Another Crazy Day in AI: When machines speak for us

Hello, AI Enthusiasts.

Good evening! After a packed Tuesday, we’ve lined up some captivating AI content for you. Imagine cloning your voice and setting an AI version of yourself loose on the world—well, one journalist did just that, and it’s all in this thrilling podcast. Definitely one to check out!

And we’re also covering some exciting AI innovations that might soon change the way we work and communicate. Ready to dive in?

Here's another crazy day in AI:

• When your voice takes on a life of its own

• Google Meet's new note-taking AI

• Apple's first AI-driven iPhone set to debut

• Some AI tools to try out

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TODAY'S FEATURED ITEM: The Digital Doppelganger Experiment

Image Credit: Shell Game's logo + Canva stock photos and magic expand

Have you ever wondered what would happen if an AI version of yourself was set loose in the world?

In the first episode of the podcast Shell Game, journalist Evan Ratliff takes us on a wild ride through the world of AI voice cloning. He creates a digital copy of his own voice, hooks it up to an AI chatbot, and basically creates a virtual Evan. Then, he lets this AI version of himself loose to interact with everyone from customer service reps to scammers, and even his own family. It's like a bizarre social experiment meets tech adventure.

Listen to the Podcast via Apple Podcast

Key takeaways from Ratliff's journey:

1. Voice cloning technology has made significant strides, producing synthetic voices that can often pass for human.

2. AI-driven voice agents can now conduct independent phone conversations, raising questions about the future of communication.

3. The technology presents complex ethical dilemmas surrounding identity, deception, and human-AI interaction.

4. Voice cloning is poised for widespread adoption in customer service and sales, but also opens up new avenues for potential misuse.

5. The rise of synthetic voices may reshape our trust in and perception of the voices we encounter daily.

6. Despite impressive capabilities, current AI voice technology still has noticeable limitations.

Ratliff's journey through this new frontier serves as both a warning and a call to action. It challenges us to think critically about the role of AI in our lives and to actively shape the future we want to see. As we stand on the brink of this new era, "Shell Game" reminds us that the choices we make today about how we develop and use these technologies will have lasting implications for generations to come.

As this technology evolves, so too must our understanding of identity, communication, and what it truly means to be human in an increasingly digital world. The voice of our future is being synthesized today – it's up to us to decide what it will say.

Listen to the podcast here.

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OTHER INTERESTING AI HIGHLIGHTS:

Google Meet's new note-taking AI

/Joanna Nelius, The Verge

Google Workspace customers can now use Google Meet’s AI-powered note-taking feature, which summarizes meeting discussions and automatically saves notes in a Google Doc. While currently only supporting spoken English, this tool offers a handy way to catch up on missed meetings or stay focused without worrying about taking notes. However, concerns about its accuracy remain, given the mixed performance of Google Meet’s transcription tool.

Read more here.

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Apple's first AI-driven iPhone set to debut

/Ramishah Maruf, CNN

Apple’s upcoming September event is expected to unveil the iPhone 16, which will be the first iPhone designed with generative AI at its core. While AI features like Genmoji and an enhanced Siri have already been teased, the new device could mark a significant shift in how AI is integrated into smartphones. Despite high expectations, analysts predict that the full rollout of these AI capabilities will be gradual, extending into 2025.

Read more here.

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SOME AI TOOLS TO TRY OUT:

• Mixpeek: extract key data from any file instantly

• Theysaid: turn surveys into real-time, AI-driven conversations

• Sider: interact with on-screen content using AI with just a double-tap on iOS

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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: Exploring the voice cloning technology

Hello, AI Enthusiasts.

Good evening! Wind down your Tuesday with some AI reads that might spark your curiosity before you call it a night.

Hope you find it engaging.

Here's another crazy day in AI:

• How AI is breaking the language barrier with AI voice tech

• The future of teaching: AI-driven lesson plans and assessment

• AI tongue scanner: new diagnostic tool with 96% accuracy

• Some AI tools to try out

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TODAY'S FEATURED ITEM: A deep dive into voice cloning technology

Image Credit: Jelena Kostic/Unsplash

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to hear your own voice speak a language you don't know?

Lisa Lacy, Lead AI Writer at CNET, recently explored this intriguing possibility in her article about ElevenLabs, an AI audio startup. Lacy's piece delves into her personal experience of cloning her voice using AI technology and examines the broader implications of this advancement in audio AI.

Here's what stood out:

• Core Technology: ElevenLabs is making waves with its voice cloning and AI dubbing services, creating eerily realistic voice replicas.

• Language Capabilities: The tech isn't just about mimicry - it can translate your voice into 32 different languages while keeping your unique tone and emotion intact.

• User Experience: Want to clone your voice? You'll need to record at least a minute of speech and sign up for a paid plan.

• AI Performance: The AI-generated voices are impressively similar to the originals, though they might sound a tad more confident or speak a bit slower.

• Industry Applications: This technology is finding its way into audiobooks, voiceovers, and even conversational AI agents.

• Entertainment Sector: In an interesting twist, ElevenLabs has partnered with the estates of famous actors to bring their voices to life in its Reader app.

• Medical Applications: There's a heartwarming application too - helping patients with degenerative diseases maintain their ability to communicate in their own voice.

