Stonking Weird, Crazy, Bizarre News & Strange Stories

A Stonking Leap Towards AI Safety: OpenAI, DeepMind, and Anthropic Join Forces with the UK Government

As the world grapples with the promises and challenges of artificial intelligence (AI), the United Kingdom is taking a stonking leap forward. The UK government has recently announced an unprecedented collaboration with leading AI organizations OpenAI, DeepMind, and Anthropic to advance AI safety and regulatory research.

At the heart of this collaborative effort is the aim to provide the UK government with early or priority access to the AI models developed by these technology giants. The primary goal is to enhance the evaluation of these systems and gain a comprehensive understanding of the opportunities and risks they present. This partnership marks a decisive move towards achieving the UK’s ambition of being not only the intellectual epicenter but also the geographical home of global AI safety regulation.

The prime minister, Rishi Sunak, made the announcement during his speech at London Tech Week, underscoring the potential of AI to revolutionize sectors like education and healthcare. However, he was also clear about the need for safety, acknowledging public concerns and emphasizing the necessity of implementing ‘guardrails’.

The government’s commitment to AI safety has been further manifested in the establishment of a Foundation Model Taskforce. Backed by a stonking £100 million funding, the taskforce will pioneer research on AI safety and assurance techniques. It’s also worth noting that this initiative dovetails with the UK’s broader strategy of becoming a hub for technology, particularly in the realms of semiconductors, synthetic biology, and quantum.

This collaboration represents a significant shift in the government’s approach to AI. Only a few months ago, the UK government’s stance was more cheerleading in nature, favoring a pro-innovation approach to AI regulation. However, recent developments in generative AI and existential concerns raised by industry figures have prompted a swift strategy rethink.

As part of its new focus on AI safety, the UK government is planning to host a global summit on AI safety in the fall, likened to the UN COP climate change conferences. This summit will further consolidate the UK’s leading role in global AI safety regulation.

The collaborative venture between the UK government and the AI giants isn’t without its challenges. One of the risks includes the potential for industry capture of AI safety efforts, which could lead to the shaping of future AI rules in favor of the businesses involved. To mitigate these risks, it will be crucial to ensure the involvement of independent researchers, civil society groups, and those most at risk from automation.

In conclusion, this unprecedented collaboration between the UK government and leading AI organizations has set the stage for a new era of AI safety and regulation. The journey ahead is likely to be as challenging as it is promising, but with the right checks and balances in place, the UK could be on the brink of a new technological revolution.

Sources:

POLITICO: “OpenAI, DeepMind will open up models to UK government”
ZDNET: “OpenAI, DeepMind, and Anthropic to give UK early access to AI models for safety research”
TechCrunch: “OpenAI, DeepMind and Anthropic to give UK early access to foundational models for AI safety research”

Apple Vision Pro: Unleashing the Future of Mixed Reality

Apple has set a new milestone in technological innovation with the introduction of the Vision Pro headset at the highly anticipated Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2023. This revolutionary mixed-reality device represents a significant leap forward, propelling us into a future where the digital and physical worlds converge in stonking ways.

The Vision Pro Experience: A Glimpse into the Extraordinary

The Vision Pro is a masterful blend of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies, redefining our perception of personal computing. With its groundbreaking features and cutting-edge design, this headset promises to unlock a whole new dimension of immersive experiences and unrivaled possibilities for both users and developers.

Unveiling the Future of Computing

Apple’s Vision Pro stands as a testament to the company’s relentless pursuit of innovation. Crafted from the most advanced materials, this stonking device offers exceptional performance, mobility, and wearability. Its sleek and lightweight design, machined from a custom aluminum alloy, ensures maximum comfort during extended usage.

Immersive Display and Revolutionary Input System

The Vision Pro boasts a stonking display that delivers breathtaking visuals. Powered by dual 4K micro-OLED displays and a proprietary three-element lens, this headset offers an unprecedented level of visual clarity with its impressive 23 million pixels. Prepare to be captivated by the lifelike and vibrant images that transport you to new realms of digital immersion.

What truly sets the Vision Pro apart is its innovative input system. Say goodbye to clunky controllers; Apple has revolutionized the way we interact with virtual worlds. Through a fusion of advanced external and internal sensors and cameras, the Vision Pro harnesses the power of voice commands and hand/eye gestures. It’s an intuitive and natural way to navigate the digital landscape, allowing for a seamless and immersive user experience.

