Chip designer Arm is rapidly expanding its automotive business, amid mounting competition from open-source rival RISC-V.
Revenue from the segment has doubled since 2020, the Financial Times reports. Dennis Laudick, VP of automotive go-to-market at Arm, attributed the growth to the number of chips required by high-end cars, which he described as “data [centers] on wheels.”
This trend is set to accelerate as demand for electric and autonomous vehicles grows. Semico Research predicts the automotive chip IP market will double by 2027 — which could prove crucial to Arm’s future business.
The UK-based firm produces chip designs that are used by an estimated 95% of smartphones, but the company’s star has faded in recent months. Financial problems at parent company Softbank and an expanding pool of rivals have triggered concerns about Arm’s long-term prospects.
Mark Lippett, CEO of chip specialist XMOS, told TNW that focusing on vehicles was a sensible response.
“Thinking about the human experience, rather than the drive-train and other deeply embedded electronics that go into a car, the interface with the driver increasingly leans on tech that’s originally been developed for handsets and tablets,” he said. “As such, advances into the automotive space is a logical next step for Arm.”
In February, SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son announced plans to take Arm public in the US after a $40 billion sale to Nvidia collapsed. Image credit: Danny Choo
Another risk for Arm is increasing competition from the RISC-V Foundation. Headquartered in Switzerland, the nonprofit produces an open-source chip architecture that’s attracting swelling interest.
RISC-V has proven particularly popular in China, where it could spur self-sufficiency in semiconductors and circumvent US export restrictions. But it’s also caught the eye of Silicon Valley.
The architecture recently earned a glowing endorsement from Google. In December, Lars Bergstrom, Android’s director of engineering, called for RISC-V to be considered a “tier-1 platform” in the operating system — the same level as Arm.
“RISC-V could be regarded as more risky.
Google’s backing makes it quite possible that RISC-V smartphones running Android will arrive within the next few years — which would escalate anxieties at Arm. The British firm does, however, have a big headstart in the automotive sector.
“Already, the company’s main strength lies in producing application processors for mobile phones — and this will continue for as long as it takes for RISC-V to catch up,” said Bergstrom.
“The automotive sector also has a high level of ecosystem complexity and historical conservatism. While this dynamic is slowly shifting, with disruptors like Tesla leading the charge, other automotive companies may take longer to steer the ship away from an established standard like Arm towards something newer like RISC-V, which could be regarded as more risky.”
Bergstrom advises RISC-V to target embedded segments such as IoT, which is more tolerant of risk and less dependent on an ecosystem of partners. In the automotive sector, however, the open-source challenger is still playing catch-up.
Happy New Year to you! If you’re in the market for a new career (and, let’s face it, who isn’t right now?), your timing couldn’t be more perfect—January is actually one of the best months to get a new job.
Surprised? You’re not alone. Most people presume looking for a job early in the new year is futile, but that’s a myth. Hiring is a year-round process, and there’s never a bad time to apply for a job. What’s more, right now is actually one of the best times to apply. Here’s why:
Hit the ground running
For one, companies want to hit the ground running in the new year and employ the right people to take them through 2023 and beyond. Leadership needs to move quickly on the recruitment front, thanks to the war-for-talent environment.
No doubt there are openings that have been left unfilled for months. Imagine a job was posted in November, a handful of people were interviewed, and then it got lost in the lead-up to the festive period. They now need to get that filled, and fast.
Secondly, hiring managers are likely to receive their new budgets and targets in January, and are ready to spend. And thirdly, a lot of companies see a spike in resignations in January, following those year-end employee bonuses which were handed out in December. This is typically anticipated by companies, and a strong factor in why a hiring push is probably needed.
So, to get a jump on the competition, start by checking out The House of Talent Job Board for lots of amazing opportunities. Once you’ve found what you’re looking for, it’s time to dust off that resume, especially if it’s been sitting stale since you last looked for a job. Think of it as a marketing document or even a story that you carefully craft to convince the reader—aka, the hiring manager—you have what they need.
Now, write your cover letter. Even if only one in two gets read, there’s still a 50% chance that including one could help you. Start with a clear, concise opening line to catch the reader’s attention, and make sure the entire letter is no more than one page. Also, if you can, skip the “To whom it may concern” and try to address your letter to someone specific by name.
Then, once you get the opportunity to interview, whether that’s remotely or in person; prepare, prepare, prepare. Find out as much as possible about the company—from its culture to its history. Research the industry, familiarizing yourself with any trends and challenges. And practice those go-to interview questions; like “Tell me about yourself” and “What’s your greatest weakness?”
Finally, don’t lose sight of the fact that the interview process is also an opportunity for you to evaluate the company and make sure it’s a right fit for you. Ask about the culture and pay close attention to how the hiring manager treats you throughout the interview process. Never ignore your instincts and always do your research.
Speaking of research, we’ve done some of it for you (you’re welcome). Here are three fantastic companies hiring now. Good luck!
PlayStation
PlayStation isn’t just the Best Place to Play—it’s also the Best Place to Work. It strives to create an inclusive environment that empowers employees and embraces diversity. It welcomes and encourages everyone who has a passion and curiosity for innovation, technology, and play to explore its open positions and join their growing global team. It’s currently looking for a DevOps Engineer, a Senior AEM Developer, and a Data Product Manager, to name just a few. You can find these roles and lots more here.
WPP
WPP is a transformation company using the power of creativity to build better futures. Working there means being part of a global network of more than 100,000 people in 110 countries. WPP and its award-winning agencies work with most of the world’s biggest companies and organizations––from Ford, Unilever, and P&G to Google, HSBC, and the UN. It has headquarters in New York, London and Singapore and is quoted on both the London and New York Stock Exchanges. It’s currently looking to fill a selection of interesting roles, which you can check out here.
