The Augmented Horizon

The next industrial revolution will happen within our bodies. Are you ready? 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.

So, I stumbled across this story on TechCrunch about the darker side of relationships with AI bots, and it got me thinking—are we ready to trust AI with something as big as mental health therapy? These bots aren’t just appearing in mental health apps; personified AI is everywhere, from virtual assistants to robots that act as your sidekick at work or even at home. While AI promises support, it can’t offer the empathy that comes with human relationships, and yet we’re letting it into more intimate parts of our lives every day.

This week, we’re unpacking the rising role of AI in everything from mental health care to wearable tech, lab assistants, and mini robotic factories. Google’s Gemini is gunning for the next level of personal AI, while Microsoft teases AI-powered wearables that blur the line between tech and fashion. It’s a brave new world for AI, and it’s looking a lot more personal—whether we’re ready or not.

My Therapist is a Bot, What Could Go Wrong?

With a mounting shortage of mental health professionals, AI-powered chatbots are popping up as digital therapists, offering around-the-clock support on screens near you. The concept promises affordability and accessibility for people who can't easily see a therapist—whether due to cost, scheduling, or geography. These bots are designed to check in, lend an ear, and even guide users through cognitive exercises, all without ever taking a break. Sounds convenient, right?

But while these AI "therapists" can listen and offer suggestions, they can't match the empathy of a human or pick up on the subtleties in someone’s tone or body language. It’s a bit like confiding in a very focused, yet socially oblivious, notebook—data goes in, but the feedback lacks that crucial human warmth. Even more alarming, AI's inability to sense nonverbal cues or address critical mental health crises has already raised eyebrows. Privacy concerns and potential data breaches also loom large as users are trusting these platforms with their innermost thoughts. Adding to the mess, there’s a lawsuit linking a chatbot’s advice to a young user’s tragic death, underscoring the need for a deeper look at AI's role in mental health.

So, while these bots could be helpful for quick support or structured tools, relying solely on AI in mental health care is still a wild leap. Until regulations and standards catch up, AI-powered therapists might be better as helpers than healers, providing some support but leaving the big stuff to trained professionals.

Read More on How Your Job Might Be At Stake!

• We Spoke to People Who Started Using ChatGPT as Their Therapist

• Mental Health Chatbots Powered by Artificial Intelligence Providing Support

• Lawsuit Blames Character AI in Death of 14-Year-Old Boy

• ChatGPT Therapy Amidst Mental Health Crisis

• AI in Therapy: Ethical and Practical Concerns

NEWS YOU SHOULD KNOW

Doctors Get an AI Buddy: Northwell Health’s ChatGPT-Powered Hub
Doctors now have a ChatGPT tool that could be smarter than your last medical search on WebMD! Northwell Health’s new tech lets medical staff get real-time answers, giving bedside manner a digital edge.

Microsoft Teases AI Fashion Statement with Wearable Surface Tech
Microsoft is working on AI-powered wearables, which means Surface tech could soon be strutting down runways. The hint? AI-infused accessories are coming to your wardrobe, where tech and fashion collide.

Collaborative Robots Are Here to Make Your Business Unstoppable
Collaborative robots, or "cobots," could become your best coworkers, bringing game-changing potential to any business. Soon, clocking in might be an activity that’s left to humans only.

The Humanoid Kepler Robot That’s Got the Science World Buzzing
The Kepler Forerunner K2 humanoid is like a lab assistant with none of the coffee breaks. This bot is ready to work through the night, and it’s set to be a powerful (and patient) lab partner.

Google’s Gemini Project: Jarvis-Level AI for Real Life
Google’s crafting an assistant AI straight out of sci-fi. Codenamed Gemini, it’s designed to predict and respond like a human—no superhero ego needed.

Meet the ‘Superhuman Doctor’ AI That Knows Way Too Much
A new AI doctor might be able to diagnose better than your last 10 checkups combined. The medical bot promises to be good—maybe too good—at understanding your health.

Mini Robotic Arm: Build Your Own Micro Factory
Small projects? Big ambition? Hackaday’s new mini robotic arm lets you set up your own tiny assembly line. Think factory automation… on your desk.

OpenAI’s Mind-Blowing 20 Seconds That’s Worth $100K of Data
At TED, OpenAI’s Noam Brown stunned the crowd, showing how AI thinking time can be 100,000x more valuable than data alone. It’s proof that sometimes, a few seconds of deep thought really can make a million-dollar difference.

Forerunner K2: The Human-Like Robot Set to Outshine Your Lab Partner
Kepler’s latest humanoid, Forerunner K2, is turning heads in science labs worldwide. Ideal for night shifts and never clocking out—perfect for the never-sleeping researcher.

Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses: A Fashion-Forward Surveillance Dilemma
Ray-Ban and Meta’s smart glasses are functional and stylish—but is everyone ready to be recorded? It’s fashion meets privacy freak-out, and not everyone’s loving it.

WORTH A WATCH

How to Install and Use Claude’s New AI Agent
This quick walkthrough shows you how to set up Claude’s AI Agent, and it’s almost too easy. A few clicks later, you’re automating tasks and responses with spooky efficiency.

Copilot Agent Builder, IBM Granite 3.0, and Claude’s Sonnet!
Catch the latest on IBM Granite’s AI updates, the new Claude Sonnet, and Copilot Agent Builder’s creativity boosters. It’s AI breakthroughs galore, showcasing the future of digital companionship.

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, Q4 Events! Alright, I did not create the list for this week. Sorry! Check out the running list of industry events and conferences for 2024.

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Portions of this email were assisted by artificial intelligence.