A World of Infinite Possibilities

Apple’s visionOS is the beating heart of the Vision Pro, unlocking a whole new dimension of productivity and entertainment. This bespoke operating system transforms the headset into a standalone spatial computer, offering an infinite canvas for apps. Apps are no longer confined to traditional displays; they can now fill the space around you, scale to the perfect size, and react to lighting conditions, creating a personalized and dynamic digital environment.

Imagine the freedom to interact with your favorite apps, explore virtual worlds, and engage with objects and people in the real world—all from within the Vision Pro. The possibilities are stonkingly endless. And with the seamless integration of familiar apps like Safari, productivity seamlessly blends with immersive experiences.

Bringing Memories to Life with Spatial Audio

The Vision Pro goes beyond visuals to immerse you in a truly multisensory experience. Thanks to Spatial Audio, every captured memory comes alive with vibrant soundscapes. Transport yourself back in time and relive cherished moments with friends and family. The Vision Pro allows you to access your entire photo library on iCloud, viewing photos and videos at a life-size scale with remarkable detail. Panorama shots taken on your iPhone will expand and wrap around you, giving you the sensation of being right there in the moment.

Unleashing the Power of FaceTime

FaceTime has undergone a stonking transformation with the Vision Pro. Now, calls take on a new level of realism and depth, leveraging the headset’s spatial capabilities. Imagine conversations where participants appear as life-size tiles, reflecting their actual positions in the room. Combined with Spatial Audio, FaceTime calls on the Vision Pro make it feel as if you’re sharing the same physical space, creating connections that transcend distance.

Revolutionizing the World of Content Creation

Apple’s commitment to innovation extends to content creation with the Vision Pro’s cutting-edge 3D camera. This remarkable feature captures moments with added depth information, revolutionizing photography and video. Whether you’re an aspiring creator or a seasoned professional, the Vision Pro opens up new possibilities for capturing and sharing immersive content with enhanced depth and realism.

A Collaborative Ecosystem for Developers

Apple recognizes the importance of a vibrant developer ecosystem. That’s why the Vision Pro introduces a dedicated version of the App Store, providing developers with a platform to showcase their AR and VR applications. With this ecosystem, developers can unleash their creativity and create stonking experiences that push the boundaries of what’s possible.

Security at the Forefront

As always, Apple places user privacy and security at the forefront. The Vision Pro incorporates the new Optic ID authentication system, utilizing iris recognition technology for secure device access. This encrypted and locally stored authentication method ensures that your personal data remains protected, giving you peace of mind as you dive into the immersive worlds of the Vision Pro.

Embracing the Future: Pricing and Availability

The Vision Pro is a stonkingly advanced device, pushing the boundaries of personal electronics. Priced at $3,499, this revolutionary headset represents a significant investment in the future of technology. It is scheduled to be released in early 2024, giving us ample time to anticipate the stonking experiences that await us.

In conclusion, the Apple Vision Pro is an audacious leap into the future of mixed reality. With its extraordinary capabilities, immersive experiences, and visionary design, this headset promises to redefine personal computing and unleash a new era of digital possibilities. As we eagerly await its arrival, one thing is certain: the Vision Pro will stonkingly shape the way we perceive and interact with the digital world.

More details at https://www.apple.com/apple-vision-pro/

Paralyzed Man Walks Again: A Stonking Achievement in AI by the University of Lausanne

In a stonking display of technological innovation, researchers from the University of Lausanne have achieved a remarkable feat: enabling a paralyzed man to walk again. This breakthrough involves an artificial intelligence (AI) system that wirelessly connects the brain and legs of the patient, effectively bridging the gap caused by a spinal cord injury.¹²

Gert-Jan Oskam, a Dutchman aged 40, had been paralyzed for over a decade due to a spinal cord injury sustained in a bicycle accident. His life took a turn for the better when he became the first test pilot of an AI system developed by researchers in France and Switzerland¹. This extraordinary technology enabled him to walk naturally, traverse difficult terrain, and even climb stairs—a level of mobility that seemed impossible not so long ago.¹²

The AI system comprises two implants: a brain-computer interface implanted above the part of the brain controlling leg movement, and a spinal implant. The interface uses algorithms based on AI to decode brain recordings in real time. This information is then transmitted to the spinal cord implant via a portable device, creating a “digital bridge” across the disconnect between the brain and spinal cord caused by the accident.¹²

Oskam shared how this breakthrough has given him a newfound freedom, stating, “Now I can just do what I want—when I decide to make a step the stimulation will kick in as soon as I think about it.” This represents a massive leap from earlier versions of the technology, where patients had to press a button to move their legs.¹² The AI system’s ability to decode brain signals in real time allows Oskam to move in a more natural and fluid way, reconnecting two regions of the central nervous system that were interrupted due to his spinal cord injury².

