the majority of the early Vision Pro adopters were tech enthusiasts, coders, legacy Apple supporters, and entertainment fanatics. I was excited to be in the room and on the ground, covering a historic moment. After testing out the Vision Pro myself this week, I have one piece of advice for the skeptical people out there: Believe the hype.

My Review of the Apple Vision Pro

I’ve been covering the Apple Vision Pro‘s rollout since the day the new device was announced last June at WWDC 2023. Ahead of the Vision Pro launch, Boardroom received an exclusive demo of the device on Thursday. I got a one-hour experience and even had to share my eye prescription ahead of it so the headset would be personally calibrated for me. Right off the bat, it was simple and easy to get used to the iris control and finger taps to click and move items around. The Vision Pro is truly a spatial computer, and I was able to control how immersed I wanted to be in the virtual space compared to being able to see the physical space around me.

I mostly interacted with apps native to Vision Pro, which truly leaned into making a spatial computing experience. I was able to select immersive backgrounds, and I was impressed by the device’s ability to handle multiple screens at once. I had screens positioned all around me, though typing is definitely a task I’ll have to get used to.

Watching movies in the Vision Pro exceeded my expectations. I felt like I was at the movie theater with the best seats in the house, and don’t get me started on the video quality. The imagery was top-tier. Aside from getting up close with a dinosaur that made me forget it wasn’t really in front of me and a butterfly landing on the tip of my finger, the NBA League Pass experience was, by far, my favorite thing I got to try.

Honestly, the only thing I was missing out on was interacting with my friends and other users, which I’m sure there will be updates and apps that allow for that down the line.

While I thoroughly enjoyed my experience, I left that demo thinking: Who is this device actually for, and how will Apple market it to the masses? I can’t imagine kids or someone my mom’s age investing in a device like this at this stage.

I got a couple of insights into these questions when I joined Cook and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver at the NBA HQ on Friday afternoon for an exclusive experience with the development team that built the Vision Pro version of NBA League Pass. Chad Evans, NBA SVP Head of Product, along with Senior Software Engineers Lauren Marshall and Matthew Parrott, presented their work on building out NBA League Pass from the Vision Pro. Evans told me that a core team of six engineers, designers, and product managers worked on the NBA League Pass app for the Vision Pro.

“We really wanted to be there for the launch because we think it’s really important for fans to get their hands on the experience,” Evans told Boardroom. “I love statistics and the way stats can help you build a deeper understanding of the game. We actually rebuilt our core stats engine so that we can have real-time stats in sync with all of the videos you’re watching. That experience just makes the app feel alive.”

Following the demo, I asked Cook and Silver one question from all of the learnings I gathered about the Vision Pro: What do you think the future of sports and entertainment is in this new spatial computing universe, and how will you get fans to invest in it?

“I think it’s more immersive than ever before; I think the fan wants to be a part of the game and a part of the action, and there’s nothing like being in Vision Pro and feeling like you’re on the court,” Cook exclusively told me. “It’s not that you have a courtside seat; it’s so much better than that. I’m so excited. I think it really changes everything.”

Silver doubled down on that.

“You often hear, even from casual NBA fans, that the best seat in all of sports is a courtside seat, which virtually no one gets to experience. As Tim said, this is in many ways better than sitting courtside; it can take you anywhere on the floor, it can give you the perspective of a player, and it can give you places you can otherwise never go and absorb it,” Silver told me. “It can give you the perspective of a player; it can give you places you can otherwise never go and absorb it. “These are, of course, early days, but it is transformative. This will, to me, be how people over time experience sports through media.”

I have more insights to share from my experience with the Apple team this week, but one thing is clear to me after my experience this week: Apple is all in on entertainment for the Vision Pro.

Expect more from me on the new device very soon.

Big Tech CEOs from Meta, TikTok, Snap, Discord, and X were in the hot seat on Wednesday during a Senate hearing focused on the harm young users face online and policies meant to protect them. Meta‘s Mark Zuckerberg and TikTok’s Shou Zi Chew got most of the heat from Senators looking to pass a bill that would put more liability on social platforms when young users experience harm online.
Amazon mutually agreed with iRobot to call off its planned acquisition of the Roomba maker. As a result, iRobot founder and CEO Colin Angle announced he is stepping down, and the company has cut 31% of its workforce, which is 350 people.
In other Amazon news, the Bellevue, WA, house where Jeff Bezos founded the Big Tech company has hit the real estate market for $2.3 million.
Elon Musk reported on X that the first human has received a Neuralink brain-computer interface, a device that’s implanted into the brain and allows users to control external computers, robotic products, and mobile devices. The patient is a part of Neuralink’s first human trial for its flagship device.
Also, a Delaware judge sided with Tesla shareholders who filed a lawsuit against Elon Musk to block his 2018 pay package, which included a whopping $56 billion salary that was previously approved by the company’s board.
TikTok has a master plan to boost shopping and in-app sales by opening live studios across major cities like LA that allow creators to come in and livestream products they are pushing to sell. The company is also working on a new feature that would allow users to feature links to products in their videos.
OpenAI’s ChatGPT announced a partnership with children’s safety org Common Sense Media to develop AI guidelines, educational materials, and a kid-friendly section in the GPT Store.

Universal Music Group decided to pull its music library from TikTok this week after the parties failed to reach a new agreement on royalties for artists and songwriters. I’m going to bet that UMG will return to the short-form video platform by the end of Q1 since it’s been able to reach deals with every other social network on the market.

The post Believe the Hype: The Apple Vision Pro is Here & It’s a Game Changer appeared first on Boardroom.

Michelai’s Bet of the Week: A 2023 Rundown of Every Odd

Michelai Graham — Fri, 29 Dec 2023 16:00:00 +0000

Boardroom recaps Michelai’s Bet of the Week, presented by FanDuel Sportsbook, in Tech Talk to see how dialed in on the industry our resident tech reporter really is.

This year, I made over 40 bets focused on things I predict will happen across the tech industry.

When Boardroom’s weekly newsletter, Tech Talk, got a makeover in February, I started making bets on happenings across the tech industry. “Michelai’s Bet of the Week Presented by FanDuel Sportsbook” holds space at the bottom of the newsletter, and it easily became my favorite place to share my real and sometimes unhinged tech hot takes.

Now, I wasn’t making any wagers or putting up money for these bets, but some came true, and some didn’t.

Here is a rundown of every bet I made this year on tech, with some small updates on the big ones that have had movements.

February

Feb. 12: Calling it now: Twitter’s verified badge pricing model will fall apart in the next year because people won’t care enough to pay for a blue check.
Feb. 19: As the SEC cracks down on crypto, lawmakers will attempt to implement widespread crypto regulations within the next year.
Feb. 26: After steady progress with AI-powered chatbots, there will be talks of at least one AI-scripted film at the Tribeca Film Festival this summer.
- Unfortunately, this didn’t come true.

March

March 5: Since Yuga Labs is the top household name in Web3, I predict that TwelveFold NFTs will sell out in four hours max when they drop.
- TwelveFold NFTs sold out in minutes when the auction concluded on March 6.
March 12: Since Meta plans to release three more headsets before 2027, I think the big tech company will knock those Quest prices down again before the year is up to make space in the market for the new products.
- Meta knocked down the Meta Quest 2 price by $50 to $249, while the Meta Quest Pro is still $999.
March 19: Even though lawmakers are scrutinizing President Joe Biden for not banning TikTok by now, I bet a deal will be reached very soon, and a complete barring of the social media won’t be necessary.
March 26: If ByteDance puts a real deal on the table to sell TikTok, I’m going to bet that Oracle will arise as an early contender to buy the company.

April

April 2: I’m going to go big here and say Twitter removing legacy blue checks will backfire tremendously, causing the platform to move back to a more traditional verification process.
- After discontinuing the Legacy Blue Check program on April 20, X began reinstalling them on accounts for deceased individuals and many celebrities by April 24.
April 9: I’m going to bet that NFT.NYC will look a lot different next year, or not happen at all since it’s really just a week of hundreds of community events that can run throughout the year.
April 16: I’m going to bet that Adidas will follow in Nike and RTFKT’s steps and release some exclusive ALTS apparel tied to the blockchain.
April 23: I’m going to bet that streaming platforms will not ban AI services from using copyrighted music in favor of imposing some restrictions instead.
April 30: This is a big one, but I’m going to bet that Microsoft won’t be able to close its acquisition deal with Activision Blizzard this year.
- This is probably the biggest bet I lost on this year since Microsoft closed the deal in October.

May

May 7: Super hot take alert: I’m going to bet that more tech workers will push to unionize in the coming years as AI continues to disrupt the workforce.
May 14: Since Twitter/X Corp is getting a new CEO, I’m going to bet that investors will begin talking about how to buy Musk out to push him out of the company.
May 21: I am going to confidently bet that Montana’s TikTok ban will not hold up. I’m sure the ACLU is already drafting a lawsuit to detail how this ban violates freedom of speech.
- In November, a federal judge blocked Montana’s TikTok ban from going into effect.
May 28: Following FaZe Clan’s latest round of layoffs, I’m going to bet that the once-beloved esports brand is going to file for bankruptcy or merge with another company pretty soon.
- Texas-based esports company GameSquare Holdings inked a deal in October to acquire Faze Clan.

June

June 4: This seems like a no-brainer, but since AI leaders are warning that AI will overtake humans in the future, I’m going to bet that investors, consumers, and maybe even Congress will begin to question what they are actually building.
June 11: After watching Meta knock down its Quest Pro price by $500, I’m going to bet that Apple will chip a little off the Vision Pro’s expensive price tag before the device goes to market later this year.
- Unfortunately, this didn’t come true.
June 18: After finally watching Ready Player One for the first time (I know, I’m sorry) following the film’s tech comparisons to Apple’s new AR headset, I’m going to bet that streams of the movie will skyrocket as Apple shares more of its plans.
June 25: Since President Joe Biden met with AI experts this week, I’m going to bet that we’ll see some joint AI regulations in the near future before we see any real crypto regulations.

July

July 2: Google seems to be a bit confused about how to build around emerging technologies right now, and after its recent job cuts at Waze, I’m going to bet we will see another big staffing restructure at the company in the next year.
- Google cut at least 40 jobs in its news division in October, but no big restructuring.
July 9: Since there has been fodder about OpenAI getting acquired by Microsoft in its lifetime, I’m going to bet that we’ll see rumors of a deal on the table in the next year after the big tech giant sorts out its Activision Blizzard merger deal.
July 16: While everyone is focused on generative AI, I always think about humanoids, aka robots. I’m going to bet that a new robotics and AI company building bots will arise soon.
July 23: Since Amazon is bringing its pay-by-palm tech to all Whole Foods stores by the end of the year, I’m going to bet that another company will do the same with iris tech. (Kind of surprised Amazon didn’t try that first!)
July 30: I’m going to bet that Xbox will end up selling its Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle-inspired pizza-scented controllers after Aug. 13. For now, fans can only grab one as part of a marketing campaign to promote Paramount’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem film.
- Unfortunately, this didn’t come true.

August

Aug. 6: An unopened, first-generation Apple iPod sold for $29,000 via Rally this week, and I’m going to bet that, unlike cassette and CD players, these devices will continue to hold high value due to extreme scarcity.
Aug. 13: Despite the Detroit Police Department’s trouble with facial recognition tech, I’m going to bet that more law enforcement agencies will adopt the tech, leading to more false arrests.
Aug. 20: VinFast will go the way of Rivian, facing an extreme challenge (and plummeting stock prices) as it is unable to keep up with the sky-high demand for its EV offerings.
Aug. 27: Despite the desirable $130 price point, I’m going to strongly bet that the new Atari 2600+ dropping in November won’t sell even half the units that the Atari 2600 sold, which was about 30 million.
- The console just released a month ago, so sales numbers haven’t been reported yet.

September

Sept. 3: Amazon is pushing forward with its return-to-office policy, requiring employees to report to an office three days a week, just as Meta recently implemented. I’m going to bet that tech workers will begin to push back on Big Tech companies to fight the crackdown on in-office policies in favor of remote work.
Sept. 10: Warner Music Central Europe signed a record deal with AI pop singer Noonoouri, and while this is a first for Warner Music, I’m going to bet that we won’t see a deal of this nature in the US anytime soon.
Sept. 17: With Hulu and Disney Plus price hikes on the way next month, I’m going to bet that a tech company like Roku, for example, will offer a bundle deal of all the major streaming platforms in the next year. It’s like we’re headed back to the cable era of television all over again.
Sept. 24: Snapchat+ hit a new milestone with 5 million paying subscribers, and while this is impressive, I’m going to bet that the subscription program will see a massive dip in interest by next summer.

October

Oct. 1: Samsung is targeting content creators through a new sponsorship with MrBeast. I’m going to bet that this deal won’t drive significant sales for the Galaxy Z Flip 5 as the mobile brand expects it to.
Oct. 8: Meta is testing a $14-a-month subscription service in the UK for users who want an advertisement-free Instagram or Facebook experience. TikTok is also internationally testing a similar feature for $4.99 a month. Since social networks don’t operate like streaming services, I’m going to bet that this offering won’t thrive in the US.
Oct. 15: Joby Aviation Founder JoeBen Bevirt said his company can deliver on launching a commercial air taxi service in 2025. We didn’t get flying cars in 2000 as promised, so I’m going to bet that flying taxis won’t arrive in 2025 or this decade.
Oct. 22: After years of delays, Tesla will reportedly start delivering its much-anticipated Cybertruck vehicle to select customers on Nov. 30. I’m going to place a hot bet that we’ll see at least one recall or some sort of design change on the luxury electric SUV before the year is up.
- Unfortunately, this didn’t happen for the Cybertruck, but Tesla did do a big recall of 2 million of its flagship vehicles recently.
Oct. 29: Shazam, the music identification app owned by Apple, announced a new feature called Concerts, which will recommend music events to customers based on their Shazam queries. With this expansion, I’m going to bet that Shazam will add a concert ticket-purchasing feature as well, or maybe Apple will build its own internal ticket sales tech.

November

Nov. 5: The Information reported that TikTok users sent over $250 million to livestreamers on the platform by way of tips and digital gifts. With the potential to generate tipping revenue, I’m going to bet that TikTok Live will give other platforms like Twitch a run for their audiences pretty soon.
Nov. 12: Despite Epic Games losing in a similar antitrust case with Apple back in 2021, I’m going to bet that the video game developer will prevail with a few wins in its antitrust trial against Google since the Big Tech giant is fighting multiple court battles right now.
- This was my biggest win on a bet of the year since Epic Games prevailed against Google on all fronts.
Nov. 19: Indie studio A24 was granted the rights to make a movie based on Walter Isaacson’s biography of Elon Musk. I can’t pinpoint who I think will play the controversial tech tycoon, but I am going to bet that Musk will put his bid in to play himself in the highly-anticipated film.
Nov. 26: Elon Musk confirmed that Grok will be available to all X Premium+ subscribers as soon as next week, but I’m going to bet that he’ll expand the AI chatbot to more consumers by Q1 2024 to compete with other AI chatbots on the market.

December

Dec. 3: Lapse, a photo-sharing app that skyrocketed from No. 118 to No. 1 in Apple’s App Store in September, saw downloads drop as much as 70% in recent months. I’m going to bet that we’ll see an uptick in activity once Lapse opens up invites to the masses instead of only allowing users to join by invite codes from friends.
Dec. 10: I recently shared some of my crypto predictions for 2024, and while I predicted that Bitcoin would break the $40,000 threshold in the new year, it already did that. I want to up that prediction and bet that Bitcoin will break the $50,000 threshold before May.
Dec. 17: Nearly 20% of teens said they are almost constantly visiting or using YouTube and TikTok, a new report by the Pew Research Center found. As more kids get online to learn, play, and create, I’m going to bet that that figure will double by this time next year.

Be sure to subscribe to Tech Talk to stay current on all my Bets of the Week — right and wrong — heading into 2024.

More Tech Talk:

Tech Talk April 7, 2024

ChatGPT, Voice Engine, Sam Altman & More Updates from OpenAI

Tech Talk March 31, 2024

What Will We Learn at Apple WWDC24 this Summer?

Tech Talk March 17, 2024

Everything You Need to Know About TikTok’s Potential Ban in the US

Tech Talk March 10, 2024

Social Media Platforms Went Offline This Week. But Why?

The post Michelai’s Bet of the Week: A 2023 Rundown of Every Odd appeared first on Boardroom.

Apple, Google, & Meta Lead the 10 Biggest Tech Moments of 2023

Michelai Graham — Tue, 26 Dec 2023 15:00:00 +0000

From CEO oustings to new market capitalizations, the text-based app war, and much more. Boardroom runs down 10 of the biggest tech moments, announcements, and headlines from 2023.

Another year is coming to a close, and now, more than ever, the tech industry is moving and shaking things up. New tech companies are rising to the top, and the Big Tech giants are expanding with new tech and products to stay in the race.

To cap off another eventful year, Boardroom details 10 of the biggest tech moments, announcements, and headlines from 2023. In no particular order, here we go.

10 of the Biggest Tech Moments of 2023

OpenAI fired Sam Altman, then hired him back in a week.

OpenAI‘s board fired its CEO and co-founder Sam Altman in mid-November in an unexpected coup before rehiring the AI tycoon less than a week later. Altman’s return came with a new board and little to no confirmed explanation from OpenAI as to why he was ousted in the first place. The entire debacle from bizarre, and every day for a week, it seemed like more and more tea was getting spilled.

Microsoft finally got clearance to acquire Activision Blizzard.

