Google’s new AI video generator is more HR than Hollywood

For most of us, creating documents, spreadsheets and slide decks is an inescapable part of work life in 2024. What's not is creating videos. That’s something Google would like to change. On Tuesday, the company announced Google Vids, a video creation app for work that the company says can make everyone a “great storyteller” using the power of AI.

Vids uses Gemini, Google’s latest AI model, to quickly create videos for the workplace. Type in a prompt, feed in some documents, pictures, and videos, and sit back and relax as Vids generates an entire storyboard, script, music and voiceover. "As a storytelling medium, video has become ubiquitous for its immediacy and ability to ‘cut through the noise,’ but it can be daunting to know where to start," said Aparna Pappu, a Google vice president, in a blog post announcing the app. "Vids is your video, writing, production and editing assistant, all in one."

In a promotional video, Google uses Vids to create a video recapping moments from its Cloud Next conference in Las Vegas, an annual event during which it showed off the app. Based on a simple prompt telling it to create a recap video and attaching a document full of information about the event, Vids generates a narrative outline that can be edited. It then lets the user select a template for the video — you can choose between research proposal, new employee intro, team milestone, quarterly business update, and many more — and then crunches for a few moments before spitting out a first draft of a video, complete with a storyboard, stock media, music, transitions, and animation. It even generates a script and a voiceover, although you can also record your own. And you can manually choose photos from Google Drive or Google Photos to drop them seamlessly into the video.


It all looks pretty slick, but it’s important to remember what Vids is not: a replacement for AI-powered video generation tools like OpenAI’s upcoming Sora or Runway’s Gen-2 that create videos from scratch from text prompts. Instead. Google Vids uses AI to understand your prompt, generate a script and a voiceover, and stitch together stock images, videos, music, transitions, and animations to create what is, effectively, a souped up slide deck. And because Vids is a part of Google Workspace, you can collaborate in real time just like Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides.

Who asked for this? My guess is HR departments and chiefs of staff, who frequently need to create onboarding videos for new employees, announce company milestones, or create training materials for teams. But if and when Google chooses to make Vids available beyond Workspace, which is typically used by businesses, I can also see people using this beyond work like easily creating videos for a birthday party or a vacation using their own photos and videos whenever it becomes available more broadly

Vids will be available in June and is first coming to Workspace Labs, which means you’ll need to opt in to test it. It’s not clear yet when it will be available more broadly.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/googles-new-ai-video-generator-is-more-hr-than-hollywood-120034992.html?src=rss

Google’s new AI video generator is more HR than Hollywood

For most of us, creating documents, spreadsheets and slide decks is an inescapable part of work life in 2024. What's not is creating videos. That’s something Google would like to change. On Tuesday, the company announced Google Vids, a video creation app for work that the company says can make everyone a “great storyteller” using the power of AI.

Vids uses Gemini, Google’s latest AI model, to quickly create videos for the workplace. Type in a prompt, feed in some documents, pictures, and videos, and sit back and relax as Vids generates an entire storyboard, script, music and voiceover. "As a storytelling medium, video has become ubiquitous for its immediacy and ability to ‘cut through the noise,’ but it can be daunting to know where to start," said Aparna Pappu, a Google vice president, in a blog post announcing the app. "Vids is your video, writing, production and editing assistant, all in one."

In a promotional video, Google uses Vids to create a video recapping moments from its Cloud Next conference in Las Vegas, an annual event during which it showed off the app. Based on a simple prompt telling it to create a recap video and attaching a document full of information about the event, Vids generates a narrative outline that can be edited. It then lets the user select a template for the video — you can choose between research proposal, new employee intro, team milestone, quarterly business update, and many more — and then crunches for a few moments before spitting out a first draft of a video, complete with a storyboard, stock media, music, transitions, and animation. It even generates a script and a voiceover, although you can also record your own. And you can manually choose photos from Google Drive or Google Photos to drop them seamlessly into the video.


