ai | Wowza 2/22

Another Crazy Day in AI: When routine tasks run themselves

Oct 22, 2024
4 min read

Hello, AI Enthusiasts.

As Tuesday night falls and we wrap up our day, let’s catch up on the latest in AI! 🚀

Microsoft has just introduced new autonomous agents that are designed to streamline business processes and boost efficiency.

In another conversation, two professors are exploring how the integration of AI into platforms like Google and Microsoft is making traditional academic policies obsolete. And don’t miss the news about Elon Musk’s xAI launching its first API.

Here's another crazy day in AI:

Streamline operations with Microsoft’s new AI Agents
Two professors discuss outdated AI policies and jagged integration
Elon Musk’s xAI launches new API for developers
Some AI tools to try out

TODAY'S FEATURED ITEM: Microsoft's New Autonomous Agents

Source: Microsoft

What if your team could achieve more by letting AI handle the routine tasks?

Microsoft's latest announcement introduces a new way for businesses to leverage AI to scale their teams and streamline operations. Jared Spataro, CMO of AI at Work, explains how autonomous agents are poised to change the way companies operate. These AI-driven tools are designed to take over repetitive, time-consuming tasks, allowing teams to focus on higher-level work. From customer service to supply chain management, autonomous agents are helping companies scale without needing to add more people.

The introduction of Copilot Studio and new agents in Dynamics 365 promises to push this even further, making AI a core part of business operations. But how exactly can they make a difference in your organization?

What's happening in the field:

Copilot Studio: Public preview next month will allow companies to create and manage AI-powered agents that automate key business processes.
Real-world examples: Companies like McKinsey, Pets at Home, and Thomson Reuters are already seeing major benefits in efficiency, cost savings, and lead time reduction thanks to these agents.
10 new agents: Microsoft is rolling out new agents specifically designed to support sales, service, finance, and supply chain teams in Dynamics 365.
Security focus: Microsoft emphasizes data governance, security, and privacy for these agents, ensuring businesses have full control over the data they use.

Think of it this way: businesses are discovering what happens when human talent meets intelligent automation. The results are compelling - teams are getting more done without getting burned out. While machines handle repetitive tasks like processing orders and managing schedules, people can focus on work that truly matters - solving complex problems, developing strategies, and building stronger customer relationships.

But there's an important balance to strike. The organizations seeing real success aren't just throwing technology at every problem. They're being thoughtful about it, carefully choosing which tasks to automate while preserving the human elements that make their business unique. It's about using automation as a tool to enhance human capabilities, not replace them.

Looking ahead, each organization will need to find its own sweet spot. While the capabilities of autonomous agents are impressive, their real value comes from how well they fit into existing workflows and complement company culture. After all, the goal isn't to replace human workers - it's to create a workplace where technology handles the mundane tasks while people do what they do best: innovate, build relationships, and make strategic decisions that drive business forward.

Read the full article here.

OTHER INTERESTING AI HIGHLIGHTS:

Two Professors Discuss Outdated AI Policies and Jagged Integration

/Zach Justus and Nik Janos on Inside Higher Ed

In their recent article, Professors Justus and Janos discuss how AI integration into common platforms like Google, Microsoft, and Apple is rendering traditional academic AI policies ineffective. The authors argue that AI is now embedded in everyday tools, making it difficult to enforce existing guidelines. Rather than focusing on restrictive policies, they suggest that educational institutions embrace AI as an unavoidable part of the learning landscape and focus on ongoing conversations about its use.

Read their full opinion here.

Elon Musk’s xAI Launches New API for Developers

/Kyle Wiggers on TechCrunch

Elon Musk’s AI company xAI has launched its first API, offering access to its generative AI model Grok. While still in beta, this API allows users to interact with Grok and leverage its function-calling capabilities. Although facing some challenges, including pricing issues and technical glitches, xAI aims to compete with giants like OpenAI by integrating AI across Musk's companies, including Tesla and SpaceX, to enhance their technology.

Read the full article here.

Watch Alex Finn's full demo here.

SOME AI TOOLS TO TRY OUT:

Focus Buddy - AI co-pilot that manages your to-do list and identifies behavioral patterns.
LLamaLife - Helps complete tasks with estimated finishing times and timers.
Sparkwise - Automate interactive group learning effortlessly.

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: Beyond quick answers

Oct 21, 2024
4 min read

Hello, AI Enthusiasts.

