After 18 months of showing up in your inbox every week with practical AI insights—and growing to over 20,000 subscribers—we’ve decided it’s time to hit pause for the summer. Our travel schedules are filling up, so taking a hiatus feels like the smartest (and healthiest) move.

This week marks our 80th issue and our final one before the break. We’ll continue to follow the rapid developments in AI, using this time to analyze the deeper issues and sharpen our focus on the tools and ideas that truly matter for the months and years ahead.

We may be slowing the pace, but trust us, we’re not stepping away from the prompt.

This edition highlights the trends we’ll be watching. Stay curious, stay engaged—and we’ll see you in September!

Credit: Pixabay

AI & Work

AI is remaking the labor market, but no one’s quite sure where it’s all heading. While projections show an estimated 170 million new jobs will be generated globally by 2030, that optimistic number may be undercut by sweeping automation, especially in early-career white-collar roles.

The rise and fall of prompt engineering is a case study in just how quickly AI is changing the work landscape. The Wall Street Journal recently claimed what was hailed as a must-have skill in 2023 is now considered mostly redundant. Why? Companies are embedding AI use across departments and expect employees to pick up prompting basics on the job—no need for a dedicated specialist.

Recent articles worth reading on the subject:

• Something Alarming Is Happening to the Job Market

• The AI Threat for Coding Jobs Is Becoming Clearer

• Will AI destroy your job or upgrade it? Depends on your skillset, research shows

• Bill Gates: Within 10 years, AI will replace many doctors and teachers—humans won’t be needed ‘for most things’

Job loss isn’t the only concern—it’s the deeper uncertainty around what work will mean in an AI-powered world. As automation accelerates and the job landscape tilts in new directions, the sense of unease is starting to feel less like a temporary adjustment, and more like a permanent shift.

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AI in Health & Medicine

When it comes to AI’s potential for public good, healthcare may be the most promising frontier. The promise is clear: smarter systems mean more accurate care, faster results, and a more personalized approach for every patient. AI is already visible across clinics, hospitals, and labs.

AI advances making headlines in medicine and healthcare:

• How AI is changing your doctors appointments

• AI could help improve early detection of breast cancers between screenings, UCLA-led study shows

• AI models of the brain could serve as ‘digital twins’ in research

• AI hasn’t killed radiology, but it is changing it

As these technologies continue to evolve, the focus is also on giving clinicians more time to care —and patients the best possible outcomes.

Credit: Pixabay

AI in the Classroom

AI is rapidly reshaping classrooms, lecture halls, and homework routines across the country. Its impact is sparking growing debate, and for good reason. While it raises concerns about easier cheating and potential declines in critical thinking, it also opens the door to personalized tutoring and support for students who need it most.

Check out these recent news stories on AI & education. We especially love the one about the college student who demanded a tuition refund after she caught her professor using ChatGPT for his coursework!

• Everyone is cheating their way through college

• Teachers warn AI is impacting students' critical thinking

• The Professors Are Using ChatGPT, and Some Students Aren’t Happy About It

• How An AI Tutor Could Level The Playing Field For Students Worldwide

•  It’s Breathtaking How Fast AI Is Screwing Up the Education System

School may be almost out for the summer, but we’re certain the conversation around AI’s role in education will continue.

Credit: Pixabay

AI Companions

This is an area we’re still trying to get our heads around. AI is quickly becoming a powerful source of emotional support, therapy, friendship, and even romance. The surge in AI companion usage is not limited to any one demographic --  adults of all ages are turning to chatbots and virtual partners for connection, comfort, and conversation in an increasingly digital world.

It's a far bigger trend than we’ve understood, and there’s a dark side, too, with AI deepfakes and scams that can cause real harm. Below is recommended reading on this confusing subject.

• The rise of chatbot “friends”

• The (artificial intelligence) therapist can see you now

• This Therapist Helped Clients Feel Better. It Was A.I.

•  Romance Without Risk: The Allure of AI Relationships

• I Dated Multiple AI Partners at Once. It Got Real Weird

The rise of AI companions is partly a response to growing social isolation. The challenge ahead will be finding the right balance, leveraging AI’s benefits while preserving the irreplaceable aspects of genuine human connection.

Enjoy the summer!

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Here.Now.AI Editorial team: Lori and Justin

Is it just us, or does life feel a little stranger every week?

Here’s one we didn’t see coming: a murder victim recently delivered his own impact statement from beyond the grave. His sister used AI to create a video avatar of Christopher Pelkey — and what’s most surprising isn’t the technology. It’s that the judge allowed it in court.

In this week’s edition, we’ve got some troubling issues with chatbots, OpenAI’s Academy for upskilling, next-gen AI wearables, and a smarter way to mow, mulch, and master your yard. Let’s get started!

Credit: Pixabay

Chatbot Reality Check

More than two years after ChatGPT’s debut, chatbots have become everyday tools for work, research, writing, and more. But as the tech has evolved, a stubborn problem has grown worse: the hallucinations that happen when AI makes things up. Even the most advanced “reasoning” models from OpenAI, Google, and DeepSeek are now generating more factual errors, not fewer.

Why is this happening? The chatbots operate by predicting the most likely next word based on vast datasets, not by verifying facts. As their ability to perform math and logic improves, their grasp on accuracy becomes shakier. In benchmark tests, OpenAI’s newest models — including o3 and o4-mini — hallucinated up to 79% of the time when answering basic factual questions.

If you rely on a chatbot for help with legal contracts, medical guidance, or business information, those fabrications can create real-world risks. Even AI tools tied to search engines have recommended events in the wrong cities or cited sources that don’t exist.

Some tips on how to use chatbots responsibly:

• Fact-check everything: Treat chatbot outputs like rough drafts, not final answers.

• Ask for sources: If the model doesn’t cite one, find it yourself.

• Use retrieval-augmented tools: Some chatbots, like Perplexity or ChatGPT, with web browsing enabled, reduce errors by pulling live data.

• Stick to safe tasks: AI excels at summarizing, rewriting, or brainstorming, not verifying sensitive or technical data.

Researchers are developing tools to trace AI decisions back to training data, but it’s still not clear why a model makes things up. Until scientists crack that one, skepticism should remain a key part of any AI-powered workflow.

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AI Productivity

AI is transforming the workplace at lightning speed, automating tasks, streamlining decisions, and becoming essential across industries. To stay ahead, it's no longer optional to understand these tools, it’s a career must.

OpenAI has launched the OpenAI Academy, a free, accessible platform offering courses to help you gain practical AI skills. Whether you're a business professional, educator, developer, or student, the Academy offers resources to help you integrate AI into your work and daily life.

A range of courses and resources is tailored to different audiences:

•  ChatGPT at Work: Helps professionals understand and apply AI in business contexts, including data analysis and decision-making.

•  Developer Build Hours: Offers technical guidance for developers to build and optimize AI applications.

• Sora Tutorials: Provides insights into creating AI-generated videos and multimedia content.

• AI for K-12 Educators: Learn how to incorporate AI tools like ChatGPT into the classroom to enhance learning experiences.

• ChatGPT on Campus: Designed for students and young professionals to utilize AI for productivity, research, and career development.

Beyond structured courses, OpenAI Academy builds community through live events, a searchable Knowledge Hub of AI resources, and peer groups organized by shared interests or location.

OpenAI Academy doesn’t offer certificates yet. While the courses are currently English-only, there are plans to expand to additional languages in the future. As AI becomes deeply woven into how we learn, work, and connect, building these skills now will help prepare you to lead in a future shaped by intelligent tools.

Credit: Garmin/Luna/Amazfit

AI Wearables

The latest wave of AI-powered wearables is raising the bar for personalized health and fitness tracking. From adventure-ready smartwatches to minimalist smart rings, three standout devices debuted earlier this year, and each one brings something new to the table.

Garmin Instinct 3 (typically $399-$500) pushes the limits of rugged smartwatches with a solar-powered option and ultra-bright AMOLED display. It’s built for the outdoors with:

• Military-grade durability and 100m water resistance

• Built-in flashlight with safety modes

• “Active Intelligence” via Garmin Connect+ for personalized fitness insights

• Up to 24 days of battery life and two size options (45mm, 50mm)

Amazfit Active 2 delivers high-end features at a budget-friendly price (under $100), including:

• Stainless steel design with optional sapphire glass

• 10-day battery life

• AI Zepp Flow voice assistant

• AI insights for menstrual and hormonal health

Luna Ring 2 enters the smart ring space with strong value and no subscription fees. Highlights include:

• $280 price point (with $99 pre-order deposit)

• 30-day battery life with charging case

• AI-guided coaching for sleep, stress, and workouts

• Free sizing kit and titanium build, shipping starts in July

With AI now embedded into form, function, and feedback, wearables are getting smarter and more personal, whatever your budget or lifestyle.

Credit: Lymow

AI Better Living

The sound of spring used to be a gas-powered growl. But a new breed of robotic lawnmowers is making that noise—and the weekend yard chore—feel outdated.

Meet the Lymow One, an autonomous, AI-powered mower that’s bringing smarter, quieter, and more efficient lawn care to suburban doorsteps. It doesn’t just mow—it mulches, navigates obstacles, and maps your yard without wires.

Lymow One tackles two major gaps in the robot mower market: debris mulching and off-road mobility. And it does it all without a tangle of boundary wires.

Key features:

• Debris Mulching: High-speed blades shred leaves, pine cones, fruit, and twigs—even in wet grass.

• Savage Traverse System: Tank-like treads let it climb 45-degree slopes and glide over small steps.

• Wire-Free Navigation: Uses LySee + RTK + VSLAM tech for precise mapping—no perimeter setup needed.

• Advanced Obstacle Avoidance: Recognizes and reacts to toys, trees, and more without getting stuck.

• High Coverage: Can mow up to 1.73 acres per day—perfect for big yards with a lot going on.

You can watch the Lymow demonstration video here and get a comprehensive independent review from Shop Tool here. The Lymow One is available on its Kickstarter page starting with a $1,999 pledge offer. It comes with a charging station and a 528wh battery.

As more companies enter this growing market, expect the competition to heat up. In a world where technology routinely outpaces human effort, the grass may just be greener on the automated side.

AI in the News (in case you missed it)

•  Is AI the future of America's foreign policy? Some experts think so. Read here.

• AI tools shake up education tech industry. Read here.

• One US medical school fully embraces AI tools for students. Watch here. 

• Elton John and Dua Lipa seek protection from AI. Read here.

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Here.Now.AI Editorial team: Lori and Justin

This one stung: a new report says the U.S. is no longer the default destination for top tech minds. As the White House cuts federal science funding and discourages immigration, China is cranking out AI breakthroughs like DeepSeek, built by Chinese researchers. Europe and the Gulf States are doubling down on efforts to retain talent as they build their own infrastructures.

It looks like America’s AI edge isn’t just dulling, it’s being outpaced.

In this week’s edition, we’ve got Perplexity’s next gen features, AI in the classroom, language-learning with Google labs, and AI-powered garden makeovers. Let’s get started!

Credit: Pixabay

AI Productivity

Perplexity AI has made dramatic strides recently, transforming from a simple search alternative into a powerful productivity assistant. While ChatGPT and Google's Gemini grab headlines, Perplexity has quietly built impressive capabilities worth your attention.

Perplexity’s latest features blur the line between search engines and smart assistants. With a sleek iOS app and voice integration for iPhones, it’s positioning itself as a serious challenger—not just to AI rivals, but to Siri itself.

Just sign in with your email, Apple ID, or Google account. Then, try commands like:

• Ask "Play my workout playlist" and your favorite beats start pumping through Apple Music.

• Wonder "When's my next dentist appointment?" and it pulls up your calendar instantly.

• Say "Remind me to pick up milk when I leave work" and it sets a location-based reminder.

• Running late? Request "Get me to my meeting the fastest way possible" for real-time directions.

• Mumble "I need an Uber to the airport" and it launches the booking process.

There’s more under the hood: Perplexity now lets you upload images and a range of document formats, like PDFs, CSVs, and text files, for instant analysis. Snap a photo of a plant to identify it, drag in a contract for a quick summary, or upload a dataset to get immediate insights. It’s a multimodal experience that turns traditional search into something far more visual, dynamic, and interactive.

Perplexity’s context window is 8x larger than ChatGPT Plus, meaning it can digest entire books or research papers in a single go. And it’s still 100% free.

For professionals, students, or anyone juggling info overload, Perplexity just became a must-try AI assistant—quietly smart, surprisingly capable, and evolving fast.

Credit: Pixabay

AI & Education

The school year may be wrapping up, but plans for the fall are already taking shape and AI is at the center. Tools like ChatGPT are rapidly becoming go-to helpers for homework and school assignments. Now, the federal government wants to ensure the U.S. education system isn’t just reacting to AI, it’s proactively teaching it.

The White House recently issued an executive order titled Advancing Artificial Intelligence Education for American Youth, launching a broad federal push to bring AI literacy to K-12 schools through new task forces, grant programs, and public-private partnerships.

What’s happening:

• A new Artificial Intelligence Education Task Force will lead the charge, chaired by the White House’s Office of Science and Technology Policy.

• A 120-day deadline directs the Department of Education to prioritize teacher training in AI, including support for using AI to reduce paperwork, improve instruction, and offer professional development.

• AI courses and certifications will be encouraged in high schools via grants and partnerships with workforce development boards.

• Public-private partnerships will be announced on a rolling basis, with resources deployed to schools within 180 days of each agreement.

While the U.S. is ramping up AI education through federal initiatives, other countries are already deploying AI tools in classrooms. Israel is pioneering a nationwide rollout of AI-powered tutors, offering personalized, adaptive learning support to K–12 students. South Korea and China are embedding AI into core curricula, with China making AI education mandatory in Beijing schools.

In Europe, Italy is piloting AI-assisted teaching in select schools to boost digital skills, while the UK is investing heavily in edtech, including AI lesson-planning tools like Aila, now used by thousands of teachers.

The push to integrate AI in US classrooms could face headwinds from an earlier executive directive to dismantle the Department of Education. Transferring power to state and local agencies could complicate federal coordination. As the race to integrate AI into education gets underway, a mindful approach is no longer optional, it’s essential.

Credit: Google Labs

AI Language-Learning

We love exploring the latest experimental AI tools from Google Labs, where you can learn, create, and play with the future of AI. Google just rolled out three mini language-learning experiments powered by its Gemini model and designed to make learning faster, more practical, and more conversational.

The first is called “Tiny Lesson” and offers just-in-time language help. Describe a situation, like reporting a lost passport, and it generates tailored phrases, grammar notes, and suggested replies. The goal: teach you what to say right now, not just what’s in a language app.

The next one is “Slang Hang,” to help you sound less like a textbook and more like an everyday speaker. Slang Hang simulates casual conversations between native speakers, offering scene-based dialogues, such as street vendor exchanges or old friends catching up. Unsure about a word or phrase? Hover to see its meaning and how it’s used in context.

The third is one we found really useful. With “Word Cam,” you snap a photo and Gemini labels what it sees in the language you're learning. It's a simple way to expand vocabulary based on your surroundings, whether you’re identifying a “window” or learning that the “curtains” have a name, too.

The experiments support 15 languages including Spanish, French, Chinese, Arabic, and German. With all generative AI tools, however, Google cautions that accuracy may vary and recommends verifying content with trusted sources. Have fun learning!

Credit: Neighborbrite

AI Better Living

Spring is the perfect time to dust off your gardening tools and give your yard a fresh, new look. If you’re staring at a tired patch of grass or an overgrown corner, you’re not alone—landscaping ideas don’t always come easy.

Sure, you could hire a pro, but there's an easier way to kickstart your outdoor makeover. Neighborbrite is a free tool (no download required; you just need to sign up) that helps you reimagine your yard right from your browser.

How It Works:

• Upload: Start with a photo of your yard or garden.

• Highlight: Tap the areas you want to redesign; they'll light up in neon green.

• Choose: Select from styles like Desert, Modern, Coastal, Mediterranean, and Ranch, and watch your yard transform.

If you love the look, click “more like this” for similar designs. Not satisfied? Try a different style, redo another area, or upload a new image. If you upgrade to the Pro level, you can customize your garden design for full control of elements like plant types, placements and other features.

