e464 — AI Piano Man | Games At Work dot Biz

autographed picture of Billy Joel at Bullock’s Bar-B-Cue in Durham, NC — Picture by Michael Martine at Bullock’s Bar-B-Cue, Durham NC, April 2024

Published 29 April 2024

Michael and Michael get together to talk tech while Andy is away. In this episode, the team focuses on a variety of AI topics including AI hardware in the form of the Rabbit R1, the new Logitech AI Mouse, smart gloves to teach piano playing. Michael M shares a blog post dealing with reinforcement learning and empowerment maximization. Michael R gives a rundown on his perspective of the current state of the Apple Vision Pro. The co-hosts wrap up the episode with some gaming news.

Michael and Michael start of this episode continuing the recent discussion on AI hardware, this time with the Rabbit R1. Like the Humane AI pin, there are compelling elements about the R1, however, the overlap with other wearables (watches) and phones loom large. Switching from the Rabbit to the Logitech mouse, Michael M brings up the bespoke AI button, likening the button to the Netflix button on TV remotes. Michael R notes that his existing mouse could accomplish the same thing by mapping one of the existing buttons to call up the AI features, and points out the challenges arising from the Logitech software the new mouse requires. For an intriguing new way of learning to play the piano, the co-hosts discuss “a textile-based wearable human-machine interface with integrated tactile sensors and vibrotactile haptic actuators”. Staying on the AI theme, Michael M brings up a blog post dealing with reinforcement learning and empowerment maximization with an intriguing image to consider for creating an optimal number of future options and opportunities.

Michael R gives his current take on the Apple Vision Pro, given the recent press on the sales figures and expectations on the future availability in countries beyond the US.

The team wraps up the episode with some gaming news. These include an Excel-based Fallout game, a world record attempt of chess and the breakup of Embracer Group.

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