ai | Wowza 9/22

Another Crazy Day in AI: Assets, Costs, Gaps

Sep 6, 2024
4 min read

Hello, AI Enthusiasts.

Cheers to Friday night! 🌙

As you kick off your weekend, check out this edition's featured podcast. It dives into key trends shaping the future of AI in associations, including strategies for leveraging existing assets, the drop in AI token costs, and generational differences in adoption.

Plus, explore TIME’s AI 100 Most Influential List for 2024 to see who made the cut and how they were selected, and discover how Google’s new AI feature enhances photo searches.

Have a fantastic weekend and enjoy these insights! 🎉

Here's another crazy day in AI:

AI Insights: Effective Asset Use, Declining Costs, and Generational Impact
Inside TIME’s AI 100 Most Influential List for 2024
Google launches AI-powered Ask Photos in the US
Some AI tools to try out

TODAY'S FEATURED ITEM: Key AI Aspects: Data, Costs, Generational Insights

Image Credit: Wowza | Canva mockups + Screenshot from Sidecar Sync Podcast Ep. 46

Is your organization ready to tap into AI’s full potential?

In the latest episode of Sidecar Sync, hosts Amith Nagarajan, Chairman of Blue Cypress, and Mallory Mejias, Manager at Sidecar, dive into the transformative power of artificial intelligence in associations. Throughout the episode, Amith and Mallory explore three key areas that will shape the future of AI in associations: leveraging your existing asset base, the rapidly declining costs of AI tokens, and the generational differences in AI adoption. It's a fascinating look at how this cutting-edge technology is becoming more accessible and impactful than ever before.

Important points from the discussion:

Transforming Association Assets:
- Associations can convert their unique data and content into innovative, technology-driven services.
- Example: Creating dynamic, interactive benchmarking reports offering personalized insights.
- This approach can lead to new revenue streams and enhanced member value.
Decreasing Costs of Advanced Computation:
- The cost of processing power for advanced technologies has dropped significantly, making sophisticated tools more accessible.
- This reduction is driven by competition, hardware innovations, and semiconductor advancements.
- Lower costs enable more complex applications across various industries, including associations.
Generational Divide in Technology Adoption:
- Younger professionals are more likely to embrace new technologies in their work.
- Many older workers are hesitant to adopt emerging tools, potentially hindering organizational progress.
- This gap presents challenges for associations implementing new technology strategies and highlights the need for comprehensive training programs.
The Future of Associations:
- Emerging technologies are becoming essential tools, not just passing trends.
- Leaders must prioritize technological literacy to stay competitive.
- Multi-faceted and hybrid approaches are emerging as powerful tools for problem-solving in the association world.

As highlighted in this episode, AI is far more than just a trend—it’s a crucial element for future success. The discussion emphasizes the need for AI literacy and innovative thinking, helping associations stay ahead and provide exceptional value to their members.

In a rapidly evolving technological landscape, effectively leveraging AI can give your organization a significant edge. By exploring AI's potential, associations can open up new revenue streams, improve member engagement, and optimize operations. Understanding and addressing generational differences in AI adoption is also essential for fostering a more inclusive approach to technology.

Reflect on how the insights from this episode can be applied to your organization. With strategic use of AI and a commitment to embracing new technologies, your association can excel in this exciting era of innovation. Embrace the possibilities and make AI a powerful ally in your journey toward growth and excellence.

Catch the podcast on YouTube here.

OTHER INTERESTING AI HIGHLIGHTS:

Inside TIME’s AI 100 Most Influential List for 2024

/Sam Jacobs, Editor in Chief at TIME

TIME’s second edition of the TIME100 AI highlights 100 individuals shaping the future of artificial intelligence. From Sundar Pichai's transformative work at Google to Meredith Whittaker's advocacy for privacy at Signal, the list includes diverse voices and perspectives. With notable additions such as Francesca Mani and Andrew Yao, this year’s selection reflects the rapid evolution of AI and its impact on various industries. The article also touches on the recent upheaval at OpenAI and the growing influence of major tech companies in AI advancements.

The 100 Most Influential People in AI 2024.

Read more here.

Google launches AI-powered Ask Photos in the US

/Sarah Perez, Consumer News Editor at TechCrunch

Google Photos introduces its new AI-powered "Ask Photos" feature, enabling users to search their photo libraries with natural language queries. Leveraging Google’s Gemini AI, this tool allows for complex searches based on photo content and metadata, such as asking for the best photos from National Parks or identifying birthday themes. Initially available to select U.S. users, it promises enhanced photo retrieval and contextual answers, all while adhering to Google’s AI Principles for privacy and security.

