⚙️Llama Takeover

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July 19, 2023

Good morning. Just as Messi is making waves with his move to Inter Miami, we're here to shake up your day with the latest in AI. From Meta and Microsoft's game-changing Llama 2 to TikTok's quirky AI-powered headshots, it's a whirlwind of innovation. So, grab your coffee and let's dive into this month's AI highlights, which are as thrilling as a Messi goal in the 90th minute!

In today’s newsletter:

  • 🤝 Meta and Microsoft's Llama 2: AI Revolution Open to All

  • 🤳 TikTok Trend: AI-Enhanced Professional Headshots

  • 📈 Microsoft Stock Skyrockets: AI-Boosted Office Subscription

  • 💰 Cognaize Raises $18M: Fusion of AI and Human in Finance

  • 🔨 Hammerspace Bags $56M: Managing Unstructured Data Chaos

  • 🔍 Tractable Gains $65M: AI Appraisals Move Forward

 NEWS

Meta and Microsoft's Llama 2: The AI Revolution Just Got Real

Midjourney

Meta and Microsoft have pulled the wraps off Llama 2, the latest iteration of their open-source language model. This isn't just a step forward, it's a giant leap for the way we communicate, create, and do business, and the best part is that they're making it open-source, putting the power of AI in everyone's hands.

This is the latest chapter in the Meta-Microsoft bromance, a partnership that's been delivering the goods for years. Their mission is to make AI as accessible as possible, and they're sticking to it. They've seen the magic that happens when you open up AI development, and they're all in for more.

But the Llama 2 story isn't just about Meta and Microsoft. Other players in the arena, like Hugging Face, could potentially jump on the Llama 2 bandwagon to create new AI-powered experiences. But as for what Hugging Face has up its sleeve, your guess is as good as ours.

Of course, with great AI power comes great responsibility. Meta and Microsoft are well aware of the risks and have made it their business to ensure Llama 2 is used responsibly. They're not just building AI; they're building a community, inviting feedback from users, researchers, and developers worldwide to make Llama 2 the best it can be.

The Llama 2 era is here, and it looks pretty promising.

NEWS

TikTok's Latest Craze: AI-Powered Headshots with a Surreal Twist

Midjourney

In the fast-moving world of TikTok, a new trend is stealing the spotlight: say hello to Remini, an app that's turning everyday selfies into professional-grade headshots with a dash of AI wizardry.

The trend is as easy as pie and just as sweet; users simply download the Remini app, upload a few well-lit selfies, and let the AI do its thing. The results are a set of professional-looking headshots, complete with business attire. It's a fun mix of tech and creativity, with results that range from impressively accurate to hilariously offbeat. Remini often has trouble generating hands, a common problem that’s been faced by plenty of AI-image generators like Midjourney and Stable Diffusion.

@katiefeeneyy

This AI stuff is freaking me out😦

This trend isn't just about showing off the power of AI and is instead a celebration of the TikTok community's spirit of experimentation. Users are sharing their AI-crafted headshots, revealing a wide array of amusing outcomes with some even considering ditching professional photographers and committing to the AI-generated results. It's a novel way to play around with your digital persona, even if the AI occasionally gifts you an extra thumb or a hand that looks like it escaped from a Picasso masterpiece.

As for the future of professional headshot photographers, they can breathe easy… well at least for now. To all the photographers out there, your jobs are safe. That is, until the AI starts nailing the hand-on-chin pose… then you’ll have to pack your bags and call it a day.

📈 Microsoft Stock Soars on AI-Enhanced Office Subscription Launch

Microsoft shares reached a record high following the announcement of its new Microsoft 365 artificial intelligence subscription service, Copilot. The service, which integrates AI into popular Office products like Word, Excel, and Teams, will cost an additional $30 per month, potentially increasing enterprise customer monthly prices by up to 83%. Copilot, currently being tested by 600 customers including Goodyear and General Motors, can design presentations, offer writing prompts, summarize meetings, and rank incoming emails, demonstrating Microsoft's ongoing commitment to enhancing its Office suite with AI capabilities. (link)

💰 Cognaize Secures $18M to Revolutionize Finance with AI and Humans

Cognaize, a New York-based startup, has raised $18 million to enhance its platform that processes unstructured data for financial AI applications, while also incorporating human input for refinement. The company's services, which have already been adopted by major credit ratings agencies and financial services businesses, aim to tap into the vast amount of unstructured data in the finance industry. The funding will be used for hiring, research, product development, and business expansion. (link)

🔨 Hammerspace Raises $56M to Tame Unstructured Data Chaos

Hammerspace, a startup specializing in managing unstructured data, has secured $56 million in its first institutional funding round led by Prosperity7 Ventures. The company's technology allows organizations to access and manage large amounts of data, regardless of where it resides, making it available when needed and out of the way when not. With customers including Blue Origin, the National Science Foundation, and Royal Caribbean Group, Hammerspace plans to expand its business further. (link)

🔍 Tractable Secures $65M from SoftBank for AI-Driven Appraisals

Tractable, a startup using artificial intelligence for remote assessments of property and car damage, has raised $65 million in a funding round led by SoftBank Vision Fund 2. The company's platform, which processes approximately $7 billion in claims annually, partners with insurance giants like Aviva, Geico, and Admiral. The new funding will be used to expand Tractable's services from insurance assessments into repairs, maintenance, and sales, and to explore new use cases for its AI technology. (link)

  • Cerelyze: Implement research papers 100x faster (link)

  • Blaze: Unlock new growth channels with social (link)

  • Chorus: Capture and analyze customer calls, meetings, and emails (link)

  • Bitfrost: Automatically turn Figma designs into clean React code (link)

  • Audiopen: Go from fuzzy thought to clear text (link)

  • AI Anywhere: Use ChatGPT anywhere without copy-pasting (link)

A database of all the best AI tools mentioned in our newsletter is coming soon!

Have cool resources or tools to share? Submit a tool, reach us by replying to this email, or DMing us on Twitter.

Prompt: knolling of a a race car driver --ar 16:9 --q 2 --s 750

Prompt: an extreme closeup shot of sushi rolls, food photography, cozy atmosphere, evening, interior shot --ar 16:9 --q 2 --s 750

That's a wrap for now!

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We appreciate your continued support, and we'll catch you in the next edition.