It all looks pretty slick, but it’s important to remember what Vids is not: a replacement for AI-powered video generation tools like OpenAI’s upcoming Sora or Runway’s Gen-2 that create videos from scratch from text prompts. Instead. Google Vids uses AI to understand your prompt, generate a script and a voiceover, and stitch together stock images, videos, music, transitions, and animations to create what is, effectively, a souped up slide deck. And because Vids is a part of Google Workspace, you can collaborate in real time just like Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides.

Who asked for this? My guess is HR departments and chiefs of staff, who frequently need to create onboarding videos for new employees, announce company milestones, or create training materials for teams. But if and when Google chooses to make Vids available beyond Workspace, which is typically used by businesses, I can also see people using this beyond work like easily creating videos for a birthday party or a vacation using their own photos and videos whenever it becomes available more broadly

Vids will be available in June and is first coming to Workspace Labs, which means you’ll need to opt in to test it. It’s not clear yet when it will be available more broadly.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/googles-new-ai-video-generator-is-more-hr-than-hollywood-120034992.html?src=rss

Top 10 Sustainable Stools To Incorporate Eco-Friendly Furniture Designs In Your Home

Stools are truly the way to go in today’s world! Stools deserve to be given way more credit than they get. Stools are often overlooked, maybe because they occupy minimum space, and aren’t overbearing. But these traits are what make stools so great in my opinion! I mean, they’re compact, and a great space-saving furniture option for our modern homes. They are also super portable, and if you make them sustainable, well they’re everything you could need. And, we’ve put together a collection of stool designs that not only provide a healthy seating experience while promoting a good and stable posture but most of them are created from sustainable materials as well. From a minimal stackable stool with slim wooden legs to a stool made from recycled bike parts – these well-designed stools are the furniture pieces you need to add to your home.

1. Drum Stool

Dubbed the Drum Stool, this stackable, minimal, and sustainable stool looks like a cute little wine cork when you first look at it. But as you dig and look deeper, you realize the stool has quite a lot to offer. The sustainable stool is made using cork and wood, creating a sturdy and durable seating design that is truly eco-friendly, and also quite aesthetic to look at.

Why is it noteworthy?

Cork and wood were selected to build the wood, rating it pretty high on sustainability. The seat was built using cork, while wood was used to build the legs, creating a sustainable and eco-friendly seating solution, that will integrate well with modern contemporary homes.

What we like

  • Equipped with a round trimmed surface that gives it a fun and playful shape
  • Functions as a cohesive and harmonious furniture piece

What we dislike

  • The trimmed cork seat doesn’t look too comfy to sit on for longer durations of time

2. The 2 Stools from 1 Bicycle

The 2 Stools from 1 Bicycle project upcycled old bikes to create new stools. They create a product that can be easily used by everyone, and won’t be easily thrown away by people. The stools feature unique and noteworthy aesthetics, that will add some personality and charm to your living space, and you won’t feel like giving them away at all.

Why is it noteworthy?

The stools feature slanted legs which offer it a usual and unique shape, which brings to mind the image of the original bike frames they were taken from. One stool is equipped with three legs, while the other has four legs. The seat is crafted from recyclable cork, which isn’t from the bike, it does maintain the stool’s sustainable personality.

What we like

  • Unusual and unique aesthetics

What we dislike

  • The stools don’t look too comfy to sit on for long periods

3. The +52 Stool

Studio Plastique conducted extensive and deep research on the current timber designs in the market and their manufacturing. They then utilized all their knowledge to build a unique and sustainable wooden step stool called the +52 Stool. The +52 stool isn’t just a typical furniture design and is created to be a scenario.

Why is it noteworthy?

The stool captures and showcases the potential of the undervalued wood types, and how they can be used as sustainable alternatives to the typically-used wood types. The stool is manufactured using non-commercial woods such as koto, willow, elm, acacia, and birch.

What we like

  • The stool is created to address the lack of awareness regarding lesser-known wood species

What we dislike

  • The look of the stool is pretty rustic and raw, which won’t be preferred by everyone

4. Superpop Tables

These colorful little stools/tables are called the Superop tables, and they have mesmerizing terrazzo-like surfaces that have been crafted from recycled plastic. The Superpop tables are designed by Paolo Cappello for Miniforms, and they function as attractive little furniture pieces, that add a much-needed pop of color and character to your living space.