In October, Microsoft officially got the green light to acquire video game giant Activision Blizzard for $69 billion. The Big Tech leader first bid to acquire Activision in January 2022, with its biggest hurdle being UK regulators. After negotiating some changes to the costly contract, Microsoft moved closer to pulling off its biggest deal yet. The acquisition deal closed the same day both parties signed the contract.

Sam Bankman-Fried was found guilty.

Nearly a year after getting arrested in the Bahamas and extradited to the US, disgraced ex-FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried was found guilty of multiple charges of fraud and conspiracy at the top of November. SBF spent five weeks in court trying to convince a jury that he didn’t steal billions of dollars and defraud FTX customers. The former crypto leader will be sentenced on March 28, 2024; he’s facing a maximum of 115 years in prison.

Google launched an AI chatbot called Bard.

In March, Google opened public access to Bard AI, its flagship competitor to OpenAI’s ChatGPT. Google’s conversational and generative artificial intelligence-enabled chatbot hasn’t risen to popularity like ChatGPT has, but it’s still in the early days of the AI chatbot race.

Twitter officially became X while legacy users flocked to other apps.

Elon Musk officially rebranded Twitter as X in July, sunsetting the icon blue bird logo we’ve known and loved for over a decade. X has been pushing hard to become the “everything app” this year but has steep competition now. As X continues to make changes, there has been a surge in other text-based apps like Bluesky, Spill, and Meta’s newest app.

Meta launched a new text-based app called Threads.

Meta once again shocked the social media world when it launched a new text-based conversation app called Threads in July. The primary purpose of Threads is to be an app more focused on text and dialogue, modeled after what Instagram has done for photos and videos. Since its launch, the new app has attracted approximately 100 million monthly active users. Threads came in a “year of efficiency” for Meta, which also saw its stock surge as much as 176% in 2023.

Apple hit a historic milestone with a $3 trillion market cap.

Apple made history in July when it again hit a $3 trillion market capitalization. The Big Tech giant is the first public company to reach that milestone and has done it twice. The accolade came a month after Apple announced that it would release its first virtual reality and augmented reality headset, the Apple Vision Pro. The headset is set to launch in early 2024.

Google loses to Epic Games in court.

A jury unanimously sided with Epic Games over Google in an antitrust case that started three years ago when the Fortnite creator filed a lawsuit against the Big Tech company for charging higher than normal app store fees and restricting payment systems. Epic Games hopes this court decision will force Google to allow app developers to use alternative payment systems within their apps or run their own app stores on Android. Right now, Google gets a 30% cut of in-app purchases. We’ll know more about Google’s app store changes in January.

AI-generated “Heart on My Sleeve” song goes viral.

An AI-generated song featuring vocals from Drake and The Weeknd went viral in April, sparking a larger discussion about the use of AI across the music industry. Drake and The Weeknd didn’t agree to let their voices be featured on the song “Heart on My Sleeve,” anonymously produced by TikToker Ghostwriter977. After a short viral stint, major social media and streaming platforms removed Ghostwriter’s original posts for infringing content creation with generative AI.

Tesla’s Cybertruck finally hit the road.

Tesla began delivering the first round of its much-anticipated Cybertrucks at the end of November, two years after it originally planned to roll them out. The new electric-powered vehicle with a futuristic trapezoid-like design is Tesla’s first new model in three years. The electric automotive maker plans to produce 250,000 Cybertrucks a year once it reaches full production mode.

Want More Tech?

Big Tech March 28, 2024

Tech Talk Reviews: Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses

Big Tech March 26, 2024

Everything You Need to Know About AI Chipmaker Nvidia

Big Tech March 22, 2024

How Google’s Adrienne Lofton Connects Marketing and Culture

Emerging Tech March 15, 2024

Tech Talk Reviews: Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Emerging Tech March 12, 2024

How to Set Up Your Coinbase Wallet as Crypto Market Booms

Tech Talk February 18, 2024

Big Tech is Strong in Indy for 2024 NBA All-Star Weekend

The post Apple, Google, & Meta Lead the 10 Biggest Tech Moments of 2023 appeared first on Boardroom.

OpenAI Preps for a Major Transition as ChatGPT Turns 1

Michelai Graham — Sun, 03 Dec 2023 20:00:00 +0000

If you haven’t checked on your Google account in two years, now is a good time to do so since the Big Tech giant is deleting inactive accounts. The Gmail Armageddon began on Dec. 1. Is your account safe?

A peek into today’s edition:

Happy first birthday, ChatGPT!
AI fakes are back on the rise
Amazon announces new tech at AWS conference

OpenAI Preps for a Major Transition as ChatGPT Turns 1

ChatGPT turned 1 this week, so I penned a story highlighting some of the monumental moments the viral AI chatbot had this past year. OpenAI‘s flagship conversational AI platform quickly and easily took the world by storm last fall, mainly because no one else was doing it yet. ChatGPT walked so Google’s Bard, Microsoft’s Bing, Snap’s My AI, and all the other countless AI chatbots on the market right now could run.

Still, it’s hard to commemorate ChatGPT’s success without also mentioning OpenAI’s recent turmoil. As of this past week, OpenAI’s board has fully made its transition as founder Sam Altman prepares to take back over. Microsoft has adopted a non-voting observer seat, and three of the four members who suddenly fired Altman are now gone. I have been wondering if Altman’s ousting, return, and board changes are the reasons Apple and Google didn’t honor ChatGPT as their apps of the year. ChatGPT’s mobile app has attracted more than 110 million downloads and generated nearly $29 million in consumer spending since it launched on iOS in May and on Android in July.

Despite the commotion, the platform’s impact is undeniable, and I can’t wait to see how ChatGPT progresses in the next year.

ByteDance Downsizes Gaming Division, Announces Virtual TikTok Open House

ByteDance announced that it’s restructuring its gaming business and cutting hundreds of jobs. This decision will mainly affect Nuverse, a video game publisher and subsidiary of ByteDance, an anonymous source told CNBC. ByteDance also halted work on unreleased games after aggressively pushing into the gaming industry in the past few years. A ByteDance spokesperson told CNBC that the company made this decision “to center on long-term strategic growth areas.” Nuverse will continue to operate at a smaller capacity.

Elsewhere in ByteDance’s business world, TikTok announced that it’s hosting a virtual open house on Dec. 12 to showcase its new and evolving augmented reality development tools.

A Popular Coding Influencer and Sports Illustrated Flagged for AI Fakes

It’s been a whirlwind of a week for AI fakes.

Firstly, Microsoft and Amazon executives backed out of speaking at a software developer conference called DevTernity after one of its organizers, Eduards Sizovs, admitted that one of the featured speakers was an AI-generated woman with a fake job title. To make matters worse, 404 Media revealed that Sizovs is also behind a popular Instagram account, @Coding_Unicorn, that was supposed to be run by a woman named Julia, who is a coder. The account boasts 115,000 followers, but in 404 Media’s investigation, the outlet found countless pieces of evidence that point to Sizovs running the page.

Sports Illustrated is also under fire for allegedly publishing AI-generated articles authored by AI-generated writers, Futurism uncovered. Yes, you read that right. Both the articles and author images were created with AI. SI has since taken down the stories pending an investigation, and its publisher, The Arena Group, claimed in a statement that Futurism’s findings are false. The Arena Group said that the articles in question were product reviews from an external partner, AdVon Commerce. The Arena Group’s shares plunged nearly 30% on Tuesday, knocking $20 million off its market cap.

OpenAI’s ChatGPT isn’t the only one celebrating a birthday this week — Nov. 28 marked 11 years since the first Bitcoin halving event took place, a time when the cryptocurrency cost $12 per coin. Bitcoin has surpassed $37,500 as of this week.
Amazon announced at its AWS re:Invent 2023 Conference that it’s releasing an AI-powered image creator called the Tutan Image Generator. The e-commerce giant also unveiled an AI chatbot for businesses called Q.
Google‘s new geothermal energy project is officially operational in Nevada, becoming a new clean energy power source for two of the Big Tech giant’s data centers.
Post headlines are back on X, though URLs still won’t have further preview text. Elsewhere, the New York Times reported that X could lose up to $75 million in revenue by the end of the year as more advertisers pull out. Elon Musk‘s response? He told advertisers, including Disney, NBCUniversal, and Warner Bros Discovery, to “go fuck yourself. Go. Fuck. Yourself. Is that clear? I hope it is.”
FTX investors are targeting Major League Baseball, Formula 1, Mercedes-Benz Group AG’s racing team, and other high-level entities in a newly filed lawsuit this week, accusing them of participating in FTX’s $11 billion scheme to defraud investors.
YouTube is further breaking into the gaming industry with the launch of more than 30 mini-games for its YouTube Premium subscribers. Coined Playables, the portfolio of games are both mobile and desktop-friendly.

Lapse, a photo-sharing app that skyrocketed from No. 118 to No. 1 in Apple’s App Store in September, saw downloads drop as much as 70% in recent months. I’m going to bet that we’ll see an uptick in activity once Lapse opens up invites to the masses instead of only allowing users to join by invite codes from friends.

The post OpenAI Preps for a Major Transition as ChatGPT Turns 1 appeared first on Boardroom.

ChatGPT Turns 1: A Timeline of Events From a Monumental First Year

Michelai Graham — Thu, 30 Nov 2023 19:10:32 +0000

To commemorate ChatGPT’s birthday, Boardroom highlights 10 milestones that the viral AI chatbot hit in its first year on the market.

One year ago today, OpenAI publicly launched ChatGPT.

If you didn’t know, ChatGPT stands for Chat Generative Pre-Trained Transformer, and this is the company’s flagship AI-powered and text-generated chatbot, created to engage in a range of general topics with users. It feels like the AI chatbot and its parent company have taken over headlines for much longer than a year, yet at the same time it feels like yesterday that OpenAI shocked the world when the conversational AI platform went viral almost instantly.

Happy first birthday, ChatGPT.

Though much could be said about OpenAI at this time, Boardroom will celebrate ChatGPT’s birthday by highlighting 10 milestones that it hit in its first year on the market. And remember, all of this happened in a year. Where do you think the chatbot will be next year or in the next decade?

ChatGPT Year 1 Milestones

Nov. 30, 2022: Launch

OpenAI announces the public launch of ChatGPT in a blog post on Nov. 30, 2022. This free version is powered by GPT-3.5 and is only accessible through its website. To start, it is only trained on data up until September 2021. The AI chatbot becomes an overnight success, attracting 1 million users in its first five days on the market. By December 2022, it surpasses 100 million monthly active users, becoming the fastest-growing consumer internet application ever.

Like many other new tech services, ChatGPT launched with a waiting list that granted people access over time.

Feb. 1, 2023: OpenAI Launches ChatGPT Plus

OpenAI launches a subscription service called ChatGPT Plus to monetize a higher tier of its AI chatbot. The subscription plan pilots at $20 per month and includes access to experimental versions of ChatGPT.

Most notably, at this time, subscribers could access to ChatGPT during peak times when the AI chatbot is otherwise not available to users accessing it for free.

March 1: An API Arrives

OpenAI releases an API for ChatGPT that allows any business, organization, or developer to integrate its tech into their already-developed apps and products. One of the first API adopters includes Snap, which used ChatGPT’s API to create its own AI chatbot offering within Snapchat called My AI.

March 14: GPT-4 Launches

OpenAI launches GPT-4, its newest AI model, which the company continues to fine-tune throughout the year. This AI model can analyze text, images, and voice commands. GPT-4 is available at a limited capacity to ChatGPT Plus users and via the API. GPT-4 does come with a message limit, though. At launch, ChatGPT Plus subscribers were limited to 100 messages every four hours, but that has been changed to 50 messages every three hours as of November 2023.

GPT-4’s biggest distinction from GPT-3.5 is that it’s trained on data up until April 2023.

May 18: iOS Launch

OpenAI launches its ChatGPT mobile app in the US for iPhone users. The app later expands to iPad users as well. The app version of the AI chatbot is free to use, doesn’t have any advertisements, and includes voice-to-text capabilities. The app has now expanded to allow users to carry out voice conversations with the product using a speech recognition system called Whisper, which responds in a handful of voices. The app can also sync users’ history across devices.

By the end of May, ChatGPT’s app expands to nearly 50 more countries. In September, ChatGPT’s mobile app hits $4.6 million in revenue and 15.6 million downloads.

July 25: App Access Rolls out on Android

OpenAI expands its mobile ChatGPT app to the Google Play store and Android users. The Android-based app first launches in the US, India, Bangladesh and Brazil before expanding to more regions.

August 28: ChatGPT Enterprise arrives

OpenAI launches ChatGPT Enterprise, a new offering that grants enterprises unlimited access to GPT-4 with extra layers of security and privacy. This is a more business-focused version of ChatGPT, and it comes with data analysis capabilities. ChatGPT Enterprise also comes with more customization options.

October 18: Internet Browsing Returns

Earlier this year, OpenAI released a plugin that connects ChatGPT to the internet to extend its capabilities to third-party knowledge. API developers and ChatGPT Plus users were the first to gain access before the AI company took the feature offline to address some glitches. OpenAI regranted ChatGPT’s browser access, this time for everyone.

With this new feature, OpenAI says ChatGPT’s data no longer caps at September 2021, as it can access real-time data via the web. OpenAI beta tested its internet-browsing feature with select users in September before expanding it.

Oct. 19: AI Image Generator Dall-E 3 is integrated into ChatGPT

OpenAI announces that it’s integrating its AI image generator Dall-E 3 into ChatGPT, allowing users to have simple conversations with ChatGPT to guide it to create images. Users can describe their vision using text or audio, and the chatbot can create it using Dall-E’s capabilities. It can even handle edits.

The feature is only available to ChatGPT Plus and Enterprise users.

Nov. 6: OpenAI Introduces Custom GPTs

OpenAI hosts its first developer’s conference in San Francisco, where it announces a slew of new offerings, including the ability to create custom versions of ChatGPT. OpenAI dubs these custom versions of its AI chatbot “GPTs,” and they can be designed with instructions, custom knowledge and other skills. GPTs can be used for various offerings like website creation, automating tasks, data analysis, and more.

Tech Talk April 7, 2024

ChatGPT, Voice Engine, Sam Altman & More Updates from OpenAI

Big Tech March 28, 2024

Tech Talk Reviews: Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses

Big Tech March 26, 2024

Everything You Need to Know About AI Chipmaker Nvidia

Interview

Execs & Entrepreneurs March 1, 2024

Jessica Gelman: The Woman Behind the Most Influential Conference in Sports

Tech Talk February 25, 2024

Nvidia Revenue Surges to $22B as AI Chip Biz Booms

Tech Talk February 18, 2024

Big Tech is Strong in Indy for 2024 NBA All-Star Weekend

The post ChatGPT Turns 1: A Timeline of Events From a Monumental First Year appeared first on Boardroom.

Tech Talk Reviews: WHOOP Coach, Powered by OpenAI

Michelai Graham — Thu, 12 Oct 2023 15:43:40 +0000

In the first edition of Tech Talk Reviews, Boardroom tests out WHOOP’s new generative AI feature powered by ChatGPT maker OpenAI.

WHOOP is elevating its portfolio of offerings after introducing a new generative artificial intelligence feature powered by OpenAI.

WHOOP, the Boston-based wearable health and fitness tracker developer, is on a mission to revolutionize the wearables market through health and fitness trackers that monitor a range of metrics, including heart rate, sleep performance, supplement intake, stress and anxiety levels, and dietary restrictions. The company then uses these metrics to provide daily feedback and recommendations for improving sleep, recovery, and strain. WHOOP was already leveraging AI and machine learning across its offerings, but its new generative AI plugin powered by ChatGPT brings a more all-access conversational appeal to the company’s membership-based app that pairs with its wearables.

Boardroom’s resident tech reporter, AKA me, got early access to WHOOP Coach, and honestly, it’s easier to show you than tell you about the experience. I also get into more specifics about the wearable itself and supplemental products.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Boardroom (@boardroom)

WHOOP Coach was developed to reshape how users get their health and fitness recommendations. Users can “ask WHOOP anything” via a chat plugin within the app, and much like ChatGPT, OpenAI archives each conversation for a short time.

As for privacy, OpenAI does not store any conversational data that it collects with WHOOP Coach. The new feature is still in beta as WHOOP rolls out some enhancements over time. WHOOP Coach works hand-in-hand with other features within the iOS and Android-friendly app. The more data users log while wearing their WHOOP 24/7 and using features like the Journal, the more in-depth the AI coach will get with its answers.

“We aspire to build a 24/7 health and fitness coach, and what does that mean? It means that at any time, anywhere, you can ask questions and get guidance on your health and fitness,” WHOOP Founder and CEO Will Ahmed told Boardroom in an exclusive interview. “What previously would have required a human being and a bunch of medical technology is not at your fingertips for a fairly low cost, and that’s because of the advancements in artificial intelligence and how WHOOP has woven this technology together.”

Even though WHOOP Coach can’t build out specific workout plans down to the exercise, Ahmed all but confirmed that the feature will be able soon. For the most part, WHOOP Coach offers direct answers, especially when users are asking questions about anything pertaining to the metrics WHOOP tracks.

“I anticipate that WHOOP will be able to build out workout plans for anyone who joins the platform,” Ahmed said. “I imagine the coaching feature will evolve to be more actionable and proactive. Today, a lot of the back and forth with the WHOOP Coach begins with you asking a question. I imagine WHOOP will be the one starting the conversation more [in the next year].”

WHOOP Coach is not an upsell for members already on the company’s platform; it’s already included in the subscription-based membership program. WHOOP subscriptions are available at $30 monthly, $239 annually, or $399 for a 24-month period.

