Tips

November 2, 2023

6 mins

This Week in AI

Hello, Niuralogists!

In this ever-changing AI landscape, we bring you the latest highlights with a focus on their implications for workplaces, businesses, policies, and individuals. This edition delves into exciting updates, featuring "Spot, the Talking Robot" by Boston Dynamics, Canva's AI Tools for Education, OpenAI's All-in-One ChatGPT Upgrade, Google's AI Tool for English Learning in Search, and Microsoft's AI-Powered Lesson Planning Aid. 

Spot, the Talking Robot: Boston Dynamics Showcases Conversational Skills

Boston Dynamics has introduced a new dimension to its four-legged robot 'Spot' by integrating a ChatGPT-powered voice. In a recent demo video, Spot offers guided tours of the company's facility, showcasing its conversational skills. Spot can respond to questions and narrate the tour in various accents and personalities, using predefined scripts, visual captions, and prompts. Its expressive features, like moving grippers and the addition of googly eyes and a mustache accessory, enhance the conversational experience. The robot's responses were trained using ChatGPT and other large language models, illustrating the potential of conversational commands. This move may help make Boston Dynamics' robots appear more relatable, with a touch of character through accents and accessories.

Canva Introduces AI Tools for Education

Canva, the Australian startup known for its user-friendly graphic design and digital multimedia tools, has extended its foray into AI technology with the introduction of "Classroom Magic." This new offering is tailored for educators and students within the education technology (edtech) sector and builds on the success of Canva's existing Canva for Education product. With over 50 million students and teachers already utilizing Canva for Education worldwide, Classroom Magic leverages AI features from the recently launched Magic Studio. Notably, both Canva for Education and Classroom Magic are accessible at no cost to K-12 students, teachers, and school districts, while a paid plan is available for universities, with specific pricing details yet to be disclosed.

Free Young Woman Sitting at the Table and Using a Laptop  Stock Photo
Source: Pexels

OpenAI Unveils All-in-One ChatGPT Upgrade, Streamlining AI Capabilities

OpenAI has initiated the release of an enhanced version of ChatGPT that integrates all the capabilities of GPT-4, including Browsing, DALL-E 3, and Data Analysis, eliminating the need to toggle between different modes. This update offers users access to the full range of ChatGPT features directly within the main interface, enabling seamless interaction and analysis of PDFs and documents. Notably, this release precedes the much-anticipated OpenAI Dev Day, promising more significant announcements on the horizon. Although plugins are not included in this update, there are intriguing references to a mysterious "GPT-4 Magic Create" in the code. The rollout is currently underway for ChatGPT premium users, and this development marks a substantial stride toward the realization of comprehensive all-in-one AI assistants.

Google's Latest AI Tool in Search Facilitates English Learning

Google has introduced an AI-powered tool within Google Search to facilitate English language learning, acknowledging the importance of immersion in books, movies, TV shows, and conversations with native speakers. This feature, currently available to Android users in Argentina, Colombia, India, Indonesia, Mexico, and Venezuela, allows users to translate to and from English. Google Search provides prompts, short practice sessions, and personalized feedback, including semantic feedback to enhance sentence construction and contextual translations, aiding users in understanding the contextual meanings of English words. This innovation seeks to make language learning more accessible for individuals, particularly those who may not have the opportunity for physical immersion in an English-speaking environment.

Free Black Google Smartphone on Box Stock Photo
Source: Pexels

Microsoft Develops AI-Powered Lesson Planning Aid for Educators

In collaboration with teachers in India, Microsoft Research has introduced Shiksha Copilot, an AI-powered teaching assistant designed to streamline the process of creating personalized lesson plans for educators. Shiksha Copilot has the ability to analyze diverse forms of content, including text, images, and videos, and subsequently generate tailored classroom materials that align with specific curriculum objectives. During pilot testing, teachers witnessed a remarkable reduction in their daily lesson planning time, with the process now taking just 60-90 seconds compared to the previous 60-90 minutes. This AI tool takes into account teacher-provided information about students' individual needs, backgrounds, and languages spoken, allowing for highly customized recommendations. The development of Shiksha Copilot represents a potential shift from a one-size-fits-all educational approach to a more personalized and optimized learning experience for both students and teachers.

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Q&Ai

How can you enhance your Google search experience using generative AI within Chrome?

Generative AI search results can often outperform traditional Google search by providing quicker access to answers without the clutter of ads and paywalls. However, it's important to acknowledge their imperfections, such as occasional inaccuracies and potential plagiarism. For AI enthusiasts, Google has streamlined the use of these tools in the Chrome browser through the introduction of SGE (Search Generative Experience). Enabling SGE in Chrome simplifies your AI-powered search experience. SGE is an experimental feature from Google Labs, incorporating robust Large Language Models (LLMs) like the Multitask Unified Model (MUM), which is a staggering 1,000 times more potent than BERT and spans 75 different languages in its training.

What is the metaverse, and who is shaping it?

The metaverse is the fusion of immersive technologies like VR, AR, and XR, along with blockchain, AI, 3D design, and more. It's essentially the next-gen 3D internet, akin to Web3, with a focus on decentralization and user-driven experiences. Although there's much excitement, we're still in the early stages. Leading sectors in metaverse adoption include energy, high tech, media, and automotive, while construction and transport are slower to embrace this transformative concept.

Is VR the Future of Business? 

Why use traditional methods to explain architectural plans when you can immerse clients in a virtual world? Halff Associates, Inc. is among the forward-thinking companies embracing the potential of VR and AR technologies, providing clients with Oculus Quest headsets to experience designs firsthand. This approach has been a game-changer for the company since 2018, with successful projects like a city in Texas planning an amphitheater and park. The trend extends to various industries, from healthcare to retail, and real estate to manufacturing, as businesses recognize the power of VR and AR to create immersive, multisensory experiences. In an era where the metaverse is gaining momentum, it's increasingly clear that selling emotions and experiences is the future of business.

Tools

📚Show HN helps immerse yourself in learning Korean with a Popup Dictionary 

🎁 Gifter helps you find the perfect gift with this AI-powered app 

💬 Chatgot helps you chat at ease with various AI assistants ready to serve you 

👩‍🎨 Looka is an AI-powered platform to design a logo and build a brand in seconds 

🌖 MoonBeam is a long-form writing AI assistant that helps you never write from scratch again 

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See you next week!

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