Deezer
Created in 2007, Deezer was one of the first French unicorns and the second largest global independent music streaming platform. Now listed at the #Euronext #TechLeaders segment, growth is accelerating. Deezer is ideally positioned to play a key role in the continued development of the booming music streaming market. This is the perfect time to join; Here are some amazing opportunities at the Paris-based company to check out.
Augmented Reality (AR) has promised some pretty big things, such as, you know, a total disruption to how we live and work. By overlaying a virtual world over our IRL one, endless possibilities in how we communicate with one another, take in information, and see the world, come into focus.
But AR has fallen short of expectations. While many of us have used dog filters on social media platforms like Instagram and Snapchat, and played games like Pokemon Go!, we can’t really say it’s truly disrupted our daily lives — yet.
One of the most cited reasons for AR’s lack of wider adoption is that the hardware just isn’t there to support it. How many people do you know who wear smart glasses regularly? Still, adoption is on the rise, and the global AR/VR smart glasses market is set to grow by $7297.59M between 2023 and 2027.
2023 is poised to be the year of AR glasses, but why exactly? In this video, AR/VR expert and tech journalist Boy Visser dissects the recent technological developments that lead to this ‘perfect storm’ for smart glasses, and what’s next for AR.
And with buzzy new sectors like the metaverse and 5G flying around, it’s only a matter of time before we see an AR boom. So where is it now? And where is it headed?
The current state of AR
AR-enabled smart glasses may not have taken over yet, but there are still plenty of areas where AR is already being deployed.
Today’s applications often take the form of HUDs, or Head-up Displays, which is a transparent display that shows data without distracting from the view — kind of like a window with notes on it. Except the notes are data that change and adapt to the viewed environment.
HUDs were originally developed for military aviation. This year, the United States Army rolled out a $22bn program to develop mixed reality combat goggles, called the Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS). The new goggles allow soldiers in combat to see and share data, such as maps or enemy positions, with one another in real-time.
But now HUDs are used in other sectors, like automobiles and commercial aircraft. With cars, in particular, HUDs are seen as the next step in pushing driver experience into the future, as they can display key information on a driver’s windshield, like directions, without taking the driver’s eyes off the road. This type of AR HUD is already being implemented by car manufacturers like Kia, which has the HUD in models such as the Kia EV6, Kia Niro, and more.
Another iteration of AR that is being deployed across industries is assisted reality, which is similar to Augmented Reality in that data is displayed on a screen over the user’s environment, but it’s less immersive. RealWear is one company that develops assisted reality wearables like smart goggles for frontline professionals across fields like healthcare, energy, manufacturing, automotive, and more.
Jon Arnold, RealWear’s VP of EMEA, tells TNW that today’s use cases for XR (or extended reality, which both augmented reality and assisted reality fall under) are mainly centered around industry and safety:
“The goals of assisted reality are to keep the user’s attention and situational awareness in the real world, with a direct line of sight,“ he says.
Arnold gives the example of RealWear goggles being used in manufacturing environments, where they’re used to remotely support engineers. “These wearables enable a local engineer in an extremely austere and perhaps hazardous environment — in the rain, up high, or at sea — to send data to a remote expert in real-time across the other side of the world. That remote expert can then clearly see the problem through the eyes of the worker, help identify and diagnose the issue, and help the local engineer safely make the fix in real-time,” Arnold explains.
What’s next for AR and smart glasses?
As tech giants like Google, Apple, and Magic Leap get closer to launching new smart glasses models, the possibilities for how these glasses will transform our user experience — and lives — grow.
Take the metaverse, for example. XR hardware isn’t yet ready for the metaverse (they’re too expensive, too bulky, or just not very good), but headsets like The Magic Leap 2 allow for a wholly immersive experience. Back in March, we wrote about how The Magic Leap 2 blurs the line between AR and VR, with its massive, and dimmable, field of view. If users are going to spend any real time in the metaverse, they’ll need smart glasses and goggles like these to take them there.
But hardware aside, AR’s next steps seem to largely rely on one thing: 5G.
“Over the last four years, one of the most publicized technologies within the AR sector is 5G, with expectations that the technology will, among other things, unlock the true value of AR,” says Arnold.
5G should offer a new network for AR to operate on that is ultra-low latency and high bandwidth, which means that it will be much faster. This is crucial in enabling use cases like being able to train someone remotely, or allowing for guided maintenance and repairs, such as a remote repairs technician being able to leave notes on broken parts that on-site workers can read and then fix accordingly.
Let’s actually wear smart glasses in 2023
For everyday workers, faster networks for AR mean they will be able to better collaborate in real-time with their global teams. What does this look like exactly? 5G-enabled AR would allow everyone involved in a virtual meeting or presentation to get the same information at the same time, and interact with digital content in real-time, collaboratively.
But, Arnold says, today’s 5G is still a long way from fully supporting AR and VR: “We are tracking the market closely, however, the reality is, it will be quite a while before this vision becomes a reality, because 5G in the public network today currently offers no uplink bandwidth improvement.”
In the meantime, we’ll likely continue to see innovative smart glasses applications continue to roll out, such as Japan’s customs office using them to tackle smuggling, as customs officials can share images of cargo in real-time with experienced officials elsewhere.
And while we wait for 5G to reach its full potential, Arnold says we should start getting used to actually wearing the smart glasses now: “The most important thing companies should do more 2023 is working on people… to improve adoption of wearables now, and get people used to them.”
