Another Crazy Day in AI 85/110

Another Crazy Day in AI: Writing help at hand

Oct 28, 2024
3 min read

Hello, AI Enthusiasts.

We hope you had a refreshing weekend! Now that Monday is coming to a close, let’s check out the latest happenings in the AI world.

Gmail’s 'Help me write' feature, powered by Gemini AI, is expanding to the web after its successful mobile launch, assisting users with everything from quick messages to professional correspondence. ✉️

Plus, learn to prompt like a pro with Google’s new five-step course. And check out how xAI, Elon Musk’s AI company, has enhanced its chatbot Grok with image understanding.

Here’s to a productive and enlightening week ahead! ✨

Here's another crazy day in AI:

Gmail expands AI features to assist with email writing on the web
Learn to prompt like a pro 5 steps with Google’s new course
xAI’s Grok adds visual understanding for X users
Some AI tools to try out

TODAY'S FEATURED ITEM: Gmail's Writing Assistant Goes Web

Image Credit: Wowza (created with Ideogram)

How many times have you stared at a blank email, trying to find the right words?

After successfully launching on mobile, Gmail's "Help me write" feature is now making its way to the web version. Emma Roth from The Verge reports on this Gemini AI-powered addition that aims to assist users with email composition, whether you're crafting a quick response or a detailed business message.

With Gemini AI powering it, “Help me write” allows Google One AI Premium subscribers and Workspace users with the Gemini add-on to draft and refine emails effortlessly. Whether you’re starting from scratch or polishing a draft, this feature provides quick editing support that can help you tailor emails to fit various tones and lengths.

What's coming to your Inbox:

AI-assisted drafting and editing: Generate, polish, or refine emails with ease, right within Gmail.
Tone adjustments: Options to formalize, elaborate, or shorten content depending on the context.
“Polish” shortcut on the web: In drafts with over 12 words, users can now refine content quickly with a click or by pressing Ctrl + H.
Refined mobile experience: The “polish” function on mobile now replaces “Refine my draft,” offering an automatic refinement when you swipe.

Writing emails has always been about finding the right balance - professional yet personable, clear yet concise. While AI assistance can help streamline this process, the essence of good communication still relies on human judgment and understanding of context. This feature isn’t just about drafting faster; it’s about adding flexibility to communication. You decide whether you need a concise update or a polished, professional email.

As email continues to be our primary method of professional communication, tools like these reflect how technology can support our daily tasks. However, it's worth remembering that the most impactful emails often come from genuine human insight and understanding - something no AI can fully replicate. Whether this feature becomes part of your regular workflow will likely depend on your writing habits and how you prefer to craft your messages.

Read the full article here.

Check out Google Workspace Updates here.

OTHER INTERESTING AI HIGHLIGHTS:

Learn to Prompt Like a Pro 5 Steps with Google’s New Course

/Lisa Gevelber, VP of Grow with Google

Google’s new course, Prompting Essentials, guides users on maximizing AI’s potential with five clear steps, requiring no prior experience. Designed by AI experts, the course equips learners with techniques to adapt AI prompts for real-world tasks, from summarizing documents to analyzing data. Participants will also gain a reusable prompt library and receive a certificate upon completion, enhancing their skills for everyday and professional applications. Published by Google.

Read more here.

xAI’s Grok Adds Visual Understanding for X Users

/Ivan Mehta, TechCrunch

Elon Musk's AI company, xAI, has added image understanding to its chatbot, Grok, allowing users on X to upload images and ask related questions. Musk announced this new capability, hinting at rapid improvements. Initially released with text and image generation abilities, Grok is evolving quickly, with upcoming updates aimed at document comprehension. This expansion is part of X’s goal to add valuable features for its Premium+ subscribers. Published by TechCrunch.

Read more here.

SOME AI TOOLS TO TRY OUT:

PreCog - Smartly selects the best AI model to answer your questions.
Moonbeam - AI-powered tool for crafting essays, stories, articles, blogs, and more.
Loomos - Instantly convert screen recordings into polished videos, editing transcripts and enhancing engagement. Here's an example result.

That’s a wrap on today’s Almost Daily craziness.

Catch us almost every day—almost! 😉

EXCITING NEWS:

The Another Crazy Day in AI newsletter is now on LinkedIn!!!

Leveraging AI for Enhanced Content: As part of our commitment to exploring new technologies, we used AI to help curate and refine our newsletters. This enriches our content and keeps us at the forefront of digital innovation, ensuring you stay informed with the latest trends and developments.

Another Crazy Day in AI: Customizable Podcast

Oct 25, 2024
4 min read

Hello, AI Enthusiasts.

