Iterate Weekly - Issue 154
This week we're talking about "self-screening" TSA security lines, Duolingo's AI advantage, what Apple's car may have looked like, Airbnb banning indoor cameras, and "Poor Things"!
Welcome to issue 154 of Iterate Weekly.
Hope you’re all doing well. This is just a friendly reminder that you can always reply directly to these messages or leave a comment on the Substack post. Feedback is highly encouraged and I’m happy to answer any and all questions that come up.
Thank you as always for reading!
🤖 Tech
The TSA is testing “self-screening” security lines
Americans have gotten pretty comfortable checking out their own groceries at the market right? So why not start more self-service options at the airport too?
The TSA is testing out a new self-serve airport security screening in Las Vegas.
A test like this is really just a first step, but it could lead to some big changes in the way we get through security lines.
I’ve had the old Clear service before TSA Pre-Check was offered. Then I spent years being mostly satisfied with the efficiency of pre-check when it worked smoothly. A few months ago I joined the new and improved Clear service that works in tandem with pre-check to really expedite things at some airports. But even still, the system certainly could use some tech upgrades.
In this case, passengers will load their own luggage onto a conveyor belt and then step into a glass scanning booth to perform the self-check. If all goes well, they can swiftly move along to catch their luggage and move to their gate. The process isn’t all that different from the traditional TSA experience except for less of the shouting and waving of the TSA folks to get people through the queue faster.
I don’t think this initial setup will offer a whole lot of speed and convenience upgrades for most passengers. But I do love that tests like this are happening. If all goes well in Vegas, this could quickly be picked up by other airports. People who fly less frequently and need the TSA guidance can continue with traditional methods. And those who have already been pre-checked and now how the system work, can use the expedited service.
I’ll be on the lookout for more changes like this at other airports. It only feels like a matter of time before the self-checkout procedure of the grocery store finds its way to more airports, arenas, and events.
🎓 Education/Productivity/Work
Duolingo is relying on AI to gain market share
I’ll be honest. It’s been quite a few years since I’ve used the Duolingo language app. Whenever I did use it in the past to brush up on my Spanish or Italian prior to a trip, it was an enjoyable experience. They were one of the first mainstream apps to really master the gamification of the learning experience.
Well, these days Duolingo is riding high as their stock prices soar amid the use of generative AI.
The company added a new AI-powered subscription tier called Duolingo Max last year. The service takes all of the basic features plus the premium Super Duolingo additions and adds an AI twist. The most expensive subscription option gives users more detailed explanations of why they’re answers are wrong in an effort to help them learn from their mistakes. Users are also able to have engaging conversations with Duolingo avatars that are powered by ChatGPT-4.
While the rise in stock price is obviously positive for the company, it actually comes as they’ve been laying off employees over the past few months. Evidently, that same AI that is raising subscriber rates is also allowing for automated content creation that no longer needs a human.
I’m fascinated to see how this company continues to grow as the technology evolves and I definitely want to log back into my old account to see all the new features for myself.
♻️ Health/Environment/EVs
Apple’s ill-fated car may have looked similar to a Canoo
Apple made big news recently when they officially killed off their efforts to make a car. And now that the decision has been made, more rumors and information have been coming out that give a better indication of exactly what Apple was working on.
Apparently, the automobile in question looked a lot like the image above from the company Canoo. While not a household hame, Canoo has been gaining a lot of traction these past few years making futuristic bubble vans for the likes of NASA and other commercial entities.
The Clean Technica report linked above talks about Apples choice to focus on making an autonomous vehicle unlike anything else rather than manufacturing a safer car. Essentially they tried to jump far ahead of the competition before they had a basic product to test the market. Instead of trying to compete with newer manufacturers like Tesla and Rivian, they opted for a moon-shot that pushed the category to a new level that it evidently wasn’t ready for.
It’s a shame to scrap all the apparent progress that was made on this initial vehicle. Perhaps it will find its way into future projects someday. But it’s a harsh reminder that even companies like Apple can take missteps with their products. Would they have been better off creating a basic EV with a little more Apple flair on the interior? Quite possibly. In the meantime, they can refocus efforts on AI and just push more software to existing cars through the evolution of Apple CarPlay.
🛍 Grab Bag
Airbnb is banning indoor security cameras
Did you know that I was one of the first handful of Airbnb hosts in San Francisco? Hell, I even wrote the book on it. It really was the wild west back then, Airbnb didn’t have a whole lot of rules. You didn’t always know what kind of stay you were going to have. And yes, there were always concerns about privacy, both for the hosts and the guests.
Recently, Airbnb has added a rule to help guests feel more safe during their stays. Indoor security cameras are now banned from Airbnb listings.
Outdoor cameras will still be allowed, but this should curb some of the privacy fears that come with renting someone else’s house. Previously, indoor cameras were only banned in bedrooms and bathrooms and any indoor cameras were required to be disclosed to guests. This full ban of indoor cameras acts as a more comprehensive decisions that should assuage concerns for guests that maybe were spooked by cameras previously.
You can absolutely understand the desire for surveillance with hosts who are taking a chance by allowing strangers into their homes. But with the various layers of insurance provided by Airbnb these days, monitoring a guest’s stay via camera is less useful.
In addition to the cameras, Airbnb is also cracking down on in-home decibel readers that may indicate when larger than expected gatherings are taking place. Apparently, this has been an easy way for hosts to monitor sound levels to ensure that guests aren’t throwing parties when they shouldn’t be.
Overall, these tactics are prioritizing the privacy and peace of mind of the guests over the hosts. And that makes sense at this point in the trajectory of the company. I’d guess that the level of host supply has reached enough of a critical mass that guests take the priority when enacting new rules within the company. Sounds like a good idea to me.
💬 Quote of the Week
"Sound is the vocabulary of nature."
-Pierre Schaeffer
🎥Content Recommendation
Poor Things
Well, The Academy Awards have now come and gone. How many of the best picture nominees were you able to catch before the big show? Alas, I didn’t quite finish all of them but I’m very close!
Still, I’m glad that I was able to watch “Poor Things” just before Sunday’s big event.
Emma Stone’s win for Best Actress in a leading role was very well deserved for her portrayal of Bella Baxter. The movie is based around the premise of her being a grown woman with the brain of a baby. As silly as that sounds, it really worked for me from start to finish. It’s dark, quirky, and oddly beautiful at the same time.
Honestly, I liked it more than Best Picture winner Oppenheimer and I have a feeling that it may end up being the most memorable film of the bunch when we look back on this awards season.
Thanks for reading, I’ll see you next week!
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