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Unlock Creativity: Ello’s New AI Feature Lets Kids Create Their Own Stories

Ello’s new AI feature, Storytime, lets kids create their own stories while improving reading skills, setting a new standard in AI-assisted education.

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AI reading companion

TL;DR:

  • Ello, an AI reading companion, has launched “Storytime,” allowing kids to create personalised stories.
  • The feature uses advanced AI to adapt to a child’s reading level and teach critical skills.
  • Ello’s technology outperforms competitors like OpenAI’s Whisper and Google Cloud’s speech API.
  • The platform has over 700,000 books read and offers affordable access for low-income families.

Empowering Young Minds with AI

In the ever-evolving world of artificial intelligence (AI), one company is making waves by empowering young readers to create their own stories. Ello, an AI reading companion, has introduced “Storytime,” a feature that not only helps kids improve their reading skills but also lets them participate in the story-creation process. This innovative tool is set to revolutionise how children engage with literature, making learning more interactive and fun.

What is Ello’s Storytime?

Ello’s “Storytime” is an AI-powered feature that allows kids to generate personalised stories by selecting from a variety of settings, characters, and plots. For example, a child could create a story about a hamster named Greg who performs in a talent show in outer space. With dozens of prompts available, the combinations are endless, ensuring that each story is unique and engaging.

How It Works

Like Ello’s regular reading offering, the AI companion—a bright blue, friendly elephant—listens to the child read aloud and evaluates their speech to correct mispronunciations and missed words. If kids are unsure how to pronounce a certain word, they can tap on the question mark icon for extra help.

Storytime offers two reading options:

  • Turn-Taking Mode: Ello and the reader take turns reading.
  • Easy Mode: Ello does most of the reading, making it suitable for younger readers.

Advanced AI for Personalised Learning

Ello’s proprietary AI system adapts to a child’s responses, teaching critical reading skills using phonics-based strategies. The company claims its technology outperforms OpenAI’s Whisper and Google Cloud’s speech API, making it a standout in the market.

Tailored to Reading Levels

The Storytime experience is tailored to the user’s reading level and the weekly lesson. For instance, if Ello is helping a first-grader practice their “ch” sound, the AI creates a story that strategically includes words like “chair” and “cheer.”

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Safety and Future Plans

Ello has implemented safety measures to ensure that the stories are suitable for children. The company spent several months testing the product with teachers, children, and reading specialists. The initial version only permits children to choose from a predetermined set of story options. However, future iterations will allow children to have even more involvement in the process.

Catalin Voss, co-founder and CTO of Ello, shared his vision for the future:

“If a teacher creates an open story with a child, they provide the [building blocks] through interactive dialog. So, I imagine it would look quite similar to that. Kids prefer some guardrails at some level. It’s the blank paper problem. You ask a five-year-old, ‘What do you want the story to be about?’ And they kind of get overwhelmed.”

Expanding Accessibility

In addition to Storytime, Ello recently launched its iOS app, expanding the reach of its AI reading coach to even more users. It was previously limited to tablets, including iPads, Android tablets, and Amazon.

With over 700,000 books read and tens of thousands of families served, Ello is priced at $14.99/month. Ello also partners with low-income schools to offer the subscription at no additional cost.

Additionally, Ello has made its library of decodable children’s books available online for free, further enhancing accessibility.

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The Future of AI in Education

AI-assisted story creation for kids isn’t a new concept. In 2022, Amazon introduced its own AI tool that generates animated stories for kids based on various themes and locations, such as underwater adventures or enchanted forests. Other startups, like Scarlet Panda and Story Spark, have also joined this trend.

However, Ello’s advanced AI system sets it apart, offering a more personalised and adaptive learning experience. As AI continues to evolve, tools like Ello’s Storytime will play a crucial role in shaping the future of education, making learning more engaging and effective.

By combining advanced AI with a fun and interactive approach, Ello is paving the way for a new era in education, where learning is not just about reading but also about creating and exploring new worlds.

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We’d love to hear your thoughts on Ello’s new Storytime feature! What do you think about AI-assisted story creation for kids? Have you tried any similar tools? Share your experiences and ideas in the comments below. Don’t forget to subscribe for updates on AI and AGI developments.

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Chat with Your Future Self: AI Brings Your Future to You

The Future You AI platform enhances future self-continuity, improving long-term thinking, academic performance, and mental health through personalised AI conversations.