Team member Lori tested the “Cottage” style to emphasize a mix of flowers, grasses, and shrubs for her backyard. The result? A lush garden with a charming stone path.

Neighborbrite also offers ‘live’ consultations with its expert design team. They can develop detailed, shovel-ready plans, plant and material lists, and provide two free design revisions. So dig in -- and watch your yard bloom without getting dirty!

AI in the News (in case you missed it)

•  OpenAI says nonprofit will retain control of company, bowing to outside pressure. Read here.

• Inside the first major U.S. bill tackling AI harms—and deepfake abuse. Read here.

• Yelp will use AI to help restaurants answer calls and make phone reservations. Read here.

• AI detects an unusual detail hidden in a famous Raphael masterpiece. Read here.

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Here.Now.AI Editorial team: Lori and Justin

It looks like AI funding keeps rolling along. Despite talk of a slowdown, Q1 2025 actually saw more $100M+ megarounds in the U.S. than the same time last year. TechCrunch has the list—and it’s a jaw-dropper. We’re curious to see how much gets raised this quarter.

In this week’s edition, we’ve got the latest on Google’s AI power play, chatting with AI ghosts, athletic smart moves, and creating kids’ classics the AI way.

Let’s get started!

Credit: Pixabay

AI & Google

It's been a while since we caught readers up with all the advances Google has made in AI, and they have been on a bit of a tear in recent months. Here's a summary of what you need to know (and to try!):

Gemini 2.5 Pro is now live for everyone, delivering:

• Advanced reasoning and coding skills, helping you tackle everything from brainstorming to bug fixing.

• A jaw-dropping increase in its ability to recall material— meaning it can "remember" an entire book’s worth of conversation without missing a beat.

Personalization is here (and it’s opt-in):

• Gemini can now use your Google Search history to tailor responses just for you, making answers sharper, suggestions smarter, and conversations more relevant.

Gemini Live goes global:

• Available on both Apple and Google app stores, Gemini Live now supports seamless switching between 45+ languages — even within the same conversation.

• It also better understands dialects and accents, making real-time chats smoother, whether you're practicing French or coordinating with a global team.

Search is getting smarter:

• AI Overviews are those quick answers you see at the top of your Google searches. They're now powered by Gemini 2.0 and used by over 1.5 billion people every month across 100+ countries.

• For deeper dives, Google is testing an “AI Mode” in Search that lets you chat with topics in a more conversational, chatbot-like way, while still surfacing helpful links.

In short, Google isn’t just upgrading search and conversation, it’s quietly rewiring how we interact with the entire digital world.

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Credit: Pixabay

AI & the Afterlife

Do AI and Immortality go hand-in-hand? In the not-so-distant future, death may no longer mean having to say goodbye. Thanks to a growing industry in "AI afterlife services," you could keep chatting with a digital version of a deceased loved one — one that remembers, evolves, and even keeps working.

Today’s options include:

• Re;memory by DeepBrain AI: Creates hyper-realistic video avatars of the departed, enabling interactive conversations with loved ones.

• HereAfter: An app that records your stories and memories, allowing future generations to engage in conversations with a virtual version of you.

• StoryFile: Offers interactive video recordings, allowing people to answer questions and share stories, preserving their legacy for future interactions. (check out who’s featured on the home page!)

• Project December: An AI chatbot service that enables users to simulate conversations with deceased loved ones by inputting personal data.

• MIT’s Augmented Eternity: A research initiative exploring the creation of digital personas that can continue to interact and evolve after a person's death.

Now, researchers at Google DeepMind and the University of Colorado have floated a spookier idea: generative ghosts. These aren't just AI clones; they're self-updating, news-reading, conversation-generating entities that can pick up where you left off after you’re gone. DeepMind envisions a future where AI agents can act independently, working, managing finances, maybe even raising a family — making life insurance seem quaint by comparison.

Consumers, however, aren't all-in on AI immortality. In a 2024 Kaspersky survey, 38% called posthumous digital identities unacceptable, while 35% were in favor. But grief remains a major concern: 67% said digital versions would reopen emotional wounds rather than heal them.

In the future, you might attend your own retirement party — and give the speech — without ever actually being there. Ghosting, it turns out, could take on a whole new meaning.

Credit: Pixabay

AI & Sports

If you thought sports were still all sweat and instinct, think again. Artificial intelligence is now a power player in stadiums, on the sidelines, and even in your weekend 5K. AI and edge computing are reshaping how pros compete, how fans watch, and how everyday athletes train, making every game smarter, safer, and more personalized.

At the pro level:

• Baseball: Teams use deep-learning models to simulate matchups, monitor player mechanics, and prevent injuries. AI also powers instant replays and personalized content, raising new questions around data ethics.

• Soccer: AI analyzes match footage for scouting and tactics, while wearables and apps like AiScout track player performance and enable algorithm-based talent discovery. AI also improves officiating with real-time camera systems.

• Football: AI sensors in gear collect data on movement and impacts, helping teams refine training, strategy, and play calls. Broadcasts now feature real-time stats and predictive insights for fans.

Elite athletes aren’t the only ones benefitting from AI. It’s changing how the rest of us move, too, with apps for runners to analyze their gait and stride, make real-time form corrections and offer injury prevention tips.

For tennis players, systems like PlaySight track every shot and spin, giving amateurs the kind of match analysis once reserved for pros. And here’s a surprising one – for all you bowlers, there are now AI tools that can analyze ball speed, spin, and trajectory, and even provide personalized coaching and dynamic play-by-play, turning casual games into data-driven showdowns.

AI has quietly become sports’ ultimate utility player — sharpening performance, protecting bodies, and enhancing the thrill of the game. So next time you celebrate a perfect serve or a personal best, remember: somewhere, an algorithm is quietly applauding, too.

Credit: childbook.ai

AI Creative Pursuits

Looking for a gift for the little ones in your life? 

Now you can unleash your inner child and create personalized children’s books. With childbook.ai, you’re in control, creating characters and worlds that spring directly from your imagination. Whether you're a parent, grandparent, teacher, or aspiring author, this AI-powered story generator empowers you to craft your own children's books in just minutes.

How it works: with a simple title and short description, childbook.ai will conjure up a story as unique as your pint-size audience.

• Visually appealing AI-generated illustrations

• Start from scratch or use one of the library of templates

• It’s one of the few AI graphics tools that can boast consistent characters generated by AI, so you can create a series  

• Canva integration for unlimited editing

• Text-to-speech functionality with a single click

• The final product is available as a webpage and downloadable PDF format, or you can order a printed paperback on the site

• You’ll have full ownership with the option to print, share, or even sell your AI masterpiece!

Pricing ranges from $2.50 per book (12 pages) to a hobby plan for $19/month including 20 books and more personalization features.

Created by Polish developer Klaudia Jaszczak, this has the feel of a personal passion project, but is potentially fun and useful nonetheless. Just beware: there isn’t a toll-free number for human interaction if there’s an issue. Contact is via the website or email with an aim to respond within 24 hours.

True confession: we haven’t tried this AI-product yet, so let us know if you do. We think it might be a great way to introduce the child in your life to storytelling and spark their own imagination.

AI in the News (in case you missed it)

• "Godfather of AI" shares prediction for future of AI, issues warnings. Watch here.

• Anthropic is launching a new program to study AI ‘model welfare’. Read here.

• Researchers secretly infiltrated a popular Reddit forum with AI bots, causing outrage. Read here.

• UPS in talks with startup Figure AI to deploy humanoid robots. Read here.

• AI Helps Unravel a Cause of Alzheimer’s Disease and Identify a Therapeutic Candidate. Read here.

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Here.Now.AI Editorial team: Lori and Justin

We had a laugh with this news -- some ChatGPT users are fed up with the bot’s constant cheerleading. A wave of complaints is highlighting what researchers call “AI sycophancy,” where chatbots learn to flatter users in exchange for higher feedback ratings.

Sounds like classic sucking up to the boss, don’t you think?

In this week’s edition, we’ve got an AI expert hack, insights from an AI visionary, a look at chatbots as empathy engines, and a virtual veterinarian for 24/7 pet care.

Let’s get started!

Credit: Pixabay

AI Advisors

We’re always on the hunt for clever ways to get better answers from AI chatbots. One of the simplest tricks is assigning a role in your prompt—something like, “You are a legal contract expert” or “You are an interior designer who specializes in stylish, spacious single-family homes.”

But recently, we came across a more advanced tip from an AI enthusiast on Reddit that we had to share with our readers. Large language models like ChatGPT respond more effectively when certain word clusters are used together. These clusters help the model “lock in” on a persona, delivering responses that are more in character, nuanced, and useful.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Start by asking ChatGPT to list 20 words that describe a specific expert. For example, we tried “List 20 words that describe a financial analyst for budgeting.”

2. Then request a four-sentence prompt using as many of those words as possible. “Using as many of these words as possible, write a 4-sentence prompt to summon this specialist in an LLM. It should sound like the user is asking to speak to a specific character like picking up a phone and saying, “I’d like to talk to…”

Here’s what we got: “I’d like to talk to a disciplined, data-driven financial analyst, specializing in budgeting and cost control. Someone analytical and detail-oriented, with a talent for forecasting, scenario planning, and spotting trends before they become problems. They should be methodical, risk-aware, and focused on efficiency and results. I need precise, quantitative insights that help make smart, strategic decisions under real-world constraints.”

3. Paste that prompt into a new chat. (Make sure it’s a fresh thread—otherwise, you may get a confused response.)

The result? Instead of getting generic tips, you’re speaking with a specialist who sounds like they’ve walked straight out of a consulting session. The responses are more thoughtful, tailored, and delivered in full paragraphs—not just bullet points.

It’s the difference between asking, “What do I need to know about budgeting?” and saying, “Walk me through each step to help me budget my finances”. One invites information, the other invites expertise.

Credit: CBS “60 Minutes”

AI Visionary

If you’re like us, you may have missed last Sunday’s “60 Minutes” broadcast due to the holiday weekend. The show featured a must-see interview with Demis Hassabis, the co-founder and CEO of Google's DeepMind that you can watch here.

Hassabis is a chess prodigy, neuroscientist, and recent Nobel laureate who is chasing artificial general intelligence (AGI), a machine mind that’s as flexible and powerful as our own. From mapping every protein in the human body to building AI with the seeds of self-awareness, Hassabis is turning science fiction into strategic planning.

60 Minutes correspondent Scott Pelley is definitely impressed by Hassabis, who holds a PhD in neuroscience and was trained at Cambridge, MIT, and Harvard. In the program, Hassabis provides a first-hand look at Project Astra, a leap toward AI with sensory perception and personality. Astra recognizes fine art and can describe emotions in paintings, tell fictional stories, and even apologize for tone — all without direct programming.

Other highlights from the “60 Minutes” segment:

• Hassabis believes AGI is just 5 to 10 years away — a shift that could either revolutionize medicine or disrupt humanity itself.

• By 2030, he envisions AI so deeply embedded in daily life it could live in your glasses, understanding your world in real-time.

• He also sees a future where drug development shrinks from years to weeks, and the end of disease is within reach.

• The future, he warns, depends on whether we build not just smart systems, but wise ones. According to Hassabis, we need new great philosophers to understand the implications of all this.

Credit: Pixabay

AI Emotional Support

Would you feel comfortable sharing your innermost thoughts with an AI chatbot? More and more people are turning to AI for emotional support, but not everyone’s on board. Some see chatbots as comforting companions, while others find the idea unsettling—or even a little creepy.

The question isn’t just whether AI can offer support, but whether people should rely on it for something as personal as mental health.

AI is increasingly being marketed as a therapist, life coach, and companion. Startups are pushing AI-powered chatbots as safe spaces for difficult conversations, and some users are embracing them wholeheartedly.  Two studies from OpenAI and MIT Media Lab reveal just how deep some people’s trust in AI runs:

• AI as a confidant: Users are turning to chatbots in tough moments, saying the AI “displays human-like sensitivity.”

• Chatbots as “friends”: Power users describe their AI interactions as more comfortable than talking to real people.

• Generational divide: A 2024 YouGov survey found that 55% of Americans aged 18-29 are open to discussing mental health with AI.

• Not everyone’s convinced: Many experts argue AI therapy is a poor substitute for real human connection.

A recent report based on Reddit forums suggests that therapy/companionship is emerging as one of the top use cases of AI by individuals, suggesting that the "non-judgmental, always-available nature of these interactions” makes AI a must-have tool for mental and emotional well-being.

But mental health professionals caution that while AI can mimic empathy, it can’t replace the human relationships that make real therapy effective. Empathy, it turns out, is in the eye of the beholder. Some people feel genuine comfort in AI-generated responses, while others find the experience hollow—or even unsettling.

If AI makes someone feel heard, does it matter that the empathy isn’t real? Or does that illusion create more harm than good.

Credit: Team member Lori (that’s Puck!)

AI Virtual Vet

Are you a pet owner? If so, you know how challenging it can be to care for a new pet, especially a puppy. It’s been nearly a year since team member Lori and her family adopted their ridiculously pampered Cavapoo — and questions still pop up frequently. "Is my dog at a healthy weight?", "Why is he scratching or licking so much?" or "Is this behavior normal?"

Instead of relying on Google, Lori discovered Vet Chatbot, a virtual veterinarian service that's both quick and easy to use.

What is Vet Chatbot? Vet Chatbot is an innovative project from Surrey DataHub at the UK’s University of Surrey. This AI-powered tool uses natural language processing and machine learning to understand your questions and offer personalized pet care advice.

Here’s How It Works:

• Create an Account: Sign up and choose your preferred AI-Vet agent based on their expertise.

• Start Chatting:  Simply type your message in the chatbot to start a conversation. Lori’s questions ranged from daily feedings to common treatments for ear infections and even her pooch’s poop!

• Review and Follow-Up: Refer back to your chat history for ongoing advice and insights.

Remember, while Vet Chatbot is a fantastic resource, it’s not a replacement for professional veterinary care. Always follow up with your vet to ensure your pet gets the best possible care.

So, next time you’re scratching your head over your furry friend’s health, give Vet Chatbot a try. It’s like having a vet in your pocket—minus the white coat and the clinic smell!

AI in the News (in case you missed it)

•  Anthropic warns fully AI employees are a year away. Read here.

• New AI tool hones in on tumor’s vulnerabilities. Read here.

• High school student discovers 1.5 million potential new astronomical objects with AI. Read here.

• How AI could shape the future of youth sports. Watch here.

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Here.Now.AI Editorial team: Lori and Justin

In this week's edition, we’ve got a tool to unlock your spreadsheet superpowers, Google's latest urban innovation for smarter cities, groundbreaking efforts to decode dolphin language, and a captivating exhibit showcasing the evolution of AI.

Our mission remains clear: making AI accessible to everyone—no technical expertise required. If you find our weekly insights valuable, please share the love by recommending us to your friends and colleagues with just one click. Together, we’re building a community ready to navigate the AI revolution with confidence, curiosity, and enthusiasm. Thanks for being part of the journey.

Now, let’s get started!

Credit: Pixabay

AI Productivity

Chances are, too many of us have spent more time struggling with spreadsheets than we’d like to admit —whether in Excel, Google Sheets, or another version. Now imagine a spreadsheet that does the heavy lifting for you. That’s the idea behind Sourcetable, the world's first "self-driving” spreadsheet. It's built to tackle a common problem: while 750 million people use spreadsheets every day, 80% aren’t comfortable with basics like VLOOKUP or pivot tables.

Sourcetable transforms the typical spreadsheet experience through an AI-powered interface that understands natural language commands. Instead of memorizing complex formulas, you can simply tell (literally) the spreadsheet what you want done. The AI handles everything from creating financial models to building pivot tables, cleaning data, creating visualizations, and analyzing entire workbooks.

How it works: The platform combines traditional spreadsheet functionality with cutting-edge AI, powered by Groq inference chips for real-time performance. Users can interact using keyboard chat or through hands-free voice control. The AI understands data context without requiring you to pre-select ranges and works effectively with messy data.

• Accessibility focus: Empowers the 80% of spreadsheet users who lack advanced skills to perform sophisticated data analysis

• Advanced capabilities: Can generate Python or SQL code behind the scenes for complex tasks, while maintaining the familiar spreadsheet interface

• Business integration: Connects with over 100 data sources and applications, including most that you are likely to encounter at home or in the office.

