Search the archive

MMLU PRO

MMLU is a common benchmark for reasoning tasks. It is often considered to be both the gold standard and something models have overfit. MMLU Pro is a new, harder, and cleaner benchmark for measuring language model reasoning.

TREE DIFFUSION: DIFFUSION MODELS FOR CODE

Fantastic diffusion paper that diffuses code for images. It can directly make edits as part of the diffusion process. It is slow, but can be combined easily with search to dramatically improve reasoning ability.

JAILBREAKING OF LARGE LANGUAGE MODELS

Researchers have introduced improved methods for optimization-based jailbreaking of large language models, building on the Greedy Coordinate Gradient (GCG) attack.

more relevant and accurate. READ THE BLOG NOW.

OMOST IMAGE SYNTHESIS

From the creator of ControlNet, Omost is a way to gain control over your image generation. It first rewrites prompts as a set of descriptive code. Then it uses that to render the final image. Importantly, you can edit the code before or after generation to slightly change the model output.

IMPROVED VIDEO SUPER RESOLUTION

Researchers have developed a training-free video interpolation method for generative video diffusion models. This new approach, compatible with various models, enhances frame rates without the need for extensive training or large datasets.

IMAGE COMPRESSION

Control-GIC is a new framework for generative image compression that allows fine-grained bitrate adjustment while maintaining high-quality results.

LLM INFERENCE SPEED OF LIGHT

Using theoretical speed of light modeling as grounding is really important for problems where the amount of computation and memory access is known a priori as it helps validate the quality of implementations and predict the impact of architectural changes.

PLENTIFUL, HIGH-PAYING JOBS IN THE AGE OF AI

It's possible that many of the jobs that humans do today will continue to be done by humans indefinitely, no matter how much better AIs are at those jobs, due to comparative advantage.

WHAT I LEARNED FROM LOOKING AT 900 MOST POPULAR OPEN SOURCE AI TOOLS

This review of open source AI repositories aims to give readers a big-picture view of the seemingly overwhelming AI ecosystem.

FACIA (PRODUCT)

Prevent fraud and spoofing attacks with advanced facial recognition technology.

EVEN THE RASPBERRY PI IS GETTING IN ON AI

Raspberry Pi is launching an AI chip integrated with its camera software that will allow AI applications like chatbots to run natively on the microcomputer.

USING AI TO DECODE DOC VOCALIZATIONS

University of Michigan researchers, in collaboration with Mexico's INAOE, have developed AI tools that analyze dog barks to determine playfulness or aggression, as well as identify the dog's breed, age, and sex.

TETHER CONCERNED ABOUT MICA REQUIREMENTS

Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino is concerned about the EU's MiCA regulation for stablecoins. He asserts that the new requirements complicate stablecoin operations and increase their vulnerability and risk. In other news, Binance has announced plans to restrict "unauthorized" stablecoins in Europe to comply with MiCA, potentially affecting other exchanges and the accessibility of stablecoins like USDT.

APTOS FOUNDER MO SHAIKH APPOINTED BY CFTC TO JOIN DIGITAL ASSETS SUBCOMMITTEE

The US Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has added Aptos founder Mo Shaikh to its Digital Assets Subcommittee. The subcommittee offers advice on regulating digital assets and comprises members from crypto-familiar companies like Blackrock, Uniswap, and Polygon.

STARKNET ON BITCOIN: SCALING BITCOIN FOR MASS USE

GAUNTLET X NEAR

Gauntlet has partnered with the NEAR Foundation to create a new governance framework and grow NEAR Protocol's ecosystem. The new structure will include stake-weighted voting, more efficient funding stream management, and grant analysis to optimize governance initiatives. The ecosystem growth framework will primarily analyze the flywheel effect and how to incentivize new users to NEAR, focusing on evaluating liquidity mining programs.

EIGENLAYER DEEP DIVE

EigenLayer introduces innovative blockchain solutions, including the EIGEN token, which tackles intersubjectively attributable faults, allowing for expanded security measures beyond traditional cryptographic proofs. By utilizing restaking mechanisms, EigenLayer enables staked ETH to support additional services while safeguarding network integrity with a unique token forking system, effectively separating staking and non-staking activities to mitigate risk and enhance application development.

ELECTRIC CAPITAL: 2024 CRYPTO INSIGHTS

Electric Capital's Annual Developer Report reveals trends around the increase in multichain development, the U.S. losing developer share, and the growth of new chains like Base and Bitcoin L2s. Infrastructure improvement has enabled the rise of social applications, which are in an experimental stage reminiscent of social media in 2003. NFTs are becoming multichain and are expected to serve as the foundation for various digital assets in the future.

