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Vivo V30e 5G – Does It Have an X Factor? Top 3 Alternatives

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2 May 2024

Vivo V30e 5G – Does It Have an X Factor? Top 3 Alternatives

Vivo has debuted the new V30e smartphone in India as the latest V30 series device. The new handset comes as a mid-ranger in India with the Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 processor along with dual rear cameras. Is it worth buying, and what are the top 3 alternatives of Vivo V30e is something we try to decode?

Vivo V30e 5G: Price, Availability

Let’s first discuss the price. The Vivo V30e 5G is priced at Rs 27,999 for the 8GB + 128GB model and Rs 29,999 for the 8GB + 256GB model. It will be available for purchase from May 9, 2024, via Vivo’s website, partner retail stores, and Flipkart in Silk Blue and Velvet Red colour options. Consumers can pre-book the smartphone starting today and avail of the below offers:

Offline:

Flat 10% Instant Discount with ICICI, SBI, IndusInd, IDFC, and other banks
12 months zero down payment option with select NBFC partners

Online:

Flat 10% Instant Discount with HDFC and SBI banks

Vivo V30e 5G: Should You Buy It?

The Vivo V30e 5G gets a 6.78-inch 3D curved AMOLED Display which has 120Hz refresh rate and a full HD+ resolution. The panel is in line with most other competitors but some of them, such as the Poco X6 Pro, offer a sharper display. However, the Poco X6 Pro lacks in some other departments as a result it doesn’t become a real challenger.

The handset is powered by the Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 processor paired with up to 8GB RAM and up to 256GB of storage. This is where the V30e 5G lacks majorly, as its processor is straight up a disappointment in a segment where options like Snapdragon 7 Gen 3, MediaTek Dimensity 7200, and more exist. Not that the Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 is poor chipset, but when considering the price of the smartphone, it underperforms a lot in comparison to the competition.

If that wasn’t enough, Vivo is offering only 8GB RAM at a price of Rs 29,999 while 12GB is a must in this range. Storage-wise, there isn’t a lot to complain about as only one other option, the Poco X6, gets you 512GB of storage in the segment while most others stick to 256GB.

It has a dual rear camera setup, a 50MP Sony IMX882 main camera, an 8MP ultra-wide angle sensor, and an Aura light. There’s a 50MP sensor on the front for selfies and video calls, which also supports Autofocus. We cannot comment on the cameras as of now as we haven’t used the device, but if on-paper specs are taken into consideration, the sensor setup seems practical and useful.

A 5500mAh battery with support for 44W fast charging backs the device. The battery capacity is ample but the charging speeds could have indeed been in the 60W to 80W range.

Vivo V30e 5G runs on Android-14 based FunTouch OS 14 and will receive 3 major Android OS updates and 4 years of security patches. That’s standard for most new smartphones that launch in this range. Connectivity options on the device include Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth v5.1, GPS and a USB-C port for charging. The handset is also IP64-rated.

Vivo V30e 5G: Top Alternatives

The Vivo V30e 5G, as we mentioned, isn’t the best in its class, and its competitors are already ahead in several areas. As a result, we have compiled a list of the top 3 alternatives for the Vivo V30e 5G so you can consider all options before you spend your money. The alternatives include:

OnePlus Nord CE 4 5G

Priced starting at Rs 24,999, the Nord CE 4 5G is one of the best alternatives to the Vivo V30e 5G. It sports a 6.7-inch FHD+ AMOLED Display with a 120Hz refresh rate, a punch-hole cutout for the selfie camera, sRGB, Display-P3, 10-bit Color Depth, and HDR10+. The device is powered by the Snapdragon 7fa Gen 3 Processor paired with 8GB of LPDDR4x RAM and up to 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage. Moreover, the handset supports expandable storage up to 1TB.

For optics, the device features a 50MP f/1.8 Sony LYT-600 primary camera with OIS paired with an 8MP f/2.2 IMX355 ultra-wide angle sensor. There is a 16MP f/2.4 shooter on the front for selfies. The handset draws power from a 5,500mAh battery with 100W fast wired charging support.

Connectivity options include hybrid Dual-SIM 5G, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth v5.4, GPS, and a USB Type-C port. The handset has an in-display optical fingerprint sensor and also gets stereo speakers.

Pros over Vivo V30e 5G:

Better chipset
Faster charging
Cheaper price
More Storage and RAM

Cons over Vivo V30e 5G:

Inferior selfie camera

Nothing Phone (2a)

Priced starting at Rs 23,999, the Nothing Phone (2a) (Review) sports a 6.7-inch AMOLED FHD+ screen with a resolution of 1084 x 2412 pixels, HDR10+, up to 1300 nits brightness, 240Hz touch sampling rate, and a 120Hz refresh rate. Under the hood, the Nothing device is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7200 Pro mobile platform, paired with up to 12 GB of RAM and up to 256 GB of internal storage.

On the front, it gets a 32-megapixel f/2.2 selfie camera. The Nothing Phone (2a) has launched with a dual rear camera setup, consisting of a 50-megapixel f/1.88 OIS-assisted primary camera and a 50-megapixel f/2.2 ultra-wide angle camera. It supports Ultra XDR technology as well. The device packs a 5000mAh battery with 45W Fast charging support.

Connectivity options on the smartphone include 5G SA/NSA, Dual 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 6 802.11 ac (2.4GHz + 5GHz), Bluetooth 5.3, GPS (L1 + L5), USB Type-C, and NFC. There’s an in-display optical fingerprint sensor for security. The device runs on Nothing OS 2.5 based on Android 14 and will get updates till Android 17 along with 4 years of security patches.

Pros over Vivo V30e 5G:

Better processor
More RAM and Storage
Cheaper price
Cleaner software
Longer software support

Cons over Vivo V30e 5G:

Smaller battery
Inferior Selfie camera

Infinix Note 40 Pro+ 5G

Priced at Rs 24,999, the Infinix Note 40 Pro+ 5G sports a 6.78-inch full-HD+ (1080 x 2436 pixels) 3D curved AMOLED Display with 120Hz dynamic refresh rate and 1,300 nits of peak brightness. The display supports 2160Hz PWM dimming and has Corning Gorilla Glass protection. It is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7020 chip paired with 12GB LPDDR4x RAM and 256GB UFS 2.2 storage, which is expandable.

