The Fountain of Youth

Author

Matthew J. Sánchez
January 23, 2023

This is how I imagine some of you felt like while I was away. I’m back! Did you miss me? I’m sure you didn’t even notice because you were in excellent hands. I thank Calin and the entire broadn team for killing the last week: 2 amazing issues, 350+ new subscribers (and even more readers!), a stellar Product Hunt debut, and more. I can’t top that, I’m proud!

What do we have for you today?

Generative artificial intelligence predicting your lifespan based on your face. The “delightful” boom of new search engines in the age of generative learning. How AI’s been showing up this last week to boost creativity and productivity.

AI predicts text? Normal. AI predicts life expectancy? Excuse me, what?

A fascinating research paper published by Amir Fekrazad of Texas A&M predicted a person’s remaining lifespan by using images of their face. In Estimating Remaining Lifespan from the Face, the models used and fine-tuned are able to take in a person’s image and estimate the years to death. The model has an impressive (and startling?) prediction within 8 years.

The research went on to analyze deaths caused by coronavirus and was able to deduce from the data that COVID-19, on average, stole about 3.3 years off a person’s life. Just what I wanted to read as someone’s who’s had COVID now twice.

The AI life expectancy face model hopes to be leveraged to do many things. For starters, continue to evaluate remaining lifespan for our own judgment and well-being. Moreover, to predict increases in life expectancy due to some health change or intervention (e.g. weight loss). Such uses could help with preparation for loved ones leaving us and in turn using AI to keep them around a little longer.

The model’s not perfect as you can imagine. Notably calling out the predictions are more inaccurate the younger the subject’s photograph used is. Not to mention, the heap of ethical implications and considerations that could be made about these models and why they’re not actually impressive. However, the concept and potential still stands and is compelling, wouldn’t you say?

We’ll never seek answers the same way again

We mention this often because it’s factual: we’re in the generative learning era. The way we navigate knowledge and seek answers to all of our questions no matter how big, niche, small, or mainstream, is likely to change this decade.

Generative AI has proven itself worthy to the public eye. We’re already seeing rapid changes in popular, public entities, like ChatGPT, which are only a couple months old (prime example: its $42/mo asking price for “ChatGPT Professional”). We’re also witnessing more and more newbies entering the arena to challenge big wigs, mostly Google, in the search domain. Remember me mentioning how they allegedly claim to not be phased? Well new search engines, such as Komo or conversational search engine, Perplexity, are garnering attention for their delightful, ad-free and more natural experiences.

At the same time, the big wigs like Microsoft are investing heavily into technologies like OpenAI to maximize the search experience (Bing can make a comeback?) among other domains. It’ll be a tough battle for all involved but this is what makes this space exciting. Who ultimately comes out on top? David or Goliath? And more importantly why and how?

Productivity and creativity gets a “sugar rush” boost with AI

It’s been argued that this wave of AI will make or break certain careers and certain people. You either “get with it or get lost” so to speak. Those advocating for AI to boost our creativity and productivity through automation, thought-partnership, and inspiration, are leading the charge.

What I’ve seen recently: AI used to help companies stay on brand or elevate it with precious assets and documentation. For example, beautiful presentations and slide decks made possible by Beautiful.ai or seamless branded content especially for CPG and B2C brands with Flair.ai.

What I’ve also seen: AI used to accelerate decision-making and content summarization or automating key tasks that tend to require attention to detail. For instance, the top-notch ability to form vivid analogies and summaries for abstract concepts in theoretical physics, or AI-powered, personalized cold email generators and pros & cons lists, or AI-supported due diligence in venture capital (this one is in stealth mode).

It’ll be interesting to see the widening gap between people and businesses that integrate AI into their core and those who do not. AI should be created and used as a tool to supercharge humanity. Opposed to a sugar rush induced by cotton candy, I’m optimistic the industry won’t have a major sugar crash.

Gen AI Deals that make your eyes (and mouth) water 💰

What caught our eye? 👀The LA-based company, founded by tech veterans who co-created MySpace and JamCity, combines “web3 and generative AI technology to offer the ultimate online social experience.” Pronounced like “play”, the startup checks off every buzzword: crypto, generative AI, new social platform, and gaming. PLAI’s first offering is a multiplayer online RPG, with players able port in their NFT characters, go on quests, fight, trade, build custom dungeons, and so forth.

What caught our eye? 👀It’s another good day for AI + Gaming. Available via API, web app, or mobile, Scenario hones in on the niche Gen AI market of allowing artists and game developers to create their own image generators trained on the specific style of their game. Scenario also claims zero ownership over a user’s generated pieces, which is ideal for those interested in potentially trademarking or patenting.

New developments to spam your #random Slack channel 💬

Things to learn when you need a raise

Want access to the Generative AI investors database? Share and subscribe to AI In the Middle (below) to receive it! ⬇️

Before you go

Watch two AI bots have a full-blown conversation with each other.

And that’s all to kickstart your Monday. From your A.I. enthusiasts and gurus (ehh em, Me + Calin), I hope you enjoyed today’s edition!

— Matthew J. Sánchez (@matthewjsanchez)