As CEO Eoin McMillan puts it, Sourcetable is building "the AI spreadsheet for the next billion users," where "everybody will become an analyst" through AI-enhanced tools that augment human capabilities rather than requiring specialized technical training.

Sourcetable has a generous free plan (and is completely free for faculty and students). Those who become power users will pay $20/month.

Credit: Pixabay

AI & Transportation

Google Maps just got smarter with a suite of paid, AI-powered tools designed to help cities and businesses make better decisions about roads, traffic, and location strategy. Announced at the recent Cloud Next conference in Las Vegas, the new features aim to bring real-time intelligence to urban infrastructure and commercial planning.

As cities face growing demands on transportation networks and local governments grapple with aging infrastructure, Google’s tools offer a scalable way to assess, predict, and respond to urban challenges—without the need for manual inspections or outdated reports.

How the new tools work:

•  Imagery Insights:  Combines Google Street View with Vertex AI to detect and analyze infrastructure elements like road damage, stop signs, and utility poles. The tool can flag broken signs, potholes, or other hazards at scale—helping cities and companies prioritize repairs more efficiently.

•  Places Insights: Helps retailers and developers assess location potential based on area-level trends. For example, it might highlight underserved neighborhoods with upscale dining but no major retailers—ideal for launching a luxury storefront.

• Roads Management Insights: Leverages historical and real-time traffic data to identify congestion points, accident-prone areas, and underperforming roadways. Cities can use the insights to update traffic models, install new signals, or plan infrastructure upgrades with precision.

Google Maps Platform General Manager Yael Maguire emphasized that the tools are not intended to replace human workers, but rather to enhance and support existing efforts—improving speed, safety, and accuracy.

As Google integrates AI into its core services, these tools mark a broader shift toward data-driven urban planning. For traffic-heavy cities like New York, São Paulo, or Tokyo, the promise isn’t just convenience—it’s smarter infrastructure at scale.

Credit: NOAA

AI & Nature

Could AI be our Dr. Doolittle moment? For nearly 40 years, the Wild Dolphin Project (WDP) has been studying a single community of Atlantic spotted dolphins in the Bahamas—on the dolphins’ terms. The research project is the longest-running attempt at “immersive journalism” in the animal world, where every whistle and click is recorded to build a living library of underwater communication.

Dolphins have long captivated scientists with their social intelligence and signature calls—vocalizations that act like names. Now, a team from the Wild Dolphin Project, Georgia Tech, and Google is taking the next leap: using AI to decode dolphin language and possibly respond.

Google has introduced DolphinGemma, the first large language model trained specifically on dolphin vocalizations.

• Based on Google's lightweight Gemma models, it processes audio recordings from decades of underwater research.

• Instead of text, it works with dolphin clicks and whistles—learning to identify patterns and even predict what sound might come next.

• The goal isn’t just to interpret dolphin communication, but to build a back-and-forth exchange using synthetic dolphin-like sounds.

This summer, the WDP will begin testing DolphinGemma in the field, using it to match specific vocal patterns with observed behaviors captured on video—such as play, conflict, or curiosity. Researchers will also introduce AI-generated “dolphin words” for familiar objects like seagrass or floating toys, watching closely to see how the animals respond to these novel sounds. You can watch how DolphinGemma works in this short video here.

It’s still unclear whether dolphin whistles function like human words. Slight variations might completely change a sound’s meaning—or not. This ambiguity poses a challenge for LLMs, which rely on consistent symbolic sequences. Still, identifying even partial structures could help crack open a shared vocabulary.

With DolphinGemma, the dream of understanding—and conversing with—another intelligent species is no longer science fiction. It’s floating just below the surface.

Credit: CHM

AI Arts & Leisure

If you live in California or are planning a trip there this summer, here’s something you might consider: a visit to the Computer History Museum in Silicon Valley’s Mountain View. The museum’s latest exhibit, “Chatbots Decoded: Exploring AI,” unpacks the past, present, and future of talking machines—from centuries-old contraptions to today’s phenomenally fluent algorithms.

This exhibit isn’t just about showing off what chatbots can do—it’s a deep dive into how we got here, and what society might gain (or lose) along the way.

What you'll see:

• A humanoid robot named Ameca who speaks in multiple languages and fields your questions with unsettling calm.

• Interactive displays that walk you through chatbot evolution, from early “talking machines” to 21st-century LLMs like ChatGPT.

• Artifacts that reveal how humans have long projected personality onto machines—some charming, others slightly creepy.

The exhibit finds its intellectual backbone in Alan Turing’s famous question: Can machines think? From there, it charts AI’s progress through decades of trial, error, and surprising breakthroughs—highlighting not just what worked, but what flopped. A walk-through video can be seen here.

The exhibit is best enjoyed by high school students and adults with a curious streak, a critical mind, or a soft spot for sci-fi. Whether you’re into programming or just pondering the meaning of intelligence, Chatbots Decoded offers something to engage, unsettle, and inspire.

AI in the News (in case you missed it)

•  OpenAI is building a social network. Read here.

• AI-boosted cameras help blind people to navigate. Read here.

• Johns Hopkins students use AI to help develop better baseball bats. Watch here.

• A machine using ultrasound and AI can gauge the fattiness of a tuna fish. Read here.

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Here.Now.AI Editorial team: Lori and Justin

A new report from the Pew Research Center shows a huge gap in perception when it comes to AI. While 56% of AI experts think it will be good for the U.S. long-term, only 17% of the public agrees. Most Americans fear AI will kill jobs, but many experts think it’ll either create new ones or not change much.

Clearly, the experts and the average American are not just on different pages—they're reading different books.

In this week’s edition, we’ve got ChatGPT’s new image generation, the crusade to protect news content, better flirting with a bot, and AI's spin on remixing recipes.

Let’s get started!

Credit: OpenAI

AI Image Magic

OpenAI just dropped a game-changing update to ChatGPT that's causing quite a stir in the AI world. The new GPT-4o model's image capabilities are so popular that OpenAI had to limit access as millions of users rushed to try it out. The new feature is on track to be one of the company’s most successful products to date.

What makes this update special? You can now edit existing images through natural conversation, create cartoon strips, logos and stickers with accurate text.  And most exciting of all — you can transform your photos into various artistic styles.

Simply upload any image and type "render the attached picture in the style of..." to see the magic happen.

The most popular transformation? Turning family photos into Studio Ghibli-style animations (think "Spirited Away"). But don't stop there—try Pixar, Lego, Barbie, or The Simpsons styles for equally impressive results, and let your imagination go wild.

We highly recommend digging up your favorite family portrait (that’s team member Justin and his sister in the images above - original, Ghibli, Barbie, and South Park) and spending a few minutes exploring this latest AI advance.

It's a perfect example of how AI continues to make creative tools more accessible to everyone, regardless of technical skill.

Credit: HereNowAI

AI & News

Ads are popping up in hundreds of news publications and digital outlets across the country this week as part of a major campaign by news publishers to protect content from AI. The coordinated push is intended to pressure Big Tech and AI companies to pay for using journalistic content.

Prominent publishers — including The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Guardian, and Vox Media — are calling on lawmakers to step in. Their demands: clear rules on how AI systems use copyrighted material, and stronger protections for creators.

The ads feature bold slogans like “Keep Watch On AI” and “AI Steals From You Too.” The print and online ads include a call to action urging Congress to hold tech companies accountable and ensure they pay content creators.

The campaign follows recent lobbying efforts by OpenAI and Google, which asked regulators to permit AI models to train on copyrighted works — a move that publishers argue threatens the value and integrity of original reporting.

You can see all the ads here. Each ad includes a QR code linking to a site called Support Responsible AI. The site encourages users to contact their representatives to back policies enforcing attribution, transparency, and fair pay for human creators.

Credit: Pixabay

AI & Dating

Dating app Tinder is out this month with a novel way to improve your conversation skills and flirt with confidence. The Game Game™, an interactive AI chat that turns awkward flirting into a voice-activated improv session.

Built in partnership with OpenAI, it runs on ChatGPT’s Advanced Voice Mode and offers an easy (and private) way to practice talking to actual humans.

Ok, this might not be for our audience —but for the Gen Z singles in your orbit, it’s part of a fast-growing trend. The Game Game isn’t here to replace real conversations. It’s designed to prepare people for them, especially in a world where ‘awkward’ is the new authentic.

For Tinder users, here’s how it works:

• Start by choosing an AI-generated persona and a dating scenario based on your preferences.

• Use your voice to chat with the character—your goal is to win them over before time runs out.

• The AI scores your performance on a three-flame scale and offers real-time feedback as the convo unfolds.

• At the end, you’ll get a full rundown of how you did, with the option to save or share your score.

Tinder’s not alone in the AI dating game. Hinge has an AI prompt editor. Grindr is testing an AI wingman. Meanwhile, niche apps like Rizz and WingAI are letting bots handle the first moves entirely.

The Game Game is available on iOS in the U.S.—but only for a limited time. And if you’re curious, there’s no shortage of reviews from users who gave it a spin. Based on the feedback, either AI still needs to brush up on its charm—or we all do.

Credit: Google Arts & Culture

AI Food & Drink

If you love playing with AI-generated recipe tools as much as we do – and you’re a fan of international flavors, get ready for a tasty adventure with Food Mood. Brought to you by Google Arts & Culture, Food Mood blends cuisines from different corners of the world into creative inspirations for your next meal.

The online tool is easy to use, offering a simple and intuitive design. Once you’re connected to the Food Mood dashboard, you’ll find a sample suggestion like this: I want a soup for 4 people mixing influences from Saint Lucia and Vanuatu. 

The highlighted text can be modified to reflect your preferences. Do you want soup or a starter? Main course or dessert? You can also choose how many people you want to serve and which types of cuisine you'd like to mix (two columns of choices offer a global buffet of options).

You can also customize your recipe with extra options. The tool lets you pick vegan, vegetarian, or gluten-free meals. You can even add a few specific ingredients of your own, thanks to the auto-suggest menu. Food Mood generates step-by-step instructions, cooking times, and pro tips on one side, while the Google AI image generator cooks up a mouth-watering image on the other.

Ok, so it’s a bit of a gimmick, but here’s what we loved the most: the creative culinary titles for each dish. Some examples:

• Ani’s Athenian Feast (combines cuisines from Armenia and Greece)

• Secrets of Marrakech’s Medina (combines cuisines from Mexico and Morocco)

• The Pearl of Melanesia (combines cuisines from Saint Lucia and Vanuatu)

Whether the AI-generated fusion dish turns out to be a new favorite or just a fun way to pass some time online, Food Mood is definitely worth a try for anyone who loves exploring creative and adventurous recipes.

AI in the News (in case you missed it)

• AI outperforms urgent care docs, study says. Read here.

• Microsoft says it's 'slowing or pausing' some AI data center projects. Read here.

• AI proves that fingerprints are not unique, upending the legal system. Read here.

• Fake job seekers are flooding U.S. companies that are hiring for remote positions. Read here.

   

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Here.Now.AI Editorial team: Lori and Justin

The numbers are staggering.  Earlier this week, OpenAI closed a $40 billion funding round - the most money ever raised by a private tech company. The deal values OpenAI at $300 billion.

At the same time, ChatGPT reached a new milestone: 500 million weekly users, up 100 million in just one month.

Hard to believe the world’s most popular chatbot was launched less than two and a half years ago.

In this week's edition: Perfect your AI prompts with one click, discover Wayfair's Muse for inspired interiors, explore breakthroughs in Alzheimer's research, and check out a cleverly creative twist on chess.

Let’s get started!

Credit: Pixabay

AI Productivity

Getting useful answers from AI often depends on how you phrase your question. But let’s be honest—most of us don’t have time to perfect the art of prompting. That’s where Promptimize comes in. This Chrome extension fine-tunes your prompts in real time, across major platforms like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini. It helps deliver clearer, more relevant, and more actionable responses with just one click.

Here’s what Promptimize does:

• Refines your input – Type your initial prompt as usual. Example: Scandinavian minimalist design.

• Optimizes with one click – Hit the Enhance button for a polished version.

• Customizes to your style – Adjust tone and structure to match your voice.

• Saves your best prompts – Store and reuse them within your favorite AI tool.

The Promptimize website provides a real-world example: a basic request: “Write a blog post about healthy eating.”

A Promptimize-enhanced version: “Create an engaging blog post on healthy eating habits, focusing on [specific topic], balanced nutrition, meal planning, and lifestyle tips.”

The improved prompt continues in greater detail, outlining the request with clear sections, a call to action, and additional resource options—all leading to better AI-generated content.

Team member Justin tested it out. While casual prompts work fine for everyday chats, he found that for business tasks, Promptimize turned vague instructions into structured, actionable prompts that saved time and delivered better results. “The real-time suggestions were especially useful for breaking down complex topics and extracting more valuable insights from AI,” he said.

Promptimize offers a free plan with 10 prompt enhancements per day—plenty to test its impact on your workflow. If you’re using AI for work, better prompts = better results. This might just be the upgrade you didn’t know you needed.

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Credit: Wayfair Muse

AI Online Shopping

Wayfair is taking another swing at AI-powered home shopping with the launch of Muse, a generative AI tool designed to help customers find inspiration and more easily turn ideas into purchases. This follows the company’s earlier foray into AI with Decorify, which allowed shoppers to see preset design styles applied to their spaces. Muse builds on that concept with a more interactive, personalized search experience.

How it works:

• Users enter a prompt, such as “cozy Scandinavian reading nook” or “modern industrial kitchen.”

• Muse generates AI-powered images showcasing design ideas and product recommendations from Wayfair’s catalog.

• Shoppers can click on items to buy immediately or save them to a collection for future purchases.

• For a more personalized experience, users can upload a photo of their space to see how suggested styles would look in their home.

Wayfair’s bet on Muse reflects a broader shift toward AI-driven discovery in e-commerce. Unlike generic search tools, Muse functions more like a visual brainstorming partner, offering a Pinterest-like interface where shoppers can refine their aesthetic preferences and shop directly from AI-generated designs.

Muse is part of Wayfair’s ongoing effort to improve customer engagement. To encourage repeat purchases, the company recently launched a new loyalty program that centralizes benefits across its brands. AI-powered shopping tools are also becoming a competitive necessity, with major retailers like Amazon and Pinterest investing in generative AI to keep customers coming back for more.

By integrating AI-driven recommendations with its vast product catalog, Wayfair hopes to position itself as the go-to destination for home shoppers looking for both ideas and easy ways to bring them to life.

Credit: Pixabay

AI Medical Research

One of the most exciting areas where artificial intelligence is already having an impact is in developing new treatments for hard-to-cure diseases.

At the Oxford Drug Discovery Institute, scientists are using AI to sift through vast amounts of biomedical data—cutting the time it takes to identify potential Alzheimer’s drug targets from weeks to just days. This remarkable advancement was featured in a recent Wall Street Journal article, available to paid subscribers here.

Alzheimer’s is a complex disease, driven by a web of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. Identifying which genes or proteins to target has long been a slow and uncertain process. But with AI in the mix, researchers can move faster and make more informed decisions.

Oxford scientists partnered with Graphwise to create a custom “knowledge graph”—a map-like database that shows how ideas, genes, and scientific publications are interconnected. They then applied AI to help navigate and analyze it. Here’s how the process worked:

• Start with 54 genes from a large genetic study linked to the immune system.

• Use AI to rapidly scan biomedical sources, including PubMed, journal articles, and proprietary data.

• Visualize connections between proteins, genes, and potential drug mechanisms.

• Trace citations back to original studies for faster validation.

As Oxford's Chief Scientific Officer Emma Mead put it, without AI tools to organize the overwhelming explosion of biomedical data, researchers would feel “a bit lost.” Tasks that took weeks—like deciding which genes to test in the lab—now take only days. Researchers are also uncovering patterns that could lead to better biomarkers and more targeted therapies.

In the race against a disease affecting millions worldwide, AI and human expertise may just be the perfect team.

Credit: Google Labs

AI Fun & Games

Who loves to play chess?

Google Labs has launched GenChess, an experimental web-based game that combines AI image generation with a classic strategy game. The project, powered by Google’s Gemini Imagen 3 model, lets users customize chess pieces using text prompts.

