Google's new AI search engine, YouTube fights eating disorders, Netflix and more

Here is a roundup of the tech news that you may have missed this week.

Google is allegedly creating a new AI-based search engine

With companies like Microsoft aggressively pushing out their search engine Bing with an AI chatbot, Google is looking to do the same with its already robust search engine.

Although their experiments with their own AI-chatbot, codenamed Bard, had a rocky start, Google isn't giving up.

Being developed under the codename of "Magi", Google reportedly plans to announce this next month before introducing additional new features sometime around September.

Earlier this week, Samsung reportedly considered a move to Bing for it's default search engine, causing the stock of Google's parent company, Alphabet, to dip slightly. This may be one of the reasons why Google is trying to integrate an AI to their search engine as fast as possible.

Singapore launches airbag vests for falling elderly

It is common to see the elderly getting into unwanted accidents, especially with the risk of falling down.

As a person ages, bones become much more brittle, and a high impact fall may even result in breakage of bones and could sustain injuries that could lead to very expensive surgeries.

SATA CommHealth in Singapore has recently launched a pilot program to fit Singapore's elderly with a high tech airbag that will deploy almost immediately to cushion a fall if it detects one.

This vest deploys in 0.18 seconds the moment it detects a fall, and features a six to eight-hour battery life, after which you have to charge it again before wearing.

Made by China's Yidaibao, the vest provides 360 degrees of protection for falls (including front and side), and is reusable for up to 10 times.

Although it costs a hefty S$600 per vest which can only be used up to 10 times, the protection it provides offsets the the surgical costs needed for broken bones, especially at an advanced age.

Netflix shuts down its original DVD business

Did you know that once upon a time, Netflix was a DVD rental company?

Started out in 1998, Netflix originally sent DVDs out to customers for rental (yes, we watched movies on a disc), but with the era of movie streaming and online videos, there is little to no reason to have a disc player in your living room anymore. Physical discs are slowly becoming the thing of the past.

They will shut down the DVD business on the 29 September 2023.

YouTube targets videos that promotes eating disorders

In an effort to protect the mental health of its users, YouTube will now ban videos on eating disorders that feature "imitable" behaviour or weight-oriented bullying.

To be clear, YouTube has been already cracking down on videos that directly promotes eating disorders. This new change will also target videos that "indirectly" talks about the subject, and if the content is seen as harmful to users.

Content that discusses about the subject matter and recovery from the disorder will also be limited to users that are 18-years old and above.

Elon Musk creates own AI company after calling for AI 'pause'

A few weeks ago, Elon Musk called for a 'pause' in AI development, after signing a letter that said 'powerful AI systems' should be developed only once the effects are likely positive and the risk, manageable.

This week, according to The Wall Street Journal, he has created a company called "X.AI Corp".

After allegedly absorbing Twitter into another company called "X Corp" as reported last week, it is still unclear if both the "X" companies are the same entity.

There are reports of Musk purchasing thousands of graphics cards for his Twitter AI project, so it well may be the same company.

Whatever it is, Musk calling for a 'pause' on the AI development front and proceeding to create his own seems oxymoronic at the very least.

Dominic loves tech and games. When he is not busy watercooling his computer parts, he does some pro wrestling.

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