🧠 AI tools may shape online choices

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☀️ On this day: On December 30, 1953, RCA introduced the first commercially available NTSC color television set, the RCA CT-100, priced at $1,000 (equivalent to about $10,000 today). This model featured a 15-inch screen and was among the earliest color TVs accessible to the public.

What’s happening:

• 🧠 AI tools may shape online choices

• 🤖 Nvidia bets big on robotics in AI race

• 🚀 Google CEO sets Gemini as Google’s top priority

• 🗽 Trump backs H-1B visas, fueling GOP debate

• 🎥 YouTube tests ‘Play something’ button

• + 📊 Daily poll and results

• + 📈 Trending tools and resources

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Hand-picked news:

🧠 AI tools may shape online choices ↗️LINK

• What: AI tools, like large language models (LLMs), could manipulate users' online decisions, from purchases to political choices, according to researchers at the University of Cambridge. The study introduces the "intention economy," where AI predicts and steers human behavior, selling these insights to businesses.

• Why: Unlike the attention economy, which monetizes user focus, the intention economy exploits motivations and plans. AI can dynamically tailor suggestions using personal data, raising ethical concerns about free elections, fair markets, and user autonomy.

• Impact: Without regulation, AI could amplify exploitation of human intentions, challenging privacy and democracy. Proactive oversight is vital to curb potential harms from unchecked AI-driven decision-making.

🤖 Nvidia bets big on robotics in AI race ↗️LINK

• What: Nvidia plans to launch Jetson Thor, its next-gen compact computer for humanoid robots, in early 2024. Amid stiff competition in AI chips from AMD, Google, and Amazon, Nvidia is investing in "physical AI" and robotics, viewing it as a market at a "tipping point."

• Why: With rising competition in the AI chip space, Nvidia aims to dominate the expected robotics boom. This move aligns with their strategy to diversify revenue, currently dominated by data center sales (88% of Q3 revenue).

• Impact: Nvidia’s push could accelerate the adoption of advanced robotics in industries like logistics and e-commerce. Collaborations, like funding Figure AI, highlight its ambitions to lead in integrating AI into physical systems.

🚀 Google CEO sets Gemini as Google’s top priority ↗️LINK

• What: Google CEO Sundar Pichai announced that 2025 will be a critical year, with the company prioritizing scaling its Gemini AI model on the consumer side. He emphasized the need for faster progress during a strategy meeting with employees.

• Why: The push reflects Google’s effort to establish leadership in AI amidst fierce competition. While Gemini has gained momentum, Pichai admitted the company must address gaps to stay ahead in the rapidly evolving tech landscape.

• Impact: A successful Gemini rollout could redefine Google’s AI capabilities and market position. Failure to execute may widen the gap with rivals, underscoring high stakes in the AI race.

🗽 Trump backs H-1B visas, fueling GOP debate ↗️LINK

• What: Donald Trump praised the H-1B visa program, calling it a "great program" he has used extensively in his businesses. This stance contrasts with his administration's earlier efforts to limit H-1B visas, which courts later blocked.

• Why: The H-1B program allows companies to hire skilled foreign workers, sparking a MAGA feud. Supporters like Elon Musk argue it fills critical talent gaps, while critics like Nikki Haley and Steve Bannon advocate prioritizing American workers.

• Impact: The debate highlights tensions in GOP policy on immigration and tech. Musk’s strong defense of H-1Bs escalated the divide, with accusations of censorship on his platform, X, further inflaming the issue.

🎥 YouTube tests ‘Play something’ button ↗️LINK

• What: YouTube is testing a floating “Play something” button in its Android app, allowing users to pick a random video to watch. The feature uses the Shorts player to display content, mixing both Shorts and standard videos.

• Why: The feature aims to enhance content discovery by providing a spontaneous viewing option, similar to Netflix’s retired “Surprise Me” tool. It builds on earlier tests with banners and simpler buttons to streamline the user experience.

• Impact: If widely released, the button could boost engagement by encouraging users to explore videos they might not actively search for. However, reliance on the Shorts player might limit appeal unless compatibility improves.

Today’s Poll:

Vote and find out about the result tomorrow.

Yesterday’s Poll Result:

Do you agree with Hinton’s assessment of a 10-20% chance of AI causing human extinction?

• A) Yes – The risks are plausible - 66% 🏆

• B) No – The estimate seems exaggerated- 34%

Reader’s opinion:

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