Hey folks, here's your pre-weekend nugget of the biggest stories from the tech world. Let's start at the very core. Humanity, and little humans. US-based companies are using cutting-edge AI and genetic tech to make babies that are... well... just better.

In what many are calling an expensive check mate, Perplexity partnered with Airtel, handing out a Pro tool worth Rs. 17,000 for FREE to over 300 million customers in India. Your move, lords of ChatGPT and Gemini!

Talking about ChatGPT, the company behind it has released a tool called Agent that can handle web-based tasks for you. Think of booking tickets, analyzing events based on your schedule, and a lot more. It's a true agent, but with the power of "take over whenever you want, damnit!"

US startups are racing to make super-babies with strong disease defenses

Image of a baby looking up.

Noor Siddiqui's startup, Orchid Health, is at the forefront of a new wave in reproductive technology. The company screens embryos for over 1,200 single-gene diseases and uses custom algorithms to calculate a future child's genetic propensity for complex conditions like cancer and schizophrenia.

Backed by prominent investors like Peter Thiel and gaining clients from the wealthy tech elite, including Shivon Zilis and potentially Elon Musk, Orchid's technology is a key part of the growing pronatalist movement.

The company's vision of a future where genetic preselection is a common path to parenthood has sparked significant debate, with critics questioning the scientific validity of its polygenic risk scores and the ethical implications of a technology that could be seen as a form of "liberal eugenics."

  • Orchid charges $2,500 per embryo for its screening service, on top of the average $20,000 cost for a single cycle of IVF.
  • Critics, including leading genetic scientists, question Orchid's claim that it can accurately sequence an entire human genome from as few as five cells, calling the process "Russian roulette."
  • Polygenic risk scores, a key part of Orchid's offering, have been shown to be up to 50% less accurate for people of non-European ancestry due to data bias.

Read the full story at The Washington Post.

ChatGPT is getting a browsing agent that will get shit done for you

Depiction of OpenAI's ChatGPT Agent.
Credit: OpenAI

Imagine telling ChatGPT something like "Check my calendar, and accordingly, book tickets to a Liverpool game next week. Prefer front row seat, and check for veg dining options, too." And ChatGPT does it. by surfing the web and taking actions on your behalf. That's ChatGPT agent.

OpenAI's new ChatGPT agent is not only a powerful tool for automating tasks but also a state-of-the-art model in terms of performance. The company has released benchmark data showing its impressive capabilities, particularly in complex areas like advanced mathematics.

However, the agent’s power has also prompted a new era of safety concerns, with OpenAI taking a proactive approach. It has designated the model as "high capability" in biological and chemical weapon domains and has implemented new safeguards, including real-time monitoring of user prompts and disabling the agent’s memory feature to prevent misuse.

  • Completes complex, multi-step tasks autonomously, from research to action, using its own virtual computer.
  • Interacts with websites through visual and text-based browsers, including logging in and navigating authenticated content.
  • Automates workflows by integrating with tools like Gmail, Github, spreadsheets, and presentations, adapting its approach for efficiency.
  • Maintains user control and privacy with explicit permission requests, real-time supervision, and robust safety safeguards.

Read more deets about ChatGPT agent at OpenAI.

Tecno thinks you need a triple-folding phone, even though it may never launch it

TECNO has just unveiled its latest concept device, the PHANTOM Ultimate G Fold, pushing the boundaries of foldable technology. The smartphone features a unique dual inward-folding tri-fold design that creates a massive 9.94-inch interior display.

This innovative "G-style" mechanism protects the flexible screen when closed while maintaining an exceptionally thin and durable form factor, thanks to advanced materials like high-strength steel and Titan Fiber.

  • The device measures a record-breaking 3.49mm when unfolded and 11.49mm when closed, making it the thinnest tri-fold phone announced to date.
  • The unique G-style folding mechanism folds the main screen inward twice, completely shielding it from potential damage.
  • High-end hardware, including a powerful chipset, a triple-camera system, and a battery over 5000mAh, is packed into the ultra-slim design.

Adobe's new AI tool basically turns human "vram vram" into actual engine sound

Adobe is expanding its generative AI capabilities with new filmmaking tools that provide creators with innovative ways to control their content.

The company's new features for its Firefly AI models allow users to go beyond traditional text prompts, introducing onomatopoeia-like voice recordings to generate custom sound effects and using reference videos to guide the motion in generated footage.

These tools offer a new level of creative control for filmmakers and video editors, making the process of matching sound and video more intuitive and precise.

  • The new Generate Sound Effects tool, currently in beta on the Firefly app, allows users to record and describe sounds to create custom effects.
  • The tool does not support speech but is designed for impact sounds like footsteps and atmospheric noises.
  • Users can match generated sounds to specific moments in their footage using a video editing timeline interface.

Read more about it from Adobe.

Oh ye Airtel users, here's free Perplexity Pro for you!

Perplexity and Airtel offer on a phone screen.
Credit: Athenil Media

So, Perplexity, which makes an "AI answering engine," partnered with an Indian telecom operator and gave a Pro subscription to all Airtel customers in India? That's a few hundred million users onboarded overnight. What are they gonna do with an AI subscription worth around Rs. 17,000 per year.

It's a clever tactic, by the way, but the success won't be easy. India has remained a tough market to crack for all companies because customers are not willing to pay for digital products. Even Netflix and Amazon Prime are offered at a subsidized rate here, and in partnership with other companies. Think Prime with Airtel!

While Perplexity has seen a massive surge in downloads and monthly active users in India, it still trails OpenAI's ChatGPT in absolute numbers and revenue. The startup is leveraging these partnerships and the country's large, tech-savvy population to leapfrog Western markets. Here are some numbers:

  • Perplexity’s Q2 downloads in India surged by 600% year-over-year, while its monthly active users (MAUs) increased by 640% in the same period.
  • The partnership with Bharti Airtel offers a free year of Perplexity Pro to all 360 million of the telecom's subscribers.
  • Perplexity has also integrated its AI search into the Paytm app, which has over 500 million downloads.

Read the full story at TechCrunch.

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