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Future You AI platform

TL;DR:

  • Future You is an AI-powered platform that lets users chat with a personalised version of their future selves.
  • A study involving 344 participants showed that interacting with Future You reduced anxiety and strengthened the connection to future selves.
  • The platform aims to enhance future self-continuity, improving long-term thinking, academic performance, and mental health.

Imagine Yourself 30 Years in the Future…

How vividly can you imagine your future self? Inspired by studies showing how increased “future self-continuity” can positively influence saving behaviour, academic performance, mental health, and subjective quality of life, our interactive, web-based chat platform seeks to help users develop more long-term thinking and behaviour by strengthening their relationship with a relatable yet virtual version of their future selves. The conversation with the future self is generated in real-time via a large language model that has been personalised based on a pre-intervention survey assessing user future goals and personal qualities. Have a chat with your future self!

How It Works

Future You is a web-based platform that lets you chat with a personalised version of your future self. Our system uses advanced AI to create a realistic conversation partner based on information you provide.

Steps to Use Future You

  1. Pre-Intervention Survey: Fill out a survey about your future goals and personal qualities.
  2. AI Personalisation: The AI uses your survey responses to create a realistic version of your future self.
  3. Real-Time Conversation: Chat with your future self in real-time, exploring what your life could be like in the future.

The Research Behind Future You

In our study involving 344 participants, we found that after interacting with their “Future You” character, users experienced reduced anxiety and a stronger connection to their future selves. This research demonstrates how the virtual self can enhance an individual’s sense of future self-continuity and overall wellbeing.

Key Findings

  • Reduced Anxiety: Users reported feeling less anxious about the future.
  • Stronger Connection: Interacting with Future You helped users feel more connected to their future selves.
  • Improved Wellbeing: The platform enhanced users’ sense of future self-continuity, leading to better mental health.

What Happens to My Data?

We anonymise and collect your survey responses and your conversation with your future self for further research to improve Future You. Your data is kept secure and used only for the purpose of enhancing the platform.

How Accurate is Future You?

Future You cannot predict specific details about your future life – rather, it aims to paint a vivid and realistic picture of what your future life could be like. Our goal is to help illuminate future pathways that may otherwise seem ambiguous, uncertain, or unclear.

Why Doesn’t My Future Self Seem Like Me?

The conversation with the future self is generated in real-time via a large language model that has been personalised based on a pre-intervention survey assessing user future goals and personal qualities. Therefore, its responses are largely dependent on both its foundational model and the data collected in the pre-intervention survey. We recommend being as detailed as possible in the initial survey for the best possible experience.

Is This Tool Right for Me?

Future You is an intervention grounded in empirical and theoretical research on the benefits of future self-continuity as it relates to improvements in long-term thinking, academic performance, financial savings, and mental health and wellbeing. The primary goal of this project is to support reflection on future paths.

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Benefits of Future You

  • Long-Term Thinking: Helps users think more about their future.
  • Academic Performance: Encourages better academic outcomes.
  • Financial Savings: Promotes better saving habits.
  • Mental Health: Improves overall mental wellbeing.

What’s Next for Future You?

Future You is currently looking to make the platform more accessible and to collaborate with institutions to support young people in envisioning their futures.

Prompt: Imagine Your Future Self

Before you start chatting with your future self, take a moment to imagine what your life might be like in 30 years. Think about your goals, dreams, and aspirations. This will help you get the most out of your conversation with Future You.

Prompt: Imagine yourself 30 years from now. What do you see? Where are you living? What are you doing? How do you feel? Write down your thoughts and use them as a starting point for your conversation with Future You.

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What do you think about the potential of AI in helping us envision our futures? Have you tried Future You? Share your experiences and thoughts in the comments below. Don’t forget to subscribe for updates on AI and AGI developments.

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Will Meta’s New AR Glasses Replace Smartphones by 2027?

Explore the potential of Meta’s Orion AR glasses replacing smartphones, addressing challenges, and enhancing productivity.

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AR glasses replace smartphones

TL;DR:

  • Meta has unveiled Orion, their most advanced AR glasses, aiming to replace smartphones.
  • AR glasses face challenges like ease of use, physiological comfort, and social acceptance.
  • The AR and VR market is projected to reach US$370 billion by 2034.
  • Experts debate whether AR glasses will enhance productivity or create more distractions.

