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Companies take a step toward running AI on quantum hardware

Concerns about AI's energy use have a lot of people looking into ways to cut down on its power requirements. Many of these focus on hardware and software approaches that are pretty straightforward extensions of existing technologies. But a few technologies are much further out there. One that's definitely in the latter category? Quantum computing.

In some ways, quantum hardware is a better match for some of the math that underlies AI than more traditional hardware. While the current quantum hardware is a bit too error-prone for the more elaborate AI models currently in use, researchers are starting to put the pieces in place to run AI models when the hardware's ready. This week, a couple of commercial interests are releasing a draft of a paper describing how to get classical image data into a quantum processor (actually, two different processors) and perform a basic AI image classification.

All of which gives us a great opportunity to discuss why quantum AI may be more than just hype.

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Experimental drug looks to be gastric bypass surgery in pill form

The booming popularity of Ozempic and other GLP-1 drugs for weight loss has led to a flurry of companies vying to make new and improved anti-obesity medications.

One of those is Boston-based Syntis Bio, which is working on a daily pill that mimics the effects of gastric bypass—no actual surgery required. Today, the company announced early data from animals and a small group of human volunteers showing that its approach is safe and may be able to suppress hunger. The company presented the findings Thursday at the European Congress on Obesity and Weight Management.

“We're at a stage with obesity treatment where it's important for us to figure out, how do we now tune it to be more effective?” says Rahul Dhanda, Syntis Bio’s CEO and cofounder.

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Tesla’s latest Cybertruck has longer range and the cheapest price yet

The $750 fitted soft tonneau cover. | Image: Tesla

Tesla has a new entry-level Cybertruck with longer range, and it’s the cheapest model yet at $69,990 before the federal $7,500 credit. Tesla pulled some significant features to achieve the price cut. 

The new “long range” Cybertruck has just a single RWD motor compared to the two in the AWD model. It also lacks a powered roll-up hard tonneau cover. You can either keep the bed open or buy a $750 fitted soft tonneau cover. As a consolation prize for less storage security, the cover apparently gives you an aerodynamic range boost of 12 miles, according to Tesla.

The Cybertruck Long Range can drive up to 350 miles on a charge, 25 miles more than the AWD model, or up to 362 miles with the soft tonneau cover. Towing capacity is also lower at 7,500 lbs compared to 11,000 lbs on the other trims.

It accelerates slower than the AWD model. The RWD Cybertruck goes 0-60mph in 6.2 seconds versus 4.1 seconds on the more expensive Cybertruck. Tesla removed adaptive suspension and the 120V and 240V power outlets from the RWD model, so it can’t power your tools on the go. The company also removed the battery range extender option this week.

The interior of the Cybertruck RWD comes with textile seats instead of the leatherette ones in the other models, and you aren’t getting the rear seat infotainment touchscreen, either.

At the company’s 2023 delivery event, Tesla said its RWD option had a lower advertised range of 250 miles and would cost $60,990. That version was never released, though. In 2024, the RWD base option was removed. The new, more expensive, RWD model is available for order in the US, Mexico, and Saudi Arabia.

Tesla has had trouble selling Cybertrucks, reportedly selling only 50,000 units in 2024 on apparently one million reservations. The company is also seeing a 13 percent drop in vehicle sales year over year, which can be partly attributed to CEO Elon Musk’s control of the “Department of Government Efficiency” in the Trump Administration.

Ex-OpenAI CTO Mira Murati’s stealth AI startup targets $2B seed round at $10B valuation

Thinking Machines Lab, a stealth AI startup founded by former CTO of OpenAI Mira Murati, is reportedly seeking to raise $2 billion in seed funding. Business Insider, citing sources close to the deal, reported on Thursday that Thinking Machines Lab […]

The post Ex-OpenAI CTO Mira Murati’s stealth AI startup targets $2B seed round at $10B valuation first appeared on Tech Startups.

