Meet Apple's AI-powered iPad

In July 1518, residents of Strasbourg were struck by a sudden and uncontrollable urge to dance. The "dancing plague" took hold of many people, with dozens dancing for days without rest, and some reportedly dancing to their deaths from heart attack, stroke, or exhaustion.

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TODAY:

• Apple updates the iPad, making it an AI powerhouse.

• AI is writing your next TV show script.

• Around the web: WiiM launches Ultra and Amp Pro, advanced audiophile streaming devices.

• Cascade transforms your Slack with AI!

APPLE

Apple’s new iPad Pro is built around AI

Apple is set to upgrade its iPad Pro range with the cutting-edge M4 chip, as well as the latest OLED technology.

This update significantly updates AI capabilities in iPadOS.

The M4 chip is crafted using advanced second-generation 3nm technology and includes a 10-core CPU split between four high-performance cores and six efficiency cores.

This configuration offers a 50% increase in power over the previous M2 chip.

The chip also sports a 10-core GPU that supports dynamic caching, mesh shading, and ray tracing, quadrupling the rendering speed of its predecessor.

Mystery AI Features

Although the new iPad is focused on AI - we still don’t know what sort of AI tricks the new iPad will actually be able to do.

We’ll have to wait for WWDC to learn about the new iPad OS - and rumours are, it’s going to be the biggest update the OS has ever seen.

Here’s what you should know:

• The M4 chip's neural engine can handle 38 trillion operations per second. While this is less than Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite at 45 trillion, it still offers substantial AI processing power with efficient energy use.

• Features like mesh shading and ray tracing on the M4's GPU improve visual processing, ensuring a smoother and richer visual experience.

• As Apple launches the M4, Microsoft is also preparing to reveal its new Arm-powered devices, aiming to compete with Apple’s offerings in both CPU performance and AI-accelerated tasks, heating up the competition.

Apple chose not to reveal the NPU core count in the M4, maintaining a pattern seen in previous M-series chips.

This component is key for quickly handling computational tasks and has improved with each generation, though details remain sparse.

Apple vs Microsoft

As we look forward to these tech advances, Apple's M4 reveal comes just before Microsoft's special Windows and Surface AI event in Seattle on May 20th.

This event is expected to showcase new Arm-powered hardware that could challenge the new iPad and MacBook Air M3 in CPU performance and AI functionalities.

Is this the Siri update we’ve been waiting for?

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AI TOOLS

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On This Day

10th May 1960 - The US atomic submarine USS Triton completes the first submerged circumnavigation of the globe. This landmark voyage demonstrates the capabilities of nuclear-powered submarines in extended underwater travel.

Riddle Me This

“I am a maker, yet I cannot create,

A thinker of thoughts, without a mind to contemplate.

I juggle with numbers and letters galore,

Processing instructions to find insights in store.

My silicon brain cannot wonder or ponder,

But through coded teachings, great answers I wonder.

What paradoxical being am I?”

Nifty Numbers

By 2025, around 85 million jobs may be displaced by machines, while 97 million new roles better suited to the changing human-machine work dynamics could emerge.

AI TELEVISION

AI is writing your next binge-worthy TV show

AI is making its mark on TV production, with major companies like RTL Group and Banijay leading the charge.

They're using AI to come up with fresh ideas and streamline how shows are made, signalling a shift in the traditional creation process.

Here’s what’s happening:

• Big TV producers are now using AI to craft new content, highlighting a shift in how programmes are developed.

• While AI quickly offers a range of ideas, the crucial decisions and final touches still rely heavily on human input.

• AI is especially useful for the heavy lifting of routine tasks, boosting productivity across the board.

AI's contribution ranges from generating show concepts to assisting in scriptwriting.

For instance, an AI came up with the idea for 'Skills Mastery Showdown', a competitive show about learning new skills.

This demonstrates AI's ability to generate engaging concepts, though industry veterans like Dan Whitehead from K7 Media remind us that the best ideas still require a human spark.

AI is also practical behind the scenes. The BBC uses AI to manage and analyse footage for nature programmes like 'Springwatch', which helps the production team focus on creative aspects.

This blend of AI and human effort is key; upgrading efficiency without sacrificing content quality.

No more predictable plots

Professionals like Eline Van Der Velden of Particle 6 see AI as an invaluable tool in content creation, aiding in everything from scriptwriting to brainstorming programme ideas.

She compares knowing how to use AI to understanding basic software - it’s essential for modern production efficiency.

In essence, AI is becoming indispensable in TV production, marrying innovation with efficiency and ensuring that the human element remains central to storytelling.

This synergy promises to redefine how we create and enjoy television.

AI is disrupting the tv and film industry

Recently, Tyler Perry halted his $800 million studio expansion, citing the impact of the advanced capabilities of AI like OpenAI's Sora.

This technology could simplify film production by reducing the need for on-location shoots and physical sets, potentially cutting costs drastically.

However, Perry also highlighted concerns about potential job losses in the industry, underlining the complex effects of technological advancements in creative sectors.

I trust AI to make TV more interesting than 90% of what’s on Netflix.

Mindstream Picks

Manchester Airport launches the UK's first airport gaming point in Terminal 1, offering travellers top games and virtual reality experiences before flights.

Crypto market sees further declines, with Bitcoin dropping below $62,000 and Ethereum below $3,000, alongside dips in Solana and other top altcoins.

Lenovo's ThinkPad P1 (Gen 7) introduces the first laptop with upgradeable LPCAMM2 memory, a modular alternative to soldered LPDDR.

Virgin Galactic plans to increase flights of its existing "mothership" to up to 125 times a year with Delta-class spaceplanes, deferring new aircraft development amid a Boeing legal dispute.

Don’t Miss - WiiM has introduced two high-end audiophile streaming devices, the WiiM Ultra and WiiM Amp Pro, featuring advanced connectivity with AirPlay 2, Chromecast, DLNA, and more. Both devices incorporate a high-performance 32-bit/384kHz ES9038 Q2M Sabre DAC, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, and sport a compact Mac Studio-like design. They also automatically adjust audio to the room's acoustics, enhancing the listening experience.

AI Art

Our Image of the Day

Daily Image Prompt

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Yesterday’s Poll

“AI for ads - what do you think?”

It will make things so much easier 68% ✅

It will ruin advertising! 32%

Reader’s Opinions

“Think at some time a lot of advertisement going to be same... You gotta be unique”- tanjaholscher13

“I can see how large advertisers would be concerned, but everyone doesn't need those guys. So what if they have new competition, isn't that what free enterprise means?”- lisa@lisa

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