It's Friday night! 🌙 How has the week wrapped up for you?

Before diving into your weekend plans, check out Roger Dooley’s exploration of Google’s updated NotebookLM platform. The newest feature is customization: users can now guide their AI podcasts to focus on specific topics or perspectives, making it a much more targeted tool than before. 🎙️

Also: Apple has introduced a beta version of its latest AI tools, featuring a much-anticipated ChatGPT integration. Plus, keep an eye out for OpenAI’s next major model, Orion, slated for a December launch, with initial access likely restricted to chosen business partners.

Enjoy your weekend! ✨

Here's another crazy day in AI:

NotebookLM now lets you customize your generated podcast
Apple’s AI preview brings ChatGPT to Siri
OpenAI new AI model could arrive by year-end
Some AI tools to try out

TODAY'S FEATURED ITEM: Get Personal with Google’s NotebookLM

Image Credit: Wowza (created with Ideogram)

Have you ever wanted a podcast made just for you?

Speaker and author Roger Dooley’s recent Forbes article dives into Google’s upgraded AI tool, NotebookLM, which allows users to create personalized “Audio Overviews”—essentially, podcasts made from any content they choose to upload. Unlike other AI models that generate responses from vast, generalized data, NotebookLM only works with the information you give it, so the content stays highly specific to your interests. With recent updates, users can now control the podcast’s focus, guiding the AI hosts to highlight topics that matter most to them.

Highlights from the article:

Content Customization – NotebookLM lets users upload various content types, such as books, articles, and videos, to a “notebook” that informs each podcast.
Natural AI Hosts – The AI “hosts” engage in lifelike conversations, complete with natural pauses and conversational quirks.
New Focus Options – Users can now adjust the content’s focus, directing the AI to discuss certain themes or address specific audiences.
Testing the Tool – Dooley’s trials with his books show how NotebookLM adjusts based on the input focus, from consumer advice to marketing strategies.

Dooley’s experiences reveal just how flexible NotebookLM’s custom podcasts can be. For example, he uploaded his book Brainfluence and tailored the AI discussion to center on pricing psychology, producing a longer, in-depth podcast for a marketing-savvy audience. When he tried a broader approach, the AI shifted its focus to consumer protection, highlighting how marketing strategies can influence buying habits. These examples show the platform’s capacity to shift perspective based on user needs, whether for educating consumers or engaging industry professionals.

The implications here are intriguing. NotebookLM’s Audio Overviews may still have room to grow—length customization isn’t fully precise yet—but the ability to target specific content for specific audiences could have wide applications. Picture a podcast distilled from key industry reports, turned into digestible insights for busy executives, or educational content tailored to student needs. As Google continues to refine NotebookLM, it could become a highly practical tool for bringing curated, audience-specific content to life in ways that suit different learning and listening preferences.

Read the full article here.

OTHER INTERESTING AI HIGHLIGHTS:

Apple’s AI Preview Brings ChatGPT to Siri

/Kif Leswing, CNBC

Apple has introduced a beta version of its latest AI-powered tools, including a much-anticipated ChatGPT integration. These new features, part of the upcoming iOS 18.2 release, are exclusive to Apple’s latest devices, potentially prompting iPhone users to upgrade. Key tools previewed include AI-based text rewriting, image generation with Genmoji, object removal with Image Wand, and Visual Intelligence, which can identify and translate text in real time. ChatGPT’s integration will allow Siri to hand off complex queries to OpenAI’s chatbot, giving users an option for more sophisticated AI assistance.

Read more here.

OpenAI New AI Model Could Arrive by Year-End

/Kylie Robison and Tom Warren, The Verge

OpenAI’s next major model, codenamed Orion, is expected to launch by December, though initial access will likely be limited to selected business partners. Positioned as the successor to GPT-4, Orion is rumored to be substantially more powerful and may mark a step towards artificial general intelligence (AGI). Speculations suggest that Orion could arrive on Microsoft Azure in November, marking a key development milestone as OpenAI leverages its latest funding to push the boundaries of AI capability.

Read more here.

Source: Screenshot by Tom Warren / The Verge

SOME AI TOOLS TO TRY OUT:

Antispace - Turns ideas into action by dissecting problems and finding solutions.
PodLM - Convert any content into high-quality podcasts effortlessly with AI.
Smashing - Curated articles offering multiple perspectives on topics you love.

That’s a wrap on today’s Almost Daily craziness.

Catch us almost every day—almost! 😉

EXCITING NEWS:

The Another Crazy Day in AI newsletter is now on LinkedIn!!!

