Welcome to Daily Zaps, your regularly-scheduled dose of AI news ⚡️ 

Here’s what we got for ya today:

• 🍎 iPhone 16 and Apple Intelligence launch event

• 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 AI powered virtual coworkers

• ⛑️ AI use in military decision-making

• 🤖 GPT-5?

Let’s get right into it!

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BIG TECH

iPhone 16 and Apple Intelligence

Apple's upcoming iPhone 16 event scheduled for Sept 9th 1PM EST is expected to showcase new AI features, marking a significant step forward in integrating artificial intelligence across its devices. The AI-powered capabilities, branded as "Apple Intelligence," will enhance tasks like understanding onscreen content, upgrading Siri, generating images, rewriting text, and transcribing calls.

These features will require a powerful new A18 chip, anticipated in all iPhone 16 models. Along with iPhones, other devices like Apple Watches and AirPods are expected to receive AI-driven upgrades, further embedding AI into Apple's product ecosystem. The emphasis on AI signals Apple's focus on enhancing user experience through more intuitive and intelligent interactions across its devices.

Apple will be streaming the event on its website, in the Apple TV app, and on YouTube Monday, September 9th, at 1PM ET / 10AM PT.

RESEARCH

AI powered virtual coworkers

AI is evolving from simple knowledge-based tools, like chatbots, to advanced agent systems capable of performing complex, multistep tasks in the digital world. These gen AI-powered agents, built on foundation models, can independently interact with software, collaborate with other agents and humans, and adapt to various scenarios, opening up new possibilities for automation in industries such as finance, marketing, and software development.

Unlike traditional rule-based systems, gen AI agents can handle unpredictable workflows using natural language commands, making them accessible even to nontechnical users. While still in its early stages, this technology holds the potential to revolutionize business processes by automating tasks that have been too complex or time-consuming to automate before, though it requires further development before it can be fully realized at scale.

MILITARY

AI use in military decision-making

Artificial intelligence (AI) is being used more in military operations, not just for weapons but to help pick targets and make decisions during battles. Some people think AI can make things more accurate, but experts warn it can be risky. AI systems can make mistakes, like misidentifying people as targets due to bad data or biases, which could lead to more civilian deaths.

These systems can be unpredictable and hard to understand, and they rely on data that isn’t always reliable. There’s also a concern that AI might take over too much decision-making, making it harder for humans to stay in control. Many believe it's important to keep humans involved in these critical decisions to avoid tragic mistakes, with leaders like the UN Secretary General and Pope Francis agreeing that we shouldn’t leave life-or-death decisions to AI alone.

STARTUPS

GPT-5?

Speculation about OpenAI's next-generation large language model (LLM), tentatively called "GPT Next," has been growing, with hints of its release coming from a recent business conference. Tadao Nagasaki, head of OpenAI's Japan operations, teased that "GPT Next" would evolve nearly 100 times beyond previous models, continuing the advancements seen in GPT-4. Although OpenAI has not officially confirmed the release timeline, the company hinted in a May blog post that training for its next frontier model had begun.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has previously indicated that developing GPT-5 will take time due to numerous challenges, but the appearance of "GPT Next" is fueling anticipation. Speculation has been further fueled by reports of a project code-named "Strawberry," and Altman’s cryptic social media posts.