Augmented reality is an innovative technology spearheading the transformation of science fiction into reality. You might even start using hologram armor like Iron Man or command F.R.I.D.A.Y. to do your chores in the near future. One may argue that Alexa is already a step toward Tony Stark’s F.R.I.D.A.Y., but she needs more improvements.
While virtual reality creates an artificial environment that you can be a part of through VR headsets, AR overlays computer-generated information onto the sense of touch, hearing, and vision. Essentially, AR enhances and extends the world that already exists while VR creates a virtual world out of imagination.
AR is introducing people to a new immersive experience beyond entertainment and gaming. That’s why augmented reality has emerged as an effective, sought-after business tool. The technology is used across various industries to solve challenges, including healthcare, retail, military, and business.
As this technology is becoming widely accepted and developers worldwide are building cutting-edge applications for AR, veritable security risks are increasing.
Unfortunately, augmented reality is not immune to these risks. If cybercriminals hack AR systems, there can be detrimental consequences.
Steps to Minimize Augmented Reality Security Risk
Here are some measures to help curtail augmented reality security risks.
Read the Fine Print in Privacy Policies
Who has the time to peruse long data privacy rules? Unfortunately, this flaw results in horrifying implications.
Contrary to popular belief, it is worth your while to scrutinize privacy policies or terms of service, so that you are aware of how AR/VR networks and businesses utilize your information.
For example, you will learn whether the network is sharing your information with third parties for marketing purposes or they have strict data protection rules.
Armed with this knowledge, users decide how much information they want the businesses to acquire.
Install Anti-Malware/Antivirus Software
Anti-malware apps are developed to defend users and devices against cyberattacks like ransomware, viruses, and malware.
So make sure to install formidable software that can protect you against common cyberattacks.
Opt for a Reliable VPN Service Provider
VPNs have become indispensable tools for businesses and individuals for the entirety of their online activities.
If you wonder what is VPN, it stands for a virtual private network. They establish a secure network connection by concealing Internet traffic, especially when using public networks.
Furthermore, VPNs disguise IP addresses, making it challenging for third parties to monitor users’ activities online and loot data.
So, using a VPN service is one of the most efficient ways of keeping your data and identity secure on the web. If it is mandatory to share confidential information, a VPN can safeguard you against compromised sensitive data. Since data is encrypted and scrambled, hackers cannot comprehend your data even if they intercept it.
Only Disclose Necessary Information
When using or working on AR systems, avoid revealing information that is too personal.
For example, you can provide your email address to create an account but only reveal your debit or credit card details if you buy something.
Furthermore, AR servers must have robust security protocols to safeguard user information, data, and identity. Double-check these protocols before using an AR network or services from businesses with this technology.
Implementation of Accurate Filters by AR Portals
The use of accurate filters by AR portals, such as facial recognition software and computer vision algorithms, can streamline image recognition. This will prevent attackers from hacking into users’ profiles and stealing their data.
Run-Of-The-Mill AR Weaknesses
Privacy is a primary concern because AR technologies keep tabs on user activity by collecting user information. So if hackers gain access, the possible loss of data and privacy is harrowing.
AR’s security risks are attributed to the following:
Ransomware
Hackers persistently use the most sophisticated technologies to achieve their pernicious goals. For example, ransomware records user behavior or interactions.
After employing the software and gaining access to user data, hackers may issue threats to release the data publicly unless the user pays a hefty ransom.
Web Browser Dependency
WebAR is browser-dependent. Unfortunately, web browsers do not have in-built AR support functionality. Hence, developers create tools to make AR options available to users. Generally, these tools deactivate the browser’s security filters.
Hence, browsers become vulnerable and highly susceptible to security threats.
Malicious Software
Cybercriminals can plant harmful content through advertising on AR channels, websites, or applications. Users unwittingly clicking on the tampered ads or promo codes get redirected to virus-infected servers or websites.
Then, these unsuspecting users become victims of malware attacks that compromise their data and may even damage their devices.
Stolen Network Credentials
Hacking is a serious cyber threat for retailers implementing AR technology into their shopping applications. Most users already have their mobile payment solutions and credit/debit card details stored in their user profiles. It is easy for attackers to gain access to this data and tamper with the accounts stealthily.
The Threat of Social Engineering
Cybercriminals may employ AR systems to dupe users and provide them with unreliable content as part of social engineering attacks.
For instance, the perception of reality might be distorted via fake signs and displays. As a result, users might be tempted to take some actions by looking at these counterfeit signs and end up becoming a hacker’s victim.
Absence of Standardized Security
AR is an up-and-coming technology, and there’s a long way to go. Moreover, this technology is constantly evolving. As a result, uniform security standards are absent.
ARML or Augmented Reality Markup Language lacks comprehensive security controls, and the implemented security standards are not universally followed.
Besides all these, there’s also the risk of losing the human connection and psychological dependence on virtual worlds, as well as theft or physical harm if you’re wearing augmented reality devices.
Final Words
Security risks are consistently showing an upward trajectory, and you can do nothing to stop these attacks other than protect yourself. If you face security and privacy issues, refer to the techniques mentioned earlier to decrease those risks. Also, remember to stay alert and never click unknown links or download apps from unverified sources.
The lack of backwards compatibility between PSVR 2 and the original PSVR is a bit of a double-edged sword. On one hand, we’re getting a ton of games for Sony’s next-gen VR headset that have been specifically built or overhauled to make use of the new hardware, but it also means a lot of games in your PSVR library will forever be stuck in the past.
