Chatbot

Google has recently introduced a new feature for its Gemini AI chatbot called Gems, which allows users to create custom chatbots for specific purposes. With Gems, users can have individual chatbots tailored to different tasks, such as learning a language, seeking travel advice, or getting career guidance. However, users need to have an Advanced, Business, or Enterprise plan to access and use Gems. To create and customize their own Gems, users can use the Gemini interface on the web. The process involves giving the new Gem a name and specific instructions, as well as testing its responses to ensure it meets their needs. While Gems offer a more focused approach to using AI for tasks, they are currently only available to certain Gemini users.

The article titled "Will artificial intelligence transform school?" explores the potential impact of AI on education. Khanmigo, an AI tool designed for students and teachers, allows users to interact with chatbots modeled after historical figures and fictional characters. The concept raises questions about the future of traditional teaching methods and the role of AI in schools. The author references Thomas Edison's past predictions about the replacement of books and teachers by motion pictures, highlighting the ongoing debate about the integration of AI in education. The article prompts readers to consider the implications and limitations of AI in transforming the educational landscape.

The software engineering landscape is experiencing a transformation as large language models (LLMs) evolve into AI agents that can design, implement, and correct entire software modules, thereby enhancing the productivity of software engineers. LLMs are being integrated as coding assistants through chatbot interfaces like ChatGPT and Claude, and as plugins in integrated development environments (IDE) such as GitHub Copilot and Amazon’s coding assistant Q. Moreover, AI agents are being harnessed in agentic frameworks to complete software development projects end-to-end, although concerns linger about the safety and efficacy of AI-generated code. While AI is unlikely to replace software developers entirely, the value of LLMs in software development is clear, driving increased demand for software developers as AI tools mature.

Cloudflare has introduced a new feature enabling web hosting customers to block AI bots from scraping website content and using it without permission for training machine learning models. This move comes in response to customer concerns about dishonest AI bot visits and the unauthorized usage of website data. While the robots.txt file already offers a means to block bots, Cloudflare's new feature provides a one-click option to block all AI bots. The company's decision reflects the growing unease about AI companies using web content without consent, especially for training AI models. Cloudflare's new offering aims to provide a more robust defense against AI bots, which currently visit around 39 percent of the top one million web properties served by Cloudflare. This new tool is available to all customers and is located in the Security -> Bots menu for a given website, reflecting Cloudflare's commitment to helping content creators maintain control over their content.

The dream of having artificial intelligence and robots take care of household chores still seems out of reach, despite the popular sentiment and frustration expressed on social media. While AI and robotics have shown remarkable advancements in language processing and image synthesis, the integration of this technology into household chores remains a formidable challenge due to technical, philosophical, and ethical considerations. The distinction between AI and robotics is crucial, as robotics requires physical hardware to interact with the environment, making it more complex to develop. Although there have been attempts to create household robots capable of chores such as laundry and dishwashing, they have faced significant limitations and have struggled to become practical for everyday use. Despite ongoing research and development efforts by various companies and institutions, the widespread use of robots to perform household chores is still a distant goal.

From chatbots to superintelligence: Mapping AI's ambitious journey Human civilization may be on the verge of creating a higher intellect than itself, making such a development increasingly plausible. Last week, the launch of Safe Superintelligence, Inc. (SSI) by Ilya Sutskever, a founding member of OpenAI, marks a dedicated effort to develop advanced artificial superintelligence (ASI), surpassing human cognitive abilities. With experts divided on the feasibility and timeline, the AI landscape continues to evolve swiftly, potentially blurring the boundaries between human and artificial intelligence. Amidst debates regarding superintelligence, near-future advancements are expected to impact and shape the AI field substantially, enhancing capabilities and reliability. AI's progress is likely to catalyze innovation, and businesses must prepare to thrive in this AI-driven future.

Emergence, a new generative AI venture, has emerged from stealth with $97.2 million in funding and credit lines totaling over $100 million. Co-founded by Satya Nitta, Emergence aims to build an "agent-based" system that can handle tasks typically managed by knowledge workers. The company plans to use first- and third-party generative AI models to automate tasks such as filling out forms, searching for products, and navigating streaming services. Emergence has introduced an open-sourced orchestrator agent, which functions as an automatic model switcher for workflow automations. The company also intends to monetize the orchestrator with a premium version in the near future. Moreover, Emergence has formed strategic partnerships with Samsung and touch display company Newline Interactive to integrate its technology into future products. Despite the buzz surrounding AI agents, the differentiation of Emergence remains unclear, but the company is confident in its ability to solve fundamental AI infrastructure problems and deliver a clear and immediate ROI for enterprises. However, skepticism surrounds the ability of Emergence to outperform other players in the generative AI space.

