Virtual Pals

About a week after releasing Grok’s latest version, Elon Musk unveiled what he called a “cool feature” of the chatbot. This update came in the form of Companions, currently two characters called Ani and Rudy with whom users can have conversations. It soon became evident that these characters—available to premium subscribers—have distinct personalities, unlike regular chatbots. Rudy, a cartoon panda, tends to be mean and profane; and Ani, a blonde anime woman, comes with a certain risque element. Another companion, named Chad, is listed as “coming soon”.

AI companions aren’t new. There are apps like Replika and Character.AI whose avatars have been positioned as a solution to combating loneliness, but these haven’t quite broken into the mainstream yet. This could change with the arrival of Grok’s companions.

Such characters are also potentially a big step up from most chatbots today. Currently, even the best chatbots are limited to basic interfaces. They do tasks, provide answers, set reminders, but overall they remain impersonal. This changes with Grok’s avatars. These characters could also, as the feature evolves, adapt to different users’ needs and traits.

There have been concerns that humans could form unhealthy bonds with AI characters. Grok’s companions will certainly stoke these fears. But they also point to a new direction chatbots might take.

Jiopc Launched

Reliance unveiled JioPC, a service that transforms your set-top box and TV into a personal computer. This cloud-based virtual desktop service, aimed at making computing more accessible and affordable, works with any compatible TV connected to a Jio set-top box. It will come with features like web browsing and word processing, and will also allow users to install and run some apps.

Vision Pro’s Upgrade

While Apple’s VR headset Vision Pro combined virtual and augmented reality in a unique way, it hasn’t been widely adopted. This is primarily because of the heavy gear and high cost. Apple is now expected to launch an update. This will include a faster processor and components that are more compatible with AI. A new strap is also being planned to make the device easier to handle.

Samsung’s Tri-Fold Phone

Ever since Huawei launched its tri-fold phone, Samsung has been rumoured to be working on a similar device. A Samsung executive recently confirmed the news, adding that the phone will be available by year end. The phone, it is rumoured, will have two hinges that fold inwards instead of outwards. The screen size is expected to be between 9 and 10 inches, making it appealing for anyone who wants a tablet-like device.

AppleChatbotsGrokhuman relationshipsJiopcRelianceSamsungTri-Fold PhoneVR headset Vision Pro