Grok, Light Ring, Kikfin Shark, FX Super One “Grok” is an AI chatbot developed by Tesla’s founder, Elon Musk. It’s now starting to roll out via OTA updates in Tesla models (S, X, 3, Y, and Cybertruck) powered by AMD Ryzen chips. Of course, you’ll need to be subscribed to the $100/year Premium Connectivity service to use it.
As soon as the OTA update dropped, I jumped in to test it out. urh.. And now, who’s going to take responsibility for all the hype I built up in my head? Here are a few of the main letdowns I noticed. |
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#Slow as Molasses
As someone who uses Amazon Alexa all the time, Grok left me pretty disappointed. First off—the response speed. Wow. Painfully slow compared to other AIs. It’s supposed to give answers instantly, but instead it drags its feet. Even someone with infinite patience would lose it here.
#Don’t Cut Me Off!
You know that feeling when you try to correct AI mid-sentence and it actually listens? My Alexa does that—when I say, “No, that’s not what I meant,” she stops talking and pays attention. Grok? Nope. Doesn’t matter what I say, it just keeps plowing through until it’s done. Incredibly frustrating.
#Korean? Not Quite There Yet (Video link)(Link)
I figured Grok would handle Korean well—after all, Google Mini does, and ChatGPT is impressively natural with it. But wow… the moment I switch to Korean, Grok basically ghosts me. If I ask, “Do you speak Korean?” in English, I get this loooong pause and then a cheesy “An nyung ha se yo~.” Honestly, it makes me wonder if I clicked the wrong setting or something. Heh heh.
After waiting around for it to respond, I end up blurting out, “Forget it.” A coworker with a Model 3 had the exact same experience. Definitely needs some major updates.
#No Vehicle Control (Just Talk)
This was the feature I was most excited about—but nope. No rolling down windows, no tweaking the AC, no navigation integration. Nothing. Just plain conversation.
🤔
#On the Positive Side..?
1) AI Voice Packs Ara, Rex, Eve… Grok does offer different AI voices. Eve speaks with a British female accent, Rex has an American male voice, and so on. You can pick whichever vibe you like best, which is kind of fun.
2) “Time is Precious”
If Grok ever speeds up, it could actually become pretty useful. You could practice languages like English or Spanish while driving, get a quick news summary, or even kill time with audiobooks, jokes, or lighthearted chats on long trips.
One curious thing worth watching: NSFW mode. (That’s “Not Safe For Work,” a.k.a. profanity, raunchy jokes, etc.) I haven’t dared to activate it yet, but since it’s natural-language based, I wouldn’t be surprised if it drops a casual “F-bomb” once that switch is flipped. There’s also a Kids Mode, so comparing the two could be interesting—if only Grok weren’t so painfully slow right now that I lost the motivation to test it. |
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Back in March, a French space scientist tried to enter the U.S. but was randomly pulled aside at the airport. His phone and laptop were seized, and he was eventually sent back home. The reason? Authorities had found private messages on his phone criticizing the Trump administration’s science policies. But here’s the question—how could they possibly uncover that in such a short amount of time?
It made me wonder… could AI have been involved? (Totally my own speculation here—1000% brain fuel.)
Maybe the spark comes from the AI systems that surround us—quietly embedded everywhere like CCTV cameras. From a technical standpoint, it’s more than possible.
All this has me thinking harder about the rise of in-car AI.
Maybe we even need to update an old saying:
“Daytime words are heard by birds (AI), and nighttime words are heard by mice (AI).” |
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🏘️ Beauty + Function: A Ring That Speaks a New Design Language
SPKTRL’s Light Ling introduces a diamond ring that delivers key digital messages—not through a screen, but through subtle shifts in color. Built with lab-grown diamonds, the ring glows pink when a loved one texts, blue for important work updates, and so on—filtering information and signaling only what matters.
The ring as a “functional stone.”
Technology is hidden inside a familiar, traditional object, but instead of screens or buttons, communication happens quietly and elegantly. For users worn out by endless notifications, it offers a calm, minimal, yet precise way to stay connected.
In an age of always-on digital culture, Americans have increasingly expressed fatigue and resistance. Tech giants like Apple and Google have acknowledged this, adding features like Focus Mode, Do Not Disturb, and personalized notification settings to help users manage connectivity on their own terms.
That cultural pushback against being “always on” is clear—and demand for alternatives like SPKTRL’s subtle, meaningful approach to alerts is only likely to grow.
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📈 Jenna's Insight
Screenless Interfaces and Sense-Centered UX
Just as SPKTRL’s ring offers a new interpretation of how information can be conveyed, there’s a growing desire for ways to “show less, but feel more.” This signals a larger shift—across wearables and beyond—toward interfaces that engage our senses rather than our eyes alone.
