Microsoft’s new Copilot key

Pivot 5: 5 stories. 5 minutes a day. 5 days a week.

1. Microsoft’s new Copilot key

Microsoft is ushering in 2024 as "the year of the AI PC," introducing a transformative Copilot key to new Windows keyboards. The addition, located next to the right-hand alt key, replaces the menu key and offers direct access to the AI-powered Windows Copilot experience.

The change, which is the first significant alteration to the Windows keyboard layout in nearly 30 years, signifies Microsoft's commitment to embedding AI technology into everyday computing, promising a more personal and intelligent future for Windows users.

Read the full story here 

2. AI Holograms: reviving music legends on stage

The stage is set for an AI-powered Elvis Presley hologram to join the ranks of iconic performers resurrected through technology. From Abba's pixel-perfect renditions to Tupac's Coachella revival and Roy Orbison's crooning projection, holographic performances are redefining concert experiences.

These digital revivals, while stirring nostalgia and offering new experiences to fans, also raise questions about the future of live performances and the ethical implications of posthumous digital resurrections.

Read the full story here 

3. Pasadena welcomes first AI-Powered burger joint

Pasadena, California, is now home to the world's first fully autonomous, AI-powered restaurant, a burger-flipping marvel brought to life by Cali Group in collaboration with Miso Robotics and PopID. This innovative eatery, situated at 561 E. Green St., shows off state-of-the-art technology automating every aspect of the dining experience, from order-taking to cooking.

Guests can observe robots preparing their meals, offering a unique "pseudo-museum" feel. The space is adorned with 3D-printed "artifacts" and "retired" robot arms, demonstrating that the future of fast food is here, combining efficiency, consistency, and a taste of the future.

Read the full story here

4. MIT develops AI to decode AI systems

MIT's CSAIL introduces automated interpretability agents (AIAs) that use AI to autonomously experiment and explain other AI systems' behaviors. This approach mimics scientific inquiry, actively probing and interpreting neural networks.

Central to this are the AIAs, which test and explain systems from neurons to entire models. The FIND benchmark further supports this by providing a standard for evaluating these interpretations against real-world complexities, marking a significant advancement in making AI systems more comprehensible and trustworthy

Read the full story here 

5. NYT vs. OpenAI: copyright battle

As 2024 begins, the world awaits various developments, including Mickey Mouse entering the public domain, intensifying labor movements, rising egg prices, and the onset of a heavy political ad season. Mickey's arrival signifies a significant shift in cultural ownership, while workers across America continue to push for better conditions, facing potential strikes and negotiations.

Economic concerns loom as essential goods like eggs become more expensive due to supply issues. Meanwhile, the political landscape braces for an unprecedented ad blitz, reflecting the ever-growing influence and expenditure in American elections.

Read the full story here