- Tacq AI Newsletter
- Posts
- Gemini 1.5, Cursor AI, Humanoids and Tons of AI Tools
Gemini 1.5, Cursor AI, Humanoids and Tons of AI Tools
Exciting Events and Innovations in September!
Aether Mind
August 29, 2024
Hey there, AI Enthusiast!
Welcome to TACQ AI, your one-stop source for the latest buzz, breakthroughs, and insider scoops on everything happening in the world of artificial intelligence. Whether you're here to catch up on cutting-edge tools, dive into groundbreaking research, or get a pulse on industry-shaping opinions, we've got it all neatly packed for you.
Highlights
Gemini 1.5 Update: Big Leaps and New Models
Google's Gemini 1.5 models have received substantial updates, with the 1.5 Flash model making notable strides in performance. The new 8B variant of Gemini 1.5 Flash and the improved Pro model are now competing strongly in AI benchmarks, showcasing enhanced capabilities in coding, math, and complex prompts. These updates are well-received, but opinions vary on their impact compared to previous models and competitors.
- Performance Boost: Gemini 1.5 Flash has jumped from #23 to #6 overall in the Chatbot Arena, with significant improvements in areas like math and coding.
- New Variants: The introduction of the Gemini 1.5 Flash-8B variant provides a smaller, but still powerful, option.
- Competitive Edge: Gemini 1.5 models are now more competitive against models from other AI companies, like Llama 405B.
How It Works:
- Flash Model: The updated Flash models utilize hybrid attention mechanisms and dense architecture, contributing to their improved performance. The new 8B variant balances size and capability effectively.
Innovation:
- Model Improvements: The advancements in Gemini 1.5 Flash and Pro reflect a steady pattern of enhancements between model generations.
- Benchmarks: The models show strong gains across various benchmarks, including coding and math, highlighting their increasing capabilities.
Research/Academia:
- Technical Reports: The latest technical reports indicate that Gemini 1.5 Flash utilizes global/local attention mechanisms and is noted for its performance and efficiency.
Opinions
- Positive Feedback: Users and developers appreciate the improvements and the competitive pricing of the updated models.
- Criticisms: Some argue that the updates, while significant, do not represent a dramatic leap from previous versions, and comparisons with other models like GPT-4o-Mini are mixed.
Upcoming Trends:
- Future Developments: The release of more fine-tuned versions and potential new models, such as Gemini 2.0, is anticipated, with ongoing discussions about distillation and other advanced techniques.
For more detailed insights, check out the full updates on Gemini 1.5 models and related discussions.
Cursor AI: Transforming Coding and Design
The buzz around Cursor AI continues to grow as it revolutionizes the way developers and designers interact with technology. From building apps with minimal coding to integrating advanced AI features, the latest updates highlight how Cursor AI is reshaping workflows and speeding up development processes.
- Mckay Wrigley and other users are demonstrating how Cursor AI, in combination with tools like Claude and V0, can streamline UI design and development. Mckay highlighted using custom prompts for rapid feature building and integrating reusable components for enhanced productivity. Mckay's Demo
- Ammaar Reshi showcased creating a fully functional Mac app with Cursor Composer and Claude, emphasizing the tool's capability to facilitate app development without deep coding knowledge. Ammaar’s Guide
- Irfan built and published an app in two days using only Cursor, underscoring its efficiency in developing and deploying applications quickly. Irfan's Experience
How It Works:
- Geoffrey Litt explored using Cursor AI with voice input for coding, which speeds up the process by allowing voice commands to generate and edit code. This integration with transcription tools makes the coding experience faster and more accessible. Geoffrey’s Method
- Moritz Kremb demonstrated building a Chrome Extension using Cursor in under two hours, highlighting how the tool can enable complex tasks without traditional coding. Moritz’s Tutorial
Innovation:
- Ray Fernando and others are advocating for Cursor’s potential to democratize coding, making it accessible for non-technical roles like designers and project managers. The integration of Cursor with tools like Claude and Replit is viewed as a major step forward in rapid prototyping. Ray’s Advocacy
Research/Academia:
- Pontus Abrahamsson shared how the Cursor Directory was built quickly using modern tools like Next.js and Tailwind CSS, showing the effectiveness of Cursor in open-source projects. Pontus's Story
Opinions:
- Steve questioned the ethics of Cursor’s approach to using open-source code while charging for its services, reflecting on the broader debate about open-source contributions versus commercial use. Steve’s Query
- Mckay Wrigley and others discussed how Cursor AI compares to GitHub Copilot, with Cursor seen as more advanced in terms of features and usability. Mckay’s Comparison
In Summary: Cursor AI is rapidly evolving and proving itself as a game-changer in both development and design, offering powerful tools for users across various technical backgrounds. Its impact on speeding up workflows and enabling new forms of creative and technical work is evident in the latest user experiences and opinions.
