Dream Track

YouTube is launching a new tool powered by artificial intelligence that will allow users to record audio using the voices of some of today’s most famous musicians, the company announced Thursday. The new product, called Dream Track, is a collaboration with nine musical artists. Through text-based directions, users can auto-generate short tracks of up to 30 seconds in the voice and style of a participating artist.

The launch looks to capitalize on the intersection of AI technology and music, and as it reckons with the new technology’s ethical and legal implications alongside artists and major record labels. In the past, the practice of using artists’ voices without their consent for generative AI, likened to plagiarism, has come under fire by labels and lawmakers, alike.

More information:

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/11/16/youtube-debuts-ai-tool-dream-track-that-mimics-vocals-of-artists.html

Immersive Technology in Education and Training Panel Talk

On the 8^th of November 2023, I was a panelist for a session on ‘Immersive technology in education and training’ as part of the EU Science Hub conference on ‘Shaping the Next Generation of Virtual Worlds’. Next generation virtual worlds are a new paradigm largely growing due to the increase of ground-breaking technologies such as the internet of things, AI and XR, and the transition to the Web 4.0. 

This expansion is generating numerous opportunities while also presenting challenges in various areas. My panel talk consisted of two parts. First, I presented an overview of the needs, challenges and gaps of VR in education. In the second part, I presented a brief overview of XR4ED EU project which aims in providing effective solutions to XR in education, addressing the needs, challenges and gaps.

More information:

https://joint-research-centre.ec.europa.eu/events/shaping-next-generation-virtual-worlds-2023-11-08_en

Novel Wearable ECG Patch

A group of researchers from Australia and India presented a novel wearable ECG patch for enhanced point-of-care diagnostics. Typically, Ag/AgCl electrodes, also known as wet electrodes, are used in devices to measure ECG signals and include a conductive gel to enhance electrical signaling. But these are known to be uncomfortable, irritating to the skin, and prone to drying out. Instead, the study focused on the advantages of using active dry electrodes for ECG signaling and ultimately demonstrated an effective and promising prototype.

The research included considerations of how the performance of dry electrode sensors is affected by the contact area, conductivity, and stability of the electrical contact. The team investigated various tight space geometry-based dry electrodes and different electrode geometries, studying their various influences on ECG sensing. They also examined how different body parts influence ECG measurements. After extensive experimentation, they created a compact, lightweight, gel-free hexagonal-shaped ECG patch ideally suited for point-of-care diagnostics.

More information:

https://publishing.aip.org/publications/latest-content/wearing-your-heart-monitor-on-your-sleeve/

Humane AI Pin

The AI pin is a tiny laser projector designed to be clipped to the front of your shirt. The pin can make and receive calls, connect to the internet, and answer a broad variety of questions, making it a unique virtual assistant and a communication device all in one. In lieu of a screen, the pin projects call information and other data onto the palm of your hand.

The AI pin is the work of Humane, Inc., a tech startup founded by two former Apple employees. The company, which has received a healthy dose of financial help from prominent companies like OpenAI and Microsoft, has been hyping its new device for months now, promising that it will revolutionize our relationship with computing forever.

More information:

https://gizmodo.com/everything-we-know-about-humane-ai-pin-openai-1850977325