There’s a triple rear camera setup, including a 108MP f/1.75 main sensor with OIS, a 2MP f/2.4 depth sensor, and a tertiary 2MP f/2.4 macro sensor. There’s a 32MP f/2.2 front-facing sensor for selfies and video chats. It is backed by a 4600mAh battery that supports 100W fast wired charging and 20W wireless charging.

Software-wise, it runs on Android 14-based XOS 14. Connectivity options include GPS, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi 5, 4G LTE support, and a USB-C port for charging. Other features, such as JBL-tuned stereo speakers and an in-display fingerprint sensor, are also present.

Pros over Vivo V30e 5G:

More RAM and Storage
Cheaper price
Similar display
Faster wired charging
Wireless charging
JBL tuned stereo speakers

Cons over Vivo V30e 5G:

Smaller battery
No ultra-wide angle rear camera
Inferior Selfie camera

May 2024: TWS Earbuds, Neckbands Launched In India

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The Mobile Indian Network

2 May 2024

May 2024: TWS Earbuds, Neckbands Launched In India

May 2024 ushers in the release of new TWS earbuds, a rapidly expanding market featuring brands like Noise and more. Here’s a roundup of all the TWS earbuds launched in India this month. We have also maintained a roundup of all launches that happened last month, including the likes of Nothing Ear, Ear (a), Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4, and more.

Grooves Alpha

Available in Black, the Limited-Edition Grooves Alpha Gaming TWS earbuds is now available for a launch-day discount of Rs 1999 on Amazon, Flipkart,Tata Cliq, JioMart, and Moglix. Its features include:

ABS-built
AD7006 dual-label ENC chip
Bluetooth v5.3
Quick pairing
13mm drivers
AAC, SBC codecs supported
Built-in mics
ANC
Up to 7-hour single charge runtime

BoAt Airdopes 311 Pro

The boAt Airdopes 311 Pro is now available in Lavender Rush, Space Grey, Dusk Blue, and Active Black with a 1-year warranty. For the first two days, they are priced at Rs 999, with the price increasing to Rs 1,199 after the launch period. You can purchase it via BoAt’s website, Amazon, and Flipkart. Its features include:

Transparent design
10mm drivers, boAt Signature Sound
Bluetooth v5.3
BEAST Mode, Up to 50ms low latency
Dual Mics, ENx Technology
Up to 50hrs runtime
ASAP Fast charging supported via Type-C port
Google Fast Pair
Insta Wake N’ Pair (IWP) Technology
Voice assistant
IPX4 rated
BoAt Hearables App Compatible

Itel T31 Pro

Priced at Rs 1,499, these earbuds come in a single glossy silver finish and is now available at retailers across the nation. Its features include:

13mm drivers
Active Noise Cancellation up to 32dB
Four mics
IPX5 rated
Touch controls
45ms low latency
Up to 45-hour playback time
Bluetooth v5.3

Itel Buds Ace 2

The Itel Buds Ace 2 is available in two colours – Midnight Blue and Ivory White at Rs 1,199. It’s features include:

10mm drivers
AI Environmental Noise Cancellation
Four mics
IPX5 rated
Touch controls
45ms low latency
Up to 50-hour playback time
Bluetooth v5.3

BoAt Nirvana Zenith

Prices at Rs 3,999, the Nirvana Zenith will be available for purchase on BoAt’s website, Amazon.in, Myntra.com and Flipkart.com and select offline stores. Its features include:

Dolby Audio
AI-ENx technology via 6 mics
ANC up to 50dB
11mm drivers
In-ear detection
Dual-core processor
BoAt Hearable app
Up to 50-hour playback time
IPX5 rated
ASAP Fast charge via USB-C
Adaptive EQ by Mimi
Google Fast Pair
Bluetooth v5.3

BoAt Nirvana Nebula

Priced at Rs 2,999, the earbuds will be available BoAt’s website, Amazon.in, Myntra.com and Flipkart.com and select offline stores. Its features are:

Dolby Audio
AI-ENx technology
ANC up to 35dB
In-ear detection
Dual-core processor
Up to 50-hour playback time
IPX5 rated
ASAP Fast charge via USB-C
Adaptive EQ by Mimi
Google Fast Pair
Bluetooth v5.3

UBON J18 Future Pods

Priced at Rs 2,499, the J18 Future Pods will be available for purchase on UBON’s official website as well as through authorized retail outlets across India. It’s features include:

Adaptive ANC
ENC
1.45-inch LED touch-screen display on the case
LED display on the case can show incoming calls, text messages, music playback, social media notifications, etc.
Selfies through the display
Up to 60-hour playtime
USB-C charging

Realme Buds Air 6

Priced at Rs 3,299, the Buds Air 6 from Realme will be available from May 27 at 12:00PM IST. It can be purchased via Amazon India, Realme’s website and retail stores near you. It comes in Flame Silver and Forest Green shades, while its features include:

Hi-Res Professional Certificate/LHDC 5.0
12.4mm Deep Bass Driver
IP55 rated
55ms low latency
Google Fast Pair
Touch controls
Bluetooth v5.3
50dB Smart Active Noise Cancellation
Dynamic Bass Boost
6-Mic Call Noise Cancellation
Up to 40 Hours of Playback

Realme Buds Wireless 3 Neo

Priced at Rs 1,299, the Buds Wireless 3 Neo from Realme will be available from May 22 at 12 noon at 2:30PM IST. It can be purchased via Amazon India, Realme’s website and Flipkart also. It comes in Blue, Black and Green shades, while its features include:

13.4mm Dynamic Bass Driver
Up to 32 Hours Battery Life
Dual-Device Connection
Magnetic Power on/off
Google Fast Pair
Bluetooth v5.4
AI Environmental Noise Cancellation
IP55 rated
10mins Charge for 7hrs Playback
45ms Ultra-low Latency

BoAt Airdopes 800

The boAt Airdopes 800 comes with a 1-year warranty, and in Interstellar Blue, Interstellar White, Interstellar Green, and Interstellar Black shades. It will be available on Amazon and Flipkart at a special launch price of Rs 1,799 from May 17 at noon. It’s features include:

