Austin Startup Acquired, Texas Accents vs AI, Perplexity Revenue Sharing | AITX Newsletter #30

Hello everyone! AITX Team here with more updates this week.

If you’re new here, welcome! 👋 At AITX, we aim to:

• Connect you with like-minded peers passionate about AI.

• Provide a space for sharing ideas and receiving feedback on AI projects you’re building.

• Share helpful tools and invaluable resources.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Side note: Big shout out to all the group meetups still going strong in the summer lull—y’all are crushing it 🫡 

Leverage AI Tools to Predict & Win at the Game of Business Chess 👑 

• When: Wednesday, August 7 | 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM CST

• Where: Capital Factory 701 Brazos St · Austin, TX

• What:  Elizabeth Quintanilla will guide you through the transformative power of AI in crafting winning marketing strategies. Learn from successful case studies and understand the practical applications of AI in personalizing customer experiences, optimizing campaigns, and automating communications.

AI CREATIVE COLLECTIVE - MEETUP #6 👽️ 

• When: Monday, August 12 | 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM CST

• Where: Capital Factory 701 Brazos St · Austin, TX

• What: AICC is a group of people who are using artificial intelligence to assist them in their creation of visual art. Our focus areas are: film and video, design, digital art, storyboarding, comics and other new media.

Generative AI: A View from the Lawyers 🏫 

• When: Tuesday, August 13, 2024 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM CST

• Where: Capital Factory 701 Brazos Street Suite 150 · Austin, TX

• What: Drew Harris is a civil rights trial lawyer with a passion for technology. Drew frequently gives presentations to other lawyers on technology, legal ethics, trial presentation, and employment law issues. For example, Drew published an article on “Ethical Issues Raised by Lawyers’ Use of ChatGPT” in the Austin Lawyer magazine

Austin AI Social Hour 🍸️ 

• When: Wednesday, August 28 | 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM CST

• Where: The Brewtorium Brewery & Kitchen 6015 Dillard Cir A · Austin, TX

• What: The perfect spot to mingle with a friendly mix of people who share an interest in AI and its potential. Whether you're looking to share your latest project, seek feedback and advice, or simply connect with like-minded individuals, this is the perfect opportunity to unwind and make new connections in a relaxed, casual environment.

Austin Low-Key Data Meetup 🤫 

• When: Tuesday, August 27 | 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM CST

• Where: The Brewtorium Brewery & Kitchen 6015 Dillard Cir A · Austin, TX

• What: Looking to meet other data people in the Austin area? Whether you're a data engineer, a data analyst, a data scientist, or something in-between... you've found the right event. No agenda, no sponsor, no cost. Just show up, buy your own drinks and hang out with other people in the industry. Be prepared to share stories and laughs.

COMMUNITY STORIES

Former Silicon Labs CEO Tyson Tuttle Launches AI Startup Circuit, Acquires Molecula

Tyson Tuttle, the former CEO of Silicon Labs, has embarked on a new venture with his AI startup, Circuit.

Tuttle aims to eventually take the company public, with a mission to educate people about AI through the Circuit Foundation. The startup has already made its first acquisition by taking over Austin-based Molecula.

Need-to-Know Info:

• Founder: Tyson Tuttle, former CEO of Silicon Labs

• Startup Name: Circuit

• Mission: Educate the public about AI and its applications through the Circuit Foundation

• First Acquisition: Austin-based startup Molecula

• Funding: Details on funding and financial plans are in development

• Future Plans: Tuttle envisions taking Circuit public

Source here.

Survey Reveals Texas Accent Among the Most Misunderstood by AI

A recent survey has highlighted the challenges AI faces in understanding various regional accents. The Texas accent has been identified as one of the most difficult for AI to comprehend, ranking fourth on the list of misunderstood accents. The Southern accent took the top spot, followed by New York City and New Jersey accents.

Need-to-Know Info:

• Survey Finding: Texas accent is the fourth most misunderstood by AI

• Top Misunderstood Accents:

  • Southern

  • New York City

  • New Jersey

  • Texas

• Impact: Difficulty in using voice-to-text features for Texans

• Reason: AI struggles with regional pronunciation and nuances

Source here.

Texas Tribune Joins Perplexity's New Revenue-Sharing Program for AI-Driven News

Perplexity, an AI search engine, has launched a revenue-sharing initiative with six news publishers, including Texas-based nonprofit Texas Tribune.

This program, designed to compensate publishers for their content, distinguishes Perplexity from other search engines like Google.

The Texas Tribune stands to benefit from new advertising features that share revenue when their content is used as a source in Perplexity's AI-driven search results.

Need-to-Know Info:

• Launch Date: Program announced on July 30, 2024

• Key Texas Partner: The Texas Tribune

• Other Partners: Time, Der Spiegel, Fortune, Entrepreneur, Automattic

• Revenue Model: Texas Tribune earns from brand-sponsored follow-up questions in search results

• Valuation: Perplexity valued at $3 billion with backing from Jeff Bezos and Nvidia

• Texas Tribune's Perspective: Opportunity to drive traffic and revenue, ensuring sustainable journalism

• Additional Perks: Texas Tribune gains free access to Perplexity Pro and API for their team

Source here.

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHT

Meet Alan Thompson, a Marine Corps veteran turned tech innovator who's revolutionizing the fitness industry with GroeFit.

With an MBA, PMP and CPIM certifications, and a background in supply chain engineering, Alan brings a unique blend of military precision and business acumen to the health and wellness space.

GroeFit (soon to be Groe Solutions) is using cutting-edge AI and computer vision to transform how gyms and healthcare facilities operate.

Their flagship product analyzes facility usage and member activity, providing real-time insights to staff and creating highly reliable organizations.

Key innovations include:

• trAIners: An AI-powered system offering just-in-time training for staff, adaptable for both commercial gyms and military healthcare facilities.

• PoWER Personas: Gamified fitness avatars that evolve with user progress, boosting engagement and retention.

• TonguePrints: AI-driven flavor profiling from food images, personalizing nutrition plans.

GroeFit isn't just about profits – they're on a mission to democratize health and wellness. Their City Wellness initiative partners with local governments to provide subsidized gym memberships for low-income families, aiming to build generational wealth through fitness.

As an SBA-approved Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), GroeFit is actively seeking partnerships within the Army and VA, focusing on health and fitness initiatives.

Want to be part of the fitness revolution?

Connect with Alan at [email protected] and visit GroeFit to learn more about their innovative approach to unlocking human potential.