Another Crazy Day in AI: Photos, Reimagined

Oct 24, 2024
4 min read

Hello, AI Enthusiasts.

It’s Thursday night, and the weekend is just within reach! 🎉

Midjourney, the well-known AI image generator, is evolving with a brand-new AI-powered image editor that’s sure to push creativity even further.

Plus, Google Photos is adding a feature to clearly indicate when AI-driven edits have been applied, offering greater transparency to users. On top of that, new research reveals that AI needs 200 to 600 images to replicate an artist’s style, such as Van Gogh’s masterpieces.

Enjoy these updates as we gear up for the weekend! 🌙

Here's another crazy day in AI:

Midjourney's new image editor transforms sketches into art
Google Photos adds AI edit transparency
AI needs 200-600 images to copy artistic styles
Some AI tools to try out

TODAY'S FEATURED ITEM: Midjourney’s New AI Image Editing Feature

Image Credit: Midjourney Year One book

What if you could transform a simple sketch into a work of art within seconds?

Midjourney, the AI image generation platform known for pushing creative boundaries, has introduced an exciting new feature: AI-powered image editing. Carl Franzen, Executive Editor at VentureBeat, explores this tool in his latest article, breaking down how users can now edit and reimagine their own images using Midjourney’s capabilities. Whether it’s refining a hand-drawn doodle or altering a photo, Midjourney’s editor is designed to give users more control over the final look of their creations, all while keeping the process simple and intuitive.

Some key features of the new editor include:

Users can now upload an image and modify specific sections, such as erasing or adding new details using AI.
It works with various image types, including photos, drawings, and even scribbles.
The editor includes a “Retexture” feature that allows users to change the style of an image while preserving its structure.
It’s available to select users who meet criteria, including those who have generated over 10,000 images or have a long-term subscription.
The tool is part of Midjourney’s latest model, 6.1, and can be accessed via its alpha web interface.

This new editor opens up creative possibilities for both artists and non-artists alike. It’s designed to help people bring their ideas to life more quickly, without needing to master complex software or processes. While experienced designers may appreciate how it helps streamline their workflow, it also offers newcomers an approachable way to explore digital creativity. Instead of spending hours refining an image, users can now experiment with AI to get results in just a few minutes. The tool encourages a more playful, iterative approach to art-making—perfect for those who love to tinker and try out new things.

Still, it’s important to keep expectations realistic. While the tool allows for a lot of creative freedom, AI is not always predictable. Sometimes it may require multiple attempts to get the desired effect, especially with more intricate edits. And for now, not everyone will have access to these features, as they’re being rolled out in phases to select users.

All in all, Midjourney’s image editor represents a meaningful step forward for AI-driven creativity. It provides a glimpse into how these tools can help people express their ideas more efficiently, while still allowing room for experimentation and refinement. For those already familiar with Midjourney’s capabilities, this editor adds another layer of customization. And for those new to AI-powered image generation, it offers an accessible way to dive in and explore what’s possible. As this tool continues to develop, it will be interesting to see how it evolves and how it impacts the broader creative landscape.

Read the full article here.

Read Midjourney's announcement here.

OTHER INTERESTING AI HIGHLIGHTS:

Google Photos Adds AI Edit Transparency

/John Fisher, Engineering Director, Google Photos and Google One

Google Photos is enhancing transparency around AI-driven photo edits. With tools like Magic Editor and Magic Eraser, users will now be able to see clear indicators when AI edits have been applied. Starting next week, the Photos app will display this information alongside file names, location details, and other metadata, ensuring users can easily identify when AI tools have influenced their images.

Read more here.

AI Needs 200-600 Images to Copy Artistic Styles

/Featured in a post by AI Engineer, Rohan Paul (@rohanpaul_ai) on X

A recent paper reveals that AI models need between 200 to 600 images to successfully mimic an artist's style, such as Van Gogh's. The research introduces MIMETIC2, a tool that measures AI's imitation ability without expensive retraining. By analyzing image datasets and identifying aliases, the study sheds light on how many images are needed for AI to accurately replicate artistic concepts, with results validated by human perception.

Read more here. Read the full paper here.

Paul's generated podcast using Google's Illuminate.

SOME AI TOOLS TO TRY OUT:

COACH by CareerVillage - Career coaching for students and job seekers, built by experts.
Text Blaze - Chrome extension for faster typing with text snippets and templates.
Averi - AI Marketing Manager for strategy, content, and team building.

That’s a wrap on today’s Almost Daily craziness.

Catch us almost every day—almost! 😉

EXCITING NEWS:

The Another Crazy Day in AI newsletter is now on LinkedIn!!!