Read more here.

SOME AI TOOLS TO TRY OUT:

Suppa - easily create and deploy smart chatbots for web and mobile with minimal tech skills
Layerpath - quickly build and share interactive product demos, tours, and guides
SoBrief - get 10-minute summaries of books with audio in 40 languages

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: Mastering the craft of prompts

Sep 5, 2024
4 min read

Hello, AI Enthusiasts.

Happy Thursday night! As we inch closer to the weekend and unwind from the workday, we’ve got a highlight for you tonight. We’re featuring an insightful discussion with Anthropic’s top prompt engineering experts, who share their expertise on crafting effective AI prompts and what’s next for this field.

Plus, check out the latest on Microsoft’s AI initiatives for a more inclusive workplace and Bill Gates’ perspective on AI’s role in driving positive change.

Enjoy your evening!

Here's another crazy day in AI:

Mastering Prompts: Anthropic's Deep Dive
AI-driven initiatives at Microsoft aim for a more inclusive workplace
Bill Gates sees AI as a positive force for change
Some AI tools to try out

TODAY'S FEATURED ITEM: Inside the Mind of a Prompt Engineer

Source: Anthropic's YouTube channel | "AI prompt engineering: A deep dive"

Have you ever wondered how to get the best results when talking to AI? It's not just about what you say, but how you say it.

In the latest episode from Anthropic's YouTube channel, leading experts Amanda Askell, Alex Albert, David Hershey, and Zack Witten take us on a thoughtful journey into the world of prompt engineering. Alex Albert, Head of Developer Relations at Anthropic, hosts the discussion, where the team breaks down how prompt engineering has evolved, what makes a good prompt engineer, and why it’s so important as AI technology advances. This episode gives practical insights, and a glimpse into the minds of those shaping the future of this emerging field.

Here are some intriguing insights from their conversation:

What exactly is prompt engineering? It’s all about designing clear, precise prompts to guide AI models effectively. Like programming, it involves trial and error to fine-tune responses and achieve the desired results.
What makes someone good at it? Strong communication skills, an iterative approach, and the ability to foresee potential ambiguities. A great prompt engineer knows how to break tasks down to their core and present them clearly.
Practical techniques: The experts share tips like focusing on a small set of well-constructed prompts rather than a large, loosely crafted one, and paying close attention to model outputs to continually refine the prompts.
Looking ahead: As AI continues to evolve, so will the approach to prompt engineering. It’s a constantly shifting field that blends creativity, precision, and a deep understanding of how language models interpret instructions.

Source: Alex Albert, Anthropic's Head of Developer Relations posted on X (formerly Twitter)

This conversation is more than just a technical deep dive. It provides a clear, accessible guide to what prompt engineering is all about and why it matters in today’s tech landscape. It's a field that demands not just technical skill, but also creativity, critical thinking, and adaptability.

It leaves us with plenty to ponder. How will our interactions with machines evolve in the coming years? What new skills might we need to develop to keep pace with these advancements? And perhaps most intriguingly, how might the growing sophistication of these systems change the very nature of human-machine communication?

The discussion underscores that prompt engineering isn't just about making machines understand us better—it's about expanding the boundaries of what's possible when humans and machines truly learn to communicate.

Catch the podcast on YouTube here.

OTHER INTERESTING AI HIGHLIGHTS:

AI-driven initiatives at Microsoft aim for a more inclusive workplace

/Samantha Kelly on BBC

Microsoft's efforts to improve AI technology go hand in hand with promoting diversity and inclusion. The company’s Chief Diversity Officer, Lindsay-Rae McIntyre, explains how diversity in AI development teams helps to address biases in AI systems. Microsoft is committed to using AI for good while ensuring that more diverse perspectives guide the design of their tools like Copilot. This approach, they believe, will create more empathetic, inclusive technology that benefits everyone.

Read more here.

Bill Gates sees AI as a positive force for change

/Justine Calma on The Verge

In a new Netflix series, Bill Gates shares his optimistic view of AI and its potential to improve health, education, and productivity. He talks about using AI tools like ChatGPT in his daily life and how Microsoft is investing in both its technology and its partnership with OpenAI. Gates sees AI as overwhelmingly positive but acknowledges that as the technology advances, new challenges will arise. However, the benefits in the next decade, particularly in education, will be significant.

Read more here.