Why is it noteworthy?

The Superpop tables are quite versatile, and they can be utilized as side tables, stools, or even coffee tables. They are versatile, lightweight, and sustainable furniture pieces with a pop of fun!

What we like

  • Feature versatile functionality with a universal appeal

What we dislike

  • Since they’re so colorful and eccentric, could be difficult to match them with different interior styles

5. Plastic Translation Stool

Named the Plastic Translation Stool, this interesting stool design recreates a plastic form, building a form that is familiar and yet unique. This enables the unique wooden stool to possess a character of its own, adding some wooden minimalism and subtlety to your living space.

Why is it noteworthy?

Since the wooden legs won’t offer the same stability as the plastic bits, another element – the Birch plywood buttresses is added to the stool. It evens out some of the force across the beechwood legs, allowing the buttresses to be held together. This increases architectural stability, as well as visual amplification.

What we like

  • The stool doesn’t need screws or nails to be assembled
  • Features a fun puzzle-like design

What we dislike

  • Options to customize the stool are currently missing

6. Stump Recycled Stool

Derlot designed the original Stump stool sometime ago, and now they’ve unveiled the new Stump Recycled stool which has the same structure of the OG Stump stool, but it is interesting built from 80% recycled post-industrial plastic LPDE. The Stump Recycled stool is quite colorful and visually intriguing to look at, which adds extra brownie points besides its sustainability.

Why is it noteworthy?

The new Stump stool features a different design, as the patterns form a terrazzo-like design that offers the stool a textured and colored look. You can pick stools with a kaleidoscope-like finish, which provides a fresh interpretation of how recycled materials can be used to elevate a design.

What we like

  • Offers a new and fresh take on how recycled materials can be utilized

What we dislike

  • The stool is quite small and doesn’t look too comfy to sit on for long

7. Tie Stool

Dubbed the Tie Stool, this stunning stool is made from three bent pieces of plywood that effortlessly lock into one another, creating a unique tripod form that is quite comfy to sit on. It is a simple stool made using minimal materials making the stool quite a beauty.

Why is it noteworthy?

The three plywood strips can be split into 6 total parts, forming individual parts that are built using high pressure, causing the plywood to bend and retain its shape. The cutting processes are performed on the parts allowing them to interlock into one another.

What we like

  • Flat-packed and shipped to customers
  • Features a stackable form

What we dislike

  • Its compressed design means it needs a tabletop to add more space on the stool

8. TAKEoSEAT

Meet the TAKEoSEAT – a folding stool unlike any other. Designed by KRETHO, this portable stool allows you to simply pick it up, and move around as you please. You don’t need to rearrange furniture or sweat over a particularly heavy chair. It flattens down to a large portfolio and looks like a stylish bag made of felt.

Why is noteworthy?

The TAKEoSEAT is made from PET felt, and this felt is derived from plastic bottles that we often use and throw away without giving a second thought about where they may end up. They are put through a special process, to create material that is familiar to touch, but also strong and sturdy.

What we like

  • The stool is crafted from PET-felt
  • Has an easy-to-carry and portable form

What we dislike

  • Folding designs are quite common these days, so not much to set the stool apart

9. Cork Stool Concept

Made from cork, this minimalist stool concept is designed to offer you a sustainable seating solution, that reduces waste by converting two stools into one single bench, and then back again, as and when needed. It is like an “unknown” stool design, but it features a modular nature which leaves it interestingly open to interpretation and implementation.

Why is it noteworthy?

The design has a core element of a sturdy column of cork, which functions as a single cylinder, and forms the center of the stool. However, a smaller circle connects it to the removable seat with a hole in its center. It functions as a simple system that doesn’t need any extra parts or screws.