Tech Talk April 7, 2024

ChatGPT, Voice Engine, Sam Altman & More Updates from OpenAI

Tech Talk March 31, 2024

What Will We Learn at Apple WWDC24 this Summer?

Tech Talk March 17, 2024

Everything You Need to Know About TikTok’s Potential Ban in the US

Tech Talk March 10, 2024

Social Media Platforms Went Offline This Week. But Why?

The post Tech Talk Reviews: WHOOP Coach, Powered by OpenAI appeared first on Boardroom.

Coinbase Stands with Crypto at the Capitol

Michelai Graham — Sun, 01 Oct 2023 19:00:00 +0000

It’s October, which officially means we’re in the final stretch of the year. Welcome to Q4, folks.

A peek into today’s edition:

Coinbase in the nation’s capital
The download on Meta Connect
The end of Google Podcasts

Coinbase Takes DC Same Day Gary Gensler Testifies Before Congress

Coinbase mobilized the crypto community, welcoming leaders from more than 50 crypto companies to join it in DC on Wednesday, Sept. 27 for the inaugural Stand With Crypto Day. Coinbase’s head of US policy, Kara Calvert, spearheaded the effort, which coincided with SEC Chair Gensler testifying in front of the House Financial Services Committee about his ambitious rulemaking proposals. Coinbase conceptualized Stand With Crypto Day to advocate for pro-crypto policies as regulators inch closer and closer to implementing more laws and regulations around digital currencies. Some crypto leaders met with Congress members to advocate for clear legislation for crypto operations. Stand With Crypto also operates as an independent nonprofit to mobilize the crypto community year-round for different actions, programs, and events. Coinbase capped off the day with a moderated fireside chat with CEO Brian Armstrong who discussed why Coinbase is stepping up to challenge lawmakers to act.

This event comes a month after Coinbase won approval from the Biden Administration’s CFTC National Futures Association to list crypto futures. The move made the exchange the first crypto platform to offer regulated and leveraged crypto futures alongside traditional spot trading.

The Download on Meta Connect 2023

The annual Meta Connect 2023 conference wrapped this week. It included two days of new AI product reveals and updates on Meta’s augmented reality and virtual reality landscape. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said the tech giant is “focused on building the future of human connection” during his keynote. Here are some of the key announcements and takeaways from the event:

Meta Quest 3: Since debuting the new mixed-reality headset in June, Meta announced that preorders for the Quest 3 are now open, and the headset will be available on Oct. 10. Quest 3 models range in price from $500 to $650 depending on storage capacity.
Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses: Meta and Ray-Ban debuted their second generation of smart glasses that are equipped with cameras, spatial audio, and video capture and photo capabilities. This product succeeds Ray-Ban Stories, which was released in 2021.
Meta AI: The Big Tech leader showcased its new AI chatbot personality tech with a couple dozen different celebrity voices. Meta AI is the company’s new generative AI assistant that will be available in Meta’s family of apps, including Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp. Generative AI image editing is also being developed for Instagram.

Amazon’s $4B Investment in Anthropic and an FTC Lawsuit

Amazon announced that it will invest up to $4 billion in generative artificial intelligence startup Anthropic as part of a larger strategic collaboration. This deal makes Amazon Web Services the primary cloud provider for Anthropic, which is building AI systems set to rival OpenAI. Within days of that good news, bad news followed when the US Federal Trade Commission and attorney generals from 17 states filed an antitrust lawsuit against the e-commerce giant. The suit alleges that Amazon is illegally maintaining monopoly power to inflate online prices and overcharge sellers. Ultimately, the agency is concerned about Amazon using interlocking anticompetitive and unfair strategies. The FTC has been investigating Amazon for years. However, the lawsuit comes after the company allegedly failed to offer concessions to settle some of these claims in closed meetings last month.

I’ll surely be following this case closely.

Updates from OpenAI

OpenAI is reportedly seeking a new valuation between $80 billion and $90 billion through a sale of some of its shares. The AI company’s rapid success is undeniable, so reaching this new height wouldn’t surprise me one bit. Here are some more updates from OpenAI’s world:

OpenAI debuted a new internet browsing feature for ChatGPT users to surf the web.
OpenAI’a Sam Altman is reportedly working with iPhone designer Jony Ive to conceptualize and develop a new AI hardware device, The Information reported.
Tubi announced the release Rabbit AI, the streamer’s new AI-enabled recommendations feature powered by OpenAI’s ChatGPT AI chatbot.
OpenAI responded to author and comedian Sarah Silverman‘s lawsuit against ChatGPT that she filed earlier this year. The AI company’s legal team filed motions to dismiss some of the counts in the lawsuit. It expects to fight the copyright infringement allegation head-on in court.
ChatGPT can now understand spoken words and respond with a synthetic voice.

Google Podcasts is shutting down this year. However, it’s not the end of the podcast era for the Big Tech, which is adding podcast tools and features to YouTube Music instead. Also, Google Bard got a significant update last week after users discovered that Google Search was indexing conversations with the AI chatbot.

I’m not sure what MicroStrategy‘s master plan is. he data analytics firm acquired 5,445 more Bitcoin tokens, taking its holding up to 158,245 Bitcoins.
Web3 brand Yuga Labs announced a partnership with A BATHING APE. They will design apparel collection that will be first available to Bored Ape Yacht Club holders before hitting stores in December. The collection will debut in Hong Kong in November during BAYC’s annual ApeFest community event.
The Central Intelligence Agency is developing an AI chatbot for other US intelligence agencies. The new tech offering will be trained on publicly available data and is being created to assist users in sifting through public data.
Tinder officially rolled out its new exclusive subscription program, Tinder Select, which will cost $500 a month and offer users more unique features to find love connections. Tinder is accepting applications for the program on a rolling basis.
Move over Dall-E 3 and Midjoirney, there’s new competition in town. Getty Images is developing an AI tool that will be able to generate images from its library of work.

Samsung is targeting content creators through a new sponsorship with MrBeast. I’m going to bet that this deal won’t drive significant sales for the Galaxy Z Flip 5 as the mobile brand expects it to.

The post Coinbase Stands with Crypto at the Capitol appeared first on Boardroom.

Amazon to Invest Billions in OpenAI Rival Anthropic

Michelai Graham — Mon, 25 Sep 2023 19:35:40 +0000

Generative AI startup Anthropic inked a long-term deal with Amazon, and AWS will become the company’s official cloud and computing chip provider.

Big Tech and e-commerce giant Amazon announced that it will invest up to $4 billion in generative artificial intelligence startup Anthropic as part of a larger strategic collaboration.

Amazon Web Services (AWS) will become Anthropic’s primary cloud provider, and Amazon is taking on a minority ownership stake in the two-year-old AI company. Launched in 2021 by former OpenAI research executives, Anthropic is a San Francisco-based AI safety and research company building AI systems. The company’s flagship product, Claude, launched in March as a generative AI assistant primarily focusing on sharing helpful and harmless information.

There are many moving parts in Amazon and Anthropic’s new partnership. One of which is that Anthropic has agreed to use custom AWS chips to build, train, and deploy its AI models. The companies will also collaborate on future computing chip developments. Since Anthropic is building on the AWS infrastructure, AWS customers can build with Anthropic’s AI offerings through Amazon Bedrock, the e-commerce firm’s platform that lets its customers safely build cloud-based generative AI applications using existing AI models on the market. Amazon developers and engineers can access Anthropic’s AI models via Amazon Bedrock as well.

Anthropic has been an AWS customer since its inception in 2021, though the company did have a deal with Google that it announced earlier this year. That deal came with up to $400 million in funding and a cloud computing partnership. It’s unclear if Athropic is still partnering with Google to use the Big Tech company’s cloud computing services, but the AI startup officially closed its $450 million Series C in June, and Google was named as a top investor in the funding round.

The race for AI has been on, but all eyes aren’t just on OpenAI and ChatGPT anymore, with various competitors popping up on the market. Anthropic’s decision to go with Amazon’s computer chips as opposed to the typical choice, Nvidia, also shows that there are alternatives in the AI market.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Amazon is kicking off its partnership with Anthropic with an initial investment of $1.25 billion, but the $4 billion cap will likely be hit over time.

Tech Talk April 7, 2024

ChatGPT, Voice Engine, Sam Altman & More Updates from OpenAI

Big Tech March 28, 2024

Tech Talk Reviews: Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses

Big Tech March 26, 2024

Everything You Need to Know About AI Chipmaker Nvidia

Interview

Execs & Entrepreneurs March 1, 2024

Jessica Gelman: The Woman Behind the Most Influential Conference in Sports

Big Tech February 29, 2024

Kelley Walton: Amazon Music’s Marketing Maven

Tech Talk February 25, 2024

Nvidia Revenue Surges to $22B as AI Chip Biz Booms

The post Amazon to Invest Billions in OpenAI Rival Anthropic appeared first on Boardroom.

Microsoft Announces New Products Following Major Data Leaks

Michelai Graham — Sun, 24 Sep 2023 19:00:00 +0000

Neuralink, the Elon Musk-owned biotech startup building brain implants, opened recruitment for its first human trial, even though an investigation revealed multiple animal deaths due to the company’s implants. If you haven’t looked into Musk’s biotech venture yet, now would be a good time to start learning.

A peek into today’s edition:

Microsoft‘s new products and data leaks
Another lawsuit and new crypto token at ChatGPT
Apple tops list of most future-proof brands

Microsoft Announces New Products Following Major Data Leaks

Microsoft showcased the next generation of its Surface computers, the new Windows 11 operating system, and shared updates on its Microsoft 365 Copilot AI tool at an event in New York. The tech leader unveiled the Surface Laptop Studio 2, Surface Laptop Go 3, Surface Go 4, and Surface Hub 3, all of which will hit the market on Oct. 3. Microsoft also announced enterprise availability for Microsoft 35 Copilot, its supplemental AI tool that can embed with Word, Excel, and other productivity apps. The new offering will be available to businesses starting Nov. 1 and will cost $30 per person per month on top of the existing Microsoft 365 monthly fee.

Microsoft’s legacy product chief, Panos Panay, was missing from the event, and that’s because he announced his departure from the business on Monday. He is headed to Amazon to run the division that oversees Alexa and Echo devices. Panay was with Microsoft for 20 years and is most known for leading the Microsoft Windows team and helping push the tech firm’s Surface computers to market.

Microsoft is also one step closer to closing in on acquiring Activision Blizzard after Britain’s antitrust regulator signed off on the deal. Amid all these new updates this week, news of two separate data leaks at Microsoft took over top headlines, as well.

First, AI researchers at the Big Tech firm accidentally exposed 38 terabytes of sensitive data, including private keys and passwords, while trying to publish some other data on GitHub. Secondly, leaked court documents detailed Microsoft’s plans for an all-digital Xbox Series X refresh that is expected to hit the market next year. The cylindrical device has a new look, lower power usage, expanded internal storage, and no disc drive. The documents came from Microsoft’s trial with the FTC over the summer, but the commission said Microsoft accidentally uploaded these docs to the court itself, and someone got ahold of them.

OpenAI Hit With Another Lawsuit, Plus More Updates From ChatGPT

OpenAI was hit with another copyright infringement lawsuit filed by 17 authors claiming ChatGPT is using their copyrighted works without permission. Game of Thrones creator George R.R. Martin, novelist Josh Grisham, and My Sister’s Keeper author Jodi Picoult are some of the top names in the claim organized by the Authors Guild. OpenAI responded to the lawsuit and said it has been working with authors and creators to understand their concerns about AI and misconceptions around the scope of copyrighted works. The lawsuit comes after a string of similar complaints filed against OpenAI earlier this year.

Despite the legal troubles, OpenAI is rolling out new tech after unveiling Dall-E 3 earlier this week. The latest version of OpenAI’s text-to-image tool that leverages ChatGPT comes with more safeguards and an easier process for users to turn their ideas into images. The AI giant will allow creators to decide if they want their work to be a part of this new offering. The possibilities seem endless with ChatGPT, and an anonymous Ethereum developer proved that when he combined his code with ChatGPT’s API to create a real digital coin named AstroPepeX. ChatGPT suggested all aspects of the coin’s creation, down to its name and imagery. AstroPepeX is available for trading on Uniswap’s exchange, and the memecoin generated $12.9 million on its opening day.

Google is Making Strides With AI

It’s been a busy week for Google. The Big Tech firm is inching closer to releasing its enterprise conversational AI system named Gemini, Jon Victor at The Information reported. Gemini is a collection of large language models that can perform various tasks, and it will be available to businesses through Google Cloud. Google has reportedly given a group of companies access to an early version of the platform with select offerings.

Now, Gemini is completely different from Google’s consumer AI chatbot, Bard, which will stay on the market when Gemini launches. To continue expanding Bard, Google is connecting the AI chatbot to its flagship consumer services, including YouTube and Gmail. YouTube Shorts is getting a generative AI feature called Dream Screen, allowing users to create AI-generated videos and image backgrounds using text descriptions. This new feature comes nearly a month after Snapchat launched a generative AI feature called “Dreams” that allows users to turn photos into more imaginative backgrounds. Coincidence or?

X Shares More on Vision For ‘Everything App’ Plans

X CEO Linda Yaccarino and the platforms management team shared an overview of X’s latest developments and plans on its road to becoming the everything app, which is something I’m still trying to wrap my head around understanding. Yaccarino and her team laid out these updates at X‘s newly reformed Client Council earlier this week. Some of these features have already been released, but X highlighted long-form blog posts, video calls, creator subscriptions, and product and job listings. X still has some work to do on the in-app payments system mentioned, and I’ll be the first to tell you the mock-up images were not good.

Elsewhere in X’s sphere, in an interview with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Elon Musk teased new X Premium (formerly Twitter Blue) tiers to attract more users to the program. While some outlets report that Musk said X will be completely paywalled, the platform’s owner denied that he made such remarks.

As Apple rolls out an iPhone 12 software update to address radiation concerns, the Big Tech giant topped the 2023 FutureBrand Index as the most future-proof brand over top tech competitors like Samsung, Microsoft, Intel, and Amazon.
Amazon announced a slate of new software and devices at its annual fall event, including the addition of generative AI in its voice assistant Alexa.
Airbnb listings will get a verification symbol as the platform launches a process to shake out fake listings in the US, Canada, Australia, the UK, and France to start. Airbnb is also using an AI system to flag users who may be booking a property for a party.
As TikTok rolls out its new AI-generated content label, the social network will also use AI to detect AI content to slap a label on. The new update comes as TikTok is working to bring its employees back into the office, and the company is using an app to track attendance.
Square CEO Alyssa Henry will depart the Block-owned financial services platform on Oct. 2 following an outage that spanned two days and didn’t allow sellers to process payments. Block Co-founder Jack Dorsey will take over as CEO after Henry’s exit.
Run Tech Club Foundation hosted a gala celebrating the impact of sports and projects launched by athletes, entrepreneurs, and creatives. Angel City FC‘s Kara Nortman, Trevor McFedries of Friends With Benefits, and Saysh’s Wes Felix are some honorees awarded at the event.

The post Microsoft Announces New Products Following Major Data Leaks appeared first on Boardroom.

Meta Is Developing an AI System to Rival OpenAI

Michelai Graham — Mon, 11 Sep 2023 21:36:04 +0000

Meta is building data centers to create an open-source artificial intelligence model that could launch as early as next year.

Meta put its ambitious metaverse plans on ice this year, and now we know why. The Big Tech giant is developing an artificial intelligence system that could rival the model that OpenAI built to power ChatGPT, the Wall Street Journal reported.

This new development comes after Meta announced the release of Llama 2 alongside Microsoft in July. Llama 2 is the tech giant’s open-source large language AI model, free for research and commercial use. The Facebook and Instagram parent company wants to build something even more powerful than that. WSJ reports that Meta is developing an open-source AI system that could launch as early as next year. The new tech would allow companies to build AI tools that could produce various content, such as high-level text and analyses.

WSJ got the scoop from a couple of sources close to Meta, who also said the tech firm is building data centers that can handle the significant amount of computing power it will need to create a new AI system. The data centers will be equipped with Nvidia’s H100 semiconductor chips, AI-enabled chips tailored for generative AI outputs due to their quick processing power. Training on Meta’s new large language model could start in early 2024, ahead of its release. The AI system was built by a special core team that Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg put together earlier this year.

Despite partnering with Microsoft to develop Llama 2 — which seems a bit conflicting since Microsoft is also heavily invested in OpenAI — Meta plans to develop and push out the new AI system on its own. Meta is hoping to build a system as powerful as OpenAI’s ChatGPT-4, but by the time it releases next year, we can guess that OpenAI will drop a few more new models. This doesn’t necessarily mean Meta is behind the wave, but it definitely has some competition in the generative AI arena.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Boardroom (@boardroom)

Tech Talk April 7, 2024

ChatGPT, Voice Engine, Sam Altman & More Updates from OpenAI

Big Tech March 28, 2024

Tech Talk Reviews: Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses

Tech Talk March 10, 2024

Social Media Platforms Went Offline This Week. But Why?

Tech Talk February 18, 2024

Big Tech is Strong in Indy for 2024 NBA All-Star Weekend

Emerging Tech February 16, 2024

All Things Tech at NBA All-Star Weekend 2024

Tech Talk February 4, 2024

Believe the Hype: The Apple Vision Pro is Here & It’s a Game Changer

The post Meta Is Developing an AI System to Rival OpenAI appeared first on Boardroom.

Happy 25th Birthday, Google

Michelai Graham — Sun, 10 Sep 2023 19:00:00 +0000

TIME published its inaugural TIME100 Most Influential People in AI, which includes big names such as Sam Altman, Elon Musk, and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang. At first glance, the list lacks diversity, but that’s no surprise in the tech industry.