The Future is Here: Meta’s Orion AR Glasses

Imagine wearing glasses that let you see digital content right in front of your eyes. Meta, formerly known as Facebook, has brought this idea to life with their newest invention, Orion AR glasses. These glasses look like ordinary reading glasses but use holographic projection to display graphics in your field of view. Meta’s CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, claims they are the most advanced glasses ever made and will eventually replace smartphones. But is this just hype, or will AR glasses truly benefit us in new ways?

The Evolution of AR Glasses

The technology behind Orion is not new. In the 1960s, computer scientist Ivan Sutherland created the first AR head-mounted display. In the 1980s, Canadian engineer Stephen Mann developed the first glasses-like prototype. Throughout the 1990s, researchers and tech companies improved this technology, initially focusing on military and industry applications.

In 2013, Google introduced Google Glass, but consumers weren’t interested due to privacy concerns, high cost, and limited functionality. Despite this, companies like Microsoft, Apple, and Meta continued to develop AR glasses.

What Makes Orion Special?

Meta claims Orion is the most advanced AR glasses for several reasons:

  • Miniaturised Technology: Orion packs powerful tech into a small, lightweight frame.
  • Large Fields of View: The glasses offer a wide display area for better immersion.
  • Holographic Displays: Orion uses advanced displays for compelling AR experiences.
  • Inbuilt Smart Assistant: Meta AI helps with tasks through voice commands, eye and hand tracking, and a wristband for navigation.

Challenges Ahead for AR Glasses

Before AR glasses become mainstream, Meta must address several challenges:

  • Ease of Use: Integrating AR glasses with other glasses and making them user-friendly.
  • Physiological Aspects: Managing heat generation, comfort, and potential vertigo.
  • Operational Factors: Improving battery life, data security, and display quality.
  • Psychological Factors: Ensuring social acceptance, trust in privacy, and accessibility.

The Path to Wider Acceptance

Just like smartphones in the 2000s, early adopters will see more benefits than risks in AR glasses, creating a niche market that will gradually expand. Meta plans to build a digital platform and ecosystem around Orion, allowing for applications in education, remote work, and enhanced collaboration tools.

The Creative Destruction of Smartphones

Smart glasses are already used in industries like logistics and healthcare. Meta plans to launch Orion for the general public in 2027. By then, AI advancements may make virtual assistants more capable, potentially reducing the need for bulky smartphones. This shift could be worth US$370 billion by 2034, according to research on the AR and VR headset industry.

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The Debate: Productivity vs. Distraction

Experts disagree on the impact of smartphone technology on productivity and wellbeing. Some argue that smartphones have increased connectivity and access to information, while others say they create more work, distractions, and mental fatigue.

Meta believes AR glasses will enhance productivity by providing hands-free data access, faster communication, and data visualisation. Consulting firm Deloitte agrees, adding that smart glasses could reduce human errors and monitor the wearer’s health and wellbeing. However, these benefits depend on how well companies like Meta address the challenges associated with AR glasses.

The Road to 2027

The journey to replacing smartphones with AR glasses won’t be easy. Meta must overcome technical, physiological, and psychological challenges to make Orion a success. If they can, AR glasses could revolutionise how we interact with technology and the world around us.

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What do you think about Meta’s Orion AR glasses? Will they replace smartphones, or are they just another tech gimmick? Share your thoughts and experiences with AR technology below. And don’t forget to subscribe for updates on AI and AGI developments!

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Lenovo’s AI Revolution: Transforming Business Computing in Asia

Lenovo unveils groundbreaking AI PC innovations at Lenovo Innovation World 2024, transforming business computing and artificial intelligence with advanced features and sustainable designs.

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Lenovo AI PC Innovations

TL;DR:

  • Lenovo unveils groundbreaking AI PC innovations at Lenovo Innovation World 2024.
  • The ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition, ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 AMD, and ThinkBook 16 Gen 7+ showcase advanced AI capabilities and sustainable designs.
  • Lenovo introduces AI PC Fast Start to help businesses accelerate AI PC adoption.
  • Over 60% of PCs shipped by 2027 are expected to be AI-capable.

Lenovo, a global leader in technology innovation, has unveiled a series of groundbreaking AI PC innovations at Lenovo Innovation World 2024. These products are designed to redefine the future of professional computing and artificial intelligence. The highlights include the premium ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition, the innovative Lenovo Auto Twist AI PC proof of concept, and the ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 AMD. Additionally, Lenovo introduced the ThinkBook 16 Gen 7+ and ThinkBook 16 Gen 7, powered by advanced AMD Ryzen™ AI processors and Snapdragon® X Plus 8-core processors, respectively. These innovations demonstrate Lenovo’s commitment to delivering cutting-edge technology, exceptional user experiences, and enhanced productivity for enterprise customers.

