Iterate Weekly - Issue 189
This week we're talking about Apple's smart security cameras, letting students bring their pets to school, Zoox testing new robotaxis, AI-powered drones to prevent wildfires, and "Stillwater"!
Welcome to issue 189 of Iterate Weekly.
Let’s jump into this week’s stories shall we?
Thank you as always for reading!
🖥️ Tech
Is Apple getting into the smart camera business?
I actually had to stop for a second when reading this article. Is it true that Apple doesn’t already make smart security cameras?
No, apparently they do not, but it seems like they may have something in the works.
I’ve come to expect that all of the big tech players essentially copy each other when it comes to new product lines. Amazon has security cameras through their Ring line. Therefore, Google has their lines of security cameras via the Nest acquisition. So logically, Apple would need to offer up their version as well right?
Personally, I’ve been slightly disappointed with all of my Google security cameras. They look good enough and work fine, but they don’t blow me away. I think we do need more competition in the space and I’m anxious to see what Apple comes up with.
Of course, they’ll need to inject some AI into the launch of the cameras if they hope to keep up with Amazon and Google. I’m actually pretty excited for the Gemini AI features that are currently rolling out to Google’s cameras. I may have a dedicated story on that soon, but it will allow you to use real language to interact with your cameras. Asking your camera what time your kid came home last night sounds like a teenager’s nightmare but those are the types of things that make this technology far more useful than it currently is. It’s way better than scrolling through eight hours of video footage to see what time your cat snuck out the front door (I may be speaking from experience on that one).
🎓 Education/Productivity/Work
Schools relaxing pet policies to help calm students
Speaking of pets, here’s a fun story about schools relaxing some of their pet policies in order to help students chill out.
I suppose pets are getting more rights in general these days, but now you may be more likely to see them hanging out in lecture halls and dorm rooms. I’m sure there is a joke in there about teaching old dogs new tricks, but this could be extremely valuable for students who face mental health issues.
Personally, I’d be way more stressed out at college if I had to keep track of my dog on a big campus. But I can see it being a nice perk for those who feel lonely or homesick. Even if it isn’t your dog, sometimes a pet just lightens the mood during a stressful time like mid-terms or finals week.
♻️ Health/Environment/EVs
Zoox is testing new robotaxis in San Francisco
San Franciscans aren’t content with just one type of robotaxi. The Waymo cars have gotten far too commonplace in the city. So it’s time to unleash a new funky self-driving peoplemover from Zoox.
The new vehicles are still in the testing phase but are operating without any manual controls like pedals or steering wheels. And if you ask me, I just think they look way cooler and more futuristic than any of the existing robotaxis cruising around town.
SF marks the third city to allow the Zoox vehicles joining nearby Foster City, CA and Las Vegas, NV.
I’m all for these vehicles taking a different form factor if they don’t need a driver or traditional controls. Let’s hope they can safely and efficiently move people around the city without a driver. I’m sure there will be some inevitable hiccups as the testing continues but I’ll be excited to give one of these a try once available to the public.
🛍 Grab Bag
AI-powered drones could prevent wildfires
Thankfully, we’ve had some rain this week in California which should put a damper on the fire season. Sadly, it seems like wildfires are happening all year these days. So why not rely on some new technology to help prevent them?
How about a swarm of 30 AI-powered drones to help stop a fire before it gets out of hand?
It may sound like a terrifying scenario from a horror movie but it could change the way that we fight wildfires. And it makes sense if you look at nature. A swarm of bees or flock of birds are far more powerful than any individual. With a strategically orchestrated attack on a growing fire, this technology should have a big impact.
Things are still in the testing phase with plans to start fighting simulated fires in the future. And to be clear, there are already some piloted drones currently fighting fires, but the magic here is around the autonomous nature and fast-reacting artificial intelligence that could help contain a fire faster than a human-driven effort from the ground.
💬 Quote of the Week
"Nature is never finished."
-Robert Smithson
📺Content Review
Stillwater
This one goes out to all the parents out there.
Recently, my daughter has been into the show “Stillwater” on AppleTV+.
It took me a minute to wrap my head around the premise but it’s basically about some kids who live next door to a magical zen panda. Don’t ask too many questions, it just works.
The important thing here is that the show is beautiful, kinda slow, and more quiet than some of the other entertainment geared toward children. The panda tells stories with real morals behind them. The kids actually meditate on-screen. It helps children identify feelings that may be difficult to process.
It’s a refreshing change of pace from the standard children’s television programming. And I’ll also give a shoutout to all of AppleTV+’s kids shows. If you’re a parent who needs a break from Disney+, go check out Stillwater, Frog & Toad, and a boatload of new and old Peanuts content that Apple owns the rights to.
Thanks for reading, I’ll see you next week!
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