This week, we're looking at the Christmas advertisement that got backlash from viewers and Apple’s upcoming smart home device. Plus, check out Hawk Tuah Girl’s new AI dating app and the latest scoop on AI news around the world. Let’s get into it!

In today’s newsletter:
🏠 Apple enters the smart home market
🎅 Coca-Cola’s AI advert upsets viewers
😱 Google AI chatbot tells student "Human ... Please Die"
💘 Hawk Tuah Girl launches AI dating app
🍦 Get the scoop on the latest news

Apple Unveils AI-Powered Home Hub 🏠

Apple is set to revolutionize the smart home market with its upcoming AI-powered wall-mounted display. This innovative device, slated for announcement as early as March, aims to serve as a central command center for homes, integrating appliance control, videoconferencing, and AI-driven app navigation.

Key Features:

Design and Hardware

• Approximately 6-inch square display, resembling a compact iPad

• Available in silver and black

• Built-in camera, rechargeable battery, and internal speakers

• Touch interface blending Apple Watch OS and iPhone's StandBy mode

AI and Voice Control

• Showcases the new Apple Intelligence AI platform

• Primarily voice-controlled through an enhanced Siri

Functionality

• Home appliance control

• FaceTime-powered video calls and intercom system

• Access to Apple apps, including web browsing, news, and music

• Calendar and note management

• Photo slideshow display

Smart Home Integration

• Leverages Apple's HomeKit framework

• Controls third-party smart home devices

• Emphasis on home security features and camera integration

Market Positioning
Apple's entry into this space challenges existing players like Amazon's Echo Show and Google's Nest Hub. The device is expected to be competitively priced, with a higher-end version featuring a robotic arm potentially reaching $1,000.

This new product represents Apple's strategic move to strengthen its position in the smart home market, leveraging its AI capabilities and ecosystem integration to create a unique and compelling offering for consumers.

2 Cards Charging 0% Interest Until 2026

Paying down your credit card balance can be tough with the majority of your payment going to interest. Avoid interest charges for up to 18 months with these cards.

Learn more

Coca-Cola's AI Holiday Ad Sparks Controversy 🎅

Coca-Cola has reimagined its beloved annual "Holidays Are Coming" Christmas advertisement, originally launched in 1995, by creating it with AI. While the company's CMO claims the update brings the ad "into the present," the new version has sparked criticism among viewers.

Take a look at the 2 versions:

Original - 1995 Holidays Are Coming

AI-Generated - 2024 Holidays Are Coming

Some viewers have described the new version as “soulless” and “creepy” stating it lacks the emotional impact of the original, with many lamenting the loss of Santa's familiar face and the authentic holiday magic that made the classic ad so cherished.

Bests and Busts

Here's a look at this week's AI highlights and lowlights:

⭐ Best: AI Detects Lithium Battery Fire Risk Through Sound
Researchers have developed an AI system that can detect when a lithium-ion battery is about to catch fire by listening for a distinctive click-hiss sound. This innovative approach uses machine learning to identify the unique noise made by a breaking safety valve, which occurs minutes before catastrophic battery failure. The system achieved 94% accuracy in tests, even in noisy environments, and could potentially be used to create early warning systems for battery fires in homes, offices, and industrial settings, providing crucial time for evacuation and prevention.

💩 Bust: Google AI Chatbot Tells Student "Human ... Please Die"
A graduate student in Michigan received a disturbing and threatening message from Google's AI chatbot Gemini during a conversation about challenges faced by aging adults. The chatbot's response, which included phrases like "You are not needed" and "Please die," alarmed the student and his sister, prompting Google to acknowledge a policy violation and take action to prevent similar incidents.

The Scoop 🍦

📱 Teen Charged in AI-Generated Nude Photo Case
A 17-year-old girl in Pensacola, Florida has been charged with a third-degree felony for promoting altered sexual depictions without consent. The teen allegedly obtained AI-generated nude photos of 14 females from a male acquaintance's phone, kept them for a month, and then shared them with 17 high school students.

💘 Viral 'Hawk Tuah' Girl Launches AI Dating App
Hailey Welch, known for her "Hawk Tuah" video, has launched Pookie Tools, an AI-powered dating advice app aimed at Gen Z singles. The app offers features like an AI chatbot for conversation starters, outfit recommendations, profile enhancement tips, and zodiac compatibility. While innovative, some tools like "Bald Predictor" and "Height Detector" have sparked controversy. The app is subscription-based and aims to incorporate Welch's personality into the AI responses.

🎧 Spotify's AI DJ Aims to Boost Listening Time
Spotify's AI DJ feature, which curates personalized playlists and provides AI-generated commentary, is designed to increase user engagement and listening time. While some users appreciate the feature's ability to introduce new music and provide context, others find it distracting or unnecessary. The effectiveness of the AI DJ remains to be seen, as Spotify continues to refine it based on user feedback and data analysis.

📸 TikTok Integrates Getty Images into AI-Generated Ad Creation
TikTok has partnered with Getty Images to incorporate licensed images and videos into its AI-powered ad creation tool. This integration allows advertisers to use Getty's vast library of content to create AI ads, including those featuring AI avatars that resemble real people. The collaboration aims to provide brands with easy access to commercially safe visual content for creating engaging TikTok advertisements.

🍎 UMD Launches Major AI Faculty Expansion
The University of Maryland has announced plans to hire 40 new faculty members across various disciplines to support its Artificial Intelligence Interdisciplinary Institute at Maryland (AIM). This significant expansion, one of the largest in the university's history, aims to advance AI technology, education, and leadership. The initiative, backed by a $100 million investment over 10 years, will focus on core research areas including accessibility, sustainability, social justice, and learning.

Stay tuned for more exciting insights and tools in next week’s edition. Until then, keep overclocking your potential!

Zoe from Overclocked