Google Introduces Many AI Updates Across its Product Line

Google has made significant advancements in its AI-powered tools, integrating its Gemini AI chatbot into the Chrome browser's address bar and expanding its virtual try-on tool to include dresses. The Gemini AI integration allows users to access AI assistance directly from the browser, making it a default part of the browsing experience for Chrome's vast user base.

Google has also revamped its Google Photos app, introducing a new "Ask Photos" feature that lets users explore their library of pictures in new ways. The feature uses Google's Gemini AI models to offer responses based on the content in users' photos and pull up images relevant to their questions.

Additionally, Google has expanded its AI-powered virtual try-on tool to support dresses, allowing users to wear thousands of dresses from hundreds of brands virtually. The virtual try-on tool uses a new training strategy and technique called the VTO-UNet Diffusion Transformer (VTO-UDiT) to accurately capture detailed dress prints and preserve a person's features while erasing and replacing the dress. This technology aims to eliminate the guesswork when finding the right fit for customers of all body types.

Google's advancements in AI-powered tools are likely to have significant implications for the digital marketing and SEO industries, as well as the way users interact with the internet.

Luma AI Releases Dream Machine 1.6, Adding Camera Control

Luma AI has released its newest AI video generator model, Dream Machine 1.6, which offers a new set of precise controls for users. The model allows users to apply 12 different camera motions to their generated video clips, including pull out, pan left, orbit left, and crane up, among others. These controls can be accessed by typing in the word "camera" at the beginning of a text prompt, and a dropdown menu will automatically appear listing all the options.

The addition of camera motions is a significant upgrade to Luma's toolset, and early adopters in the AI video creation scene have reacted positively to the new feature. AI video creators have praised the fine-tuned phrases and increased range and strength of the camera motion, which saves time on guesswork and results in more dynamic motion. The update is seen as a major improvement, with one creator calling it "top stuff!"

The release of Dream Machine 1.6 comes in direct competition with other AI video providers, such as Runway's Gen-2 model, which added a variety of motion features earlier this year. The addition of camera controls is part of a feature arms race among AI video providers, with each company trying to outdo the others in terms of quality and control. The rapid advancement of AI video technology is bringing it closer to traditional video production, offering users more fine-grained controls and higher-quality visuals at a fraction of the time and cost.

Stability AI Brings New Stable Diffusion Models to Amazon Bedrock

Stability AI has announced a significant expansion of its partnership with Amazon Web Services (AWS), bringing three of its most advanced text-to-image generative AI models to the Amazon Bedrock service. The models, including Stable Image Ultra, Stable Diffusion 3 Large, and Stable Image Core, offer a range of strengths and use cases, from ultra-realistic imagery to high-volume asset generation.

The new models will join a growing list of models available on Amazon Bedrock, including AWS's own Titan model. Stability AI's models are designed to cater to a wide range of use cases, and the company is positioning them as a premium offering for industries that require high-quality images, such as marketing, advertising, and architecture.

The partnership with Amazon Bedrock represents a significant opportunity for Stability AI to expand its reach and revenue. The company is considering other ways to expand accessibility to its models, including via cloud service providers, system integrators, and other model service providers. However, it is not clear how the cost of running the models on Amazon Bedrock will compare with other methods, and Stability AI did not respond to a question about this from VentureBeat.

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PlayStation Shuts Down Concord, Didn't Meet Expectations

The game Concord, developed by Firewalk Studios, was taken offline on September 6, 2024, due to mixed feedback from players and a less-than-ideal launch. The game's director, Ryan Ellis, expressed gratitude to the passionate community that has grown around the game but acknowledged that some aspects of the experience did not meet expectations.

As a result, Concord sales will cease immediately, and a full refund will be offered to all players who have purchased the game for PS5 or PC. Refunds will be issued back to the original payment method for players who purchased the game from the PlayStation Store or PlayStation Direct. Customers who purchased from other digital storefronts, such as Steam and Epic Games Store, will also be refunded, with more information available on the refund process.

Once refunded, players will no longer have access to the game. The development team will keep the community updated on any future developments and thanked the players for their support. Refunds may take 30-60 days to appear on bank statements, and players are advised to check with their retailer for refund information if they purchased a physical copy of the game.

Helldivers 2 and Dead Island 2 Support Studio ‘Toadman Interactive’ Confirms Layoffs

Toadman Interactive, a game development studio known for its work on titles like Helldivers 2 and Dead Island 2, has confirmed that it is making layoffs. The company announced on LinkedIn that it would be shutting down its offices in Stockholm, Visby, and Oslo, as well as making redundancies in its Berlin studio. This decision is expected to impact around 100 full-time and contract employees.

The layoffs are part of a larger cost-saving plan implemented by Toadman's parent company, Enad Global 7 (EG7). According to EG7's interim report, the plan aims to reduce costs by approximately SEK 63 million ($6.1 million) and will affect around 100 employees. The report attributes the need for cost-cutting measures to a slowdown in the industry and Toadman's struggles to ramp up its work-for-hire business.

