Microsoft introduces Rewrite AI in Notepad and Generative Fill and Erase AI in Paint
Microsoft has introduced AI features to two classic Windows apps: Notepad and Paint. The text editor in Windows 11 now offers the ability to rewrite text content, and it has been named Rewrite AIAI has some generative capabilities and can help you shorten or lengthen text. It offers a variety of tone and format styles to choose from.
There are a number of limitations that may affect how users can interact with the AI, for starters, users must sign in to their Microsoft account to access Rewrite's features. Rewrite AI may be useful for some users, but it really comes at a cost. Rewrite in Notepad is not free, users get 50 credits to access AI features. According to some documentation on Microsoft's website, these credits are replenished on a monthly basis for users who are subscribed to Microsoft 365 Personal or Family, or CoPilot Pro.
Microsoft Paint is also getting new AI Features Generative fill and erase. These options are available for Copilot+ PC and users.
Amazon Prime Video will have X-Recaps episodes, season recaps
Amazon Prime Video is testing an AI feature called x-recapsWhich is designed to recap the events in a TV show in a text summary that is easy to read. X-Ray Recaps is powered by Amazon Bedrock, it will analyze the content of the video including subtitles, dialogue, etc. to generate a summary of the story. The tool will avoid spoilers, and will only provide details based on the content you view. Users can access the option from the details page while playing a video on Prime Video's website. X-Recaps offers a tailored experience, you can choose to recap a specific episode, an entire season, or a previous season.
AI features currently available to FireTV users in the US
Windows Control Panel was deliberately slowed down by Microsoft
Microsoft reportedly slowed down the control panel In Windows, intentionally. Eric Voirin, developer of Win98 QuickInstall, has discovered some hard coded delays that affect the Control Panel in Windows 95 and 98. Splitting it into two segments will impact the launch time. The first delay was three seconds long, while the second delay was five seconds long. Although it appears that the delays would initially display the name of the class or device, followed by the device logo, the actual reason for coding these delays is unknown.
However, this has nothing to do with promoting the Settings app, as the app did not exist then. Even after the Settings app launched when Windows 10 was released, the legacy app has remained axed until now. Microsoft was planning to remove Control Panel from Windows, but later clarified that it would not remove legacy apps.
Microsoft has discontinued Paint 3D app
Microsoft has retired Paint 3D app. The app was launched in 2016, and was intended to replace the classic Paint app. Microsoft Paint 3D supports 2D and 3D images. One would think it was a good idea, but the execution was poor. Paint 3D had a terrible UI with huge icons, and was designed primarily for touch input. Paint 3D was not popular, it failed to replace Paint, and found itself on the deprecated apps list. The classic Paint app, on the other hand, has not only flourished but been revamped over the years, and even has new AI features.
Microsoft Paint 3D is no longer available for download from the Microsoft Store. Users who want to view 3D images should use the 3D Viewer app.
Google Maps is getting AI
Google is bringing its Gemini AI to more apps. This time it has introduced itself AI for Google MapsGoogle Earth and Waze. Google Maps users can interact with the app to get a chat-like experience, with AI responding to conversation requests using natural language processing. It will suggest places to visit, offering summaries based on reviews and user feedback. Google Maps will also tell you where you can park and walk to your destination from there. It also supports augmented reality features, options to report weather-related disruptions, etc. Google says it plans to add more detail in the coming months, including information about streets in metropolitan areas. Gemini AI in Google Maps is currently available to users in the US on Android and iOS.
Similarly, Waze with Gemini AI has new options for reporting incidents and hazards on the road, and these options will be available for Android and iOS later this year. Google Earth is also powered by Gemini AI, and can process complex searches.
Apple acquired Pixelmator
Apple has Pixelmator acquiredThe company that created a popular image editing tool of the same name for iOS, macOS, and iPadOS. Pixelmator, which is based in Lithuania, also created the Photomator app. Both apps offer a variety of powerful image editing tools such as support for RAW image formats, background removal, super resolution, and artificial intelligence with machine learning capabilities.
Apple discontinued Aperture in 2014 to focus on the Photos app, but the latter lacks the tools that were available in the former. And now that Apple has purchased Pixelmator, some users have questioned whether Aperture will be available for macOS, or whether Pixelmator's features will be integrated into the Photos app.
Meta's Llama 2 AI isn't actually open source
Meta claims that Llama AI is open source. But, OSI (Open Source Initiative) disagree With this. An article that explains how artificial intelligence is classified as open source states that permission should not be required to reuse a system.
OSI says that Llama AI allows access to the data that is used to train the language model, or its database, and is therefore not transparent. Meta, Facebook's parent company, restricts the way Llama can be used, especially for commercial purposes.
While OSI says Meta needs to correct its mistake, Meta has denied the allegation. A spokesperson for the company said that there is no single definition of open source AI and it is a challenging task because it is a complex and fast-evolving industry.