A peek into today’s edition:

Happy 25th birthday, Google!
Ghostwriter is back with another AI hit
TikTok Music expands internationally

Google Celebrates a Quarter Century in Business

Google was founded on Sept. 4, 1998, marking 25 years in business. I don’t know about y’all, but I feel like Google has been around much longer than that because it’s so deeply ingrained in my daily digital interactions. But that’s the point. Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin set a big goal to organize the world’s information and make it more accessible and searchable online. They did just that, plus much more over the years, but search is still at the nucleus of the Big Tech company’s mission. Google has expanded with 15 core products, including YouTube, Google Maps, and Gmail, which will turn 20 years old next year.

So, what does Google have planned for the next 25 years? Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and Alphabet, detailed the company’s hopes and dreams in a blog post, which mainly includes finding its lane in the artificial intelligence landscape. Speaking of AI, the Big Tech giant will soon require political advertisers to disclose whether AI was used in the development of their ads.

Pichai said in the blog post that “AI will be the biggest technological shift we see in our lifetimes,” and I have to say I agree. What do you think?

Ghostwriter Drops AI-powered Travis Scott & 21 Song While Chasing a Grammy

Anonymous artist Ghostwriter told the New York Times that they are chasing a few Grammy Awards for their viral AI-generated song “Heart on My Sleeve” featuring Drake and The Weeknd’s vocals, even though the song was pulled from streaming platforms for copyright infringement claims. There have been conflicting reports about whether this is even possible, so Harvey Jay Mason Jr., CEO of The Recording Academy, which produces the Grammy Awards, shut all rumors down and said this version of “Heart on My Sleeve” is not eligible for an award. While a human wrote the song, the vocals were illegally used, and the song is not commercially available.

Ghostwriter submitted “Heart on My Sleeve” in the Best Rap Song and Song of the Year categories. The anonymous artist also got busy this week with the drop of a new track called “Whiplash” featuring Travis Scott and 21 Savage’s AI-generated vocals. This time, though, Ghostwriter is calling on the artists to collaborate on an official release and promising they will get the royalties.

Chipmaker Arm’s Valuation Up to $52B Following Apple Deal

British software design company and computer chipmaker Arm inked a deal with Apple that will run through 2040 and “beyond” to license its chip tech to the Big Tech firm for the foreseeable future. The details of the deal were laid out in Arm’s initial public offering documents filed on Tuesday. The Softbank-backed company hopes to enter the public market with a $52 billion valuation, marking the largest tech IPO in the US this year. Arm is a leader in developing mobile phone chips, which Apple already uses across some of its products, including the iPhone. The chipmaker said roughly 250 billion of its chips have shipped to power smartphones since it started developing them decades ago.

Along with Apple, Google, Nvidia, Samsung, Intel, and other notable tech companies have expressed interest in buying Arm shares as part of its public offering in the coming weeks.

FTC Inches Closer to Filing Amazon Antitrust Lawsuit

The US Federal Trade Commission could file an antitrust lawsuit against Amazon as soon as later this month after the e-commerce giant failed to offer concessions to settle claims in closed meetings last month. The FTC is most concerned about Fulfillment by Amazon, the company’s logistics program, and third-party sellers’ prices since regulators believe Amazon favors its own products on its platform over outside sellers. If filed, the lawsuit could force Amazon to break up some of its business practices.

This isn’t the first time the FTC is going after Amazon. The Big Tech firm agreed to pay $25 million in May to settle claims that Alexa devices illegally collected children’s data. The FTC turned right around in June and sued Amazon again, this time claiming that the e-commerce giant deceived customers into signing up for its Prime subscription service and making it hard for them to cancel it.

In Other News: Tik Tok Music, COD Brings in AI Cops, & More

TikTok is slowly but surely clearing the way for TikTok Music to enter the US market after retiring its Resso brand in Indonesia and Brazil in favor of its flagship music streaming platform. To jog your memory, TikTok filed a patent in the US for TikTok Music in May 2022.
An AI-powered moderator dressed up as a robot cop will debut with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 to identify and flag toxic speech such as hate speech, discriminatory language, harassment, sexism, and bullying in multiplayer games. The moderator won’t flag specific words but will instead focus on the intent behind a player’s communication.
Meta is getting rid of Facebook’s News tab in the UK, France, and Germany in early December, though it will still honor its existing news deals with publishers in those areas until they expire. To soothe regulators’ worries, the Big Tech giant is also considering offering paid versions of Facebook and Instagram in the European Union so users can avoid advertisements.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman received the first Indonesian golden visa, which grants him access to the country for 10 years with priority security screening, longer stays, a smoother entry and exit process, and more. Altman got the honor as Indonesia seeks to draw foreign investors with positive international reputations.
Former FTX executive Ryan Salame pleaded guilty to fraud charges and agreed to forfeit more than $1.5 billion. He is the fourth executive from the fallen crypto exchange to plead guilty, while disgraced former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Friedm will go on trial on Oct. 3 to fight wire fraud and securities fraud charges.
A software update caused a slowdown in United Airlines‘ tech systems, resulting in the Federal Aviation Administration grounding the airline’s departures for as long as an hour earlier this week. United is still investigating the incident.

Warner Music Central Europe signed a record deal with AI pop singer Noonoouri, and while this is a first for Warner Music, I’m going to bet that we won’t see a deal of this nature in the US anytime soon.

The post Happy 25th Birthday, Google appeared first on Boardroom.

New Apple Products on the Way Following Big iPhone 14 Wins

Michelai Graham — Sun, 03 Sep 2023 19:00:00 +0000

Coming in hot. Here are two pieces of news I didn’t expect to see this week: Digital Currency Group finally reached a settlement with Genesis creditors, and Dr. Seuss’ Cat in the Hat is getting an audio series in partnership with Amazon’s podcast studio Wondery.

A peek into today’s edition:

Apple‘s new products & iPhone 14 wins
IBM brings more AI to the 2023 US Open
OpenAI launches ChatGPT Enterprise

New Apple Products on the Way Following Big iPhone 14 Wins

iPhone 14 models topped global sales, becoming the most-shipped smartphone device in the first half of 2023. Apple shipped 26.5 million iPhone 14 Prop Max units between January and June, according to research firm Omdia’s Smartphone Model Market Tracker. There were 21 million iPhone 14 Pro units shipped and 16.5 million iPhone 14 devices. This success comes as Apple prepares for its next product demo event on Sept. 12. The Big Tech company is expected to announce the iPhone 15, two new Apple Watches, and the latest iOS upgrade. Here’s everything we know so far about the 15th generation of the iPhone. Apple is also planning a major upgrade for the iPad Pro sometime next year.

Also, Google “accidentally” leaked a photo of the Pixel 8 Pro on its own website the same day Apple announced its Sept. 12 event. There’s no launch date for Google‘s new mobile device yet, but the tech company usually holds its demo events in October.

Back to Apple. The company may debut a USB-C charging port with the iPhone 15 to align with European laws stating that all mobile phones, tablets, and cameras sold in the region must use USB-C for wired charging by Dec. 28, 2024. I don’t know about y’all, but I’m sensing Apple will surprise us with something at this event. Remember when the tech giant completely skipped over launching an iPhone 9 and introduced the iPhone X instead? I’ll never forget that.

Inside IBM’s Artificial Intelligence Evolution at the 2023 US Open

IBM is celebrating more than 30 years as the official technology partner of the United States Tennis Association (USTA) with new AI-powered features across all digital platforms for the 2023 US Open Tennis Championships. Following success with similar AI tech first introduced at the 2023 Masters in April, IBM debuted generative AI spoken commentary and AI Draw Analysis to USOpen.org and the US Open app. I was fortunate enough to tour the IBM Data Center at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center this past week alongside IBM and USTA execs and Maria Sharapova, 2006 US Open champion.

The future of AI tech in sports is bright simply because of the ease of combing through datasets, viewing player highlights, and digging into rankings, all with intuitive digital interfaces on the web and mobile and fan engagement at the center. Check out my full download on the work IBM is doing with the US Open and how the tech corporation plans to expand its offerings to more big sporting events.

SEC Settles First Major NFT Enforcement Case Against Impact Theory

The Securities and Exchange Commission has ordered LA-based media and entertainment firm Impact Theory to pay $6.1 million in penalties for the unregistered offering of NFTs. The commission alleged that the company raised $30 million from hundreds of investors after encouraging them to purchase NFTs as an investment into the business. This is the first major NFT enforcement action that the SEC has pushed forward with as government entities crack down on crypto operations across the US. Impact Theory did not admit wrongdoing or deny the commission’s allegations as part of the settlement.

Meta Beta Launches Horizon Worlds on Mobile

Meta is pushing forward on its metaverse plans with the beta testing launch of Horizon Worlds on mobile devices. Horizon Worlds is Meta’s premiere virtual reality, gaming, and social platform. This upgrade expands the digital destination beyond Meta Quest VR headsets, and the mobile version will operate like a typical gaming app. The Big Tech firm is also testing a web-based version of Horizon Worlds. Interested users can request access to the mobile and web versions of Horizon Worlds here.

Also, is Meta preparing to launch IGTV 2.0? Maybe. Instagram is internally testing a three-minute and 10-minute Reels feature with a more integrated video experience. There is no word on when the feature will expand externally.

In Other News

As OpenAI paces toward $1 billion in revenue, the AI leader launched ChatGPT Enterprise, the biz version of its successful AI-powered chatbot.
Food delivery app company Instacart filed paperwork to go public on the Nasdaq under the “CART” ticker, and if all goes well, Instacart will be the first notable tech IPO to come through in nearly two years.
As the SAG-AFTRA strike rages on, there has been a 137% surge in Cameo sign-ups and account reactivations as actors and writers flock to the video-sharing site to earn some income. Even SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher recently reactivated her account.
Elon Musk demoed Tesla’s AI-enabled self-driving tech in a 45-minute grainy video posted on X, where he also doxxed Mark Zuckerberg’s home address when he said he was routing there. Elsewhere in Tesla‘s AI realm, the automotive maker is set to activate its Nvidia supercomputer to enhance its computing capabilities to train its full self-driving tech.
Speaking of Musk and his business dealings, X/Twitter acquired a license to integrate crypto payments and trading on the platform in the US. While X further moves into the crypto space, the social network is working to stay out of courtrooms with 2,200 arbitration cases filed by ex-employees to face.
Following in Microsoft‘s steps, Google will start charging large businesses $30 per user a month if they plan to indulge in AI integrations that it’s adding to Gmail and other productivity apps. Also, the Google Doodle turned 25 this week.

Amazon is pushing forward with its return-to-office policy, requiring employees to report to an office three days a week, just as Meta recently implemented. I’m going to bet that tech workers will begin to push back on Big Tech companies to fight the crackdown on in-office policies in favor of remote work.

The post New Apple Products on the Way Following Big iPhone 14 Wins appeared first on Boardroom.

Barbie On Track to Top Harry Potter as Highest-grossing Film in Warner Bros. History

Vinciane Ngomsi — Tue, 29 Aug 2023 13:00:00 +0000

The post Barbie On Track to Top Harry Potter as Highest-grossing Film in Warner Bros. History appeared first on Boardroom.

Hackers Tackle AI at the 30th Annual Defcon Event in Las Vegas

Bernadette Doykos — Sun, 20 Aug 2023 19:00:00 +0000

This week, Michelai Graham is on a much-deserved vacation. Boardroom’s Bernadette Doykos is stepping in temporarily to dive into a big week of tech news. The Tech Talk queen will return next week.

A peek into today’s edition:

Google is looking to get into the life advice business
Vinfast is the newest name in the expanding EV market
Bored Ape Yacht Club owners are stepping up with a lawsuit

Hackers Assembled in Vegas for a White House-sanctioned Event to Break AI

More than 2,000 hackers gathered in Las Vegas for the 31st annual Defcon conference. This year, amidst the multiple stations, the ones that were dedicated to artificial intelligence drew huge crowds. Many attendees collectively tried to predict all of the darkest, least ethical capacities of and uses for artificial intelligence. As the group gathered, they had the blessing of both the White House and each of the biggest companies leading the AI revolution. By exposing the risks of AI technology, the hackers prepared companies with new questions to solve as they roll out the technology in new and innovative ways, staving off some of the more nefarious capabilities. Judges scored the efforts, and two of the peak performances came from Stanford student Cody Ho, who didn’t realize that he was a winner until contacted by a reporter from the New York Times.

Google is Prepping an AI Tool to Hand Out Life Advice

“Hey Google, what should I do with my life?”

The tech giant is reportedly working on building AI technology that will help users make sense of this crazy, mixed-up world. Google’s DeepMind project is testing technology that would enable artificial intelligence to give users life advice. Up until now, this use of AI has been expressly avoided. The technology fields prompts and hands out potential solutions in return, acting as a modern-day “Dear Abby.” But this is only one aspect of DeepMind’s potential, which spans 21 opportunities, including critical breakdowns of complex topics, fact-checking, and more.

Vinfast Leaps into the Market with $18.5 Billion Valuation

The race for top market share in the electric vehicle world is heating up. Just this week, Tesla announced that it will reduce the price of its X and S models by nearly $10,000. However, it has a new competitor in the global market. Vietnamese company VinFast made its Nasdaq debut on Wednesday. Although the stock plummeted nearly 20% on its first day of trading, its market cap remained above $18.5 billion. This huge number placed it above legacy brands such as Ford and GM. Will the company keep up with the rising demand for EVs across the world? More on that in our Bet of the Week.

Bored Ape Owners Sue Sothebys, Paris Hilton, and More

Remember last year when every day there was a new celebrity scooping up a coveted Bored Ape Yacht Club NFT? From Justin Bieber to Snoop Dogg, anyone who was anyone was getting into the exclusive club. As NFTs have fallen out of favor, the value of the digital collectibles has plummeted. Now, a collective of Bored Ape owners is headed to court, suing Sotheby’s, Paris Hilton, and more for “misleadingly promot[ing]” the NFTs and artificially inflating the prices. Today, the average Bored Ape is valued at just over $50,000, whereas in May 2022 that number was 8x greater. Yuga Labs, the company behind the BAYC, responded to the claim, saying, “We believe that these new allegations, like those in the previous iteration of this opportunistic complaint, are completely without merit or factual basis.”

In Other News: Welcome to “Slivingland,” Reliable Service is Coming to FedEx Field, & More

Microsoft and OpenAI execs sat down and reflected on the current moment in AI, equating its potential impact to be as big as when Bill Gates called the internet at “tidal wave” in 1995. Meanwhile, chipmaker Nvidia saw its stock soar this week, as analysts got bullish on its potential role in the industry boom.

She may be named in the Bored Ape lawsuit, but she won’t let that bother her. Paris Hilton launched the entertainment hub “Slivingland” on Roblox this week. That’s hot, we guess.

There is a new ownership group in town in nation’s capital and sponsors are lining up to collab. Verizon announced a wide-ranging, two-year deal with the Washington Commanders this week. The partnership will focus on increasing connectivity at FedEx Field and improving the overall fan experience.

The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup has come to an end after an incredible month. Despite breaking attendance and viewership records, Amazon’s Alexa couldn’t answer the simplest of questions about the competition. The technology encountered a system error when users asked who won the semifinal match between England and Australia, highlighting potential evidence of sexism embedded in the device’s programming and operation.

Netflix is bidding farewell to its DVD business by sending some keepsakes to diehard fans. Users will receive up to 10 DVDs when the streaming giant sends them out the final time during the week of Sept. 29. However, you have to wonder if DVDs will have a resurgence similar to records, as Gen Z’ers double down on tangible goods.

Bitcoin sank below $26,000 this week, marking its worst week since November 2022. The dip was motivated by a Wall Street Journal report that revealed that Elon Musk sold off a significant amount of SpaceX’s Bitcoin holdings in 2022.

TikTok launched its music streaming app in select markets last month; however, things may not be going according to plan. The app was expected to expand into the U.S. next month, but the company implemented layoffs in the music department this week that included both its heads of partnerships and strategy. The move throws the future of the streaming service into question.

VinFast will go the way of Rivian, facing an extreme challenge (and plummeting stock prices) as it is unable to keep up with the sky-high demand for its EV offerings.

The post Hackers Tackle AI at the 30th Annual Defcon Event in Las Vegas appeared first on Boardroom.

Boardroom & ChatGPT Expand the WNBA, Part 1: Selecting the Cities

Michelai Graham — Tue, 15 Aug 2023 19:03:42 +0000

Tired of waiting for the WNBA to announce its expansion plans? Us too. So, Boardroom guided ChatGPT through a complete expansion exercise, starting with selecting home cities.

There’s no hotter topic off the court in the WNBA than the league’s potential for expansion. That’s been the case for the past few years, actually, as Cathy Engelbert and her staff continue dragging their feet.

But Boardroom combed through the league’s CBA and made extra certain there was no rule against a few enterprising sports and tech writers using ChatGPT to add a pair of teams to the league themselves. So, that’s what we did.

In the first of a multi-part series, Boardroom’s Michelai Graham guides ChatGPT through an exercise to select two expansion cities. Our AI companion analyzed a variety of factors, including market size and potential, enthusiasm for women’s sports, and geographic location.

NOTE: Some of the cities ChatGPT lists are popular in WNBA expansion speculation discussions. Some are not. Some cities that make logical sense aren’t even included at all. Blame the bot if you happen to have complaints.

Graham’s conversation with ChatGPT is below, complete with her own commentary and the final cities that ChatGPT chose.

MICHELAI GRAHAM: Based on what you know about the 12 WNBA franchises, can you rank the top 10 best cities for WNBA expansion teams?