10mm titanium drivers
Bluetooth v5.3
boAt Signature Sound, Dolby Audio support
Touch controls
Quad mics with ENx Technology
USB-C fast charging support
50ms low-latency with BEAST mode
In-ear detection
BoAt Hearable App support
Adaptive EQ Modes
Multi-device connectivity
Up to 40-hour total playback time

U&i Counter Series TWS

The U&i Counter Series TWS is available at Rs 2,499 and can be purchased from all U&i outlets and other leading retail stores across India. It’s features include:

Bluetooth v5.3
EDR technology
Touch controls
18-hour playback time
180mAh case battery, 28mAh buds battery
Under 1-hour charging time

Moto Buds+

Prices at Rs 9,999 and available for Rs 7,999 with bank offers, the Moto Buds+ are available in Forest Gray and Beach Sand shades on Flipkart. It’ll go on sale beginning May 15. It’s features include:

Dual dynamic drivers (11mm woofer + 6mm tweeter)
Bose Audio Tuning
Hi-Res Audio, Dolby Head Tracking, Dolby Atmos
Acoustic Noise Canceling up to 46dB
Bluetooth v5.3
Moto buds app support for customization
Six-mic system, ENC
CrystalTalk AI enables clear voice transmission
Up to 38-hour playback time, 8 hours of playtime on a single charge
USB Type-C fast charging
Wireless charging support
Water-repellent design

Moto Buds

Prices at Rs 4,999, the Moto Buds will be available for purchase via Flipkart from May 15 in Pantone-validated colours including Coral Peach, Glacier Blue and Starlight Blue. Combined with bank offers, one can purchase it for Rs 3,999. Its features include:

12.4mm dynamic driver
Hi-Res Audio certification, Dolby Atmos
Moto buds app support for customization
Dynamic ANC up to 48dB
Adaptive and Transparency Modes
Quick pairing
Customisable controls
Up to 42-hour total playback time; up to 9 hours of playtime on a single charge
Fast charging support
CrystalTalk AI for clear voice calls, ENC support
Bluetooth v5.3, six mics
Water-repellent design

Pebble Blissbuds Ultra

The Blissbuds Ultra are priced at Rs 1,799 and are available via Pebble’s website in Green, Cool White and Blue colours. Its features include:

10mm dynamic drivers
Active Noise Cancellation up to 40dB
Environmental Noise Cancellation
Quad mics
Up to 40-hour playtime
Low Latency mode
Bluetooth v5.3
Dual pairing
Google Fast Pair
IPX4 rated
Voice Assistant support

Pebble Blissbuds Ace

The Blissbuds Ace are priced at Rs 1,599 and are available via Pebble’s website in gold, black and blue colours. Its features include:

13mm drivers
Active Noise Cancellation up to 35dB
Environmental Noise Cancellation
Quad mics
Metal finish
Up to 30-hour playtime
USB-C fast charging
Bluetooth v5.3, auto pairing
IPX4 rated
Voice Assistant support
Low latency mode

Crossbeats Sonic 3

Available at an introductory launch price of Rs 1,999, the Sonic 3 is available in two classic colours, Black and White at Crossbeats website and select retailers. It’s features include:

MEMSensing Quad microphones
3D cinematic surround sound
RGB LED lighting
40ms low latency
Hybrid ANC
13mm graphene drivers
Instant Pairing via Hall Switch feature
IPX5 rated
60+ hours of total playback time
Fast charge support via USB-C port
Bluetooth v5.3

Noise Pop Buds

Priced at Rs 999, the Noise Pop Buds come with a 1-year warranty and are available in Moon Pop, Steel Pop, Forest Pop, and Lilac Pop shades on Flipkart and Noise’s website. Its features include:

10mm drivers
Bluetooth v5.3
Touch controls
Ultra-low latency up to 40ms
Quad Mics
Environmental Noise Cancellation support
Fast charging support
Up to 40 hours of total playback time
Hyper Sync Technology for Quick Pairing
IPX5 rated

Top Rabbit R1 Alternatives – It Doesn’t Include Humane AI Pin

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Abhishek Malhotra

1 May 2024

Top Rabbit R1 Alternatives – It Doesn’t Include Humane AI Pin

Based on initial reviews, the Rabbit R1, an AI personal assistant developed by the startup Rabbit, has not been well-received by users and professionals. Although we advise against purchasing the Rabbit R1, we do have some alternatives to demonstrate that having a smartphone eliminates the need for Rabbit’s device.

What is Rabbit R1?

R1 is a consumer AI device designed with a natural-language operating system. According to Rabbit, it was created to revolutionize the online experience by introducing an efficient operating system that can seamlessly navigate all of your apps without the need for separate apps.

Available in a single orange colour, the Rabbit R1 comes with custom hardware features, including a 2.88-inch touchscreen display, a push-to-talk button, and a scroll wheel for navigating through helpful category-based cards to interact with different activities assisted by Large Action Model (LAM). It also has a rotating camera that’s being called the “rabbit eye,” an AI-enhanced, motorized vision system.

Rabbit Eye can make video calls and execute some of the most “advanced computer vision applications.” Interestingly, the AI-based startup claims that these features empower users to trigger actions more quickly than on even the most powerful flagship smartphones.

The Rabbit R1 operates using the Rabbit OS, which is an operating system specifically designed for the R1. The operating system has the brand’s Proprietary LAM at its core and is the first to be developed on an LAM. The way it functions is by first comprehending complicated human intentions, then utilizing human-oriented interfaces throughout all mobile and desktop environments on a customized cloud platform. Finally, it interacts with applications within the platform to achieve specific objectives.

Rabbit claims that it can do all the above without needing complex, custom integrations like Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), which are vital for other operating systems such as Android and iOS. In other words, LAM fundamentally removes the need for users to download and use multiple apps on their devices and instead carries out the tasks on such apps for them.

Rabbit R1: Controversies

Touted as a pocketable gadget with a bright-orange chassis and innovative features, the Rabbit R1 has been the subject of criticism on the internet. Early reviews of the Rabbit R1 have been mixed, with some tech reviewers expressing disappointment. Popular tech YouTuber MKBHD referred to the device as “another AI in a box” and criticized it for being “barely reviewable” due to missing features. Another reviewer, Dave 2D, echoed these sentiments, stating that the product is “not in a reviewable state” and lacks many features that would make it a better product.