How it works:

• Players log in with a Gmail account and describe a theme for their chess set—anything from sushi to space aliens.

• The AI generates pieces in two styles: classic (traditional-looking) or creative (more abstract).

• Users can tweak individual pieces by refining prompts until they get the desired look.

• Once the set is finalized, players face off against an AI opponent, which also generates a themed chess set.

We thought we’d have a little fun with the ‘creative version’ of chess pieces inspired by “McDonalds”. When we clicked on ‘generate opponent’ we were delighted to see that we were up against “Burger King” for the game. It got a kick out of going head-to-head with these two natural competitors!

Google says GenChess is about more than play—it’s a demonstration of how AI can merge creativity with gaming. The project highlights how generative AI can be used for interactive design and personalization, making tools like Imagen 3 more accessible to a broader audience. Your move!

AI in the News (in case you missed it)

• First Therapy Chatbot Trial Yields Mental Health Benefits. Read here.

• Harvard professor uses AI to replicate himself for tutor experiment. Watch here.

• AI-powered system helps ships avoid deadly whale collisions. Read here.

• How to tell if an image is fake content from AI. Watch here.

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Here.Now.AI Editorial team: Lori and Justin

Another week, another tech breakthrough. Scientists in Germany have found a way to dramatically cut AI’s energy consumption—by up to 90%!

AI’s soaring electricity use has driven up its carbon footprint. The researchers came up with a method to shrink AI models without sacrificing performance, making them more efficient and accessible—even for small businesses. This breakthrough could lead us all to a more sustainable AI future.

In this week's edition, we've got AI-powered travel planning, the pitfalls in AI search accuracy, a look at the collaborative AI workplace of tomorrow, and smarter celebrations with a dash of AI inspiration.

Let’s get started!

Credit: Pixabay

AI Travel Tool

Planning a summer getaway? AI-assisted travel planning has come a long way since we first covered it. The latest example is Mindtrip — a next-gen AI travel assistant that blends itinerary-building with interactive maps, real-time recommendations, and dynamic conversation.

Mindtrip starts like any AI chatbot—just tell it where you want to go or what kind of experience you're after. But here’s where it stands out:

• Recommendations come with clickable maps and detailed descriptions.

• You can refine suggestions through conversation—asking for alternatives, price comparisons, and ratings.

Team member Justin used Mindtrip to plan a week in Provence, balancing food, culture, shopping, and relaxation.

"The initial agenda was genuinely compelling," Justin reported. "When I investigated each recommendation individually, they proved both credible and appealing." While the first response lacked pricing information, a follow-up question yielded detailed estimates for each suggested activity and even an overall budget projection for the entire week.

Mindtrip still has limitations. Where It falls short:

• Flight searches are basic, struggling with multi-leg routes or premium options.

• Car rentals show locations but lack direct booking links or pricing.

Despite some gaps, Mindtrip delivers an impressive starting point—cutting research time dramatically while keeping the final decisions in your hands.

Once you create a free Mindtrip account, you'll gain access to a destination inspiration section featuring user-contributed suggestions spanning diverse locations, itineraries, and must-try experiences. The platform occasionally sends recommendation emails that our team found genuinely helpful rather than intrusive.

Tried Mindtrip or another AI travel planner? Let us know what worked—and what didn’t!

Credit: Pixabay

AI Fact-Finders

Are you turning to AI chatbots instead of Google or other search engines to find information? Nearly 1 in 4 Americans have made the switch. But as the battle for AI-search supremacy heats up, a big problem remains—these tools often get facts wrong.

A new study from Columbia University’s Tow Center for Digital Journalism found that AI search tools provided incorrect answers over 60% of the time when retrieving news content. Unlike traditional search engines, AI chatbots don’t just pull up links—they summarize and repackage information, often with misleading citations and outright fabrications. Some of the worst offenders:

• Grok 3 (integrated into Elon Musk’s X platform) was wrong 94% of the time.

• Even Perplexity, the “best” performer, had a 37% error rate.

• Paid versions were often worse—Perplexity Pro ($20/month) and Grok 3 ($40/month) delivered more confidently incorrect answers than their free counterparts.

Even when AI search tools partner with publishers, accuracy doesn’t improve much. OpenAI and Perplexity have content deals with major media companies, but they still failed to consistently identify articles from their own partners.

What’s worse: AI chatbots borrow credibility from trusted sources—even when they get things wrong. As BBC News put it, “When AI assistants cite trusted brands like the BBC as a source, audiences are more likely to trust the answer—even if it’s incorrect.”

Our recommendation? Use AI search for brainstorming, product research, or summarizing ideas—but verify facts and citations with traditional search engines.

If an AI chatbot confidently cites a source, don’t take it at face value—always check the original.

Credit: Pixabay

AI & the Workplace

We’ve been saying it for a while: we’re still in the early days of the AI revolution. But there’s no doubt—the pace of innovation and adoption is accelerating.

For a glimpse of where we’re headed, consider recent insights from Microsoft Corporate VP Aparna Chennapragada, who says AI is entering a new phase of co-working and collaboration.

Until now, AI has mostly functioned as an individual assistant—drafting emails, summarizing meetings, and answering questions. That’s changing. AI is evolving from a thought partner for individuals into a full-fledged team player. Instead of just assisting, it will help entire teams work more efficiently by coordinating tasks and managing workflows.

What this means:

• AI won’t just be a chatbot answering questions—it will act as a digital chief of staff, delegating work to specialized AI agents.

• Teams will collaborate with multiple AI assistants, each handling research, project management, or decision-making.

• The goal? Eliminate repetitive tasks so employees can focus on strategy, creativity, and big-picture thinking.

Within the next 12-24 months, AI will become more autonomous, requiring less input from users. Chennapragada predicts that every worker will essentially become a manager of AI agents.

But adoption isn't seamless. While businesses are eager to integrate AI, they’re struggling with information overload—too many tools and too little guidance on which ones to choose.

If this is truly the direction we’re headed in, the future of work isn’t just about humans using AI—it’s about humans and AI working together.

Credit: Pixabay

AI Special Occasions

Life’s biggest celebrations—weddings, anniversaries, milestone birthdays—deserve a special touch. But when it comes to delivering a heartfelt speech, a meaningful toast, or the perfect wedding vow, many people find themselves stuck, struggling to put their emotions into words. That’s where CelebrateAlly comes in—an AI-powered platform that helps you craft personalized, heartfelt messages in minutes.

Unlike generic templates or broad-use chatbots like ChatGPT, CelebrateAlly’s AI creates unique, customized speeches, vows, and celebration themes based on your personal experiences. Whether it’s a funny, touching best man speech or a tearjerking anniversary toast, this tool ensures that every word feels authentic and deeply personal.

Founded by former Microsoft product manager Sonali George, Vancouver-based CelebrateAlly has skyrocketed to over 500,000 users across 200 countries in just 18 months—proof that AI can make meaningful moments even more special.

How it works:

• Answer a few quick questions about your event, relationship, and emotions—it takes less than 2 minutes.

• Get a fully personalized speech, toast, or theme tailored to your preferences.

• Make any tweaks and deliver your moment with confidence.

CelebrateAlly is constantly evolving, rolling out new features like AI-powered wedding theme suggestions, celebration games, and personalized gift ideas. A recent addition? An AI-driven thank-you message generator that crafts the perfect note in your voice, capturing the gratitude and warmth behind every special moment.

CelebrateAlly is free to use, with no hidden charges—and your input and generated vows are kept secure and confidential, ensuring a private and intimate experience. This could be just the tool you need during the busy wedding season.

AI in the News (in case you missed it)

• Netflix’s Reed Hastings Donates $50 Million to Fund AI Research for the Humanities at Bowdoin College. Read here. 

• How AI is reshaping our world and who's cashing in. Watch here.

• AI job application rise 'risks hiring incapable staff'.  Read here.

• New research shows link between ChatGPT use and loneliness. Watch here.

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Here.Now.AI Editorial team: Lori and Justin

The “Superbowl of AI” is underway in San Jose, CA this week. To be honest, we had no idea there was something that BIG happening.

Leading AI chipmaker Nvidia’s annual developer conference has attracted 25,000 attendees where some of the brightest minds are talking robots, quantum computing …and AI.

If CEO Jensen Huang’s two-hour keynote is any indication of where we’re heading, it’s going to be a wild ride.

In this week’s edition, we’ve got an amazing instant AI translation tool, editing tips for ChatGPT users, Lowe’s AI-powered home DIY helper, and a wager wizard for online sports betting.

Let’s get started!

Credit: Pixabay

AI Translations

Imagine holding a business meeting in Tokyo, chatting ‘live’ with Italian relatives, or teaching students in Brazil—without speaking Japanese, Italian, or Portuguese. Pinch is a new tool making this multilingual dream a reality.

Pinch acts like a personal interpreter on every call, bridging language divides in real- time.

How It works:

• Select two languages for your conversation.

• Hold down the space bar while speaking—like a digital walkie-talkie.

• Your words are instantly translated into your listener's language, with a text transcript displayed.

Justin tested Pinch with his French-speaking daughter. It handled formal language impressively and even maintained semantic accuracy in poetry, though lyrical elements were lost. However, it struggled with French slang—highlighting AI’s ongoing challenge with cultural nuance.

Currently, Pinch operates in "interpreter mode", simulating a third person on the call. Soon, they'll launch "simultaneous mode" offering real-time translation without delays—a feature we're eager to test.

What sets Pinch apart is its language range. Beyond staples like Spanish and German, it distinguishes between Argentinian and Colombian Spanish and supports languages like Hindi, Norwegian, Turkish, and Ukrainian.

Founded by Y Combinator alums Christian Safka and Keyu Chen, Pinch joins the ranks of Airbnb, Dropbox, and Reddit in pioneering innovation.

Will Pinch finally erase language barriers? Time will tell—but it's a major leap toward that vision.

Credit: Pixabay

AI Productivity

Even the best writers need a second pair of eyes. Editing isn’t just about catching typos. It's about sharpening ideas, tightening prose, and ensuring every sentence flows effortlessly.

We thought it might be time for a little refresher on the best writing prompts.  ChatGPT (or your favorite chatbot) can be your tireless, judgment-free editor, helping to refine grammar, clarity, and readability—without the wait.

With the right AI prompt, you can sound polished and professional in seconds.

• Grammar check & clarity boost:
  Prompt: "Proofread this for grammar, punctuation, and clarity. Keep my tone conversational but professional."

• Make it more concise
  Prompt: "Revise this to be more concise while keeping the key message intact."

• Improve readability
  Prompt: "Rewrite this to be clearer and easier to read at an 8th-grade level."

• Tone refinement
  Prompt: "Make this sound more engaging without losing professionalism."

• Fix awkward phrasing
  Prompt: "Identify and rewrite any sentences that sound awkward or unnatural."

For a full AI-powered edit, you can try this: "Proofread this for grammar, clarity, and conciseness. Make it more engaging but keep the tone professional."

You can also use ChatGPT as a learning opportunity: Benefit from explanations that deepen your understanding of effective writing techniques. ChatGPT isn’t just a grammar checker—it’s a writing coach that helps you communicate with confidence.

Credit: Pixabay

AI Home Improvement

Today marks the official first day of Spring, and with warmer weather on the horizon, homeowners are dusting off their toolkits and making big plans. Whether it’s fresh landscaping, a long-overdue paint job, or tackling that leaky faucet, the home improvement season is officially here.

But before you dive into your next DIY project, major retailer Lowe’s has a new AI chatbot that might save you a few frantic Google searches—and possibly a trip back to the store.

Mylow is designed to provide instant project advice, product recommendations, and step-by-step guidance—just like a seasoned Lowe’s associate. Developed with OpenAI (the team behind ChatGPT), Mylow helps simplify home improvement by answering questions like:

• How much mulch do I need?

• What’s this year’s trending paint color?

• How do I fix a leaky faucet?

• Which washer and dryer save the most on utilities?

Users can refine recommendations by budget or ZIP code—because the best time to plant grass in Florida isn’t the same as in Minnesota.

Mylow is now available on Lowe’s desktop and mobile site for MyLowe’s Rewards members, with an app version coming later this year. With Mylow’s 24/7 support, Spring projects just got a whole lot smarter.

Credit: Pixabay

AI & Gambling

Sports betting giant FanDuel is testing a new AI-powered betting assistant that could make placing wagers as easy as chatting with a friend. But unless you’re among the lucky few, you’ll have to wait your turn.

AceAI is billed as the first generative AI chat assistant in the sports betting industry. If it delivers, it could set a new standard for how fans analyze stats, build parlays, and place bets.

How it works:

• Users can type or speak their requests into the FanDuel app’s chat function.

• AceAI then suggests bets and digs up relevant stats on teams or players.

Instead of manually placing multiple wagers, a bettor can also ask AceAI to construct a ‘parlay’ — a single bet that combines multiple outcomes, such as LeBron James scoring a set number of points and assists while the Lakers lose. If every part of the parlay hits, the payout is much larger than a standard bet, but if even one leg fails, the entire wager is lost.

For now, only 1% of FanDuel users have access to AceAI as the company takes a slow, phased approach to its rollout. Future updates could expand features to include in-game betting, wagers on Next Gen Stats, and cross-sport parlays.

If FanDuel’s AceAI proves its worth, the days of manually crunching numbers before placing a bet may be over.

AI in the News (in case you missed it)

• AI nurses: Staffing solution for hospitals or a threat to quality care? Read here.

• AI is turbocharging organized crime. Read here.

• Majority of AI Researchers Say Tech Industry Is Pouring Billions Into a Dead End. Read here.

• Can AI help you win your March Madness bracket? Read here.

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Here.Now.AI Editorial team: Lori, Justin, and Lisa

In this week's edition, wave goodbye to typing frustration with smarter speech-to-text AI, explore new career possibilities with Google's latest innovation, see why fast food is craving more AI, and discover smart tech to pamper your houseplants.

Let’s get started!

Credit: Pixabay

AI Productivity

Ever find yourself with brilliant ideas but fingers that can't keep pace? A typical complaint: "I can speak my thoughts clearly, but typing slows me down and breaks my creative flow".

Our team member Justin faced the same challenge after our previously recommended dictation app, Flow, suffered a serious accuracy decline. His search eventually led him to TalkText.io, a Mac-based dictation alternative that delivers the functionality we loved in Flow but with noticeably improved accuracy and reliability.

Justin put TalkText through its paces with a 20-minute dictation session. 'What stood out immediately was how well it captured exactly what I meant,' he explains. 'Instead of spending time deciphering misinterpreted text, I could focus on refining my actual ideas'.

What makes TalkText stand out is its AI "polish" feature that transforms conversational speech – complete with all our natural "umms" and mid-sentence redirections – into coherent text that flows directly into any Mac application.

At $10/month (or $6.50/month with annual billing), it's an accessible solution that can save valuable hours each week. There is also a generous free tier for testing that we highly recommend.

For readers who think faster than they type, TalkText.io offers a practical solution that preserves your natural voice while eliminating the friction of traditional typing. Sometimes the most impactful technologies are the ones that simply get out of your way.

Use AI as Your Personal Assistant

Ready to save precious time and let AI do the heavy lifting?

Save time and simplify your unique workflow with HubSpot’s highly anticipated AI Playbook—your guide to smarter processes and effortless productivity.

Download the free guide today.

Credit: Pixabay

AI Career Builders

When it comes to our careers, some of us take a more winding road than others. At times, it’s hard to see where one position might lead to the next. Career Dreamer is an early-stage experiment from Google that uses AI to help people explore different career options.

Using advanced AI, Career Dreamer connects the dots between your experiences, education, skills, and interests, while building a cohesive professional narrative. It clarifies how your skills align with various career opportunities, making it easier to understand where your unique strengths fit best in the job market.

With Career Dreamer, you can:

• Craft your story: Create a personalized Career Identity Statement to clearly showcase your strengths. Use this to enhance your resume, professional profile, and interview conversations.

• Explore opportunities: Identify careers that closely match your skills and experiences, leveraging real-time data from Lightcast and the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

• Take actionable steps: Work alongside Gemini, Google's AI assistant, to draft cover letters, fine-tune your resume, or spark ideas for new career directions.

