🚀 Altman's AI reflections, China’s telecom hack, Uber's robotaxi pivot
Good morning. It’s Monday, January 06. Today we are covering:
Chinese hackers ran amok in US telecom network for 18 months - got info on over 1 million people
How Uber and Lyft Are Gearing Up for the Robotaxi Revolution
Samsung brings live translate to its TVs at CES 2025
The ElliQ companion robot can now send health updates to a caregiver
Let’s dive in
Reflections
Sam Altman
Sam Altman reflects on the transformative journey of OpenAI, highlighting milestones like the launch of ChatGPT in 2022, the rapid adoption of AI, and the organization's evolution from a research lab to a global leader in AI innovation.
He shares personal insights on leadership, governance challenges, and the immense gratitude he feels for his team, partners, and supporters during pivotal moments, including his public dismissal and subsequent reinstatement.
Looking forward, Altman emphasizes OpenAI's vision for AGI and superintelligence, underscoring the importance of iterative, safe deployment and the potential of AI to revolutionize scientific discovery and global prosperity.
𝕏: Wow! Sam Altman says that OpenAI is now confident in its ability to build AGI (Artificial General Intelligence). By 2025, they expect AI agents to start materially impacting the workforce and changing company output. And he says OpenAI’s next focus is on achieving superintelligence, which could vastly accelerate scientific discovery, innovation, and prosperity, though it still feels like science fiction to discuss. - Ed Krassenstein (@EdKrassen)
Chinese hackers ran amok in US telecom network for 18 months - got info on over 1 million people
By Ryan King via New York Post
China-linked hackers, identified as the Salt Typhoon group, infiltrated US telecommunications networks for 18 months, targeting surveillance systems and gathering data on over 1 million people, including sensitive information linked to high-profile political figures.
Exploiting aging telecom infrastructure, the hackers evaded detection by mimicking system engineers and remained embedded in networks even after public exposure, prompting US officials to adopt encrypted communication methods.
The breach, described as the worst telecom hack in US history, underscores escalating cyber threats from China, shifting focus from economic espionage to geopolitical cyberwarfare targeting critical infrastructure.
𝕏: Jake Sullivan reportedly secretly revealed at the White House in 2023 that “Chinese hackers had gained the ability to shut down dozens of U.S. ports, power grids, and other infrastructure targets at will.” CCP-linked hackers were *already* burrowing their way into U.S. telecoms. - Jerry Dunleavy IV 🇺🇸 (@JerryDunleavy)
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How Uber and Lyft Are Gearing Up for the Robotaxi Revolution
By Preetika Rana via Wall Street Journal
Uber and Lyft, after abandoning their own driverless taxi projects, are now partnering with autonomous-vehicle operators to integrate robotaxis into their platforms.
The companies are introducing new app features, such as the ability to open trunks and honk horns remotely, while also developing infrastructure and training staff to support driverless operations.
These efforts aim to position Uber and Lyft as key players in the emerging autonomous ride-hailing market, despite increasing competition from dedicated self-driving technology firms.
Samsung brings live translate to its TVs at CES 2025
By Brian Heater via TechCrunch
Samsung announced the introduction of Live Translate to its 2025 TV lineup, offering real-time translation for live broadcasts in seven languages by converting closed captions rather than audio.
The TVs will also feature AI-based Voice Removal with Audio Subtitles, aimed at enhancing accessibility for visually impaired users by isolating voices and adjusting subtitle speed.
These innovations expand on features previously available on Galaxy devices, but Samsung has yet to confirm whether they will be compatible with older TV models.
The ElliQ companion robot can now send health updates to a caregiver
By Sheena Vasani via The Verge
Intuition Robotics unveiled the ElliQ Caregiver Solution, combining the ElliQ companion robot and a Caregiver app to help monitor the health of homebound seniors with proactive AI-driven alerts about sleep, health, and behavioral changes.
Caregivers can set personalized care goals, receive updates, and monitor seniors' well-being non-intrusively, making ElliQ a more robust alternative to traditional voice assistants like Amazon Alexa.
The ElliQ Caregiver Solution is available for a $249.99 enrollment fee and a $59.99 monthly subscription, with future additional charges for new users starting later this year.
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