How did your weekend go? Now that we’re back into the week, let’s explore some AI updates.

OpenAI recently hosted a webinar where they introduced their O1 series of reasoning models, detailing how they differ from the GPT series and showcasing their potential applications in strategy, coding, and research.

Plus, you won’t want to miss these 8 insider tips for maximizing your NotebookLM experience. And check out an intriguing paper looking into the potential effects of AI on the integrity of online questionnaires.

Let’s make the most of this week! 🚀

Here's another crazy day in AI:

How OpenAI’s o1 models solve complex problems
8 insider tips for maximizing your NotebookLM experience
PAPER: "Detecting the corruption of online questionnaires by artificial intelligence"
Some AI tools to try out

TODAY'S FEATURED ITEM: AI Models that Think Deeper: OpenAI’s o1 Series

Image Credit: Wowza (edited with Canva; screenshots from the OpenAI webinar)

Have you ever thought about how AI can actually think through complex problems like strategy and coding, instead of just giving quick responses?

OpenAI recently hosted a webinar introducing their o1 series of reasoning models. Hosted by Victoria from OpenAI’s product marketing team and Joe from solutions engineering, the webinar provided an in-depth look at how these models differ from their predecessors in the GPT series. Rather than just responding quickly, the o1 models are built to reason through problems, making them particularly effective for tasks requiring detailed analysis, such as strategic planning, research, and coding.

What you need to know:

o1 models prioritize reasoning over quick responses, leading to more thoughtful and robust answers.
These models reduce the need for multiple prompts, making answers more comprehensive and efficient.
Two models in the series: The o1-preview model is especially suited for strategic ideation and research, while the o1-mini excels at coding and math tasks.
O1 models produce a summary of their chain of thought, allowing users to follow their reasoning process.
Enhanced safety features ensure the models can adhere to security guidelines and prevent jailbreaking attempts
Real-world applications were demonstrated, including market expansion planning and web application development
Future updates will include web browsing, file and image uploading, and automatic model selection based on prompts.

One of the key features that sets the o1 models apart is their ability to reason through tasks in a way that previous models couldn’t. In the webinar, for example, they demonstrated how the model approaches a market expansion problem, working through multiple scenarios, suggesting alternatives, and evaluating risks. The result is a more complete solution that considers multiple angles, which can be incredibly useful for decision-making in business settings. This kind of detailed analysis is a significant departure from simply providing quick, surface-level responses.

At the same time, OpenAI acknowledges that the o1 models are still in the early stages of their development. The team continues to refine these models, with plans to integrate even more features in future updates, including expanded capabilities for research and coding tasks. This commitment to iterative development means that while the o1 series already offers powerful tools for problem-solving, there is still significant room for growth, making these models even more versatile in the future.

Overall, this webinar provides a grounded look at the current capabilities of these models while also highlighting their potential. These models don’t just respond to queries—they engage in deeper reasoning, offering insights that could be transformative for how we approach complex challenges in fields like strategy, research, and engineering. The real value here is in how these tools can evolve alongside the growing needs of businesses, bringing a new level of thoughtfulness and precision to the tasks they’re asked to solve.

Watch the recorded webinar here.

OTHER INTERESTING AI HIGHLIGHTS:

8 insider tips for maximizing your NotebookLM experience

/Molly McHugh-Johnson, The Keyword, Google Blogs

NotebookLM, a new tool from Google, acts as a research assistant designed to help users dive deep into their projects. From organizing sources to synthesizing information, it aids in connecting the dots between documents and creating personalized outputs like study guides or briefings. With up to 50 sources, NotebookLM leverages AI to manage information effectively. Steven Johnson, a member of the development team, offers eight essential tips for beginners to maximize its potential, from experimenting with recent documents to using creative formats like Audio Overviews.

Read the full article here.

PAPER: "Detecting the corruption of online questionnaires by artificial intelligence"

/Featured on Ethan Mollick's LinkedIn post

This paper explores how artificial intelligence (AI) threatens the validity of online research questionnaires. AI-driven responses, often undetectable by automatic systems, are corrupting crowdsourced surveys. While human reviewers achieve a 76% accuracy rate in identifying AI-generated text, this is still insufficient for maintaining data quality. The research highlights the growing concern that, if unchecked, AI could render online surveys ineffective as a research tool, with platforms unable to rely on current detection systems.

Read the paper here.

Check out Mollick's LinkedIn post here.

