The most interesting startups right now want to get you off your phone
Some startups are moving away from the AI trend, focusing instead on fostering in-person connections and experiences. This movement, dubbed "together tech," prioritizes human interaction over digital engagement, offering a refreshing alternative in a tech-driven world.
While the AI fundraising machine continues to break records, a new wave of startups is emerging with a different focus: encouraging people to disconnect from their phones and engage in real-world interactions.
Brynn Putnam, founder of Mirror, recently secured funding for Board, a startup dedicated to bringing people together through in-person games and social experiences. Similarly, Cyberdeck creators are gaining popularity for crafting unique DIY computers that promote outdoor activities and tangible engagement.
This movement, referred to as "together tech," is not simply a reaction against AI. Instead, it represents a genuine desire among individuals to gravitate towards more human-centric experiences. It offers a refreshing alternative to the pervasive digital engagement that defines much of modern life.
Related articles
Build real agentic apps using CUGA: two dozen working examples on a lightweight harness
CUGA, IBM's open-source Agent Harness, simplifies building agentic applications by handling infrastructure, allowing developers to focus on tools and prompts. It offers pre-assembled components for planning, execution, and state management, significantly reducing development time. CUGA has topped agent benchmarks like AppWorld and WebArena.
OpenAI launches new initiative to help find and patch open source bugs
OpenAI has launched "Patch the Planet," a new initiative in partnership with cybersecurity firm Trail of Bits, to enhance the security of open-source projects. This program aims to assist maintainers in identifying and patching bugs, utilizing OpenAI's AI-powered security tools while reducing the burden on project teams.
PP-OCRv6 on Hugging Face: 50-Language OCR from 1.5M to 34.5M Parameters
Baidu has released PP-OCRv6, an advanced optical character recognition (OCR) model supporting 50 languages. Available on Hugging Face, this version significantly improves accuracy and efficiency across various parameter sizes, from 1.5 million to 34.5 million, marking a substantial leap in multilingual OCR technology.