Lenovo Aims to Lead the AI Devices Era

The relevance of AI PC devices is expected to rise significantly, with over 60% of PCs shipped by 2027 anticipated to be AI-capable. Lenovo’s AI PCs aim to transform user experiences through natural interactions, personalized large language models, and advanced computing architectures. This makes computing more personal, productive, and protected.

Lenovo Aura Edition

The Lenovo Aura Edition series, developed in collaboration with Intel, is a testament to Lenovo’s commitment to delivering innovative technologies that personalize and simplify user interaction with their devices. Over ten thousand users around the world participated in qualitative and quantitative user experience testing, helping to refine the experiences offered by the Aura Edition series.

ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition

The ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition features a thinner and lighter build, achieving an unprecedented weight of less than 1kg for the 14” flagship. Packed with innovative technologies designed to personalize and simplify user interaction, this laptop promises exceptional performance, long battery life, and a more intelligent and immersive user experience.

Key Features:

  • Smart Modes: Adapt intuitively to user needs, optimizing performance and AI capabilities for activities like work, play, and creativity.
  • Smart Share: Provides smooth AI-enabled picture sharing between smartphones and laptops.
  • Smart Care: Offers simple access to Lenovo’s online support tools and chatbot.

ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition Specifications:

  • Display: 14” 2.8K OLED Dolby Vision® display with anti-glare surface treatment and a switchable 120Hz refresh rate.
  • Processor: Intel® Core Ultra 7 processor (Series 2).
  • Memory: Up to 32GB LPDDR5x 8533 MT/s, dual channel.
  • Graphics: Intel® Arc™ Xe2 graphics and integrated NPU.
  • Battery Life: 57-watt hour battery delivering more than 18 hours of battery life.
  • Design and Build: Crafted with a focus on user experience and increasing its contribution to a circular economy, including 90% recycled magnesium for the C cover and 100% plastic-free packaging made from bamboo and sugarcane.

Lenovo Auto Twist AI PC Proof of Concept

Lenovo proudly introduces the Lenovo Auto Twist AI PC proof of concept, an innovative leap in personal computing designed to enhance user interaction through intelligent automation and AI. This next-gen AI PC concept adapts to multiple scenarios with Dual Degree of Freedom automatic rotation, making it an ideal companion for both personal and professional use.

Key Features:

  • AI-Powered Flexibility: Always tracks user movements to ensure optimal display visibility.
  • Smart Interaction: Integrates with natural language voice commands to auto switch between different modes.
  • Enhanced Security: Smart lid will automatically close when the laptop is unattended.
  • Wellness Enhancements: Promotes ergonomic use and helps reduce strain.

ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 AMD

The ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 AMD is meticulously engineered to meet the demands of modern professionals. The AMD Ryzen AI in the ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 offers exclusive AI experiences with a 3X performance boost compared to its predecessor.

Key Features:

  • Enhanced User Experience: The laptop boasts a redesigned thermal architecture with rear exhaust, ensuring optimal cooling and performance.
  • Connectivity: Supports Wi-Fi 7 and 5G sub-6GHz and includes legacy ports such as 2x USB-A, 2x TBT4, HDMI, and a 3.5mm audio jack.
  • AI Transformation: Powered by the Next Generation AMD Ryzen AI PRO processors with new Radeon integrated graphics and an AI Engine (NPU) built-in.
  • Performance and Battery Life: Offering up to 64GB of LPDDR5x dual channel memory, enabling high performance. The device is built for all-day battery life, delivering more than 17 hours on MM25 battery life benchmarks.
  • Design and Build: Styled in a 16:10 display-optimized form factor with 88% screen-to-body ratio, the device is available in Deep Black with a refined interior. It weighs 2.86 lbs (1.3 kg) and is 16.9 mm thin.
  • Sustainability: Uses Post Consumer Content (PCC) plastics in select components and 30% recycled carbon fiber in the top cover, 90% recycled magnesium in the keyboard frame, and 55% recycled aluminum in the bottom cover.