OpenAI will soon phase out GPT-4 from ChatGPT

OpenAI will soon retire GPT-4, an AI model it launched over two years ago, from ChatGPT, according to a changelog posted on Thursday. Effective April 30, GPT-4 will be “fully replaced” by GPT-4o, the current default model in ChatGPT, OpenAI said. GPT-4 will remain available for use via OpenAI’s API. “In head‑to‑head evaluations, [GPT-4o] consistently […]

Less than a month to get your exhibit table for TechCrunch Sessions: AI

TechCrunch Sessions: AI is fast approaching. So, what does that mean for you? It means exhibit tables are nearly gone — and now’s your chance to grab one before they’re all sold out. If you’ve got a game-changing product to showcase to the AI world, don’t keep it quiet. Exhibit your brand in front of […]

Pixel Watch 4 leaks suggest Google is doubling down on battery again

It looks a lot like previous Pixel Watches, but seems thicker, has two new buttons by the speaker, and lacks charging pins. | Image: OnLeaks via 91mobiles

Ever since Google debuted the original Pixel Watch in 2022, improving battery life has been a major focus of subsequent iterations of the smartwatch. Based on new leaks of the upcoming Pixel Watch 4, it looks like that might be the case again.

Renders published by 91mobiles from leaker OnLeaks show a slightly thicker watch with what appear to be two small buttons on either side of the speaker. (What those buttons do is a mystery.) Purportedly, the Watch 4 will be 14.3mm thick compared to 12.3mm. There are several reasons why a smartwatch can get thicker, but it tends to mean a bigger battery or extra components. Meanwhile, the sensor array no longer shows the four charging pins that were added with the Pixel Watch 2. That would hint that perhaps Google has found out a way to enable faster charging without them. Lastly, 91mobiles reports that the Pixel Watch 4 should still come in two sizes.

The thicker body and lack of charging pins could indicate battery life still weighs heavily on Google’s mind. Dismal battery life was the most annoying thing about the original Pixel Watch, to the point where the company has since worked to rectify it with the Pixel Watch 2 and 3. Adding charging pins angered some Pixel Watch fans, but the main reason was to enable a more secure connection and facilitate faster charging. The problem with pins, besides adding a new proprietary charger, is that they wear down over time.

WearOS 4 and 5 also focused on ways to be more power-efficient. The result is that you can now reliably expect Pixel Watches to last a whole day, but they still trail behind the multiday battery life achieved by rival smartwatches like the OnePlus Watch 3, Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra, and Apple Watch Ultra 2.

We can’t draw any firm conclusions from these leaks. Lots of things can change before a final product launches, and hardware renders don’t tell us anything about what’s inside the device or what the focus of WearOS 6 will be. We could find out more next month at Google I/O.

‘Book Boyfriends’ and ‘Shadow Daddies’: the men cashing in on romantasy

Digital collage of a hand holding an open book with two Polaroid photos of a handsome, winged man, with roses and hearts around.

Six hours into a fantasy ball, actor Zach Harrison is sweating. He’s been wearing handmade leather armor, huge boots, and heavy six-foot bat wings all night, all while ballroom dancing and taking pictures with hundreds of fans without taking a break. 

But they’re not here to see Harrison.

They’re here to meet Cassian, Lord of Bloodshed: a 500-year-old faerie who commands the army of the Night Court. For one night at a time, Harrison dons his elaborate costume and brings to life a beloved character from Sarah J. Maas’ smash hit romantasy book series A Court of Thorns and Roses, performing at balls across the United States and beyond.

@bookboundevents Let us know your favorites💃🕺 #bookboundstarfall2023 #bookbound #starfallball #bookishball #bookishevent #bookbesties #starfallgown #fantasyoutfit #fantasygown ♬ original sound – Book Bound

Boosted by BookTok, the skyrocketing success of romantasy — a genre that mixes romance and fantasy — is changing what it means to engage with books. Fell in love with a faerie king on the page? It doesn’t have to be a private experience. With the help of TikTok’s book community and its own influencers, there’s a gro …

Read the full story at The Verge.

Google lays off hundreds in Android, Pixel, and Chrome units amid strategic AI push

Alphabet’s Google has laid off hundreds of employees across key product teams—Android, Pixel, and Chrome—as the company continues shifting resources into its growing AI efforts. The job cuts, first reported by The Information, affect its platforms and devices unit, signaling […]

The post Google lays off hundreds in Android, Pixel, and Chrome units amid strategic AI push first appeared on Tech Startups.

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