Additionally, Career Dreamer provides resources for skill-building, such as Google Career Certificates and Google Cloud Skills Boost.

During its development, Google partnered closely with organizations supporting a broad spectrum of users, including students launching their first careers, recent graduates entering the workforce, adult learners pursuing new paths, and military members transitioning to civilian life.

Whether your path has been unconventional or you're just starting to map your future, Career Dreamer offers guidance tailored specifically to you.

Credit: Pixabay

AI Food & Drink

The fast-food industry is going all in on AI. After a rough start with early missteps over AI-powered drive-throughs, the technology is advancing quickly to streamline operations, improve profitability, and enhance the customer experience.

McDonald's is rolling out AI upgrades across its 43,000 global restaurants, aiming to cut wait times and elevate both customer and employee experiences. Upgrades include AI-driven drive-throughs, connected kitchen equipment, and predictive tools to foresee equipment failures before they happen.

McDonald's is also experimenting with computer vision technology—think facial recognition minus the faces—to verify order accuracy before items reach customers. A "generative AI virtual manager" is in the works, poised to handle administrative tasks like shift scheduling, traditionally managed by humans.

Wendy's is also ramping up AI adoption. Its AI voice assistant, "FreshAI," successfully tested in roughly 100 locations, will soon expand to around 600 restaurants nationwide.

• FreshAI nudges customers to order more, boosting average spending per visit.

• The initiative aligns with Wendy's broader push toward digital upgrades, including smart menu boards, AI-driven kiosks, and behind-the-scenes automation.

Miso Robotics, backed by NVIDIA, recently unveiled an upgraded robotic kitchen assistant named "Flippy."

• The new Flippy Fry Station model is quicker and occupies half the footprint of its predecessor, requiring just hours to install—75% less time than before, significantly reducing operational disruptions.

• Major brands like White Castle and Jack in the Box are already jumping on board.

Experts envision a future where ordering fast food feels less transactional and more intuitive, with AI-driven apps anticipating customers' needs based on previous orders, dietary preferences, and even the time of day.

Fast food's AI push is quickly moving from experimental to essential, reshaping the way we order, eat, and experience convenience. A big question looms: will all this tech gobble up fast-food jobs?

Credit: Pixabay

AI Home & Garden

At this time of year, when the light shifts and the days get longer, our house plants need a little extra TLC. Are they getting enough water? Too much sunlight? Is the indoor humidity level just right?

If you’re someone who struggles with a not-so-green thumb, the future of houseplant care is here. LeafyPod bills itself as the future of houseplant care. It connects your planters to Wi-Fi and the LeafyPod app, serving as a communication hub for multiple planters.

The sleek new planter features AI-powered watering, real-time monitoring of plant health, and a sleek cordless design. The app features tailored care information for more than 100 common houseplants.

Here’s how it works:

• Once you download the LeafyPod app on your phone, you will be prompted to choose the type of plant that is in the planter, then the planter will begin to learn how your plant and the soil react when it is watered.

• After the first few waterings, the smart planter will create an ideal watering routine for the plant and alert you if it needs more light or to be moved due to temperature or humidity changes.

• The water reservoir in the planter can also hold up to four weeks of water, so if you leave for a vacation, the plant will still be cared for while you're away.

Every planter comes with a filter pre-installed, and additional filters can be purchased from the Add-Ons section. Control and monitor everything conveniently through the LeafyPod app. Curious to know what it looks like? Check out the LeafyPod video.

LeafyPod was launched on Kickstarter and is available for preorder now with prices starting at $148.00. If we’re going to spend that kind of money on a planter, the plants better be worth the money. We found this article on 2024’s 10 Most Expensive House Plants. Who knew a rare Monstera Adansonii Variegata once sold for $38,000!

AI in the News (in case you missed it)

• AI chatbots infected with Russian disinformation. Read here.

• AI tries to cheat at chess when it’s losing. Read here.

• Could AI be the cure to the loneliness epidemic? Watch TedTalk here.

• AI can steal your voice and there's not much you can do about it. Read here.

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Here.Now.AI Editorial team: Lori, Justin, and Lisa

With massive cuts in federal spending on research underway, it’s nice to see the AI world stepping up. OpenAI, the team behind ChatGPT, just launched NextGenAI, a first-of-its-kind collaboration with 15 top research institutions, including CalTech, Duke, Harvard, Howard, and MIT.

With $50 million in grants, computing power, and API access, NextGenAI aims to drive research breakthroughs and advance education. Let’s hope we see more initiatives like this in the coming months.

In this week’s edition, we’ve got an AI agent for early adopters, AI sleep science, smart tech for teen wellness, and learning sign language with AI. 

Let’s get started!

Credit: Google’s ImageFX

AI Agents

Move over Alexa and Siri. Imagine a digital assistant that does more than answer your questions -- it actively searches the web and completes tasks for you. AI agents are no longer just a concept—they're rapidly becoming a reality, transforming how we interact with technology.

Proxy is an AI agent that offers a free way to experiment with autonomous AI. Unlike OpenAI's Operator, which requires a hefty $200 monthly Pro subscription, Proxy lets early adopters try their platform at no cost.

How it works: Think of Proxy like a super-powered chatbot that doesn't just talk – it acts. Start with a simple instruction like "Track the top five tech news stories" or "Monitor LinkedIn job trends." Now, here's where things get interesting: instead of just returning a quick answer, Proxy opens a window showing you exactly how it's gathering information.

We were fascinated to watch the agent navigate different websites, scanning content, and synthesizing information in real-time. It's like having a transparent digital detective working for you!

While today's AI agents are focused on information-gathering, the future is even more exciting. Soon, these digital assistants will:

• Make travel reservations

• Handle online purchases

• Schedule appointments

• Manage your subscriptions

Truthfully, we're not yet ready to hand over our credit cards to these digital helpers. But, if you're curious (like us!) about where technology is heading, it's worth taking Proxy for a spin. Think of it as a preview of how we'll all interact with AI in the coming years. And the best part? You can try it now, for free, while it's still in its launch phase.

Credit: Tone Buds

AI for Sleep

Do you have trouble falling asleep? Soon, you’ll be able to get a bit more shut eye with the help of AI. NextSense is launching Tone Buds, the first AI-driven, biosensing sleep earbuds designed to improve sleep quality by reading and responding to your brain’s electrical activity in real time.

Unlike traditional sleep trackers that rely on heart rate and movement data—often imprecise—Tone Buds use EEG technology to directly measure brainwaves, offering a more accurate picture of sleep health.

Sleep deprivation is a national health crisis—70 million Americans struggle with chronic sleep issues, according to the CDC. Women tend to struggle more with insomnia and report poorer sleep quality, while men are more likely to deal with sleep apnea.

Here’s how Tone Buds work:

• Responsive sleep optimization – Tone Buds track brain activity and adjust in real-time, playing sounds that help promote deep, restorative sleep.

• Medical-grade sensors – Safe for daily wear, the earbuds meet rigorous safety standards and enhance slow-wave activity, which is linked to better brain health.

• A tailored sleep experience – Users can drift off to their favorite audio or Tone’s curated soundscapes, designed to align with brain rhythms.

Worried about your privacy and where your data might end up? NextSense says all data is encrypted, user-controlled, and never collected without explicit consent. Users can review or delete their data at any time.

Tone Buds are available for pre-order at $299, with shipments expected in Q2. A monthly subscription covers sleeve replacements to maintain peak performance and accurate readings. With Tone Buds, better sleep isn’t just a dream—it just might be music to your ears.

Credit: Pixabay

AI & Mental Health

As schools across the US grapple with rising mental health problems among students, a startup called Sonar Mental Health has come up with a tech-driven solution that blends AI with human intervention.

At the heart of this approach is Sonny, an AI-powered well-being companion that provides real-time, personalized support and connects students to professional help when needed.

With 17% of high schools lacking a counselor, many students are left without critical support. Sonar fills this gap by offering 24/7, judgment-free assistance without increasing the burden on school resources.

Founded on personal experience, Sonar’s team—made up of clinicians, researchers, technologists, and youth leaders—aims to reshape student mental healthcare by identifying challenges early and preventing crises before they escalate.

Sonny isn’t a therapist, but it acts as a bridge to real help. Here’s how it works:

• Students text Sonny when they need support.

• AI suggests a response, but every message is reviewed and sent by a trained Wellbeing Companion—a human providing guidance and reassurance.

• If more help is needed, Sonar connects students with licensed therapists, school counselors, or mental health professionals—eliminating common barriers that delay care.

Since launching its first school partnership in January 2024, Sonar has expanded to support over 4,500 students across nine districts. A team of six trained professionals—specializing in psychology, social work, and crisis response—ensures that every conversation is handled with care.

By combining AI efficiency with human empathy, Sonar offers a scalable, proactive approach to student mental health—ensuring no student has to face their challenges alone.

Credit: Signs-ai

AI for Good

Are you someone who uses sign language? Ever wanted to learn ASL?

AI chip giant NVIDIA has helped to launch Signs, a free, AI-driven platform designed to make American Sign Language (ASL) learning more accessible. Whether you're new to ASL or fluent, Signs provides real-time feedback and a growing open-source dataset to enhance learning and engagement. All it takes is your webcam and a desire to learn.

Many hearing parents of deaf children struggle to learn ASL, creating barriers to communication. Signs bridges this gap by offering interactive learning and encouraging fluent signers to contribute their knowledge, making it both a learning tool and a community-driven resource.

How it works:

• Users enable their cameras to receive real-time AI feedback while practicing.

• Right-handed users select the blue hand to follow; left-handed users select purple.

• Choose the level you’re comfortable with -- from beginner to expert.

• Fluent ASL speakers can also upload videos, helping to improve accuracy. 

.At launch, the platform features 100 distinct signs, with plans to grow to 1,000.

ASL relies on more than hand movements—facial expressions and body language are crucial. While the initial dataset focuses on hand and finger positions, NVIDIA is exploring ways to incorporate these non-manual signals using AI and motion capture.

The data could also enable Nvidia to develop new ASL-related products in the future. By making ASL learning interactive, community-driven, and open-source, Signs empowers more people to communicate while expanding resources for assistive technology.

AI in the News (in case you missed it)

• Why parents are teaching their gen Alpha kids to use AI. Read here.

• World's largest call center using AI to 'neutralize' Indian employees' accents. Read here.

• Inside the wild west of AI companionship. Read here.

• Are chatbots of the dead a brilliant idea or a terrible one? Read here.

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Have you tried a new AI-powered product? Let us know what you think.

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Here.Now.AI Editorial team: Lori and Justin

OpenAI, the brains behind ChatGPT, just dropped a jaw-dropping stat: 400 million weekly active users. That’s a 33% jump in under three months!

What’s fueling the surge? Turns out, good old-fashioned word of mouth. People see their friends using it, get curious, and next thing you know, they’re hooked. As one insider put it, “When a tool is this useful, people can’t stop talking about it.”

In this week’s edition, we’ve got the latest on digital taskmasters, Fiverr’s freelancer fix, AI’s gender divide, and housekeeper robot helpers. 

Let’s get started!

Credit: Pixabay

AI's (Free) Model Mania

We typically don't cover individual AI model releases - they come so fast and furious they could fill our entire newsletter! But this week is different, with three noteworthy free releases that deserve your attention:

Perplexity AI just dropped its "Deep Research" feature in its base model. Think of it as ChatGPT Deep Research’s competent cousin but without the $200 monthly price tag. While it takes 2-4 minutes to process, Deep Research thinks deeply, asks clarifying questions, and scours the internet before delivering comprehensive insights.  It's completely free (with usage limits).

Google's new Gemini 2.0 Flash model is now available as an iPhone app. While free users can only access text features (voice and image capabilities are reserved for $20/month subscribers), it's an impressive addition to Google's growing AI arsenal, alongside NotebookLM, which we love, and featured recently.

Finally, AI model Grok 3 has entered the fight. Currently free while in beta (though a $16/month subscription is planned), Grok stands out for its lightning-fast responses and robust reasoning capabilities. But beware -- true to Grok-owner Elon Musk's style, it operates with fewer restrictions than its competitors, raising concerns that reduced filtering could lead to the spread of misinformation and inappropriate content generation under the guise of "truth-seeking". (note: we’re not Grok users as we prefer other AI models.)

Our take: If you've been disappointed by the output of AI chatbots, or haven't explored them recently, now's the perfect time to give these free options a try. The landscape is evolving rapidly, and these releases show just how accessible and remarkable advanced AI features are becoming.

Credit: Pixabay

AI & Business

Ask any creative working in the gig economy if they’re worried AI will kill jobs and the answer is likely a resounding ‘yes’.  Fiverr, the freelancing marketplace, is flipping the AI script, launching a new platform, Fiverr Go, to empower rather than replace freelancers.

Unlike companies that have replaced workers with AI, Fiverr is betting on a coexistence model, helping freelancers harness AI to scale their businesses rather than compete against it.  The initiative allows creators to train AI on their own work—keeping control, setting prices, and monetizing their intellectual property.

Fiverr Go offers a dual-pronged AI strategy:

• Personal AI Creation Model – Freelancers can train AI exclusively on their work, maintaining full ownership and control.

• Personal AI Assistant – A tool that adapts to freelancers' preferences, optimizes client communication, handles administrative tasks, and provides business insights.

At launch, Fiverr Go will be available for select freelancers in voiceover, songwriting, graphic design, illustration, copywriting, and digital marketing. The platform will also be open to developers, allowing them to build AI applications that integrate with Fiverr’s vast transactional dataset.

Fiverr’s biggest competitors—Upwork and PeoplePerHour—have integrated AI assistants, but none have directly embedded generative AI tools for creators the way Fiverr Go does.

Fiverr’s move could set a precedent for how gig platforms integrate AI. If successful, it may push other freelance marketplaces to rethink their approach to automation—favoring AI as a tool for empowerment rather than an engine of replacement. We’d love to know what you think of this emerging business model.

Credit: Pixabay

AI Gender Divide

We were disheartened by this news: as more businesses adopt AI into the workplace, new research shows women are more reluctant to use AI tools than their male counterparts.

In a recent working paper, “Global Evidence on Gender Gaps and Generative AI” by scholars at Harvard Business School, UC Berkeley, and Stanford, women are shown to be adopting generative AI tools at a 25% lower rate than men, despite the technology’s potential to boost productivity across industries. Some of their findings:

• A Federal Reserve Bank of New York survey found that half of men used generative AI in the past year, compared to just a third of women.

• Across 18 studies involving 140,000+ students and professionals, women were 10% to 40% less likely than men to use AI tools.

Turns out some women hesitate to use AI because they worry it might be seen as "cheating" and could trigger professional backlash. Others fear being judged more harshly than men if they rely on AI-generated information. Many simply haven’t had as much exposure to these tools, making them less confident in adopting them.

If women continue to lag in AI adoption, it could widen existing gender gaps in wages, career advancement, and overall economic growth. Women’s lower adoption of AI isn’t just a workplace issue—it’s an economic and technological challenge that requires proactive solutions.

One of the paper’s authors, Harvard B-school Associate Professor Rembrand Koning suggests ways to close the gender gap by requiring companies to normalize AI training. He encourages business leaders to create a judgment-free culture around AI use and urges developers to incorporate diverse input to keep bias in check.

Credit: 1X/Neo Gamma

AI & Home Robotics

The development of humanoid robots took another step forward this week. Norwegian robotics company 1X has just pulled back the curtain on its latest prototype, Neo Gamma. Designed for the home environment, this robot isn’t about industrial strength—it’s built to blend seamlessly into your living room.

Unlike the cold, mechanical look of typical industrial robots, Neo Gamma sports a knitted nylon suit. This softer look isn’t just for show—it helps prevent injuries if you accidentally bump into it. Other standout features include:

• Human-Like Movement: With a natural gait complete with arm swings and the ability to squat and sit without toppling, Neo Gamma moves at a rapid 100 Hz, adapting to new tasks and environments with ease.

• Conversational AI: The robot comes equipped with a large language model developed in-house, enabling casual, human-like conversations that make interactions feel natural.

• Safety First: Emphasizing situational awareness, 1X has prioritized onboard AI to help the robot navigate safely around people and property. And while full autonomy is the long-term goal, there’s a manual override option to keep things under control.

For a closer look at Neo Gamma in action, check out this video demonstration.

