The New Siri is here! (Kinda)
Digest
The podcast begins with an advertisement for Meta AI, highlighting its capabilities in answering questions, summarizing notes, and visualizing ideas. The hosts then discuss lucid dreaming and transition to a rundown of tech news, including Apple Intelligence, Nothing Phone 2, OpenAI's new search product, and two unusual tech products: a $5,000 pair of pants with an exoskeleton and a standalone AI necklace. They delve into the details of the hiking pants, discussing their pros and cons, including battery life and weight, and consider potential use cases for people with knee problems or those looking for assistance on challenging hikes. The hosts express concerns about the AI necklace's privacy implications, its potential for creating unhealthy attachments, and its overall usefulness. They discuss the iOS 18.1 beta update, which includes some Apple Intelligence features but not all, and question whether the new AI features will be a major selling point for the iPhone 16. The conversation shifts to Nothing Phone's AI-generated news radio show, discussing the potential impact of AI on smartphones and how Nothing is experimenting with this technology. Adam expresses his excitement about the upcoming Harry Potter Quidditch Champions game but also raises concerns about the game mechanics and how they will translate into a competitive multiplayer experience. The conversation turns to lucid dreaming, with Adam sharing his personal experiences and how it relates to the potential of VR for immersive gaming experiences. He believes that Quidditch VR could be a great way to experience the sport in a more realistic and engaging way. The hosts engage in a trivia game, testing their knowledge of Google X projects, discussing the challenges and potential of solar energy for charging e-bike batteries and the feasibility of geothermal energy systems for consumers. They attempt to guess the release date of the Tomagachi, with David ultimately winning the point by correctly identifying July 31st, 1989. They discuss the popularity of the toy and its impact on their childhoods. The conversation shifts to Neopets, with Adam sharing a story about how he obtained an account before the age of 13 by mailing a signed document to Neopets headquarters. The hosts reminisce about the nostalgia associated with these virtual pet games.
Outlines
Meta AI and Tech News
This segment covers an advertisement for Meta AI, highlighting its capabilities, and then transitions to a discussion of lucid dreaming and a rundown of tech news, including Apple Intelligence, Nothing Phone 2, OpenAI's new search product, and two unusual tech products: a $5,000 pair of pants with an exoskeleton and a standalone AI necklace.
The $5,000 Hiking Pants
The hosts delve into the details of the $5,000 hiking pants, which feature an exoskeleton and motor to help users feel lighter while hiking. They discuss the pros and cons, including the battery life and weight, and consider potential use cases for people with knee problems or those looking for assistance on challenging hikes.
The "Friend" AI Necklace
The hosts discuss a new product called "Friend," a standalone AI device in the form of a necklace that listens to users and sends them messages based on what it hears. They express concerns about the product's privacy implications, its potential for creating unhealthy attachments, and its overall usefulness.
Apple Intelligence Beta Update
The hosts discuss the iOS 18.1 beta update, which includes some Apple Intelligence features but not all. They question whether the new AI features will be a major selling point for the iPhone 16 and discuss the current state of Apple Intelligence, including its limited availability and the lack of deep app integration for Siri.
Animation Variety and Hiking Plans
The speaker expresses having seen a wide range of animations, suggesting a broad experience in the field. They then state they have no plans to go hiking in the near future, indicating a lack of interest or current ability to engage in this activity.
AI-Generated News Radio Show and Quidditch Champions
The discussion shifts to Nothing Phone's AI-generated news radio show, which is integrated as a widget on their phone. The hosts discuss the potential impact of AI on smartphones and how Nothing is experimenting with this technology. Adam expresses his excitement about the upcoming Harry Potter Quidditch Champions game, but also raises concerns about the game mechanics and how they will translate into a competitive multiplayer experience.
Lucid Dreaming and VR
The conversation turns to lucid dreaming, with Adam sharing his personal experiences and how it relates to the potential of VR for immersive gaming experiences. He believes that Quidditch VR could be a great way to experience the sport in a more realistic and engaging way.
Google X Trivia
The hosts engage in a trivia game, testing their knowledge of Google X projects. They discuss the challenges and potential of solar energy for charging e-bike batteries and the feasibility of geothermal energy systems for consumers.
Tomagachi Release Date and Neopets
The hosts attempt to guess the release date of the Tomagachi, with David ultimately winning the point by correctly identifying July 31st, 1989. They discuss the popularity of the toy and its impact on their childhoods. The conversation shifts to Neopets, with Adam sharing a story about how he obtained an account before the age of 13 by mailing a signed document to Neopets headquarters. The hosts reminisce about the nostalgia associated with these virtual pet games.
Keywords
Meta AI
Meta AI is an advanced artificial intelligence system developed by Meta (formerly Facebook). It offers a range of capabilities, including answering questions, summarizing text, and generating creative content. Users can access Meta AI through various Meta platforms like Instagram, WhatsApp, Facebook, and Messenger.
