📱 Elon's xAI launches Grok mobile app

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Greetings! Your latest quick tech update is here:

☀️ On this day: On January 11, 1971, the term "Silicon Valley" appeared in print for the first time. Journalist Don Hoefler used it in his article "Silicon Valley, USA," highlighting the region's burgeoning semiconductor industry.

What’s happening:

• 📱 Elon's xAI launches Grok mobile app

• 🤖 OpenAI reveals humanoid robot plans

• ❌ Meta ends DEI programs amid policy shift

• 🚨 TikTok ban inches closer after hearing

• 🧠 Omi debuts brainwave-powered life assistant

• + 📊 Daily poll and results

• + 📈 Trending tools and resources

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Hand-picked news:

🤖 Elon's xAI launches Grok mobile app ↗️LINK

• What: xAI has launched a beta standalone app for its Grok AI assistant, breaking away from its exclusive X (Twitter) integration. The app, available on iOS, introduces Grok 2, the latest model, offering features like image generation, text summarization, and real-time web access.

• Why: This move positions Grok as a direct competitor to ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini. By shedding the X account requirement, xAI broadens accessibility and appeals to a wider audience, enhancing its competitive stance.

• Impact: The standalone app signals xAI’s ambitions in the AI market. If successful, it could expand Grok’s user base and influence, particularly with a Grok 3 release anticipated in 2025. This positions xAI as a serious contender in the evolving AI race.

🤖 OpenAI reveals humanoid robot plans ↗️LINK

• What: OpenAI’s revived robotics team is developing general-purpose, human-like robots with custom sensors and AI-driven adaptability. New job listings reveal plans for cutting-edge hardware, innovative sensors, and potential large-scale production of humanoid robots.

• Why: Robotics offers vast applications, and OpenAI aims to merge AI models with physical platforms for versatile robots. With competition from startups like X1 and Figure, OpenAI is betting big on scalable, intelligent robotics solutions.

• Impact: If successful, OpenAI could revolutionize robotics with humanoid systems, but challenges remain. Robotics' recent $6.4B VC funding highlights the sector's potential, and OpenAI’s entry could shift market dynamics.

❌ Meta ends DEI programs amid policy shift ↗️LINK

• What: Meta is dismantling its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, including hiring practices, training, and supplier diversity, per an internal memo. The decision comes as Meta navigates a changing "legal and policy landscape" surrounding DEI in the U.S.

• Why: The Supreme Court's recent rulings and DEI's increasing politicization were cited as influencing factors. Meta aims to ensure its practices appear unbiased while aligning with a broader corporate ethos shift toward neutrality in hiring and procurement.

• Impact: The move underscores Meta's pivot toward appeasing conservative stakeholders, including the incoming Trump administration. This strategic adjustment reflects broader corporate trends and signals reduced prioritization of diversity-focused initiatives in tech.

🚨 TikTok ban inches closer after hearing ↗️LINK

• What: TikTok is likely headed for a U.S. ban by January 19 unless the Supreme Court intervenes or its parent company, ByteDance, sells the app. Analysts lowered TikTok’s chances of winning the case from 30% to 20% after oral arguments.

• Why: The law targeting TikTok, citing national security concerns over Chinese ownership, has broad implications for app stores like Apple and Google, which risk massive fines if they keep TikTok available. A non-enforcement promise by President-elect Trump may not shield them from liability.

• Impact: The ruling could set a precedent for regulating foreign-owned platforms, raising concerns about free speech and ownership laws. Broader implications for U.S.-based tech remain limited for now, but experts warn of a potential slippery slope.

🧠 Omi debuts brainwave-powered life assistant ↗️LINK

• What: Based Hardware’s Omi is an AI-powered wearable device that helps organize daily life. Worn as a necklace or attached to the head, it can transcribe conversations, summarize arguments, and manage schedules by voice or even brainwave recognition.

• Why: Unlike failed predecessors, Omi focuses on practical tasks like reminders and calendar integration while offering innovative features like brainwave control. Its reliance on smartphone processing and cloud storage ensures simplicity and scalability.

• Impact: Omi could redefine AI wearables by bridging personal productivity with cutting-edge tech. Its success will depend on consumer trust and whether it can surpass the failures of previous AI wearables.

Today’s Poll:

Vote and find out about the result tomorrow.

Yesterday’s Poll Result:

Should AI companies use pirated content for training under "fair use"?

• A) Yes – It promotes innovation and research - 23%

• B) No – It violates creators' rights - 77% 🏆

Reader’s opinion:

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