A detailed review by Mashable highlighted several issues with the Rabbit R1, including problems with its Vision feature and limited ‘natural language’ processing capabilities. Users have reported Latency issues, hallucinations, and a frustrating experience when attempting to use the device to order food delivery through DoorDash.

The device claims to offer effortless integration with various services such as Uber, Midjourney, and Spotify through an online platform named the Rabbit Hole. The Rabbit Hole is set up during device activation. However, some users have reported having issues logging in to Spotify and have also faced difficulties while using the Uber app to call cabs.

The most recent controversy involves revealing that Rabbit R1 runs basically on an AOSP-based operating system. Users have been able to extract the whole OS in the form of an APK file and have been able to run it even on entry-level Android phones. Not only that, but some have even been able to run other basic Android apps on the R1 itself. The situation raises a question: is R1 just a $199 AI companion device that relies on an APK file for AI requests, a task smartphones can handle more effectively?

Rabbit R1 Vs Smartphones

The Rabbit R1 device falls short when compared to smartphones in many aspects. It has inferior build quality and ease of use, poorer cameras and software, and terrible battery life. On the other hand, AI chatbot apps are accessible to you as long as your smartphone has a charge, which reduces a lot of hassle. Most smartphones can last for a day or even more, unlike the Rabbit R1, which needs to be charged multiple times throughout the day.

Smartphones not only cost cheaper than the Rabbit R1, but they also have better and bigger displays in terms of resolution, refresh rate, and overall quality. The list can go on, but we hope we were able to give you the gist of what we are trying to say here.

Rabbit R1: Top Alternatives

While some of you might think the Humane AI PIN would be the top alternative, we don’t think so, considering it’s worse in terms of usability than R1, again, as per the initial reviews. In our opinion, the best alternatives to the Rabbit R1 are as follows:

Google Gemini

Now that it’s revealed that the R1 is essentially running an APK file and is based on Android, what could be better than Google’s own Gemini to handle AI-based requests? Google Gemini is quite well integrated with Android and the Gemini mobile app is available on non-folding Android phones, as well as Samsung and Pixel foldables, with 4 GB of RAM or more, running Android 12 and up.

This means that even your 4 to 5-year-old smartphone (be it an entry-level one) that may be running on Android 12 can handle the Google Gemini app and essentially do what the Rabbit R1 does, and that too for free. The Gemini app also has a subscription model allowing users to use Gemini Advanced. Still, you don’t have to worry about that, as Gemini’s free model can handle most tasks Rabbit R1 does. Rabbit R1 also doesn’t need a subscription, but there are other associated costs with it, which make the whole package cost about the same or more expensive than a smartphone.

The Rabbit R1’s camera, known as Rabbit Eye, can describe its surroundings, but this feature is notably inconsistent and often provides incorrect answers, as seen in MKBHD’s video. Instead, you can use Google Lens on your smartphone which does the same thing but in a faster manner and has more options as well.

The R1 has support for four apps at the moment, all of which are also supported on smartphones with a better user interface and human interactions. Moreover, the smartphone apps are pretty consistent in comparison as well. Aside from that, Gemini can also help you start a timer, set a reminder, set an alarm, etc., all of which the Rabbit R1 cannot do yet. The Google Gemini app can generate images through prompts for free, unlike the Rabbit R1.

Aside from that, the data available to Gemini for training and providing answers is far more extensive compared to Rabbit’s LAM, which still needs a lot of training. The R1 has also been inconsistent with some of its general knowledge answers, as seen on X, whereas Gemini is spot on with such queries most of the time.

Availability-wise, Rabbit R1 is currently available only in the US but the Gemini app is available on Android and iOS via the Google app in more than 150 countries, and that too in multiple languages.

Microsoft Copilot

Based on OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot is a productivity tool that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to help you work smarter and faster. It can also be referred to as an AI Companion chatbot that is powered by large language models (LLMs) and advanced AI systems that can understand and generate natural language. Copilot integrates your data with Microsoft Graph and Microsoft 365 apps and services like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, and more.

Same as Gemini, it has its free and paid models, but the free one gives you access to:

Chat with text, voice, and image capabilities
Summarization of documents and web pages
Image creation in Designer (formerly Bing Image Creator)
Web grounding
Use of plugins and Copilot GPTs

This is the same set of features Rabbit R1 provided, minus the image generator. Not only that but Microsoft Copilot gives you access to GPT-4 Turbo for free, which is OpenAI’s latest generation model. Its more capable, has an updated knowledge cutoff of April 2023 and introduces a 128k context window meaning you can write a prompt equivalent to 300 pages of text.

This shows how much more Microsoft Copilot is capable than Rabbit R1 in terms of the data available for training and fetching, alongside the integration with other Microsoft services, which separately have millions of users. It’s not only more practical and useful but also more functional and productive than Rabbit’s R1, which is just not capable of such stuff yet.

Copilot is available via the Bing app or its dedicated app, both of which are available for free on iOS and Android. It is available in 222 countries, including India. As for supported versions, Copilot app requires Android 11 or later which expands the availability scope to Android devices that maybe even 6 years old at this point.

You can also use the ChatGPT app alongside the Microsoft Copilot app for even faster responses. The ChatGPT app doesn’t have the latest information as it has a knowledge cutoff, but it still does the job well of answering some general queries that may not require the latest information. Moreover, like Copilot Pro and Rabbit R1, it has Voice chat support, so you do not have to constantly type in your queries.

Meta AI

Built on Meta Llama 3, the company’s most advanced model to date, Meta AI is an intelligent assistant that is capable of complex reasoning, following instructions, visualizing ideas, and solving nuanced problems. It also serves as another one of the capable alternatives to the Rabbit R1, thanks to its seamless integration across Meta’s suite of social media apps, including Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, WhatsApp and the Web, out of which all the apps have billions of users worldwide.

Billions of users mean Meta will have access to more data it can train its models on. Like the other two Rabbit R1 alternatives, Meta AI is also free to use and more accessible. It has features even Rabbit R1 doesn’t support yet, such as asking Meta AI to animate an image, iterating on it in a new style, or even turning it into a GIF to share with friends. It also supports image generation, the same as Copilot and Gemini.

