Latest news with #MarcoPolo
CNET
11 hours ago
- Business
- CNET
Marco Polo Uses AI for Back-and-Forth Video Messaging. Why You Should Try It
I often read articles about the struggle to maintain friendships in adulthood but not much about how to solve that problem. When I went looking for a solution, one of the platforms I came across was Marco Polo, a private video-based messaging app that has artificial intelligence features. What caught my eye is that Marco Polo focuses on making asynchronous connections (no need to meet up at a certain time!). I'll be honest that sitting on a virtual call with loved ones feels just as confining as sitting through a virtual meeting so leaving video messages for them to view whenever they have time is way more appealing. What is Marco Polo and how does it use AI? Partners and parents Vlada Bortnik and Michał Bortnik, who originally founded Joya Communications in 2012, launched Marco Polo in 2014 as a way to model purposeful work to their daughters. (Plus, they were tired of coordinating Skype calls across different time zones and were looking for something that felt genuine.) The name of the app was inspired by the game kids play at swimming pools, as the platform contains the same sort of back-and-forth interaction between humans when connecting. After a free seven-day trial, Marco Polo is $60 a month for one account or $120 for six accounts if you want the whole family (or a group of friends) on the plan. It implements AI in a few ways. First, closed captions sees AI automatically transcribe what's being said in messages. Marco Polo also offers AI-generated transcripts and summaries. You can convert video messages into searchable text. I reached out to Marco Polo's team for more information on this -- and they directed me back to the FAQ page, which contains information on AI and the company's data privacy policy. This page shares that: "Marco Polo uses AI software to process closed captions and transcripts internally." It also states that it may use a third party to process summaries and, in certain circumstances, transcripts. It doesn't provide further information about how its AI tool functions through these three features, but instead, points to a link about its technology partners. AI is used in Summaries to create a short, written recap of what each video message is about. So whenever you send or receive a message, AI -- using natural language processing -- can help summarize the content. (For those who are picky about everything they engage in, including video messages from friends and loved ones.) Over 4 billion Polos, the video messages sent back and forth to a chat or group on the app, have now been sent, according to the company. How to use Marco Polo to video message with your friends Marco Polo is available on iOS and Android. Open the app and create an account using your name, profile picture and phone number -- this step is for syncing the app with your phone contacts. Once you grant access to your contacts, the app can show you who else is on Marco Polo and let you invite others to the platform. I didn't have any friends already using Marco Polo but I sent invites to four of my tech-enthusiast friends who I figured would be keen to try it out. To start a conversation, look for the plus sign on the home screen and tap it. Here, you can select New Chat or New Group. You can chat one-on-one or with a group of up to 200 people. If you already have friends on the app and want to bring them into a group chat, New Group will allow you to select from active users and contacts you'd like to get on to Marco Polo -- for this, tap the group name at the top and choose Add People or Invite via Group Link. To start recording a message, click Start … and Stop when you're done. There's no time limit on video messages, regardless of which subscription model you're on. Plus, your friends in the group message can watch it whenever they want. (iMessage voice notes and the now-dated Voxer come to mind, but with the addition of video.) For fun, you can tap effects icons and add voice filters, texts and drawings to your video messages, and switch back and forth between front- and rear-facing cameras. You can also tap Photo Polo to pick a photo or video from your own content gallery. So, this feature is a lot like the talking-head recaps and voice-overs on TikTok, Instagram and now even LinkedIn. Some other fun ways to navigate Marco Polo are to explore playback controls. Once you're on a paid subscription, you can place it on double speed, send emoji reactions and add certain conversation to your Favorites. Of course, standard community controls here are also available, like group permissions, renaming the chat and recording a welcome message for new members. Personally, I liked navigating back to the website to check out the stories that help us feel close to one another -- and as inspiration for growing intimacy with the people I want to connect with more frequently. There are ample categories available to sift through, like Company Culture, Impact, Romance and Wellness. Should you use Marco Polo? If you're looking for a casual way to video message, Marco Polo can serve you well. Upgrading after the free tier gives you all of its AI-generated features, alongside video speed controls, cloud storage and fun add-ons like custom thumbnails for your Polos. (You still get 30 days of storage with the free trial.) For those worried about privacy, Marco Polo notes that captions, transcripts and summaries remain private. Additionally, none of your data is used to train AI models. You can also opt out at any time by going to the settings and disabling transcription services. Once you do that, however, the platform is a bit flat because you lose out on the main features you're paying for. But if you're privacy conscious and hyper-aware of the potential for data breaches, this might be important to you. If you are in a busy friend group, looking for ways to connect with family members -- particularly older folks -- or want to stay connected to people in different time zones, Marco Polo is a simple yet fun option to keep everyone together in a low-pressure format with no need to coordinate schedules. And, my personal favorite, it never rings. You open it and engage with whomever, whenever you want. Now that's asynchronicity.