Lucid Dreaming
Lucid dreaming is a state of consciousness during a dream where the dreamer becomes aware that they are dreaming. This awareness allows the dreamer to exert some control over the dream's content and actions. Lucid dreaming is often associated with heightened sensory experiences and a sense of agency within the dream world.
Apple Intelligence
Apple Intelligence is a suite of artificial intelligence features developed by Apple. It leverages machine learning and natural language processing to enhance user experiences across various Apple devices and services. Apple Intelligence powers features like Siri, image recognition, and personalized recommendations.
Skip Mogo
Skip Mogo is a $5,000 pair of hiking pants developed by Skip in partnership with Arc'teryx. The pants feature an exoskeleton and motor that assist users in feeling lighter while hiking, particularly on inclines. The product is marketed towards individuals with knee problems or those seeking assistance on challenging hikes.
Friend AI Necklace
Friend is a standalone AI device in the form of a necklace that listens to users and sends them messages based on what it hears. It is marketed as an AI companion that provides personalized interactions and insights. However, concerns have been raised about its privacy implications, potential for creating unhealthy attachments, and overall usefulness.
Nothing Phone
Nothing Phone is a smartphone brand known for its unique design and focus on innovative features. The Nothing Phone (1) and (2) are popular models that have gained attention for their transparent back panel and LED lighting system.
Google X
Google X is a research and development lab within Google that focuses on developing experimental and futuristic technologies. It has been responsible for projects like Google Glass, self-driving cars, and Project Loon.
Tomagachi
Tomagachi is a virtual pet toy that was popular in the 1990s. It allows users to care for a digital pet by feeding, cleaning, and playing with it. The toy was known for its addictive nature and the responsibility it instilled in children.
Neopets
Neopets is a virtual pet website that was launched in 1999. It allows users to create and care for virtual pets, play games, and interact with other users. Neopets was a popular online destination for children and teenagers in the early 2000s.
Q&A
What are the key features of the $5,000 hiking pants?
The pants feature an exoskeleton and motor that help users feel lighter while hiking, particularly on inclines. They are designed to reduce stress on the knees and make hiking easier, especially for individuals with knee problems or those seeking assistance on challenging hikes.
What are the main concerns about the "Friend" AI necklace?
Concerns include privacy implications, as the device constantly listens to users, and the potential for creating unhealthy attachments to a virtual companion. Additionally, the product's overall usefulness and the ethical implications of encouraging people to rely on an AI for social interaction are questioned.
What is the current state of Apple Intelligence and its features?
Apple Intelligence is still in beta and only some features are available in the iOS 18.1 developer beta. The full suite of features, including deep app integration for Siri, is not yet available. It remains unclear whether Apple Intelligence will be a major selling point for the iPhone 16.
How is Nothing using AI to change the way we interact with smartphones?
Nothing is experimenting with AI-generated news radio shows as a widget on their phone. They are also planning to re-engineer the UI for smartphones and release it on the Nothing Phone 3 next year.
What are some of the challenges of creating a competitive Quidditch game?
Quidditch inherently makes no sense as a sport, with the ability to catch the snitch and win the game instantly. The game mechanics need to be carefully designed to create a balanced and engaging multiplayer experience.
How could VR enhance the experience of playing Quidditch?
VR could allow players to experience the feeling of flying on a broomstick and catching the snitch in a more immersive and realistic way. It could also provide a more engaging and interactive experience than traditional video games.
What are some of the projects that Google X has worked on?
Google X has been responsible for projects like Google Glass, self-driving cars, and Project Loon. These projects are all focused on developing experimental and futuristic technologies.
What are some of the challenges of using solar energy to charge e-bike batteries?
Solar panels have a limited surface area and may not be able to generate enough energy to charge e-bike batteries effectively. The amount of sunlight available also varies depending on location and weather conditions.
Show Notes
This week, we have a nice mix of gadgets and software to talk about. First, Andrew tries to convince Marques and David why a pair of $4,500 pants might be worth the money before everyone gives their thoughts on the new Friend AI wearable. After that, we talk about Apple Intelligence (or lack thereof) in the new iOS Beta before talking about the launch of SearchGPT from OpenAI. To wrap it up Marques gives his quick thoughts on the new Nothing Phone 2a Plus before getting into trivia. Hope you enjoy!
Links:
Verge Skip x Arc'teryx Pants: https://bit.ly/3YMlp51
Friend: https://bit.ly/3SyLYXh
Verge SearchGPT: https://bit.ly/4cfDhrH
Shop the merch:
https://shop.mkbhd.com
Socials:
Waveform: https://twitter.com/WVFRM
Waveform: https://www.threads.net/@waveformpodcast
Marques: https://www.threads.net/@mkbhd
Andrew: https://www.threads.net/@andrew_manganelli
David Imel: https://www.threads.net/@davidimel
Adam: https://www.threads.net/@parmesanpapi17
Ellis: https://twitter.com/EllisRovin
TikTok:
https://www.tiktok.com/@waveformpodcast
Join the Discord:
https://discord.gg/mkbhd
Music by 20syl:
https://bit.ly/2S53xlC
Waveform is part of the Vox Media Podcast Network.
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