5x5: April’s Best of Tech Roundup

As OpenAI unveils the world's first commercially viable humanoid robot and the EU passes its flagship AI Law, Toaster’s tech director David Plunkett looks at the five biggest updates shaking up the world of tech this past month:

Rise of the Machines: The First Commercially Viable Robot Assistant is Here 🤖

Powered by OpenAI's VLM technology, Figure 01 understands spoken commands and translates them into precise actions. This $2.6 billion dollar company, backed by giants like Bezos, OpenAI, and Nvidia, is poised to revolutionise the future of work. With the humanoid robot market projected to reach $38 billion by 2035, expect Figure 01 to be at the forefront.

Meet Devin: Your New Coding Partner-in-Crime (or Not?) 👨‍💻

Devin is the world's first fully autonomous AI software engineer by Cognition AI. Devin can learn and train other AIs, handle development jobs end-to-end, build and deploy apps, and even fix bugs in codebases - all autonomously! Already working on developer jobs on Upwork, Devin paves the way for AI-driven marketing strategies, even for those with limited technical expertise.

Regulating the Rise: EU Passes Landmark AI Law 👩‍⚖️

The European Parliament has approved the world's first comprehensive Artificial Intelligence Act. This law bans certain AI systems, like those used for social scoring or real-time facial recognition. 'High-risk' AI, such as those used in surgery or law enforcement, will undergo rigorous testing before market release. Generative AI, like ChatGPT, isn't banned, but must comply with transparency and copyright laws. The Law is set to be enforced in coming months - more on that soon!

Midjourney Levels Up: Consistent Character Creation Just Got Easier 😎

Midjourney now allows for consistent character creation across images! Simply use the '--cref' code with an image URL, and your character will appear throughout your creations. For multiple characters, just add multiple '--cref' codes. Want to focus on just the face? Use the '--cw' code to control the level of detail.

Touchdown for the Mind: VR Football Emerges as a Powerful Brain Training Tool ⚽

Football isn't just about physical prowess anymore. VR training programs are pushing the boundaries, enhancing cognitive skills like decision-making, spatial awareness, and reaction time. This exciting new frontier in brain training is poised to revolutionise the way athletes prepare for the game - and is already being put to the test by leading teams around the globe.