CHATGPT:

Vancouver, Canada: Vancouver has been mentioned as a potential city for WNBA expansion, bringing the league to Canada.
Louisville, Kentucky: Known for its strong basketball culture, Louisville has been considered as a potential expansion city due to its enthusiasm for the sport.
Nashville, Tennessee: Nashville has a growing sports scene and has been considered as a potential city for WNBA expansion due to its market size and interest in women’s basketball.
Kansas City, Missouri: The city has a rich basketball tradition and could be a suitable location for a future WNBA team.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh has a history of supporting women’s sports and could be a viable option for WNBA expansion.
Baltimore, Maryland: Baltimore has a strong basketball following and could be a contender for a future WNBA team.
Cincinnati, Ohio: Cincinnati has a passionate sports fan base and could be an attractive market for WNBA expansion.
St. Louis, Missouri: St. Louis has shown interest in hosting a WNBA team, and its central location and sports culture could make it a compelling option.
Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina: The Raleigh-Durham area has a strong basketball presence and could be a potential market for WNBA expansion.
Austin, Texas: Austin has a growing sports market and a supportive community that could make it a viable option for a WNBA expansion team.

—

ChatGPT told me that this list is “based on discussions and speculation up until September 2021,” which includes WNBA data up until that date. Also, the platform isn’t perfect, and it proved that early on. I had to repeat my first question a few times because it included Seattle, Las Vegas, and Indianapolis on the list; those cities obviously already have WNBA franchises.

Moving along, this next question bumped the list down to five potential expansion cities.

—

MG: Of the top 10 cities that you named, which ones have the best market potential for a WNBA expansion team?

CHATGPT: Among the top 10 cities mentioned previously, some cities that could be seen as having strong market potential for a WNBA expansion team include:

Vancouver, Canada: Expanding the WNBA to Canada would open up a new market and potentially tap into a passionate basketball fan base. Vancouver’s metropolitan area has a significant population and a history of supporting sports teams.
Nashville, Tennessee: Nashville has a growing sports scene and a sizable population. The city’s sports culture and potential fan interest make it an attractive market for WNBA expansion.
Louisville, Kentucky: With a strong basketball culture and a history of supporting women’s sports, Louisville could offer market potential for a WNBA expansion team. The city’s enthusiasm for basketball could translate into fan support for a women’s professional basketball team.
Kansas City, Missouri: Kansas City has a rich basketball tradition, including successful college basketball programs. The city’s sports culture and fan base could provide a solid foundation for a WNBA team.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh has a history of supporting women’s sports, including the Pittsburgh Passion of the Women’s Football Alliance. The city’s sports culture and potential fan base could make it a viable option for a WNBA expansion team.

It’s important to note that market potential can fluctuate based on a variety of factors, and the ultimate success of a WNBA expansion team would depend on multiple considerations, including marketing strategies, community engagement, and team performance. Any decisions regarding WNBA expansion would involve careful analysis of market potential and other relevant factors at the time of expansion.

—

While ChatGPT doesn’t have access to real-time data, the AI platform provided general considerations for factors such as population demographics, sports culture, fan interest, corporate support, and arena availability to answer the above question.

Before asking the next question, I confirmed that ChatGPT knew the names and locations of the 12 WNBA franchises.

—

MG: Knowing where all 12 WNBA teams are located, which cities out of the five you mentioned for WNBA expansion make the most sense geographically?

CHATGPT: Considering the geographical proximity to the existing 12 WNBA teams, the following cities from the previous five mentioned for WNBA expansion teams make the most sense:

Vancouver, Canada: Vancouver is located on the west coast of Canada, making it geographically closer to the Seattle Storm, located in Seattle, Washington. The proximity to Seattle could potentially facilitate regional rivalries and reduced travel distances for teams in the Pacific Northwest.
Nashville, Tennessee: Nashville is situated in the central United States, which allows for reasonable travel distances to several existing WNBA teams. It could establish regional rivalries with teams such as the Atlanta Dream, Chicago Sky, Indiana Fever, and the Dallas Wings.
Louisville, Kentucky: Louisville is located in the central United States, similar to Nashville. It could also establish regional rivalries with teams such as the Chicago Sky, Indiana Fever, and the Atlanta Dream. Additionally, it is relatively close to Cincinnati, which could foster a potential regional rivalry.
Kansas City, Missouri: Kansas City is situated in the central United States, making it geographically close to the Minnesota Lynx, the Chicago Sky, and the Dallas Wings. It could establish regional rivalries with these teams, among others.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh is located in the northeastern United States and could establish regional rivalries with teams such as the New York Liberty, the Washington Mystics, and the Connecticut Sun. While it is not as centrally located as some of the other cities, it could still offer viable geographical considerations.

—

At this point, it was time to narrow the list further, so I just went for it after gauging ChatGPT’s insight on other factors such as financial viability and appetite for women’s sports.

—

MG: Based on all of the criteria I’ve given you thus far, can you narrow this list to three?

CHATGPT: Certainly! Based on the criteria discussed, including market potential, financial viability, appetite for women’s sports, and geographical considerations, here are three cities that emerge as strong candidates for WNBA expansion:

Vancouver, Canada: Vancouver presents an opportunity to expand the WNBA into Canada, tapping into a potentially passionate basketball fan base. It offers a strong market potential, geographical proximity to the Seattle Storm, and the potential for regional rivalries with teams in the Pacific Northwest.
Nashville, Tennessee: Nashville has a growing sports scene, a diverse economy, and a supportive community. It has shown an appetite for women’s sports and could foster regional rivalries with existing teams in the central and southeastern parts of the United States.
Louisville, Kentucky: Louisville has a strong basketball culture, a history of supporting women’s sports, and a central location. It offers market potential, potential regional rivalries, and a passionate fan base.

These three cities demonstrate a combination of factors that make them strong contenders for WNBA expansion, including market size, geographical considerations, fan support, and the potential for corporate partnerships. However, it’s important to note that the final decision on WNBA expansion would involve in-depth analysis and considerations beyond the scope of this discussion.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Boardroom (@boardroom)

—

Vancouver and Nashville were ChatGPT’s two picks for expansion cities, but why stop there? Let’s determine the very best.

—

MG: Based on all of the criteria we’ve given you thus far, can you narrow this list to the best one?

CHATGPT: Based on the criteria discussed, including market potential, financial viability, appetite for women’s sports, geographical considerations, and narrowing down from the previous two options, the best city for WNBA expansion would be:

Nashville, Tennessee

Nashville stands out as the top choice based on its combination of factors. It has a growing sports scene, a diverse economy, and a supportive community. Nashville has shown an appetite for women’s sports, with successful women’s collegiate programs and events. It offers regional rivalries with existing teams in the central and southeastern parts of the United States. The city’s market potential, financial viability, and sports culture make it a strong candidate for WNBA expansion.

While Vancouver, Canada, also presents significant opportunities for expansion, including entering the Canadian market and potential regional rivalries, Nashville’s overall package of market potential, fan support, financial viability, and geographic considerations make it the best choice from the options discussed.

Please note that this decision is based on the given criteria and analysis up until my knowledge cutoff in September 2021. The final decision regarding WNBA expansion would depend on various factors, including future market conditions, ownership groups, and other considerations at the time of expansion.

—

Stay tuned for Part 2, where ChatGPT helps select team names and mascots for Vancouver and Nashville franchises.

Tech Talk April 7, 2024

ChatGPT, Voice Engine, Sam Altman & More Updates from OpenAI

April 4, 2024

Angel Reese Takes Over Vogue to Declare for WNBA

Sports March 8, 2024

Spotlighting The Women of the Boardroom

March 1, 2024

Caitlin Clark Leaving Iowa for WNBA After Season

Sports February 26, 2024

The Business of Women’s Sports is Exploding

Sports February 17, 2024

Steph vs. Sabrina: The NBA & WNBA Square Off in Starry’s 3-Point Contest

The post Boardroom & ChatGPT Expand the WNBA, Part 1: Selecting the Cities appeared first on Boardroom.

Threads is Headed to the Web

Michelai Graham — Sun, 13 Aug 2023 19:00:27 +0000

Amazon‘s second Prime Day event of the year is coming in October, and no, we will not call it Prime Big Deal Days as they named it. Still, let’s see if the retailer can surpass the $12.7 billion it brought in during Prime Day in July.

A peek into today’s edition:

Threads on the web
Google and UMG sync on AI music tool
Microsoft is betting on Web3

Threads is Headed to the Web

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced on Threads that the new microblogging platform is getting a web version and conventional search function in the next few weeks. Meta launched Threads from stealth with a lot of missing features social media users typically expect. Still, millions of users flocked to the platform in the last month, and Meta hopes to retain early adopters with the rollout of some much-anticipated features. Threads is bringing in about 8 million daily active users, which is down from its peak of 44 million daily active users around its launch. Still, Meta is rolling out Threads updates, including the ability to share a post to Instagram DMs directly, a more intuitive mention button, and custom text for photos and videos.

For now, Threads is still only mobile-friendly, and it’s unclear if Meta will release iPad and Mac apps soon, but the Big Tech company has been internally testing more versions of the platform.

Google and UMG in Negotiations For AI Music Tools

Remember that viral AI-generated song featuring Drake and The Weeknd’s vocals that Universal Music Group got pulled from streaming platforms for copyright infringement claims? Well, it seems like UMG had a change of heart following a potential new partnership with Google. UMG and the Big Tech firm are in negotiations on a deal to license artists’ voices and melodies for AI-generated songs. The pair are discussing developing an AI tool for users to generate songs, with the appropriate copyright owners getting compensated. Artists will have a choice to participate in the licensing platform. Warner Music Group is discussing a similar deal with Google.

A deal of this magnitude gestures at how the major labels will look to monetize AI and potentially combat unauthorized deepfakes and other pitfalls. The biggest question now is how many artists will get on board with this new idea.

OpenAI Funds NYU’s New Journalism Ethics Project

ChatGPT‘s parent company OpenAI is dishing out a $395,000 grant to fund a journalism ethics initiative at New York University. The new opportunity will be part of NYU’s Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute and offer workshops and discussions centered on journalism ethics issues, and produce articles and papers for its own website and other news outlets, Axios reported. Stephen Adler, former editor-in-chief of Reuters and veteran journalist, will lead the new initiative and conduct research about quality journalism in the age of AI.

OpenAI’s investment in NYU comes after the company announced last month that it would invest up to $10 million in the American Journalism Project to bolster local news. OpenAI is also partnering with the Associated Press to explore use cases for AI in newsrooms.

The White House Announces a $20M AI Cyber Challenge

The Biden-Harris Administration announced a two-year hacking challenge with nearly $20 million in prizes up for grabs. Led by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the AI Cyber Challenge is calling on US competitors to create AI-focused tech solutions that fix software vulnerabilities. The initial qualifying event will take place in the spring of 2024, where up to 20 teams will advance to the semifinal competition. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency made a commitment to invest $1 million each into seven small businesses that participate in the challenge. Anthropic, Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI are some of the top companies that will lend their AI tech to competitors who must build open-source systems that could potentially be widely used.

In Other News

Microsoft announced a partnership with layer-1 blockchain developer Aptos Labs to build AI tools for blockchain integrations and accelerate mass Web3 adoption.
Amazon will meet with the FTC next week to avoid an antitrust lawsuit that’s been brewing for a long time. If filed, the lawsuit could force the e-commerce giant to break up some of its business practices.
In its latest push to make crypto payments and transfers the norm, PayPal launched its own stablecoin, PayPal USD, that will be pegged to the US dollar and become its official digital coin.
Former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried is back in custody less than two months ahead of his fraud trail after a judge revoked his bail due to his involvement with media leaks.
There’s trouble in the C Suite. Tesla’s longtime CFO Zach Kirkhorn stepped down after 13 years of working in various roles at the company, and Disney’s metaverse lead, Mike White, left his post after only a year and a half in the role.
Renowned online streamer Kai Cenat is in the hot seat again and is facing criminal charges after running an electronics giveaway in NYC that incited chaos and resulted in dozens of arrests.
Dogecoin founder Billy Markus tweeted that he’s made five times more revenue from posting on X than he did in creating his notable cryptocurrency.

The post Threads is Headed to the Web appeared first on Boardroom.

Bots on Boxing: ChatGPT, Google’s Bard AI & Boardroom Predict Errol Spence vs. Terence Crawford

Sam Dunn — Fri, 28 Jul 2023 16:35:04 +0000

We tapped two of the world’s most lovable, nefarious AI chatbots to deliver a few Spence vs. Crawford predictions straight from the bleeding edge.

Boxing is a world of chaos. Rather often, just like Whose Line Is it Anyway, everything can be made up and the points may not matter. With that in mind, we’re often willing to use the word “superfight” to refer to bouts that aren’t exactly superfights. That’s simply how we’ve been gaslit, not by the sport itself, but by the ever-burning faithfulness of our love for it.

July 29’s Errol Spence vs. Terence Crawford throwdown for the undisputed welterweight championship of the world, however, is the biggest superfight boxing has managed to book in several years, likely since Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao all the way back in 2015. Naturally, Boardroom couldn’t hope to make any careful, composed sense of this 147-pound mega-scrap without the help of some advanced technology.

Behold, BOTS ON BOXING! We enlisted the help of two of the internet’s most lovable, nefarious artificial intelligence chatbots — OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Bard — to help us unpack some prognostications for Saturday’s hotter-than-hot ticket in Vegas.

Check out our bang-bang Crawford vs. Spence prediction bonanza straight from the bleeding edge below, and stay tuned for a full odds and prop bets overview straight from FanDuel Sportsbook.

Crawford vs. Spence Prediction Rundown

NOTE: Unlike Boardroom, which consists of humans, an artificial intelligence chatbot does not actually predict future events per se. Rather, each was prompted to provide a plausible narrative arc for what could occur, as well as a final result.

BOARDROOM’S SPENCE-CRAWFORD PREDICTIONS:

Spence comes out aggressive and forces Crawford onto his back foot. He wins the first two rounds, but doesn’t deal major damage.
Bud’s patience and timing begin to pay off, taking several rounds in a row.
Knowing he’s at least modestly behind, Spence gradually overcommits to coming forward and gets dropped to one knee by a Crawford hook in Round 9.
The championship rounds are a wash; “The Truth” can’t make up the deficit
Widely seen as the deserving victor, Crawford nonetheless narrowly escapes with a split decision, with the judges’ cards reading 116-112 and 115-113 in his favor and 116-112 for Spence

CHATGPT PROJECTS THE FIGHT:

The Fight:

The early rounds of the fight are a display of high-level boxing. Crawford’s technical prowess is on full display as he employs elusive footwork and precision punching to score points. Spence, true to his reputation, pressures Crawford relentlessly, seeking to close the distance and land heavy shots to wear down his opponent.

As the fight progresses, Spence’s aggressive style starts to take a toll on Crawford, who finds it challenging to maintain his usual elusive movement. However, Crawford’s adaptability comes into play as he switches up his tactics, occasionally engaging in toe-to-toe exchanges with Spence to keep him guessing.

The middle rounds see a back-and-forth battle, with each fighter having their moments of dominance. The crowd is on the edge of their seats as they witness the ebb and flow of the fight, unsure of who will emerge victorious.

In the championship rounds, both fighters dig deep, knowing that victory hangs in the balance. Crawford’s technical brilliance shines through, landing crisp combinations and counterpunches, while Spence’s relentless pressure continues to test Crawford’s resolve.

Final Result:

The fight goes the distance, and the judges’ scorecards are eagerly awaited. After a hard-fought and closely contested battle, the judges announce a split decision. One judge scores the fight in favor of Spence, another for Crawford, and the third judge sees it as a draw.

The decision reflects the razor-thin margin between these two elite fighters, leaving the fans divided in their opinions, and sparking discussions that will continue for years to come. Regardless of the outcome, both Terence Crawford and Errol Spence earn respect and admiration for their incredible performance in what will be remembered as one of the most thrilling boxing superfights in history.

In the end, the result adds another layer to the legacy of both fighters, fueling speculation about a potential rematch in the future, further enticing fans and solidifying their positions as boxing legends.

BARD AI’S CRAWFORD VS. SPENCE PREDICTION:

Here are some possible results for a boxing match between Terence Crawford and Errol Spence:

Crawford by decision: Crawford is the more technical boxer and has a wider range of tools in his arsenal. He could use his jab to keep Spence at bay and then land hard shots to the body and head. If he can avoid Spence’s power punches, he should be able to win a decision.
Spence by KO: Spence is the more powerful puncher and has a good chin. He could pressure Crawford and land big shots to the head and body. If he can break Crawford down, he could score a knockout.
Draw: This is a close fight between two evenly-matched opponents. It’s possible that the judges could split the decision, resulting in a draw.

Ultimately, the result of this fight is difficult to predict. Both Crawford and Spence are elite boxers with a lot of talent. It should be an exciting fight that will be talked about for years to come.

Terence Crawford vs. Errol Spence Odds

All Spence-Crawford odds are via FanDuel Sportsbook as of July 27, 2023.

Moneyline

Errol Spence Jr.: +116
Terence Crawford: -146

O/U total rounds

UNDER 10.5 rounds: +200
OVER 10.5 rounds: -270

Method of victory

Crawford by points/decision: +175
Crawford by KO/TKO: +320
Draw: +1600
Spence by points/decision: +200
Spence by KO/TKO: +600

Will the fight go the distance?

