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ANTHROPIC UPGRADES SONNET AND RELEASES HAIKU 3.5

STABLE DIFFUSION 3.5

Stability AI has released a new series of models with improved performance and speed. They have Diffusers support with training out of the gate.

AUTOMATICALLY INTERPRETING MILLIONS OF FEATURES IN LARGE LANGUAGE MODELS

Interpreting SAE features is challenging at scale. Eleuther has released a set of auto interpreter features to figure out what things mean in context.

CAMERA CONTROL IN TEXT-TO-VIDEO DIFFUSION MODELS

3D FACE GEOMETRY FROM A SINGLE IMAGE

This paper introduces a new method for estimating face texture and geometry from a single image using StyleGAN and 3D Morphable Models.

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FAST AND ACCURATE SPEECH TO TEXT

Gold standard release of a powerful edge automatic speech recognition system.

PHONE APP TO RUN LANGUAGE MODELS

Pocket Pal is one of the better ways to run language models on mobile devices. The code has recently been released as open source.

REDUCING OBJECT HALLUCINATION IN LARGE VISION LANGUAGE MODELS

Object hallucination in vision-language models is linked to Rotary Position Encoding (RoPE), which struggles with long-term dependencies between visual and text inputs. To address this, these authors propose Concentric Causal Attention (CCA), a new positional alignment strategy that improves the interaction between visual and instruction tokens.

THE SECOND $100B AI COMPANY

This article predicts that by 2034, new AI companies driven by advancements in AI applications, especially in consumer AI, will join OpenAI in surpassing a $100B market cap. Despite the current dominance of established tech giants in the AI infrastructure and model layers, the application layer remains ripe for innovation and growth, presenting opportunities for consumer AI to thrive. The potential for large-scale success in consumer AI, particularly in areas like video creation, online shopping, and gaming, mirrors previous tech revolutions in cloud and mobile sectors.

INTRODUCING THE PROMPT() FUNCTION: USE THE POWER OF LLMS WITH SQL!

The costs of running LLMs have significantly decreased, enabling the practical integration of small models like gpt-4o-mini into SQL functions. MotherDuck's PROMPT() function allows for streamlined text generation, summarization, and structured data extraction using OpenAI models. It offers flexibility in cost and performance and supports bulk operations with enhanced concurrency for efficient processing.

USE PROLOG TO IMPROVE LLM'S REASONING

Current techniques like CoT and incorporating programming languages like Prolog can enhance LLM reasoning capabilities, addressing the limitations of autoregressive models. The "Reliable Reasoning Beyond Natural Language" paper introduces a neurosymbolic method that uses Prolog to convert requests into symbolic logic, improving explainability and problem-solving. ProSLM has demonstrated significant improvements on datasets, showing promising results for integrating Prolog with LLMs in complex reasoning tasks.

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ANTHROPIC COMPUTER USE EXAMPLE

A quick example of Claude Sonnet's 3.5 new computer use capabilities.

CHATGPT HAS A WINDOWS APP NOW

OpenAI is testing a ChatGPT app for Windows.

ADOBE'S NEW IMAGE ROTATION TOOL IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPRESSIVE AI CONCEPTS WE'VE SEEN

Adobe's Project Turntable uses AI to rotate 2D vector art in 3D, maintaining its 2D appearance and design integrity from any angle.

PERPLEXITY LETS YOU SEARCH YOUR INTERNAL ENTERPRISE FILES AND THE WEB

Perplexity's new Internal Knowledge Search allows users to search both the web and their uploaded internal files in one platform, enhancing enterprise productivity.

GARY GENSLER'S CONTENTIOUS REIGN OVER CRYPTO APPROACHES ITS TWILIGHT

SEC Chair Gary Gensler's controversial oversight of the crypto industry is nearly over. He will likely depart following the 2024 presidential election, though he could technically remain as commissioner until 2026. His tenure has been marked by aggressive enforcement actions, including a House-passed bill for digital asset regulations, and resistance to crypto-specific rulemaking leading to court battles and congressional pushback. Gensler's remaining agenda includes potentially finalizing crypto exchange and custody rules. His successor's approach will likely depend on the election outcome.

