Another Crazy Day in AI: Choosing the right chatbot in 2024

Hello, AI Enthusiasts.

It’s Friday night, and we’ve got a treat for you! 🌟 As you wind down from the workweek, take a moment to explore our newsletter featuring a journalist’s review of the top AI chatbots for 2024.

Get the scoop on their best features, pros and cons, costs, and insights into their large language models (LLMs). Plus, enjoy some thought-provoking AI insights to ponder over the weekend. 🌙

Here's another crazy day in AI:

• Find the perfect AI chatbot for you: a 2024 roundup

• 3 must-know tips to strengthen AI security practices

• MIT CSAIL researchers developed an AI system that manages team coordination

• Some AI tools to try out

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TODAY'S FEATURED ITEM: Comprehensive guide to the best AI chatbots

Image Credit: Wowza (made with Ideogram 2.0) / Prompt: "Person holding a phone, with the screen centered and enlarged. The screen displays a big 'AI CHATBOT' at the top and 'WOWZA' in the middle."

Are you maximizing the potential of AI chatbots in your daily tasks, or is there a better tool out there waiting for you?

AI chatbots have become integral tools for both professional and personal tasks. With so many options out there, it can be challenging to figure out which one best suits your needs. Sabrina Ortiz, an editor at ZDNET, has done the heavy lifting by testing numerous AI chatbots over the past 18 months.

The article covers the top AI chatbots on the market, each with their own unique strengths and capabilities. Whether you're looking to boost your productivity, streamline your writing process, or just have an engaging back-and-forth with a knowledgeable AI companion, there's an option here that's sure to fit the bill.

Here's the full rundown of Sabrina's top AI chatbot picks:

• ChatGPT - The best AI chatbot overall, with mind-blowing skills in writing, STEM subjects, and natural conversation.

  • Pros: Writing skills, STEM knowledge, Conversational

  • Cons: Limits to GPT-4o, Boots free users down to GPT-4o-mini when at capacity

• Microsoft Copilot - An excellent ChatGPT alternative, with internet access, source attribution, and the same powerful GPT-4 Turbo language model.

  • Pros: Access to the internet, Links back to sources, Uses OpenAI's LLM Cons: Grounded in Bing, Not as strong as ChatGPT

• Anthropic's Claude - Stands out for its strong conversational abilities, allowing for back-and-forth exchanges.

  • Pros: Upload document support, Chat controls, Light and dark mode

  • Cons: Unclear usage cap, Knowledge cutoff

• Perplexity.ai - The top pick for search-focused tasks, with internet access and a user-friendly interface.

  • Pros: Links to sources, Access to internet, Simple UI

  • Cons: Paid subscription required for GPT-4 access, Some irrelevant suggestions

• Jasper - The best option for businesses and marketers who need AI-generated content and writing assistance.

  • Pros: 50 different writing templates, Copyediting features, Plagiarism checker

  • Cons: Need a subscription to try, Steep cost

• You.com - Allows users to test and compare different language models in one convenient place.

  • Pros: Readily available, Free, Source Citing

  • Cons: Some answers stronger than others, Subscription required for GPT-4 access

• Chatsonic by Writesonic - Tailored for article writers, with features like SEO optimization and plagiarism checking.

  • Pros: Up-to-date, Variety of use cases, Free trial

  • Cons: Need to sign in, A bit of a lag

• Gemini (formerly Google Bard) - A great choice for those in the Google ecosystem, with integration across Google services.

  • Pros: Free, Access to Google, Good text editing skills

  • Cons: No sources, Can't help much with code

• Socratic by Google - The recommended chatbot for students and kids, with an educational focus.

  • Pros: Free, Educational, Easy to use

  • Cons: Doesn't write text

• HuggingChat - An open-source option for those who want to build and customize their own chatbot.

  • Pros: Clean, ChatGPT-inspired interface, Entirely customizable, Great for developers or AI fanatics

  • Cons: Intermediate/advanced skills needed, Have to create an account

Now, we know what you might be thinking - with so many choices, how do I even begin to decide?

As you review Sabrina's top picks, keep in mind that the "best" chatbot is the one that aligns closest with your unique needs and workflows. Take the time to thoughtfully assess your goals and experiment with a few different options. Don't be afraid to try something new - the perfect AI assistant is out there, just waiting to unlock your full potential and transform how you approach your daily tasks.

This isn't about finding the "one-size-fits-all" solution. It's about selecting the tool that seamlessly integrates into your routine and empowers you to work smarter, not harder. Approach this process with an open mind and a willingness to explore.

Read the full overview of the leading AI chatbots in 2024 here.