What we like

  • The seats can be changed or replaced without throwing away the cork

What we dislike

  • The bench variant will occupy substantial space in your home

10. Vale Collection

Named the VALE collection, this range of eco-friendly chairs and stools by Layer was designed for the US furniture brand KFI Studios. The furniture is made from recycled PET bottles and was created to protest against the plastic waste that often drowns and pollutes the oceans and landfills.

Why is it noteworthy?

The innovative collection is designed to be an eco-friendly and sustainable solution to the rising issue of plastic waste. The furniture is a refreshing change and an excellent specimen of sustainable furniture, in today’s world when 9 million tons of furniture are thrown in landfills.

What we like

  • The furniture is made using a material derived from recycled PET bottles. The material is durable and eco-friendly

What we dislike

  • The looks of the chairs and stool are a bit boring, more aesthetic details could have been added

The post Top 10 Sustainable Stools To Incorporate Eco-Friendly Furniture Designs In Your Home first appeared on Yanko Design.

The Morning After: Tesla settles lawsuit over fatal Model X crash

Back in 2019, the family of Apple engineer Wei Lun Huang (aka Walter Huang) sued Tesla a year after he was killed when his Model X crashed while Autopilot was engaged. The automaker has settled the lawsuit — on the very day jury selection was supposed to take place. Tesla’s lawyers asked the court to seal the settlement agreement so the payout amount wouldn’t be made public.

Tesla confirmed shortly after the accident that Autopilot was on at the time of the crash, but it also insisted Huang had time to react and had an unobstructed view of the divider. In a statement to the press, the company insisted the driver was at fault, and the only way for the accident to have occurred was if Huang “was not paying attention to the road.”

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation found Huang running a mobile game but couldn’t confirm if he was holding the phone during impact.

— Mat Smith

The biggest stories you might have missed

Google’s long-awaited Find My Device network launches today

Logitech’s tiny G Pro X 60 gaming keyboard has some big competition

NASA will be studying the total solar eclipse. Here’s how you can help

​​You can get these reports delivered daily direct to your inbox. Subscribe right here!

Nintendo’s Wii U and 3DS online servers are gone

They lived their life like two candles in the wind.

TMA
Engadget

Both the Wii U and 3DS’ online servers have been switched off. This means the end of online multiplayer gaming for both consoles, turning Mario Kart 7 for 3DS and the original Splatoon for the Wii U into single-player or couch co-op experiences — AKA the best Mario Kart experience. The first Super Mario Maker is also effectively dead.

Continue reading.

Play Tekken, get free Chipotle

Mild salsa for Mishima.

The Chipotle Challenger Series featuring Tekken 8 will kick off on PS5 Tournaments with a qualifier round from April 15 to 26, open to anyone who wants to test their fighting-game skills — or just score some free snacks. All qualifier participants will receive a code for free chips and guacamole from Chipotle. If you’re actually good (at Tekken, not eating Chipotle), there’s a $5,000 prize and a trip for two to Evo 2024 in Las Vegas, plus free Chipotle for a year. Adobo chicken for Asuka, Barbacoa for Bryan Fury, Carnitas for King. I could go on.

Continue reading.

Spotify tests AI-generated playlists based on text prompts

Again, it’s trialing features in the UK first.

Spotify is dipping its toe into the world of AI prompts. It announced AI Playlist, a new beta feature for creating playlists with a few words to get into the music vibe you want, such as “an indie folk playlist to give my brain a big warm hug.” Ugh.

The beta is available to Premium subscribers on Android and iOS devices in the United Kingdom and Australia. You can access it through the + button at the top right of your library. Click AI Playlist and let your imagination run wild.

Continue reading.

Fairphone’s repairable wireless earbuds put the industry on notice

Swap the Fairbuds’ batteries in 30 seconds.

TMA
Engadget

The big problem with the boom in true wireless earbuds is they’re pretty much never repairable. Once the batteries wear out, they’re done. Fairphone, however, has built a pair of buds with not only replaceable batteries but easily replaceable ones. The Fairbuds are made of 70 percent recycled and fair materials, while 100 percent of the rare earth elements and tin are recycled. They are €149, and it’s likely we’ll see them in the US at some point, just like its phones.

