10 Ways to Use ChatGPT You Probably Haven't Heard of Yet - With the Prompts To Try Them Yourself!

Little do people know, ChatGPT has become a go-to tool for answering questions, writing content, and even brainstorming ideas. Anyhow, here are ten creative and unconventional uses of ChatGPT that you probably haven't seen yet.

1. Plan and Optimize Your Daily Routine

Ever feel like you simply can't fit it all in one day? Well, ChatGPT will help you organize your time by considering what needs to be done, what you need to prioritize first, and when to take breaks. You will get a personalized plan for increasing your productivity and even suggestions about scheduling, taking into consideration how you generally work and your level of energy.

Example: "Help me to make a daily routine for better productivity. I work 9 to 5 and have 3 hours for personal projects."

2. Create Individualized Workout Plans

Instead of hours and even days in search of workout routines, one may just reach out to ChatGPT for the design of a certain workout based on the goals set-provided by an individual, be it strength training, yoga, or weight loss, even. One could even change the workout to pertain to their equipment and time availability.

Example: "Create a 5-day strength training workout plan for me using only dumbbells."

3. Generate Unique Gift Ideas

Stuck on what to buy for someone who has everything? ChatGPT can help you with out-of-the-box gift ideas, carefully personalized and matched for any occasion, taking into consideration hobbies, interests, and even sentimental value.

Example: "What are some original gift ideas for those into photography and travel?"

4. Craft Compelling Speeches

Stumped about what to say for that speech or toast? Let ChatGPT help you draft speeches for a wedding, through to a birthday, all the way to even a presentation at work. The tone can be set to inspiring, humorous, or formal—whatever fits your needs.

Example: "Write funny and heartfelt wedding toast for my best friend."

5. Design and Plan Events

Whether it's organizing a party or a corporate event, the themes, activities, and timelines can all easily be outlined in ChatGPT. It could even suggest a menu or seating.

Example: "Help me plan a 90s-themed birthday party for up to 20 guests, including music, food, and activities."

6. Learn New Hobbies or Skills

Whether you want to learn a new language, start with woodworking, or do digital art, ChatGPT can break down complex hobbies and skills for you and get you started. It will provide you with resources, starting tips, and practice routines.

Example: "I want to learn digital painting. Kindly outline for me some basic tools I need, accompanied by some beginner exercises."

7. Create Meal Plans Based on Diet Preferences

Whether you are on a diet or just trying to eat healthier, ChatGPT can propose a personalized meal plan that will meet your nutrition goals. Be it vegan, keto, or balanced, it will offer creative ideas for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Example: "Create a 7-day vegan meal plan, with a focus on high-protein recipes."

8. Write Legal or Professional Letters

From writing a cover letter for a job application to drafting formal legal letters, ChatGPT can help you with professional writing tasks. It can offer a structure that fits your specific situation and make sure the tone and language are appropriate.

Example: "Write a letter demanding a refund for a product that did not meet expectations."

9. Simulate Interviews for Job Preparation

If you're preparing for a job interview, ChatGPT can engage you in some mock interviewing based on your desired job. You can even ask it for advice on how to best improve your responses or how to answer trick questions.

Example: "You're a marketing position hiring manager. Ask me questions in an interview."

10. Develop Fictional Characters and Plot Ideas

Whether you're a writer, ChatGPT is a great companion to help you with your brainstorming, showing how it could be used in eliciting character outlines and plot twists or even dialogue. This is excellent for beating writer's block or opening up new ideas completely.

Example: “Help me create a backstory for a rebellious character in a sci-fi novel.”

These are just some of the many ways, often unexpected, you might leverage ChatGPT to make your life a little easier, more productive, or even a bit more creative. Be it event planning, upgrading a routine, or trying out any new hobby, this AI tool is full of infinite possibilities. Don't be afraid to try things out—you may find a new method to level up your daily tasks in ways you never thought possible!

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Author: Bradly Hennan
Miami Newsroom

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THE EDGE: Stem Cells from Foreskin of Circumcised Baby Penis' used to Grow 'Mini-Brains' able to Process Data and Run AI, Faster - While Consuming Almost NO ENERGY...

Welcome to THE EDGE, a series that focuses on the edge of technology. This series will not be about obscure, small advances in technology—our goal is to be where you will first hear about something that everyone will be talking about in the next few years. This is where you'll discover tech with the ability to transform and shape our future, and follow its development from its earliest phases.

