Disney’s VR Treadmill, OpenAI Fixes ‘Lazy’ GPT-4, and Apple Rolls Out Stolen Device Protection
Hey, folks, and welcome to Week in Review (WiR), TechCrunch’s regular newsletter covering notable happenings in tech over the past few days.
Disney’s VR treadmill: Disney has developed a treadmill-like system for VR composed of hundreds of small, round tiles that look to be about the size of a silver dollar. Each serves as a kind of mini, omnidirectional treadmill.
OpenAI fixes GPT-4: OpenAI dropped prices on a number of AI models this week as it rolled out a fix for its lazy GPT-4 models that refused to work, and launched new models for specific use cases.
Apple’s new device protection: Romain writes about Apple’s new stolen device protection feature, which, when turned on, requires Face ID or Touch ID biometric authentication for some actions, like accessing stored passwords and credit cards.
Vision Pro apps a maybe: After Netflix said it wouldn’t release a dedicated app for the Apple Vision Pro, other app makers, including YouTube, are following in its footsteps. The trend doesn’t bode well, necessarily.
Rabbit’s r1: AI startup Rabbit is developing what Darrell believes is a better vision of the future than the Apple Vision Pro. The r1 can purportedly do what a typical smartphone can do, but using generative AI and natural language.
This week in tech news has brought us several exciting developments. Disney has unveiled an innovative VR treadmill made up of small, omnidirectional tiles. OpenAI has fixed its lazy GPT-4 AI models and introduced new models for specific use cases. Apple has introduced a new stolen device protection feature that enhances biometric authentication. On the other hand, app makers are hesitant to launch tailor-made apps for Apple’s Vision Pro headset following Netflix’s decision not to release a dedicated app. AI startup Rabbit is also making waves with its r1, a device that utilizes generative AI and natural language to perform smartphone-like functions.
In the world of VR, Disney has taken a step forward with its VR treadmill. This unique system comprises hundreds of small, round tiles that act as mini, omnidirectional treadmills. Users can immerse themselves in virtual worlds and experience a more realistic sensation of movement and interaction.
OpenAI, known for its advanced AI models, recently addressed issues with its GPT-4 models. The lazy AI models were refusing to work, causing frustration among users. However, OpenAI swiftly resolved the problem and even introduced new AI models tailored for specific purposes.
Apple has made significant strides in device security with its stolen device protection feature. When enabled, users are required to authenticate actions such as accessing passwords and credit cards using Face ID or Touch ID. This additional layer of security provides users with peace of mind and helps protect their sensitive information.
On the app front, there seems to be skepticism among developers about creating dedicated apps for Apple’s Vision Pro headset. Netflix’s announcement that it would not release a dedicated app has set the tone, with YouTube and other app makers following suit. This reluctance raises questions about the headset’s potential as a fully immersive media platform.
Meanwhile, AI startup Rabbit is challenging the status quo with its r1 device. This innovative product aims to offer smartphone-like capabilities using generative AI and natural language processing. Rabbit envisions a future where devices can understand and interact with users in a more human-like manner.
In summary, this week has been filled with exciting developments in the tech world. Disney’s VR treadmill, OpenAI’s AI model fixes, Apple’s stolen device protection feature, and Rabbit’s r1 device are all pushing the boundaries of what technology can achieve. As we move forward, it will be fascinating to see how these advancements shape the future of VR, AI, and device security.
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