/w=1920,quality=90,fit=scale-down){kind=logo}
August 31, 2024
Issue No. 118
CURATOR:
Welcome to this week's AtherXplorer, covering the latest in gaming, blockchain, and everything in between.
This week’s top picks include:
Artificial Intelligence
Google Adds More AI Features to its Products and Makes Significant Updates to Gemini
Google has significantly updated its Gemini AI models, introducing "Gems” and Imagen 3, and adding more AI functionalities to Google products.
Available to Gemini subscribers, Gems allows users to create personalized chatbots with distinct personalities and specialties. Users can give Gems a name and a set of instructions, and Google is offering premade Gems, including a learning coach, an idea brainstormer, and a career guide.
According to Google, Imagen 3 is better as it can now more accurately understand text prompts and is more creative and detailed in generations than its predecessor.
In addition, Google Meet has introduced an automatic AI note-taking feature, "take notes for me," which summarizes what was discussed during a meeting and automatically takes notes in a Google Doc. This feature is available to Google Workspace customers with the Gemini Enterprise, Gemini Education Premium, or AI Meetings & Messaging add-ons.
Google has also fixed Gemini's people-generating feature, which was paused in February due to historical inaccuracies. The feature is now available to certain users, specifically those signed up for one of Google's paid Gemini plans, as part of an early access, English-language-only test. The updated feature, powered by Imagen 3, contains mitigations to make the people images produced more "fair" and has been trained on a large dataset comprising images, text, and associated annotations.
Midjourney Gets into Hardware, Open for Job Applications
Midjourney, a popular AI image generation service, has announced that it is getting into hardware devices. The company has confirmed that it has hired Ahmad Abbas, a former Hardware Engineering Manager at Apple, to lead its hardware division. Abbas has been listed as the "Head of Hardware" at Midjourney on his LinkedIn profile.
The company has not revealed much about its hardware plans but has confirmed that the device will not be a pendant and will have a screen or interface to display generated imagery. Midjourney's founder, David Holz, has hinted that the device may be something that users can "go inside of" rather than wear. The company has also stated that it has "multiple efforts in flight" and is exploring new form factors.
The move into hardware comes as Midjourney faces increasing competition in the AI model space from new photorealistic AI image generation models and services. The company has recently updated its web interface and opened it up to all users, offering 25 free image generations to start.
Midjourney's entry into the hardware space is notable, as few startups have been successful in creating dedicated AI-powered devices. However, with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman reportedly working with former Apple designer Jony Ive on new AI hardware, the AI hardware space is likely to become more interesting soon.
AI Object-Removal Features Introduced in Apple’s Latest Developer Betas for iOS 18.1
Apple has introduced a new feature in its latest developer betas for iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS 15.1, called Clean Up, which allows users to remove objects from photos using AI. The feature uses smart detection to identify objects and can remove them with just one tap. Users can also draw a circle or brush over unwanted objects to delete them from the image.
The Clean Up feature uses AI to generate the background when an object is removed, taking into account the shadows and reflections of the object. This ensures that the resulting image looks natural and seamless. Apple has been testing its Apple Intelligence features, including Clean Up, with the iOS 18.1 developer betas since July.
The Clean Up feature is similar to Google's Magic Eraser feature, which was launched earlier this year for Google Photos. However, Apple's feature is currently only available to users in English who have their region selected as the U.S. The Apple Intelligence features, including Clean Up, are part of Apple's efforts to integrate AI-powered tools into its operating systems.
In Other AI News…
Gaming
Bandai Namco Cancels Blue Protocol and Terminates Publishing Deal with Amazon Games
Bandai Namco Online has announced that it is canceling the development of Blue Protocol, an online action RPG that was set to be published in collaboration with Amazon Games. The decision was made due to the project falling short of expectations, despite the studio's efforts to deliver a high-quality experience.
The cancellation of Blue Protocol is a significant blow to fans who had been eagerly anticipating the game's release. The title was pitched as a free-to-play game with a dynamic action combat system, deep character customization, and an epic story set in a vast world. It was slated to launch on PC, Xbox Series X | S, and PlayStation 5.
Bandai Namco Online expressed its disappointment and gratitude to fans who had followed the game's development and participated in the Closed Technical Test. Amazon Games has also removed all references to Blue Protocol from its website, including the FAQ and a blog post announcing the collaboration.
The cancellation of Blue Protocol is a surprise move, given the hype and anticipation surrounding the game. Bandai Namco Online's decision to terminate the project is a clear indication that the studio is committed to delivering high-quality experiences that meet its standards, even if it means canceling a highly anticipated title.
Valve’s Deadlock Game Nearly Hits 90k Concurrent Player Peak
Valve's newly announced game, Deadlock, has reached a peak of nearly 90,000 concurrent players in its closed beta. This is a significant milestone, more than doubling the game's original peak of 44,512 players on August 16. The game's existence was previously known, but Valve had kept it under wraps until its formal reveal over the weekend.