ThinkBook 16 Gen 7+

Lenovo’s ThinkBook 16 Gen 7+ is a premium AI-powered laptop designed to enhance productivity and creative expression. It features the advanced AMD Ryzen™ AI 9 365 processor with up to 50 TOPS capability, delivering next-gen AI performance and exceptional speed for multitasking and content creation.

Key Features:

  • Advanced AI Performance: Powered by AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 10-core/20-thread Processor with up to 50 TOPS NPU capability including AMD Radeon Graphics for exceptional speed in multitasking and content creation.
  • Stunning Design: Sleek metal design, large ForcePad, and expansive 16″ 3.2K display for a visually appealing and highly functional device.
  • Versatility and Customization: Full array of I/O ports for a custom workspace, dedicated keys for Lenovo AI features and PC-to-phone collaboration, and tactile markers on the keyboard for enhanced accessibility.
  • Robust Security: Hardware-enabled protection, below-the-OS embedded security, and Microsoft Pluton’s chip-to-cloud technology for more secured identity and cryptographic services.
  • Enhanced Productivity: Users can leverage their preferred AI-accelerated tools for generating content, automating workflows, and handling complex tasks efficiently, optimizing everyday work with advanced machine learning services.
  • Portability and Connectivity: Lightweight and durable build, large 85Whr battery for extended use providing more than 17 hours of 1080p video playback, and Wi-Fi 7 connectivity for fast, reliable internet access.
  • Exceptional User Experience: Enhanced keyboard, robust 16″ screen with a 91% STB ratio, and Dolby Atmos® speakers for superior productivity and entertainment.

ThinkBook 16 Gen 7 Powered by Snapdragon X Plus 8-core

Lenovo presents the ThinkBook 16 Gen 7, a state-of-the-art Copilot+ PC laptop designed to revolutionize productivity and creative expression for modern professionals. Combining advanced AI capabilities with sleek design and robust performance, this innovative device is engineered to meet the demands of today’s fast-paced, on-the-go workforce.

Key Features:

  • More Personalized AI PC: Lenovo’s ThinkBook 16 Gen 7 features the Snapdragon X Plus 8-core processor, equipped with a dedicated NPU delivering 45 TOPS capability to accelerate AI tasks, and on-device AI assistance with features like Meeting Assistant to help deliver better collaboration.
  • Advanced Performance: The Snapdragon X Plus 8-core delivers exceptional performance and efficiency to the ThinkBook 16 Gen 7 helping accelerate productivity with local AI processing, supporting business applications with impressive speed and power efficiency. It boasts a multi-day battery life and specialized hardware cores for AI tasks and camera image signal processing.
  • Sleek Design: With a chic, modern design that is 16mm thin, a larger TouchPad, a 16″ display with a 91.3% screen-to-body ratio, and enhanced Lenovo Pro Sound with super-linear speakers and Dolby Atmos audio, this laptop combines beauty and intelligence.
  • Anywhere Productivity: Ideal for on-the-go professionals, the ThinkBook 16 Gen 7 offers robust performance, lightweight portability, 84 Whr large battery, and reliable connectivity, while maintaining enterprise-grade security.
  • Business-Ready Security: Lenovo provides robust security with hardware-enabled features, below-the-OS embedded security, and Microsoft Pluton’s chip-to-cloud technology for more secured identity and cryptographic services.

Lenovo Introduces AI PC Fast Start Services

Lenovo is excited to introduce AI PC Fast Start, a streamlined solution to help organizations quickly transition into the industry’s most powerful AI-ready devices. The service provides AI-powered advisory to assess technical readiness and identify the ideal AI PC persona and power-user to help businesses maximize ROI.

Key Features:

  • AI-Powered Advisory: Assess technical readiness and identify the ideal AI PC persona and power-user.
  • Simplified Deployment: Simplify the deployment and configuration of AI-ready devices.
  • Enhanced User Experience: Accelerate AI adoption across the organization.
  • Backed by Award-Winning Support: Ensure a seamless adoption of AI PCs so organizations can get the most value from their AI investments.

Security and Data Privacy in the AI Era

Lenovo’s ThinkShield™ solutions provide comprehensive security features for modern businesses, ensuring protection from manufacture to deployment. With AI-powered endpoint protection, ThinkShield covers threats from below the OS to the cloud, offering extended detection and response capabilities. It safeguards BIOS and firmware against attacks and ensures hardware components are more secured through Supply Chain Assurance. Partnering with world-class security providers, ThinkShield delivers robust security, empowering businesses with protected, productive hybrid work environments.

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