😨 AI could end humanity

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Greetings! Your latest quick tech update is here:

☀️ On this day: On November 12, 1990, British computer scientists Tim Berners-Lee and Robert Cailliau published a formal proposal for the “WorldWideWeb” project while working at CERN. This document laid the foundation for the development of the World Wide Web, introducing concepts like hypertext, URLs, and the first web browser/editor. The project would eventually revolutionize global communication and information sharing.

What’s happening:

• 😨 Over half of Americans fear AI could end humanity

• 🎬 Hollywood legends bring their voices to AI

• 🔒 Google mirrors Apple’s private AI cloud model

• 🚪 Meta’s AI chief Yann LeCun plans his exit

• 🛑 Weak sales force Apple to scrap Air 2 plans

• + 📊 Daily poll and results

• + 📈 Trending tools and resources

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Voice AI Goes Mainstream in 2025

Human-like voice agents are moving from pilot to production. In Deepgram’s 2025 State of Voice AI Report, created with Opus Research, we surveyed 400 senior leaders across North America - many from $100M+ enterprises - to map what’s real and what’s next.

The data is clear:

• 97% already use voice technology; 84% plan to increase budgets this year.

• 80% still rely on traditional voice agents.

• Only 21% are very satisfied.

• Customer service tops the list of near-term wins, from task automation to order taking.

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Hand-picked news:

😨 Over half of Americans fear AI could end humanity ↗️LINK

• What: A new Yahoo/YouGov poll of 1,770 U.S. adults shows 53% believe AI will one day “destroy humanity.” Despite 85% finding AI chatbots at least somewhat helpful, only 17% think AI will improve their lives, while 47% expect mostly negative effects for humanity overall.

• Why: Americans cite fears over AI’s speed of advancement, misinformation, and human control. Over half say they’ve mistaken AI-generated content for real, and 65% lack confidence that others can tell human-made content from AI.

• Impact: The results highlight a growing trust crisis—people see AI’s power but fear its consequences. As AI giants race ahead, public skepticism could shape future regulation, adoption, and ethical oversight.

🎬 Hollywood legends bring their voices to AI ↗️LINK

• What: Matthew McConaughey and Michael Caine have partnered with AI audio firm ElevenLabs, granting rights to replicate their voices digitally. McConaughey, also an investor since 2022, will use his AI voice to offer multilingual versions of his “Lyrics of Livin’” newsletter. Caine’s voice joins ElevenLabs’ new “Iconic Voices Marketplace.”

• Why: The move seeks to create an ethical model for AI-generated voices, ensuring consent and royalties for talent while tackling unauthorized cloning.

• Impact: Valued at $6.6B, ElevenLabs is merging Hollywood and AI responsibly—preserving legendary voices, expanding creative use cases, and redefining digital identity rights in the entertainment industry.

🔒 Google mirrors Apple’s private AI cloud model ↗️LINK

• What: Google has announced “Private AI Compute,” a cloud-based system designed to run complex AI tasks while keeping user data private. The platform mimics Apple’s Private Cloud Compute and will power next-gen AI tools like smarter Magic Cue suggestions and expanded Recorder transcription on Pixel 10 devices.

• Why: On-device AI can’t handle the processing power needed for advanced reasoning. Google’s solution routes demanding requests to a “secure, fortified” cloud that promises zero internal access—even Google can’t view your data.

• Impact: The move redefines AI privacy standards, giving users high-performance AI without compromising data safety. It also sets the stage for more personalized, privacy-preserving AI experiences across Google’s ecosystem.

🚪 Meta’s AI chief Yann LeCun plans his exit ↗️LINK

• What: Meta’s Chief AI Scientist and Turing Award winner Yann LeCun plans to leave after over a decade leading Meta’s FAIR research arm. He’s preparing to launch a new AI startup focused on “world models” that learn from video and spatial data instead of text.

• Why: Friction has grown inside Meta’s reorganized AI divisions, with LeCun’s research priorities clashing with leadership under Alexandr Wang. Recent AI layoffs deepened internal divides.

• Impact: LeCun’s exit marks a major shift for Meta’s AI legacy and could spark fresh competition in next-gen AI model design.

🛑 Weak sales force Apple to scrap Air 2 plans ↗️LINK

• What: Apple has indefinitely delayed the iPhone Air 2, pulling it from its production roadmap. The move comes as Foxconn and Luxshare stop or dismantle their assembly lines for the model. The Air 2 was expected to feature a lighter design, larger battery, and vapor chamber cooling from the iPhone 17 Pro.

• Why: Disappointing sales of the first iPhone Air led Apple to pause the sequel’s rollout to avoid further production losses.

• Impact: The delay disrupts Apple’s 2025 lineup, signaling waning interest in its lightweight series and potential shifts in product strategy.

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Today’s Poll:

Vote and find out about the result tomorrow.

Yesterday’s Poll Result:

Should companies be allowed to gene-edit embryos to prevent diseases?

• A) Yes – It could save lives and improve health - 22%

• B) No – It’s too risky and unethical - 78% 🏆

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