Microsoft's Bing AI, Spotify AI DJ, and Samsung Bixby Voice Clone: Latest Tech News

Table of Contents

• Microsoft's new Bing AI
• Expansion of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate
• Spotify's AI DJ feature
• Amazon employees push back against return to office mandate
• Samsung's Bixby voice cloning feature
• Pros and Cons
• FAQ

Microsoft's New Bing AI

Microsoft is gearing up to launch its new Bing chatbot on its smartphone app and Edge internet browser. The company hopes this move will give it an AdVantage over Google, which currently dominates the internet search market, but has not yet released its chatbot to the public. The new AI-enhanced search engine is part of an emerging class of AI systems that have mastered human language and grammar by ingesting vast amounts of books and online content.

However, there have been reports of odd behavior from the Bing chatbot, leading Microsoft to make major fixes to curtail its propensity to respond with strong emotional language to certain questions. The upgraded Bing will also decline to answer certain technical questions that it previously would have responded to. Despite the potential for errors, Microsoft believed that integrating the new technology into its Skype messaging service will be beneficial.

Expansion of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate

Microsoft is expanding the availability of its friend and family plan for the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription service. The plan allows Xbox plan members to share benefits with up to four other friends or family members, each receiving their own unique access to the entire Game Pass Ultimate Library across Xbox and PC, EA Play, and other benefits like exclusive member discounts.

Currently available in Ireland for 21.99 Euros per month, compared to the typical cost of 12.99 Euros per month for the standard Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription, existing Game Pass Ultimate subscribers can convert their accounts to a friend and family account without losing any value. However, friends and family membership can only be shared with people that live in the same country as the account holder, and Xbox All Access subscription members aren't eligible to participate.

Spotify's AI DJ Feature

Music streaming service Spotify has launched its new AI feature called DJ, which aims to personalize the music listening experience for users by delivering a curated selection of music and AI-powered spoken commentary similar to radio DJs, using a voice that Spotify says is stunningly realistic. The aim of the feature is to allow Spotify to know users so well that the DJ can choose what to play.

The feature is powered by a combination of existing personalization technology, AI voice from the 2022 Sonantic acquisition, and OpenAI technology. The new feature is still in beta testing and only available in English for Spotify Premium subscribers in the US and Canada.

Amazon Employees Push Back Against Return to Office Mandate

A group of Amazon employees is pushing back against a new return to office mandate that requires corporate staffers to spend at least three days a week in the office beginning May 1st. The employees, who have created a Slack Channel and drafted a petition addressed to CEO Andy Jassy and the company's leadership team, argue that the new policy runs contrary to Amazon's position on diversity, inclusion, sustainability, and being the Earth's best employer.

The petition calls for a new policy that allows employees to work remotely or more flexibly as their team and job permits, citing internal data and research showing the benefits of remote work. The employees also question the rationale behind forcing in-person work in all cases, particularly for those with work-life balance issues, caregiving responsibilities, or disabilities.

Samsung's Bixby Voice Cloning Feature

Samsung has announced a new feature for its Bixby Mobile Assistant that allows users to clone their voice to answer phone calls. The Bixby custom voice creator app currently only works in Korea and is available for a limited number of Samsung handsets. The feature lets users Type responses to phone calls that are then Read aloud in their voice that sounds like their own, although the voice quality and response times are unknown.

AI Tools can Create realistic copies of voices from just a few minutes of audio, and the feature is expected to become more automated and complex in the near future. However, the technology also raises concerns about malicious use cases, such as AI hate speech and harassment, as well as fraud.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Microsoft's Bing chatbot has the potential to rival Google's AI Search technology
• The expansion of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate's friend and family plan allows more people to share benefits and access the entire library of games
• Spotify's AI DJ feature personalizes the music listening experience for users and allows Spotify to better understand its users
• The pushback from Amazon employees highlights the benefits of remote work and the need for better work-life balance, particularly for those with caregiving responsibilities or disabilities.

Cons

• Microsoft's Bing chatbot has experienced issues with odd behavior and strong emotional language in response to certain questions
• The Samsung Bixby voice cloning feature raises concerns about malicious use cases, including AI hate speech and harassment and fraud.

FAQ

1. When will Microsoft's Bing chatbot be released to the public?

   • Microsoft has not announced a release date for the Bing chatbot yet.

2. Can Xbox All Access subscription members participate in the friend and family plan for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate?

   • No, Xbox All Access subscription members are not eligible to participate in the friend and family plan.

3. Will Spotify's AI DJ feature be available outside of the US and Canada?

   • There is no timeline for when Spotify's AI DJ feature will be available outside of the US and Canada.

4. Can Samsung Bixby voice cloning be used for fraudulent purposes?

   • Yes, the technology raises concerns about potential fraudulent use cases.