SEC LISTS CRYPTO AS AN EXAMINATION PRIORITY IN 2025

The SEC's Division of Examinations will prioritize crypto, including Bitcoin and Ether ETFs, in 2025 because of the need to monitor the volatility and tech risks of the market. Despite potential leadership changes, the SEC plans to continue examining crypto-related activities to ensure investor protection and regulatory compliance.

CHAINLINK ANNOUNCES PRIVATE TRANSACTIONS

Chainlink has introduced CCIP Private Transactions, allowing financial institutions to securely connect private blockchains to the multi-chain economy while maintaining data privacy. Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ANZ) will pilot this capability for cross-chain settlement of tokenized real-world assets under Singapore's Project Guardian to demonstrate the potential for end-to-end privacy between blockchain networks.

WORLD'S FIRST ZK-BACKED DIGITAL IDENTITY LAUNCHED IN BUENOS AIRES FOR 3.6M ELIGIBLE CITIZENS

Buenos Aires has launched the world's first ZK-backed digital identity, successfully granting 3.6M citizens access to government services and the ability to verify credentials without exposing personal data, thanks to blockchain and zero-knowledge(zk) cryptography. By integrating QuarkID into the miBA platform, a digital platform for accessing government docs, residents now gain self-sovereign control over their digital identities, with the government no longer having visibility into how or when these identities are used.

AS STABLECOINS GAIN TRACTION, WHAT'S NEXT FOR CRYPTO'S 'KILLER USE CASE?'

Stablecoins have become a dominant use case in crypto ($177B market cap and ~$5.1T in transactions in H1 24), rivaling traditional payment systems like Visa. They offer investment opportunities through public companies, potential competition with money market accounts, and may drive the growth of blockchain networks like Ethereum.

HOW BLOCKCHAIN CAN HELP FIGHT FAKE AI

Blockchain-based identity platforms like Civic and Worldcoin are potential solutions for verifying human authenticity online. These systems combine biometrics, zero-knowledge proofs, and other cryptographic methods to prevent Sybil attacks in token airdrops and facilitate proof of humanity. While privacy concerns around biometric collection remain prevalent, client-side storage and consent-based access address these issues.

BRIDGE INVESTMENT MEMO

This investment memo from March 2022 describes Bridge, a stablecoin API platform, as a “crypto native American Express” that enables users to transact across any chain while settling in their preferred currency. It acknowledges the team's exceptional background and the massive potential market opportunity, though it notes the immediate need for payment intermediaries in crypto remains uncertain.

SKY MULLS CHANGES TO BRAND IDENTITY, POTENTIAL RETURN TO MAKERDAO

Sky, formerly known as MakerDAO, is considering a return to its old branding after a token migration in September. Founder Rune Christensen presented three options for the protocol: stay as Sky, return to the original Maker vision, or rebrand to Maker but make small changes to the new USDS stablecoin and foster better subDAO alignment. Though there are concerns about SKY's utility, the USDS stablecoin has achieved over 1 billion in total supply and integrations with DeFi protocols like Aave.

BITCOIN SELF-CUSTODY

Bitcoin self-custody is essential for individual security and the longer-term health of the network.

WARRIORS ANNOUNCE PARTNERSHIP WITH COINBASE

The NBA's Golden State Warriors have announced a partnership with Coinbase to become its official cryptocurrency platform and blockchain partner.

DAY 0 FOR LAVA NETWORK

Lava, a decentralized RPC provider, has turned on its revenue switch for network contributors and LAVA stakers.

THE BENEFIT OF STATELESS CLIENTS

Stateless clients can validate blockchains without knowing the state.

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SPOTIFY NOW LETS YOU CREATE CUSTOM COVER ART FOR YOUR PLAYLISTS

Spotify is launching a feature that lets users design and customize playlist covers directly in the app. Users can start with a blank canvas or upload a photo, then modify it with text, colors, effects, gradients, and stickers. Each playlist can have one custom cover - the previous one is replaced unless saved separately. This feature enhances Spotify's personalization options, making it more competitive with Apple Music and YouTube Music.

