AI@ ‘22 Event: Google Unveils New AI Projects, and Sony Has New VR Headset

At the AI@'22 event this week, the loudest noise came from Google lab, and Sony will roll out a new VR headset.

And while we talk of Google in covering the event, it may pain some of us to think that Google again is killing its own app.

New AI Projects

Google will soon roll out a barrage of AI projects with a special mention of its expanded AI-powered flood and wildfire tracking app. The Mountain View giant also announced a new service that uses machine intelligence to produce custom videos.

The tech company rolled out its wildfire tracking app in 2020 as a useful tool to monitor disasters in real-time with matching satellite images. It also featured on-the-ground data and I-powered forecasts.

After two years, Google is going to expand its coverage throughout the United States, Mexico, Canada, and Australia. People in these countries, particularly those hit by wildfires, can have real-time information about the direction of the blaze.

Proactively, the tracking tool, which is embedded in Google Maps, will broadcast notifications to users living nearby. It will also provide the users the information on where to seek shelter.

The same tracking app, Google, will be used in monitoring flooding with an expanded system to warn people about impending disasters. The tool will include some 18 countries throughout Africa, Southeast Asia, and South America.

Google has also dipped its finger deeper into the AI art-generation game. This features a new tool to create video fusing together Google's image-generation platform Imagen and the video generator of Phenaki.

These two platforms working in synergy, can create high-resolution short videos from mere text prompts. However, this tool is not yet available to the public as a new company service. Google did not also say when it might be available.

New Sony VR Headset

While it appeared to us that VR for video games has fallen from grace over the other VR pathways, Sony is saying the opposite.

During the AI@'22 event, Sony announced its new VR headset with a definite release date.

There is more to this system regarding what gaming via VR could be. It holds a lot of promise on the presumption that the 11 games that have been announced are better than expected.

Here is what you must take note of. The new Sony VR headset is compatible only with the Playstation 5.

Sony reminded us that the games for its PS VR1 would not work with PS VR2.

The Japanese company said it would release its PS VR2 headset next year, specifically on Feb. 22.

Each headset will cost you about $550, priced higher than a PlayStation 5 console. But the price may vary depending upon your location.

But here's the good news. At $550, the PS VR2 headset is accompanied by VR2 Sense controllers, a gadget you need to enjoy your games in the Sonyverse.

Google Kills Street View

Google has a track record of killing its own apps when it no longer serves the purpose. The same thing could be said after 9to5 Google discovered that the Street View app would finally be laid to rest.

It is not easy for app users to forget it. Google has also used the app to map out the nooks and corners of the Earth where its Google cars clad with cameras cannot reach.

Google, in its latest update Street View (version 2.0.0.484371618), said it would shut down the Street View app.

But the app will not totally go away.

Users can still access the app in Google Maps with fewer features, such as Photo Paths.