CONSENSUS 2024 TAKEAWAYS

The biggest crypto conference of the year did not have many new themes, instead reinforcing growing narratives. Traditional finance institutions were very present and the future of regulation was the most discussed topic. Bitcoin's growing Runes and L2 ecosystem was given as much attention as any other ecosystem, even more than SOL memecoins. People are becoming skeptical about the AI x crypto narrative, though DePIN is becoming more legitimized.

WHERE DID $10B IN CRYPTO GAMING VC MONEY GO?

Immutable received nearly $1 billion in funding to build an ecosystem with over 200 games, while Sorare received almost $750 million for crypto fantasy games and now has over 3 million users. Smaller studios have abandoned projects after raising over a billion dollars cumulatively. Other games are targeting specific niches, like Parallel's focus on AI, Off The Grid's console experience, or Mythical Games' Pudgy Penguin mobile app.

IOTA EVM LAUNCH

IOTA has launched its EVM Mainnet, marking a significant development for the network by introducing a fully EVM-compatible Layer 2 solution that promises enhanced scalability through parallel transaction processing, seamless deployment of Solidity smart contracts, and increased fairness with MEV resistance.

THOUGHTS ON FANTASYTOP CRASH

The decline in activity on FantasyTop was expected as it initially appealed to "novelty-seeking" users.

FHENIX: BUILDING A CONFIDENTIAL FUTURE FOR ETHEREUM

Fully homomorphic encryption (FHE) allows computations on encrypted data, allowing for private execution.

$REZ STAKING ANALYSIS & THOUGHTS ON FUTURE INCENTIVE ALIGNMENT

Liquid restaking protocol Renzo has launched staking for its REZ token.

FIGMA DRAFTS ARE CHANGING — HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Figma is updating its drafts system, requiring users on Starter and Professional plans to move their drafts into team spaces for better organization and access to paid features. This change addresses unclear ownership issues, inconsistent experiences, and security by ensuring all drafts are associated with teams while remaining private and free to edit. Users will have time to transition their drafts. The update aims to improve future billing and project management for freelancers.

HARLEY DAVIDSON SUES UK RETAILER OVER “COPYCAT” DESIGN

Harley Davidson is suing UK retailer Next over a children's t-shirt design that allegedly copies its logo, claiming it could cause consumer confusion. The disputed t-shirt features a winged badge motif with flames, which Harley Davidson argues “essentially replicates” its motorcycle branding. The case is currently in the High Court, with Harley Davidson demanding the removal and destruction of all infringing materials.

CARA, THE AI-SKEPTICAL ARTIST PORTFOLIO APP, SKYROCKETS TO HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF USERS

Cara, a new AI-skeptical artist portfolio app, has surged to hundreds of thousands of users. It provides a platform for artists to share their work while preventing AI-generated content. Developed by photographer Jingna Zhang and a small team, Cara integrates Glaze, a tool from the University of Chicago's SAND Lab, to protect original art from being used in AI training. Over the weekend, the app's user base skyrocketed to over 300,000, propelling it into the Top 5 in Apple's U.S. App Store, despite growing pains in scaling its servers.

THE FUTURE OF JUNIOR DESIGNER'S ROLE

The tech industry, particularly in Product Design, faces fewer junior job opportunities due to economic downturns, technological shifts, and a Design Leadership crisis. While low-budget clients turn to AI or outsourcing and high-budget clients seek experienced designers, the UX community should redefine entry-level roles and adapt design education to include AI competencies.

THE “VUJA DE” MINDSET

The concept of "vuja de" involves seeing familiar things from a new perspective, which is essential for creativity. It requires deep understanding and the recombination of diverse knowledge and skills. Ethnography complements this by questioning the taken-for-granted, highlighting the importance of an observer's perspective in sparking creative insights.

WHAT PRODUCT DESIGNERS NEED TO DO TO WORK EFFECTIVELY WITH AI

Product designers are urged to embrace AI integration and shape its impact on product design processes and user experiences. Designers can ensure inclusivity, diversity, and ethical considerations in AI-driven design by understanding AI's capabilities and limitations and creating more human-centric solutions.

END-TO-END AI-POWERED VIDEO EDITOR

Descript is an AI-powered video editor that simplifies editing by allowing users to edit audio and video through text. It offers features like clip selection, transcription, and noise removal.

MORPH (FIGMA PLUGIN)

Transform shapes, text, and vectors with one-click morph effects directly in Figma. Easily adjust, mix, and match effects for unique designs.

CREATE AI STICKERS

Effortlessly create custom AI stickers from prompts or photos.

TEENAGE ENGINEERING DESIGNED A MUSEUM EXHIBIT

Teenage Engineering designed the "Art of Noise" exhibition at SFMOMA, which featured music-related objects like posters, players, and speakers from various decades. It also featured a modular set of singing wooden dolls and a sound-treated listening room. The exhibition, which incorporated modernist, retro-futuristic, and minimalist aesthetics, highlighted the enduring nature of music technology and its relationship to humanity.

