OpenAI, Humanoid Robots, Wendys, Google's Culture, and Dune
Weekly Roundup of AI, Technology, and UX
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Here’s the latest news, resources, and use cases from the world of product, UX, AI and technology. Let’s go:
🧠 Personal AI
🏛️ Elon Sues OpenAI
🦾 Humanoid Robots
🍔 Wendys
🔎 Gemini and Google
👷♂️ Jobs
🎟️ Dune
Podcast
Extending Human Potential: Creating Personal AIs with Founder Suman Kanuganti
In this episode, Kyle interviews Suman Kanuganti, co-founder and CEO of Personal.ai. Suman discusses his journey from an engineer with a robotics background to launching innovative ventures like Aira, assisting visually impaired individuals, and Personal AI, aimed at extending cognitive abilities through AI. The conversation explores the technology behind Personal.ai, its unique approach to personalizing user experiences, and the importance of data privacy. Suman also shares his insights on entrepreneurship in the AI space and the ethical considerations of AI development.
News and Useful Reads
Elon Musk Sues OpenAI, Sam Altman, Saying They Abandoned Founding Mission
I wish we could sue every company for prioritizing profits over benefiting humanity and society…
Musk was OpenAI’s primary benefactor at its outset. But after Musk clashed with Altman over control and plans to create a for-profit entity, the lawsuit contends, he stepped down as co-chair in 2018 and slowed his financial contributions.
OpenAI is building its AI into humanoid robots
If you’re wondering what the first AI robots are going to look like, this may be it. All the big names have invested in Figure, the company building these AI powered robots, which will be coming soon.
Wendy’s clarifies plans for dynamic pricing experiment after backlash
Don’t call it surge pricing, it’s about discounting. Because major corporations are always looking for ways to lower prices whenever they can. Because they love their customers and think we’re not stupid.
A day after American fast food chain Wendy's announced plans to test dynamic pricing and AI menu features in 2025, the company clarified its plans.
Wendy's said it will not dynamically raise menu prices based on demand after reports about the experiment, which was set to roll out in 2025, caused a stir online. In a statement to Reuters, a Wendy's spokesperson said it "would not raise prices when our customers are visiting us most." Instead, the company framed experimental price changes as discounts during "slower times of day."
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Gemini and Google’s Culture
Google has been caught in waves of controversy recently. Stratechery does a nice job summarizing it, and even going so far as calling of them to clean house, which Ben wouldn’t do if it wasn’t dire.
Google, quite clearly, needs a similar transformation: the point of the company ought not be to tell users what to think, but to help them make important decisions, as Page once promised. That means, first and foremost, excising the company of employees attracted to Google’s power and its potential to help them execute their political program, and return decision-making to those who actually want to make a good product. That, by extension, must mean removing those who let the former run amok, up to and including CEO Sundar Pichai. The stakes, for Google specifically and society broadly, are too high to simply keep one’s head down and hope that the San Francisco Board of Supervisors magically comes to its senses.
What If Your Job Were Just Your Job?
I was reflecting on this idea just this morning when I came across this article (Debbie and I also have a podcast episode coming out soon). The unspoken truth is often that work really is just work. If I won the lottery, I’d leave my job tomorrow. I’m there for the money, not personal fulfillment, which I find in other places, like she mentions.
Sometimes work is just work.
We don’t want it to kill our soul. But maybe it’s not the thing in our life that satisfies our soul. Maybe it can just be neutral. Maybe it’s just the means to have the money to find that satisfaction elsewhere.
Other Interesting Finds
Dune: Part Two Fulfills the Prophecy of Dune
I rewatched Dune: Part One this past week and realized I didn’t fully appreciate how good it was the first time. It was incredible. I’ll be seeing Dune: Part Two this week, and the surrounding hype has reached enormous levels, but seems to be well-justified. I’m excited that we’re finally able to do justice to the books, and actually improve upon them (which is so rare).
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