Yes: -220
No: +170

FanDuel special props

Terence Crawford to be Knocked Down in the 1st Minute of ANY Round: +1600
A Knockdown in ANY of Rounds 1, 2, 3 or 4: +1600
A Knockdown in Round 7: +2100
3+ Knockdowns in the Fight: +2700
Terence Crawford to Win AND both Fighters to be Knocked Down: +2900
Terence Crawford to Win in Round 8 AND Errol Spence to be Knocked Down in Round 7: +5000
Terence Crawford to Win in Round 4 AND Errol Spence to be Knocked Down in Round 3: +9000
Errol Spence to Win in Round 10 AND Terence Crawford to be Knocked down in the 1st Minute of Round 10: +10000

Tech Talk April 7, 2024

ChatGPT, Voice Engine, Sam Altman & More Updates from OpenAI

March 8, 2024

Jake Paul, Mike Tyson to Fight on Netflix in Live Boxing Match

Big Tech December 26, 2023

Apple, Google, & Meta Lead the 10 Biggest Tech Moments of 2023

Sports December 19, 2023

The Top 10 Sporting Events of 2023 by Average Ticket Price

Sports December 8, 2023

Devin Haney vs. Regis Prograis: Who Has the Edge at Sportsbooks?

Sports December 7, 2023

The ETCs: Devin Haney Won’t Run From Anything

The post Bots on Boxing: ChatGPT, Google’s Bard AI & Boardroom Predict Errol Spence vs. Terence Crawford appeared first on Boardroom.

Boardroom Tech Talk: The Possibilities Are Endless With AI In The Mix

Michelai Graham — Sun, 16 Jul 2023 19:00:49 +0000

Amazon Prime Daze — I mean, Prime Day — has come and gone, and I’m still irked the annual two-day event doesn’t have a better name, but I have some ideas.

A peek into today’s edition:

Download on Reuters’ annual AI summit
Threads hits new milestones
TikTok and Redbox ink unlikely deal

Subscribe to Boardroom Tech Talk to get the full tech download from the week in your inbox every Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.

The Possibilities Are Endless With AI in the Mix

This past week at Reuters’ MOMENTUM Summit focused on artificial intelligence, I learned that generative AI technology has existed since sound 2017. OpenAI didn’t invent it with the launch of ChatGPT; the company just figured out how to leverage it best for everyday consumers. That’s one of the biggest key takeaways discussed at the AI summit, which brought together AI leaders and tech executives from top brands, including PepsiCo, Reddit, Amazon, Tinder, eBay, Expedia, and many more.

Here are some more key takeaways and trends discussed at the summit:

AI leaders and litigation experts aren’t talking to each other enough. For real regulations to be set, both parties need to weigh in equally.
AI can be used to break silos instead of replacing human expertise. Generative AI models could be most useful in providing foundational knowledge.
Athina Kanioura, PepsiCo’s chief strategy and transformation officer, thinks AI can be used to conceptualize new products across the food and beverage industry far before the testing stage. Fun fact: The first ideation for Dorritos’ flaming hot flavor came from an AI model mixing ingredients.
The biggest career opportunity in AI is in the cybersecurity field.
Managing AI platforms can be expensive and brands need to start thinking about building for the future. Where will AI be in the next 10 to 15 years? Will consumers still be using platforms like ChatGPT? These are questions that need answers.

This Week in Tech

Threads Hits 100 Million Sign-Ups

Twitter traffic continues to trend down as Instagram’s Threads app surpasses 100 million sign-ups since the platform launched a little over a week ago. The milestone comes ahead of Meta rolling out new features, including branded content tools that offer paid promotion. Analysts also predict that Threads will hit 200 million daily active users, driving $8 billion in annual revenue over the next two years.

I think it’s officially time for Twitter to panic.

Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard Merger Pushes Forward

Despite more staff cuts in its sales department, Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard will move forward after a judge threw out the Federal Trade Commission’s injunction request. If the FTC doesn’t make an attempt to delay the merger further, Microsoft could close the $69 billion deal within the next week. UK regulators could still fight against Microsoft and Activision’s partnership, but it looks like they’ll also consider proposals to see the deal go through soon.

Tech Talk April 7, 2024

ChatGPT, Voice Engine, Sam Altman & More Updates from OpenAI

Deals & Investments April 5, 2024

From March Madness to Man United: Brands Make Fan Dreams Come True

Execs & Entrepreneurs April 5, 2024

Everything is On the Table for Maverick Carter, Paul Rivera & The Shop

Sports April 4, 2024

Boardroom Talks: Amar’e Stoudemire Always Understood the Game

Boardroom Investments April 2, 2024

CNBC x Boardroom Game Plan Summit Returning in 2024

Sneakers April 1, 2024

LSU’s Mikaylah Williams is Jordan Brand’s Newest Face of NIL

The post Boardroom Tech Talk: The Possibilities Are Endless With AI In The Mix appeared first on Boardroom.

WNBA and Mielle Organics Team up for Multiyear Deal

Vinciane Ngomsi — Fri, 14 Jul 2023 13:00:00 +0000

The post WNBA and Mielle Organics Team up for Multiyear Deal appeared first on Boardroom.

Boardroom Tech Talk: Are You Threading or Tweeting?

Michelai Graham — Sun, 09 Jul 2023 19:00:00 +0000

In the latest edition of the Boardroom Tech Talk newsletter, Boardroom’s Michelai Graham discusses Meta’s major move, TikTok’s music expansion, and more.

Logan Paul’s Prime energy drink brand is growing, but let’s not forget he committed to refunding $1.8 million to CryptoZoo investors six months ago and still hasn’t delivered.

A peek into today’s edition:

First take on Instagram’s Threads app
TikTok launches music streaming
Dior’s NFC-chipped sneakers go on sale

Subscribe to Boardroom Tech Talk to get the full tech download from the week in your inbox every Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.

Are You Threading or Tweeting?

The race for the best microblogging platform is on, and Meta-owned Instagram just put its bid in with the launch of Threads on July 5. With no Beta testing period or waitlist, the new Twitter competitor amassed more than 30 million users on its first day on the market. Meanwhile, Twitter is temporarily limiting daily tweet views to (allegedly) mitigate spam and bots on the platform. The limit caused Tweetdek to break down, and Twitter had to launch a completely new version of the management tool.

Scorned social media users have been flocking to other microblogging sites like Mastodon, Spill, and Jack Dorsey’s Bluesky, which temporarily paused sign-ups last weekend after a flood of new users following Twitter’s tweet limit shift.

Okay, back to Threads. Threads can generally do what Twitter can, except there is no direct messaging, hashtags, trending topics, GIFs, an edit button, lists, drafts, or an audio plug-in like Twitter Spaces. But most importantly, Instagram Head Adam Mosseri said chronologically ordered feeds are coming soon. What’s your take on Threads’ quick success? Let us know.

THIS WEEK IN TECH

TikTok Launches Music Streaming Service in Brazil and Indonesia

TikTok launched its speculated social music streaming service called TikTok Music in Brazil and Indonesia. The popular platform licensing deals with Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, and Warner Music Group to launch the new service, which will replace its existing streaming service, Resso, on Sept. 5. This signals TikTok’s plan to take its music discovery resources to a whole new level, though the social media platform hasn’t shared when TikTok Music will launch in other countries. For now, Brazil and Indonesia-based TikTokers can access the new service with a one-month free trial.

OpenAI Still Bullish on AI Despite Dip in ChatGPT Downloads

OpenAI-owned ChatGPT downloads on iPhones were down 38% in June in the US. Is ChatGPT adoption already slowing down, or are folks just temporarily focusing on other hot AI technologies? Downloads could be down simply because the hype of the app launching in May has passed, but still, it’s noteworthy.

Elsewhere, OpenAI is putting together a dedicated internal team charged with managing the risks of superintelligent artificial intelligence. Since the government is ideating around AI regulations, the AI leader created this new department to stay ahead of the curve. OpenAI will put 20% of its current computer power behind this initiative.

Want More Tech Talk?

Tech Talk April 7, 2024

ChatGPT, Voice Engine, Sam Altman & More Updates from OpenAI

Tech Talk March 31, 2024

What Will We Learn at Apple WWDC24 this Summer?

The post Boardroom Tech Talk: Are You Threading or Tweeting? appeared first on Boardroom.

All Bots, No Brakes: ChatGPT & Bard AI Predict the 2023 F1 Monaco Grand Prix

Sam Dunn — Thu, 25 May 2023 19:22:59 +0000

As the Formula 1 season returns to iconic Monte Carlo, let’s make a big Monaco GP prediction with an assist from the popular artificial intelligence constructs from OpenAI and Google.

Earlier this year, Boardroom asked ChatGPT — the wide-eyed, wily artificial intelligence chatbot from OpenAI — what it had to say about the 2023 Formula 1 world championship campaign. The level of detail it injected into ideating just how the season could go beat-for-beat was uncanny, if not unsettling.

Naturally, with the ritzy and prestigious Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix fast approaching on Sunday, May 28, we had to double down on the bleeding-edge fun and ask Bard, a smolderingly handsome AI newcomer on the block courtesy of Google, to join the predictive fray.

As Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso, and the world’s finest racing drivers descend on Monte Carlo for another iteration of the famous old race, check out Boardroom’s 2023 Monaco Grand Prix predictions featuring ChatGPT, Bard, and a special betting odds assist from our friends at FanDuel.

Welcome to All Bots, No Brakes.

2023 Monaco Grand Prix Predictions

NOTE: Artificial intelligence chatbots will not actually “predict” Grand Prix races per se, and they certainly do not offer betting advice. Rather, the query posed to each was to propose a plausible narrative arc and final result for the race, so each response is meant for entertainment purposes only.

Boardroom’s Monaco Grand Prix Prediction:

Here is the precise sequence of events that absolutely will occur at Monte Carlo on May 28:

Hometown boy Charles Leclerc of Ferrari enjoys a feelgood moment, winning his third consecutive pole position after Red Bull’s Max Verstappen attacks the famous Rascasse hairpin too aggressively and takes himself beyond the limits of the track, earning a time penalty before he can improve his time in Q3.
On race day, typically disastrous Ferrari race strategy regarding both tire use and team orders will see Leclerc lose his grip on P1, and subsequently a podium spot
When a safety car is required after Alfa Romeo’s Valtteri Bottas is forced to retire his car, a mechanical difficulty related to steering prevents defending world champion and current leader Max Verstappen from seizing control of the race. He watches as teammate Sergio Perez makes up ground, then fights his way past Mercedes’ George Russell to the front of the pack
Perez wins the 2023 Monaco Grand Prix, his second consecutive victory at Monte Carlo and another intriguing moment for what is very much a Red Bull vs. Red Bull title race

ChatGPT’s Monaco GP Predictions:

The 2023 F1 Monaco Grand Prix race promised to be an exhilarating battle among the world’s best drivers on the iconic streets of Monte Carlo. The qualifying session set the stage for a thrilling race, with the top teams and drivers securing favorable starting positions. As the race began, tensions ran high, and the narrow, twisty track proved to be a true test of skill and precision.

Throughout the race, there were intense battles for position, daring overtakes, and strategic pit stops that kept the fans on the edge of their seats. The leaders exchanged places multiple times, with each driver pushing the limits of their abilities. However, a surprise twist emerged midway through the race when rain clouds started to gather over the circuit, casting uncertainty over the outcome.

As the rain started to fall, the track became treacherously slippery, adding an extra layer of challenge for the drivers. Some teams gambled on staying out with dry tires, while others opted for an early switch to intermediates. This decision divided the field, creating a thrilling mix of strategies.

The final laps were a showcase of the drivers’ bravery and expertise as they skillfully navigated the wet conditions. With each passing lap, the tension rose as the battle for the lead intensified. The top contenders pushed their cars to the limit, searching for any advantage they could find.

Monaco's famous hairpin

Some things never grow old! #MonacoGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/ozBF5AsAta
— Formula 1 (@F1) May 23, 2023

In a dramatic finale, it was Charles Leclerc, the young Monegasque driver, who emerged victorious at his home Grand Prix. Leclerc, driving for Ferrari, showcased exceptional skill and composure in the challenging conditions, delighting the local crowd. His strategic tire choice and impeccable control in the rain allowed him to gradually climb up the ranks, overtaking his rivals with calculated precision.

As the checkered flag waved, the jubilant cheers of the spectators filled the air. Leclerc stood on the top step of the podium, with his emotions overwhelming him as he celebrated an extraordinary triumph on his home turf. The victory marked a significant milestone for both Leclerc and Ferrari, reinvigorating their quest for championship success.

The 2023 F1 Monaco Grand Prix race will be remembered as a thrilling and unpredictable battle, highlighting the extraordinary talent of the drivers and the unpredictable nature of motorsport.

Bard AI’s Monaco Grand Prix Predictions:

The race starts off with Charles Leclerc leading the pack, followed by Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz. The first few laps are uneventful, with the drivers settling into their positions. However, on lap 10, there is a safety car deployed after a crash between two drivers. This bunched up the field and gave everyone a chance to pit for fresh tires.

After the safety car comes in, Leclerc is able to hold off Verstappen and Sainz to win the race. This is Leclerc’s first win of the season and it puts him back in contention for the championship.

Reasons for teams to do well in #MonacoGP:

Aston's and McL's high drag will not be a problem, and their high downforce will be crucial
Ferrari's good traction could be a weapon
The "new" W14 might be quicker than expected

RB's DRS advantage will be minimal
Thoughts?#F1
— Formula Data Analysis (@FDataAnalysis) May 25, 2023

Here are some of the factors that could contribute to this narrative arc:

Leclerc is the home favorite and he has a lot of experience racing in Monaco.
Verstappen is the defending champion and he is always a contender for victory.
Sainz is a strong driver and he is always capable of finishing on the podium.
The weather could play a factor, as Monaco is known for its unpredictable weather.

Here are some of the challenges that could prevent this narrative arc from happening:

A crash could happen, which could bring out the safety car and bunch up the field.
A mechanical problem could happen to any of the drivers, which could force them to retire from the race.
The weather could be bad, which could make it difficult for the drivers to race.

Overall, this is a plausible narrative arc for the 2023 F1 Monaco Grand Prix race. It is a race that is always full of excitement and drama, and it is sure to be a close battle between Leclerc, Verstappen, and Sainz.

2023 MONACO GRAND PRIX PREDICTION CONSENSUS: Charles Leclerc to win (ChatGPT, Bard AI) outvotes Sergio Perez (Boardroom)

A $100 bet on Charles Leclerc to win (+470) at FanDuel Sportsbook pays out a profit of $470.
A $100 bet on Sergio Perez to win (+430) pays a profit of $430.
A $100 bet on Ferrari to be the team of the winning driver (+270) pays out a profit of $270.
A $100 bet on Red Bull to be the team of the winning driver (-200) pays a profit of $50.

Monaco Grand Prix Odds 2023

Numbers are as of May 25 and can change over time — click here for the latest Monaco GP odds at FanDuel Sportsbook.

To win the Monaco GP

Max Verstappen (Red Bull): +105
Charles Leclerc (Ferrari): +470
Sergio Perez (Red Bull): +430
Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin): +600
Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes): +1600
Carlos Sainz (Ferrari): +2300
George Russell (Mercedes): +2300
Lance Stroll (Aston Martin): +5000

To win pole position in qualifying

Max Verstappen (Red Bull): +145
Charles Leclerc (Ferrari): +175
Sergio Perez (Red Bull): +430
Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin): +650
Carlos Sainz (Ferrari): +2100
Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes): +5000
George Russell (Mercedes): +5000

Team of winning driver

Red Bull: -200
Ferrari: +270
Aston Martin: +600
Mercedes: +1400
Alpine: +11000

Deals & Investments January 23, 2024

Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson Continues to Solidify Investment Foundation

September 29, 2023

XFL & USFL Merging Together to Make One League

Sports September 28, 2023

XFL & USFL Merge to Create All-new Spring Football League

May 23, 2023

Tom Brady Joins Las Vegas Raiders as Minority Owner

Sports May 13, 2023

Chatbot Blitz: Bard AI & ChatGPT Predict Renegades vs. Defenders in the 2023 XFL Championship

Execs & Entrepreneurs March 7, 2023

Dany Garcia Builds it Bigger

The post All Bots, No Brakes: ChatGPT & Bard AI Predict the 2023 F1 Monaco Grand Prix appeared first on Boardroom.

OpenAI’s New ChatGPT App Explained

Shlomo Sprung — Fri, 19 May 2023 17:48:08 +0000

Boardroom has what you need to know about the free mobile app featuring ChatGPT, OpenAI’s mega-popular artificial intelligence chatbot.

OpenAI launched its long-awaited ChatGPT mobile app Thursday for Apple iOS users in the United States, adding to the phenomenon that’s proven to be the biggest technological innovation to date thus far in 2023. The release comes only a few months after the first consumer-facing iteration of the artificial intelligence chatbot debuted in November and sent shockwaves around the world regarding its datamining capabilities and seemingly limitless potential as a generative model.

Here’s a basic outline of what you need to know about the ChatGPT app, with OpenAI additionally stating in a blog post that an Android version is coming soon:

The app is free if you have iOS version 16.1 or later, and your user chat history will be synced across browser, iPhone, and iPad.
The app, unlike the browser version, responds to voice commands like Apple’s Siri or Amazon’s Alexa would except in text form. ChatGPT has this functionality through its open-source speech recognition system, Whisper.
The app’s welcome screen clearly lays out warnings for its users, including that ChatGPT can be inaccurate about people, places, and facts, and that sensitive information should not be shared.
ChatGPT subscribers, a premium function launched in February, will get exclusive access to the latest GPT-4 model with access to new features and faster response times.

