MiniMax is the newest Sora challenger from China

In only 122 days, Elon Musk’s xAI team successfully brought the Colossus 100k H100 training cluster online. This method, powered by 100,000 Nvidia H100 GPUs, now holds the title of the world’s strongest AI training setup. The rapid deployment and immense scale of Colossus have established a brand new industry benchmark.

The project was a collaborative effort with Nvidia, Dell, and other major tech partners, with Dell CEO Michael Dell expressing pride in his company’s contribution. Expansion plans are already in place so as to add 50,000 H200 GPUs, promising enhanced performance and energy efficiency. This advancement positions xAI to speed up AI model development across various applications, including autonomous vehicles and robotics.

1X Robotics, in collaboration with OpenAI, has introduced the Neo Beta, a humanoid robot featuring advanced movement and agility. The robot integrates bioinspired actuators, enabling fluid and human-like motion, ideal for delicate tasks.

Equipped with a complicated vision system, Neo beta can interact with its environment in real time, enhancing situational awareness. Safety is prioritized with a soft exterior, ensuring gentle interactions, particularly in elderly care. The robot’s adaptive learning through machine learning algorithms allows it to enhance its locomotion and adjust to varied environments.

Neo beta’s tendon-driven force control system supports precise manipulation and significant strength, making it suitable for tasks involving lifting. Neo beta is poised to be a priceless long-term assistant in homes and healthcare facilities. Read more.

Chinese AI startup MiniMax has rolled out Video-01, an AI model that turns text prompts into high-resolution videos. Video-01 creates clips at 1,280 x 720 pixels and 25 frames per second, though they’re capped at a transient six seconds—soon to be prolonged to 10. The videos, still unmistakably AI-crafted with a touch of oversaturation, offer styles starting from anime to CGI.

Free access is accessible on MiniMax’s website with mobile registration, and developers can tap into an API. Despite limited details on its inner workings, Video-01 has sparked interest, especially after MiniMax secured $600 million in funding, drawing backing from giants like Alibaba and Tencent. Read more.