Deadlock's player numbers are impressive, especially considering it's still in closed beta. The game's current peak surpasses the 24-hour peaks of Valve's older multiplayer titles, including Team Fortress 2 and Left 4 Dead 2. This suggests that Deadlock is generating significant interest and excitement among players.
The game's closed beta is currently limited to playtesters and their guests. It's unclear when Valve will release a wider, more open beta, or what other platforms the game will be available on. Deadlock is notable as Valve's first wholly new project in some time, following the release of Counter-Strike 2 and Half-Life Alyx a few years ago.
PTW Acquires Ghostpunch Games for $13M
Pole to Win (PTW) has acquired Ghostpunch Games, a Florida-based developer, for $13 million in an all-cash deal. The acquisition aims to expand PTW's co-development services and enable Ghostpunch to offer new AI-based QA automation offerings. The deal is expected to be completed in early September.
Ghostpunch Games was founded in 2015 and has over 60 employees. The studio has worked with several notable game studios, including EA, Gearbox Software, Bethesda Game Studios, and 2K. Following the acquisition, several key members of the Ghostpunch team will take on new roles within PTW.
Hugh Falk, Ghostpunch's executive producer, will become the site head of PTW Fort Lauderdale and director of technology, while Alejandro Garcia-Tunon will be appointed director of co-development. Other key appointments include Rick Daniels as head of sales for art and co-development, and Devon Brown as senior animation manager.
The acquisition is seen as a strategic move to enhance PTW's development services and leverage Ghostpunch's expertise in game development. PTW CEO Deborah Kirkham praised Ghostpunch's reputation as a standout studio with a high retainment rate, saying it aligns with PTW's mission to deliver exceptional development services to its partners.
In Other Gaming News…
Web3, Metaverse, and NFTs
Sony’s L2 Chain “Soneium” Goes Live on Testnet
Soneium Minato, a new Ethereum layer-2 solution, has been launched by Sony Group Corporation’s Sony Block Solutions Labs. This testnet is a public blockchain that allows developers and creators to build and test applications in a fast and cost-effective environment. The launch of Soneium Minato brings several benefits, including the formation of early communities around developers and creators, and the ability for users to experience and provide feedback on applications.
Soneium itself is a public blockchain that builds upon the existing Ethereum layer 1 infrastructure, handling data processing to address issues of slow processing speed and high fees. The Soneium Minato testnet does not use the production blockchain, instead employing a test version of crypto assets for in-app payments, allowing users to try services without risking their assets.
The Soneium Spark incubation program is also launching soon. The program will provide mentorship, infrastructure, strategic partnerships, and market connections to propel the success of participating projects. Investments of up to $100,000 per team are available for developers, creators, and projects ready to build on Soneium.
Telegram Responds to Founder and CEO’s Arrest in France
Telegram has responded to the arrest of its CEO and founder, Pavel Durov, in France, stating that he has "nothing to hide" and that the platform abides by EU laws, including the Digital Services Act. The company claims that its moderation is within industry standards and constantly improving.
Durov was arrested on Saturday at Le Bourget airport outside Paris, reportedly over charges related to alleged illegal conduct by Telegram users that the service allegedly refused to moderate. The detention of Durov has been extended beyond Sunday night, and he can be held for questioning for up to 96 hours.
Telegram has pushed back against the arrest, stating that it is "absurd" to claim that a platform or its owner is responsible for the abuse of that platform. The company notes that almost a billion global users regularly use Telegram as a means of communication and as a "vital" source of information.
The arrest has had a significant impact on the price of Toncoin (TON), the token of the Telegram-affiliated The Open Network. The price of TON fell sharply following Durov's arrest, down about 14% from its Saturday opening price.
Meta Rumored to Have Canceled Next-Gen Mix-Reality Headset
Meta's Reality Labs division has reportedly stopped work on a next-generation headset due to concerns that it wouldn't sell well enough to justify its production. This decision was made after CEO Mark Zuckerberg weighed in during a product update meeting, where it was noted that Apple's Vision Pro, a similar product, wasn't performing as well as expected.
The virtual reality hardware market remains a niche, despite involvement from top technology firms such as Sony, HTC, Meta, and Google. While some companies, like Apple, have seen success with their VR/AR headsets in the industrial metaverse, consumer adoption remains low. One of the main issues is that a significant percentage of the population experiences VR sickness, and many others are hesitant to wear a computer on their face in public.
Meta is exploring alternative approaches, such as its partnership with RayBan to integrate AI tech into stylish eyewear. However, it's unclear when or if virtual reality will have its "iPhone moment" and become a mainstream technology.
In Other Web3 & Metaverse News…
SUBSCRIBE
Subscribe to our newsletter today and be the first to receive Sipher news, AtherXplorer weekly issues, and new AtherXperiment posts. Sign up now and get ahead of the game!