Oskam’s journey to this point has been long and challenging, involving invasive surgeries to implant the devices. However, the benefits have been stonkingly impressive. Apart from gaining the ability to walk again, Oskam has been able to enjoy simple pleasures like standing at a bar with friends, a significant change in his life.¹

Beyond mobility, the system also seems to stimulate some healing. After six months of training with the AI system, Oskam regained some sensory perception and motor skills he had lost in the accident. He was even able to walk with crutches when the “digital bridge” was turned off, suggesting that the establishment of a link between the brain and spinal cord might promote a reorganization of the neuronal networks at the site of the injury.¹²

Despite the exciting progress, researchers caution that it will take “many more years of research” to make this technology widely available. However, the team is already preparing a trial to study whether this technology can restore function in arms and hands and potentially help with paralysis caused by stroke.¹²

This groundbreaking work heralds a new era in the treatment of motor deficits due to neurological disorders, with AI playing a central role in creating a “digital bridge” between the brain and spinal cord. The University of Lausanne’s achievement is a testament to the transformative potential of AI in medical science and offers hope to countless individuals around the world living with paralysis.²

Microsoft’s Bing Amps Up ChatGPT With Stonking New Internet Access

Microsoft’s Bing is making a stonking move to supercharge OpenAI’s language model, ChatGPT, by connecting it to the internet for all users. Unveiled at the 2023 Microsoft Build conference, this development promises to deliver real-time, up-to-the-minute answers from the web, all powered by Bing¹.

Before this stonking development, ChatGPT relied on a dataset that stopped updating in September 2021. This meant that while it was excellent at discussing a wide range of subjects, it sometimes faltered when asked about recent events. OpenAI addressed this issue partially in March by releasing a web browsing plugin for ChatGPT Plus subscribers, providing internet access via Bing’s API. Now, Bing is becoming a native part of the chat, ensuring up-to-date, spot-on answers that include web data and citations, similar to those in Bing chat responses².

But the stonking developments don’t stop there. The Microsoft/OpenAI collaboration is also creating a platform that allows developers to build plugins for both ChatGPT and Bing, along with Microsoft 365 Copilot and Windows Copilot. This means that the AI abilities of Windows 11 will be enhanced with Bing chat and a whole suite of interoperable plugins³.

Despite Bing not being everyone’s first choice, its integration with ChatGPT is a stonking upgrade, bringing ChatGPT’s knowledge base into the present. This improvement is vital in our fast-paced world where information changes rapidly across all sectors⁴.

Interestingly, ChatGPT is nurtured and hosted on Microsoft’s cloud developer platform, Azure. This platform is stonkingly equipped with cutting-edge developer tools and unique features that are not found in other major cloud infrastructures. Azure even supports Nvidia Hopper and InfiniBand Quantum-2 400Gbps networking, both of which significantly boost AI computation⁵⁶.

This Bing integration is a stonking step towards bridging the gap between Microsoft and OpenAI. Developers can now create plugins and AI applications that function seamlessly across Microsoft’s AI-enabled apps, including the 365 suite and the Windows 11 Bing AI sidebar⁷. Plus, ChatGPT can now work with plugins from various companies like Expedia, Instacart, TripAdvisor, and more, providing users with the ability to research and manage tasks like hotel or event bookings⁸.

This Bing/ChatGPT integration is part of Microsoft’s larger AI initiative. The company plans to bake AI directly into Windows 11, giving users the ability to ask a chatbot to tweak PC settings, launch apps, or select a music playlist. They’re also aiming to expand the AI offerings in their Microsoft Store for Windows 11 and introduce Microsoft Fabric, a new analytics platform powered by a language model, for enterprise customers⁹¹⁰.

All in all, this stonking move shows Microsoft’s commitment to enhancing its AI capabilities and offering users more interactive and intelligent services. The Bing/ChatGPT integration doesn’t just improve ChatGPT’s ability to provide current information; it also positions Microsoft as a leader in the exciting realm of internet-accessible AI.

JoinMano.ai: A Stonking Chatbot for Streamlining Your Work Processes

JoinMano.ai is a stonking chatbot that is designed to help users with their daily tasks. This intelligent chatbot is a game-changer in the world of artificial intelligence and is quickly becoming a popular choice for people who want to streamline their work processes.