SEOUL, THE HEART OF THE EVOLVING LANDSCAPE OF KOREAN DESIGN

Seoul's evolution as a design hub, driven by the Seoul Design Foundation and spearheaded by visionaries like Kyung-don Rhee, is marked by the establishment of significant cultural institutions and initiatives like the Dongdaemun Design Plaza, Seoul Upcycling Plaza, and various design-centric events. These efforts have successfully integrated design into urban governance, enhancing the city's global reputation and fostering a vibrant cultural scene.

INTERVIEW WITH JON YABLONSKI

A multidisciplinary designer, Jon Yablonski shares insights into his design journey, daily routine, and inspirations. He emphasizes the importance of balance, self-care, and continuous learning in a designer's career. Yablonski highlights his projects, Laws of UX and Humane by Design, as sources of pride, addresses design challenges, and offers advice for aspiring designers.

A DESIGNER'S GUIDE TO BUILDING FOR AN UNPREDICTABLE FUTURE

Embracing change and focusing on core user needs rather than specific solutions is crucial for future-proofing designs fostering creativity, and adaptability.

LUNA GAMBINA'S PAINTINGS OF VULNERABLE MOMENTS CAPTURE PEOPLE AT THEIR MOST BEAUTIFUL

Luna Gambina, a self-taught artist who began painting two years ago after her mother's passing, creates artwork depicting life's most intimate and vulnerable moments, believing these are when people are most beautiful.

A VISUAL CATALOG OF AWFUL TEXTILE DESIGNS FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

idontgiveaseat is an Instagram catalog showcasing atrocious textile designs found on public transportation worldwide.

RAMP AND THE AI OPPORTUNITY

Ramp, a rapidly growing B2B fintech company, is leveraging AI to streamline and automate financial workflows, aiming to save businesses time and money. Ramp is enhancing efficiency in areas like expense management, bill pay, and travel booking by integrating AI into its products, positioning itself to capitalize on the consolidation of the fintech market. The company's strategic focus on finance, combined with its innovative use of AI, places it in a strong position to dominate the B2B software landscape.

WANT TO BUILD A COMPANY THAT LASTS? THINK THREE-LAYER CAKE

Building a successful business requires a focus on three key elements: product excellence, go-to-market strategy, and operational excellence. Neglecting any of these areas can lead to failure, as evidenced by the high percentage of startups that don't make it past the five-year mark. Founders and CEOs must ensure a solid product foundation while also integrating effective sales, marketing, and management strategies to achieve sustainable growth and scale.

IGNORE THE NOISE

Navigating the startup world is challenging, especially during economic downturns and fluctuating market conditions. Founders must focus on their passion, team, and market rather than external noise and cycles. Successful entrepreneurs persist despite the media's sensationalism and the tech industry's inherent volatility by maintaining perspective, taking a long-term view, and concentrating on their specific market needs.

THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO REVERSE TRIALS

A reverse trial is a pricing model where users are given access to premium features for a limited time before being asked to pay, allowing them to experience the full value of the product first. This approach can increase user engagement and conversion rates but requires careful implementation to avoid overwhelming users. Reverse trials work best for habit-forming products that reveal increasing value over time. They demonstrate a company's confidence in the worth of its offering.

MAKING THE MOST OUT OF GOOGLE'S LEAKED RANKING FACTORS

Google's leaked search ranking factors, which offer unprecedented insight for optimization, are a goldmine for SEOs. The key is systematic testing, prioritizing factors by type, impact speed, and required effort. Core areas to validate include UX, content quality, engagement, and backlink quality signals. Monitoring systems to track ranking factor metrics over time can transform these one-off learnings into lasting SEO improvements. While the leak is no silver bullet, SEOs who approach it with an experimentation mindset will surface powerful, testable insights to separate their sites from the pack.

TAKEAWAYS FROM OPENAI AND GOOGLE'S MAY ANNOUNCEMENTS

Recent announcements from OpenAI and Google highlighted advancements in AI, including the introduction of true multimodal models like GPT-4o and Project Astra, which can process and respond to audio, vision, and text inputs directly. Both companies demonstrated improvements in latency and cost and deeper AI integration across their products, with OpenAI showing significant consumer ambitions. OpenAI may potentially partner with Apple for a next-generation assistant.

CELLO

Word-of-mouth referrals on autopilot.

CAPTIONS

Generate studio-grade videos — complete with custom lighting, varied camera angles, and different backgrounds — without the studio.

DEMYSTIFYING PRODUCT-MARKET FIT (WEBINAR)

Join Jess Lee, a partner at Sequoia Capital, on June 18th at 10 am PT as she shares Sequoia Capital's PMF framework.