Howdy, wizards.
Just saw the Neuron linked to a reddit post where someone caught ChatGPT’s Advanced Voice Mode doing some very weird things.
I’ve actually had a similar experience a while back where another dialogue between two “people” – mixed in with a fair bit of gibberish – seemed to hijack my convo. Then ChatGPT proceeded to play along like it was intentional. Eerie!
Here’s what’s brewing in AI today.
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a16z continues to do a fine job mapping out the market for up-and coming-applications for AI. This time, it’s AI for parenting.
Raising kids is a big challenge, and while help is very much valued by parents, most families can’t afford the type of human help available (fertility specialists, sleep consultants, night nurses and nannies, you name it). AI is becoming a way to access 24/7, affordable support and guidance.
Here’s the 3 categories they’ve identified when it comes to using AI for parenting, and the players in each:
Fertility & pregnancy
AI-powered products assist women in measuring fertility, achieving pregnancy, and managing pregnancy symptoms. Think tracking apps, wearables, and at-home hardware – but very personalised with gen AI that allows users to chat with their data.
Newborns and babies
AI parenting companions that go beyond generic advice by combining expert research with data about the baby. They collect this data through text or voice interactions, prompting parents with questions about their baby and encouraging them to log activities like feedings and naps.
nanit - AI-powered baby monitor that tracks sleep, breathing motion, & growth
nanniAI - “baby cry AI translator”
cradlewise - Intelligent bassinet and crib with a video and breath monitor
Other companies in this category: Riley, happiest baby
Family & household management
AI tools assisting parents in managing family life, e.g. scheduling school activities, meals, appointments, and childcare. Can be especially in families with multiple children.
These four were interesting – kind of like combined meal planning, shopping, to-do apps, powered by AI, that can analyse your family’s habits and make recommendations; ollie, Maple, Ario, duckbill.
You can check out the full thesis/thread here.
Why it matters The thought of using AI to make parenting easier is very intriguing, and seems to be very much in its infancy, still. Most companies in this industry are leveraging AI in a way that resembles that of most AI education apps, ie combining expert knowledge and context for personalized support that is always available. Not sure any of these companies have truly found product market fit yet, but for those that eventually find it, the potential is huge.
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Sotheby’s just did an auction of a portrait of computer science legend Alan Turing, which sold for $1.3 million. What’s the biggie? It’s made by a humanoid robot, Ai-Da, with cameras for eyes and robotic arms. And it’s the first humanoid painting sold at an auction.
The painting of Turing, often referred to as the father of AI, is aptly named “AI god”. Ai-Da said said (using an LLM to speak) that the work "invites viewers to reflect on the god-like nature of AI and computing while considering the ethical and societal implications of these advancements”.
Why it matters AI is shifting technology from a mere tool to assist the creative process, to something more…deeply integrated. How? That’s something which is currently being explored by many artists out there.
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