SOME AI TOOLS TO TRY OUT:

Choppity - edit videos like text by highlighting transcript sections, with features like AI subtitles, censoring, and magic follow
Earkick - personal AI chatbot for mood tracking, stress management, and heart rate monitoring
Paradigm - (currently on waitlist) reimagined workspace for automating spreadsheet data collection and analysis

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

Catch us almost every day—almost! 😉

Another Crazy Day in AI: Upgrading career support in associations

Sep 4, 2024
3 min read

Hello, AI Enthusiasts.

The week is moving along, and it’s the perfect time to dive into the latest AI news.

Tonight, we’re featuring insights from a job board CEO on how AI is transforming career support within professional associations. Plus, discover how ed-tech companies are pitching AI to educators and explore the latest trends in AI search that are reshaping marketing.

Ready to dive in?

Here's another crazy day in AI:

AI solutions for career centers at professional associations
AI search redefines the future of marketing
Ed-tech pushes AI tools to save teachers’ time
Some AI tools to try out

TODAY'S FEATURED ITEM: Five AI trends shaping career centers

Image Credit: Media from Wix

How can professional associations leverage AI to enhance their career development offerings and better serve their members?

Rodion Telpizov, CEO and founder of SmartJobBoard, recently shared his insights on this topic in a Forbes Council Post. As someone who's worked with associations for over 15 years, he's seen firsthand how AI can enhance the services offered by career centers.

These centers play a pivotal role in helping cresources such as career coaching and résumé writing. But for smaller associations, offering these services can be a real challenge. That's where AI comes in. Telpizov outlines five ways AI can shape professional associations' career centers:

Résumé Critique: AI-powered tools can provide personalized résumé feedback, helping members fine-tune their applications and stand out in the job market.
Résumé Writing: AI platforms like Rezi and Zety assist users in crafting tailored résumés that highlight key skills and experiences relevant to specific job descriptions.
Career Coaching: AI-driven coaching platforms offer personalized advice and development plans, making career coaching more accessible to all members.
Interview Coaching: AI-based interview simulators provide real-time feedback and insights to help job seekers improve their performance and confidence during interviews.
Job Matching: AI systems can analyze members' skills and preferences, matching them with the most suitable job opportunities to streamline their job search.

While these tools offer associations a way to enhance their career services, Telpizov also mentions a few things associations need to keep in mind:

AI Bias: AI systems can unintentionally reinforce biases related to race, gender, or age. It’s important for career centers to regularly audit these tools and ensure they're promoting diversity and fairness.
Privacy Concerns: With AI tools collecting large amounts of personal data, it's essential to protect candidates’ information with strict data privacy measures.
Lack of Nuance: AI might struggle to assess soft skills or cultural fit, so human oversight is still needed when evaluating candidates for jobs that require unique qualifications.
The Limits of AI: AI shouldn’t be the only tool in the career center's arsenal. Job seekers should still personalize their applications, and associations should offer other resources like mentoring and workshops.

At the end of the day, it's all about leveraging technology to enhance the value associations bring to their members. And if implemented thoughtfully, AI can be a game-changer in helping career centers expand their reach and deliver more personalized, impactful support. We'd be curious to hear your thoughts on this - what do you think about the potential of AI in this space?

Read the full article here.

OTHER INTERESTING AI HIGHLIGHTS:

AI search redefines the future of marketing

/Andrew Holland on MarketingWeek

OpenAI’s new search engine might change the game for Google and shift marketing back toward brand building. AI search engines, like Perplexity, are simplifying results, reducing the need for traditional web searches, and making way for real-time actions across various platforms. This poses a significant challenge to Google’s dominance, as AI search may plug directly into social media, TV, and phones, where inspiration for searches often begins.

Read more here.

Ed-tech pushes AI tools to save teachers’ time

/James O'Donnell on MIT Technology Review

Ed-tech companies are promoting AI tools as time-savers for teachers, offering AI-powered assistants for grading, lesson planning, and providing feedback. While some teachers embrace these innovations, many remain cautious, especially regarding core teaching tasks like creative lesson planning and personalized student feedback. Educators in various countries are also issuing guidance on AI in classrooms, but resistance persists due to concerns over quality and the human element in education.

Read more here.

SOME AI TOOLS TO TRY OUT:

Storydoc - create engaging interactive slide decks
LibroMatch - find books similar to your favorites with AI
Runway Gen 3 Alpha - fast, high-quality video generation with customizable styles, dialogue, and voices

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

Catch us almost every day—almost! 😉