Alphabet to unveil AI progress at its Google I/O event, Bard could get bigger

Plus: Smell-o-vision might be making a comeback — in VR? Sponsored by The Google I/O event opens today and it could be make or break for Alphabet Inc.'s artificial intelligence (AI) efforts. A slew of AI product updates are due to be revealed, and the company is under acute pressure to demonstrate leadership in the field, lest it cede control to the OpenAI-Microsoft partnership. Alphabet's Bard product [stumbled somewhat]( at its launch and has since been slow to hit its stride. This week is a fresh opportunity for the tech giant to show the world more of its AI capability (plus their new Pixel Fold smartphone). But first, here’s [your video of the day](. Good morning. I’m Tim, an Editor at IE. This is The Blueprint. Let's see what's new. Last Sunday, Blueprint subscribers learned about a nanodevice designed to fight pancreatic cancer. Don't miss out — [subscribe to IE+]( today to receive exclusive interviews, features, and much more. VIDEO OF THE DAY [Cruise Missile]( [The Unmanned Guided Weapon of Modern Warfare]( From Tomahawk to Brahmos: What are cruise missiles, how do they work and what sets them apart? MUST READ [Alphabet to unveil AI progress]( [Alphabet to unveil AI progress at its Google I/O event, Bard could get bigger]( Alphabet Inc. is set to reveal several AI product updates at the Google I/O conference later today. The company is under pressure to demonstrate leadership in the AI field, with Microsoft's partnership with OpenAI having seen significant success with ChatGPT. Alphabet's Bard AI has had a slow rollout, but the company aims to unveil numerous updates. Key areas of focus include showcasing "generative experiences" in Bard and Search operations, demonstrating Bard's utility in coding, math, and logic, and presenting AI improvements in products such as Sheets, Slides, and Meet. Alphabet will also unveil PaLM2, an enhanced general-use large language model supporting over 100 languages. Updates on image recognition in Google Lens are expected, along with new search features using camera and voice. Additionally, the company plans to reveal a foldable phone, offering something for those not solely focused on AI developments. [Read More]( INNOVATION Smell-o-vision might be making a comeback — in VR? The latest attempt at incorporating smell into interactive entertainment isn't as crude as previous attempts. Researchers have developed a new approach to bringing olfactory sensations to the latest entertainment, only this time, they are looking to enhance the VR experience with a new wireless, wearable device that can provide complementary aroma to match the virtual world you might be inhabiting. [Read More]( THE SPONSOR OF THE DAY [Far Far Away Company]( [Build beyond limits with this revolutionizing structural material]( Ever since we were able to dream as kids, we all imagined building our own cool Gokart, unique treehouse, or even a castle far far away. In our dreams, all objects in our world should always be modular, flexible, extendable, easy to carry, and able to connect to each other limitlessly, while also being sturdy, reliable, and reusable when needed, just like building blocks in video games. [Ultra Pillar, a structural material]( designed for next-generation rigging applications, is a small step toward reaching this goal. With its patented anchor points, interaction between each pillar, and special connector designs, Ultra Pillar provides limitless functions, connectivity, and adaptability that traditional materials do not achieve. It can be used in industries like automation, robotics, machine vision, and workstations, and much more. Learn more about how [Ultra Pillar]( empowers users, from professional engineers to flexible makers, with an equal tool to shape the world the way they want. [LEARN MORE]( CULTURE 14,000 uncapped gas and oil wells put climate and marine ecosystems at risk More than 14,000 oil and gas wells in the Gulf of Mexico remain uncapped and could potentially harm the marine ecosystems and contribute to global warming, according to a study by researchers at the University of California, Davis. Left unplugged, the wells continue to seep hydrocarbons like methane, which can be digested by microbial life, and heavier contaminants that put marine ecosystems at risk. [Read More]( SCIENCE Forget hard drives and data centers, DNA is the future of data storage Every day vast amounts of data are produced, and we're running out of storage solutions and scientists are looking to DNA to store all of the content that's generated on the internet. One team has proposed a technique that promises to make DNA data storage practical, scalable, and highly efficient. It promises to overcome the challenges scientists have faced by creating microcapsules made of protein and polymers that act as compartmentalized DNA files. [Read More]( [Lexicon Podcast]( MAIL & MUSINGS Can Google take back the lead from artificial intelligence upstarts like OpenAi? [It's too late]( [They will win]( [I hope not]( [Pause all AI research now]( YESTERDAY'S RESULTS We should definitely integrate fungi more into our everyday lives, according to 61% of you, but a quarter remain unconvinced about their usefulness. 61% Yes, big potential 25% Not convinced 8% There are easier ways to do things 6% Fungi will rule the Earth [Top 7 solar panels for your RV]( QUOTE OF THE DAY Smell is a potent wizard that transports you across thousands of miles and all the years you have lived. Helen Keller THINGS WE LOVE [TOSOT Portable Air Conditioner]( [Douglas D20 Rooftop Air Conditioner]( [Upwell Inflatable Recreational Kayak]( [Renogy Flexible Solar Panel]( AND ANOTHER THING - Revolutionizing tsunami predictions: [How an engineer's dose of AI could save lives]( [premium] - Power of empathy: [How to recognize, understand and treat bipolar disorder]( [premium] - Startup raises small spacecraft's orbit by 1.86 miles [using water propulsion]( - Draper tested its [Moon navigation system aboard a suborbital Blue Origin rocket]( [premium] - [Scientists break boundaries of time]( offering new route for photonics - [How generative AI is building better antibodies]( (Nature) - [Could nuclear power help us reach our climate goals?]( Bill Gates thinks so [Subscribe to IE+]( [About Us]( [Advertise]( [Contact Us]( © Copyright 2023 | The Blueprint is by Interesting Engineering, Inc. 205 Hudson St New York, NY, 10013, USA | All Rights Reserved You are receiving this email because you have subscribed to our newsletter. Manage you e-mail preferences or unsubscribe [here.](