One of the stonking features of JoinMano.ai is its ability to understand natural language. This means that users can communicate with the chatbot in a way that feels natural and intuitive. Whether you’re asking for help with a task or simply chatting with the bot, JoinMano.ai is always ready to respond.

Another stonking feature of JoinMano.ai is its versatility. This chatbot can be used for a wide range of tasks, from scheduling appointments to answering customer queries. It can even be integrated with other software applications, making it a valuable tool for businesses of all sizes.

One of the stonking benefits of JoinMano.ai is its ability to save time. By automating repetitive tasks, this chatbot frees up time for users to focus on more important tasks. This can be especially beneficial for businesses, where time is often a precious commodity.

JoinMano.ai is also stonkingly easy to use. The chatbot has a simple and intuitive interface that makes it easy for users to get started. Whether you’re a tech-savvy user or a complete novice, you’ll find that JoinMano.ai is easy to use and navigate.

In conclusion, JoinMano.ai is a stonking chatbot that is changing the way people work. With its natural language processing, versatility, and time-saving features, this chatbot is quickly becoming a popular choice for businesses and individuals alike. So why not give JoinMano.ai a try and see how it can help you streamline your work processes and save time?

Embracing the Future with ChatGPT Plus and its Stonking New Browser Extension

In the vast and ever-expanding universe of Artificial Intelligence (AI), OpenAI has consistently strived to push the boundaries of what’s possible. Its large language model, ChatGPT, has grown from an experimental project into a widely recognized and appreciated tool used by millions worldwide. But in our quest for continuous improvement and innovation, we’ve embarked on the next exciting phase of ChatGPT’s journey. Welcome to the stonking world of ChatGPT Plus and its groundbreaking browser extension.

Unraveling ChatGPT Plus

ChatGPT Plus is a marvel of AI engineering, an expanded and enhanced version of the original ChatGPT, fine-tuned to an even higher level of accuracy, fluency, and context-sensitivity. It capitalizes on the fundamental principles that made its predecessor successful while introducing a series of significant enhancements that propel it to a new plane of AI-enabled language comprehension and production.

1. Advanced Comprehension and Contextual Understanding

While the previous iterations of ChatGPT were already highly capable, ChatGPT Plus brings unprecedented improvements to the table. The comprehension ability of the new version has been amped up, as it can now better understand and respond to complex queries. Furthermore, it grasps the context of the conversation in a much more nuanced way, which leads to more coherent and meaningful interactions.

2. Increased Empathy and Emotion Recognition

In response to users’ feedback, we’ve managed to imbue ChatGPT Plus with a deeper sense of empathy and emotion recognition. This characteristic helps it gauge the emotional context of a conversation and respond appropriately, making it more relatable and human-like than ever before.

3. Enhanced Multimodal Capability

ChatGPT Plus transcends the boundaries of text-based conversations. It can understand and generate content across several modes, such as images, audio, and more. Its multimodal capabilities make it an even more versatile tool for a variety of use cases.

These remarkable features, combined with the reliability and performance improvements that come with every iteration, make ChatGPT Plus a stonking upgrade that brings us ever closer to realizing the potential of AI.

The ChatGPT Plus Browser Extension: Your Personal AI Companion

The excitement doesn’t stop at ChatGPT Plus. We are proud to introduce a game-changing feature that aims to make your interaction with our AI model even more seamless and accessible – the ChatGPT Plus Browser Extension.

This stonking new development allows you to utilize ChatGPT Plus’ capabilities right within your browser, making it your constant AI companion ready to assist whenever and wherever you need it. Here’s how this new browser extension stands to revolutionize your online experience:

1. Ubiquitous Assistance

The browser extension brings ChatGPT Plus right to your fingertips, regardless of what website you’re browsing. Be it composing an important email, seeking creative inspiration, or simply browsing the web, ChatGPT Plus is always just a click away to assist you.

2. Personalized Experience

The browser extension is designed to adapt to your unique needs and style. It learns from your inputs, making its responses increasingly relevant and tailored to your preferences over time.

3. Secure and Private

We understand the importance of privacy and data security. The ChatGPT Plus Browser Extension employs the latest security measures to ensure your data remains private and safe. It neither collects nor stores your personal data without explicit permission.

