Key Stories:

1. XAI's New Image Generation API:

- Elon Musk's AI company, XAI, introduces the Grok2-Image-1212 model.

- Users can generate up to 10 images per request, with a limit of 5 requests per second.

- Each image costs 7 cents and is provided in JPG format.

2. NVIDIA, Disney, and Google DeepMind Collaboration:

- NVIDIA teams up with Disney Research and Google DeepMind to create Newton, a cutting-edge physics engine.

- Newton aims to simulate realistic robotic movements.

- Disney plans to use Newton for its upcoming line of entertainment robots, including Star Wars-inspired BDX droids.

3. Tesla's Passenger Transportation Service Permit:

- Tesla secures a permit from the California Public Utilities Commission for a passenger transportation service.

- The permit is a step towards a potential robotaxi service but does not authorize autonomous vehicle operations yet.

- Tesla will need further regulatory approvals for fully autonomous transport services.

4. HuggingFace's New iOS App - HuggingSnap:

- HuggingFace launches HuggingSnap, an iOS app that uses offline local AI to describe objects and scenes through an iPhone's camera.

- The app employs the Smallville M2 vision model for real-time analysis without cloud data transmission.

- Ensures privacy by processing visual data entirely on the device.

5. AngelList CEO on AI's Influence:

- Avlock Kohli, CEO of AngelList, states that AI's influence extends across all sectors.

- Nearly 40% of startups on AngelList's platform are AI-related.

- Reflects significant investor enthusiasm and a shift towards AI-driven innovation.