Toadman's recent release, EvilVEvil, was met with a "lackluster reception" and failed to meet sales expectations. This has likely contributed to the studio's financial struggles and the need for layoffs. The exact number of full-time employees who will remain at Toadman after the layoffs is unclear, but the studio had 111 employees at the end of June.

The layoffs are a significant blow to Toadman, who has worked on several notable titles in the past. The company is encouraging other game developers to reach out to its talented staff who are now looking for new opportunities.

Tilting Point Layoffs Could Impact 20 Percent of Global Workforce

Mobile publisher Tilting Point is making significant layoffs, with up to 20 percent of its global workforce expected to be impacted. The company cited "tough" market conditions as the reason for the cuts, stating that it has done everything it can to maintain the shape of the business but has now been forced to make difficult decisions to continue operating a healthy ongoing company.

The layoffs are not the first time Tilting Point has had to downsize. In January 2023, the company cut around 14 percent of its workforce, also citing changing market conditions. However, this latest round of layoffs is more significant and comes after a period of aggressive expansion and investment by the company.

Tilting Point has a wide portfolio of over 150 games on mobile, including titles like Star Trek: Legends and SpongeBob Adventures: In A Jam. The company has also made several notable acquisitions since 2020, including Disruptor Beam, Loop Games, and AN Games. In 2021, Tilting Point raised $235 million to pursue larger M&A opportunities and expand its operations. However, it now appears that the company is shifting its focus towards downsizing and adapting to the current market conditions.

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Zynga Sells Sugartown to D20 Labs

Zynga has sold its web3 game, Sugartown, to D20 Labs, a studio made up of Zynga's former web3 team. The sale includes all products and assets related to the game, and D20 Labs plans to continue developing Sugartown and other projects into "the future of rewarded play."

Sugartown was first revealed by Zynga last year and was pitched as a leader in "trust, transparency, and accessibility" for the web3 genre. However, it appears that Zynga has lost interest in the project, and has decided to sell it off to a studio that is more committed to its development.

D20 Labs is led by Matt Wolf and Tommy Ngo, who previously served as the VP and general manager of Zynga's web3 department. The studio is excited to take over Sugartown and continue the work that was started by the original team. The sale is seen as a significant development in the web3 gaming space, and it will be interesting to see how D20 Labs chooses to develop Sugartown and other projects in the future.

The sale of Sugartown raises questions about Zynga's interest in web3 gaming, and whether the company still plans to pursue projects in this space. Many studios that previously invested in web3 have since cooled on the technology, but Sega reportedly still has some interest in it.

Bluesky Gets Over 1M Signups Within 3 Days After X Gets Banned in Brazil

Bluesky, a decentralized alternative to X, has seen a massive surge in new users after X was banned in Brazil. The platform gained 1 million new users in just three days, with its traffic increasing 15 times its normal rate over the weekend. The influx of new users caused some technical issues, but the platform's team is working to adapt to the increased demand.

The ban on X in Brazil was upheld by the country's Supreme Court, citing Elon Musk's failure to comply with judicial orders to remove content deemed illegal and appoint a legal representative based in the country. The ban has effectively shut down X's sixth-largest global market, with 21.5 million users. Brazilian users attempting to circumvent the ban via VPNs will face steep penalties, including daily fines and the possibility of criminal charges.

Bluesky, which was co-founded by former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, has been gaining popularity as a decentralized alternative to X. The platform's functionality closely mirrors that of X, and it has been expanding its features to accommodate its growing user base. With the ban on X in Brazil, Bluesky has become a popular alternative for users in the country, and it has begun publishing content in Portuguese and providing localized tutorials for its new users.

Arbitrum Goes Big With Web3 Gaming Showcase at WebX Asia

The Arbitrum Foundation made a significant impact at WebX Asia, a leading Web3 conference in Tokyo, with a showcase of Web3 gaming titles and events. The foundation's booth on the show floor featured playable demos of popular games such as Tarochi, Kitty Kart Racing, and Gensokishi, attracting hundreds of attendees. Other notable titles showcased included Aavegotchi, Pirate Nation, and Beacon, as well as promo footage for upcoming games.

A panel discussion on "The role of Gaming in driving Web3 adoption" was also held, featuring experts from the gaming and Web3 industries. The discussion covered topics such as play-to-earn models, blockchain-based game assets, and the role of gaming in introducing mainstream audiences to Web3 concepts and technologies.

Arbitrum's presence at WebX Asia was part of its Road to WebX campaign, which included a series of events and panel discussions leading up to the conference. The campaign culminated in the Arbitrum Gaming & NFT Night, a retro arcade-themed party showcasing some of Arbitrum's biggest Web3 titles and NFT projects.

The Arbitrum Foundation also announced a strategic partnership with Lotte Group's next-generation metaverse platform Caliverse, to build a metaverse on the chain. The partnership aims to create a Web3 ecosystem that will "surprise the world," according to Lotte Caliverse CEO Kim Dong-gyu.

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