Continue reading.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-morning-after-tesla-settles-lawsuit-over-fatal-model-x-autopilot-crash-111621559.html?src=rss

The Morning After: Tesla settles lawsuit over fatal Model X crash

Back in 2019, the family of Apple engineer Wei Lun Huang (aka Walter Huang) sued Tesla a year after he was killed when his Model X crashed while Autopilot was engaged. The automaker has settled the lawsuit — on the very day jury selection was supposed to take place. Tesla’s lawyers asked the court to seal the settlement agreement so the payout amount wouldn’t be made public.

Tesla confirmed shortly after the accident that Autopilot was on at the time of the crash, but it also insisted Huang had time to react and had an unobstructed view of the divider. In a statement to the press, the company insisted the driver was at fault, and the only way for the accident to have occurred was if Huang “was not paying attention to the road.”

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation found Huang running a mobile game but couldn’t confirm if he was holding the phone during impact.

— Mat Smith

The biggest stories you might have missed

Google’s long-awaited Find My Device network launches today

Logitech’s tiny G Pro X 60 gaming keyboard has some big competition

NASA will be studying the total solar eclipse. Here’s how you can help

​​You can get these reports delivered daily direct to your inbox. Subscribe right here!

Nintendo’s Wii U and 3DS online servers are gone

They lived their life like two candles in the wind.

TMA
Engadget

Both the Wii U and 3DS’ online servers have been switched off. This means the end of online multiplayer gaming for both consoles, turning Mario Kart 7 for 3DS and the original Splatoon for the Wii U into single-player or couch co-op experiences — AKA the best Mario Kart experience. The first Super Mario Maker is also effectively dead.

Continue reading.

Play Tekken, get free Chipotle

Mild salsa for Mishima.

The Chipotle Challenger Series featuring Tekken 8 will kick off on PS5 Tournaments with a qualifier round from April 15 to 26, open to anyone who wants to test their fighting-game skills — or just score some free snacks. All qualifier participants will receive a code for free chips and guacamole from Chipotle. If you’re actually good (at Tekken, not eating Chipotle), there’s a $5,000 prize and a trip for two to Evo 2024 in Las Vegas, plus free Chipotle for a year. Adobo chicken for Asuka, Barbacoa for Bryan Fury, Carnitas for King. I could go on.

Continue reading.

Spotify tests AI-generated playlists based on text prompts

Again, it’s trialing features in the UK first.

Spotify is dipping its toe into the world of AI prompts. It announced AI Playlist, a new beta feature for creating playlists with a few words to get into the music vibe you want, such as “an indie folk playlist to give my brain a big warm hug.” Ugh.

The beta is available to Premium subscribers on Android and iOS devices in the United Kingdom and Australia. You can access it through the + button at the top right of your library. Click AI Playlist and let your imagination run wild.

Continue reading.

Fairphone’s repairable wireless earbuds put the industry on notice

Swap the Fairbuds’ batteries in 30 seconds.

TMA
Engadget

The big problem with the boom in true wireless earbuds is they’re pretty much never repairable. Once the batteries wear out, they’re done. Fairphone, however, has built a pair of buds with not only replaceable batteries but easily replaceable ones. The Fairbuds are made of 70 percent recycled and fair materials, while 100 percent of the rare earth elements and tin are recycled. They are €149, and it’s likely we’ll see them in the US at some point, just like its phones.

Continue reading.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-morning-after-tesla-settles-lawsuit-over-fatal-model-x-autopilot-crash-111621559.html?src=rss

2024 Audi S3 Comes with 333 PS

2024 Audi S3

Get ready to experience an adrenaline rush like no other with the 2024 Audi S3. This compact sedan has undergone a complete transformation, offering you more than just a cosmetic upgrade—it’s a performance revolution that will leave you breathless. Under the hood, you’ll find a turbocharged 2.0-liter TFSI engine that delivers an astounding 333 horsepower […]

The post 2024 Audi S3 Comes with 333 PS appeared first on Geeky Gadgets.