Personally, as someone who's been interested in the evolution of technology for as long as I can remember, I feel the next wave of technology comes with a risk factor we haven't seen before.

AI brings with it the disruption of human-to-human interaction, whether it be professionally, as it replaces co-workers or entire departments in the workforce, or in the still little-explored but very real issue of AI replacing intimate personal relationships. Virtual reality opens the doors to everything from entertainment reaching new levels of immersion to face-to-face interactions, meetings, and even family gatherings, regardless of the miles separating people. But it also comes with the very real risk of people choosing virtual worlds over real life, replacing themselves with an avatar based on their idealized version of themselves. It can feel real enough that it's easy to ignore the fact that the only interactions in this virtual world are between façades.

The source of the most dangerous technology has remained the same for most of human history, probably because it has always had the largest budget—and that is military technology. Even here, advances introduce entirely new levels of danger, where the atom bomb has become just one of several weapons that could end mankind.

But I chose the topic for this first issue for several reasons: the ability of this technology to have major implications on all the other technologies I've mentioned, the pace at which it is progressing, and the very real concerns that come with it. However, my primary reason for choosing this topic is that while people are familiar with the general concept, outside of the labs where its development is taking place, people seem completely unaware of just how deep scientists are into this uncharted territory.

I’m talking about where life meets machine—the point where the lines between the biological and the artificial are not just blurred, they’re rapidly becoming entirely erased.

Human Stem Cells Used to Create Lab-Grown Brain Tissue, Now Being Used for Organoid Intelligence (OI)...

The human brain can rapidly process massive amounts of data, and brain cells also require less energy to do the work. It turns out when these cells are given data, they return data as well.  This has scientists now working towards a new kind of computer processor, one powered by the neurons we have in our brains instead of silicon. 

Lab-Grown Brains:
The stem cells can come from a number of sources, one popular source for researchers are the previously-discarded foreskin from circumcised infants. These cells can can basically be re-programmed to become stem cells.  Stem cells can be thought of as a human cell that hasn't yet been told what it should become, it can turn into tissue, skin, organs, bone - this is when OI researchers are able guide these cells to become neurons, by putting them in a culture dish with already formed neurons, the neurons secrete molecules that (for lack of better words) tricks the stem cell in to thinking it is supposed to help grow a human brain. Done repeatedly, and eventually you have a lab grown brain.

This image shows a lab-grown mini brain created by Cortical Labs, which learned to play the video game 'pong'. 

Organoid Intelligence represents a new frontier, utilizing lab-grown brain organoids in order to accomplish some sort of computational task. While artificial intelligence today depends on silicon chips and machine-learning algorithms, OI would exploit inherent biological neuron capabilities for information processing and storage. The idea is that self-organizing, adaptive brain-like structures might be far more powerful and flexible for computer systems today, even opening new routes for information processing and cognitive studies.

Controversy
The largest concern with Organoid Intelligence is the eventuality of such brain organoids becoming conscious or sentient. Currently, scientists agree that so far, the  organoids used in research are too simple to become conscious. 

However, as these systems become more complex, and lab grown 'mini-brains' are no longer 'mini' - these artificially constructed brains could develop the the capacity to feel or, worse, think. 

This Tech is Classified as 'Wetware'...

Wetware is our human 'hardware' - the parts of human biology able to process data, such as the brain and central nervous system.  Wetware, in more advanced contexts, embraces also engineered or synthetic biological constructs merging the natural, real capabilities of the brain with advanced technology.

Controversy
Wetware falls into that gray area between biology and technology, begging questions of autonomy, human identity, and the ethics involved in manipulating living systems for technological ends. Some critics see it as the commodification of life or reducing human beings to mere components of larger machine-driven systems. The most heated debates will continue to revolve around privacy and control—are these systems vulnerable to being hacked or manipulated? What might happen when biological and digital components have become so intertwined as to be inseparable?

What's Next?

Wetware systems are here, and just weeks ago, became accessible to people outside of research labs when a Swiss company announced the world's first 'neuroplatform' where a 4-Organoid biocomputer can be accessed for a $500/month fee. 

Now that it's here, the future of wetware is about increasing its capabilities, by growing larger networks of lab-grown neutrons. The successive stages of development into brain-computer interfaces will be advanced neuroprosthetics, neural interfaces that WOULD enable real-time interaction between the activity of a brain and machine learning algorithms. Among other things, this might have serious implications from both the medical and enhancement ends, pushing us toward a world where thoughts can directly control computers—and conceivably vice versa.