Thankfully, there are a handful of developers who have pledged free PSVR 2 support for their games, many of which you can already grab on the store before the headset launches on February 22nd, 2023.
Note: There are a ton of games coming to PSVR 2 you might recognize, although not all studios have mentioned free PSVR 2 support for those games. We’ll be updating this list, so check back for more. Also, in addition to previously released titles getting new PSVR 2 support, we’ve also included brand new titles launching with both PSVR and PSVR 2 support. You’ll find those at the bottom, labeled [NEW].
Resident Evil Village
A free PSVR 2 upgrade is expected at the headset’s launch in February, which includes the entirety of its main story in VR. We went hands-on with Village back in September, and it proved to not only one of the best-looking games on PS5 to date, but probably one of the best in VR, offering up a level of visual detail that approaches Half-Life: Alyx territory.
Team zombie shooter After the Fall is cross-compatible with PC and Quest, but it’s soon to be available on PSVR 2 too, as Vertigo Games is tossing out support for Sony’s latest and greatest at some point in early 2023. It’s basically Left 4 Dead in VR, and it’s most definitely worth getting a team together since this horde shooter is cross-compatible with PSVR, Quest, and PC VR headsets.
This space simulator used to be considered gaming’s biggest flop, but thanks to Hello Games’ continuous updates it’s become the industry’s biggest redemption story. With the promise of free PSVR 2 support, you’ll be able to strap into No Man’s Sky on launch day with your shiny new headset.
Pistol Whip is a rhythm-shooter from Cloudhead Games, which has thrown out tons of updates and free DLC to keep you blasting away like John Wick to some pretty infectious beats. On PSVR 2, the game is said to offer fine-tuned haptics, adaptive triggers, higher resolution, 3D audio, and SSD optimization to bolster how the game loads and runs.
Zenith: The Last City is one of VR’s most successful MMOs to date, offering up hundreds of hours of quests, jobs, classes, you name it. Developers Ramen VR say it’s getting a free PSVR 2 upgrade. If you already own the PS4 version, the PSVR 2-supported PS5 version is already free to download, so nab it early so you can play with all of your friends on Quest, PC VR headsets, and the original PSVR.
This is a new title coming to both PSVR and PSVR 2, developed by Funktronic Labs, the studio behind Fujii and Cosmic Trip. The Light Brigade tosses you on a procedurally-generated journey to free the souls of the fallen trapped within, making for a tactical roguelike shooting experience you can play on launch-day.
Hello Neighbor: Search and Rescue is another new title getting both PSVR and PSVR 2 support, letting you delve into the same universe of the popular Hello Neighbor stealth horror series. Sneak into your creepy neighbor’s house to save your friend, and don’t get caught.
The European Union is on a mission to curb the power of big tech. In recent years, the bloc has doled out vast antitrust fines to Silicon Valley giants, set global standards for data privacy, and proposed a raft of digital regulations. Yet critics say the rules have been ineffective.
Analysts claim the legislation has failed to protect competition, while giving companies routes to avoid enforcement. In 2023, the bloc has grand ambitions to change that.
A key component of the plans is the new Digital Markets Act (DMA). The landmark legislation prohibits platforms from ranking their own products more favorably than those of third parties, and from processing data collected from different services. Fines for single infringements can reach 10% of the offenders’ global turnover, and up to 20% for repeated violations. In May 2023, the new rules will start to apply.
The act is the cornerstone of two complementary objectives for the EU: reducing big tech’s dominance and fostering European challengers.
To find out how these plans will unfold next year, TNW asked an array of tech experts for their predictions for 2023.
Building competition
The impact of the DMA was a common topic in our experts’ forecasts. Amandine Le Pape, COO of secure messaging and collaboration app Element, and Matthew Hodgson, technical co-founder of the Matrix open standard, both lobbied for the regulation. The duo is optimistic about the impact on competition.
“Big tech is being forced to embrace interoperability, which will unleash a new era of innovation,” said Le Pape. “Consumers and businesses will have more choice, better features, and improved privacy. Messaging is finally catching up with the openness of the web and email.”
Amandine Le Pape, COO of Element.
Hodgson, meanwhile, pointed to the effects on opening up access.
“The DMA stipulates that big tech must open up its APIs to enable widespread interoperability,” he said. “It’s a huge step forwards, but the best interoperability comes from a widely adopted open standard rather than a tangle of bridges — as demonstrated by both the web and email.”
“The DMA will force a change in behavior.
Supporters and opponents alike agreed that the DMA will have deep repercussions.Geoff Blaber, the CEO of analyst firm CCS Insight, envisions its influence extending far beyond European borders.
“We predict that the DMA will force a change in behavior from large tech players in Europe that is likely to ripple through business operations globally,” Blaber wrote in a recent report. “It will also further motivate US politicians keen to avoid a scenario in which Europe defines the antitrust agenda without US involvement. A degree of harmony and consistency between US and EU legislation would be a clear advantage but is by no means assured.”
Making business plans
Increasing competition could leave gaps for European challengers to enter. The EU, however, has historically struggled to turn its world-leading research into big tech companies.
One barrier is the notoriously slow and inefficient transfer of IP from academia to the economy. This problem is illustrated by the EU producing more research papers than the US, but turning far fewer into commercial applications.
According to Luigi Congedo, a venture capitalist and Innovation Advisor at marketing firm Clarity, this weakness can be reduced by changing the EU’s investment framework. This, he argues, could stimulate a more effective technology transfer — and prevent promising startups from being acquired by Silicon Valley giants.
“We need to create our Google, Facebook, and Microsoft, and, in order to do it, create a better environment to compete and do business across the continent,” he said. “If we fail in creating a real European platform for innovation and instead maintain the current ‘country-based model,’ all our emerging businesses will end up becoming M&A targets for American multinational companies.”