Meta AI is accessible in Australia, Canada, Ghana, Jamaica, Malawi, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, Singapore, South Africa, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe, a list that’s still adequately expansive in comparison to R1’s. If you are in the US, you can also access Meta AI on the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses or the Meta Quest on which its coming soon.

This AI companion from Meta is available on WhatsApp in the countries mentioned, and WhatsApp is currently available on devices that are even 7 years old. The list of devices that support the Instagram app is quite long.

Take Away

As you would have noticed by now, Rabbit R1 doesn’t stand a chance even in front of smartphones that are cheaper than its price, let alone its alternatives that are also far more capable. These smartphones offer almost all the capabilities of the Rabbit R1 at not only a cheaper price but also in terms of the variety of AI chatbots you can use, all of which are much faster with their responses as well.

Rabbit R1 promises a better future with the teach mode and other features to come, but there’s no word on when they’ll become available.

It’s quite likely that the smartphone you are reading this article on can do whatever the R1 can and that too, faster and more efficiently. If Rabbit R1 cannot surpass smartphones in its core concept, it certainly cannot compete with the advantages its alternatives and smartphones have over AI companion devices.

OnePlus Nord 4 5G: What Do We Know So Far?

News

Abhishek Malhotra

1 May 2024

OnePlus Nord 4 5G: What Do We Know So Far?

OnePlus could soon expand its Nord lineup of smartphones worldwide with the unveiling of the OnePlus Nord 4 5G. The new handset has been spotted on multiple certification websites and a Benchmarking website as well, suggesting the launch of the Nord 4 is near. Here’s what we know about it.

OnePlus Nord 4 5G: Expected Specifications

The OnePlus Nord 4 5G is expected to be a rebranded OnePlus Ace 3V, similar to how the Nord 3 was a rebranded Ace 2V. A OnePlus smartphone with the CPH2621 model number has been spotted on multiple certification sites and it is expected to belong to the OnePlus Nord 4. The Geekbench listing reveals that the device scored 1,875 points in single-core and 4,934 points in multi-core tests.

The codename and the GPU of the chip confirm that OnePlus will equip the device with the Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 SoC, which is further proof that its a rebranded OnePlus Ace 3V. The listing also adds that the Qualcomm Chipset will pair with up to 12GB of RAM.

As for the Ace 3V specs, that should give you a good idea of what to expect from the Nord 4, it sports a 6.74-inch 120Hz AMOLED Display with a 1.5K resolution of 2772 x 1240 pixels, 100% DCI-P3 support, HDR10+ and 2150 nits of peak brightness. It is powered by the Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 SoC paired with up to 16GB of LPDDR5x RAM and 512GB of UFS 4.0 RAM.

It has a dual rear camera setup which includes a 50-megapixel IMX882 f/1.8 primary shooter and an 8-megapixel f/2.2 ultra wide angle lens. On the front, there is a 16MP f/2.4 camera sensor for selfies.

The device runs on OxygenOS 14 based on Android 14 out of the box. It will receive 3 years of major OS upgrades and 4 years of security patches. The handset is backed by a 5500mAh battery with 100W Fast charging support. However, global markets could get support for 80W charging instead.

Further, the phone also includes an in-display fingerprint scanner and a stereo speaker setup. Connectivity options include 5G, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.4, NFC, and a USB-C port for charging. The device is also IP65 rated.

OnePlus Nord 4 5G: Launch Timeframe, Expected Price

There’s no word on when the OnePlus Nord 4 5G might launch. However, one can expect it to arrive either next month or by July 2024.

As for the price, the device has a price tag of CNY 1,999 (approx Rs 23,400) for the base 12GB + 256GB model while the 12GB + 512GB variant costs CNY 2,299 (approx Rs 26,900). The top-end model comes with 16GB RAM and 512GB storage, and its priced at CNY 2,599 (Rs 30,400 approx). OnePlus could price the Nord 4 5G in India along similar lines.

Google Photos To Add An ‘Enhance Your Video’ Button For Easy Video Editing

News

Abhishek Malhotra

1 May 2024

Google Photos To Add An ‘Enhance Your Video’ Button For Easy Video Editing

Google Photos is the stock gallery App on a bunch of phones out there and it is constantly getting better with new features. Another feature spotted in development is an ‘Enhance Your Video’ button that’ll be made available soon, enabling users to enhance their video quality with just a single tap.

Spotted by Assemble Debug (via Android Authority), the ‘Enhance Your Video’ button was seen in the Google Photos app version 6.81.0.628906483. It’s not currently available to everyone, but the tipster managed to make it work with some workarounds. When editing a video, the said button with a Magic Wand icon appears beside the stabilization button on the left.

As for what it does when clicked, the publication says that it automatically adjusts the brightness, contrast, saturation, and other qualities of a video to make it look better, hence, the name ‘Enhance Your Video’. It’s essentially the same feature available for Photos as well, which can automatically adjust various aspects of a photo so it can look more detailed and vivid.

Once clicked, the processing will take place which reportedly takes some time and depends on the length of the video you’re enhancing. However, all of this happens on-device and nothing goes to the cloud. Once it’s done, the user can then save the enhanced version of the video as a copy that will have the automatic enhancements that were applied to the video.

A sample video was also shared by the publication which shows a clear difference between the original video and the enhanced one. The latter has higher contrast and saturation levels. As of now, it’s unclear when Google plans to roll out the new “Enhance your video” feature widely in Google Photos but considering it has been implemented in the app and is working, the announcement shouldn’t be far off.

Xiaomi 14 SE India Launch Tipped: What To Expect?

News

Abhishek Malhotra

1 May 2024

Xiaomi 14 SE India Launch Tipped: What To Expect?

Xiaomi debuted the Xiaomi 14 series last year and brought it to India a couple of months back with the Xiaomi 14 Ultra going on sale just last month. A new Xiaomi 14 series smartphone, dubbed Xiaomi 14 SE, is now tipped to launch in India as soon as next month. Here’s what is known about the upcoming device.

Xiaomi 14 SE: India Launch Timeline

The tip comes from Abhishek Yadav on X, according to whom the Xiaomi 14 SE will be launching in India in June. There’s no word on an exact date but users won’t have to wait for long for the launch of Xiaomi 14 SE in India.

