The Augmented Horizon

More is happening in technology beyond just generative AI! Advancements in Extended Reality (AR, VR, Mixed Reality), Robotics, Quantum Computing, and HCI are redefining our reality. We keep you one step ahead of everyone else.

Do You Really Want to Live Forever?

It’s another week of mind-blowing breakthroughs, and this time we're tasting tech—literally. We've got an AI-powered tongue that’s basically a food critic with circuits, Apple getting serious (but late) about AI, and hackers making AI robots go full-on supervillain. Oh, and in case you wanted a humanoid robot to paint your next portrait, that's happening too. Meanwhile, Silicon Valley elites are throwing wads of cash at anti-aging research because apparently, living forever is the new status symbol. Who needs yachts when you can invest in immortality?

We've also got a couple of videos that'll make you question everything. One features the "Godfather of AI" himself, Geoffrey Hinton, predicting the AI takeover. Casual, right? Then there’s Meta dropping secrets on how they're inching closer to AGI. It’s wild out there in the tech world, and we’re here to break it down for you!

BUT FIRST - Do We Really Want to Live Forever & Why is Silicon Valley Obsessed with It?

Silicon Valley elites like Jeff Bezos, Peter Thiel, and Sam Altman have a new fixation: immortality. As billions pour into anti-aging research and startups, the tech world is inching closer to the idea that death could become just another "technical problem" to solve. With projects like Altos Labs and Harvard's "reverse aging" chemical cocktails leading the charge, it seems like the fountain of youth might soon be found in a lab. But that begs the big question—do we really want to live forever?

The pursuit of immortality isn't just about stretching out our years; it's about fundamentally changing what it means to be human. Living for centuries could reshape society, with psychological and ethical dilemmas emerging faster than scientific breakthroughs. Would endless life rob us of the meaning and urgency we attach to human experiences? Silicon Valley seems to think longevity will unlock new heights of human potential, but the rest of us might wonder if immortality is more of a dystopian future than a dream come true.

The race for anti-aging technologies isn't slowing down, but it's worth questioning the motivations behind it. Are tech moguls really trying to save humanity, or is this just a billionaire's quest to dodge death? The vast investments in longevity research might be driven by personal ambitions—who wouldn’t want to stick around to enjoy their billions for a few more centuries? Whether this obsession benefits society at large or just a select few remains to be seen.

Read More About The Latest in “Reversing the Clock”

• Harvard, MIT Scientists Claim Chemical Cocktails Reverse Aging

• Jeff Bezos’s Altos Labs: The Billionaire-Backed Anti-Aging Quest

• Sam Altman’s Retro Biosciences and the Race to Extend Lifespan

• Jeff Bezos-Backed UK Lab Aims to Cure Aging

• 5 Anti-Aging Trends Experts Say Might Turn Back the Clock

WORTH READING

AI-Powered Tongue Tastes the Future—No, Really!
Scientists have developed an AI-powered electronic tongue that can taste different flavors with machine precision. Is this the future of gourmet dining or the beginning of robot food critics that can out-snob even the fanciest sommeliers?

Apple's AI Game Plan: Intelligence Coming in Hot, But… Two Years Late
Apple promises that its AI revolution is just around the corner—only a couple of years away! Expect Siri’s big glow-up to become “less dumb” as Apple gets serious about catching up to the AI race. Can Apple really afford to be fashionably late to this party?

Hackers Turn AI Robots Into Real-World Supervillains
AI robots were supposed to help, not hurt—right? Turns out, hackers have figured out how to weaponize these helpful machines, raising the stakes on just how dangerous things could get when robots go rogue. It's like "Terminator," but without Schwarzenegger.

Portrait of a Robot Painter: When Your Artist Has Circuit Boards
In a world-first, a humanoid robot’s artwork is about to go under the hammer at a major auction. Will people shell out millions for a painting made by metal and gears, or is this the start of AI invading the fine art world, too? Watch out Picasso!

MegaNeX 8K: The Ultra-Light VR Headset That’s Easy on the Neck, Not the Wallet
Say goodbye to clunky, neck-breaking VR headsets! The MegaNeX Superlight 8K headset is here, weighing next to nothing but offering crisp visuals. Just be prepared to shell out a small fortune for the privilege of experiencing VR without the chiropractor on speed dial.

WORTH WATCHING

‘Godfather of AI’ Predicts AI Takeover—But Should We Panic Yet?
In this eye-opening interview, AI pioneer Geoffrey Hinton warns that AI could exceed human intelligence sooner than we think—and may even try to "take over." Hinton lays out the chilling possibilities of machines becoming smarter than their creators. Is this the start of a sci-fi apocalypse, or just some healthy paranoia?

Meta’s Secret Sauce for AGI—Are We On the Brink?
Meta’s AI team reveals its hidden formula for creating AGI (Artificial General Intelligence), the kind of AI that can think and learn just like humans. With Facebook’s parent company aiming for a digital brain that could outsmart us all, is this the next big leap, or just another overhyped tech dream?

Interesting Jobs in Tech

Coming soon! I am working with companies and recruiters in the space to add jobs. Do you have any? Please send me the details, and I will include them soon!

I’ve already started to get some submissions and leads for roles, although not all are in the extended tech space. If you want to reach out, please do so at the link above (I'm still setting up the process).

Product:

• Chief Product Officer

Engineering:

• Principal Engineer

• 2 different “Founding Engineer” roles

• Senior Backend Engineer

• Senior Fullstack Engineer

Coming Soon, Q1 2025 Events! Alright, I did not create the list for this week. Sorry! Check out the running list of industry events and conferences for 2024.

Have any questions or additions?

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Portions of this email were assisted by artificial intelligence.