Cutting-Edge Developments in VLMs, Fine-Tuning, and More!
Exciting advancements continue to shape the AI landscape, from breakthroughs in Vision-Language Models (VLMs) and fine-tuning techniques to innovative OCR solutions and improved model throughput. Here's a roundup of the latest in AI research, tools, and opinions.
- Sapiens Model: Meta’s latest VLM, Sapiens, supports 1K high-res inputs and achieves state-of-the-art results on multiple benchmarks, with code and models available now. More details
- Flow Matching Milestone: TorchCFM for Flow Matching has hit 1,000 stars on GitHub, showcasing significant community interest and support.
How it Works
- Phi 3.5 GGUF Quantization: Rohan Paul demonstrates running a quantized Phi 3.5 GGUF model on mobile devices, highlighting advancements in model efficiency and portability.
- Abliteration vs. Unalignment: New research suggests that unalignment through fine-tuning can outperform Abliteration for model uncensoring, with practical implications for training.
Innovation
- DoubleTake: Niantic Labs releases DoubleTake, a novel solution for depth map improvements and efficient reuse of predicted depth frames. Explore DoubleTake
- TB-OCR-preview: An end-to-end OCR model designed to handle text, math, and markdown with high efficiency and low VRAM requirements. Read more
Research/Academia
- UniBench by Meta FAIR: A unified benchmark for VLMs covering a broad range of capabilities, providing a comprehensive evaluation framework. Research paper
- Contrastive Revisions (CLAIR): Available in Distilabel, CLAIR creates revisions of student answers for better model alignment, outperforming traditional methods. Paper
Opinions
- ColBERT Models: Rohan Paul shares insights on the performance of tiny ColBERT models, highlighting their surprising efficacy despite their size.
- Embedding Methods for Special Domains: Queries about effective embedding methods for mathematics, coding, and AutoFormalization underscore the need for domain-specific approaches over generic models.
Tools & Updates
- Timm Library Update: Includes new ViT 'SBB' weights, showing competitive performance against other models.
- Hugging Face Space for Model Validation: A new space for browsing timm model results with updated plots and comparisons. Check it out
Exciting Events and Innovations in September!
Get ready for an action-packed September in the AI world with a host of must-attend events, groundbreaking innovations, and engaging discussions. Here’s a roundup of the latest happenings:
Upcoming Events
1. Creative AI Melbourne Meetup
Date: Tomorrow Night
Dive into the latest in Creative AI at the Melbourne meetup. Last month’s event was a hit, and this one promises to be just as exciting. Don’t miss out on this free event! RSVP Here
2. San Francisco ClickHouse Meetup
Date: September 5
Join Lukas Biewald from @weights_biases and Alexey Milovidov from @ClickHouseDB for an insightful session on AI at the ClickHouse meetup, hosted by @Cloudflare. Learn More
3. Global AI Summit
Date: Ongoing
As a strategic sponsor, we’re thrilled about the third edition of the Global AI Summit. Explore cutting-edge AI advancements and join us in shaping the future of AI! #GainSummit
4. MAICON 2024
Date: September 10-12
Unlock your creative potential and explore the latest AI tools and strategies in Cleveland. Register Now
5. PyTorch Conference
Date: September 18
Catch insights on Triton kernels and CUDA at the PyTorch Conference. Event Details
6. Korean Blockchain Week
Date: September 3-7
Masa will be prominent at KBW with multiple AI-focused events and the Masa IRL Hackathon. Engage with leading experts and explore new AI trends.
