OpenAI Debuts Chat GPT-4o with Advanced Features & Capabilities

Tech giant Apple recently unveiled the latest of their iPad Pro series in an unbelievably thin and light design and has the most advanced display and the best performance yet.

The new iPad Pro is available in black and silver finishes and comes in 13-inch and 11-inch sizes, allowing users to take them anywhere. The 13-inch model is 5.1mm thin, while the 11-inch device is 5.3mm – both are enclosed with 100% recycled aluminum.

The new models offer the most advanced display that utilizes the Retina XDR display – providing a top-notch visual experience for users. The Retina XDR display features the latest OLED technology which uses two OLED panels to bring out an impressive full-screen brightness and enable sub-millisecond control over the colour and luminance of each pixel – which means, users can experience extreme brightness, incredibly precise contrast, and brilliant colours.

Professionals working with high-end, colour-managed workflows or under challenging lighting conditions can also opt for the nano-texture glass to maintain image quality and contrast while scattering ambient light for reduced glare.

The new design and display are made possible by the M4 chip – the newest generation of Apple silicon that delivers a huge leap in performance. Built on second-generation 3-nanometer technology, the M4 chip allows the new models to be more power-efficient and to pioneer technology for the stunning precision, colour, and brightness of the Ultra Retina XDR display.

Offering up to four performance cores and now six efficiency cores with next-generation machine learning (ML) accelerators, the new CPU can deliver up to 1.5x faster performance over M2 in the previous-generation iPad Pro. Now, users can expect powerful features like dynamic caching and hardware-accelerated mesh shading and ray tracing – for the first time ever in iPads.

The new iPad Pro’s camera system has a 12MP back camera that can capture vibrant Smart HDR photos and videos with better colour, improved textures, and detail in low light, along with four studio-quality mics. Meanwhile, the front camera has an ultra-wide and TrueDepth 12MP camera.

The release also featured the newest Apple Pencil Pro which features a new sensor in the barrel, making every user’s experience better. Find out more about the latest drops here.

Meta just introduced a new and improved Artificial Intelligence (AI) assistance with Llama 3 across all their applications, including Facebook and Instagram. According to Meta, users can get help with planning meals, organising parties, and even studying for exams for free.

Claimed as “the most intelligent AI assistant,” the Meta AI can be used in feed, chats, searches, and more in-app to get things done and access real-time information – which makes things more convenient since you no longer have to switch apps when doing so.

Aside from the in-app AI assistance, the tech giant will also be launching a new website called meta.ai, so you can access the same features on your computer. There will also be a Meta AI Imagine feature, which will only be available on the website and WhatsApp. This feature will let you create images from text in real time.

How will it work? Just type in whatever you are thinking of. An image will appear as you type and it will change with every few letters typed – bringing your visions to life. You can also ask the smart assistant to turn images into an animation or GIF.

Meta will also be rolling out AI assistance in English outside of the US, including in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Jamaica, South Africa, Malawi, Uganda, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, and Zambia. Find out more information here.

Many of us have experienced the frustration of receiving and uploading low-quality photos on the Messenger app despite taking them in high resolution. But here's some good news: last April 10, Meta rolled out several new features, including HD photos and shared albums.

To send crisper and clearer photos in chats, select an image from your camera roll, then turn the HD toggle before hitting the send button. No need to do it one by one, as you can do it for multiple pictures as well.

If you recently took a trip with your friends or just did a little photoshoot with the family, you can now keep them organized when sending them to your group chat. The new update enables you to create shared albums of your best memories.

To do this, select multiple photos from your chat composer, then tap the “Create Album” button. Another way to create one is to long-press a photo in the chat and tap “Create Album.” In case you missed one, you can add them to an existing album by clicking “Add to Album.” If you want to rename it, you can just tap the three-dot menu on the album and click “Edit Name.” Don’t forget to click confirm to save the changes.

In a few weeks, other users in the chat will be able to view, add, delete, and download photos from the album. You and your friends will also be able to locate any album by tapping on your group chat name and checking the Media tab soon.

Another update coming soon is adding new connections via QR code. Sometimes, searching on the app using just a name can be a hassle, especially if the person you’re looking for has a common name. Soon, you can easily connect with other users by scanning their Messenger QR code or sharing yours via a link.

