Another Crazy Day in AI: How well can a machine tell a story?

Hello, AI Enthusiasts.

It's Finally Friday! 🎊 We hope your week has been fantastic.

Before you switch to weekend mode, check out our latest AI updates and trends.

Here's another crazy day in AI:

• AI's attempt at visual storytelling

• Khan's vision for AI in schools

• Survey shows growing confidence in AI for healthcare

• Some AI tools to try out

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TODAY'S FEATURED ITEM: Digital publication explores AI's storytelling skills

Wix AI Image Creator/a robot working on a laptop alongside two humans

Can a machine truly capture the art of storytelling with data?

Russell Samora and Michelle Pera-McGhee, journalist-engineers at Pudding took on an intriguing challenge: teaching a machine to create a data-driven visual story from scratch.

They tested Claude, a model from Anthropic, through the entire process of creating a story, from generating ideas to developing visuals. This experiment dives into the capabilities and limitations of this technology, evaluating how well it can perform tasks typically handled by skilled human storytellers.

What they discovered was eye-opening:

• Claude excelled at rapid idea generation and data analysis

• It produced serviceable prototypes for basic charts quickly

• The AI struggled with complex visualizations and nuanced storytelling

• Human intervention was crucial for quality control and refinement

• Claude lacked the critical thinking to question results or spot intriguing data quirks

• The experiment highlighted AI's potential as an efficient assistant rather than a replacement for human creativity

• Data-driven storytelling still requires the human touch for that perfect blend of insight and craftsmanship

Samora and Pera-McGhee concluded that AI is more of a super-efficient assistant than a replacement for human creativity. While it can speed up certain tasks, the art of storytelling - blending insight, creativity, and craftsmanship - still requires a human touch.

This experiment gives us a glimpse into a future where AI and human storytellers might work hand in hand, each playing to their strengths. For now, though, it seems the art of data-driven storytelling remains firmly in human hands.

Read the full article here.

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OTHER INTERESTING AI HIGHLIGHTS:

Khan's vision for AI in schools

/Robert Bellafiore Jr. on City Journal

Salman Khan, founder of Khan Academy, explores the transformative potential of AI in education, focusing on personalized learning through AI tutors like Khanmigo. This AI-driven approach aims to customize education for individual student needs, promising enhanced engagement and access to a broader range of subjects.

Read more here.

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Survey shows growing confidence in AI for healthcare

/Andrea Fox on Healthcare IT News

A national survey reveals that nearly half of Americans are optimistic about AI’s potential to improve healthcare. AI is expected to enhance diagnostic accuracy, efficiency, and patient outcomes, with many believing it will also reduce treatment costs and support healthcare professionals rather than replace them.

Read more here.

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SOME AI TOOLS TO TRY OUT:

• MagicSchool: AI for teachers - simplify lesson planning, assessments, and communication

• Neural Consult: AI tool for healthcare training, including medical search and question generation

• Amabay: create a custom AI agent to handle queries for you

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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.

Another Crazy Day in AI: Gemini's side panel magic in Google Workspace

Hello, AI Enthusiasts.

Happy Wednesday! Wow, we’re at the halfway point of the week.

As you settle in for the evening, let's explore the latest AI news and innovations that have been buzzing this week.

Here's another crazy day in AI:

• How to write effective prompts for Gemini in Workspace

• Microsoft study on AI and real-world productivity

• Meta introduces custom AI Studio

• Some AI tools to try out

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TODAY'S FEATURED ITEM: Tips for using Gemini in the Workspace side panel

Gemini for Google Workspace / Your always-on AI assistant across Google Workspace—as sales associate

Are you making the most out of your AI tools in the workspace?

Imagine having a super-smart assistant right at your fingertips, ready to help you tackle your daily work tasks with ease. That's exactly what Google's Gemini in the Workspace side panel aims to be. In a recent article on The Keyword, Google's official blog, Molly McHugh-Johnson shares some invaluable tips on how to make the most of this AI sidekick across Gmail, Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Drive.

Here's the cheat sheet to becoming a prompt-writing pro:

• Take Cues from Suggestions: Start with product-specific suggestions in the side panel to leverage tasks Gemini excels at within each app.

• Focus on Basics: Use persona, task, context, and format in your prompts for clear and relevant results.

• Use @ Symbol: Reference other files in your prompts to provide more context and connect information seamlessly.

• Experiment and Iterate: Refine your prompts and experiment with different approaches to achieve better outcomes.

• Share Insights: Collaborate and share what works and what doesn’t to continuously improve your use of Gemini.
  

The world of work is evolving, and Gemini in the Workspace side panel is leading the charge. It's not just about working harder; it's about working smarter. As you dive into the world of AI-assisted productivity, remember that every master was once a beginner.

Start small, experiment often, and don't be afraid to push the boundaries of what you think is possible. Who knows? You might just discover a workflow so smooth, you'll wonder how you ever managed without it.

So why not give it a try? Your next great idea might just be a prompt away.

Read the full article here.

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OTHER INTERESTING AI HIGHLIGHTS:

Microsoft study on AI and real-world productivity

/Jaffe, S., Shah, N.P., Butler, J., Farach, A., Cambon, A., Hecht, B., Schwarz, M. and Teevan, J. eds. 2024

This report from Microsoft explores how generative AI, specifically tools like Microsoft Copilot, enhances productivity in real workplace environments. Through a series of studies, including a large-scale randomized controlled trial, the research shows that AI tools can significantly boost productivity. However, the impact varies by role, function, and organization. The report also highlights the importance of adoption and utilization for maximizing AI's benefits.

Read the paper here.

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Meta introduces custom AI Studio

/Meta Newsroom

Meta introduces AI Studio, a platform allowing users to create, share, and discover custom AI characters without needing technical skills. Users can design AIs for various purposes, from generating memes to providing travel advice. Creators can also use AI Studio to automate responses to common questions, helping them engage more efficiently with their audience.

Read more here.

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SOME AI TOOLS TO TRY OUT:

• Datrics: simplify data preparation, exploration, and experimentation with an intuitive AI analytics platform

• ChartFast: automatically analyze data and create complex visualizations without manual effort

• Meta AI Studio: design and share custom AI characters easily, no technical skills required

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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.