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October 19, 2024
Issue No. 125
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
Adobe Launches its Firefly Generative AI Video Model
Adobe has launched its Firefly Video Model, a generative AI tool allowing creatives to extend footage and generate video from still images and text prompts. The first tool, Generative Extend, is launching in beta for Premiere Pro and can be used to extend the end or beginning of footage, or make adjustments mid-shot. This tool can only extend clips by two seconds but can be used to smooth out edits and fill gaps in footage that would otherwise require a full reshoot.
Two other video generation tools, Text-to-Video and Image-to-Video, are launching on the web as a limited public beta in the Firefly web app. These tools allow users to generate video from text prompts or reference images and can be used to create b-rolls or visualize reshoots. However, the quality of these tools is limited, with a maximum length of five seconds and a resolution of 720p.
Adobe's Firefly Video Model is trained on content that the company was permitted to use, making it "commercially safe" for users. Additionally, videos created or edited using the model can be embedded with Content Credentials to help disclose AI usage and ownership rights when published online. The tools are still in beta, but Adobe is working on a "turbo mode" to speed up generation times.
Nvidia Quietly Launches New AI Model that Surpasses GPT-4 and Claude 3.5
Nvidia has quietly launched a new AI model, Llama-3.1-Nemotron-70B-Instruct, which surpasses OpenAI's GPT-4 and Anthropic's Claude 3.5 in benchmark tests. The model, released on the Hugging Face platform, achieves top scores in key evaluations, including 85.0 on the Arena Hard benchmark and 57.6 on AlpacaEval 2 LC.
This release marks a significant shift in Nvidia's AI strategy, as the company is now demonstrating its capability to develop sophisticated AI software. Nvidia's approach to creating the model involved refining Meta's open-source Llama 3.1 model using advanced training techniques, including Reinforcement Learning from Human Feedback (RLHF). This method allows the AI to learn from human preferences, potentially leading to more natural and contextually appropriate responses.
The model's superior performance has the potential to offer businesses a more capable and cost-efficient alternative to some of the most advanced models on the market. Its ability to handle complex queries without additional prompting or specialized tokens sets it apart from other models. Nvidia's model is also customizable, making it a compelling option for businesses across industries.
However, with this power comes responsibility. Nvidia has cautioned that the model has not been tuned for specialized domains like math or legal reasoning, where accuracy is critical. Enterprises will need to ensure they are using the model appropriately and implementing safeguards to prevent errors or misuse.
OpenAI Brings ChatGPT App to Windows
OpenAI has announced the availability of a dedicated Windows app for ChatGPT, its AI-powered chatbot platform. The app is currently in preview and is only available to paying customers, including ChatGPT Plus, Team, Enterprise, and Edu users. According to OpenAI, the app is an early version and will be followed by a "full experience" later in the year.
The ChatGPT app for Windows allows users to chat about files and photos and brings the latest model improvements from OpenAI, including access to OpenAI o1-preview, the company's newest and smartest model. The app can run on most Windows 10 machines but has certain limitations compared to other ChatGPT clients, such as no support for voice or Advanced Voice Mode, and some integrations with OpenAI's GPT Store are not functional.
The app also allows users to upload files and photos, summarize documents, and create images via OpenAI's DALL-E 3 image generator. Additionally, the app can be minimized to a small "companion" window alongside other apps while users work, similar to the ChatGPT app for macOS.
In Other AI News…
Gaming
NetEase Partners with Marvel Games to Launch New Mobile RPG ‘Marvel Mystic Mayhem’
NetEase Games and Marvel Games have announced a new free-to-play mobile RPG, Marvel Mystic Mayhem. The game is a team-based tactical RPG that takes place in the Marvel universe, where players will team up with iconic superheroes to battle sinister forces. The game's storyline revolves around the battle against Nightmare, the lord of the Dream Dimension, and will allow players to explore the "deepest fears" of characters such as Captain America, Moon Knight, and Scarlet Witch.
The game is the latest collaboration between NetEase Games and Marvel Games, with NetEase's SVP Ethan Wang expressing excitement about the partnership. Marvel Games' general manager Haluk Mentes also praised the collaboration, stating that NetEase has brought a fresh perspective to the game. The game's unique style and gameplay are expected to appeal to fans of the Marvel universe.
This is not the only Marvel partnership for NetEase Games, as the publisher is also working on Marvel Rivals, a team-based PvP shooter for PC. Additionally, NetEase Games recently announced a partnership with Bungie to develop and publish Destiny: Rivals for mobile devices.
Microsoft Settles Antitrust Lawsuit Over Activision-Blizzard Acquisition
A private consumer lawsuit against Microsoft over its acquisition of Activision Blizzard has been settled. The lawsuit, which was initially filed in December 2022, was dismissed in March 2023 due to a lack of allegations but was refiled in April 2023 with additional information. The terms of the settlement were not disclosed, but both parties agreed to bear their costs and fees.
