It’s time for Bits & Bytes…
… where we bring you news, innovations, and thought-provoking insights from AI, IT, and beyond. In this week’s newsletter we’re looking at:
- Amazon Shuts Down Freevee Service
- Perplexity AI Introduces Sponsored Ads
- YouTube Launches AI Music Remixing
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
🎬 Amazon Folds Freevee into Prime Video Empire
Amazon is streamlining its streaming services by shutting down Freevee, its ad-supported platform, and integrating its content into Prime Video. The move comes shortly after Prime Video’s introduction of ads in January, marking a significant shift in Amazon’s streaming strategy to simplify viewer experience.
The company’s decision ensures Freevee’s original content, including hits like ‘Bosch: Legacy’ and ‘Jury Duty’, will remain accessible to non-Prime members through Prime Video, while maintaining its ad-supported model for free viewers.
TL;DR
- Freevee to be phased out “over the coming weeks”.
- Content merging with Prime Video platform.
- Free, ad-supported viewing continues for non-Prime members.
- Original shows remain accessible to all viewers.
TECH HEADLINES FROM ACROSS THE WEB
💰 Perplexity AI Launches Ad Program Despite Legal Battles
Perplexity, the AI search engine serving 100M queries weekly, is rolling out “sponsored follow-up questions” ads in the US, partnering with Indeed and Whole Foods. The move comes amid plagiarism lawsuits from major publishers and marks a different approach from competitors like OpenAI’s ChatGPT Search, as the company seeks to diversify revenue beyond subscriptions.
🎵 YouTube Drops AI Music Remix Tool for Creators
YouTube has expanded its AI music creation tools, allowing creators to remix songs by simply describing desired style changes. The platform’s Dream Track feature, powered by Deepmind’s Lyria model, now generates 30-second AI remixes while maintaining original vocals and ensuring artist compensation through partnerships like Universal Music Group.
🔓 Musk’s Grok AI Goes Free on X
X (formerly Twitter) is testing free access to its Grok AI chatbot, previously exclusive to premium subscribers. The rollout begins in New Zealand with usage limits: 10 queries per two hours on Grok-2, and three daily image analyses, marking xAI’s push to expand its user base amid competition with ChatGPT and Gemini.
TECH FOR GOOD
Japanese researchers have developed a groundbreaking AI system that can detect high blood pressure and diabetes through a simple 5-30 second video of your face and palm. The technology, tested at the University of Tokyo, achieved 94% accuracy in detecting hypertension and 75% accuracy for diabetes without any blood tests or pressure cuffs. With future modifications, this technology could be integrated into smartphones, making healthcare monitoring accessible to those who avoid medical exams or lack access to traditional testing methods.