Neural Dust: Tiny Sensors Inside Your Brain

Neural Dust is formed from micro-sized, wirelessly powered sensors that can be implanted in the human body and, more particularly, inside the brain, for the perception and manipulation of neural activity. These speck-of-dust-sized particles operate on the power provided by external ultrasound to send information about real-time brain activity to the outside world. Some of the other potential uses of Neural Dust include the treatment of various neurological disorders, such as epilepsy, and deeper brain-computer interfacing that could enable people to control machines with their minds.

Controversy
The very notion of dust-sized sensors nestled inside our bodies or brains conjures up certain immediate implications of privacy and self-governance. That such sensors may, in fact, be capable of monitoring brain activity and maybe even altering it opens up a Pandora's box of ethical considerations: who does the information belong to, and what are the safeguards against misuse or surveillance? In theory, Neural Dust might allow for highly invasive monitoring; it could be a tool for government overreach or corporate exploitation. There are also medical risks since the long-term effects of having foreign objects implanted in the body—let alone the brain—are not yet fully understood.

What's Next?
But despite these cautions, researchers forge ahead. The next generation of Neural Dust sensors will be even smaller and could, in theory, be used to monitor individual neurons and directly respond with artificial intelligence. Applications could range from advanced medical treatments to human augmentation and more: the direct integration of the brain with the machinery around it. At every single step, there will be the need to discuss exhaustively privacy, consent, safety, and security.

In Closing...

Organoid Intelligence, Wetware, and Neural Dust are only the very cutting edges of technologies where biology and computing meet. While such technologies have the power to disrupt businesses, from medicine to artificial intelligence, by providing never-before-imagined capabilities, they also face us with a completely new world of ethical dilemmas and beg questions about our stance toward technology, biology, and our perceived sense of self.

The crazy thing is, this still barely scratches the surface. But the goal isn’t to cover everything there is to know, but instead to cover what you need to know to stay informed, aware, and ready for how emerging new technologies can shape our world - and our lives.

Stay tuned for more as we continue to explore the edge of innovation.

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Author: Ross Davis
Silicon Valley Newsroom

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United Nations Warns About the Potential for Inequity with AI by Not Having an All-encompassing Global Strategy...

In little more than a decade, AI has emerged as one of the most disruptive technologies of our times-machines can now learn from big data, and thereby enable computers to perform tasks that hitherto have been the exclusive domain of humans. From furthering scientific research to solving sustainability issues worldwide, the possibilities seem endless with AI. However, the UN is sounding the alarm over the risk this technology will pose, especially in potentially creating a wide disparity gap between various parts of the world if left unmanaged.

A Double-Edged Sword

The UN speaks to the tremendous promise of AI in its recent report entitled Governing AI for Humanity. It points out that AI is actually enabling progress in scientific discovery, medicine, and sustainability much faster than ever imagined. Basically, the AI-driven systems do help analyze climate data, enhance resource management, and help achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

In this way, AI is positioned as a driving component in solving some of the current world problems, from eradicating poverty to mitigating climate change.

The UN, however, warns that minus a global strategy that oversees and regulates AI, the technology could exacerbate inequalities. Wealthy nations and corporations that have resources to develop and deploy AI on a large scale will have the monopoly of benefits accruing from the technology, while underdeveloped regions become left behind, unable to access or employ AI tools that could better their economies, health, and educational sectors.

Disinformation, Automated Weapons, and Climate Risks

The UN is also not much concerned with it, seeing how AI will cause an economic imbalance. Besides that, there's a different warning of the dark side of its capabilities, with the possibility that it could spread disinformation, fuel conflict, and exacerbate climate change.

Unfortunately, AI can be a game-changing device in manipulating algorithms to generate and amplify disinformation on social media, directly swaying public opinions and undermining societies. Considering the already alarming prevalence of fake news and misinformation online, this prospect is definitely distressing. If it fell into the wrong hands, this might be used to disrupt democratic processes and human trust within a society, leading to further fragmentation.

Another alarming aspect of AI development is that, within the process of automating weapons, it emerges as a global security concern. Employing autonomous flying drones and other AI-powered weapons systems primarily opens up ethical concerns about warfare, but also the possibility of unintended consequences arising in conflict zones.