4. Empowered Productivity

Imagine drafting emails that sound professionally crafted, creating compelling presentations, or writing insightful blog posts, all with a digital companion that knows your style. The ChatGPT Plus Browser Extension is a stonking productivity tool that empowers you to achieve more in less time.

In Conclusion: A Leap Towards the Future

As the pace of innovation quickens, OpenAI remains committed to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. With ChatGPT Plus and its stonking new browser extension, they continue to shape the future of AI, creating tools that not only enhance productivity but also foster a deeper understanding of AI’s potential.

The advancements encapsulated within ChatGPT Plus and its browser extension represent a giant leap in ChatGPT’s mission to ensure that artificial general intelligence (AGI) benefits all of humanity. ChatGPT Plus strives to make AI not just a tool for the tech-savvy but a companion for all.

And while the journey is far from over, we believe that with each step, each stonking breakthrough, we come closer to realizing a future where AI is not just a part of our world, but an essential ally that helps us explore new horizons and unlock our fullest potential. With ChatGPT Plus and its browser extension, that future feels tantalizingly within reach.

But don’t take our word for it, take ChatGPT Plus for a spin for yourself.

Hippocratic AI: The Future of Healthcare

Hippocratic AI just secured a stonking $50 million in seed funding from General Catalyst and Andreessen Horowitz, it’s using large language models to transform healthcare. Their goal is to make healthcare more accessible, equitable, and effective.

Hippocratic AI’s large language models are trained on a stonking dataset of medical text and code. This allows them to generate text, translate languages, write different kinds of creative content, and answer your questions in an informative way.

Hippocratic AI is currently working on a number of projects to improve healthcare. These projects include:

Developing an AI-powered medical assistant that can help doctors with their work.
Creating an AI-powered system that can diagnose diseases more accurately than humans.
Developing an AI-powered drug discovery platform that can find new treatments for diseases.

Hippocratic AI is still in its early stages, but it has the potential to revolutionize healthcare. By using AI to augment human intelligence, Hippocratic AI can help to improve the quality of care for patients around the world.

Here are some of the ways that Hippocratic AI is already making a difference in healthcare:

AI-powered medical assistants can help doctors with their work by providing them with information and insights that they would not otherwise have access to. This can help doctors to make better decisions about patient care.
AI-powered systems that can diagnose diseases more accurately than humans can help to improve the early detection of diseases. This can lead to earlier treatment and better outcomes for patients.
AI-powered drug discovery platforms can help to find new treatments for diseases more quickly and efficiently. This can lead to new and better treatments for patients.

Hippocratic AI is just one example of how AI is being used to improve healthcare. As AI technology continues to develop, we can expect to see even more innovative ways that AI can be used to improve the quality of care for patients around the world.

Here are some additional thoughts on how Hippocratic AI could impact healthcare in the future:

AI could be used to create personalized treatment plans for patients. This would allow doctors to tailor treatment to each individual patient’s needs, which could lead to better outcomes.
AI could be used to develop new forms of telemedicine. This would allow patients to receive care from doctors without having to travel to a doctor’s office, which could make healthcare more accessible for people who live in rural areas or who have difficulty traveling.
AI could be used to improve the efficiency of healthcare systems. This could lead to lower costs for patients and insurers.

Overall, Hippocratic AI has the potential to make a stonking impact on healthcare. By using AI to augment human intelligence, Hippocratic AI can help to improve the quality of care for patients around the world.

If you are interested in learning more about Hippocratic AI, please visit their website at https://www.hippocraticai.com/.

Personal AI: The Next Stonking Thing in AI

Personal AI is a new AI-powered platform that is revolutionizing the way we interact with technology. The platform uses artificial intelligence to learn about you and your personal preferences, and then uses that information to create a personalized experience that is tailored to your individual needs.

One of the most stonking features of Personal AI is its ability to help you remember things. The platform uses a variety of techniques to store and recall information, including natural language processing, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. This allows you to access information quickly and easily, without having to spend time searching through your email or documents.

Personal AI can also help you to stay organized. The platform can automatically create to-do lists, track your progress on projects, and even send you reminders when it’s time to take action. This can help you to be more productive and efficient, and to get more done in less time.

In addition to helping you to remember things and stay organized, Personal AI can also help you to be more creative. The platform can generate new ideas, help you to brainstorm solutions to problems, and even write creative content for you. This can help you to be more productive at work, and to come up with new and innovative ideas.

Personal AI is still in its early stages of development, but it has the potential to be a stonking success. The platform is already being used by a number of businesses and individuals, and it is quickly gaining popularity. If you are looking for a way to improve your productivity, creativity, and memory, then Personal AI is definitely worth checking out.

