Meta brings its AI to Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp

Good day, humans.

Meta is taking a revolutionary step by integrating its new AI chatbot directly into its Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp platforms, opening up the possibility of it being used by millions of users.

Meanwhile, Adobe is working on a generative AI video model with possible integrations with Runway, Pika Labs, and OpenAI's Sora models, allowing Premiere Pro users to use functionalities from these models.

In today's Newsletter we include:

• Meta Brings Its AI to Facebook, Instagram and What …

• Adobe Brings AI Video Generation to Premiere Pro

• Microsoft's VASA-1 Creates Talking, Gesturing Face …

• Boston Dynamics' New Robot Has 360 Movements

• AI Index: The State of Generative AI in 2024

Meta Brings Its AI to Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp

Typically, AI advancements are confined to tech insiders and curious early adopters.

Meta is changing that.

Meta is launching its new AI chatbot powered by its advanced Llama 3 model, and integrating it directly into its popular Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp platforms, putting AI capabilities into the hands of billions of users.

(Clarifying: The program is currently only available for English language users in the United States, including Australia, Canada, and 11 more countries).

Meta claims that Llama 3, its free and open-source language model, is currently the most powerful and that it surpasses existing open-source offerings like ChatGPT and Claude from Anthropic, which has yet to be confirmed.

However, by integrating this chatbot into Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and meta.ai, Meta is making advanced AI accessible like never before. Users will be able to easily interact with the chatbot through familiar search bars, message threads and more. Some key features include:

• Accessing the AI assistant directly through feeds, chats and the search bar

• A web portal at meta.ai for dedicated AI interactions

• Ability to query real-time web data

• Creating custom animated GIFs on the fly

• Generating images simply by describing them in conversational prompts

The ubiquity of Meta's apps, combined with Llama 3's language understanding power, creates unprecedented opportunities for AI to be used in social media and conventional messaging. From casual conversations to content creation, the chatbot offers a glimpse of how consumer AI could evolve.

Adobe Brings AI Video Generation to Premiere Pro

Adobe is working on a generative AI video model for its Firefly family that will bring new tools to its Premiere Pro video editing platform.

In particular, the announcement of possible integrations with Runway, Pika Labs and OpenAI's Sora models is drawing attention, which will allow Premiere Pro users to use (some) functionalities from these new companies:

• Generate videos based on text prompts or an image

• Add or remove objects using text prompts

• Extend the duration of video clips

Unlike many of Adobe's previous Firefly-related announcements, no release date — beta or otherwise — has been established for the company's new video generation tools, only that they'll roll out "this year".

Microsoft's VASA-1 Creates Talking, Gesturing Faces

Microsoft's VASA-1 generates real-time, high-resolution talking and gesturing faces from single images and audio, enabling independent control of facial features for versatile video editing.

This AI model surpasses lip-syncing by incorporating natural head movements, expressions, and user control over gaze, distance, and emotions.

Notably, VASA-1 achieves real-time performance, generating high-resolution videos at impressive frame rates.

Boston Dynamics' New Robot Has 360 Movements

Boston Dynamics introduces the all-electric Atlas, a next-generation humanoid robot replacing its hydraulic predecessor with 360-degree electric joints for enhanced agility and functionality.

This shift from bulky hydraulics to a lighter, more efficient electric system represents a significant advancement in humanoid robotics.

The 360-degree electric joints offer unprecedented mobility, overcoming limitations imposed by hydraulic lines. However, ensuring stability and mitigating safety concerns remain challenges in transitioning to electric power.

AI Index: The State of Generative AI in 2024

The #AIIndex2024 tracks the rise of AI models, major investments in generative AI, new performance benchmarks, shifts in global sentiment and key regulations.

Are these notes helpful? Interesting? I'd appreciate any feedback you can give me to improve.

Thanks for reading.

See you next week! Hi 👋 I'm Erik Knobl, a Product Designer by day and explorer of Generative Artificial Intelligence on weekends. I share my learnings in this newsletter. Consider subscribing to stay in touch.