The Star
4 days ago
- Science
- The Star
QuickCheck: Do sand dunes in a desert sing?
A long time ago, some time around the 13th century, as Venetian merchant and explorer Marco Polo crossed the Gobi Desert, he thought he heard the voices of restless spirits. Polo has been recorded as saying: "… when travellers are on the move by night, and one of them chances to lag behind or to fall asleep or the like, when he tries to gain his company again, he will hear spirits talking. Even in the daytime, one hears those spirits talking. And sometimes you shall hear the sound of a variety of musical instruments, and still more commonly the sound of drums." Many since Polo have heard hums vibrating through the air in deserts, like the echo of a distant choir. Is it a figment of their imagination, or are the sand dunes truly singing? VERDICT: TRUE As bizarre as it sounds, and it is good to note that the world offers up many bizarre natural phenomena, this is very much a reality. Historical records from travellers and explorers have mentioned it for centuries. Scientists today call it "singing sand," but they're all referring to the same thing: As sand grains shuffle down the slopes of certain sand dunes, they produce a deep, groaning hum that reverberates for miles. The sound is generated when the top layer of sand slips and rubs against the underlying layers. This movement creates friction, and the synchronised motion of the grains results in the sound waves that we perceive as singing. The frequency and tone can vary, influenced by the size, shape, and speed of the moving sand. Singing dunes have been found in deserts around the world, from the Sahara to the Mojave, and even in China's Badain Jaran Desert. Each dune offers its unique melody, adding to the allure and diversity of these natural symphonies. So, the next time you find yourself on a desert adventure, listen closely. You might just hear the mesmerising music of the sands. References: science/article/121031- singing-sand-dunes-physics- science-whistling com/planet-earth/how-singing- sand-dunes-produce-desert- music science/singing-sands
USA Today
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
SeaWorld's viral hip-hop and R&B summer concert series makes splash with fans
SeaWorld is turning up for the summer! The theme park in San Diego, known for being an aquarium, zoo, and theme park all in one, has kicked off its "Summer Spectacular Concert Series," featuring nostalgic R&B and hip-hop acts on Saturday nights. So far, artists such as Baby Bash and Ying Yang Twins have taken the stage at SeaWorld's Bayside Amphitheater. Most recently, on July 12, Soulja Boy and Bow Wow performed their respective hits, including "Marco Polo," "Pretty Boy Swag," "Shortie Like Mine," and "Kiss Me Thru The Phone," as the crowd cheered and danced in the stands. Music concerts: There's still time to see The Weeknd in concert! Here's how to buy tickets How long is SeaWorld's 'Summer Spectacular Concert Series'? The concerts, presented by local radio station Jam'N 95.7, began on June 21 and will take place every Saturday through August 23. Every event at the Bayside Amphitheater starts at 6 p.m. SeaWorld performances have gone viral on social media The concert went viral online following the Ying Yang Twins' performance in June. The crowd was shaking "it like a salt shaker" to the duo's hits. A video of the pair performing has received over 200,000 views on TikTok. "Sea World & the Ying Yang Twins is a hilarious collab," one person wrote in a post on X. Another person chimed in on a separate post and said, "Whose idea was it to get the Ying Yang Twins to perform at Sea World..? I ain't even mad at it, I just wanna know." Although the concerts have reached viral status this year, this isn't SeaWorld San Diego's first time hosting performances like this. Bow Wow and Soulja Boy have put on a show at the theme park several times in recent years. "Draco, this is our third year straight doing this right?" Bow Wow asked Soulja Boy during their performance. What other artists are performing? How to get tickets Access to the concerts is included in park admission. However, there is an option to pay extra for reserved seating, which starts at $19.99. A VIP Experience is also available. Prices start at $54.99 for a premium concert seat, including one free drink ticket, according to the SeaWorld website. Taylor Ardrey is a news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at tardrey@