Moreover, large-scale AI systems demand great energy for operation and in turn pose an imminent environmental threat. Their training requires huge computational resources that most of the time lead to increased carbon emissions. Now, if not managed properly, the tool expected to fight against climate change would be further accelerating the process-a Catch-22 problem that the global community needs to solve extremely urgently.

The Imperative for a Global AI Strategy

With full realization that AI is capable of solving and creating problems, the UN, therefore, entreats international cooperation in the governance of the making and deployment of AI technologies. What is being demanded is a holistic global approach to ensure benefits accruing from AI are shared equitably and the risks mitigated. This ranges from setting ethical standards and developing transparent regulatory frameworks to fostering cooperation among nations to bridge the digital divide. There is little question that AI holds much promise, but all things considered, its perils are real. In the assessment from the UN, only through a joined approach globally can humans make certain that AI proves to be a tool for placements of progress for one and for all, rather than a driver of inequality.


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Author: Trevor Kingsley
Tech News CITY // New York Newsroom

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Apple Intelligence (their brand of 'AI') Seen in Action for the First Time....

Apple's new iPhone 16 lineup introduces significant enhancements, particularly with artificial intelligence capabilities and an improved Siri experience. The AI upgrades allow the phones to perform tasks more efficiently, with smarter predictive text, advanced photo editing features, and more personalized user experiences.

Siri is also expected to become more proactive, understanding user context better, offering more relevant suggestions, and even performing more complex tasks with natural language commands. These updates are set to make the iPhone 16 lineup a standout with cutting-edge technology designed to enhance daily user interactions.

Video Courtesy of Today

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Google Docs Faces TWO New Challengers, as both Proton and Zoom Launch Competing, Free-To-Use Alternatives...

Google Docs' long-standing dominance in the collaborative document editing space is facing new challenges. Over the past two months, two major players have entered the arena, potentially reshaping the landscape of online document creation and editing.

Last month, Proton, best known for its privacy-focused email and VPN services, unveiled its 'Docs' feature.

This new offering places a strong emphasis on user privacy, boasting end-to-end encryption for all aspects of document editing. According to Proton, "Docs in Proton Drive are built on the same privacy and security principles as all our services... Best of all, it's all private — even keystrokes and cursor movements are encrypted." This level of security could be a game-changer for privacy-conscious users and organizations.

Following closely on Proton's heels, Zoom has now launched its own document editing solution.

This move appears to be part of Zoom's strategy to expand beyond video conferencing and create a more comprehensive workspace platform. The company is leveraging its existing user base, arguing that keeping all work-related activities within a single ecosystem can boost productivity. Zoom claims that users can save up to two hours per week by "limiting workflow distractions," presumably by reducing the need to switch between different applications.

Zoom's offering comes with a tiered pricing model. Free account holders can access basic features but are limited to sharing up to 10 documents simultaneously. Paid plans, starting at $14.99 per month, remove this limitation and include access to an AI writing assistant, adding an extra layer of functionality that could appeal to power users.

The key question now is whether these new entrants can make a significant dent in Google Docs' user base. While there hasn't been any major controversy surrounding Google Docs to drive users away, there is a growing trend of individuals and businesses seeking alternatives to Google's ecosystem. This sentiment extends beyond just document editing, with Google facing increased competition in its core search business as well.

However, it remains to be seen whether the market segment looking for Google alternatives is substantial enough to propel these new competitors to success. The coming months will be crucial in determining whether Proton and Zoom can carve out significant market share in this space.

As these new platforms evolve and user adoption patterns emerge, we'll be keeping a close eye on how this competition unfolds. It's an exciting time in the world of collaborative document editing, and the implications could extend far beyond just how we create and edit documents online.

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Author: Stephen Hannan
New York Newsroom

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iPhone 16 Details Leak: Are MAJOR Upgrades Coming to the New Model?

Some details on the iPhone 16 have leaked, and they have many calling this the biggest upgrade Apple has made to the iPhone in years - so, what's new?

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OpenAI Finds itself in Multiple Controversies... Again. Plus Other Big AI News This Week....

 

The world of artificial intelligence continues to evolve rapidly, with new developments emerging across various domains. Here's a roundup of the latest AI news:

AI Image Generation Reaches New Heights

Recent advancements in AI-generated images have been remarkable, with models like Flux producing incredibly realistic human portraits. While some minor imperfections remain, such as gibberish text on lanyards or slightly off microphone renderings, the overall quality is becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish from real photographs.