CANVA HAS A SHINY NEW TEXT-TO-IMAGE GENERATOR

Canva has added new AI features, including enhanced text and video effects and a more robust text-to-image tool called “Dream Lab” based on the Phoenix model from its Leonardo.ai acquisition. The platform also improved its “Magic” AI tools for better text generation, AI-powered whiteboard summaries, and upgraded video editing with automatic captions and new effects.

KEVIN BACON, KATE MCKINNON, AND OTHER CREATIVES WARN OF ‘UNJUST' AI THREAT

Thousands of creatives, including celebrities like Kevin Bacon and Kate McKinnon, have signed a statement warning against the unauthorized use of copyrighted materials to train AI models, which could harm creators' livelihoods. Led by Fairly Trained, the movement criticizes AI companies for spending money on data and compute while expecting free access to creative works.

NOTE TO NEW DESIGN MANAGERS

Transitioning to design management requires mastering time management, decision-making, communication, and team leadership. Prioritize tasks, reject unnecessary meetings, and maintain clear, concise communication, preferably in writing. In-person discussions with stakeholders ensure better alignment.

A PERSONAL STORY ON DESIGNERS VS DECIDERS

Scott Berkun, who joined Microsoft in 1994 as a usability researcher for Internet Explorer 1.0, shares his experience at the company, highlighting the disconnect between design expectations and reality. Decisions at Microsoft are often made by leads and executives, not just designers. In this post, Berkun emphasizes the importance of influence in making good design decisions and offers insights from 30 years of experience to help designers reframe their frustrations.

IPHONE ROADMAP IS ‘MOST AMBITIOUS IN THE PRODUCT'S HISTORY,' PER JOHN TERNUS

Apple's hardware chief John Ternus called the upcoming iPhone models the "most ambitious" in the product's history in an internal memo. The iPhone 17 Air, expected next year, may feature a major redesign, while a foldable iPhone is planned for release in 2026 or beyond.

MOTIONITY

Create animated videos for free with Motionity, an open-source motion graphics editor with keyframing, masking, filters, text animations, and more.

REVIEW YOUR AD CREATIVES WITH AI

Get instant AI-powered ad feedback to improve your ad creatives and achieve peak campaign performance.

THE BEST FREE BOOKS FOR DESIGNERS

This free ebook collection covers icon design, design systems, prototyping, collaboration, and more.

THE ART OF DASHBOARD UI DESIGN: EMPOWERING ORGANISATIONS WITH ACTIONABLE INSIGHTS

Dashboards are powerful tools for visualizing complex data and transforming it into actionable insights. Effective dashboards require careful design tailored to user roles and needs. They use appropriate visualizations, prioritize clarity, and are refined through user feedback while ensuring data accuracy and ethical presentation to maintain trust.

HOW ALPHABET SHAPES BRANDS WITH TRUST, COLLABORATION, AND A 'SAUL BASS ETHOS'

Alphabet, a Manchester-based branding agency founded in 2016, follows an ideas-driven approach inspired by Saul Bass' ethos of "design is thinking made visual." The agency's culture emphasizes trust, open communication, and adaptability. It works across diverse industries while advising new creative agencies to prioritize minimal expenses, building a client base, and delivering quality work.

BRINGING BRANDS TO LIFE: HOW MOTION DESIGN TELLS A STORY

Studio Aya, founded by Ryūtarō Mihara in 2010, uses motion design to craft engaging brand experiences. Inspired by childhood curiosity, its unique approach blends creativity with technical expertise, capturing brand essence through movement. Its recent rebranding emphasizes energy and dynamism, underscoring its dedication to storytelling beyond static logos.

DEMYSTIFYING "CRAFT"

“Craft” in design is the careful attention to detail that creates intuitive, seamless products through collaboration and a balance of aesthetics and functionality.

SOME ADOBE MAX ATTENDEES ARE GETTING TIRED OF THE RELENTLESS FOCUS ON AI

Adobe Max 2024 focused heavily on generative AI, particularly Firefly, leaving some designers disappointed by the lack of creative inspiration.

INTERACTIVE POST ON OKLCH COLOR SPACE

The OKlch color space improves digital color representation by accounting for human perception of lightness, chroma, and hue.

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