Whether you just want intuitive search, want to have a school paper entirely written for you (we obviously don’t recommend this), seek advice or guidance on a specific issue, aim increase professional productivity, or just want to have a bit of cheeky fun, US-based iOS users will now have an app to optimize their ChatGPT experience thanks to a notable a step that makes this increasingly ubiquitous product even more widely accessible.

“As we gather user feedback, we’re committed to continuous feature and safety improvements for ChatGPT,” OpenAI’s blog post said. “We’re taking another step towards our mission by transforming state-of-the-art research into useful tools that empower people, while continuously making them more accessible.”

Click here to download the ChatGPT app for iOS mobile devices.

Tech Talk April 7, 2024

ChatGPT, Voice Engine, Sam Altman & More Updates from OpenAI

Big Tech March 28, 2024

Tech Talk Reviews: Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses

Big Tech March 26, 2024

Everything You Need to Know About AI Chipmaker Nvidia

Interview

Execs & Entrepreneurs March 1, 2024

Jessica Gelman: The Woman Behind the Most Influential Conference in Sports

Tech Talk February 25, 2024

Nvidia Revenue Surges to $22B as AI Chip Biz Booms

Tech Talk February 18, 2024

Big Tech is Strong in Indy for 2024 NBA All-Star Weekend

The post OpenAI’s New ChatGPT App Explained appeared first on Boardroom.

Victor Wembanyama Spurs Ticket Sales in San Antonio

Bernadette Doykos — Fri, 19 May 2023 13:00:00 +0000

The post Victor Wembanyama Spurs Ticket Sales in San Antonio appeared first on Boardroom.

Chatbot Blitz: Bard AI & ChatGPT Predict Renegades vs. Defenders in the 2023 XFL Championship

Sam Dunn — Sat, 13 May 2023 14:00:00 +0000

As the XFL season comes to a close, Boardroom provides its best Arlington Renegades vs. DC Defenders prediction with an assist from the popular artificial intelligence constructs from OpenAI and Google.

Earlier this year, Boardroom wondered about what the lovable, potentially nefarious artificial intelligence chatbot known as ChatGPT had to say about the 2023 Formula 1 world championship and the fourth and final season of HBO’s Succession. With our curiosities piqued but our appetites for applying data mining algorithms in any and all directions far from sated, we did the very same thing for May 6’s super middleweight boxing championship — and we even threw Bard, a hunky AI newcomer on the block from none other than Google, right into the mix.

Well, folks, we’re not done. In fact, we’re only beginning to get a handle on the dynamics and implications of artificial intelligence chatbots as it relates to helping us painfully imperfect humans organize our own thinking about what’s happening around us and how we might make a few informed prognostications about what might occur in the future.

And that brings us to May 13’s XFL title showdown between Bob Stoops’ Arlington Renegades and Reggie Barlow’s DC Defenders for all the marbles.

With a betting odds assist from our friends at FanDuel, check out Boardroom’s inaugural AI-powered XFL Championship prediction rundown.

Welcome to the Chatbot Blitz.

2023 XFL Championship Predictions

NOTE: Artificial intelligence chatbots won’t actually “predict” football games per se, and they certainly do not offer betting advice. Rather, the query posed to each was to propose a plausible narrative arc and final result for the game, so each response is meant for entertainment purposes only.

Boardroom’s Arlington Renegades vs. DC Defenders Prediction

In the first XFL Championship Game since the league’s first iteration in 2001, here is the precise sequence of events that absolutely will occur:

In an early 3rd & 3 situation, Defenders quarterback Jordan Ta’amu runs play action and airs it out deep. The former Ole Miss Rebels star and 2023 XFL Offensive Player of the Year sees the ball intercepted in one-on-one coverage, with the defense returning it all the way for a pick-six touchdown.
As the game carries on, the underdog Renegades control the clock and frustrate the Defenders, pounding the ball consistently with lead back De’Veon Smith and playing it short over the middle to tight end Sal Cannella.
Coach Stoops’ offense begins to sputter and lapse into predictability midway into the third quarter.
Ta’amu and DC find the right balance of aggressiveness and poise in the passing game, scoring a go-ahead touchdown early in the fourth quarter through wide receiver Lucky Jackson.
The Defenders control the game and force the Renegades into an interception and a turnover on downs in the latter stages of the game. DC wins the 2023 XFL Championship by a final score of 31-20.

ChatGPT’s XFL Championship Prediction

In the 2023 XFL Championship game, the Arlington Renegades and DC Defenders face off in a highly anticipated matchup. The Renegades come into the game as favorites, with a high-powered offense led by their star quarterback, while the Defenders rely on their stout defense and hard-nosed running game.

The game starts off with a bang, as the Renegades score on their opening possession with a deep pass from the quarterback to their speedy wide receiver. The Defenders respond with a long drive of their own, capped off by a bruising touchdown run by their running back.

The game continues to be a back-and-forth battle, with both teams trading blows on offense and defense. As the game enters the fourth quarter, the Renegades hold a slim lead, but the Defenders are driving deep into Renegades territory.

With just seconds left in the game, the Defenders are down by three points and have the ball on the Renegades’ 10-yard line. The crowd is on their feet, and tension is high as the Defenders line up for the final play.

The Defenders snap the ball, and the quarterback drops back to pass. He surveys the field, but the Renegades’ defense is swarming, and he can’t find an open receiver. In a last-ditch effort, he decides to tuck the ball and run for the endzone.

As he charges towards the goal line, he is met by a wall of Renegades defenders. The collision is massive, and the ball pops loose, bouncing towards the back of the endzone.

In a mad scramble, players from both teams dive for the ball, but it’s the Renegades’ safety who emerges from the pile with the ball secured in his hands. The referees signal touchdown, and the Renegades’ sideline erupts in celebration.

With the clock at zero, the Renegades win the 2023 XFL Championship in dramatic fashion, with a final score of 31-24. The team hoists the championship trophy high above their heads as confetti rains down from the sky, and the fans in the stadium cheer wildly.

For the Arlington Renegades, it’s a storybook ending to a thrilling season, and they cement their place in XFL history as champions.

Bard AI’s Defenders vs. Renegades XFL Prediction

The Arlington Renegades and DC Defenders are the two best teams in the XFL, and they have met twice already this season, with the Defenders winning both games. The Renegades are the underdogs, but they have a lot of momentum after upsetting the Houston Roughnecks in the semifinals.

The game is played at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, and the crowd is evenly split between Renegades and Defenders fans. The Renegades get the ball first and drive down the field, but they settle for a field goal to take a 3-0 lead.

The Defenders respond with a touchdown drive of their own, and they take a 7-3 lead into halftime. The second half is a back-and-forth affair, with both teams scoring touchdowns. With just over two minutes remaining in the game, the Renegades are trailing 21-17.

The Renegades get the ball back and drive down the field, but they are facing a fourth and goal from the Defenders’ 1-yard line. The Renegades decide to go for it, and quarterback Derek King sneaks it in for the touchdown to give the Renegades a 24-21 lead.

The Defenders have one last chance to win the game, but they turn the ball over on downs with just seconds remaining. The Renegades celebrate their victory and become the first XFL champions.

The Renegades’ victory is a story of perseverance and overcoming adversity. They were the underdogs all season, but they never gave up. They played their best football when it mattered most, and they came away with the championship.

The Renegades’ victory is also a victory for the city of Arlington. The Renegades have brought excitement and hope back to the city, and they have shown that anything is possible.

2023 XFL CHAMPIONSHIP PREDICTION CONSENSUS: Arlington Renegades (ChatGPT, Bard AI) defeat DC Defenders (Boardroom)

A $100 bet on the Renegades to win (+240) at FanDuel Sportsbook pays out a profit of $240.
A $100 bet on the Defenders to win (-290) pays a profit of $34.48
A point spread bet on either the Renegades to cover +7 or the Defenders to cover -7 (both -110) pays out a profit of $90.91.

Click here for a full XFL Championship odds overview at FanDuel Sportsbook.

Deals & Investments January 23, 2024

Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson Continues to Solidify Investment Foundation

September 29, 2023

XFL & USFL Merging Together to Make One League

Sports September 28, 2023

XFL & USFL Merge to Create All-new Spring Football League

May 23, 2023

Tom Brady Joins Las Vegas Raiders as Minority Owner

Execs & Entrepreneurs March 7, 2023

Dany Garcia Builds it Bigger

Sports February 23, 2023

Predicting Week 2 of the 2023 XFL Season

The post Chatbot Blitz: Bard AI & ChatGPT Predict Renegades vs. Defenders in the 2023 XFL Championship appeared first on Boardroom.

Bots on Boxing: ChatGPT, Bard AI & Boardroom Predict Canelo Álvarez vs. John Ryder

Sam Dunn — Thu, 04 May 2023 12:00:00 +0000

We asked the preeminent artificial intelligence chatbots from OpenAI and Google to help us make a big Ryder vs. Canelo prediction for Saturday’s fight — here’s what we found.

Earlier this spring, Boardroom consulted OpenAI’s lovable, nefarious artificial intelligence construct known affectionately as ChatGPT for its “thoughts” on the 2023 Formula 1 world championship, and the insights were pleasantly plausible. Later, we consulted the precocious dataminer’s algorithmic churnings and bubblings in order to characterize the cultural impact of HBO’s Succession entering its final season. That time, the results were startlingly, perhaps unnervingly prescient.

That got us thinking about two things in particular:

What else at the center of all things relevant in sports, business, and entertainment can we handicap, prognosticate, or otherwise delineate with the help of artificial intelligence chatbots?
What happens if we embrace the “sexy newcomer” soap opera trope and introduce Google’s own Bard AI into the mix?

Well, we do love a bit of professionally sanctioned facepunching here, and there’s no bigger star in boxing than undisputed super middleweight champion Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez. Given his penchant for fighting on Cinco de Mayo weekend, it would be a whole lot of locura for us to miss an opportunity to ask ChatGPT and Bard for their readout on how Canelo’s May 6 bout with John Ryder might go for all the 168-pound gold.

Folks, it’s time for some AI-enhanced Canelo vs. Ryder predictions for Saturday’s super middleweight throwdown, plus a full rundown of fight odds from our friends at FanDuel Sportsbook.

Welcome to Bots on Boxing.

Canelo vs. Ryder Predictions for the Undisputed Super Middleweight Title

NOTE: While a humanbeingperson can take a crack at predicting future events, an AI chatbot “prediction” is more along the lines of a plausible scenario with a reasonable chance to play out.

SAM DUNN: Here’s the sequence of events that absolutely will happen:

Leveraging his modest reach advantage, Ryder attempts to recreate Dmitry Bivol’s success in frustrating Canelo by working the jab and emphasizing movement early.
By Round 5, the above strategy enjoys limited success and Canelo’s superior timing and power begin to show through. Swelling grows over Ryder’s left eye.
The champ scores the fight’s only knockdown between Round 9 and Round 11.
Canelo Álvarez defeats Ryder by unanimous decision to defend all four 168-pound title belts. The scorecards read 116-111, 116-111, and a spit-takey 114-113.

ChatGPT: As the bell rings, the tension is palpable. Canelo Álvarez, the reigning super middleweight champion, steps into the ring with his trademark confidence, his fiery red hair matching the intensity of his gaze. Across from him stands his opponent, John Ryder, a gritty underdog who has fought his way up the ranks to earn a shot at the title.

In the opening rounds, Canelo shows off his superior speed and skill, landing precise jabs and vicious body shots that leave Ryder struggling to keep up. But Ryder refuses to back down, trading blow for blow with the champion and earning the respect of the crowd with his tenacity.

As the fight wears on, it becomes clear that Ryder’s strategy is to wear down Canelo with his relentless pressure and endurance. He continues to press forward, launching a barrage of punches that force Canelo to backpedal and fight defensively.

In the middle rounds, Ryder begins to find his rhythm, connecting with powerful hooks and uppercuts that send shockwaves through the arena. Canelo is pushed to his limits, but he refuses to let his guard down, using his experience and skill to weather the storm and counterattack whenever he sees an opening.

As the championship rounds approach, both fighters are visibly exhausted, but they refuse to give up. The crowd is on their feet, roaring with excitement as the two warriors exchange blow after blow in a display of pure heart and determination.

In the final seconds of the fight, Canelo lands a devastating combination that sends Ryder to the canvas. The referee begins to count, but Ryder somehow finds the strength to get back to his feet, his eyes fixed on the champion with a fierce determination.

The bell rings, signaling the end of the fight. The judges’ scorecards are read, and the winner by unanimous decision is Canelo Álvarez. But as the two fighters embrace in the center of the ring, it’s clear that both men have won the respect and admiration of everyone in attendance.

Bard AI: Canelo Álvarez is the undisputed super middleweight champion of the world, and he is coming off a big win over Caleb Plant. John Ryder is the WBO mandatory challenger, and he is a dangerous opponent. This fight has the potential to be very exciting, and here is one possible way it could play out:

The early rounds of the fight will be close, with both fighters feeling each other out. Canelo will be the more active fighter, but Ryder will be landing some good shots of his own. As the fight goes on, Canelo will start to take control. He will use his superior size and strength to bully Ryder around the ring. Ryder will try to fight back, but he will be unable to match Canelo’s power. In the late rounds, Canelo will start to land some big shots, and Ryder will be on the ropes. Eventually, Canelo will land a knockout blow, and he will retain his titles.

Here is another possible way the fight could play out:

Ryder comes out strong in the early rounds, and he surprises Canelo with his speed and power. Canelo is taken aback, and he is forced to fight on the back foot. Ryder continues to press the action, and he starts to build a lead on the scorecards. As the fight goes on, Canelo starts to find his rhythm, and he begins to land some good shots of his own. The fight becomes very close, and it is anyone’s fight going into the late rounds. In the final round, Canelo lands a big shot that knocks Ryder down. Ryder gets back to his feet, but he is clearly hurt. Canelo goes on the attack, and he eventually finishes Ryder off with a flurry of punches. Canelo wins by knockout, and he retains his titles.

No matter how the fight plays out, it is sure to be an exciting one. Canelo Álvarez is one of the best boxers in the world, and John Ryder is a dangerous opponent. This fight has the potential to be one of the best fights of the year.

Boardroom’s “Bots on Boxing” Canelo vs. Ryder predictions: Canelo Álvarez by unanimous decision (ChatGPT, Boardroom) outvotes Canelo by KO/TKO (Bard AI).

A $100 bet on Canelo by decision at +430 odds pays out a profit of $430.

A $100 bet on Canelo by KO/TKO at -370 odds pays out a profit of $127.

Canelo vs. Ryder Odds

All betting lines via FanDuel Sportsbook as of May 2, 2023.

Moneyline (two-way)

Canelo Álvarez: -1800
John Ryder: +940

Moneyline (three-way)

Canelo Álvarez: -1100
John Ryder: +1000
Draw: +2000

Method of victory

Canelo by points/decision: +430
Canelo by KO/TKO: -370

Ryder by points/decision: +1700
Ryder by KO/TKO: +1600

Draw: +2600

March 8, 2024

Jake Paul, Mike Tyson to Fight on Netflix in Live Boxing Match

Sports December 19, 2023

The Top 10 Sporting Events of 2023 by Average Ticket Price

Sports December 8, 2023

Devin Haney vs. Regis Prograis: Who Has the Edge at Sportsbooks?

Sports December 7, 2023

The ETCs: Devin Haney Won’t Run From Anything

Interview

Execs & Entrepreneurs December 3, 2023

Peter Murray’s Global Gambit for the PFL

Sports December 2, 2023

Ryan Garcia’s Business Is Booming

The post Bots on Boxing: ChatGPT, Bard AI & Boardroom Predict Canelo Álvarez vs. John Ryder appeared first on Boardroom.

Spotify Introduces AI DJ Powered by ChatGPT Maker OpenAI

Shlomo Sprung — Wed, 22 Feb 2023 22:06:46 +0000

The Spotify AI DJ, although still in beta, is available to Premium users in the United States and Canada and can create detailed commentary surrounding one’s music selection.

Spotify‘s algorithm is already scary good, with Discover Weekly and Release Radar curating what streamers may like each week and its annual Wrapped campaign personalizing users’ yearly highlights so they can brag about their musical tastes to all their social media friends. But the company is taking its algorithm and personalization abilities to the next level by introducing its AI DJ to Premium users in the United States and Canada on Wednesday.

Introducing DJ An entirely new way to play your @Spotify, powered by AI. Now rolling out to Premium users in the U.S. and Canada. Head to Spotify now to meet your DJ. pic.twitter.com/sbQr8JrrmF
— Spotify News (@SpotifyNews) February 22, 2023

The new feature — currently in beta — utilizes Spotify’s algorithmic learnings that already know users’ musical tastes to deliver a curated music lineup with detailed commentary about those songs and artists AI DJ thinks you’ll love in a realistic voice modeled after Xavier “X” Jernigan, Spotify’s head of cultural partnerships.

Spotify’s DJ was built through the use of OpenAI technology, better known as the company that created ChatGPT. The AI combined with the fun facts and insights provided by Spotify’s music editors brings you this unique curated experience. The AI DJ will look back at your old favorite songs, take what you might enjoy, and provide an initial set list for you to enjoy.

Just like its algorithm, the DJ will adjust its personalized sets based on your feedback. And if you’re not picking up what the DJ is putting down, press the DJ button and the AI will switch everything up and give you a new playlist from scratch. As with everything on the addictive streaming platform, the more you interact with the algorithm, the better it gets to know you, and the more personalized AI DJ will become.

Premium users can find the Spotify AI DJ by heading to their music feed on the Spotify mobile app and hitting play on the DJ card. If Spotify knows you as it should, you should be in for quite the AI-driven treat.

