🦾 OpenAI gets into robotics

Welcome, AI enthusiasts

OpenAI is reviving its robotics division. This had been suspected for a while, but now a senior official from the company has confirmed it. They also shared more details about OpenAI's plans for robotics. In a recent podcast, Mark Zuckerberg mentioned that Meta will begin automating the work of mid-level software engineers this year. Meanwhile, VLC showcased a new CES demo featuring the creation and translation of subtitles in over 100 languages, all offline. Let’s dive in!

In today’s insights:

• OpenAI gets into robotics

• Zuckerberg announces Meta plans to replace Mid-Level engineers with AIs this year

• VLC adds AI Subtitles and Offline Translation

Read time: 4 minutes

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OPENAI
🦾 OpenAI gets into robotics

Evolving AI: OpenAI is getting back into robotics, starting fresh four years after closing its first robotics program.

Key Points:

• OpenAI wants to hire three people to help build robots that can think and work better.

• The focus is on making robots that can handle real-world messes, not just perfect simulations.

• They may have new ideas for fixing past problems or see a chance to make money with smarter robots.

Details:

OpenAI is hiring new experts to restart its robotics work. They need an engineer for robot sensors, another for mechanics like motors and gears, and a manager to organize projects. Their goal is to make robots that can handle messy, unpredictable situations. Back in 2020, OpenAI stopped working on robotics because they didn’t have enough data to train their AI. Now, better tools like synthetic data and smarter computing might solve that problem.

Why It Matters:

It seems to be more about home robotics than robotics for businesses. Naturally, a lot of artificial intelligence is involved — AI is, after all, the core of OpenAI. Judging by the competition, AI also forms the foundation of many humanoid robots. Tesla, Xiaomi, and other brands are working on their own humanoid robots or heavily investing in companies building this type of robot. Whether OpenAI is also aiming for a human-like robot hasn’t been confirmed by the company yet, but rumors suggest this is the case.

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META
🤖 Zuckerberg announces Meta plans to replace Mid-Level engineers with AIs this year

Evolving AI: Meta says AI will soon code like mid-level engineers and change how software is made.

Key Points:

• Mark Zuckerberg thinks AI will code as well as mid-level engineers by 2025.

• Meta plans to use AI for coding, which might replace some human jobs.

• This could make tech development faster, but it raises questions about jobs and ethics.

Details:

Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Meta, shared big plans for AI in coding. He believes that by 2025, AI will be able to code as well as mid-level engineers. Meta wants to use AI in their teams to handle important coding tasks. This could change how software is made, letting AI manage entire projects from start to finish. While this sounds exciting, it also brings worries about people losing jobs and how to use AI responsibly. At a recent event, some speakers joked about creating “AI workers’ unions,” but the idea shows how much AI could affect the workplace. There are also concerns about how humans will keep control over smarter AI systems.

Why It Matters:

If AI can code like mid-level engineers, it could speed up software development and make it cheaper. But it also brings big changes for jobs and raises questions about how people and AI will work together. Are we ready for AI to take the lead in engineering?

VLC PLAYER
🔊 VLC Adds AI Subtitles and Offline Translation

Evolving AI: VLC introduces real-time subtitles and offline translation powered by AI.

Key Points:

• VLC makes subtitles and translations in real-time without the internet.

• It works with 100 languages while keeping your data private.

• VLC has been downloaded 6 billion times and is still growing.

Details:

VLC, the well-loved video player known for playing nearly any file type, is getting even better. At CES 2025, the team unveiled a new feature: AI-generated subtitles and translations that work completely offline. This means your data stays private while you watch. The feature will support up to 100 languages and is seamlessly integrated into the app, making it more user-friendly than older tools like OpenAI’s Whisper. With 6 billion downloads and counting, VLC remains a top choice for users worldwide, even in an age dominated by streaming services.

Why It Matters:

This update helps more people enjoy videos in different languages without worrying about privacy. Offline functionality ensures security while breaking language barriers. VLC’s move could inspire more private, user-friendly AI tools for media. As an open-source and non-profit project, VLC has earned its place as an internet hero, providing free software and refusing tens of millions of dollars to include ads in their player.

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