SOME AI TOOLS TO TRY OUT:

TimeSkip - Instantly create YouTube video chapters with easy-to-copy timestamps.
Contract AI - AI platform for easy contract understanding, analysis, and management.
AI Desk - AI-powered customer support tailored for your website.

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: Claude for iPad—and new features

Oct 18, 2024
4 min read

Hello, AI Enthusiasts.

Cheers to Friday night! 🌙 How has your week been?

Before you dive into your weekend plans, take a look at Anthropic’s latest updates to Claude AI, featuring new enhancements for better accessibility and customization—and a dedicated iPad app! 📱

And there’s more! A recent study from Apple reveals that while large language models (LLMs) excel at pattern recognition, they often struggle with complex reasoning tasks. Plus, be sure to check out Perplexity’s latest additions: Internal Knowledge Search and Spaces.

Enjoy your weekend! ✨

Here's another crazy day in AI:

Claude AI now adapts to you with new features
Apple’s study reveals AI’s flaws in critical thinking
Perplexity unveils powerful knowledge tools for teams
Some AI tools to try out

TODAY'S FEATURED ITEM: Claude AI Now on iPad with Enhanced Features

Image Credit: Wowza (edited with Canva; Claude logo + app for ipad)

What if your AI assistant could adapt to your unique needs, making your daily tasks easier and more efficient?

Anthropic just announced a major update to its Claude AI platform, and this one brings a lot to the table for both iOS and Android users. Amanda Caswell from Tom’s Guide dives into the details, highlighting how these new features can improve productivity and personalization. One of the biggest updates is the introduction of Claude AI's first-ever iPad app, a move that opens new possibilities for users who prefer working on tablets.

But that’s not all. The update also brings improvements to how users interact with Claude AI, including the ability to search past chats and input more specific information, allowing for a more customized and tailored experience. Whether you’re managing personal tasks or juggling professional projects, Claude AI now offers more ways to fit into your workflow.

Here’s what’s new with Claude AI:

Searchable past chats: You can now revisit previous conversations, making it easier to find and reuse important information.
Custom instructions: Users can input specific details, enabling Claude AI to better tailor responses and suggestions to individual needs.
iPad app launch: The new app enhances the user experience, making it easier to work across devices and platforms.
Improved productivity: The new features help users manage multiple projects more efficiently by providing greater flexibility and control.

These updates position Claude AI as a more versatile tool for users who need to manage a variety of tasks, whether in personal or professional settings. The searchable chat history alone is a practical feature for anyone who needs to quickly revisit past instructions or project details, saving time and boosting efficiency. The ability to add custom instructions gives users more control over the AI’s responses, making it a more reliable assistant for tailored tasks, like planning a routine or adapting to specific personal circumstances.

The release of a dedicated iPad app is also a game-changer for many. While Claude AI was previously only available on smartphones or desktops, this new app makes it more accessible to those who rely on tablets for their day-to-day work. It’s a welcome addition, especially for those who prefer the larger screen and increased portability of an iPad over other devices.

In the broader picture, these updates reflect Anthropic’s commitment to making Claude AI an adaptable and accessible tool for its users. While the new features add convenience and flexibility, they’re also part of a larger effort to refine how AI can support people in their daily lives, no matter the task or platform. With more improvements likely to come, Claude AI continues to evolve into a practical assistant for both personal and professional use.

Read the full article here.

Check out Anthropic's announcement here.

OTHER INTERESTING AI HIGHLIGHTS:

Apple’s Study Reveals AI’s Flaws in Critical Thinking

/David Gewirtz, ZDNET

A recent study from Apple reveals that large language models (LLMs) struggle with complex reasoning tasks, even though they excel in pattern recognition. Researchers found that while LLMs can handle simple arithmetic and familiar datasets, accuracy significantly drops as problem complexity increases. Apple's new dataset, GSM-Symbolic, challenges models like OpenAI's GPT-4, showing their limitations in true reasoning—raising caution for businesses relying too heavily on AI for critical decision-making.

Read the full article here.

Read Apple's full paper here.

Perplexity Unveils Powerful Knowledge Tools for Teams

/Perplexity Team

Perplexity introduces two new features: Internal Knowledge Search and Spaces. These tools aim to revolutionize how teams collaborate and access information. Internal Knowledge Search allows users to query internal data sources with the precision of AI, while Spaces create dedicated environments for sharing insights across teams. These innovations are designed to boost productivity by simplifying the retrieval of vital company knowledge and fostering seamless collaboration.