Reka Core, the company’s first multimodal language model, was released by AI startup Reka AI. According to the company’s statement, Core is “competitive” with top models from OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google when it comes to industry-accepted metrics and can work with images, audio, and video.

Reka AI is a San Francisco-based startup with two Southeast Asian founders, and it was started by researchers from DeepMind, Google, and Meta. The chief scientist of the company is Yi Tay, a Singaporean, and the CEO, Dani Yogatama, is an Indonesian.

Reka Core is a large language model with “powerful” contextualized image, video, and audio understanding. According to the company, there are only two developers whose commercially available models support comprehensive multimodal input, the other being Google.

Reasoning skills, such as language and math, can be used for tasks requiring complex reasoning thanks to Core’s 128,000-token context window. Moreover, it is a code generator that enhances agent-based workflows.

Reka AI asserted that Core performs better on video tasks than Google’s Gemini Ultra, another multimodal model, when compared to comparable models available in the market. According to some, Core is also similar to GPT-4V on MMMU, an AI benchmark that assesses a model’s ability to complete tasks requiring reasoning and knowledge appropriate for a university.

Reka AI released its Edge and Flash models a few months prior to the release of Core. Together with Radical Ventures and DST Global Partners, the company has raised US$58 million in funding as of June 2023. The last known valuation of Reka AI is $300 million, according to market research platform CB Insights.

Reka AI’s partners include Snowflake, Oracle, and AI Singapore. On the basis of valuation per employee, it was recently ranked fifth among all AI firms worldwide.

Samsung is the most recent company to introduce electronics and home appliances with AI capabilities to the Indian consumer market.

The South Korean tech giant unveiled its newest range of state-of-the-art smart TVs, including its flagship OLED 4K and Neo QLED 8K models, which come with the NQ8 AI Gen3 processor, which offers on-device AI capabilities for audio enhancement and image upscaling.

With these cutting-edge TVs, Samsung is taking a stab at on-device generative AI technology. They were first shown at the Unbox and Discover 2024 launch event in Bengaluru. AI-powered home entertainment gadgets are a new trend that begins with this.

Powered by TizenOS, the Neo QLED 8K series is a significant advancement from Samsung, featuring cloud gaming, an educational hub, and smart yoga features that can be accessed by connecting the TV to an AI-enabled yoga mat.

With two variants (QN900D and QN800D) and sizes (65 to 85 inches), the Neo QLED 8K series accommodates a wide range of consumer preferences. The entry-level 65-inch variant is priced at Rs 3,199,90.

For those who pre-order the Neo QLED 8K, Neo QLED 4K, or glare-free OLED models before April 30, 2024, Samsung sweetens the pot for early adopters by providing free soundbars or substitute options like the Freestyle or Music Frame.

The company’s dedication to enhancing the home entertainment experience through AI integration was emphasized by JB Park, President and CEO of Samsung Southwest Asia. “We’ve incorporated artificial intelligence (AI) into home entertainment to provide our customers with outstanding viewing experiences.” He stated, “With the power of AI, our 2024 collection of Neo QLED 8K, Neo QLED 4K, and OLED TVs redefines the home entertainment experience and offers innovations across accessibility, sustainability, and enhanced security.”

New AI technologies like AI Picture Technology, AI Upscaling Pro, and AI Sound Technology are introduced by the Neo QLED 48, which has the NQ8 AI Gen3 processor with 512 neural networks.

In the meantime, the Neo QLED 4K and OLED TVs, which are equipped with the NQ4 AI Gen2 Processor from the previous generation, provide a rich feature set designed to satisfy a variety of customer needs.

The Neo QLED 4K series has five sizes ranging from 55 to 98 inches and starts at Rs 1,39,990. It is available in models QN85D and QN90D.

Conversely, Samsung’s OLED TV, which starts at Rs 1,64,990, comes in sizes ranging from 55 to 83 inches and features glare-free technology. It is available in models S95D and S90D.

The world’s first research center devoted to the development of artificial intelligence (AI) in aviation has been established by Windracers, a pioneer in autonomous air travel, in collaboration with Purdue University. Today’s opening of the Center on AI for Digital, Autonomous and Augmented Aviation (AIDA3) represents a significant advancement in the research and use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and related technologies.

Since its founding in 2017, Windracers has significantly contributed to the decrease in the price of providing humanitarian aid by using cutting-edge design and manufacturing techniques. Thanks to its in-house Masterless autopilot system, the company’s ULTRA UAV—which is renowned for its adaptability and ease of maintenance—runs without the need for a remote pilot. The British Antarctic Survey and the Royal Navy are just two of the prominent organizations that have used the UAV, which is designed to operate in harsh environments, to demonstrate its dependability through long-term autonomous flights.

Windracers’ founder and executive chairman, Stephen Wright, revealed his excitement for the new project: “We are incredibly excited to launch this groundbreaking AI center with Purdue University, a highly respected academic institution whose alumni include the first and most recent humans to step on the moon.” We want to make the aviation industry completely automated and low-cost by taking another enormous step forward,” he said.

In order to improve capabilities ranging from demand analytics to real-time weather prediction, AIDA3 will investigate the applications of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in autonomous systems. With potential to have a big impact on other industries and commercial logistics, the center aims to increase the scalability and efficiency of self-flying aircraft operations.

Sabine Brunswicker, AIDA3 director and Purdue professor, highlighted the current challenges and the center’s mission: Existing AI/ML models are not sufficiently reliable to close the loop from data to actions in the real-world that is safe, trustworthy, and scalable, she explained. “Currently, it can take 10 people to operate one UAV. It is time for one operator to be able to coordinate 100 UAVs at the same time. Our mission is to go beyond current AI/ML models where the potential benefits of smarter UAVs can be fully realized globally.”

As part of the partnership, Windracers will receive support for research and development in the US market. Two of its ULTRA UAVs will be provided by the company for continuous testing at Purdue University Airport, which is well-known for being Amelia Earhart’s research base. The development of autonomous flight technologies will be aided by these unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), named Armstrong and Earhart.

As a component of Purdue University’s Institute for Physical Artificial Intelligence (IPAI), AIDA3 aims to develop novel solutions by fusing artificial intelligence with the physical world.