“I expect more openness.
Another issue for tech businesses in the EU is integration across member states. Companies have long complained about the complexity of navigating the union’s tax and employment requirements. Congedo predicts the bloc will address these challenges.
“I expect more openness to make recruitment and hiring easier across states, and also for foreigners like American businesses to hire in the EU,” he said.
Luigi Congedo, a venture capitalist and Innovation Advisor at Clarity.
Deeper tech
In its effort to nurture homegrown businesses, the EU has targeted legislation at specific areas of tech. A notable example is the European Chips Act. Proposed in February 2022, the framework aims to encourage semiconductor production in the union.
As of 2022, Europe accounts for less than 10% of the global production of semiconductors. The European Commission wants to ramp that up to 20%, by plowing €43 billion into the sector.
Mark Lippett, CEO of chip specialist XMOS, has mixed expectations for the legislation. While he welcomes the investment, he’s worried that the bloc will wrap the sector in red tape.
“Providing funding for businesses in a supply-threatened environment offers some obvious fail-safes in times of trouble,” he said. “However, EU projects can become somewhat mired in bureaucracy, and the velocity can be sucked out as a result.”
“This will help fuel innovation.
Another focus area for the EU is artificial intelligence. The European Parliament is currently finalizing its flagship AI Act, which will place stringent rules on high-risk artificial intelligence systems.
IT companies hope the legislation boosts European innovation. Matt Peake, Global Director of Public Policy at Onfido, an ID verification firm, believes it could provide regulatory clarity, without the burdens of excessive compliance and operational costs.
“This will ultimately help fuel innovation in AI, which helps to reduce bias, and drive more inclusive online services,” he said.
Ultimately, the EU hopes to stimulate innovation by leveling the playing field. It’s an approach that’s attracting imitators around the world.
“The question is whether innovation is best fostered broadly through open competitive marketplaces or determined by a minority of platforms operating at significant scale,” said Geoff Blaber, CEO of CCS Insights. “Consensus has undoubtedly shifted to the former.”
We did it! Despite humanity’s best efforts, we made it through 2022. Before we pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and brace for whatever 2023 has to offer, we should probably take some time to reflect on the year that was.
Here at Neural, that means recounting our favorite stories from the past 12 months. There was a lot of mind-blowing news in the world of tech in 2022. From Elon Musk’s purchase of Twitter to former Google engineer Blake Lemoine declaring that he’d met a sentient AI, it was a year to remember.
But, rather than rehash months-old news, we wanted to take this opportunity to share our most mind-blowing and fascinating stories from the year. Some of these were big news when we published them, others have a more evergreen feel to them. But they’re all articles we’re particularly proud of.
Greetings, humanoids
Subscribe to our newsletter now for a weekly recap of our favorite AI stories in your inbox.
So, before we bid you and 2022 adieu, and without further ado, here Neural’s most mind-blowing stories of the year.
Thomas Macaulay
TNW/Neural reporter Thomas Macaulay had a fantastic year. It’d take a few volumes to reprint all the amazing stories he wrote in 2022, but we’ve managed to snag five hits for your reading pleasure.
Why have aliens never visited Earth? Scientists blame the singularity
What if the real reason why we haven’t met aliens yet is because their civilizations became too big to succeed? This is all theoretical, but you might be surprised who the first species to experience this “burnout” could be.
It’s all fun and games until your childhood pal becomes a killer robot. This is eerily similar to the plot of the 1986 cult classic “Deadly Friend.” Although the real story is about a guy who trained an AI-powered microwave to act like his imaginary friend, and the movie was about a guy who shoved a computer chip in a dead person’s head, both tales have their merits as classic horror features if you ask me.
This story is a delightful dive into what it’s like to experience culinary cuisine at the cutting edge. It’s a great story. But, if I’m being honest, my biggest takeaway is that Tom’s childhood favorite food was steak.
The Dutch are world leaders in lab-grown meat. Why can’t they eat it?
This is one of my favorites, and a perfect example of why Tom’s so good at what he does. This deep dive not only discusses the technology, but dares to ask hard questions: “It’s not vegetarian, but if it’s removed every drawback of conventional meat, why wouldn’t I eat it? And why can’t I find it in Europe?”
Elon Musk is the richest person in the world. If you ask us, that’s way less impressive than it sounds. He spent 2022 doing what he always does: making headlines and causing controversy. Rather than speculate about what he’s going to do next, we wanted to gently remind you that he has a habit of making things up as he goes along.
Tristan Greene
I’m not usually one to toot my own horn. But, since it’s the holiday season, I thought I’d share my favorite Neural stories that were written by yours truly in 2022:
This whole thing turned into a big deal on Twitter, at least as far as the AI community goes. There was a significant amount of respectful debate that has since boiled over into numerous other discussions about fancy AI models from OpenAI and Meta.
I’m not sure who needs to hear this but, your brain is way smarter than you think it is. While you’re enjoying life in a classical world, our brains are (theoretically) operating in a quantum one. If it sounds tricky, that’s because it is.
The biggest story of 2021 was Google’s time crystals. To date, I think it’s the most important story I’ve ever covered. But 2022 also had some very cool experiments in the same domain. I can’t wait for 2023!
Elon Musk and Tesla are trying to convince the world that they’re on the cusp of putting a humanoid helper robot into production. Spoiler alert: they most certainly are not. A little critical thinking goes a long way here.
I wrote this piece in early January of 2022 and having thought about it for the whole year, I stand by it. I’m pretty sure the world ended in 2012, it’s the only thing that makes any sense.