Xiaomi 14 SE: Specifications (Rumoured)

Yadav says that he doesn’t know a lot about the specs of the device, but expects it to be a rebranded Xiaomi CIVI 4 Pro, the device that debuted in China back in March this year. Back when it launched, the device was spotted on the BIS certification website as well, but in the name of Xiaomi 14 Lite. Xiaomi may now be planning to launch it with the “SE” branding instead of “Lite”.

If it does come as a rebranded device, we know what the Xiaomi 14 SE could bring under the hood on the basis of the CIVI 4 Pro specs.

The Xiaomi Civi 4 Pro sports a 6.55-inch OLED curved display with a Resolution of 2750 x 1236 pixels. It offers 120Hz refresh rate, 240Hz touch sampling rate, 3000 nits peak brightness, 1920Hz High-Frequency PWM Dimming, 12-bit colour, and support for HDR10+ and Dolby Vision technologies.

The smartphone draws power from the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset, paired with up to 16GB LPDDR5x RAM and up to 512GB of UFS 4.0 storage capacity. It operates on the Android 14-based HyperOS operating system.

For optics, the Civi 4 Pro has a triple-camera setup on the rear, comprising of a 50MP OIS Omnivision Light Hunter 800 main sensor with optical image stabilization (OIS) support and f/1.63 aperture. Accompanying it is an 12MP ultra-wide camera with an f/2.2 aperture, and a 50MP f/1.98 portrait telephoto Samsung JN1 lens.

On the front, the device sports a pill-shaped cutout housing dual selfie cameras, including primary a 32MP shooter with an f/2.0 Aperture and Autofocus capability. The secondary sensor is also a 32MP one, but is an ultra-wide angle lens with electronic image stabilization (EIS) support and an f/2.4 aperture.

The smartphone is backed by a 4700mAh battery with 67W Fast charging support. For connectivity, you will get Dual-SIM 5G, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.4, GPS, NFC, and a USB-C port for charging the handset. There’s also an under-display fingerprint sensor, Z-Axis linear vibration motor, IR Blaster and stereo speakers as well.

Xiaomi 14 SE: Expected Price In India

The tipster says that the device will be priced under Rs 50,000 in India which would put it against the iQOO Neo 9 Pro and the OnePlus 12R that are sold at a similar price point with equally powerful specs if not more. However, note that these are speculations and are to be taken with a pinch of salt.

Rabbit R1-An Android App Even A Budget Android Phone Could Run

News

Abhishek Malhotra

1 May 2024

Rabbit R1-An Android App Even A Budget Android Phone Could Run

Rabbit, the brand that took it upon itself to make a competitor to the $699 Humane AI PIN came up with the R1 which can answer all your queries with a few taps but it turns out that isn’t doing anything unique that a smartphone couldn’t do. If that wasn’t enough, Rabbit R1 seems to be running on an Android app interface which can be tweaked and can run even on an entry-level smartphone.

Rabbit R1 is doing tasks even your smartphone could do but as a companion device for you dedicated towards just AI and not other functions such as calling or texting. However, there are more similarities than differences between a device like that of Rabbit R1 and a smartphone, it seems after all. That’s because Mishaal Rahman at Android Authority and a few others were essentially able to extract the whole software of Rabbit R1 in the form of an APK and were able to make it run on an entry-level smartphone.

After some tweaks, Rahman was able to use the app as if it was running on Rabbit’s R1 and even set it up using the volume-up key of the smartphone in place of the R1’s single hardware button. He was then able to set up an account and start asking it questions, exactly like the R1.

For obvious reasons, not all the functionalities of the R1 would work as they were baked into the system with privileges built only for R1. “Rabbit R1’s launcher app is intended to be preinstalled in the firmware and be granted several privileged, system-level permissions — only some of which we were able to grant — so some of the functions would likely fail if we tried”, said Rahman.

Soon after, Rahman’s IP address or device ID got blocked due to which he couldn’t send any more queries. If that wasn’t enough, someone was even able to get regular Android apps to work on the Rabbit R1. However, the video showing the process seems to have been taken down.

Even if not all the features could work, it’s interesting to note that the basic functionality of the Rabbit R1 was ported to a sub-par Android smartphone and even worked without any issues. This leads us to believe that Rabbit R1 could have just been an Android app instead of a standalone device.

Rabbit’s Response

Rabbit CEO responded to Rahman with a statement where he said, “rabbit r1 is not an Android app. We are aware there are some unofficial rabbit OS app/website emulators out there. We understand the passion that people have to get a taste of our AI and LAM instead of waiting for their r1 to arrive. That being said, to clear any misunderstanding and set the record straight, rabbit OS and LAM run on the cloud with very bespoke AOSP and lower-level firmware modifications, therefore a local bootleg APK without the proper OS and Cloud endpoints won’t be able to access our service.”

Rabbit further adds that they rolled out an OTA yesterday which introduces “multiple cloud verification improvements to validate the device/client requests” so that the modified use of its software can be put to a stop.

Rabbit R1 hasn’t been able to find the success it thought it would at launch because it seems to be laden with issues at the moment that hamper the daily experience of using it, multiple tech reviews have noted that including that from YouTuber MKBHD, Dave2D and publications like The Verge, CNET, Mashable, and more.

Rabbit’s promise of a bright future for the R1, backed by upcoming updates, loses some appeal given that it utilizes the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) as its foundation and could have been simply distributed as an APK. This revelation makes purchasing an already subpar device even less enticing.

Samsung Galaxy Unpacked July 2024: Expected Announcements From Galaxy Z Fold 6 To Galaxy Ring

News

Abhishek Malhotra

30 April 2024

Samsung Galaxy Unpacked July 2024: Expected Announcements From Galaxy Z Fold 6 To Galaxy Ring

Samsung holds two flagship launch events in a year and while the first Galaxy Unpacked concluded earlier this year in January, the second one is expected to take place in early July 2024. Samsung is rumoured to debut a plethora of new products at the July 2024 Galaxy Unpacked and here’s everything you can expect to see at the event.

Galaxy Unpacked 2024: When and Where?