BMW’s iX Flow concept car, for instance, redefines the visual experience by using E Ink technology to let the exterior color shift with context. More recently, Samsung unveiled MOODIS, an emotion-based UI experiment that adjusts screen tones and notifications in response to a user’s mood and environment—without any manual input.
Together, these examples point to a broader transition toward sensory-centered interaction, where technology blends more seamlessly into human experience, prioritizing subtlety, atmosphere, and emotional resonance over constant visual demands.
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🤔 Jenna's Idea?
1. Color-Changing Trim
Imagine door pillars, dashboards, or gear selectors embedded with micro-LEDs or electrochromic materials that shift color depending on driving conditions, driver state, or vehicle mode.
2. Temperature Feedback
Seats or steering grips could provide gentle temperature shifts as a form of notification.
3. Ambient Light & Shadow Play
Interior lighting could use reflection, shadow, and movement to express changes.
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Door not fully closed → a faint shimmering effect
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Parking brake released → a soft glow wrapping around the handle This turns functional alerts into a natural visual experience, reducing the need for jarring warning sounds.
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Wearable Jetpack for Swimming: KikFin Shark
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A wearable underwater jetpack that lets you move simply by putting it on—ushering in a new kind of mobility beneath the surface.
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Intuitive control: Just tilt your head to change direction, designed for simple and natural use
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Swappable battery: Modular design allows the battery to be replaced even underwater
Equipped with three cylindrical thrusters with built-in propellers and a stabilizing shark-fin shape, the system lets users glide through water like a shark. Speed is managed with glove-style hand controllers, reaching up to about 5.8 mph (9.3 km/h), which is well beyond normal recreational swimming speeds.
The operation is particularly striking. Sensors detect head movements, and the thrusters adjust propulsion accordingly to steer in the desired direction. The battery, housed inside the fin for cooling efficiency, can be replaced underwater, making it practical for extended use.
(Downside? At those speeds, your swimsuit might not stay on…)
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KikFin Shark is a strong example of how human movement can be linked with sensor-based interaction, showcasing the potential of sense-driven UI and wearable design. While its context differs from SPKTRL’s quieter technology, it still serves as a valuable reference point when considering sensory UX and the future of wearables. |
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A Grille That Speaks Through Expression: FX Super One
Car preferences seem to differ across continents. In Europe, compact cars dominate, well-suited to narrow streets. In the United States, SUVs remain popular, offering strength and comfort across diverse terrains. In China, however, technology flair and bold styling often take center stage.
The FX Super One captures that spirit perfectly. Positioned as a luxury minivan, it directly reflects Chinese consumer tastes. Although developed by U.S.-based Faraday X, its design language is unmistakably rooted in an Eastern sensibility. The vehicle has been introduced as both a pure EV and an extended-range hybrid EV. |
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The most striking feature is the interactive LED grille, which can project an “animated face” to display expressions, images, or text. It immediately captures attention, though the style feels distinctly Chinese. Branded as “Super EAI F.A.C.E”—short for Vehicle Embodied Agent, a self-expression device meant to extend the user’s presence—the concept comes across as somewhat mechanical in its explanation. |
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Interior details haven’t been revealed, though it’s noted that every seat is “VIP.” Hopefully, it will still appeal to practical-minded American drivers.
Projecting a face onto the vehicle exterior via a large screen is an attempt to emphasize brand identity and emotional communication. However, it’s unclear whether this will truly resonate with users. In the event of a front-end collision, for example, most consumers are likely to think about repair costs before any emotional connection.
Additionally, the aesthetics typical of Chinese manufacturers—what might come across as exaggerated emotional expressions, decorative elements, or overemphasis on performance—could feel off to some users. It may reflect a literal rather than culturally nuanced interpretation of local design language, which could create a sense of disconnect or resistance. |
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Son Heung-min’s move to the U.S. sent the LA Korean community into a frenzy. One friend, eager to see him play, tried to grab tickets for an LAFC match expecting the usual $50 range—but standing tickets are going for $187, with parking at $65. That’s almost four times the usual ticket price. |
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Even jerseys that were usually 50% off have shot up in price, and while he was “SON” at Tottenham, in the U.S. it’s suddenly all in Korean!
In Koreatown, everyone’s buzzing about which restaurants might receive Son Heung-min’s favor. Rumor has it that the top spot goes to HyeongX Galbi, famous for donating a lot to Gangwon Province.
Looking forward to the day we might spot Son on the streets of Koreatown—so far I’ve seen the likes of Lee Seung-chul and Stray Kids, so maybe he’ll make a cameo too. |
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101 Peters Canyon Rd. Irvine, CA 92606
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