AI's subtle wins

Hey, this is Vlad in Hong Kong. A friend recently started a new podcast and I was impressed by how deftly she edited the audio as a rookie c [View in browser]( [Bloomberg]( Hey, this is Vlad in Hong Kong. A friend recently started a new podcast and I was impressed by how deftly she edited the audio as a rookie creator, before I learned it was AI’s doing. But first... Three things you need to know today: • Apple’s underwhelming AI event [hit supplier stocks in Asia]( • OpenAI has hired former Nextdoor CEO [Sarah Friar as CFO]( • Lobbying groups are pushing for [a uniform US consumer privacy law]( This is, like, really nice The breathless bluster about AI changing industries, jobs and lifestyles has obviously not been met by reality. But before we rush in the opposite direction and declare a hype bubble, I have a couple of examples showing what you might call micro-revolutions triggered by the use of artificial intelligence. On the podcasting front, my friend used the [Descript editing tool]( to skip hours of laborious tinkering. The app eliminates pauses, verbal fillers like “like” and “um,” redundant retakes and anything else that’s not essential. It will even cut the audio to match any transcript edits you make. As a listener on the other side of that AI magic, I couldn’t tell where the seams were. And as someone who’s done that sort of editing work on video voiceovers mere minutes long, I can tell you this is transformative when applied to long-form content like interviews and podcasts. Everything takes far longer to edit than its actual running time, so automating the process is invaluable. Another under-the-radar innovation I’ve experienced is in AI noise cancelling. The [Audeze Filter]( is a smartphone-sized Bluetooth conference speaker with a particular trick. It effectively cancels even unpredictable and high-pitched noises, such as the crying of a baby. I listened to a demo of the technology where a cacophonous cafe was made tranquil with the flip of a switch. The thing I like about both of these technologies is that they start with a problem and rectify it with tech rather than just “doing AI.” Artificial intelligence has morphed into a license for wide-eyed speculation about the future, akin to the mid-20th century apex of science fiction. That’s fun and exciting today, but consumers can and will turn against it if nothing useful arises. Cautionary tales already abound: the [Humane AI pin]( and the [Rabbit R1]( are two failed attempts this year at selling AI in a hardware package. In part because “I don’t have enough gadgets” is not a problem anyone needed solving, and in part because they weren’t anywhere close to replacing the smartphone. The AI PC phenomenon I witnessed at [Computex in Taipei]( last week is another example, in my view, of just cramming AI into a familiar gadget and selling it like something entirely new. But what if people buy one of these Copilot+ laptops this fall and are underwhelmed? There is a very real risk of consumer aversion, as we’ve seen with things like 3D TVs and virtual reality glasses, if products don’t live up to the promises. And yet, when I asked one executive about his company’s plan B in case AI doesn’t sell more laptops, I was met with a prolonged pause. I do agree with the people saying AI will make us all much more creative and free us up to do more of the fun stuff. It’s just going to happen in small steps, not through revolutionary inventions. Accelerated podcast editing and improved noise-elimination tech may not be technological milestones on their own, but such services, over time, add up.—[Vlad Savov](mailto:vsavov5@bloomberg.net) The big story Low-cost computer maker Raspberry Pi soared in its London trading debut, gaining as much as 36% from its IPO price. The deal has been seen as a boost for London, which has fallen behind in this year’s IPO revival in Europe, and offers [a ray of hope for tech listings in the financial hub](. One to watch MoviePass Co-Founder Hamet Watt discusses the legacy of the all-you-can-watch theater service and innovation in the movie theater environment. Get fully charged Debt-ridden French IT firm Atos has chosen to [proceed with Onepoint’s bailout bid.]( AI startup iGenius seeks [funding at a $1.7 billion valuation.]( Saudi Aramco’s VC arm has deployed more cash to Tenderd, a [UAE-based AI firm backed by Peter Thiel.]( More from Bloomberg Get Bloomberg Tech weeklies in your inbox: - [Cyber Bulletin]( for coverage of the shadow world of hackers and cyber-espionage - [Game On]( for reporting on the video game business - [Power On]( for Apple scoops, consumer tech news and more - [Screentime]( for a front-row seat to the collision of Hollywood and Silicon Valley - [Soundbite]( for reporting on podcasting, the music industry and audio trends - [Q&AI]( for answers to all your questions about AI Follow Us Like getting this newsletter? [Subscribe to Bloomberg.com]( for unlimited access to trusted, data-driven journalism and subscriber-only insights. Want to sponsor this newsletter? [Get in touch here](. 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