According to a report from Sammobile, the second Galaxy Unpacked 2024 event will take place on July 10 in Paris, France. While this hasn’t officially been confirmed, it does seem likely considering Samsung preponed the event last year as well in comparison to its previous general timeframe during which it used to hold the event, which was the month August. It appears that Samsung is planning to launch its new foldable devices even earlier than last year.

Galaxy Unpacked 2024: What Products To Expect?

Samsung is expected to announce a load of new products at its July 2024 Galaxy Unpacked, including:

Galaxy Z Fold 6, Galaxy Z Fold 6 Ultra

The most obvious launch will be the Galaxy Z Fold 6, the successor to last year’s Fold 5. Samsung will be making some major upgrades to the device this year, including a revamped design which will allow for a better aspect ratio. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 will adopt a Galaxy S24 Ultra-like boxy design with sharper corners and flat edges, compared to rounded edges in the previous models.

The rear camera setup remains the same in terms of looks, but with the new design, the exterior screen will now have a more modern look that would also be similar to how slab-style phones look.

The Z Fold 6 will have a 6.2-inch Dynamic AMOLED cover display and a 7.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED inner display, both of which will support 120Hz refresh rate. At the front, it could use the Corning Gorilla Armour for cover display protection while the inner panel should use Samsung’s Ultra-thin glass. Both panels may support up to 2600 nits peak brightness.

In addition, it will be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Chipset paired with 12 or 16 GB of RAM and up to 1 TB of UFS 4.0 storage. The phone should have a triple sensor system on the back in terms of optics, including a 50 MP main sensor, a 12 MP ultra-wide angle sensor, and a 10 MP telephoto sensor. For selfies and video calls, there’ll be a 10 MP camera on the cover display, and a 4 MP under-display camera on the inner screen, similar to its predecessor.

The battery size could be 4600mAh and the charging speed could be 25W. The phone will also ship with One UI 6.1.1 based on Android 14 out of the box and should get 7 major OS updates and 7 years of security updates. It should also have the Galaxy AI features pre-installed.

Aside from the regular Fold 6, it is expected that there will be a Fold 6 Ultra as well. It will have all the bells and whistles of the vanilla Fold 6 in addition to pen input support which the Z Fold 6 won’t.

This means that Z Fold 6 Ultra may have an in-built S-Pen slot, more like the Galaxy S24 Ultra while the Z Fold 6 won’t have that, as we also saw in the leaked renders. Other possible differences between the normal Galaxy Z Fold 6 and the Galaxy Z Fold 6 “Ultra” would include the display size, the storage equipment, different cameras and the option of a different battery equipment. In addition, Samsung could, of course, also rely on a different design for this variant.

There’s also a rumour that an FE edition of the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is also in works but it won’t be launched during the Galaxy Unpacked July 2024 event.

Galaxy Z Flip 6

The next launch will also be a foldable but it will be the flip. Months ahead of the launch, the design of the Galaxy Z Flip 6 has been leaked and while some might be disappointed, the minor refresh could be enough for many. The Galaxy Z Flip 6 will carry forward the same design of the Z Flip 5 cover screen which is shaped like a PC Folder icon. It will also have flatter sides, like that of the Galaxy S24.

The Z Flip 6 will have a 3.9-inch cover screen which would be slightly bigger over last year’s Flip 5 cover display. It will further have a 6.7-inch inner screen. Both screens should retain their 120Hz Refresh Rate and peak brightness as the Flip 5. The cover display could be protected with Gorilla Armour, the same protective covering Galaxy S24 Ultra comes with.

Under the hood, the smartphone should run on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy chipset. For the first time, Samsung could offer up to 12GB RAM in its Flip foldable, compared to only 8GB until now. Additionally, it will also be having a bigger cooling system for efficient thermal management.

It should run on OneUI 6.1.1 based on Android 14 out of the box. It will have Galaxy AI and could receive 7 years of major OS upgrades and security patches. The Z Flip 6 will also get an upgraded 50MP main sensor paired with the same 12MP ultra-wide angle sensor as it’s predecessor. Aside from that, it may be equipped with a bigger 4000mAh battery (vs. 3700mAh on Flip 5) and 25W fast charging.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 Series

Samsung is further expected to debut the Watch 7 series as well, during the Galaxy Unpacked event. It is expected that the series could have three models in total, with one of them having a square dial instead of a circular one which Samsung has been using for the past few years. The watches could be powered by a new chip, called Exynos W940. The Exynos W940 will apparently be 50% more efficient and 30% faster than the previous model, as per a leak.

Then, the Galaxy Watch 7 may be running the upcoming Wear OS 5 at launch, which is based on Android 14, according to a leak shared with 9to5Google. Finally, the watches may also have a bigger battery under the hood and could features that may work in sync with the upcoming Galaxy Ring.

Galaxy Buds 3 series

Back in February of this year, two new Samsung TWS earbuds were spotted with model numbers SM-R530 and SM-R630, and these are expected to be the Galaxy Buds 3 and the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro (or Ultra), respectively. The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro debuted back in 2022 so it has been a while since Samsung updated the lineup. It is currently unclear what the buds will sport, but they could get newer features, better battery life, revamped drivers, improved ANC and more.

Galaxy Ring

The final piece of hardware Samsung will likely unveil at the July 2024 Galaxy Unpacked event will be the Galaxy Ring, which it teased earlier this year at the first Galaxy Unpacked of 2024. Samsung kept the teaser for Galaxy Ring short and sweet and didn’t reveal many features it will bring.

However, according to a patent filed by Samsung back in February 2023, the Galaxy Ring is “intended to cover the categories of wearable smart devices in the nature of a smart ring for tracking, measuring, monitoring, and uploading health, fitness and sleep-related information”. According to the company, the device will be a ”powerful and accessible” wellness device.

Matthew Wiggins, clinical research scientist at Samsung Research, also revealed the ‘My Vitality Score’ feature the ring will have, which will show you a score denoting your physical and mental health to tackle the day based on your sleep, activity, and heart rate data.

The Galaxy Ring will also work with other Samsung devices, such as its smartphones, the Galaxy Watch 7 series (and previously launched smartwatches), and the Galaxy XR glasses as well. Samsung has filed a patent that shows how the Galaxy Ring can be used to control the XR glasses with finger gestures, allowing for more precise and intuitive interaction in virtual and augmented reality applications. The features of the Galaxy Ring could potentially be controlled by the Galaxy Wearable App.