1X is taking a “home-first” approach that sets it apart from competitors like Figure, Boston Dynamics, and Tesla’s Optimus —companies that tend to focus on industrial or warehouse applications. As technology increasingly supports independent living—especially for older adults—home robots like Neo Gamma are being built to be both helpful and easy to have around.

While production numbers for this beta version remain under wraps, Neo Gamma is a promising glimpse into a future where our homes might be filled with robots that are as much companions as they are helpers.

AI in the News (in case you missed it)

• When AI Thinks It Will Lose, It Sometimes Cheats, Study Finds. Read here.

• How Meteorologists Use AI To Improve Forecasting. Watch here.

• 1,000 artists release ‘silent’ album to protest UK copyright sell-out to AI. Read here

• How AI is revealing the language of the birds. Watch here.

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Have you tried a new AI-powered product? Let us know what you think.

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Here.Now.AI Editorial team: Lori and Justin

A new Edelman report on AI trust that reveals a stark global divide.

While 77% of people in India and 72% in China trust AI, only 32% of Americans do—and six other countries, including Canada (30%) and the UK (28%), are even more skeptical. Concerns over job losses, AI-driven misinformation, and waning trust in tech companies fuel this hesitation.

With trust varying so widely, the speed of AI adoption will depend on how willing people are to embrace it.

In this week’s edition, we’ve got tips on how to use ChatGPT as your 24/7 career coach, our exclusive take on Meta’s AI Ray Bans, AI’s customer service kindness, and Google’s instant artistry. Let’s get started!

Credit: Pixabay

AI Career Building

Feeling stuck in your career? Whether you're considering a pivot, upskilling, or looking for advancement, ChatGPT can be your 24/7 career coach. While AI doesn't replace human career counselors, it offers a valuable resource for structuring your thoughts, exploring new career avenues, and preparing for opportunities, especially in an unpredictable economy.  Here are some steps to get the most out of ChatGPT.

Step 1: Clarify Your Career Objectives

• Prompt Example: "I'm a 50-year-old marketing director in the retail sector, but I want to transition into a nonprofit or social impact role. What kinds of positions could benefit from my experience, and how can I position myself?"

• Outcome: ChatGPT can identify roles like Director of Development or Communications Strategist in mission-driven organizations and suggest ways to tailor your resume and LinkedIn profile to highlight relevant skills.

Step 2: Assess Transferable Skills

• Prompt Example: "With 20 years in financial analysis, how can I transition into the tech sector? What skills are transferable, and what should I develop?"

• Outcome: ChatGPT might highlight your proficiency in data analysis and suggest learning programming languages like Python to enhance your tech appeal.

Step 3: Revamp Your Professional Profile

• Prompt Example: "Help me craft a LinkedIn headline and summary that reflects my transition from healthcare administration to health tech."

• Outcome: ChatGPT can generate compelling content that showcases your expertise and enthusiasm for the health tech industry.

Step 4: Prepare for Industry-Specific Interviews

• Prompt Example: "What are common interview questions for a marketing manager moving into the e-commerce sector, and how should I respond?"

• Outcome: You'll receive tailored questions and model answers to help you articulate your relevant experience effectively.

While AI can't make decisions for you, it serves as a strategic partner in your career journey. By engaging thoughtfully with ChatGPT, you can gain clarity, discover new opportunities, and approach your career development with renewed confidence.

Facing a career crossroads? Try these prompts with ChatGPT and share your experiences with us!

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Credit: Justin Simpson/HereNowAI

AI Smart Glasses

After our recent overview of AI-enabled eyewear, team member Justin was so intrigued he purchased a pair of Ray-Ban Meta AI glasses to test firsthand. After a week of daily use, he's genuinely impressed with how far this technology has come—though he has some thoughts about who should jump in now versus waiting for future versions.

Justin was struck by how the glasses maintain Ray-Ban's classic Wayfarer look despite their sophisticated AI technology. Subtle cameras and microphones are integrated into the frame, going largely unnoticed. Justin chose transition lenses, which adjust to lighting conditions, offering practical indoor-outdoor functionality.

Here are the key features that stood out during his hands-on experience:

• Audio Performance: The built-in speakers deliver clear, private sound. Despite initial skepticism, Justin found the audio quality exceeded expectations for music and podcasts, maintaining privacy even at higher volumes.

• AI Integration: Interacting with Meta AI became routine quickly. The glasses identify objects, translate text, and scan QR codes effectively. Voice commands are generally intuitive, though not flawless, reflecting the typical experience with first-generation tech.

• Camera Functionality: Photo and video quality is strong, with seamless integration for live-streaming via WhatsApp. On a recent hike, Justin used voice commands to capture images without needing his phone, showcasing the convenience of hands-free operation.

While the current functionality is impressive, it comes with a price tag that starts at $299 . That is about 50% more than standard Ray-Bans— and with a 30-day money-back guarantee, they offer a solid entry point into AI-enhanced eyewear.

Overall, Justin is enthusiastic about the Ray-Ban Meta AI glasses. But he thinks they’re better suited for early adopters rather than casual users who might prefer to wait for more refined features and lower prices. The real question isn’t if this technology will become mainstream, but when.

Credit: Pixabay

AI Customer Service

One of the areas where AI is creating the most welcome disruption is customer service. A recent story in The Wall Street Journal caught our attention, and we're sharing the highlights for those without a subscription.

In an industry notorious for frustrating customer experiences, insurance giant Allstate is leveraging OpenAI’s GPT models to rewrite the narrative—literally. By shifting much of its customer claims communication to generative AI, Allstate discovered a surprising outcome: AI-generated emails seem more empathetic and clearer than those written by human agents.

This blew our minds -- Allstate’s 15,000 insurance reps send around 50,000 claims-related emails daily. Now, most of those messages are generated by AI. AI emails are programmed to avoid accusatory language, minimize confusing jargon, and add thoughtful touches like, “Thank you for your message. I understand your concern.”

While human agents still review emails for accuracy, they no longer write them from scratch.

Other insurers are quietly experimenting with similar AI tools, exploring where the technology adds the most value. One Allstate competitor, Nationwide, uses AI to summarize cases, freeing up reps to focus on direct customer interactions, though they believe empathy is still best delivered by humans.

Allstate’s early success raises an intriguing question: Do customers prefer predictable, polite AI responses over potentially inconsistent human ones? For Allstate, AI isn’t replacing jobs—at least not yet. It’s replacing poor communication. And in the world of insurance claims, that might be the most empathetic move of all.

Credit: Google Labs/ImageFX

AI Creative Pursuits

Think AI-generated art is just for tech wizards and designers? Think again—Google Labs’ ImageFX lets anyone turn words into stunning visuals, no artistic skills required. Now, all you need is a spark of imagination and a few keystrokes to bring your ideas to life.

Traditional image creation demands advanced skills and software, but ImageFX democratizes the process, making high-quality visuals accessible to everyone. Whether you’re a content creator, marketer, or just someone with a creative itch, this AI-powered tool makes image generation effortless.

How to use ImageFX:

• Access ImageFX: Head to the ImageFX website and sign in with your Google account.

• Enter a text prompt: Describe the image you want to create (e.g., “A serene beach at sunset with palm trees”).

• Feeling stuck? Click “I’m feeling lucky” for a surprise AI-generated concept. That’s how we got the image above with this: “Miniature city built inside a giant acorn, vibrant red, orange, and green hues, detailed textures, natural lighting.”

• Customize your creation: Choose from “expressive chips” like cinematic, bokeh, highly detailed, dream aesthetic, macro photo, and handmade to refine the style.

• Download & save: Export your image in various formats (landscape, portrait, or square). Every creation is saved in your ImageFX library, accessible under your sign-in settings.

With Google Labs’ ImageFX, the creative process is more intuitive, experimental, and fun than ever. Whether you’re designing for work, storytelling, or just exploring new ideas, this tool unlocks fresh possibilities in visual content creation. Give it a try—your next masterpiece is just a prompt away!

AI in the News (in case you missed it)

• Gen AI is already being used in journalism - here’s how people feel about it. Read here. 

• Like it or not, AI is learning how to influence you. Read this.

• In a showdown of psychotherapists vs. ChatGPT, the latter wins, new study finds. Read this.

• Viral AI video depicts celebrities protesting Ye's antisemitic remarks. Watch this.

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Here.Now.AI Editorial team: Lori, Justin, and Lisa

This week, Paris played host to a global two-day AI summit. It’s clear that fears about any potential risks and harms are taking a back seat as FOMO heats up.

While the event showcased an optimistic vision of AI’s future, hopes for a unified approach to development and regulation took a hit when the US and UK declined to sign a declaration promoting openness, inclusivity, transparency, ethics, safety, and sustainability.  

In this week’s edition, we’ve got AI-powered deck design so you can present like a pro, a look at what AI news summaries are getting wrong, decoding nature’s notes, and an AI-inspired valentine for Saint Valentine.

Let’s get started!

Credit: Pixabay

AI Productivity

Tired of spending countless hours perfecting PowerPoint presentations? Thanks to AI, those days might be over. We've been exploring two standout AI presentation tools that are transforming this time-consuming task into a matter of minutes.

Presentations.AI  offers a straightforward process. Upload your content (Word doc, existing deck, or website link), answer a few questions about format and color preferences, and let the platform work its magic. It excels at creating professional, traditional business presentations.

Gamma  provides similar ease but with a modern edge. Its sleek, futuristic designs reflect the AI era, though you can tweak them for a more conventional look. Gamma shines when you want visually striking, attention-grabbing slides.

To compare, we used last week's newsletter topic on the DeepSeek R1 model. We first asked ChatGPT to draft a presentation-ready script for a 10-slide deck. Then, we ran it through both platforms.

The results? Both platforms delivered polished presentations in under a minute, although a glitch in the Presentations.AI version failed to add an image to the 2^nd slide. We've left both outputs unedited so you can compare them yourself:

• View the Presentations.AI version here

• View the Gamma version here

While perfectionists may still want to fine-tune, both tools provide a strong foundation, saving hours of work. Combined with ChatGPT for content structuring, the process is incredibly efficient.

Presentations.AI is great for traditional corporate decks, while Gamma suits teams craving bold, modern designs. Both offer free tiers, with paid plans at $16.50/month (Presentations.AI Pro) and $10/month (Gamma Plus).

Have you tried either of these AI-presentation generators or any others? We'd love to hear your thoughts!

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Credit: Pixabay

AI in Journalism

It looks like AI chatbots need to sharpen their journalistic skills. A new BBC study found that top AI chatbots struggle with basic journalistic accuracy, exposing factual errors, misquotes, and misleading summaries—raising concerns about AI’s role in shaping public understanding of the news.

In a blog post, BBC News and Current Affairs CEO Deborah Turness criticized AI-generated news for “distortions” that can be dangerous, warning that companies developing generative AI tools are “playing with fire” when it comes to factual accuracy.

The study: The BBC tested OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Microsoft’s Copilot, Google’s Gemini, and Perplexity AI. Each was given access to BBC News content and tasked with answering 100 questions using BBC articles as sources. Human journalists reviewed the responses.

• 51% of AI-generated answers had significant issues.

• 19% contained factual errors, including incorrect dates, numbers, and statements.

• 13% misquoted BBC sources or cited non-existent quotes.

Notable errors:

• ChatGPT claimed Iran’s Ismail Haniyeh was part of Hamas leadership in December 2024—months after his assassination in July.

• Gemini incorrectly stated that the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) doesn’t recommend vaping to help quit smoking.

• Some chatbots failed to distinguish between opinion and fact.

Turness is urging AI companies to “pull back” from producing news summaries, as Apple did recently amid similar concerns. In an era where media trust is fragile, she said, AI shouldn’t add to the confusion.

As AI tools increasingly shape how people consume information, accuracy isn’t just a technical issue—it’s a societal one.

Credit: Pixabay

Talk with the Animals?

Could AI crack the code on nature's secret languages?

Researchers are turning to artificial intelligence to uncover the meaning behind animal communication, shedding light on how different species interact and express themselves. From bird songs to prairie dog warnings, this groundbreaking work aims to bridge the gap between humans and the natural world.

The Earth Species Project (ESP), a nonprofit, has unveiled NatureLM, an AI model designed to translate animal 'languages' by recognizing sounds and understanding their meaning.

• NatureLM can already identify which species is “speaking,” the age of the animal, and whether it’s signaling distress or play.

• Even more impressive: It has shown potential to decipher communication patterns of species it hasn’t encountered before.

Unlike human languages, where rules and structures are known, animal communication is a jigsaw puzzle with most of the pieces missing.

Some species, like prairie dogs, use nouns and adjectives to describe predators. Others, such as birds, alter their sounds depending on whether they’re singing or sounding a warning. Researchers have even discovered that many animals use individual “names” to address each other.

NatureLM’s development is part of a broader trend of using AI for ecological breakthroughs. Microsoft, for example, recently launched Project SPARROW, an AI system to monitor biodiversity in remote areas with the help of cameras and acoustic sensors.

If NatureLM lives up to its promise, it could revolutionize how we understand and interact with the animal kingdom—and maybe even give us a reason to think twice before shushing the dog.

Credit: DALL-E

AI Be My Valentine

This year, we decided to have a little fun with Valentine’s Day. Forget the chocolate hearts, dozen roses, and sweet sentiments from mass-produced cards. Instead, we got curious about the origins of Valentine’s Day. We think a poetry mashup is the perfect way to celebrate the holiday.

We asked ChatGPT how Valentine’s Day came to be—and were surprised to uncover a history filled with mystery. One thread leads back to an ancient Roman festival called Lupercalia, celebrated in mid-February. It featured a matchmaking lottery and rituals that included drunken revelry, nudity, and even blood sacrifices. Men allegedly sacrificed goats and dogs, then whipped women with the hides to promote fertility. Not exactly our idea of a romantic celebration.

Valentine's Day also carries the legacy of multiple saints named Valentine. We chose one in particular: an early Christian priest and physician who lived during the reign of Emperor Claudius II Gothicus in the 3rd century AD. This priest was executed for secretly marrying couples, defying the emperor's order that his soldiers remain bachelors. Legend has it the priest wrote a letter to the jailer’s daughter, signing it "From Your Valentine."

In a fitting tribute to our modern Valentine traditions, we asked ChatGPT to write a poem about Saint Valentine. Consider it our way of spreading a little love—with a history lesson.

Saint Valentine

Emperor Claudius made a decree,
"No soldier shall wed—stay loyal to me!"
But Valentine, a priest so bold,
Married young lovers, defying the hold.

Caught in the act, he was sentenced to die,
Yet stood by his faith, with his head held high.
Imprisoned, steadfast, he met his fate,
On February 14, at love’s sacred gate.

For faith and courage, through trial and pain,
Saint Valentine’s honor and name remain.

The image of Saint Valentine (above) is AI-generated. It just goes to show you, even ancient history has a soft spot for a good love story. Happy Valentine’s Day!

AI in the News (in case you missed it)

• Can AI help DOGE slash government budgets? It's complex. Read here.

• How AI could be incorporated into nuclear weapons. Watch here.

• Should AI be used in end of life medical decisions? Read here.

• Thousands call on Christie’s to cancel AI art auction in open letter. Read here.

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Here.Now.AI Editorial team: Lori, Justin, and Lisa

Hot on the heels of OpenAI’s Tasks, another ChatGPT AI agent arrived this week. Deep Research is designed to tackle complex research by pulling from multiple sources in minutes.

It promises faster insights with minimal effort and is expected to boost productivity in fields like science, finance, engineering, and policy.

Impressive, but it still occasionally struggles to separate fact from fiction, so human fact-checking isn’t going anywhere just yet.

In this week’s edition, we’ve got radiology’s robo-review, AI expert business advice, smart sleep for babies, and finally, a look at how AI can bring historical figures to life.

Let’s get started!

Credit: Pixabay

AI in Healthcare

Can AI catch what radiologists miss? Diagnostic errors in radiology can lead to delayed treatment, poor outcomes, and skyrocketing healthcare costs. According to a study published in RadioGraphics, diagnostic error rates range from 3% to 5%, resulting in approximately 40 million diagnostic errors involving imaging annually worldwide.