If you have limited access to apps and can only send documents using Messenger, the next update will let you send files up to 100MB, supporting all major file formats like Word, PDF, and Excel.

Whether it is dystopian earth-shattering fear or the vision of a utopic imagined future that the term ‘AI’ provokes from you, the constant trending term of #ArtificialIntelligence has been a near inescapable topic in recent years. But what exactly is AI? And what do all these abbreviations and new tech vocabulary appearing with every explore page or news feed refresh mean? 

Join The Beat Asia in demystifying the popular buzzwords in the artificial intelligence scene, so that you know exactly what you’re talking about without having to consult the binary Bard (now Gemini). Welcome to our AI dictionary series. 

What is machine learning?

Under the umbrella of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning is a computer science that replicates the process of taking in new information into algorithms. It focuses on using data and algorithms to help AI process new input and facts the way that humans learn and study. The computer system is fed with all sorts of data, which it then extrapolates predictions from, based on existing patterns the machine identifies.

How does machine learning work?

In the process of machine learning, data is iteratively fed through algorithms, allowing the system to learn and improve over time. This process is like practising a musical instrument for thousands of hours to master it. Three main components define the learning process: the decision process, and the error function, followed by model optimization.

Machine learning algorithms begin in the decision process by analysing input data, whether labelled or unlabelled, to make predictions or classifications. These predictions are based on identifying patterns within the data. An error function evaluates the accuracy of the model's predictions by comparing them to known examples. This helps measure the discrepancy between the model's predictions and the actual outcomes.

During optimization, the model adjusts its internal parameters (known as weights) to minimize the error between its predictions and the actual outcomes. This process involves continuously evaluating the model's performance and optimizing its parameters with each input and outcome, until greater accuracy is achieved.

What is machine learning useful for?

Machine learning has emerged as a powerful tool for tackling problems that were previously challenging or even impossible to solve using traditional programming methods. Tasks such as image recognition and language translation have greatly benefited from machine learning algorithms.

One key requirement for successful machine learning is a vast amount of data, which has only become more readily available in recent years due to the digitization of information. Additionally, advancements in computer hardware have made it faster, smaller, and more powerful, enabling more efficient processing of large datasets. This is why we now see large language models like ChatGPT and BingChat gaining popularity. This is all thanks to their ability to understand and generate human-like text, showcasing the potential of machine learning in various applications.

An innovative and fashionable speaker is coming to the market this month as Danish luxury audio brand Bang & Olufsen partners up with South Korean fashion brand Ader Error, perfectly tuning fashion and music together.

The collaboration with the title “The Blueism” features the speaker brand’s Beosound A1, which will be covered by Ader Error’s signature Z-blue colour, along with a speaker bag and speaker stand designed by the South Korean fashion brand.

Pushing boundaries in each of its own industries, both brands turn the speaker into a statement in both look and sound while offering a quality product to their customers.

Made from soft cowhide leather, the circular speaker bag is a perfect contrast to the Beosound A1 speaker with added accessories, including an adjustable shoulder strap and pouch, which adds an additional fashion piece to one’s outfit while at the same time making the electronic device hassle-free.

While the stand offers a contemporary and visual appeal that transforms into a piece of art, showing a different take from the usual placement of speakers at home, the speaker also boasts a 360-degree sound dispersion, almost 18 hours of playtime, and is fully dust-proof and waterproof.

The special collaboration is set to be launched in B&O and Ader Error’s pop-up in Seoul on April 10 and will be available globally starting on April 11.

For more information, visit their website.

Before the rise of TikTok, X (formerly Twitter) was the favourite digital hangout spot for Millennials and Gen Zs – mostly used to express thoughts or stay updated about the latest trends. Now being dominated by fandoms, the social media platform is gaining popularity once again.

Before being acquired by Elon Musk, blue checkmarks were used to verify legitimate and popular businesses, artists, and personalities. Thinking it was unfair, Musk overhauled the system and gave the blue checks to paying subscribers.

Things took a turn on April 3 when some people woke up with a verified account. According to a notification received, they are given a complimentary subscription to X premium for being an influential member of the X community.

What’s the basis? “All 𝕏 accounts with over 2500 verified subscriber followers will get Premium features for free and accounts with over 5000 will get Premium+ for free,” per Musk’s post on the platform last March 28 – which means having a large following does not guarantee a free check mark; you must have a certain number of paying subscribers on your followers list.