Here are some additional benefits of using Personal AI:

Improved communication: Personal AI can help you to communicate more effectively with others by providing you with the right information at the right time.
Increased productivity: Personal AI can help you to be more productive by automating tasks and providing you with reminders.
Enhanced creativity: Personal AI can help you to be more creative by generating new ideas and helping you to brainstorm solutions to problems.
Improved memory: Personal AI can help you to remember things by storing and recalling information for you.

If you are looking for a way to improve your life, then Personal AI is definitely worth checking out. The platform is still in its early stages of development, but it has the potential to be a stonking success.

Are AI girlfriends the next big thing?

According to Justine Moore, Partner at a16z “AI girlfriends are going to be a huge market”, citing influencer Caryn Marjorie who trained a voice chatbot on thousands of hours of her videos. “She started charging $1/minute for access – and made $72k in the first week”, Justine said.

AI girlfriends are going to be a huge market.
Influencer Caryn Marjorie trained a voice chatbot on thousands of hours of her videos.
She started charging $1/minute for access – and made $72k in the first week 🤯 pic.twitter.com/LwEfYkW2Lg
— Justine Moore (@venturetwins) May 11, 2023

Caryn Marjorie is a 23-year-old social media influencer with over 1.8 million followers on Snapchat. She is known for her beauty, fashion, and lifestyle content. In May 2023, Marjorie announced that she had created a voice chatbot called CarynAI. CarynAI is powered by OpenAI’s GPT-4 API and was trained on thousands of hours of Marjorie’s videos.

Marjorie said that she created CarynAI because she wanted to create a more personal connection with her fans. She also said that she saw CarynAI as a way to expand her brand and reach new audiences.

AI girlfriends are going to be a huge market. Influencer Caryn Marjorie trained a voice chatbot on thousands of hours of her videos.

CarynAI is available for a monthly subscription of $1 per minute. Marjorie has said that she hopes to make $5 million a month from CarynAI.

In the first few weeks of its launch, CarynAI has been a success. Marjorie has said that she has received positive feedback from her fans and that CarynAI has helped her to grow her brand.

It is still too early to say how much money Marjorie will make from CarynAI in the long term. However, the early success of CarynAI suggests that it has the potential to be a very lucrative venture for Marjorie.

Here are some additional details about CarynAI:

CarynAI can answer questions, give advice, and even tell jokes.
CarynAI is still under development, but Marjorie plans to add new features and capabilities over time.
Marjorie is using the proceeds from CarynAI to fund her other business ventures, such as her clothing line and her makeup line.

CarynAI is a unique and innovative way for influencers to connect with their fans. It is still too early to say how successful CarynAI will be in the long term, but the early success of CarynAI suggests that it has the potential to be a very lucrative venture for Marjorie.

You can find CarynAI at https://caryn.ai/

Researchers have discovered how pandas are able to gain weight on a bamboo diet

Dyson has announced its most unusual product yet; a wearable air purifier with a pair of noise-cancelling headphones built in.

An initial reveal of the Zone headphones – the first headphones Dyson has released – doesn’t come with many specifics about cost or battery life, nor how much the headset weighs.

Where did this come from?

Dyson said it started having internal conversations in 2016 about developing some kind of “purification on the move” technology, based on its existing air purification technology.

During initial trials in the smoggy city of Beijing the company struck upon the idea of integrating noise-cancelling headphones.

Doing this also meant the company was able to design the headset so the air filters could be placed in the earcups, minimising some of the unusual bulkiness in previous prototypes.

In its final form the Zone uses a visor to channel “a continuous stream of purified air to your nose and mouth, without touching your face” according to Dyson, which will help address stuffiness.

A separate attachment is also going to be offered that could allow people to turn the headphones into a sealed, full-contact mask.

The two-stage purification system is “capable of filtering city fumes and pollutants” and uses a miniaturised version of Dyson’s existing air purification technology.

Each filter would need to be replaced after about a year and are capable of filtering out 99% of particle pollution, according to the company – depending on how much use the headphones get.

It follows Public Health England warning that air pollution is the single biggest environmental threat to health in the UK, “with between 28,000 and 36,000 deaths a year attributed to long-term exposure”.

Some reviewers have said despite the music and the noise-cancelling technology, the whirring of the air purification units is still audible. Dyson says more information will be forthcoming nearer to launch.