However, if it didn’t, and all of this has been real, then I’d like to wish you a wonderful 2023. On behalf of Neural, thanks for reading. Happy new year!
The European Union has an unusual IT strategy. While the US prioritizes the development of global tech giants, the EU focuses on becoming the sector’s leading regulator.
In 2022, the bloc launched two sweeping sets of stringent new rules: the Digital Markets Act (DMA), which seeks to bolster competition in online services, and the Digital Services Act (DSA), which aims to protect people from online harm. Analysts expect the regulatory drive to accelerate next year.
“The only thing we can be certain about is that there will be more regulation next year, and increased enforcement of it,” said Alan Calder, CEO of GRC International Group, a global provider of IT governance, risk management, and compliance solutions.
To gauge the details, TNW asked IT experts across the bloc what they predict from the EU’s policies in 2023. All expect significant changes in legislation, with certain technologies particularly prominent in their forecasts.
Tighter security
Our experts expect significant developments in cyber security regulation. Kostas Rossoglou, Shopify’s Head of Public Policy and Government Affairs for EMEA and International, highlighted the importance of the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA).
The recently-adopted regulation aims to harmonize the financial sector’s approach to cybersecurity. To comply with the rules, organizations will need to review legacy IT systems and potentially invest in new software potential investment in new software. This may be costly in the short term, but Rossoglou is optimistic that it will pay off. He expects levels of security to increase, thereby limiting attacks, reducing downtime, and saving cash.
“Although it will be a couple of years before mandatory compliance, it will eventually put financial organizations in a much stronger position for handling outages, leaks, unauthorized access, and data loss,” he said. “Within the highly sensitive information that the financial sector holds, this is incredibly important.”
“It’s never too soon to be aware.
Another proposal working its way through the EU is the Cyber Resilience Act. This regulation will establish cybersecurity requirements for connected devices, which will provide consumers with transparency on practices, testing, and general functions.
The legislation is currently going through a consultation process. Rossoglou recommends organizations keep a close eye on its progress next year.
“It is likely to be a year or two before it is finalized and then organizations will be given a 24-month transition period to comply,” he said. “However, it is never too soon to be aware of upcoming changes. Regularly monitoring for updates will ensure that businesses are prepared for the changes in good time.”
This is a picture of Kostas Rossoglou, Shopify’s Head of Public Policy and Government Affairs for EMEA and International.
Indeed, these preparations could become increasingly crucial. Calder predicts new EU rules to be accompanied by stricter enforcement.
“The whole area of cyber security will, in particular, experience a ratcheting up in terms of regulation, and regulatory enforcement as the EU Commission moves to force organizations to take cyber security steps they’re failing to take voluntarily,” he said.
Algorithmic accountability
The EU is also developing new regulation for artificial intelligence, which is based on the technology’s potential to cause harm. Named the AI Act, the legislation will force anyone who wants to use, build, or sell AI products and services within the EU to follow the rules.
“It is expected that the legislation will set a precedent for other jurisdictions to evolve or follow,” said Matt Peake, Global Director of Public Policy at ID verification firm Onfido. “The framework is designed to be risk-based, so that the level of regulation will depend on the level of risk.”
According to a global survey by Accenture, the rules will have a deep impact. Some 95% of respondents said at least part of their business will be affected by the EU regulations.
Accenture’s researchers expect a risk management framework to become necessary for compliance with the AI Act. They also predict the regulation will be adopted before the end of 2023, with a two-year grace period before the rules come into force. That timetable, however, may be less generous than it appears.
“Our experience working with large organizations on major enterprise-wide compliance programs (e.g. GDPR, Responsible AI) suggests that it could easily take as long as two years to establish all the necessary controls they will need to be compliant,” the research team wrote in a report.
Follow the money
Cryptocurrencies are becoming a focal point of tech regulation. In the EU, a growing range of controversies has led the bloc to develop new legislation for the sector.
“I think 2023 will be a landmark year for crypto regulation,” said Ivan Liljeqvist, cofounder and CEO ofMoralis, a Web3 API provider.
Liljeqvist highlights the importance of the Market in Crypto Assets (MiCA) bill. In February, the European Parliament is expected to vote on the bill — the first comprehensive crypto regulation in the continent.
Ivan Liljeqvist, cofounder and CEO of Moralis.
With Big Tech getting into Web3 and the metaverse, competition is likely to heat up over the next few years — which could invite more regulatory scrutiny. The European Union recently introduced its Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) legislation, but even insiders from the EU Commission agree some of the phrasing around NFTs is ambiguous and even straight-up inaccurate.
The proposals could become integral to the European Commission’s future digital finance strategy. In addition, they may provide a reference point for other regulatory bodies.
“While the bill is unlikely to be rolled out until the end of the year, whenever we are dealing with legislative firsts I think the expectancy is for legislators to be cautious and over-regulate rather than under-regulate,” said Liljeqvist.
“What I want to see, and what I think others in the market want to see, is regulation that is sensible rather than stifling, protecting the principles of innovation and competition. I believe the most important thing is for the bill to be open-minded and flexible enough to be revised depending on how markets develop.”
Liljeqvist wasn’t alone in expressing caution. Jake Stott, CEO of Web3 creative agency Hype, is concerned about the impact on the market.
“As tech behemoths like Meta, Reddit, Google and Apple continue to venture into Web3 and NFTs, the regulatory situation could quickly escalate, triggering even more uncertainty in the market.”
“They must move at a faster pace.
