This MIT Chatbot Simulates Your ‘Future Self’

Apple Inc. is anticipated to integrate OpenAI’s ChatGPT into iOS 18 as an opt-in feature, per Bloomberg. The subsequent major iOS release is ready to debut on the WWDC developer event on Monday. Alongside ChatGPT, the update guarantees a bunch of AI enhancements within the search bar, emoji library, and built-in apps.

Before selecting ChatGPT, Apple reportedly flirted with Google LLC’s Gemini chatbot but ultimately selected OpenAI for its more favorable terms and superior language models. The precise OpenAI model for iOS 18 stays a mystery, though it’d feature the next-gen LLM if ready by September.

Along with ChatGPT, iOS 18 is anticipated to supply latest machine learning features, including the power to create emojis and slideshows via natural language, access AI-generated Apple Music playlists, and use the search bar for app tasks. These features are anticipated to be available on an opt-in basis.

The CRISPR-Cas gene editing saga unfolds with CRISPR 2.0, a kinder, gentler iteration poised to revolutionize genetic tinkering. Unlike its clunkier predecessor, CRISPR 2.0 wields surgical precision, sparing DNA the scars of double-strand breaks and opening doors to a broader array of gene therapy applications. Recent developments include base editors and prime editors, offering more targeted approaches to gene editing by nicking one DNA strand as a substitute of causing breaks.

The success of CRISPR-based therapies like Casgevy for sickle cell disease highlights the immense potential of those systems. CRISPR Therapeutics is pioneering the event of allogeneic CAR T-cell therapies and in vivo CRISPR-Cas9 treatments for various diseases, with promising ends in clinical trials. Moreover, CRISPR QC and Metagenomi are revolutionizing CRISPR quality control and expanding the CRISPR toolbox, respectively, to optimize gene editing efficiency and safety. Read more.

Kuaishou, a Chinese tech giant, introduced KLING, a brand new AI model for video generation. KLING sets its sights on becoming a rival to OpenAI’s Sora, boasting the power to create videos as much as two minutes long in 1080p resolution at 30 frames per second. KLING can reportedly model complex motion sequences with physical accuracy due to a 3D space-time attention system, potentially surpassing OpenAI’s “world simulator” approach.

KLING goes beyond just physically accurate motions. It employs a “diffusion transformer” to mix concepts and generate entirely fictional scenes, like a cat driving a automobile, that weren’t a part of its training data. Currently available as a public demo in China, KLING positions Kuaishou as a robust contender within the race for large-scale generative AI models. Read more.

Watch KLING’s AI-generated video here:

Stability AI expands its generative audio repertoire with Stable Audio Open, a freely available, open-source model catering to short-form audio needs. Unlike its commercially-driven sibling, Stable Audio 2 which focuses on full-length songs, Stable Audio Open adopts a more granular approach, specializing in audio snippets capped at 47 seconds.

Designed for sound designers, musicians, and artistic professionals, the model is trained to provide drum beats, instrument riffs, ambient sounds, foley recordings, and more for music production and sound design purposes. Utilizing audio data from FreeSound and the Free Music Archive during training, Stability AI emphasizes responsible development and protection of creators’ rights.

MIT Media Lab takes a futuristic spin on self-help with the “Future You” project. This initiative leverages AI-powered simulations, including personalized chatbots and AI-rendered avatars, to introduce users to their potential selves at age 60, aiming to foster long-term considering and behavior change. Participants engage with AI-powered simulations, which include personalized chatbots and AI-generated images, to explore their future experiences, memories, and insights.

Unlike traditional therapy-focused chatbots, this project targets future-self continuity, a psychological construct linked to reduced anxiety and improved decision-making. Through web-based accessibility and personalized interactions, participants report heightened emotional connections and decreased anxiety post-conversation. While promising, the study’s scalability and long-term impact remain areas for further exploration. Read more.