Deals: HostVerge Lifetime Subscription, Save 80%

HostVerge Lifetime Subscription

Have you ever dreamt of having a reliable, efficient, and affordable web hosting service that you can trust for a lifetime? Well, your dream just came true. Introducing HostVerge, the ultimate solution to all your web hosting needs. With HostVerge, you get more than just a web hosting service. You get a lifetime partner committed […]

The post Deals: HostVerge Lifetime Subscription, Save 80% appeared first on Geeky Gadgets.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged

LoRaWAN Gateways and Nodes for IoT integration hits Kickstarter

Gateways and Nodes for IoT integration

Unlock the full potential of your Internet of Things (IoT) projects with the innovative LoRaWAN Series, your ultimate solution for seamless IoT integration. Whether you’re looking to enhance smart city infrastructure, transform agricultural practices, or streamline industrial operations, the LoRaWAN Series offers a robust lineup of Gateways and Nodes that will transform the way you […]

The post LoRaWAN Gateways and Nodes for IoT integration hits Kickstarter appeared first on Geeky Gadgets.

10 New Outlook features to manage your inbox more effectively

New Microsoft Outlook features

With the release of the new Microsoft Outlook email client earlier this year, a suite of innovative features have been added to the application specifically designed to help you transform the way you handle your inbox. These new 2024 Outlook aims to streamline your email experience, boost your productivity, and help you focus on what […]

The post 10 New Outlook features to manage your inbox more effectively appeared first on Geeky Gadgets.

Pebblebee trackers can find items with the new Google Find My Device network

Although Bluetooth item trackers existed long before, Apple really took things up a notch with the AirTags. Of course, what made these small discs really valuable wasn’t just their minimalist design but their use of Apple’s crowd-sourced Find My network. This system basically utilized the large number of iOS devices spread throughout the world to pinpoint the tracker’s location accurately and quickly. It was a long time coming, but Google finally launched its own version of that network, unsurprisingly dubbed “Find My Device,” and soon Android phone owners will also be able to locate lost wallets, misplaced remote controls, stolen bags, or any other items with these upcoming “item finders” designed for every need and purpose.

Designer: Pebblebee

It’s almost a meme about how remote controls tend to get sucked into the black hole that is the living room couch, but having no way to control a TV or entertainment system is no laughing matter. The new Pebblebee Tag for Android makes that problem a thing of the past by letting you stick a thin 40mm x 26mm (1.57in x 1.02in) black rectangle on the remote so that you can easily locate it later, even if it’s buried under cushions and pillows. Given its small size, it’s also trivial to slip this tracker in pockets, bags, and suitcases so that you’ll never accidentally forget them in the coffee shop ever again.

That Tag might be a tad too thick for your wallet, but the Pebblebee Card has you covered on that front. No larger than a credit card, this 2.8mm (0.11in) super-thin tracker promises to save you from the stress and fear of losing one of the most important objects in your life. And just like the Tag, it can be easily used for bags, laptop sleeves, and other slim spaces to give you that same peace of mind.

Keys are also often misplaced even at home, turning late mornings into frantic searchers for the small objects that give access to the car or, worse, the door. With a whole that’s perfect for a keyring or carabiner, the Pebblebee Clip makes sure that no item will ever be permanently lost. That includes anything with a hook, a zipper, or a hole that this small circle can attach to without getting in your way, like suitcase zippers or handles, bag straps, and bicycle handlebars.

All three Pebblebee trackers can be charged wirelessly and their batteries can last from 8 to 18 months before you actually need to put it down on the magnetic wireless charger again. With a bright LED and a loud melody, you can easily pinpoint the tracker’s location if it’s nearby, while Google’s new Find My Device network gives you global coverage if it is out of the 300ft Bluetooth range. All trackers are IPX6 water resistant, so you don’t have worry to too much about exposing them to the weather, and their minimalist design makes them fit with almost any object. The trackers also work with Pebblebee’s own mobile app, though they aren’t compatible with Apple’s Find My system.

The post Pebblebee trackers can find items with the new Google Find My Device network first appeared on Yanko Design.