August 3, 2023

IN THIS ISSUE

🎵 Meta releases AudioCraft for AI-generated audio and music

🪙 Worldcoin sees first pushback over data privacy concerns

🩺 Amazon Clinic 'online doctor service' gets major expansion

UP FIRST

Meta releases AudioCraft for AI-generated audio and music

It's open-sourcing the tool to 'help advance the field of AI-generated audio'

Meta has released a generative AI tool called AudioCraft that's capable of producing “high-quality, realistic audio and music” via text prompts.

AudioCraft brings together three models: MusicGen for music, which it unveiled in June; AudioGen for sound effects; and an improved version of EnCodec for higher-quality music generation.

“Imagine a professional musician being able to explore new compositions without having to play a single note on an instrument, or a small business owner adding a soundtrack to their latest video ad on Instagram with ease,” Meta said in a post introducing AudioCraft.

Aware of copyright issues in the growing field of generative AI, the company points out that MusicGen was trained using 20,000 hours of music owned or licensed by Meta, while AudioGen was trained using public sound effects.

Meta shared some examples on its website of what the tool can do by posting the musical result of the text prompt: “Pop dance track with catchy melodies, tropical percussions, and upbeat rhythms, perfect for the beach.”

Meta said it believes that with further development, MusicGen can “turn into a new type of instrument – just like synthesizers when they first appeared.” Accomplished musicians might not agree.

You can try a demo version of MusicGen here.

CRYPTO

Worldcoin sees first pushback over data privacy concerns

Officials in Kenya have suspended Worldcoin's operations while they carry out an investigation

New crypto project Worldcoin is facing growing scrutiny after Kenya became the first country to suspend its local operations over data privacy concerns, among other issues.

Set up by Sam Altman, the CEO of ChatGPT creator OpenAI, Worldcoin last month started inviting people to have their eyeballs scanned by a special “Orb” device (pictured above) for the creation of a digital ID.

As an incentive to join, Worldcoin has been offering free cryptocurrency worth around $50, encouraging more than 350,000 Kenyans to sign up for Worldcoin in exchange for the tokens.

Some groups have already expressed concerns about Worldcoin gathering biometric data, but this is the first time a national government has taken such firm action. Others could follow.

Kenya’s interior ministry said that relevant security, financial services, and data protection agencies had begun investigations to establish “the authenticity and legality” of Worldcoin’s activities, Reuters reported.

The Communications Authority of Kenya said it has concerns about how Worldcoin is storing the gathered biometric data, and expressed disquiet over so much of it being held by a single private company. It also appears unsettled by Worldcoin "obtaining consumer consent in exchange for monetary reward."

Worldcoin has yet to comment on Kenya’s action.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Amazon Clinic 'online doctor service' gets major expansion

The service is accessed via Amazon's app or website and consultations are available around the clock

Amazon is expanding its Clinic healthcare platform to the whole of the U.S.

Amazon Clinic launched in November 2022, offering help for more than 30 common health conditions such as migraines, sinus infections, and pink eye.

The service connects patients with licensed clinicians for virtual care. Current provider groups include Wheel, SteadyMD, Curai Health, and Hello Alpha.

The expansion means that so-called “video visits” are now supported across the entire U.S., while message-based consultations are available in 34 states.

After selecting a provider, the patient is connected via messaging or a video call without the need for an appointment or insurance (Amazon Clinic doesn’t currently accept insurance, though it can be used to help pay for medications prescribed through the service). Following a consultation, the clinician will then come up with a treatment plan.

On average, the service's messaging-based consultations cost $35, while video visits cost $75.

Amazon Clinic is part of an ongoing effort by the company to build a presence in the healthcare sector and follows several acquisitions in the field in recent years.

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