• Business Growth: The startup's potential hasn't gone unnoticed - they recently secured a hefty $80 million in Series B funding to push their audio AI capabilities further.

With ElevenLabs leading the charge in audio AI, we're witnessing the dawn of a new era in voice technology. The potential applications seem limitless, but so do the ethical considerations.

The ability to clone one’s voice opens up a world of opportunities, from enhancing personal creativity to improving accessibility for those who have lost their ability to speak. However, it also challenges us to think critically about how we use such technology and the implications it may have on privacy and identity.

The question remains: how will this technology reshape our digital interactions and communication landscape?

Read more here.

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OTHER INTERESTING AI HIGHLIGHTS:

The future of teaching: AI-driven lesson plans and assessment

/Meenu Sethi on eSchool News

AI is revolutionizing education by helping teachers streamline lesson planning, create engaging multimedia content, and personalize assessments. Tools like MagicSchool.ai and ChatGPT allow educators to craft tailored lessons, quizzes, and provide personalized feedback, offering greater customization and efficiency in the classroom.

Read more here.

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AI tongue scanner: new diagnostic tool with 96% accuracy

/Andrew Paul on Popular Science

Inspired by traditional Chinese medicine, a new AI-powered tongue scanner is capable of diagnosing a range of illnesses with impressive accuracy. This cutting-edge technology analyzes tongue color, shape, and thickness to detect conditions like diabetes, cancer, and even COVID-19.

Read more here.

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SOME AI TOOLS TO TRY OUT:

• Mindsmith: create interactive eLearning content fast with AI-driven tools and templates

• Jupitrr: generate b-roll visuals instantly for your marketing videos

• Spreadsite: transform spreadsheets into interactive dashboards with AI, no coding needed

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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: The most promising generative AI use cases in business

Hello, AI Enthusiasts.

The weekend is just around the corner, and we’re here to help you make it there with some captivating reads.

Dive into today’s newsletter and find something to inspire your evening.

Here's another crazy day in AI:

• Gen AI means business: 7 real-world applications

• Canva expands with Leonardo AI

• Comparing Siri and ChatGPT Voice

• Some AI tools to try out

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TODAY'S FEATURED ITEM: The most promising GenAI use cases in business

Image credit: charlesdeluvio / Unsplash

Ever catch yourself wondering how businesses are actually putting generative AI to work?

It's not just hype - some companies are finding real value in this technology.

In a recent article for CIO, Senior Writer Grant Gross explores how companies are putting generative AI to work in meaningful ways. While many companies are still figuring out how to effectively implement this technology, some clear frontrunners are emerging in terms of practical applications.

Let's break down the most promising use cases:

1. Advanced Chatbots: Modern gen AI chatbots provide more natural-sounding interactions and efficiently handle customer service tasks, as seen with companies like Bolt and Deutsche Telekom.

2. Digital Assistants: Tools from Microsoft and Google streamline tasks such as document creation, email summarization, and supply chain management.

3. Coding Assistants: Gen AI helps programmers by generating code and keeping them focused, particularly benefiting web development projects.

4. Marketing Support: AI enhances content creation, market analysis, and personalized marketing, improving efficiency and insights.

5. Drug Discovery: AI accelerates the modeling of molecules and prediction of drug interactions, promising faster development of new medications.

6. Cybersecurity and Fraud Detection: AI strengthens cybersecurity measures and predicts fraudulent activities by analyzing user behavior patterns.

7. Business Process Augmentation: AI improves workflows in industries like finance, insurance, and legal services, enhancing efficiency and decision-making.

As we've seen, generative AI isn't just a futuristic concept – it's already making waves across industries. But here's the million-dollar question: What does this mean for you and your business?

Think of gen AI as a powerful new tool in your business toolkit. Like any tool, its value lies in how you use it. Some companies are already sprinting ahead, using AI to supercharge their operations and outpace competitors. Others are still cautiously dipping their toes in the water. Where do you stand?

Read the full article here.

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OTHER INTERESTING AI HIGHLIGHTS:

Canva expands with Leonardo AI

/Ben Wodecki, Jr. Editor on AI Business

Design application Canva announced plans to acquire the image generator and AI creative platform Leonardo AI. Canva plans to integrate Leonardo's Phoenix model into its Magic Media tool, enhancing AI image and video generation capabilities. Leonardo will continue to operate independently, building on its existing products while ensuring no user content is shared without opt-in. This acquisition follows Canva's purchase of the creative design platform Affinity in March.

Read more here.

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Comparing Siri and ChatGPT Voice

/Ethan Mollick, One Useful Thing

Ethan Mollick discusses his experiences with ChatGPT's new Advanced Voice mode and the new AI-powered Siri. While Siri remains a privacy-focused Copilot, using a small AI model on-device, ChatGPT Voice offers a more powerful and interactive experience, demonstrating the divide between narrow, specialized AIs and more general, multimodal systems. This comparison highlights different philosophies in AI development, with implications for future AI interactions.

Read more here.

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SOME AI TOOLS TO TRY OUT:

• MaxAI.me: instantly compose, improve, summarize, translate, and reply to text with one click

• Extruct: automate company research with AI for real-time data and customizable workflows

• Toby: real-time speech translation for video calls across multiple languages and platforms

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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.