Some critics, however, argue that the EU needs to be quicker to regulate the sector. Martin Magnone, co-founder and CEO of credit company Tymit, believes the new legislation will only start to make an impact in 2024.
“If the EU is to successfully take a stronger stand, they must move at a faster pace in line with industry movements,” he said.
Opening access
The payment sector, meanwhile, is preparing for the European Commission’s review of the PSD2, an EU regulation for online transactions.
Industry insiders have high hopes for the review, which is slated for 2023. They believe it could lead European SMEs and consumers to receive better payment outcomes — at a better price.
Under the current rules, only credit institutions can access European payment schemes. As a result, non-banks and more innovative firms must go through traditional banks to benefit from the schemes.
“This creates dependencies on credit institutions and their legacy systems; single points of failure; and increases the cost of payment services offered by non-credit institutions to European SMEs and consumers,” said Elanie Steyn, Director of Operations at payments platform Modulr.
“Should the PSD2 review include consideration on which institutions can directly access and settle European payments, the impact could be seismic. Opening access has the potential to level the playing field, create greater competition, and lower payment costs for all Europeans.”
Indeed, many of the experts we spoke to expect the EU to prioritize open access.
“The EU’s main focus for 2023 will still be the Big Tech platforms and achieving their goal of making them more open and interoperable,” said Tymit CEOMartin Magnone.
“The measures introduced so far to moderate the monopoly of large tech companies, from labor laws to taxes, have only been partially effective and not yet produced the desired effects. In 2023, we will see the EU make further strides to remedy this and achieve its open access goals.”
Meta has acquired the Belgian-Dutch company Luxexcel, a 3D printing firm creating complex glass lenses for use in AR optics.
As first reported by Belgian newspaper De Tijd(Dutch), the Turnhout, Belgium-based company was quietly acquired by Facebook parent Meta in an ostensible bid to bolster the development of its in-development AR glasses.
Details of the acquisition are still under wraps, however confirmation by Meta was obtained by English language publication The Brussels Times.
“We are delighted that the Luxexcel team has joined Meta. This extends the partnership between the two companies,” Meta says.
Founded in 2009, Luxexcel first focused on 3D printing lenses for automotive, industrial optics, and the aerospace industry. Over the years Luxexcel shifted to using its 3D printing tech to create prescription lenses for the eyewear market.
In 2020, the company made its first entry into the smart eyewear market by combining 3D printed prescription lenses with the integration of technology. One year later, Luxexcel partnered with UK-based waveguide company WaveOptics, which has since been acquired by Snapchat parent Snap.
Meta’s interest in Luxexcel undoubtedly stems from its ability to print complex optics for both smart glasses and AR headsets; Meta’s Project Aria is rumored to house Luxexcel-built lenses. Project Aria is a sensor-rich pair of glasses which the company created to train its AR perception systems, as well as asses public perception of the technology.
Here we go again! For the sixth year running, we present Neural’s annual AI predictions. 2022 was an incredible year for the fields of machine learning and artificial intelligence. From the AI developer who tried to convince the world that one of Google’s chatbots had become sentient to the recent launch of OpenAI’s ChatGPT, it’s been 12 months of non-stop drama and action. And we have every reason to believe that next year will be both bigger and weirder.
That’s why we reached out to three thought leaders whose companies are highly invested in artificial intelligence and the future. Without further ado, here are the predictions for AI in 2023:
First up, Alexander Hagerup, co-founder and CEO at Vic.ai, told us that we’d continue to see the “progression from humans using AI and ML software to augment their work, to humans relying on software to autonomously do the work for them.” According to him, this will have a lot to do with generative AI for creatives — we’re pretty sure he’s talking about the ChatGPTs and DALL-Es of the AI world — as well as “reliance on truly autonomous systems for finance and other back-office functions.”
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He believes a looming recession could increase this progress as much as two-fold, as businesses may be forced to find ways to cut back on labor costs.
Next, we heard from Jonathan Taylor, Chief Technology Officer at Zoovu. He’s predicting global disruption for the consumer buyer experience in 2023 thanks to “innovative zero-party solutions, leveraging advanced machine learning techniques and designed to interact directly and transparently with consumers.” I know that sounds like corporate jargon, but the fact of the matter is sometimes marketing-speak hits the nail on the head.
Consumers are sick and tired of the traditional business interaction experience. We’ve been on hold since we were old enough to pay bills. It’s a bold new world and the companies that know how to use machine learning to make us happy will be the cream that rises to the top in 2023 and beyond.
Jonathan Taylor, Chief Technology Officer at Zoovu
Taylor also predicts that Europe’s world-leading consumer protection and data privacy legislation will force companies large and small to “adopt these new approaches before the legacy approaches either become regulated out of existence by government or mandated out of existence by consumers.”
The writing’s on the wall. As he puts it, “the only way to make these zero-party solutions truly scalable and as effective as the older privacy-invading alternatives, will be to use advanced machine learning and transfer learning techniques.”
Finally, we got in touch with Gabriel Mecklenburg, co-founder at Hinge Health. He told us that the future of AI in 2023 is diversity. In order for the field to progress, especially when it comes to medicine, machine learning needs to work for everyone.
In his words, “AI is clearly the future of motion tracking for health and fitness, but it’s still extremely hard to do well. Many apps will work if you’re a white person with an average body and a late-model iPhone with a big screen. However, equitable access means that AI-powered care experiences must work on low-end phones, for people of all shapes and colors, and in real environments.”
Gabriel Mecklenburg, co-founder of Hinge Health
Mecklenburg explained that more than one in five people suffer from musculoskeletal conditions such as neck, back, and joint pain. According to him, “it is a global crisis with a severe human and economic toll.”
