Humane is looking for a way out

TODAY

• Humane seeks buyer after lackluster AI Pin launch

• Brazil's flood disaster spawns wave of AI misinformation

• AI funding and acquisitions: AWS investing $17 billion in Spain

• Tool highlight: Hostinger AI Website Builder

• AI Agent: HyperWrite AI Agent

INDUSTRY NEWS
Humane seeks buyer after lackluster AI Pin launch

Humane, the startup behind the AI Pin wearable device, is reportedly seeking a buyer willing to pay between $750 million and $1 billion for the company. This comes after the AI Pin's debut was met with widespread criticism due to software flaws, hardware issues, and an underwhelming user experience compared to what was promised.

What to know:

• The AI Pin, priced at $699, has been panned for slow responses and failing to deliver the always-on, wearable AI assistant experience that was promoted

• Humane developed its own OS called CosmOS that uses AI models to answer voice queries and analyze camera input, but it has been deemed underbaked and inconsistent

• The company has raised $230 million from investors including OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, and was valued at $850 million in 2023 before the product's poor reception

• Humane has pledged to address bugs with firmware updates and recently rolled out OpenAI's GPT-4 model to enhance the device's capabilities

• Potential buyers seem limited given the high asking price, and it's unclear how much value Humane's IP would add to ongoing AI efforts at major tech companies

While Humane's novel ideas show promise, the AI Pin's execution has been deeply flawed, leaving the startup in a precarious position as it seeks a high-priced exit.

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FUNDING AND ACQUISITIONS
AWS investing $17 billion in Spain to expand cloud infrastructure

Amazon Web Services (AWS) has announced a substantial investment of €15.7 billion (approximately $17 billion) in Spain over the next decade to expand its cloud computing infrastructure and boost its presence in the country.

The investment, which is an increase from the initial €2.5 billion commitment made in 2021, will be used to establish data centers in the Aragon region and is expected to generate around 17,500 jobs annually and contribute €21.6 billion to Spain's GDP between 2022 and 2033. This move solidifies Spain's growing importance in the technology sector and its role in AI innovation across Europe.

AI TOOL FOR ENTREPRENEURS AND STARTUPS
Hostinger AI Website Builder

Hostinger AI Website Builder is an intuitive tool that simplifies the website creation process by leveraging artificial intelligence. It generates a custom website based on your brand name, website type, and a brief description of your business. The AI builder creates unique content, selects relevant images, and applies a color palette and fonts that best suit your brand.

How it can improve your workflow:

• Streamlines the website creation process, saving you time and effort that can be better spent on other important tasks

• Requires minimal technical knowledge, making it accessible for beginners to create professional-looking websites quickly

• Provides a solid foundation for your website, which you can further customize using the drag-and-drop editor to align with your brand identity

INDUSTRY NEWS
Brazil's flood disaster spawns wave of AI misinformation

As Brazil grapples with the worst flood in its history, misinformation generated by AI has begun to spread on social media platforms. Images purporting to show scenes from the disaster, some fantastical and others more realistic, have been shared on Facebook and Instagram, taking advantage of the scarcity of genuine photos from the affected region.

What to know:

• The Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul has been devastated by record rainfall, displacing over half a million people with floods still ongoing

• An image of a branded helicopter rescuing flood victims was flagged as AI-generated, with calls for urgent regulation of "so-called AIs"

• 21 other AI-generated posts related to the flood were found on Facebook and Instagram, ranging from the bizarre to the ambiguous

• The lack of genuine images from the disaster zone has created a demand that AI-generated content is filling, with sensational posts traveling the farthest

• Meta's current approach is to label AI content but not remove it unless it violates policies, but these labels are rarely seen in practice

The spread of AI misinformation during a disaster highlights the urgent need for effective safeguards and moderation systems to prevent potential harm.

AI AGENT
HyperWrite AI Agent
Automate repetitive workflows

HyperWrite is an AI-powered personal assistant that can autonomously operate your computer to complete a wide range of tasks. It uses advanced multimodal AI models to view the screen and decide on a series of mouse and keyboard actions to achieve a given objective, essentially serving as a self-operating computer. 

HyperWrite's AI agent can handle everyday tasks like managing emails, conducting research, booking flights, ordering food, and more, turning hours of tedious work into a single command. The tool is currently integrated with GPT-4 and offers compatibility with various operating systems and AI models. HyperWrite aims to streamline workflows and boost productivity by providing a comprehensive, user-friendly AI solution that seamlessly integrates into your digital life.