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OTHER INTERESTING AI HIGHLIGHTS:

3 must-know tips to strengthen AI security practices

/Anton Chuvakin on Cybersecurity Dive

Anton Chuvakin from Google Cloud outlines three essential strategies to secure AI systems. He emphasizes the importance of adapting existing risk frameworks to AI, enhancing technical controls to protect AI infrastructure, and expanding cybersecurity strategies to address AI-specific threats like data poisoning. By combining human oversight with strong technical measures, organizations can better safeguard their AI deployments.

Read more here.

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MIT CSAIL researchers developed an AI system that manages team coordination

/Alex Shipps, MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL)

MIT's CSAIL developed an AI assistant that enhances teamwork by aligning actions and beliefs among team members, which is crucial in high-pressure environments like rescue missions or surgery. The AI uses a "theory of mind" model to predict and correct misalignments in understanding, ensuring efficient and coordinated efforts across teams. This technology could also improve collaboration in areas like video gaming.

Read more here.

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SOME AI TOOLS TO TRY OUT:

• Google AI Studio: get prompt ideas for working with the latest Gemini models

• Hexus: quickly create interactive product demos, videos, and guides

• BiRead: instantly translate website content into bilingual text with one click

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

Catch us almost every day—almost! 😉

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: New contender in creative technology

Hello, AI Enthusiasts.

It’s Thursday night, and the weekend is almost in sight! To help you relax, we’ve got some fresh AI updates.

We tried out a new image generator and put it side-by-side with some of the known tools. Also, check out our latest reads to stay updated with what’s new in the AI world.

Hope you find it all interesting!

Here's another crazy day in AI:

• Can Ideogram 2.0 dethrone the AI image kings?

• Perplexity AI plans to introduce ads by year-end

• Google's controversial newsroom funding deal

• Some AI tools to try out

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TODAY'S FEATURED ITEM: How Ideogram 2.0 is shaking up AI art

Image Credit: Wowza (made with Ideogram 2.0) / Prompt: A realistic kitchen scene with a chalkboard in the center displaying 'Wowza tries Ideogram 2.0.' The chef should be in the background, engaged in cooking or preparing food. Add a note on the refrigerator saying 'A new player in digital creativity.'

Is Ideogram 2.0 the next big thing in AI image generation, or just another player in a crowded field?

Ideogram, a pioneering AI company founded by former Google employees, has just unveiled Ideogram 2.0, their latest text-to-image AI model. Announced on August 20, 2024, this update aims to challenge industry leaders like Flux and Midjourney by offering improved realism, faster processing, and a host of new features. In an article for Decrypt, Jose Antonio Lanz provides an insightful exploration of this significant development in the rapidly evolving field of generative AI.

Here's the lowdown on what makes Ideogram 2.0 tick:

• Ideogram 2.0 offers five different presets: realism, drawing, 3D, anime, and general purpose

• The model claims to outperform competitors in image-text alignment, subjective preference, and text rendering accuracy

• New features include an iOS app and API for developers

• The "Realistic" style produces lifelike images with enhanced textures and human features

• A color palette option gives users more control over aesthetics and composition

• Free version allows 20 images per day, with paid plans starting at $8/month

• Ideogram's natural language processing enables intuitive prompting, similar to ChatGPT with DALL-E 3

• Initial user reactions have been largely positive, particularly for the "Realism" preset

We’ve put Ideogram 2.0 to the test alongside Midjourney 6.1, Flux Schnell, and Grok-2. Check out the collage of images generated by each model to see how their distinctive features and styles stack up against one another.

Images generated by Wowza using Ideogram 2.0, Midjourney 6.1, Flux Schnell, and Grok-2

With Ideogram 2.0, the world of AI image generation is seeing another strong contender enter the fray. It’s not just about the bells and whistles; it’s about offering something that genuinely adds value for creators. Whether or not it will unseat the established leaders remains to be seen, but it’s clear that Ideogram 2.0 is pushing the conversation forward. As with any new tool, the best way to judge its impact is to see what creators do with it.

The potential is there—now it’s up to the community to explore and decide if it lives up to the hype.

Read the article here.

Try Ideogram 2.0 here.

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OTHER INTERESTING AI HIGHLIGHTS:

Perplexity AI plans to introduce ads by year-end

/Published on Yahoo Finance-News, originally by Reuters

Perplexity AI, backed by Nvidia and Jeff Bezos, is preparing to introduce advertising on its AI-powered search platform by the fourth quarter of 2024. This announcement follows the launch of a new program where Perplexity AI partners with major publishers like TIME, Der Spiegel, and Fortune, sharing revenue from content interactions. As AI continues to reshape the search engine landscape, with companies like Microsoft and Google incorporating AI into their platforms, Perplexity AI’s move signals its ambitions to compete in this evolving industry. The startup recently raised $62.7 million, doubling its valuation to over $1 billion, and is seen as a rising contender in the AI-powered search space.

