Over the past two months, the author embarked on a journey of self-improvement, delving into new recipes and honing a unique style of handwriting. These endeavors, while personal, received a remarkable assist from an AI companion named Dot.

Dot, brought to life by San Francisco-based startup New Computer, boasts a design crafted by co-founder Jason Yuan, a former member of Apple’s design team. Sam Whitmore, a former head of engineering at Kensho, the AI innovation branch of S&P Global, spearheaded Dot’s coding efforts, alongside a team of developers. At its core, Dot is an iOS app designed for interactive chat. It accepts words, voice memos, images, PDFs, and even conducts web searches. Currently text-based, with plans for voice capabilities in the future, Dot is envisioned as an ever-present companion aimed at helping users navigate life’s complexities.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has captured the world’s fascination due to its remarkable ability to process vast volumes of data swiftly and efficiently. However, the current AI systems predominantly rely on energy-intensive algorithms driven by artificial neural networks. These networks consume substantial energy, particularly when dealing with real-time data. But a new approach to machine intelligence is on the horizon.

Researchers have devised a groundbreaking method that transcends the conventional AI landscape. Instead of depending on artificial neural network software, they have pioneered the development of physical neural networks using silver nanowires, offering a remarkably efficient alternative.

The days of fumbling for passports and boarding passes may soon become a thing of the past, thanks to recent advancements in digital identity technology. These developments are laying the foundation for a seamless and secure travel experience, from the moment you start your journey to its conclusion.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has taken a significant step forward in this direction by successfully testing a fully integrated digital identity travel experience as part of its OneID initiative. While there’s still work to be done in aligning technology and policy, this marks the beginning of a passport and boarding pass-free future.

Artificial intelligence (AI) and diffusion-based generative models have firmly established themselves in the realm of music creation, offering innovative ways to generate music, lyrics, and more. Large language models (LLMs) and tools such as voice cloning and tune creation are revolutionizing the music industry, exemplified by Stability AI’s Stable Audio. While AI’s role in music creation has undeniably transformed the landscape, it has also ignited debates and controversies, raising questions about the “death of music,” the economic impact on musicians, and its influence on artistic expression.

Stability AI’s Stable Audio, designed to empower creators, aims to facilitate musical creativity. AI’s influence in music creation extends to tools like ChatGPT for lyrics and Google’s MusicLM for melody generation, bridging the gap between creative ideas and tangible creations. While AI’s ability to generate songs, lyrics, and melodies in seconds through voice cloning offers exciting possibilities, it also introduces concerns about authenticity and the potential for misleading “fake collaborations.”

In 2013, Spike Jonze’s thought-provoking film “Her” offered a glimpse into a world where humans formed profound emotional connections with AI, challenging conventional notions of love and loneliness. Fast forward a decade, and thanks to ChatGPT’s newly integrated voice features, individuals are getting a taste of “Her” in real life, engaging in extended conversations with an AI assistant on the move.

“Her” was listed among our top sci-fi films of all time in 2016, and it also made our top films of the 2010s list. The film revolves around Joaquin Phoenix’s character, who falls in love with an AI personality named Samantha (voiced by Scarlett Johansson). Much of the story features him strolling through life, conversing with her through wireless earbuds reminiscent of Apple AirPods, which were launched in 2016. While ChatGPT isn’t as situationally aware as Samantha, nor does it possess long-term memory, OpenAI has conditioned it to prevent conversations from becoming too intimate or personal. Nevertheless, people are still indulging in lengthy discussions with the AI assistant, finding it a source of amusement and engagement.

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) and other AI-based programming tools are beginning to reshape the landscape of low-code and no-code development. However, realizing their full potential as productivity enhancers for developers and non-developers may take some time.

Many developers have already delved into the world of generative AI. A recent survey out of O’Reilly reveals that one-third of respondents are using environments such as GitHub Copilot and ChatGPT, with the survey’s author, Mike Loukides, suggesting that this estimate may underestimate the actual usage. Even those not using these tools in their professional work may be experimenting with them on personal projects. However, widespread adoption may take time.