Flip Phone February vs. AI Living

Simplifying emerging technology trends with Shira Lazar. Learn what matters in web3 and AI in under 3 minutes per week.

Author

Shira Lazar
February 18, 2024

I hope everyone has had a lovely week and weekend. I miss the beaches in Panama but love being back home with my fur baby. ❤️

But as per usual, the fast-paced tech industry doesn’t stop for anyone. I am excited to dive into the big stories from this past week. And just when we thought the Apple Vision Pro had captured all our attention, this week introduced us to even more groundbreaking tech and wearables.

What You Need To Know 

Meet Frame, the latest brainchild from Bobak Tavangar and his team at Brilliant Labs. Taking a leaf from Apple's design book, these smart glasses are not just a nod to Steve Jobs's iconic style but a leap into the future of AI wearables. 

With $6 million in backing and a vision to blend AI seamlessly into our daily lives, Frame stands out with Noa, its voice assistant, and Perplexity, an AI search engine, all wrapped up in a $349 package available for order today.

🔥My Hot Take: I love these experiments and the more accessible pricing around this. I still don’t see people wearing this day to day, however, inevitably it will be what we adopt. More and more, there will be a seamlessness between our human behavior and the technology that supports our lives. 

Shira Lazar

The Skyted mask, unveiled at CES 2024, is a groundbreaking silent mask that uses aerospace technology to absorb 80% of voice frequencies. It can lower sound by up to 25 decibels, enabling private conversations in public spaces without being overheard—even in environments as quiet as a library. 

This is the world’s first silent mask, allowing you to have conversations in a public space without anyone being able to hear you at all.

Maybe I could use this, as I’ve been told I can be too loud on calls in public spaces. 🤣

OpenAI's Sora, a new text-to-video generator, showcases a leap in AI technology by creating high-quality videos from text prompts. 

While it marks a significant innovation, concerns about misuse and ethical implications are prompting a cautious approach to its release. OpenAI is engaging with experts to ensure responsible use, reflecting the broader challenge of balancing technological advances with ethical considerations in AI.

🔥My Hot Take: It’s making creation easy & accessible but raises questions on jobs, content ownership & ethics. 🤔

Shira Lazar

In Other News:

Yuga Labs, known for the Bored Ape Yacht Club, just scooped up Proof and its popular Moonbirds NFTs. They're bringing the whole Proof team on board and folding Moonbirds into their upcoming Otherside game. 

Kevin Rose, Proof's co-founder, is switching to an advisory role after the quick deal despite earlier saying no sale was happening. It's a big move for both teams, especially with the ups and downs Proof has faced in the NFT world. 

As a Moonbird holder, this is a good move and a soft landing for the team, including Kevin, who most likely has other ventures on his mind. 

Other headlines to check out:

Keeping my eye on…

Flip Phone February and Digital Minimalism 

Ready to take a break from your smartphone but worried about going off the radar? You're not alone. This month’s trend is trading in your smartphone for simpler alternatives, aiming for a digital detox without losing touch.

The Light Phone is a great example, where it’s all about simplicity and peace of mind. It cuts out the digital clutter by ditching social media, emails, and the web, focusing instead on the essentials like calls, texts, and a few handy tools—all on a soothing, eye-friendly e-paper screen.

I discovered the Flip Phone February challenge through my friend, Sarah Thibault. Are you going back to your old flip phone this month?


I’m Bullish On… 

Disney’s Imagineer Lanny Smoot

Meet Lanny Smooth, Walt Disney Imagineering's Lanny Smoot, who is being inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame.

Smoot also recently developed the HoloTile Floor, an interactive flooring that responds to user movements, enhancing virtual reality experiences and enabling new ways for objects and people to move across its surface.

Gentle Reminder:

Keep learning, researching, and getting inspired by others, but step back and allow your innate ideas and intuition to sculpt the rest.

We're looking for brands to share with The Alpha. If you’ve got a product or service you think we’d love, let us know!👇

Remember, I'm Bullish on you!

With gratitude,