Your weekly briefing on all things AI

You know that moment in a sci-fi movie when you think, “That’s too far-fetched”? Well, reality is catching up. James Cameron, the visionary filmmaker, is teaming up with AI experts in a partnership that could disrupt the film industry. What’s exciting about the partnership are the fruits we can expect from a proven industry leader bringing their subject matter expertise to the edge of AI development. Many tech companies start and end inside the tech bubble. Branching out and bringing experts from the trenches of various industries to help roadmap development is a key strategy to making products with significant demand. 

Let’s dive in:

> James Cameron Joins Stability AI

> Medical Milestone: World’s First Fully Robotic Heart Surgery

> Qure.ai Secures $65M to Bring AI Innovations to Global Healthcare

> Get Personal with Your Users: Coho AI’s Smart Segmentation

> Prompt Tip: How to Make AI Work for You

James Cameron & Stability AI: Uniting Filmmaking with AI Innovation

James Cameron, the iconic director behind blockbusters like Titanic and Avatar, has joined the board of directors at Stability AI, the innovative company known for its Stable Diffusion model. With a reputation for pushing creative boundaries, Cameron is excited about the potential of combining generative AI with CGI image creation, which he believes could revolutionize filmmaking. His entry comes at a time when studios are increasingly collaborating with AI firms; for instance, Lionsgate recently partnered with Runway to develop a generative AI model based on its film catalog. Despite facing criticism for using AI to remaster some of his classics and navigating copyright lawsuits, Cameron's passion underscores the promising synergy between artistic expertise and artificial intelligence, suggesting a transformative future for the film industry where technology enhances storytelling. (Link)

More Stories

• Early EU AI Pact sign-ups include Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI — but Apple and Meta are notably absent. (Link)

• Nvidia unveils AI reference workflow designed for drug discovery researchers. (Link)

• Ken Kutaragi, father of the PlayStation, envisions gaming as the driving force behind AI and real-time computing advancements. (Link)

• Meta introduces ad-embedded chatbots for businesses. (Link)

• OpenAI introduces Advanced Voice Mode with new voices and an updated interface. (Link)

• Google’s NotebookLM improves AI-driven note-taking with YouTube, audio integration, and shareable discussions. (Link)

• Nomi’s companion chatbots will now remember personalized details, like your workplace conflicts. (Link)

• Reddit expands AI-powered automatic translation to dozens of new countries. (Link)

• Workera’s CEO, mentored by Andrew Ng, aims to create an AI agent to mentor others. (Link)

• A full recap of announcements from Meta Connect 2024. (Link)

|| Healthcare

World’s First Fully Robotic Heart Transplant Performed in Saudi Arabia

A cardiac team at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre in Riyadh has achieved a major breakthrough by performing the world’s first fully robotic heart transplant. Led by Dr. Feras Khaliel, the historic surgery involved a 16-year-old patient with end-stage heart failure. After seven virtual rehearsals, the procedure was successfully carried out using robotic technology, which allowed for a minimally invasive approach, reduced pain, and a faster recovery. This pioneering surgery marks a significant advancement in heart transplants, enhancing both patient outcomes and the future of medical innovation. (Link)

|| Real Estate

Figure Launches AI Tool to Simplify Home Lending

Figure, a startup specializing in home equity lines of credit, has introduced a new AI tool powered by GPT-4 to make the home lending process faster and easier. Since its founding in 2018, Figure has cut the typical 45-day loan process down to just five days. With more than $1.5 billion raised and a valuation of around $3 billion, the company is now focusing on AI under the leadership of new CEO Michael Tannenbaum. This tool will help verify details in legal documents, reducing the need for manual checks. Chief Data Officer Ruben Padron highlighted the company's commitment to using flexible AI systems that can adapt quickly, aiming to decrease errors and bias in lending applications. (Link)

|| Finance

Visa Expands Fraud Prevention with Featurespace Acquisition

Visa has acquired Featurespace, a UK-based company known for its AI-driven fraud protection tools, in a bid to enhance its financial crime prevention efforts. While the exact price remains undisclosed, reports suggest the deal is valued at around £700 million ($935 million). Founded in 2008, Featurespace counts major banks like HSBC and NatWest among its clients. This move comes shortly after Mastercard's $2.65 billion acquisition of Recorded Future, highlighting the growing focus on AI solutions in the payments sector. As regulatory scrutiny increases, Visa aims to bolster its services and address concerns about its market position. (Link)

• Akur8 secures $120M in Series C to boost its next-gen actuarial platform. (Link)

• Ujet raises $76M for its AI-powered cloud contact center solutions.. (Link)

• Torq secures $70M to automate cybersecurity workflows. (Link)

• Qure.ai raises $65M to expand its AI-driven healthcare solutions globally. (Link)

• Prepared raises $27M to transform 911 emergency calls. (Link)

• GEOX secures $19M in Series A to assess real estate risks from climate-related disasters. (Link)

• Convergence AI raises $12M to empower agents with long-term memory capabilities. (Link)

• Distance Technologies secures $11.2M for enterprise-focused, glasses-free mixed reality. (Link)

• Surgar raises €11M advance its AR solutions for minimally invasive surgery. (Link)

• Ensemble raises $3.3M to introduce 'dark matter' technology to enterprise AI. (Link)

Say Goodbye to One-Size-Fits-All Strategies with Coho AI

Coho AI's Intelligent Segmentation tool enables companies to automatically segment users in real-time based on their behavior, demographics, and product usage. This allows businesses to create highly tailored engagement strategies that cater to specific user needs. With its AI-driven insights, flexible segmentation, and predictive behavioral guidance, the tool helps boost user retention, satisfaction, and monetization by ensuring personalized experiences. It’s particularly powerful for SaaS companies looking to enhance customer engagement and lifetime value.

More tools to try:

• MIMO: create animatable characters in controllable videos, accurately mimicking anyone's movements and interactions in any setting.

• Google Illuminate: convert books and papers into engaging audio discussions.

• AutoGen: create multi-agent conversational systems to enhance LLM-driven workflows.

• Tripo 2.0: seamlessly generate any 3D visual asset in seconds with a single click.

• Supademo 3.0: the fastest way to create interactive demos that close deals and simplify onboarding.

• Aurora: confidently launch your business by discovering your market size in minutes with trusted AI data.

• BeforeSunset AI: turn your to-dos into smart daily plans with AI that optimizes your schedule for maximum productivity.

Give ChatGPT a Role

Assign ChatGPT a role—as in an identity, point-of-view, or profession—to help guide the tool’s responses. ChatGPT can generate outputs based on the area of expertise related to the role you assign it, so you can accomplish more context in fewer words. 

Example: “Act as a top content marketer for [your niche]. Please generate captivating headlines and viral post ideas, as well as identify opportunities to fill content gaps in this niche.