Tech Talk April 7, 2024

ChatGPT, Voice Engine, Sam Altman & More Updates from OpenAI

Deals & Investments April 5, 2024

From March Madness to Man United: Brands Make Fan Dreams Come True

Execs & Entrepreneurs April 5, 2024

Everything is On the Table for Maverick Carter, Paul Rivera & The Shop

Sports April 4, 2024

Boardroom Talks: Amar’e Stoudemire Always Understood the Game

Boardroom Investments April 2, 2024

CNBC x Boardroom Game Plan Summit Returning in 2024

Sneakers April 1, 2024

LSU’s Mikaylah Williams is Jordan Brand’s Newest Face of NIL

The post Spotify Introduces AI DJ Powered by ChatGPT Maker OpenAI appeared first on Boardroom.

Boardroom & ChatGPT Plot Patrick Mahomes’ Path to NFL GOAT Status

Sam Dunn — Mon, 20 Feb 2023 18:00:00 +0000

With an assist from OpenAI’s lovable and possibly nefarious artificial intelligence construct, we determine what the Chiefs QB has to do to surpass TB12 in the NFL GOAT pecking order.

Patrick Mahomes is riding reasonably high, isn’t he? Already the owner of the largest contract in US sports history, a championship ring, and two league MVP awards entering Super Bowl LVII on Feb. 12, he steered his underdog Kansas City Chiefs to a comeback victory over the Eagles, earning him not just a second Lombardi Trophy, but a second Super Bowl MVP plaudit.

Not a bad CV for a 27-year-old quarterback who’s only now logged five full seasons as a starter.

Naturally, that got us thinking — what would KC’s No. 15 technically, hypothetically have to do in order to overtake the one and only Tom Brady, who made his retirement official just days before the Super Bowl, for the right to be considered the greatest player the gridiron has ever seen.

Reckoning with the dynamics of NFL GOAT status is not for the faint of heart, folks, so we called upon lovable artificial intelligence construct ChatGPT to help us make sense of three queries:

Is Mahomes already the most talented QB ever? If he wins another ring and league MVP and retires, where does he rank in the GOAT debate?
To what degree are you worried about “Mahomes Fatigue” among NFL fans if the dude keeps winning?
What does Mahomes have to do to overtake Tom Brady as NFL GOAT?

Let’s make that spicy barbacoa.

Is Mahomes the most talented QB ever? If he retired today, where does he rank, all things considered?

ANTHONY PUCCIO: On the most-talented list, he’s No. 1. With one more MVP and a Super Bowl, he’s already up to No. 3 in the NFL GOAT pecking order.

SAM DUNN: He’s the single most talented quarterback of all time in a traditional sense. I’d draw the distinction, however, that Michael Vick is *the most talented overall athlete* ever to play QB in the NFL, apart from any specific career achievements, which is meaningfully different in my eyes.

If he retired today, I’m comfortable saying he’s behind Brady, Peyton Manning, John Elway, Joe Montana, Drew Brees, Brett Favre (*on-field resume only*), and Johnny Unitas. With one more ring and another Super Bowl MVP, he leapfrogs Unitas, Favre, Brees, and Elway, plus arguably surpasses Montana. I’d listen to that debate, boy howdy.

ChatGPT: It’s difficult to definitively say that Patrick Mahomes is the most talented quarterback of all time, as there have been many talented quarterbacks throughout the history of the NFL.

However, Mahomes is certainly one of the most talented quarterbacks of his generation. He has exceptional arm strength, accuracy, and the ability to throw from a variety of arm angles and platforms. He is also very mobile and can extend plays with his legs, making him a dual-threat quarterback. Mahomes has already accomplished a lot in his young career, including winning a Super Bowl and being named Super Bowl MVP, as well as winning the NFL MVP award in 2018. He has also set numerous records, including the most touchdown passes in a player’s first three seasons.

Ultimately, whether or not Mahomes is considered the most talented quarterback of all time will depend on how his career continues to unfold. If he continues to perform at a high level and win championships, he will certainly be in the conversation.

Patrick Mahomes in 2022….
– Won regular season MVP
– Won Super Bowl MVP
– Led the NFL in Pass TD
– Led the NFL in Pass yards

Only 3 players have done in a whole career what Mahomes did in 1 season (Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Kurt Warner). pic.twitter.com/8xKN6CCeCk
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) February 13, 2023

Are you worried about the possibility of “Mahomes Fatigue” if he never stops winning?

SD: No, because he’ll always be the babyface; you couldn’t book him as a heel if you tried. It would be like casting Tom Hanks as a Bond villain. It would be like Ted Lasso listening to Pantera.

AP: Yes. We saw it with LeBron. We saw it with Brady. With Tiger. As Jay-Z says on “Most Kingz,” “You know you’ve become a star / Because you’re the biggest target out there, right? / When everyone’s on the court, they’re coming for you / When the opposing player walks into that arena, they’re thinkin’ of upstaging you / You’re like a trophy to them / They’re thinkin’, ‘if I’m better than this guy/ The spotlight turns on me.”

All these QBs want to upstage Mahomes so they get put into the same conversation. But they’re not.

ChatGPT: It’s unlikely that football fans will get tired of seeing Patrick Mahomes win so many things, as his success is a result of his exceptional talent and hard work. Fans generally appreciate and admire greatness, and Mahomes has demonstrated that he is one of the best quarterbacks in the game today.

Of course, there is always the possibility that some fans may become envious or resentful of Mahomes’ success, especially if he continues to win at a high level for many years. However, this is true of any successful athlete, and Mahomes has shown that he is not only a talented player, but also a humble and likable person off the field. Additionally, fans of other teams may become frustrated with Mahomes’ success if he continues to dominate their favorite teams. However, this is a natural part of sports fandom and does not necessarily indicate that fans are tired of seeing Mahomes win.

Ultimately, as long as Mahomes continues to perform at a high level and win championships, it’s unlikely that fans will become tired of seeing him succeed. Instead, they will likely continue to appreciate and admire his talent and contributions to the sport of football.

What Does Mahomes Have to Do to Surpass Tom Brady as NFL GOAT?

AP: I think he’s gotta win at least 5 rings in order to consider it.

SD: He doesn’t necessarily need seven rings, though that would help a ton. If he’s able to exceed Brady for a sufficient number of single-season and career NFL records along the way, he’s already not far from surpassing the incumbent NFL GOAT in terms of —

NFL MVP awards: Brady has three; Mahomes already has two and is on pace to rival Peyton Manning for the most all-time with five.
First Team All-Pro honors: Brady has three; Mahomes has two.
Total All-Pro Teams: TB12 has six; Pat is halfway there.
Consecutive Pro Bowls: Brady peaked at 10 in a row; Mahomes is halfway there.
Career NFL earnings: Brady leads with $332.96 million in on-field salary; Mahomes is on track to surpass that number during the 2028 season with three years left on his deal

If No. 15 exceeds TB12 on a majority of these fronts while being within striking distance regarding Super Bowl rings (four would be the absolute bare minimum here), we’ll be in a similar predicament as we are with the Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James debate — some would still refuse to consider it a debate at all, while others would insist that Player X’s achievements are ultimately more impressive due to factors like level of competition, longevity, teammate quality, the value of athletic talent vs. quarterbacking skill, etc.

In fact, the ideal future might just be the one in which there’s no clear answer. Talk about a generational gift to talk television and radio, to say nothing of the actual excitement of being able to witness it all unfold as a fan.

A look at how Patrick Mahomes' career stacks up against Tom Brady's so far

(h/t allsportsculture/IG) pic.twitter.com/IZwynOhJoX
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 18, 2023

ChatGPT: Tom Brady is widely considered to be one of the greatest NFL players of all time, with seven Super Bowl victories and numerous individual awards and accolades. For Patrick Mahomes to be considered as having surpassed Brady as the greatest NFL player ever, he would need to accomplish a number of significant achievements.

First and foremost, Mahomes would need to continue performing at an elite level for many years to come. Brady has been able to sustain his success for over two decades, and Mahomes would need to demonstrate similar longevity and consistency to be considered in the same conversation. Secondly, Mahomes would need to continue winning championships. Brady’s seven Super Bowl victories are unprecedented in NFL history, and Mahomes would need to win several more championships to be considered as having surpassed Brady’s accomplishments in this regard. Thirdly, Mahomes would need to set and break numerous individual records and achieve many individual awards and accolades. Brady has won three NFL MVP awards and been selected to the Pro Bowl 14 times, among other individual honors.

Finally, Mahomes would need to make a significant impact off the field, both in terms of philanthropy and in his role as an ambassador for the sport of football.

In summary, for Mahomes to be considered by top experts as having surpassed Tom Brady as the greatest NFL player ever, he would need to demonstrate sustained excellence over many years, win multiple championships, set numerous individual records and win many individual awards, and make a significant impact off the field as well.

NOTE: Tom Brady has been named to the Pro Bowl 15 times. ChatGPT’s statistical awareness appears to end somewhere in 2021.

Tech Talk April 7, 2024

ChatGPT, Voice Engine, Sam Altman & More Updates from OpenAI

Deals & Investments April 5, 2024

From March Madness to Man United: Brands Make Fan Dreams Come True

Execs & Entrepreneurs April 5, 2024

Everything is On the Table for Maverick Carter, Paul Rivera & The Shop

Sports April 4, 2024

Boardroom Talks: Amar’e Stoudemire Always Understood the Game

Boardroom Investments April 2, 2024

CNBC x Boardroom Game Plan Summit Returning in 2024

Sneakers April 1, 2024

LSU’s Mikaylah Williams is Jordan Brand’s Newest Face of NIL

The post Boardroom & ChatGPT Plot Patrick Mahomes’ Path to NFL GOAT Status appeared first on Boardroom.

Microsoft Earnings: Shares Up Amid OpenAI Investment, Layoffs

Shlomo Sprung — Tue, 24 Jan 2023 23:17:31 +0000

With Microsoft shares up 4%, Boardroom breaks down the Microsoft earnings report, including where the tech company delivered and fell short of expectations.

Microsoft shares are up 4% per its Q2 earnings report, released on Tuesday. The company showed a very slight beat in earnings per share amid a tumultuous time at the legacy tech leader.

Here’s a quick breakdown of what Microsoft announced:

Adjusted EPS came out to $2.32 against $2.30 expected, with revenues of $52.7 billion slightly lower than the $52.9 billion expectation, but up 2% year-over-year.
Profits fell 12% year-over-year to $16.4 billion.
While its Intelligent Cloud business grew 18% in the quarter, including 31% with its Azure cloud computing service, that growth is slower year-over-year. IC and Azure grew 26% and 46% respectively.

Other segments of the business were also a mixed bag in earnings, with productivity and business process generating $17 billion, versus $16.8 billion expected. Personal computing’s $14.2 billion in revenue missed its $14.7 billion expectations.

The earnings report comes a week after Microsoft announced it would lay off 10,000 workers. It was also a day after the company announced a multi-year, multi-billion dollar investment in ChatGPT creator OpenAI. Microsoft said it’s building on investments made in the company in 2019 and 2021, including in the development of specialized supercomputing systems to improve OpenAI’s research, powering OpenAI workloads via Azure as its exclusive cloud provider, and deploying OpenAI models across consumer and enterprise products.

Additionally, Microsoft’s mammoth $69 billion purchase of embattled video game maker Activision Blizzard is still on hold amid complaints and antitrust investigations from the Federal Trade Commission, the U.K’.s Competition and Markets Authority, and the E.U.’s European Commission. Earlier this week, a U.S. district court in California denied Microsoft’s request to pause an Activision Blizzard lawsuit filed by gamers in December who argued that the Microsoft’s merger with Activision Blizzard would harm competition within the gaming industry.

The post Microsoft Earnings: Shares Up Amid OpenAI Investment, Layoffs appeared first on Boardroom.

ChatGPT Creator OpenAI in Talks to Sell Shares at $29 Billion Valuation

Shlomo Sprung — Thu, 05 Jan 2023 21:48:00 +0000

The artificial intelligence venture has quickly become attractive to high-profile venture capital investors. It’s likely only a matter of time before the floodgates open.

Five weeks after launching the revolutionary ChatGPT— an AI chatbot that mimics complex human conversation and language and provides nuanced answers to user-generated questions — research company OpenAI is exploring selling existing shares in its business at a $29 billion valuation, the Wall Street Journal reported Thursday.

Thrive Capital and Founders Fund are reportedly pursuing an investment of at least $300 million in share sales in the form of a tender offer, with the two venture capital companies purchasing existing shares from stakeholders that may include employees. Despite revenues only in the tens of millions of dollars mostly from selling its AI software to developers, this infusion would more than double the startup’s previous tender offer completed in 2021 at a $14 billion valuation.

Microsoft invested $1 billion in OpenAI in 2019 and was previously in advanced talks to put even more money into the company, WSJ said. Earlier this week, reports emerged of Microsoft integrating ChatGPT into a newly launched version of its Bing search engine, which could be released by the end of March.

ChatGPT’s abilities are so advanced that New York City’s public schools blocked access to the chatbot on network devices due to academic integrity concerns regarding both cheating and the accuracy of content provided by the new technology, as it has the ability to present false information as plausibly truthful. Earlier this week, The International Conference on Machine Learning banned ChatGPT and other AI language models due to “unanticipated consequences [and] unanswered questions.”

No final deal has been reached and terms can change, the Wall Street Journal said, but suffice to say that ChatGPT has generated a ton of interest and commotion in just over a month, potentially making OpenAI the next groundbreaking technology startup as 2023 begins.

The post ChatGPT Creator OpenAI in Talks to Sell Shares at $29 Billion Valuation appeared first on Boardroom.

OpenAI Archives - Boardroom

ChatGPT, Voice Engine, Sam Altman & More Updates from OpenAI

OpenAI Shakeups and Updates

A16z to Invest $30M in Tech & Gaming Startups

Believe the Hype: The Apple Vision Pro is Here & It’s a Game Changer

Believe the Hype: The Apple Vision Pro is Here & It’s a Game Changer

My Review of the Apple Vision Pro

Michelai’s Bet of the Week: A 2023 Rundown of Every Odd

Boardroom recaps Michelai’s Bet of the Week, presented by FanDuel Sportsbook, in Tech Talk to see how dialed in on the industry our resident tech reporter really is.

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

More Tech Talk:

Apple, Google, & Meta Lead the 10 Biggest Tech Moments of 2023

From CEO oustings to new market capitalizations, the text-based app war, and much more. Boardroom runs down 10 of the biggest tech moments, announcements, and headlines from 2023.

10 of the Biggest Tech Moments of 2023

OpenAI fired Sam Altman, then hired him back in a week.

Microsoft finally got clearance to acquire Activision Blizzard.

Sam Bankman-Fried was found guilty.

Google launched an AI chatbot called Bard.

Twitter officially became X while legacy users flocked to other apps.

Apple hit a historic milestone with a $3 trillion market cap.

Google loses to Epic Games in court.

AI-generated “Heart on My Sleeve” song goes viral.

Tesla’s Cybertruck finally hit the road.

Want More Tech?

OpenAI Preps for a Major Transition as ChatGPT Turns 1

OpenAI Preps for a Major Transition as ChatGPT Turns 1

ByteDance Downsizes Gaming Division, Announces Virtual TikTok Open House

A Popular Coding Influencer and Sports Illustrated Flagged for AI Fakes

ChatGPT Turns 1: A Timeline of Events From a Monumental First Year

To commemorate ChatGPT’s birthday, Boardroom highlights 10 milestones that the viral AI chatbot hit in its first year on the market.

ChatGPT Year 1 Milestones

Nov. 30, 2022: Launch

Feb. 1, 2023: OpenAI Launches ChatGPT Plus

March 1: An API Arrives

March 14: GPT-4 Launches

May 18: iOS Launch

July 25: App Access Rolls out on Android

August 28: ChatGPT Enterprise arrives

October 18: Internet Browsing Returns

Oct. 19: AI Image Generator Dall-E 3 is integrated into ChatGPT

Nov. 6: OpenAI Introduces Custom GPTs

Read More:

Tech Talk Reviews: WHOOP Coach, Powered by OpenAI

In the first edition of Tech Talk Reviews, Boardroom tests out WHOOP’s new generative AI feature powered by ChatGPT maker OpenAI.

Read More:

Coinbase Stands with Crypto at the Capitol

Coinbase Takes DC Same Day Gary Gensler Testifies Before Congress

The Download on Meta Connect 2023

Amazon’s $4B Investment in Anthropic and an FTC Lawsuit

Updates from OpenAI

Amazon to Invest Billions in OpenAI Rival Anthropic

Generative AI startup Anthropic inked a long-term deal with Amazon, and AWS will become the company’s official cloud and computing chip provider.

Read More:

Microsoft Announces New Products Following Major Data Leaks

Microsoft Announces New Products Following Major Data Leaks

OpenAI Hit With Another Lawsuit, Plus More Updates From ChatGPT

Google is Making Strides With AI

X Shares More on Vision For ‘Everything App’ Plans

Meta Is Developing an AI System to Rival OpenAI

Meta is building data centers to create an open-source artificial intelligence model that could launch as early as next year.

Read More:

Happy 25th Birthday, Google

Google Celebrates a Quarter Century in Business

Ghostwriter Drops AI-powered Travis Scott & 21 Song While Chasing a Grammy

Chipmaker Arm’s Valuation Up to $52B Following Apple Deal

FTC Inches Closer to Filing Amazon Antitrust Lawsuit

In Other News: Tik Tok Music, COD Brings in AI Cops, & More

New Apple Products on the Way Following Big iPhone 14 Wins

New Apple Products on the Way Following Big iPhone 14 Wins

Inside IBM’s Artificial Intelligence Evolution at the 2023 US Open