He believes that, with AI, medical professionals have what they need to help those people. “For example,” says Mecklenberg, “AI technology can now help identify and track many unique joints and reference points on the body using just the phone camera.”
But, as mentioned above, this only matters if these tools work for everyone. Per Mecklenburg, “we must ensure AI is used to bridge the care gap, not widen it.”
From the editor of Neural:
It’s been a privilege curating and publishing these predictions all these years. When we started, over half a decade ago, we made the conscious decision to highlight voices from smaller companies. And, as long-time readers might recall, I even ventured a few predictions myself back in 2019.
But, considering we spent all of 2020 in COVID lockdown, I’m reticent to tempt fate yet again. I won’t venture any predictions for AI in 2023 save one: the human spirit will endure.
When we started predicting the future of AI here at Neural, a certain portion of the population found it clever to tell creatives to “learn to code.” At the time, it seemed like journalists and artists were on the verge of being replaced by machines.
Yet, six years later, we still have journalists and artists. That’s the problem with humans: we’re never satisfied. Build an AI that understands us today, and it’ll be out of date tomorrow.
The future is all about finding ways to make AI work for us, not the other way around.
We first met homeAR in March. The solution for homebuilders and their clients creates virtual models of homes that are visible on-site or in a “dollhouse mode” from anywhere. So, what’s next? Entire AR communities? Actually, yes. Other recent updates to the platform include an “Always-On” feature and more compatibility with other applications.
Welcome homeAR
HomeAR has been around for quite a while now, but it has only existed in its current iteration for the last few years after CEO Richard Penny was inspired by his own experience in having a house built.
The last time that we checked in with homeAR, prospective homeowners could see the AR model of their home on-site or wherever they happened to be. Either of these solutions made it easier for them to envision their future dwelling to better work with contractors to make sure that everything went according to plan (or change the plan).
“When a person is using this and expecting it to behave like a house, we want to make it usable so people aren’t just interacting with a 3D widget, they’re interacting with a house,” Penny told ARPost at the time.
The application was good for exactly that. People having a house built could view their house virtually before the ground was even broken on their property. But, not all houses are custom-built by a property owner working with a private contractor. What about people looking to move into a new housing complex or subdivision? That’s where some of the new features come in.
Your Next Home Hasn’t Been Built Yet
HomeAR has been rolling out a bunch of new features, but one of the most exciting is the Always-On feature. Builders can import their CAD models to the homeAR backend and then associate the model with a QR code on-site. Visitors to the site can then scan the QR code to launch the experience.
That experience consists of virtual houses pinned to their future locations in the physical world. Potentially replacing a single model home and an artist’s 2D rendering of the building site, this experience allows visitors to envision an entire unbuilt community in the physical environment around them.
“Being able to take buyers on a journey where they can experience not only an individual home, but a whole community, is hugely powerful for both parties,” Penny said in a release shared with ARPost. “This Always-On technology provides a glimpse of the future at the site of the build and is the perfect tool to help someone imagine what lies in store for them.”
This tool doesn’t only provide information to visitors, it also provides information to developers. Metrics gathered from users interacting with the virtual development help project managers understand how potential residents are exploring the site.
What’s Next?
This isn’t the end of homeAR. Some of the features that Penny told us to expect in the future still aren’t here – like spatially anchored notes within the virtual model homes, and recording video within the app. We aren’t sure when to expect these features, but it’s nice to see that the company isn’t standing still.
Dolami, a Japanese startup based both in the US and Japan, announced it raised 100 million yen (~$730,000) this week to help bring X Mask to market, a unique facemask capable of tracking a user’s facial movements in VR. While many of the specifics surrounding X Mask are still under wraps, the startup seems to have both consumer and enterprise users in mind.
According to a press statement (Japanese), the funding round was led by a fleet of Japan-based venture capital, including CyberAgentCapital, East Ventures, F Ventures, and NOW. Included in the round was former CEO of Anchor Japan Yoshitsune Ido, CEO of Mankind Games Yusuke Harima, Yuji Wakabayashi, and Executive Vice President of Photosynth Co. Hiroaki Watanabe.
Dolami, which partnered with Osaka University in 2021 to develop X Mask, says it will use the funds to strengthen the recruitment of core members and focus on product development.
Image courtesy Dolami
There’s still a lot to learn about X Mask, however the unique face-tracking mask is said to bring “over 95% accuracy” in replicating facial movements, with face-tracking latency speeds reaching 200 milliseconds. It’s also said to be fairly light, weighing in at 4.5oz (128g).
Since its initial development in 2021, the company has since applied for an international patent which will allow Dolami to market the headset in the United States in addition to Japan. Dolami is aiming to reach a $90 price point when it’s released next year.
Image courtesy Dolami
Granted, face-tracking can also be done optically by way of either built-in sensors, such as the ones seen in Pico 4 Enterprise, or in add-on modules like with the Vive Facial Tracker, which can plug into HTC’s line of Vive Pro headsets. Dolami seems hardware agnostic in its approach thus far, so it could mean we’ll see multiple headsets supported, which would give the device a wider reach than current aftermarket modules.
While X Mask is a novel approach to facial tracking, and may confer some accuracy benefits over optical methods, one of the things we’re hoping to see is how the company deals with hygiene, as anyone with a non-wipeable VR headset facial interface can testify how gross the glorified face sponges can get. It also remains to be seen whether consumers even want to wear a facemask now that medical facemasks are falling out of use in the post-pandemic world.
We’re hoping to learn more soon, as the company says it’s aiming to launch X Mask sometime in 2023.