7. Ray Summit
Date: September 18
Don’t miss Brandon from @Instacart discussing scaling tech and AI advancements. Sign Up
Revolutionizing Robotics: From Humanoids to Autonomous Kitchens
Robotics is making groundbreaking strides, with innovations spanning from advanced humanoid robots to autonomous kitchens that cut labor costs. Here's a quick overview of the latest developments:
Humanoid Robots and Advanced AI
- Disney's New Frontier: Disney is not only about movies anymore; they're delving into humanoid robots that can mimic human movements. A notable example is Ray, an audio-animatronic robot head made with 3-D printing, featuring lifelike mechanical structures and facial features. Wevolver
- Humanoid Stunt Robots: Disney Imagineering has created a robot capable of impressive stunts, including tucking, somersaulting, and climbing 25 meters in the air in real-time. Tweet
Robotics and AI Innovations
- CrossFormer: Researchers have developed CrossFormer, a transformer-based policy that can control various robots from drones to quadrupeds, performing multiple tasks such as manipulation and navigation. Ria Doshi
- Ringbot: A new leg-wheel transformer robot, Ringbot, offers versatile mobility by combining the mechanisms of a monocycle with robotic legs. Tweet
Commercialization and Practical Applications
- Robot Kitchen: The autonomous robot kitchen by goodBytz can produce over 3,000 meals daily, reducing labor costs by up to 80% compared to traditional kitchens. Mario Nawfal
- Cleaning Robots: IIT's VERO, a legged robot, is designed to clean up cigarette butts from beaches, showcasing the potential of AI-based detection in environmental cleanup. Tweet
Research and Academia
- Robotics Crash Course: Hugging Face has released a comprehensive tutorial on building and programming robots, emphasizing hands-on learning through Jupyter notebooks. Jim Fan
- Open-Source Contributions: Following the example of @leo__berte, open-source robotics projects are being shared to advance the field and encourage collaboration. Leonardo Bertelli
Opinions and Future Outlook
- Future of Robotics: There's a debate about whether humanoid robots will dominate undesirable jobs or if different robotic forms will prove more effective. Some experts suggest that humanoid designs might not be the most practical for all tasks. Eric Jang
- Robotics in Construction: The integration of AI in construction is poised to enhance safety, efficiency, and precision, potentially transforming the industry despite concerns about job displacement. Tweet
This diverse range of advancements highlights the dynamic nature of robotics and AI, pointing to a future where these technologies increasingly integrate into various aspects of our lives.
Exciting AI Tools
Summary: This week, the tech world buzzed with exciting advancements and tools ranging from innovative open-source projects to new integrations and platforms. Developers are sharing their latest tools and updates, which promise to simplify workflows, enhance productivity, and spark new opportunities.
AI Tools & Integrations
- Dub Integrations: Dub has launched new integrations allowing easy connection with platforms like Slack and Zapier with a single click. Explore how you can add a “Sign in with Dub” button to your app. Read more
- Codestral 22B & Continue: Utilize local Codestral 22B as GitHub Copilot in VS Code through the "Continue" extension, now offering trials with GPT-4o, Llama3, Claude 3.5, and more models.
Open-Source Projects
- Obtu AI: Check out the open-source project by @josebenitezg with automated deploy workflows. Contribute and explore the HF Space and GitHub repo here.
- Micro Jax: Explore Micro Jax, a new project making waves on Hugging Face and GitHub. Discover more
Developer Tools & Workflows
- Ttok Package: @simonw’s ttok package for invoking tiktoken from the command line is making waves. It simplifies the process and is a must-try for developers.
- Postbot by Postman: Automatically generate and update API documentation with Postbot, saving hours of manual documentation work.
Platform Updates
- EdgeDB on Vercel Marketplace: Integration with EdgeDB has become smoother with its addition to the Vercel Marketplace. Enjoy streamlined workflows and GitHub integration.
- Windows Terminal 1.22 Preview: The latest release includes Sixel support and other enhancements. Dive into the new features in the latest blog post.
Research & Innovation
- Valibot Milestone: Valibot is now featured in over 10,000 GitHub repositories, showcasing its growing influence and adoption in the development community.
Thank you for taking the time to read this edition of TACQ AI.
If you haven’t already, don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss out on the latest updates!
Your support means the world! If you enjoyed the insights shared, please consider spreading the word by sharing this newsletter with others who might find it valuable.
Until next time, keep exploring the ever-evolving world of AI!
Stay curious, The TACQ AI Team