Read more here.

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Google's controversial newsroom funding deal

/Tyler Katzenberger, Jeremy B. White, Lara Korte on POLITICO

Google has reached a landmark agreement with California lawmakers to fund local newsrooms, marking the first such deal in the United States. The $180 million initiative includes a controversial element: a significant portion of the funding is earmarked for developing AI tools, sparking concerns among journalists who fear that AI could eventually replace their jobs. Despite the promise of financial support, the deal has been met with widespread criticism. Many see it as insufficient, with some lawmakers and journalists arguing that it allows Google to maintain its dominance over the media industry. The deal, brokered by Assemblymember Buffy Wicks, also faced backlash for the perceived imbalance of power in negotiations, with critics accusing Google of leveraging its influence to secure favorable terms.

Read more here.

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SOME AI TOOLS TO TRY OUT:

• Spinach AI: AI project manager that automates meeting notes, action items, and project board updates

• SimplyPut: AI-powered platform that lets you ask data questions in plain language and get instant answers, no coding needed

• D-ID Video: Automatically translates videos into multiple languages, cloning voices and syncing lip movements

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

Catch us almost every day—almost! 😉

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: Midjourney offers free trials

Hello, AI Enthusiasts.

We’re halfway through the week, and it's a great time to catch up on AI!

Settle in for an evening of discovering the latest advancements and news in artificial intelligence.

Here's another crazy day in AI:

• Midjourney's website now open to all: get 25 free image generations

• Master Generative AI with DeepLearning.AI's Founder

• Tech Giants push back on California's AI bill

• Some AI tools to try out

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TODAY'S FEATURED ITEM: Midjourney launches public web access

Image Credit: Wowza (made with Midjourney) / Prompt: Photograph of a man on the moon painting on a laptop, lunar landscape in the background, astronaut suit with art supplies scattered around

What new ideas could you bring to life with 25 free AI-generated images?

Midjourney, the renowned AI image generation service, has just taken a significant step forward by opening its website to all users, including a generous free trial for newcomers.

VentureBeat's Executive Editor, Carl Franzen, delves into this development, highlighting how Midjourney is now offering 25 free image generations to new users. Previously, access was limited to Discord and an exclusive "alpha" website, but now anyone can easily dive into the world of AI image creation.

Here's what you can expect:

• Open Access: Midjourney's website is now available to all users, offering 25 free image generations.

• User-Friendly Sign-Up: New users can register via Google or Discord, simplifying the onboarding process.

• Image Creation Features: Users can generate images in sets of four by entering text prompts, with adjustable settings for aspect ratio, stylization, weirdness, and variety.

• Organizational Tools: The platform includes features to organize previously generated images and engage with other users through a chat function.

• Account Management: Existing users can log in using their Discord accounts to maintain their image history and can merge accounts for added flexibility.

Now, as Midjourney faces growing competition from other image generators like Elon Musk's xAI and Ideogram 2, along with legal challenges from artists, this open-access approach is a game-changer.

So, what are you waiting for? The only way to find out is to give it a try yourself. Dive in, let your imagination run wild, and unlock your true artistic potential with Midjourney's new web platform.

Read the full article here.

Watch Midjourney's Video on X here.

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OTHER INTERESTING AI HIGHLIGHTS:

Master Generative AI with DeepLearning.AI's Founder

/DeepLearning.AI

Andrew Ng's new course, "Generative AI for Everyone," offers a comprehensive introduction to generative AI. Designed for both beginners and professionals, this course covers how generative AI works, its applications in business, and its societal impact. With hands-on exercises, learners will get to experiment with AI tools and develop strategies for effectively incorporating AI into their work and life.

Check it out here.

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Tech Giants push back on California's AI bill

/Greg Bensinger on Reuters

This article explores the controversial California AI bill, SB 1047, which aims to regulate AI development. While some tech giants like Google and Meta advocate for AI regulation, they oppose this bill due to concerns about its impact on innovation and open-source models. The article delves into the bill's provisions, the reactions from lawmakers and tech leaders, and the ongoing debate about how best to manage AI's risks without stifling progress.

Read more here.

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SOME AI TOOLS TO TRY OUT:

• Midjourney 6.1: latest version of the leading AI image generation platform

• STORI: personalizes marketing strategies for branding, content, and social media

• mood2music: suggests songs and playlists based on your mood

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

Catch us almost every day—almost! 😉

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.