Listen To The Show
Transcript
Welcome to The Prompt by Kuro House, your daily AI update. Today, we’re diving into some major shifts in AI technology and policy that are shaping the future. Let’s get started with the latest breakthroughs and moves you need to know about.
First up, a new AI lab called General Intuition is launching with a massive $133.7 million seed round. This startup is using data from Medal, a video game clipping platform with billions of uploads, to train AI agents with spatial understanding. According to a story from The Verge, this approach aims to teach AI to predict and interact with 3D environments, like catching a falling glass before it hits the floor. Backed by investors like Vinod Khosla, General Intuition hopes to impact fields from search and rescue drones to humanoid robots and self-driving cars. It’s a bold bet on world models, a branch of AI that could redefine how machines understand and navigate the physical world.
In legal news, New York has become the first state to ban AI-enabled rent price fixing by landlords. The Verge reports that Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation outlawing the use of algorithms that set rental rates and lease terms to avoid collusion. This move targets software like RealPage, which has been linked to driving up rents by optimizing prices across multiple properties. The law considers landlords using such software as colluding, whether knowingly or not, aiming to protect renters amid a housing affordability crisis. The ban takes effect in 60 days, marking a significant step in regulating AI’s impact on real estate markets.
Microsoft is rewriting Windows 11 around AI, introducing new Copilot features for all users. Wired shares that voice interaction with Copilot will become a core way to control your PC, alongside mouse and keyboard. Copilot Vision lets AI understand what’s on your screen to offer real-time help, like pointing out menus or guiding you through apps. Even cooler, Copilot Actions can perform tasks for you, such as editing photos or managing files, all via natural language commands. This rollout comes as Windows 10 support ends, aiming to make AI assistance accessible and useful for millions of Windows 11 users.
Over in China, ByteDance’s AI chatbot Doubao has surged past competitors to become the country’s most popular AI app. According to Wired, Doubao boasts over 157 million monthly active users and combines chat, image generation, video, and even AI agents in one platform. Its success comes from a user-friendly design and tight integration with Douyin, China’s TikTok, driving viral sharing and engagement. Doubao’s approachable interface and multi-modal features make AI accessible to a broad audience, including older users less familiar with technology. ByteDance is also expanding Doubao beyond phones, embedding it into smart glasses and cars, extending its AI reach.
Finally, OpenAI has paused the generation of AI videos featuring Martin Luther King Jr. on its Sora platform. TechCrunch reports this move follows requests from Dr. King’s estate after disrespectful and offensive videos were created using the AI model. OpenAI is adding safeguards to give public figures and their families control over how their likenesses are used in AI-generated content. This comes amid wider concerns about the ethical use of AI video generation, especially with historical and public figures. OpenAI is balancing innovation with responsibility as it navigates these new challenges.
That’s a wrap for today’s AI highlights. From groundbreaking world models to new laws and evolving AI assistants, the landscape is shifting fast. Thanks for tuning in to The Prompt by Kuro House—where we keep you ahead in AI. Catch you tomorrow for more updates.
