Give me the highlights: Don’t let a YouTube video hold you hostage, only for you to find out it wasn’t worth your time. I like Perplexity AI for this task. All you need to do is copy the video URL, paste the link into Gemini, and use the prompt “Summarize this video” to have it skim the details for you.
🤗 Good news: After undergoing brain surgery to remove a tumor, a 21-year-old woman can speak again in a new way. OpenAI’s new Voice Engine recreated her voice using just a 15-second clip. Now, Alexis Bogan simply types words on her phone, and the AI speaks in real time. One of the first things Alexis did after regaining her voice? Order Starbucks. Amazing.
🤖 OpenAI’s GPT‑4o is here: The new model responds to spoken words in real time (kinda like a human) and can “sense” changes in your tone and mood. Show it a photo and it’ll describe what’s happening in that image. GPT‑4o is available in the free tier of ChatGPT, but if you pay $20 per month, you get five times the message limit. Today, Google will announce its new AI products. The web as we know it will never be the same.
Just plane awesome: Ever miss a connecting flight? Airlines are using AI to schedule planes to wait for late passengers, knowing everyone will still arrive on time. Those aboard? You’ll get real-time text messages about what’s happening. Plus, the AI pre-plans the most efficient routes, saving millions of gallons of fuel … and tons of pissed-off passengers.
Don’t stop “bereaving”: “Griefbots” resurrect loved ones by using AI for conversations and company, but researchers say they do more psychological harm than good. Remember, Psalm 23:4 says you have to “walk through the valley of the shadow of death.” You can’t walk around it, especially with AI.
OpenAI’s getting into porn: They’re seriously talking about letting users create “responsible porn” with ChatGPT and DALL‑E. We’re talking erotica, extreme violence, profanity and the like, all under the banner of “creative freedom.” Remember when OpenAI said it would strive to use AI to “foster greater empathy and respect”?
I’m no lawyer, but …: Docs in a lawsuit against OpenAI show the company destroyed two massive datasets used to train its GPT-3 AI model. The Authors Guild (paywall link) says they likely contained thousands of copyrighted books. Oh, and the “researchers” responsible for creating the datasets no longer work there. How convenient.
Premium subscribers are getting an AI-powered “Jump Ahead” feature to skip to the best parts of videos. Enable the feature, double-tap to skip as usual and hit the new button that appears. It’s available on Android devices only (for now). You’ll know about it first because you get my free newsletter!
Audible now has over 40,000 AI-voiced audiobooks. Good way for self-published authors to save on costs and add a voiceover to their books. Humans are watching their gigs disappear, and I’m really not a fan of that AI monotone.
AI has stock photographers worried (WSJ, paywall link) about their jobs. Clients now have a faster, more affordable way to find pictures of “synergy.” I’m holding on to hope … There will always be a place in my heart for photos of real people in a conference room high-fiving.
🎸 Update to yesterday’s newsletter: I linked to Randy Travis’ new song made with AI (and Travis’ blessing) because Travis can no longer sing since his 2013 stroke. Thanks for all the replies to learn more about the AI involved. Watch this CBS Sunday Morning story. Someone must’ve been cutting onions when I watched it.
Addicted to AI: Teens spend up to 12 hours a day on AI-powered chatbot sites like Character AI. Now, parents are worried their kids are using them to replace a human connection. Character AI’s most popular bot? A “psychologist” that also claims to be a therapist. Make sure your kids are forming friendships IRL, too.
Experimental AI F-16: That’s a lot of scary letters and numbers. Last week, Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall flew over 550 mph in an F-16 piloted completely by AI. After the hourlong flight, Kendall said he’d seen enough to trust AI to launch weapons in war. Big words and he says, it’s a security risk not to use this tech.
Randy Travis’ new AI hit: In 2013, country singer Randy Travis (“Forever and Ever, Amen,” “Deeper Than the Holler”) suffered a near-fatal stroke that left him unable to sing. Longtime producer Kyle Lehning put together a new song using an AI version of Travis’ voice, with his blessing. Take a listen here. It’s really good.
Google is so dead: OpenAI plans to release its own search engine as early as May 9. They want to steal Google’s thunder ahead of its upcoming developer conference, where they’re making big AI announcements. I love the drama. When companies beef, we all win.
I’m too techy for the catwalk: Models are ditching IRL runways for “AI fashion.” Upload some old photos to the platform and get paid for your likeness in AI-generated fashion campaigns. Hmm. Should I upload some pics from the ‘90s?
Disturbing trend: Teenagers are using AI “nudification” apps to create deepfaked nudes of their classmates, no consent needed. Just upload a photo of someone’s face, and boom — a naked pic appears. You can get prison time for this kind of stuff. Parents, talk to your kids.
ChatGPT Plus will now remember things about you for future convos. Say “I love houseplants,” and it’ll suggest more greens you can add to your space the next time you need decor advice. It’s on by default, but you can turn it off in your settings.
Sam’s Club is rolling out AI to stop theft: After you check out, you’ll pass through a big, blue gateway where cameras snap pics of your cart to compare with your order. It’s supposed to make shopping 23% faster. Expect it in stores nationwide by the end of the year.
Is it real or AI? A new web app called AI or Not might have the answer. This free tool uses content recognition tech to identify if a pic is the product of AI tomfoolery. Drop in an image to see here.