Schoolboy develops mind-controlled robotic arm; Snapchat releases a ‘crying’ filter, and other AI news

We aim to inform readers not only about developments in the bitcoin industry but also about what is happening in related technology fields — cybersecurity and the world of artificial intelligence (AI).

ForkLog AI has compiled the most important AI news from the past week.

Google unveils a suite of AI innovations

At the Google I/O 2022 conference, the company unveiled new AI features and products. Among them:

• prototype smart glasses with augmented reality to “break down communication barriers.” The device can transcribe spoken language in real time, translate it, and display subtitles to the wearer;
• the AI Test Kitchen app, allowing users to experiment with the LaMDA 2 conversational model;
• the Immersive View mode for Google Maps, combining Street View with satellite imagery. The developers will also add the ability to use AR Live View in third-party apps;
• scene search for Google Voice and Google Lens. Users will be able to point to an object in an image or use a photo in combination with text as a query. The developers also added multi-search to identify several objects in a picture;
• the “Look and Talk” feature for Google Assistant, enabling activation of the voice assistant on Nest Hub Max by looking at the display without saying “Hey Google”;
• a tool for controlling ad personalization in Search, YouTube and other services;
• TPU V4 for accelerating machine learning workloads;
• flagship smartphones Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro on the Tensor next generation;
• the phone Pixel 6a with its own Tensor AI chip at $449;
• Google Assistant for the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4.

HoloLens 2 gains a mode for use in moving transport

Microsoft, together with Volkswagen developed a “moving platform” for HoloLens 2. The feature allows using the headset in moving transport.

The system places virtual objects both inside and outside the vehicle. For example, HoloLens 2 can project a virtual map onto the instrument panel and display navigation arrows at key intersections.

There is no information yet on a wide consumer rollout of the feature.

Hyundai unveils the four-legged Elevate vehicle

Hyundai will build a smart, four-legged all-wheel-drive Elevate.

The robotic car will be equipped with “limbs” that can bend, rotate at the joints, and fully rotate the wheels. With their help, the vehicle will rise and lower, step over objects, surmount obstacles and anchor itself to surfaces.

According to the developers, Elevate is intended for use in rural logistics, construction, mining and space operations. Later the company will create a two-seat crewed version of the robot car to assist people during natural disasters.

Alibaba launches platform for federated learning

The Chinese IT giant Alibaba opened the source code of its federated learning platform. It is available on GitHub under the Apache 2.0 license.

According to company representatives, the platform protects privacy by enabling the development of algorithms without sharing training data. It also provides flexible customization for various ML tasks both in academia and industry, the developers added.

Alibaba asserts that collecting training data is increasingly scrutinized due to potential privacy concerns. In their view, federated learning will help address some of these issues.

American schoolboy develops mind-controlled robotic arm

A 17-year-old Virginia-based student, Benjamin Cho, developed a mind-controlled robotic arm with AI.

The teen printed prosthetic parts on a 3D printer and connected them with bolts and rubber bands. Production of components took about 30 hours, he said.

A special helmet captures brain waves and transmits them to an algorithm that controls the robotic hand. The signal-recognition accuracy stands at 95%, according to the developer.

In 2021, Cho received funding from MIT and continued the project in collaboration with professional engineers.

Hugging Face valued at $2 billion

The Hugging Face AI repository hosting service raised $100 million in a Series C. The startup’s valuation reached $2 billion.

The company rose to prominence in 2018 thanks to the Transformers library on GitHub, which amassed over 62,000 stars and 14,000 forks. Hugging Face soon became the primary repository for machine-learning models. On the website, users can find thousands of pre-trained algorithms, join the developer community, upload datasets and more.

Currently, about 10,000 companies use Hugging Face, the company said.

Noise-cancellation mode arrives in Xbox group chats

Microsoft added noise suppression to Xbox group chat. The option is enabled by default but can be turned off in the settings menu.

According to Engadget, the system works similarly to the AI audio filters Discord Krisp and Nvidia Broadcast.

The feature is available to Xbox Insider Alpha Skip-Ahead program participants. It will be rolled out to all users soon.

The autonomous trimaran Mayflower breaks down for the second time during transatlantic voyage

The autonomous trimaran Mayflower has again broken down and will return to Britain due to a mechanical fault. The vessel broke down near Portugal less than two weeks after departure.

The Mayflower is equipped with numerous cameras and sensors that work with computer-vision algorithms for navigation. Status information is transmitted via an online panel, and anyone can track its location and watch live streams.

One observer noted that in the first week of the voyage the ship’s solar panels’ charge level dropped, and the vessel deviated from its course. Live streams were soon ceased.

Co-director Brett Faneff confirmed that the vessel will be returned to Plymouth. He said engineers will attempt to assess and fix the mechanical fault. Preliminary indications point to the ship’s generator rather than ML algorithms.

This is the second attempt for the trimaran to cross the Atlantic. The Mayflower first sailed in May 2021. After the fault is fixed, the vessel will resume the previously planned route, Faneff added.

Kendrick Lamar releases a video using deepfake

The rapper Kendrick Lamar released a music video for The Heart Part 5 that features deepfake faces of celebrities overlaying the artist’s body. Among those depicted are Kanye West, O. J. Simpson, Will Smith and others.

Developers say the video is a reminder that technology is merely a tool that can be harnessed for artistic self-expression in skilled hands.

Deep Voodoo produced the deepfake footage. Lamar and Dave Free directed the video.

Snapchat releases a ‘crying’ filter

Snapchat released a ‘crying’ filter. Users noted the effect’s high realism, and videos with it went viral on social media.

To use the filter, locate it in the list of lenses and record a clip. The effect works with both the front and rear cameras.

The AI deals of the week

From May 8 to 14, 2022, AI startups attracted over $812 million in funding. Here are the most notable deals.

• OHouse raised $182 million to deploy AR technology in a home-decorating app.
• Pyramid Analytics raised $120 million to scale its decision-making platform.
• Evisort raised $100 million to develop AI-powered contract-management software.
• SirionLabs raised $85 million.
• Certn raised $50 million to scale AI-based background checks.
• ProteanTecs raised $45 million to develop a platform for chip analytics.
• Voxel raised $15 million to enhance workplace safety tools.
• Concentric AI raised $14.5 million.
• PocketLaw raised $11 million to automate legal work for SMEs.
• Oriient raised $11 million.

Also on ForkLog:

• Artificial intelligence has learned to generate BAYC-style images.
• Clearview AI will curb the sale of facial-recognition data in the US.
• Elon Musk backed an EU bill to regulate social networks.
• Google developed a skin-tone scale to combat biased AI.
• Vitalik Buterin donated $4 million in USDC to develop a pandemic-detection tool.
• The White House warned about the threats of applying AI tools in recruitment.

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