Microsoft invests $1.5 Bn in UAE’s Top AI firm G42

Here is the top trending news from the world of technology. News that every tech enthusiast should keep a tab on.

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Microsoft invests $1.5 Bn in UAE’s Top AI firm G42

Tech giant Microsoft is investing $1.5 Bn in UAE’s top artificial intelligence firm G42. This deal would allow Microsoft to take minority stake in the company and also a seat in company’s board. This deal will also give Microsoft access to UAE’s highly lucrative AI market at the expense of China, which has been reportedly trying to strike several commercial deals with G42 and penetrate UAE’s AI market. Hence this deal will help US in gain edge over China in AI race. Founded in 2018 in Abu Dhabi, G42 offers AI solutions across various industries including government, healthcare, finance, and more. Over the years, it has emerged as UAE’s most sought-after AI firm.

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Amazon Music joins Spotify, launches generative AI-powered playlist feature

Amazon Music is joining the bandwagon of AI-powered playlists by launching a new feature called Maestro. Maestro uses generative AI to create playlists based on your prompts. Tell it what kind of mood you’re in, what activity you’re doing, or even describe the vibe with emojis, and Maestro will curate a playlist to match. Currently, Maestro is in beta testing and only available to a select group of Amazon Music users in the US with iOS or Android devices. While limited now, Amazon plans to make Maestro available to more users in the future. Amazon Music’s competitor Spotify had already launched AI-powered playlist feature earlier this year.

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Boston Dynamics retires its Iconic Humanoid Robot ‘Atlas’   

Boston Dynamics, the renowned American robotics company, announced the retirement of its iconic humanoid robot, Atlas. This news came as a surprise to many, considering the continued interest in bipedal robots and the constant advancements Atlas showcased in recent years. Atlas made its debut in 2013 and quickly became a star with its impressive displays of agility, balance, and strength. Many of its view on YouTube have garnered millions of views. After retiring Atlas, Boston Dynamics is likely to invest in new robotic technologies. The company has been increasingly focused on commercializing its technologies in recent years. While Atlas may be retired, it undoubtedly leaves a legacy as a pioneer in humanoid robotics.

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World’s first ‘Miss AI’ pageant kicks off    

In a interesting development, the world’s first ever “Miss AI” pageant is currently underway, making headlines for its unique approach to beauty contests. This pageant features only AI-generated models and influencers competing for the title of “Miss AI” and a share of a $20,000 prize pool. The participants will be judged on the basis of visual beauty, technical skill and social media clout. The winner will be determined based largely on social media following and audience engagement. The winner is expected to be announced on May 10th, 2024. An online awards ceremony will follow later in the month. Over all, it will be interesting to see whether this AI pageant contest succeed in garnering public interest.

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Ad Blockers Beware! YouTube Cracks Down on Third-Party Apps Too

YouTube, which heavily relies on advertising revenue, has decided to expand its crackdown on ad blockers. Previously, YouTube focused only on ad blockers within web browsers. Now, it will also go after third-party mobile apps that bypass YouTube’s ads entirely. If you use a third-party app to watch YouTube ad-free, you might experience disruptions like buffering or error messages preventing you from watching videos. YouTube claims this is necessary to protect their platform, creators who rely on ad revenue, and viewers from potentially malicious apps. However, if you still don’t want to see ads then the only alternative is to opt for YouTube Premium subscription that offers ad free experience.