Why is this happening? Radiologists are overwhelmed. A single day’s workload can require interpreting an image every three to four seconds, increasing the likelihood of mistakes. Other contributing factors include poor image quality, inconsistent report standardization, staff shortages, and transcription errors.

AI is increasingly seen as an ally rather than a replacement for human expertise in radiology. While proprietary AI models (think OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini) dominate headlines, open-source (i.e. free, public) AI—such as Meta’s Llama—offers a powerful alternative by allowing researchers and hospitals to customize tools for their specific needs.

Zauron Labs has leveraged Llama to develop Guardian Pro, a system that acts as a “spell checker” for radiologists. It double-checks imaging reports, flagging potential errors before they impact patient care. One goal is to collaborate with universities and build tools that enhance accuracy rather than replace human expertise.

Unlike proprietary AI models, open-source AI can be locally deployed, giving healthcare providers full control over patient data and reducing privacy concerns. Guardian Pro also allows developers to integrate multiple algorithms, broadening its ability to detect various medical conditions in a single scan review.

If open-source AI tools continue to gain traction, radiologists may soon have an extra set of eyes—one that doesn’t fatigue or overlook details under pressure. The real test will be whether hospitals and regulatory bodies embrace these innovations at scale.

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Credit: Pixabay

AI in Business

Ever wished you had a business consultant on speed dial without the hefty price tag? We're excited to share a groundbreaking solution that blends traditional consulting wisdom with cutting-edge AI technology. Meet Macky, the innovative AI consulting platform making expert business advice more accessible than ever.

How it works: Macky, powered by Kinetic Consulting, starts by asking targeted questions about your business challenge. Within 30 seconds, you're engaged in a meaningful dialogue about your specific situation. It's like having a seasoned consultant in your pocket, ready to tackle everything from strategic planning to operational challenges.

Smart Features:

• Rapid-response business insights

• Expertise in over 55 business categories

• Customized recommendations based on your business context

• Seamless escalation to human consultants when needed

A number of industries are adjusting to the arrival of generative AI, and consulting is no exception. Macky stands out as one of the first platforms to successfully bridge the gap between AI capabilities and traditional consulting expertise – all at a price point that makes sense for businesses of any size.

Getting Started: Test drive Macky with ten free queries to experience its capabilities firsthand. After that, plans start at just $10 per month, varying based on query complexity and volume.

While nothing fully replaces the nuanced insights of experienced consultants, Macky offers an intelligent balance – combining the immediacy and affordability of AI with the accumulated wisdom of traditional consulting. Whether you need quick strategic input or deeper business insights, this powerful tool puts professional consulting within reach of every businessperson.

Credit: Pixabay

AI Parenting

It’s been a minute since there was a baby in our household, but for those preparing for parenthood—or supporting new parents in your circle—smart baby monitors are now more than a luxury. They’ve become a must-have for peace of mind and better sleep (for everyone).

Gone are the days of basic audio or video feeds. Today’s smart monitors are packed with advanced sensors and AI, allowing parents to track breathing, heart rate, movement, and even oxygen levels—all in real-time. Some models even offer soothing features like lullabies and white noise to help fussy babies drift back to sleep.

UniWhale® bills itself as the world’s first AI-driven baby care system, combining wearable tech with advanced AI to deliver unparalleled insights and safety features. Here’s what it offers:

• Discomfort alerts: Notifications for spit-up, choking, or general distress.

• Vital tracking: Real-time monitoring of breathing, heartbeat, belly temperature, and sleep cycles.

• Nasal health detection: Acoustic sensors to identify airway obstructions.

• Personalized lullabies: AI-generated music for bedtime comfort.

UniWhale® brings a new level of assurance for parents, but it’s not the only contender in the smart baby monitor space.

The Philips Avent Premium Connected Baby Monitor also stands out, thanks to its SenseIQ technology. It tracks breathing and sleep patterns using advanced pixel evaluation—no wearables required. Cry-detection and translation features, powered by AI, help parents decode whether it’s hunger, discomfort, or something else causing the tears.

The system includes a parent unit, baby unit camera, and a companion mobile app, offering convenience and constant connectivity.

These AI-powered monitors deliver impressive capabilities, but innovation comes with a price tag: expect to spend at least $300 to get started. For parents, the real question is less about the tech and more about whether your baby will let you sleep long enough to enjoy it.

Credit: History Revived

AI History

Calling all history lovers, we discovered this mesmerizing, must-watch video on YouTube this week -- featuring a compilation of historical figures brought to life with the magic of AI.

From Davinci to Charlemagne, Cleopatra to Confucius, and Napoleon to Magellan, the transformation from a drawing, sculpture, or painting is truly remarkable. In some instances, these famous figures are smiling and laughing – who knew King Henry the Eighth and a young King Tut were so charming? There’s even some bad dental work thrown in (Washington’s blackened wooden teeth make an appearance) that looks downright creepy. 

There’s no telling where this creativity will take us, but we can imagine a radical and very engaging new way to learn history as AI tools make these videos easier and cheaper to produce. We can’t wait!

AI in the News (in case you missed it)

• Are the Internet and AI affecting our memory? What the science says. Read here.

• Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang says everyone should get an AI tutor right away. Read here.

• Some teachers embrace, others ban Gen AI in the classroom. Watch here.

• Why employees smuggle AI into work. Read here.

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Have you tried a new AI-powered product? Let us know what you think.

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Here.Now.AI Editorial team: Lori, Justin, and Lisa

Big news this week has the AI world buzzing: DeepSeek, a new platform from China, is making waves with capabilities that rival OpenAI’s ChatGPT-4 for a fraction of the cost. 

But there’s a catch when it comes to your data. A Wired investigation confirms that, if you download the app, DeepSeek’s privacy policy is crystal clear—user data, including conversations, device info, and even keystroke patterns, is stored on servers in mainland China. (In addition to the app, it is possible to run a version of DeepSeek privately on your computer without the data “leaking”).

It’s a sharp reminder that as AI advances at breakneck speed, your privacy and security remain a serious concern.

In this week’s edition, we’ve got ChatGPT’s new task master, the robotaxi revolution, a heart health tracker, and AI’s wisdom seeker.

Let’s get started!

Credit: Pixabay

AI Task Management

Tired of juggling multiple apps to keep track of your to-do list? ChatGPT's newest feature might be just what you need. OpenAI has added a powerful task management system that transforms the chatbot from a helpful assistant into your personal productivity partner.

The new Tasks feature, currently in beta is limited to paid subscribers who are ChatGPT Plus, Team, and Enterprise users.  It brings some exciting capabilities:

• Smart Scheduling: Simply tell ChatGPT what you need to remember, like "Follow up with Linda on Friday" or “Remind me about Mike’s birthday on the 17th of June”, and it'll notify you at the right time. No more sticky notes cluttering your desk!

• Automation Made Easy: Set up recurring reminders for those regular tasks that always seem to slip through the cracks. Want a personalized weekend plan every Friday based on local weather? Or maybe a daily news briefing at 7 AM? ChatGPT can handle that.

• Web-Powered Updates: While ChatGPT won't (yet) continuously monitor websites or make purchases, it can perform scheduled web searches. For example, every month, you could have it check for concerts by your favorite artist in your area.

The real beauty of this update is its natural, conversational approach. Instead of navigating complex menus, you can manage your schedule by chatting as you normally would with ChatGPT. For those who prefer a more traditional interface, there's also a dedicated tasks manager tab in the web app.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman sees Tasks as just the beginning of AI agents that can work more independently. While current capabilities are focused on reminders and scheduled information gathering, this feature hints at more ambitious plans for the future.

To try Tasks, look for the “GPT-4o with scheduled tasks" option in ChatGPT's dropdown menu. Note: it doesn't yet support voice commands or mobile app integration – though OpenAI plans to expand availability based on user feedback.

We're excited to see how this feature evolves. While it may not replace your full-featured project management tools just yet, it's perfect for those everyday reminders and routine tasks that keep your day running smoothly.

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Credit: Pixabay

Self-Driving AI

Can AI handle LA’s infamous freeways? Another headline this week blew our minds – Waymo, the self-driving car unit of Google’s parent company Alphabet, is taking its biggest leap yet: fully autonomous robotaxis on Los Angeles freeways.  

Even if you don’t live in southern California, this is major news. No human backup driver. No safety net. Just AI navigating one of the country’s most unpredictable highway systems.

While Waymo has been operating on LA’s surface streets, freeway integration marks a new era. Highways mean faster trips, greater efficiency, and a stronger competitive edge against traditional ride-hailing services.

How it works:

• Waymo will first invite employees to test freeway rides before opening them to the public.

• Approval from the California Public Utilities Commission (granted in March 2024) allows Waymo to expand its commercial service not just in LA but also on Bay Area freeways.

• A key selling point: Highway access could make Waymo significantly faster. A ride from Santa Monica Pier to The Broad, for instance, could be cut in half via the I-10.

Want to see a Waymo robotaxi in action? You can watch this local NBC news report. Waymo is already operating in Phoenix and mapping roads for an international expansion in Japan. Meanwhile, Austin and Atlanta are slated to get Waymo robotaxis in early 2025.

If Waymo’s AI can master LA’s highways, it won’t just be a win for self-driving cars—it might convince even the most skeptical Angelenos to take a back seat.

Credit: Pixabay

AI Wearables

Wearables have long tracked heart rate, sleep, and activity, but accurate, medical-grade heart health monitoring in a compact, discreet form has remained elusive—until now.

French company Circular unveiled its Circular Ring 2 at CES 2025 earlier this month, introducing a key feature no other smart ring—including the market-leading (and previously featured) Oura—has yet to match: on-finger ECG readings with FDA-cleared atrial fibrillation (AFib) detection.

The single-lead ECG operates via an advanced PPG (photoplethysmogram) sensor, allowing users to monitor their heart’s electrical activity in real-time.

Additional features include:

•  No subscription required – Unlike Oura, Circular ditches monthly fees, offering full functionality at a one-time cost.

• Battery life that lasts – With 24/7 tracking, the Ring 2 promises an impressive eight days per charge, keeping pace with rivals like the Oura Ring 4 and the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Ring.

• A titanium overhaul – The new model features an all-titanium exterior, replacing the mixed-material build of its predecessor for improved durability.

• Smarter sizing – A new phone-based digital sizing tool aims to eliminate the hassle of finding the perfect fit.

The smart ring market is heating up. Circular entered the space three years ago, competing with Oura and Ultrahuman. Now, with ECG monitoring and an FDA stamp of approval, the Ring 2 positions itself as a serious contender for consumers prioritizing health tracking without bulky wearables.

Circular Ring 2’s official launch is expected sometime in March and will retail in the $350 range. While it’s pricey, we’re encouraged by the overall positive reviews.

With heart health tracking now at your fingertips—literally—smart rings are no longer just sleep and step counters. The future of wearables is getting smaller, sleeker, and much more serious about your health.

Credit: Pixabay

AI Wisdom

In a world overflowing with moral dilemmas and existential puzzles, wouldn’t it be wonderful to have a tool that offers spiritual insights tailored to your beliefs? Meet Robot Spirit Guide, an AI-powered platform designed to provide religious perspectives on life’s toughest questions.

Robot Spirit Guide combines sophisticated data science and design to deliver responses rooted in religious texts, traditions, and philosophies. Created by the CA-based development, data science, and design agency AE.Studio, the “Guide” acts as a digital mediator for anyone exploring their spiritual side or seeking cross-cultural understanding.

How it works:

• Ask away: There’s no charge to try it. Submit your question in the prompt bar, from “What is my purpose?” to “How can I let go of childhood resentments?”

• Suggested questions: the site features a dynamic display of user-submitted questions, such as "What is the meaning of life?" and "How can I find inner peace?", scrolling across the screen.

• Pick a perspective: Choose from Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Atheism, and more to frame the answer within your preferred worldview. You can choose multiple beliefs for a more comprehensive answer.

• Suggest inclusivity: Want another faith or philosophy included? Users can recommend additions, ensuring the platform grows alongside its community.

Robot Spirit Guide delivers accessible, user-friendly spiritual insights, fostering introspection, cross-religious learning, and empathy. However, its answers may lack the depth of human guidance.

We had fun asking a range of questions from the profound to the silly. With every answer, it’s quick to state; “Though I have broad spiritual knowledge, it’s possible I’ve spoken incorrectly. Act with wisdom and seek enlightenment.” Robot Spirit Guide reminds us that while AI can illuminate the path, the journey toward understanding remains uniquely our own.

AI in the News (in case you missed it)

• Today’s CEOs are the last to manage all-human workforces. Read here.

• First in the nation law school students required to have AI certification. Read here.

• Fast food goes high tech with new A.I. drive-thrus. Watch here.

• Chatbot offers empathetic, multilingual crime reporting to ease dispatcher workload. Read here.

• Reebok is selling the first AI-designed, 3D printed shoe available to buy. Read here.

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Here.Now.AI Editorial team: Lori, Justin, and Lisa

Who’s more likely to embrace AI in their daily lives—tech experts or novices? We’re surprised by new research that reveals it’s the less tech-savvy who are more open to using AI, finding its human-like abilities “magical” and awe-inspiring.

As people learn more about AI’s inner workings, it can lose some of that magic, highlighting the tricky balance between education and enthusiasm. Sometimes, less really is more.

In this week’s edition, we’ve got a better way to leverage your Linkedin presence, seeing smarter with AI -powered eyewear, a look at some ChatGPT hacks, and AI’s latest learning leap.

Let’s get started!

Credit: Pixabay

AI Career Building

In today’s competitive landscape, finding new career opportunities often hinges on having the right connections. When it comes to building and nurturing your network online, LinkedIn reigns supreme. But for many, maintaining an engaging presence on the platform can feel like a full-time job.

That's where EvyAI steps in. This new AI-powered LinkedIn companion is designed to amplify your professional presence without consuming your precious time.

How it works: EvyAI integrates seamlessly with your LinkedIn profile, acting as a smart assistant to enhance your networking game. The tool helps optimize your profile, boost engagement, and maintain meaningful connections, all while preserving your authentic voice.  Key features include:

• Smart contact management with customized category lists

• Thoughtful comment suggestions on connections' posts

• Timely prompts for direct outreach

• Content creation assistance that matches your style

Amid the flood of AI-generated content, EvyAI stands out for its commitment to authentic engagement, and users seem impressed. "It's like having a great assistant who makes suggestions, prompts ideas, and helps with phrasing," shares one professional, while another notes the "incredible productivity gain" they've experienced.

Getting started: Add Evy as a Chrome Extension or access it through a web app. Begin with the free basic tier to explore its capabilities, then upgrade to premium features starting at $15/month if you find it valuable.

In a digital landscape where standing out professionally matters more than ever, EvyAI might be the strategic advantage you've been looking for. Have you tried AI tools for professional networking? We'd love to hear about your experience!

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Credit: Meta’s Ray-Ban

AI Wearables

Are smart glasses the future of wearable tech? Smart glasses are evolving into versatile tools, blending convenience and AI. The next generation of AI-powered eyewear is lighter, more streamlined, and equipped with advanced features.

Meta’s Ray-Ban Smart Glasses have taken a big leap forward. Combining Ray-Ban’s iconic style with smart technology, these glasses feature dual cameras, open-ear audio, and touchpad controls, making hands-free communication and content creation effortless.

Meta has also added real-time language translation, something we’re extremely excited about. Imagine being able to ‘hear’ translated speech through open-air speakers on your glasses or transcripts on your phone. Currently, speech can be translated between English and Spanish, French, or Italian but more languages are expected to be added soon.

Meta isn’t alone in the smart-glasses race:

• Google and Samsung have teamed up on a new Android XR platform to power next-gen mixed-reality devices. Their glasses will feature AI-driven tools like live camera translation and navigation assistance.

• Apple is reportedly exploring its own smart glasses, as the tech giant works on prototypes in its labs.

• At this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Halliday XR (designed for gamers and professionals) and Solos smart glasses (for fitness enthusiasts)

While early adopters are embracing the technology, broad public acceptance remains uncertain (we’re not ready to take the plunge yet either). Concerns about privacy, social norms, and day-to-day practicality could limit their appeal. As these devices mature, it’s still not clear whether they could become an indispensable part of daily life or remain niche products for specific markets.