The lawsuit was one of several regulatory hurdles that Microsoft faced in its acquisition of Activision Blizzard. The deal was first announced in January 2022 but was delayed due to concerns in the UK, EU, and US. The acquisition was eventually completed in October 2023.
Since the acquisition, Microsoft has faced criticism for mass layoffs in its gaming division. The Federal Trade Commission claimed that Microsoft's decision to lay off 1,900 employees contradicted its intentions for the merger. However, Microsoft responded by stating that Activision Blizzard had planned to make cuts regardless of the deal being finalized.
Unity 6 Launched Across all Major Platforms
Unity 6 has launched globally, marking a significant milestone for the company. The new engine is available on all platforms, including mobile, PC, extended reality, and console. According to Unity's president and CEO Matthew Bromberg, Unity 6 represents a "fundamental change in its approach to the development cycle", with a focus on delivering practical value to developers.
The new engine promises a range of improvements, including increased stability, tools for mobile web development, and new graphics features that allow developers to shift the workload from the CPU to the GPU. Unity has also committed to providing significant support for Unity 6, with a pledge to keep product and engineering resources on the engine for at least two years after the arrival of the next major release.
The launch of Unity 6 comes just weeks after the company reversed its decision to introduce a Runtime Fee, a move that was widely criticized by developers and led to the resignation of Unity's former CEO. The first update to Unity 6, Unity 6.1, is scheduled to be released in April 2025.
In Other Gaming News…
Web3, Metaverse, and NFTs
Ethereum Creator Vitalik Buterin Pondered Several Potential Improvements to the Network
Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of Ethereum, has shared his thoughts on the protocol's future after the Merge, which transitioned Ethereum from proof-of-work to proof-of-stake (PoS) in 2022. Buterin highlighted several key areas where Ethereum could see significant advancements, including faster transaction speeds, improved security, and greater accessibility for solo stakers.
One of the primary goals for Ethereum's future is to reduce the time it takes to complete a transaction, which currently takes around 15 minutes. Buterin suggested exploring solutions like single-slot finality, which could drastically reduce transaction time and make Ethereum more competitive. He also proposed lowering the minimum staking amount from 32 Ether to 1 Ether, enabling more people to contribute to Ethereum's security and governance.
Buterin also emphasized the importance of protecting Ethereum from attacks by implementing a cryptographic technique called single secret leader election, which would make it harder for attackers to disrupt the network. Additionally, he suggested exploring ways to improve the protocol's resistance to quantum computing threats and increasing the quorum threshold and recovery from 51% attacks.
Worldcoin Rebrands to ‘World’ and Unveils New Layer-2 Chain
World, formerly known as Worldcoin, has undergone a significant transformation with a rebranding and the launch of several new initiatives. The company, founded by Sam Altman, has dropped the "coin" from its name and is now known simply as World. Along with the rebranding, World has unveiled a new version of its Orb biometric scanning device, which is powered by Nvidia hardware and is five times more powerful than its predecessor.
World has also announced new options for identity verification, including a program called World ID Credentials, which allows users with NFC-enabled government-issued passports to confirm their identity on the World app. Additionally, the company has launched a new layer-2 network called World Chain, which is designed to prioritize human users and provide greater utility. The network is built on the Ethereum blockchain and is available to the 15 million users who have verified their identity with World.
World Chain is designed to improve efficiency and introduce new functionality for users of the Worldcoin WLD token. The network will feature a roster of top apps and projects, including Optimism, Uniswap, Zerion, and Alchemy. World has also announced partnerships with social media apps including FaceTime, WhatsApp, and Zoom.
The company has also introduced a new service called Deep Face, which is designed to detect deepfakes in videos. According to World, its software can be implemented in most apps where video can be uploaded or streamed to determine whether videos featuring verified persons are real or have been faked using AI.
Trump-Backed Project ‘World Liberty Financial’ Sets Token Sale Date
World Liberty Financial, a decentralized finance (DeFi) project backed by former President Donald Trump, has announced that it will launch its token sale next week. The sale will be open to accredited investors who have qualified through the whitelist and will start on Tuesday, October 15. To be eligible, investors must have a net worth of at least $1 million, or an annual income of at least $200,000, according to the SEC.
The project, which is built on the Ethereum blockchain, aims to provide borrowing and lending crypto services. World Liberty Financial has stated that it hopes to eventually be open to all Americans, but for now, it is only available to accredited investors in the US. The project's team has said that it aims to become the "one-stop-shop for DeFi across the globe," and has unveiled plans to offer a range of services, including borrowing and lending, on the Ethereum blockchain network.
Donald Trump, who has been a vocal supporter of the crypto industry, has said that World Liberty Financial will "help make America the crypto capital of the world." The project's launch comes as Trump has shifted his stance on cryptocurrencies, having previously expressed skepticism about the industry. However, he has since become a proponent of crypto and has even launched his own NFT collectibles.
In Other Web3 & Metaverse News…
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