Indianapolis Star
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Indianapolis Star
SeaWorld's viral hip-hop and R&B summer concert series makes splash with fans
SeaWorld is turning up for the summer! The theme park in San Diego, known for being an aquarium, zoo, and theme park all in one, has kicked off its "Summer Spectacular Concert Series," featuring nostalgic R&B and hip-hop acts on Saturday nights. So far, artists such as Baby Bash and Ying Yang Twins have taken the stage at SeaWorld's Bayside Amphitheater. Most recently, on July 12, Soulja Boy and Bow Wow performed their respective hits, including "Marco Polo," "Pretty Boy Swag," "Shortie Like Mine," and "Kiss Me Thru The Phone," as the crowd cheered and danced in the stands. Music concerts: There's still time to see The Weeknd in concert! Here's how to buy tickets The concerts, presented by local radio station Jam'N 95.7, began on June 21 and will take place every Saturday through August 23. Every event at the Bayside Amphitheater starts at 6 p.m. The concert went viral online following the Ying Yang Twins' performance in June. The crowd was shaking "it like a salt shaker" to the duo's hits. A video of the pair performing has received over 200,000 views on TikTok. "Sea World & the Ying Yang Twins is a hilarious collab," one person wrote in a post on X. Another person chimed in on a separate post and said, "Whose idea was it to get the Ying Yang Twins to perform at Sea World..? I ain't even mad at it, I just wanna know." Although the concerts have reached viral status this year, this isn't SeaWorld San Diego's first time hosting performances like this. Bow Wow and Soulja Boy have put on a show at the theme park several times in recent years. "Draco, this is our third year straight doing this right?" Bow Wow asked Soulja Boy during their performance. Access to the concerts is included in park admission. However, there is an option to pay extra for reserved seating, which starts at $19.99. A VIP Experience is also available. Prices start at $54.99 for a premium concert seat, including one free drink ticket, according to the SeaWorld website.
Indian Express
03-07-2025
- General
- Indian Express
PSEB releases new syllabus for Classes 1 to 12 for 2025-26 session
The Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) on July 3 released the subject-wise syllabus for Classes 1 to 12 for the 2025-26 academic year. Students can access and download the PSEB board Class 1 to 12 updated syllabus from the official website — The syllabi for Classes 1 to 4 and Classes 6 and 7 have been released as grouped documents, while the syllabus for Classes 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 has been provided separately. In addition to the syllabus, the board has also released the scheme of studies or the exam pattern for each of the classes. The new PSEB curriculum includes updated subject content, marking schemes and practical guidelines. Step 1: Go to the official website of the Punjab PSEB board – Step 2: Click on the 'Syllabus' link visible on the homepage Step 3: On the new page, click on the 'Syllabus 2025-26' link Step 4: Select the desired class and subject to view the syllabus Step 5: The PDF file will open. Download and save or print it for future reference. The Punjab board has also released supporting English practical materials, including instructions, audio files and worksheets. The supplementary resources seek to enhance students' listening and practical English skills. In the English practical materials, students can access audio files including on the value of money, Saint Ravidas, glimpse on Punjab, safety while driving, Marco Polo, where is science taking us, secret of happiness, some glimpses of ancient Indian thoughts and practices, home-coming, the making of the earth, and rule of the road. The Punjab board PSEB has also released practical sheet for Class 8 and Class 10. The Punjab government, on March 31, announced new school timings for the new academic session for state schools, including all government, semi-government and aided schools. The PSEB Punjab board schools, which started their new academic session from April 1 began with new school timings between 8 am and 2 pm.