One UI 6.1.1 and new Galaxy AI features

Galaxy S23 series One UI 6.1 Release date

Finally, Samsung will also be unveiling the next version of One UI, which will be One UI 6.1.1. It will succeed the One UI 6.1 that’s currently running on Samsung’s supported devices. The new version will specifically target foldables and will bring features tailored for the form factor. Alongside, Galaxy AI will see the addition of newer features apart from the ones that debuted with Galaxy S24 series.

This is everything that is currently being expected to debut at the upcoming Galaxy Unpacked event in July 2024. While nothing has been officially confirmed, we could be in for more surprises if Samsung decides to unveil more products, such as the Galaxy Tab S10 series.

MGM+ is Available in India through Prime Video Channels for Rs 599

News

The Mobile Indian Network

30 April 2024

MGM+ is Available in India through Prime Video Channels for Rs 599

Prime Video and MGM International have announced the launch of MGM+ on Prime Video Channels in India. This service offers an array of premium content, including critically acclaimed series and blockbuster movies. Prime members can buy an annual MGM+ add-on subscription for just Rs 599.

MGM+ will feature a comprehensive selection of entertainment from MGM, including popular series and movies like Legally Blonde, Hercules, The Prodigy, and The Silence of the Lambs. The service will be available to Prime members as an add-on subscription and aims to provide a diverse range of multi-genre content, including sci-fi, action, suspense, and romance.

Vivek Srivastava, Head of Prime Video Channels, Prime Video India, expressed enthusiasm about the launch, noting that Prime Video Channels aims to offer customers a varied selection of content within a single application, enhancing convenience and accessibility. He said in a statement, “In a short span of time, Prime Video Channels has offered increased reach to both local and global streamers to expand their footprint in India, allowing them to connect with a vast and diverse audience across the country. We are certain that with its vast library of iconic movies and series, MGM+ will entertain and delight Indian customers.”

“We’re excited to partner with Prime Video India to deliver exceptional entertainment to Indian audiences through MGM+,” remarked Michael Katzer, head of MGM+ International.

Prime Video Channels simplify the user experience by allowing Prime members to manage their subscriptions through a single platform without juggling multiple accounts.

The other prominent channels in Prime Video channels are BBC services, Lionsgate Play, Discovery+, Eros Now, Stingray All Good Vibes, Curiosity Stream, AMC+, ManoramaMAX, VR OTT, Hoichoi, MUBI, Docubay, Shorts TV, iWonder, Animax+GEM, My Zen TV, Acorn TV, Museum TV and Nammaflix. However, to access these channels, you will need to subscribe to them separately.

OpenAI Ties up with Financial Times

News

Sandeep Budki

30 April 2024

In a significant move within the technology and media industries, the Financial Times (FT) has entered into a strategic partnership and licensing agreement with OpenAI.

Through the partnership, ChatGPT users will be able to see select attributed summaries, quotes and links to FT journalism in response to relevant queries. The agreement also involves developing new AI-driven products and features specifically tailored for FT readers.

This integration is intended to ensure that users can access reliable information while acknowledging and compensating the publisher for their content.

John Ridding, the CEO of FT Group, underscored the strategic significance of this alliance in a press statement. He emphasized that the partnership not only acknowledges the value of FT’s award-winning journalism but also positions the company to gain early insights into the future of AI-driven content distribution. “We have long been a leader in news media innovation, pioneering the subscription model and engagement technologies, and this partnership will help keep us at the forefront of developments in how people access and use information.”

Brad Lightcap, COO of OpenAI, expressed his optimism about the partnership’s potential to innovate how news organizations operate and enhance the ChatGPT experience with timely, authoritative journalism. He noted in a press release, “Our partnership and ongoing dialogue with the FT is about finding creative and productive ways for AI to empower news organizations and journalists and enrich the ChatGPT experience with real-time, world-class journalism for millions of people around the world.”

What was the need for the partnership?

In November 2022, OpenAI’s ChatGPT brought generative AI into the limelight. However, there have been debates over whether AI companies should pay to license training data for their models instead of scraping it off the web without permission.

The evolving landscape also poses challenges. Several news organizations, including The New York Times, Raw Story, AlterNet, and The Intercept, have taken legal actions against OpenAI, citing copyright infringement. These cases highlight the delicate balance between leveraging AI for innovation and respecting copyright and intellectual property laws.

Despite this, many AI organizations continue to scrape data to improve their products. France’s competition watchdog recently fined Google for training its Gemini chatbot on content from publishers and news agencies without notifying them.

Now, OpenAI is taking proactive steps to address these concerns by partnering with reputable publications like FT to enhance ChatGPT’s capabilities. “Our partnership and ongoing dialogue with the FT is about finding creative and productive ways for AI to empower news organizations and journalists, and enrich the ChatGPT experience with real-time, world-class journalism for millions of people around the world,” said Lightcap in a statement.

FT, on its part, emphasized its commitment to human journalism and sees this partnership as an effort to broaden the reach of its work. “We value the opportunity to be inside the development loop as people discover content in new ways. As with any transformative technology, there is potential for significant advancements and major challenges, but what’s never possible is turning back time. It’s important for us to represent quality journalism as these products take shape – with the appropriate safeguards in place to protect the FT’s content and brand,” noted Ridding in a press release.

OpenAI’s partnerships with publishers

It’s not the first time that OpenAI has partnered with publishers. It has partnered with the Associated Press (AP), a well-known newswire service with a vast archive of content, to train its large language models (LLMs). OpenAI has also signed similar deals with Axel Springer, a German media company that owns popular brands like Politico and Business Insider, and European properties BILD and WELT.

Last year in July, OpenAI entered into an agreement with the American Journalism Project (AJP), a venture philanthropy organization dedicated to supporting local news in the US. Under this agreement, OpenAI pledged to provide $5 million to the AJP to help expand its initiatives. Additionally, OpenAI also offered up to $5 million in API credits to enable AJP’s grantee organizations to explore and implement emerging AI technologies in their operations.

To expand its international news coverage further, OpenAI partnered with Le Monde and Prisa Media last month to bring French and Spanish news content to ChatGPT.

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