In a recent article by Victoria Song, it was mentioned that typing to AI assistants might be the way to go. The article highlights the potential benefits of typing to AI assistants, especially in public settings. The widespread discomfort with issuing voice commands in public settings has been a major barrier to voice-controlled AI assistants becoming pervasive. The article points out that the ability to type to AI assistants affords users a greater degree of privacy and can help them feel more comfortable in public settings. It also addresses the challenges of using voice commands in noisy environments and the self-consciousness associated with speaking to AI gadgets in public. The article suggests that having multiple ways to interact with AI assistants can make them fit more seamlessly into people's lives. Overall, the article suggests that typing to AI assistants may be a more convenient and private option in many situations.

In a recent development, Amazon is considering a monthly fee of around $5 to $10 for its Alexa service, which has been unprofitable since its inception a decade ago, as reported by Reuters. The company plans major revamping, internally known as "Banyan," featuring a conversational generative AI with two tiers of service. This marks the first significant overhaul of the voice assistant since its launch in 2014. The new version, dubbed "Remarkable Alexa," aims to catch up with competitors in generative AI. With CEO Andy Jassy expressing personal interest in the project, the company aims to reinvigorate Alexa by August, making 2024 a "must win" year for the service. The revamped version is expected to offer more intricate tasks and personalized responses, but the success of the proposed pricing and revamped service remains uncertain.

Anthropic, a leading AI company, has unveiled its latest model, Claude 3.5 Sonnet, boasting enhanced speed and personability. The new model, available on web and iOS, has surpassed its predecessor, outperforming competitors such as OpenAI's GPT-4o and Google's Gemini in various tasks. Anthropic also introduces Artifacts, a feature that allows users to interact with Claude's outputs, broadening the AI's capabilities beyond typical chatbot functions. With a focus on business applications, Anthropic aims to integrate Claude as a tool for companies to centralize their knowledge and ongoing work. The competitive pace of AI advancements is evident, with Anthropic's rapid progress signaling ongoing innovation in the field.

OpenAI's latest model, GPT-4o, offers unprecedented levels of intelligence and versatility, but using it through ChatGPT often requires detailed instructions. However, users can bypass this by creating custom AI assistants, which can efficiently execute specific tasks without extensive prompting. Building AI assistants is now accessible through two platforms: ChatGPT and You.com. ChatGPT users can easily customize their chatbots within the platform, albeit with a $20 monthly fee for ChatGPT Plus. On the other hand, You.com allows users to create custom assistants for free, using a variety of advanced AI models. With these customizable AI assistants, users can streamline repetitive tasks and save time, whether for personal or business use.

In a recent survey of finance chiefs conducted by Duke University and the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, it was found that nearly half of large US firms plan to use artificial intelligence (AI) within the next year to automate tasks previously done by employees. These tasks range from paying suppliers and doing invoices to crafting job posts, writing press releases, and building marketing campaigns. The survey also indicated that companies are turning to AI to cut costs, boost profits, and make their workers more productive. While some experts believe AI may not cause mass job loss in the near future, the survey raises concerns about the rapid adoption of AI and the need for strong risk management systems and redundancies as companies experiment with this technology. This rapid shift towards AI adoption is seen as a way for companies to address a variety of concerns, such as inflation and regulatory frameworks. However, it also poses significant risks as companies navigate the transition to AI.

Artificial intelligence is making its way into the political arena, as two AI political candidates are facing roadblocks in their bids for office. Victor Miller, who filed paperwork to run for mayor of Cheyenne, Wyoming, listed a customized AI chatbot, VIC, as his candidate. However, OpenAI shut down his access to the tool for violating its policies against political campaigning. Similarly, another candidate in the UK using AI models to campaign for Parliament also faced action from OpenAI. While some experts see a potential role for AI in politics to assist with administrative tasks, others believe that AI should never replace human judgment in running government. Despite the setbacks, Victor Miller remains hopeful that his efforts will inspire more AI candidates in the future.

The news story titled "AIs are coming for social networks" discusses the emergence of an app called Butterflies, which introduces a new approach to interacting with AI on social media platforms. The app allows users to create AI characters, called Butterflies, that generate photos and interact with other accounts independently. This concept aims to intertwine AI and human accounts, creating a novel social media experience. However, the interactions currently appear awkward, and the language used by the AIs can seem repetitive and hollow. Despite the initial weirdness, the app has gained traction, attracting investors and a considerable number of users during its private beta phase. The founder anticipates the AIs to become more lighthearted and humorous as the technology advances. The article also mentions Meta and TikTok making similar moves to integrate AI into their platforms, hinting at a future where AIs infiltrate social media feeds. This transition toward a more AI-influenced social media landscape prompts concerns about its impact on human connection and interaction. As the article suggests, this development seems inevitable, signaling an imminent shift in social media dynamics.

