💪🏻AI tackles Japan's bear scare

Reading time: 5 minutes  

 Newsletter | News | Tools | Submit Tool  

Today we will discuss-

• 👾Yelp's new AI chatbot

• 🥊China unveils Sora challenger 

• 🦸🏻‍♂️AI to help Japan curb bear attacks

• ⚙️9 amazing AI tools you might not have heard of

All this and more - Let's dive in!

👩‍🍳What’s cooking in the newsroom?

Yelp's new AI chatbot helps users find relevant service providers faster

📳News - Yelp has introduced a new AI chatbot on its iOS app to assist consumers in finding relevant businesses for their needs. The AI assistant, available under the “Projects” tab, will be expanded to Android later this year.

💁🏻‍♂️Here's how it works - The chatbot, powered by OpenAI's large language models, helps users by asking about their problems and then connects them with relevant professionals. Instead of using a traditional search box, users can describe their issue directly into the chat interface. 

The bot asks follow-up questions to gather more information, including your zip code, to create a project. Once the bot sends this information, users can view messages from professionals interested in their projects and respond with a custom reply or use the app’s quick reply feature.

🐱What's more? The company is adding a "Project Ideas" section to encourage users to start new projects involving Yelp services. Current suggestions include home maintenance, installing new lighting, and upgrading outdoor spaces. In the summer, this feature will become more personalized with recommendations and checklists.

Moreover, while the company isn't focusing on using the AI chatbot for restaurant discovery right away, it plans to introduce AI-generated videos later this year. These videos will be created from photos, videos, and details posted by users.

Chinese startup launches text-to-video model Vidu to take on OpenAI's Sora

📽️News - China has launched its own text-to-video artificial intelligence tool, Vidu, in an effort to rival OpenAI's Sora. Developed by start-up Shengshu Technology in collaboration with Tsinghua University, Vidu represents a significant step forward in China's efforts to develop and implement cutting-edge AI technologies locally.

✨Key points - 

• The model can generate 1080p resolution videos from simple text inputs.

• Vidu is "imaginative," able to simulate the physical world, and can produce 16-second videos with consistent characters, scenes, and timelines.

• According to the company, the model can also understand "Chinese elements."

🕵🏻‍♂️How does it compare? While Vidu aims to replicate some of the impressive features of Sora, such as generating high-definition videos from simple text prompts, it is still in its early stages. Unlike Sora, which can create videos with complex 3D movements and detailed environmental interactions, Vidu is still working on improving image quality and fidelity. Additionally, Vidu can only produce videos up to 16 seconds long, compared to Sora's capability of generating videos up to 60 seconds. Here's a side-by-side comparison:

Japan to trial AI bear warning system after record number of attacks on humans

🐻News - Due to a record number of bear attacks on humans in Japan over the past year, authorities are implementing a trial of an AI bear-warning system. The increase in attacks is linked to the bears' struggle to find their usual food sources, resulting in six fatalities and over 200 injuries.

📹How will AI be used? In Toyama prefecture, central Japan, a pilot system will be implemented to monitor live feeds from government, municipal, and private security cameras. The system will identify bears near human settlements and promptly alert relevant local authorities, police, and hunters.

Additionally, AI technology will be used to analyze bear movement patterns to predict their future locations. If successful, this system will be expanded to other regions of Japan with significant bear populations.

🥸What's more? Hanamaki city in Iwate prefecture, northeast Japan, is testing another AI surveillance system. Thirty cameras have been installed along rivers that run from nearby mountains to the city. Bears are frequently seen along these rivers, prompting notifications to a monitoring station and local residents. 

The city is collaborating with the security system manufacturer to develop measures to prevent bears from entering the city while avoiding harm to the animals.

🙆🏻‍♀️What else is happening?

• OpenAI brings 'memory' feature to ChatGPT Plus plan

• Turns out the Rabbit R1 was just an Android app all along

• Amazon CodeWhisperer is now called Q Developer and is expanding its functions

• US newspapers sue OpenAI for copyright infringement over AI training

• Google to pay $6 million to News Corp for using AI content

🧙🏻‍♂️Historic moments

• 1956 - Often cited as the birth of artificial intelligence, the Dartmouth Conference brought together leading scientists to discuss the potential of creating machines that could simulate human intelligence. Attendees included John McCarthy, Marvin Minsky, Allen Newell, and Herbert Simon.

• 1957 - Developed by Allen Newell and Herbert Simon, the General Problem Solver (GPS) was an early AI program designed to solve problems in a variety of domains. It used means-ends analysis and heuristic search techniques to find solutions to problems.

• 1997 - Part of the Mars Pathfinder mission, the Sojourner rover was the first robotic rover to explore the surface of Mars. It demonstrated the feasibility of autonomous robotic exploration of other planets and paved the way for future Mars missions.

👩🏼‍🚒Discover mind-blowing AI tools

1. Penny - An AI shopping assistant that helps users shop smarter and save money (Free)

2. Local Falcon - A local rank tracking tool that helps businesses monitor their visibility in local search results ($24.99)

3. Teachally - An AI-powered platform designed to assist teachers in creating standard-aligned lesson plans ($10/month) 

4. Scribble Diffusion - A diffusion tool to transform sketches into refined images (Free)

5. Wonderplan - An AI-powered travel planner that generates tailored trip itineraries based on your interests, preferences, and budget (Free)

6. Taskade - A collaborative productivity tool for teams to plan, organize, and execute projects ($8/month) 

7. AutoThread AI - A tool that generates Twitter threads from podcasts and YouTube videos in one click ($0.5/video)

8. MagicStock - Uses artificial intelligence to create unlimited photos, icons, illustrations, and logos in PNG format ($12/month)

9. Resume Trick - Helps users create their perfect resume quickly (Free)

🧚🏻‍♂️AI life hacks

• AI-based pet care - Devices like the Petcube or Furbo Dog Camera use AI algorithms to monitor your pets, interact with them remotely, and even provide them with treats. They can detect barking, notify you of unusual behavior, and allow you to check in on your pets while you're away from home. 

• AI-driven personal finance management - Apps like Truebill or Trim use AI algorithms to analyze your spending habits, identify subscriptions you may have forgotten about, and even negotiate lower bills on your behalf. They can help you save money by finding opportunities to cut unnecessary expenses and optimize your budget.

• AI-powered personal shopping assistants - Services like Operator or Magic use AI algorithms and human assistants to help you find and purchase products or services online. Whether you're looking for a specific item, researching options, or making travel arrangements, these services can handle the entire process for you, saving you time and effort.