Funding Flows in AI Sector: Hedra, Cartwheel, and Schemata Secure Capital; Google and Meta Make Their Moves in the Financial Arena
Fresh Take:
Get a Load of This! The Latest on Meta's Ray Ban Smart Glasses and Google's Vegging Out Competition
Caught your attention with funding announcements from new gen AI startups? Well, Meta's got some ace up its sleeve too! This week, their Llama app upgrade sent shivers down Apple's spine as their Ray Ban smart glasses got an unexpected boost. Meanwhile, there's a hot race going on in the Metaverse, where Meta's falling behind with their cash-guzzling attempts to catch Roblox and Fortnite. Yet, there might be a game in tech Meta can't master!
Put Your Anticipation Goggles On: Google I/O Is Coming Next Week
With Google I/O just around the corner, all eyes are now on Veo, Google DeepMind's video-slaying AI. To get you hyped, let's run through what Veo 2 is capable of—generate 4K video clips from text inputs, jewelry-operate cinematic elements, and even support image-to-video creation! You can give it a whirl via Gemini Advanced and Google AI Studio, and rumor has it that a Veo 3 announcement could be imminent, along with fresh Gemini models! Get ready, Apple—you're running behind!
Hedra AI: Bringing Your Digital Friends to Life with $32 Million in the Bank
Ever wanted to chat with an animated mascot or virtual spokesperson? Hedra AI, led by a former stage actor, is here to help! The company, which has raised $32 million, focuses on creating lifelike avatars with their Character-3 model, that blends text, images, and audio. They're on a mission to conquer the "uncanny valley" and impress a16z speedrun, Abstract, Index Ventures, and Andreessen Horowitz's infrastructure fund. With a value of $200 million, they're stepping into the digital realm and are ready to create those brilliantly quirky companions for brands.
*Don't Cha Miss Those Good Ol' Microsoft Updates?
If you cherish the excitement of Microsoft updates —well, this time you might not be so thrilled. The latest update reportedly caused a few Window-breaking issues, not so unlike a kid jumping on a trampoline! Sure, it's a pain, but it's nothing a good old reset can't fix. Microsoft's taken notice too; they've promised to iron out the wrinkles and let you decide on the next upgrade.
Cartwheel: Spinning Their AI-Powered Animation Magic
With $10 million in funding and brains from Pixar, Riot, Unity, and more, Cartwheel is out to simplify animation for games, advertising, and education. No more hours spent – instead, create detailed animations from text or video, and even export to Maya and Unreal! It's high time for a revolution in the animation world, and Cartwheel's ready to lead the charge.
Schemata: Shaking Up Education with AI Simulations
Schemata, born at Stanford, has emerged with a focus on providing personalized, context-aware training simulations. They've already made headway with the U.S. Department of Defense, and their platform promises to create interactive scenarios 10 times faster and at a fraction of the traditional cost. With real-time guidance via AI Instructor, learning's never been so streamlined!
Meta's Builder Bot: Streamlining Horizon Worlds Creation
Remember when Zuckerberg teased Builder Bot in 2022? Well, it's finally here! AssetGen 2.0 generates detailed 3D assets directly from text prompts and will soon streamline the creation of immersive environments in Meta's Horizon Desktop Editor. Let's see if this step helps Meta catch up to Roblox and Fortnite creative powerhouses.
Meta's AI ChatGPT Competitor for iOS and Android
Feeling the need to chat AI? Get Meta's new app for iOS and Android! Offering text, voice, and image interaction, it integrates with Facebook and Instagram, providing a social spin on AI interactions via its "Discover" feed. It also features an experimental "full-duplex" voice mode for a more natural conversation experience. With a Musk-like conviction, this app could just be Zuck's next big move to dominate the AI space.
Roblox's Creators Leverage Physical Sales Within Their Experiences
Roblox creators are now free to sell physical items within their games, thanks to the new Commerce APIs! Integrated with Shopify, users can now purchase real-life apparel and cosmetics inside the virtual world. Fenty Beauty's launching an exclusive lip gloss shade only available on the platform—talk about a sweet deal!
VRChat Launches Creator Economy with Avatar Marketplace
VRChat creators have been cashing in on Fiverr for years, charging top dollar for premium PC avatars. Now, they can sell their creations directly on the platform via the Avatar Marketplace, using VRChat Credits that are exchangeable for real cash. Expect more creators to join the party as users show interest in the platform's expanding interactive features.
Apple: Always Coming Back for More
Apple's AI smart glasses won't be gracing our faces 'til 2026, if the rumors are true. But even a setback like this can't stop a tech giant! Apple's clinging to their crown with a new chip and a 2027 display-equipped model, both based on their Apple Watch's low-power processors, capable of managing multiple cameras for wearable AI.
Tune In To Our Weekly AI/XR Podcast
Want to know more? Tune in to our weekly AI/XR podcast, co-hosted by former Paramount futurist and Red Camera co-founder, and Rony Abovitz, founder of Magic Leap, Mako Robotics, and Synthbee AI! This week's guest is Ori Inbar, co-founder and CEO of AWE. Catch us on Spotify, iTunes, and YouTube!
- In the realm of technology and finance, both Meta and Google are engaging in significant investing activities, with Meta focusing on enhancing their Ray Ban smart glasses and Google concentrating on the advancement of their video-generating AI, Veo.
- As the AI and XR industry continues to evolve, it could be intriguing to observe the potential outcomes of Meta's new AI chat app and Google's upcoming Veo 3, both anticipated to disrupt the market in unique ways.