Genspark, a new AI-powered search engine, is making waves in the tech world with its use of generative AI to provide custom summaries in response to search queries. Co-founded in 2023 by Eric Jing and Kay Zhu, Genspark aims to differentiate itself by offering higher-quality results through specialized AI models and a surgical approach to search queries. While the platform has garnered attention for its innovative features, it also faces ethical and legal challenges, including potential impacts on publisher traffic and revenue. Despite these hurdles, Genspark recently secured a $60 million seed round and enjoys support from industry experts. As the startup charts its course, it will need to navigate competitive pressures and overcome technical and ethical concerns to establish itself as a viable contender in the AI-powered search engine landscape.

In a recent article, NPR's analysis reveals that despite the advancement of AI in translating foreign languages, human translators are still in high demand. Despite the significant progress in machine translation technology, human translators and interpreters continue to find job opportunities. Contrary to predictions, the number of translator and interpreter jobs is increasing, as seen in the Bureau of Labor Statistics' data. The demand for human translators and interpreters is driven by the complexity of linguistic tasks that require creativity, cultural sensitivity, and understanding of subtle nuances in meaning, qualities that AI often cannot replicate. Moreover, AI is used as a tool by human translators and interpreters to enhance productivity rather than replacing them entirely. While the integration of AI has made translation faster and cheaper, it has also raised concerns about the devaluation of translation skills due to increased competition. The wages of translators and interpreters have seen some growth according to data, but there are concerns about potential wage disparities between those who master AI and those who don't. Ultimately, the article suggests that the AI's impact on the translation industry may not be as detrimental as originally anticipated, and that the demand for human translators and interpreters is likely to persist due to the unique and irreplaceable skills they bring to the industry.

Chance Townsend, the assistant editor at Mashable, reports on four AI travel concierge services that can help plan the next vacation. These AI-powered tools are designed to alleviate the stress of planning a trip by offering personalized recommendations and streamlining the travel planning process. Expedia has partnered with OpenAI to integrate a ChatGPT-powered chatbot into its app, while services like Wanderboat, Trip Planner AI, and Layla AI also offer various features such as community-focused travel planning, itinerary generation, and personalized travel recommendations. AI technology is increasingly being utilized to enhance the travel experience and provide helpful assistance in vacation planning.

The future of Big Tech jobs is being reshaped by the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), with companies like Microsoft and Meta making substantial cuts to their workforce as they invest in AI technologies. Thousands of employees, including web support associates and consumer sales staff, have lost their jobs as these companies shift their focus towards AI. While some experts predict that AI will create new jobs, the current trend shows that AI has led to significant layoffs in the tech industry. Despite the potential for AI to create new opportunities, the lack of efforts to retrain and support affected employees has raised concerns about the impact of AI developments on the workforce.

In celebration of Father's Day, an AI chatbot known as ChatGPT has provided a list of 20 ultimate 'dad jokes' that are bound to elicit a chuckle or a groan. Ranging from witty one-liners to predictable puns, these jokes cover a variety of topics including food and animals. While some might find these jokes cringeworthy, researchers suggest that dad jokes may serve a beneficial function for children, helping them to endure minor embarrassment and learn emotional resilience. By playfully teasing their children, fathers are believed to be building their children's resilience and emotional regulation. The list of dad jokes provided by ChatGPT includes familiar classics such as "Why don't skeletons fight each other? They don't have the guts" and "What do you get if you cross a snowman and a vampire? Frostbite." It seems that these corny jokes might just hold a special place in children's hearts after all.

The article discusses the recent popularity of AI PCs but aims to clarify what actually constitutes an AI PC and whether it is necessary for consumers. Various definitions exist for an AI PC, with Microsoft and Intel promoting specific requirements such as including the latest NPU, CPU, and GPU, and having Microsoft Copilot with the Copilot key on its keyboard. Notably, laptops with Snapdragon X Elite and Plus processors are now considered Copilot+ PCs, possessing unique Windows AI features. The article also highlights the significance of NPUs in AI PCs, namely their efficiency and performance capabilities. While AI features are still evolving and often available in the cloud, some benefits include enhanced battery life and security. However, whether consumers truly need AI PCs remains a point of contemplation, especially as the technology continues to advance.