Amazon is releasing its own image generator using AI, joining a number of other big tech firms as well as startups that have done so already. Techcrunch.com reports that it has been dubbed the Titan Image Generator, and that it is now available in preview for customers of Amazon Web Services. Titan Image Generator can create new images given a text description or customize existing images. Amazon claims it will protect customers accused of violating copyright with images generated by Titan Image Generator — in keeping with its AI indemnification policy. Images created with Titan Image Generator will also come with a “tamper-resistant” invisible watermark by default — an attempt to mitigate the spread of AI-generated misinformation.

Apple will be ending its financial partnership with Goldman Sachs in the next 12 to 15 months. Goldman has been wanting out for some time now, claiming they have lost money on the Apple Card and Apple Card Savings deals. According to 9to5mac.com, they even tried to shop the deal to American Express, but AX thought the loss rates were too high. Apple may partner with Synchrony, which had originally bid on the partnership but Goldman beat them out. Synchrony Financial has deals with Amazon and PayPal, and a number of other firms. Another possibility is that Apple will roll their own…they have something called ‘Project Breakout’ in the works which would reportedly be to develop their own payment processing tech and infrastructure. 

Toyota is showing confidence about new battery tech for EVs that is a real game changer. Yahoo.com says they have been working on solid state batteries that could bring their EVs a 745 mile range and 10 minute charging time! Toyota believes they will have EVs equipped with the new battery tech by 2027 or 2028! That kind of range and charging time would completely eliminate range anxiety that has concerned EV buyers. Toyota already signed on with Tesla to get their customers access to Tesla’s some 12,000 Superchargers.  

A group of car dealers sent a letter to the White House, grousing that it was unreasonable to expect half the new cars sold in 2030 to be electric. Arstechnica.com reports that dealers are complaining that EVs are selling at a third the rate of gas cars, and they are forced to pay floor plan interest until the cars sell. Oh, boo-hoo. As a former 3rd generation dealer, I heard this from dealers for American made cars for years. The dirty secret is that the big 3 would give them 30 days interest free on the cars, so if they sold them fast enough, no interest expense. As a German car dealer, I can tell you, the Germans billed me interest from the time the cars were on the transport trucks…days before I even saw them…and we still made money! After the shortages the last couple years, and easy sales, these folks need to just get back to prospecting and selling…instead of taking orders at full retail. End of rant.

I’m Clark Reid and you’re ‘Technified’ for now.