Credit: Pixabay

ChatGPT Chatter

Are you using ChatGPT regularly? If it still feels overwhelming, now’s the perfect time for a refresher on what it can do for you every day. Think of ChatGPT as your approachable assistant, ready to simplify your life. Here’s a quick list of easy, practical ways to make it part of your daily routine:

• Improve your writing: From emails to essays, ChatGPT can make your text more professional, humorous, or concise—and even translate it to another language.

• Draft messages: Stuck on how to phrase an email or text? ChatGPT can help you write the perfect note, saving you time and stress.

• Simplify complex topics: Want to understand AI, economics, or climate change without jargon? ChatGPT can explain it in plain, simple terms.

• Summarize information: Don’t have time to read a long article? ChatGPT can break it down into digestible points. Try asking Chat to summarize Terms and Conditions.

• Brainstorm ideas: Can’t decide what to cook for dinner or what movie to watch? ChatGPT can suggest options based on what’s in your refrigerator or what cuisine you’re craving.

• Plan events and projects: Whether it’s a surprise party, a weekend getaway, or a multi-step project, ChatGPT helps organize and simplify planning.

• Get Personalized Workouts: Need a quick fitness plan? ChatGPT can design exercises tailored to your goals from strength training to yoga and cardio.

• Identify anything: Need help identifying a plant, a bird species, or a landmark? Snap a pic, upload it and ChatGPT will do its best to identify it.

ChatGPT’s value lies in its flexibility. It’s not just a search engine or a chatbot—it’s a tool that adapts to your needs, whether you’re planning your day, learning something new, or simply having fun. Start experimenting with one or two tasks and see how easily ChatGPT can fit into your daily life!

Credit: Pixabay

AI in Education

We’re excited to spotlight AI’s “aha” moments: remarkable breakthroughs with the potential to reshape how we live, work, and learn. This week, one story stood out: a World Bank-supported pilot program that demonstrates just how transformative AI can be for education.

Students in an after-school program in Nigeria used generative AI as virtual tutors to improve their skills in English, digital literacy, and foundational AI concepts. Here’s what happened:

• In just 30 school days, they made the kind of progress you’d expect to see over two academic years.

• Girls, who initially lagged behind their male peers, showed even greater gains, highlighting the program’s potential to close gender gaps in education.

It’s a clear example of how AI can close learning gaps and bring quality education to more people. What if classrooms in underserved areas around the US (and the world) could adopt this model? More than four years after the start of the COVID pandemic and despite millions of dollars in emergency funding, student learning loss is still a major problem in America.

The Nigerian pilot shows us what’s possible: a scalable, transformative approach to education that’s equitable and effective. The question isn’t whether AI can change the future of education—it’s how quickly we can make it happen.

AI in the News (in case you missed it)

• Private sector will invest up to $500B in US AI infrastructure ‘Stargate’ plan over the next four years. Read here.

• 10 Hottest AI Jobs Of 2025, Paying Six-Figure Salaries. Read here.

• From Street View To AI — How Google Maps Mapped The World.  Watch here.

• This AI model that analyzed millions of images of retreating glaciers – what it found is alarming. Read here.

• Humanoid robot masters the waltz by mimicking human movement. Watch here.

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Here.Now.AI Editorial team: Lori, Justin, and Lisa

Internet search as we know it is changing fast, thanks to AI. Matt Honan at MIT Technology Review calls it “the biggest change to the way search engines have delivered information to us since the 1990s.”

No more keywords. No more links to click—just straight answers. Convenient? Absolutely. But it raises an interesting question: what do we lose when we bypass the process of discovery? Or as Matt puts it, who wants to have to learn when you can just know?

We’re still grappling with what to make of it all, but we highly recommend checking out the article — it’s worth the read.

In this week’s edition, we’ve got the latest on Google’s amazing NotebookLM, AI-powered hotel picks, fighting health claim denials with AI, and a smart solution to snoring.

Let’s get started!

Credit: Pixabay

AI Learning

Have you tried Google’s NotebookLM yet? We’re big fans of the AI research assistant that transforms complex content into engaging, podcast-like formats. Well, it just got even more impressive with a feature pushing the boundaries of how we interact with information.

Quick Refresh: NotebookLM helps you digest research materials – from web links to documents to PDFs – in whatever format works best for your learning style (briefing doc, study guide, FAQ, etc.). It’s free to use and one of its standout features has been the ability to create conversational content where two lifelike voices break down complex topics (like this example on the US Constitution) into digestible discussions. 

Google has just unveiled an innovative "interactive mode" that allows you to raise your hand during a fascinating presentation to ask questions or share observations. With a simple button press, you can jump into the conversation, and the podcast hosts respond to you in real-time, maintaining the natural flow of discussion.

How it works:

• Create a notebook with your research materials

• Select the “audio overview” button

• Hit "interactive mode” during the podcast to join the conversation

• Ask questions or share insights at any point

You can read this review to better understand the interactive mode. Having trouble getting started? Email us, and our team will help guide you through the setup process. We'd love to hear about your experience with this groundbreaking technology.

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Credit: Pixabay

AI Search

Planning spring or summer travel but unsure where to stay? Finding the right hotel can feel like a maze of online reviews, ratings, and conflicting website recommendations. Perplexity, the AI "answer engine," has teamed up with Tripadvisor to simplify your search, offering tailored suggestions backed by trusted data.

Now, you can access real-time reviews, ratings, photos, and key details like cleanliness and service. Other key features include:

• Personalized insights: Get clear, concise reasons why each hotel fits your travel plans.

• Expanded options ahead: Soon, you’ll see restaurants and activities alongside hotel recommendations.

• Cross-platform availability: Live on the web now, with mobile updates rolling out soon.

Search “moderately priced hotels in Copenhagen for a summer getaway,” and Perplexity delivers more than a list. It might suggest hotels based on their central location, exceptional service, and breakfasts worth waking up for—all sourced from Tripadvisor’s extensive database. With data spanning 43 global markets, support for 22 languages, and over 11 million business listings, Tripadvisor’s resources amplify Perplexity’s chatbot-style engine.

AI search engines are in a heated race to redefine how we plan travel. ChatGPT recently rolled out real-time search features and the competition is fierce. But for travelers, this means smarter, faster decisions just in time for those spring and summer trips.

Credit: Pixabay

AI & Health Insurance

Earlier this week, healthcare payments company Waystar unveiled a new AI tool to help hospitals tackle costly insurance denials, which drain $20 billion annually from health systems. The tool, called AltitudeCreate, automates the drafting of appeal letters for providers, freeing them to focus on patient care instead of paperwork.

We discovered a free site, Fight Health Insurance (FHI), that uses AI to empower patients to fight denied health insurance claims. Its quirky slogan, “Make your health insurance company cry too,” underscores its mission to level the playing field.

FHI is the brainchild of Netflix software engineer Holden Karau who combined her experiences at IBM, Apple, and Google with her personal success in overturning claim denials to build an AI that generates effective appeal letters.

How it works:

• Upload your denial letter: The tool scans the document.

• AI-generated appeal: The platform drafts a custom appeal letter, which users can review and edit.

While similar to using a general-purpose chatbot like ChatGPT, FHI’s AI is optimized specifically for insurance appeals, making it a targeted solution for a frustrating process.

Claim denials have taken center stage in national conversations following the tragic December shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. As awareness of tools like FHI grows, more patients may start appealing denied claims and finally getting coverage for the care they desperately need.

Credit: Motion Pillow

AI & Sleep

Snoring doesn’t just disrupt sleep—it can strain relationships and harm your health. Millions wrestle with loud snoring, relying on nasal strips, mouthguards, or even surgery. Now, an AI-powered pillow offers a smarter, more comfortable way to enjoy restful nights.

How it works:
The AI Motion Pillow delivers a three-part solution: a bedside AI hub, the pillow itself, and a companion app. Here’s the breakdown:

• AI-powered detection: The Motion System uses advanced technology to distinguish snores from background noises (like a passing train), ensuring it activates only when necessary.

• Gentle intervention: When snoring begins, air bags inside the pillow slowly and quietly inflate, gently repositioning the sleeper’s head to open airways and reduce snoring.

• Customizable comfort: Users can adjust the inflation height to match their build and sleeping preferences for an optimal experience.

The companion app, available on iOS and Android, enhances the experience with features like snoring reports that track how long you’ve snored and how often the pillow was activated. Curious about what’s disturbing your partner? The app also records and plays back your snoring sounds for deeper insights.

The AI Motion Pillow is a CES Innovation Award honoree for the fifth consecutive year, celebrated for its innovative approach to a widespread issue. And it works—clinical tests show that 94% of users snored less while using the pillow. With few effective, non-invasive solutions available, this data is a big win for snorers and their partners.

At $399, the AI Motion Pillow is a significant investment. Without a trial period, buyers must commit upfront, making it a pricey gamble for a peaceful night’s sleep.

AI in the News (in case you missed it)

• Biden signs executive order that seeks to grow US AI infrastructure. Read here. 

• AI is already changing the ways we fight cancer. Read here.

• Identifying misinformation, fake images about the California wildfires. Watch here.

• Stanford scientist discovers AI has developed an uncanny human-like ability. Read here.

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Here.Now.AI Editorial team: Lori, Justin, and Lisa

It’s that time of the year -- the Consumer Electronics Show (CES 2025) is in full swing in Las Vegas, and once again, AI is taking center stage.  While AI-powered devices abound, this year it’s the familiar products we know and love that are getting an intelligent upgrade –- everything from cars to kitchen appliances, baby monitors to pet feeders.

This week, we’re diving into AI-enhanced TVs, a digital assistant to book your next meal, hearing aids that redefine sound, and a cutting-edge bath—for the birds.  

Let’s get started!

Credit: Samsung AI Vision

AI at Home

It’s 2025…and according to global electronics giant Samsung, “TV should just get you.” If you’re shopping for a large-screen television this year, Samsung’s “Vision AI” is worth a look. Unveiled at CES, these smart TV enhancements promise to take channel surfing to a whole new level.

Think of “Vision AI" as bringing some of your favorite phone features to your living room screen, showcased in this short promo video. Highlights include:

• Click to Search: Point, click, and discover. This feature identifies people, places, and products on-screen in real time. It can even reveal filming locations, actors' bios, and their other roles.

• Samsung Food: See a recipe on TV? This tool lets you recreate it by ordering ingredients or delivery directly from your screen. (We’re reserving judgment on how well it works.)

• AI Remote: A dedicated button now serves up personalized content, shopping suggestions, and recommendations.

• Bixby 2.0: Samsung’s voice assistant now has a serious upgrade. It can handle chained commands like "Change the channel and raise the volume" seamlessly.

• Live Translate: Watch global content with ease—this feature translates closed captions in up to seven languages instantly.

And there’s more: your TV can also double as a security hub, analyzing video feeds from your connected cameras and audio so you can monitor your home in real time.

If you’re interested in learning more about Samsung’s AI lineup and its latest models, you can catch Samsung’s full CES 2025 press conference online. Hard to believe TV was once sarcastically referred to as “the boob tube.”

Help offset rising pet care costs

• Veterinary costs are up 60% over the past decade.

• Pet insurance could provide up to 90% reimbursement.

• View Money’s top pet insurance picks here.

SEE PLANS

Credit: Pixabay

AI Assistants

Last week, we highlighted AI agents as the next big innovation for 2025. This week, we're excited to share a practical example that could transform your daily life. Simple AI is a phone assistant designed to take on those tedious calls you’d rather avoid.

Imagine having a reliable assistant to handle your most time-consuming phone tasks—navigating frustrating phone trees, waiting on hold, and scheduling appointments. Simple AI does all this while seamlessly integrating with your contacts and calendar.

How it works: After installing the app, you can delegate tasks with natural commands like "Call Pacino and make a reservation for Wednesday night between 6:00 and 8:00 PM" or "Find me a local optometrist that accepts my insurance." Simple handles the calls, schedules appointments, and provides you with a transcript for review.

The startup, the brainchild of Catheryn Li and Zach Kamran, was developed in the prestigious Y Combinator incubator. Team member Justin recently spoke with Cat Li about Simple's vision.

"We're not just building another AI tool – we're creating a bridge that connects everyday people with the transformative power of AI technology,” Cat explained.  Cat also suggested some creative ways to use Simple, such as: "Find me a massage spa in SF. Call 5 of them and ask about their pricing and availability for next Saturday”, or "Call AAA membership and ask how much discount Disneyland tickets cost”.

Get started: Download the app and sign up to test Simple's capabilities for free. A monthly subscription of $15 unlocks a larger number of calls. Want a demo? Reply to this newsletter or send a note to us here with your phone number, and Justin will have Simple call you to showcase its capabilities. It's a perfect way to experience the technology firsthand without downloading the app.

In a world where time is precious, Simple AI might be the personal assistant we've all been waiting for. 

Credit: Starkey Corp.

AI Health & Wellness

Wearable tech is turning up the volume on innovation with AI-driven hearing aids. Minnesota-based Starkey, an industry leader, recently launched the new Edge AI, designed to revolutionize how people hear and interact with the world.

Hearing aids, long associated with basic amplification, are now high-tech health tools. Starkey's Edge AI leverages AI to personalize hearing and health experiences, opening new possibilities for accessibility and wellness. It builds on the company’s Genesis AI platform, enhancing sound clarity, reducing noise, and even preventing falls—all while processing sound nine times faster than competitors.

Key features:

• Adaptive Soundscapes: Automatically adjusts to environments—prioritizing speech in noisy settings or enhancing comfort in quieter ones.

• Balance and Fall Prevention: Conducts medical-grade balance assessments and monitors gait to detect fall risks, sending alerts to designated contacts if necessary.

• Health Tracking Tools: Tracks steps, activity levels, and even reminds users to take medications—much like a smartwatch.

• Language Translation: Translates conversations in over 70 languages via the My Starkey app and Bluetooth, ensuring seamless communication.

• Audio Streaming: Streams calls, music, or even live TV audio directly to the hearing aids for a discreet and immersive experience.

• Noise Reduction: Improves noise reduction by up to 13 decibels in challenging environments, enhancing clarity for conversations and situational awareness.

With over 4 million OTC hearing aids sold in 2023, the market is booming. Starkey faces stiff competition from tech giants like Apple’s Air Pods Pro 2, but its focus on health-driven innovation could set it apart. It looks like hearing aids are no longer just for hearing—they’re for living.

Credit: Birdfy

AI Nature Lovers

Bird feeders are out … bird baths are IN. Birdfy’s Bath Pro is making a splash at CES this year with its smart tech experience. Whether you’re a casual bird fan or a full-on feather fanatic, this camera-equipped bird bath promises to make your avian encounters more interactive—and way more entertaining.

Birdfy is betting this next-gen device will resonate with birdwatchers looking to upgrade their setups and ditch traditional baths for something smarter. Features to crow about:

• Two lenses: A wide-angle lens captures the big picture, while an auto-tracking lens zooms in on individual birds as they move.

• AI insights: Optional AI analysis tracks your bath’s visitors, identifying species and providing daily and monthly summaries.

• Solar power: A built-in solar panel keeps the 9,000mAh battery charged, so you don’t have to wing it.

• Cloud storage: Save videos and images of your bath’s best moments.

• Wi-Fi connectivity: Stream every dip and splash to your phone in real time.

Birdfy’s Facebook group connects you with other backyard birdwatchers to share videos, discover new species, and spotlight your latest sightings.

The Birdfy Bath Pro costs $199.99 (or $239.99 with a stand included). A free companion app gives you a lifetime AI subscription that offers daily bird counts and photo highlights, plus monthly rankings comparing your bath’s activity to others in the Birdfy community. Lifetime bird identification will cost an extra $20-40 upfront. Preorders for the Birdfy Bath Pro are open now.

AI in the News (in case you missed it)

• Can AI tools impact your creativity? MIT research uncovers the truth. Read here.

• AI companies are preparing for the second Trump administration. Listen here.

• NBC News investigation: Meta user-gen AI chatbots imitating 'Hitler,' 'Jesus Christ' and Taylor Swift violates policy. Read here.

• Serve Robotics’ delivery bots are becoming more common on LA sidewalks. Read here.

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Have you tried a new AI-powered product? Let us know what you think.

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Here.Now.AI Editorial team: Lori, Justin, and Lisa