OpenAI Continues to Find itself in Controversies, and other OpenAI News...

Open AI, one of the leading AI research companies, has been at the center of several developments and controversies:

Cryptic "Strawberry" References: CEO Sam Altman posted an image of strawberries, fueling speculation about a rumored advanced AI model codenamed "Strawberry."

Leadership Changes: Co-founder John Sheu left to join Anthropic, while Greg Brockman announced an extended sabbatical.

New Board Member: Ziko Kolter, an AI safety and alignment expert, joined Open AI's board.

GPT-4.0 System Card: Open AI released a detailed report on safety measures for GPT-4.0.

Emotional Attachment Warning: The company cautioned about potential user emotional reliance on AI voice modes.

Structured Outputs API: A new feature for developers was introduced to improve data handling.

AI Text Detection Tool: Open AI developed but chose not to release a tool for identifying AI-generated text.

Legal Challenges: Elon Musk filed a new lawsuit against Open AI, while a YouTuber initiated a class action suit over alleged copyright infringement.

Anthropic's Bug Bounty Program

Anthropic launched a bug bounty program offering up to $115,000 for discovering novel jailbreak attacks on their AI models.

AI in Job Searches

HubSpot released a toolkit designed to help job seekers leverage AI in their search for employment opportunities.

Character AI Partners with Google

Character AI's co-founders are joining Google, with the company's CEO returning to his former employer to work on AI models at DeepMind.

Advancements in AI for Math and Video

Qwen-2-Math: A new large language model fine-tuned for mathematical tasks outperforms existing models in benchmark testing.

ByteDance's Jimang AI: TikTok's parent company debuted a new AI video generation model, though its capabilities compared to Open AI's Sora remain unclear.

Runway ML Updates: Runway introduced a new feature allowing users to specify ending frames in AI-generated videos.

Opus Clip Enhancements: The AI-powered video clipping tool added new capabilities for identifying specific content within videos.

Other AI Integrations and Developments

WordPress AI Writing Tool: Automatic launched an AI tool to improve blog readability.

Amazon Music and Audible AI Features: Both platforms are testing AI-powered content discovery features.

Reddit AI Search: The platform is testing AI-generated summaries for search results.

Google's AI-Powered TV Streamer: A new device leveraging Gemini AI for content curation is in development.

AI in Drive-Throughs: Wendy's is testing AI-powered ordering systems with improved accuracy.

Robotics Advancements: Google DeepMind showcased a table tennis-playing robot, while Nvidia demonstrated AR-controlled robotics using Apple Vision Pro.

New Humanoid Robot: Figure Robotics unveiled the Figure 02, a new humanoid robot being tested on BMW production lines.

As AI technology continues to advance, we can expect to see more innovations and integrations across various industries in the coming months, and you'll hear about them here as soon as it happens!

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Author: Trevor Kingsley
Tech News CITY // New York Newsroom

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Video: As Robotics and AI Merge, a Huge Competition for Progress, and Funding, is Developing...

In This Video: Major technology and robotics companies are advancing their efforts to develop and train artificial intelligence models. These AI systems are being designed to perform a wide range of roles and functions, preparing for a future where AI is integral to various industries and aspects of everyday life.

Video Courtesy of NBC News

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Major Windows Security Hole Went Unpatched by Microsoft for Over a YEAR...

 

Hackers have been targeting Windows 10 and 11 users with malware for over a year, but a fix has finally arrived in the latest Windows update released on July 9th.

This vulnerability, exploited by malicious code since at least January 2023, was reported to Microsoft by researchers. It was fixed on Tuesday as part of Microsoft’s monthly patch release, tracked as CVE-2024-38112. The flaw, residing in the MSHTML engine of Windows, had a severity rating of 7.0 out of 10.

Security firm Check Point discovered the attack code, which used “novel tricks” to lure Windows users into executing remote code. One method involved a file named Books_A0UJKO.pdf.url, which appeared as a PDF in Windows but was actually a .url file designed to open an application via a link.

Internet Explorer Continues to Haunt Windows...

When viewed in Windows, these files looked like PDFs, but they opened a link that called msedge.exe (Edge browser). This link included attributes like mhtml: and !x-usc:, a trick long used by threat actors to open applications such as MS Word. Instead of opening in Edge, the link would open in Internet Explorer (IE), which is less secure and outdated.

Internet Explorer, Microsoft's infamously insecure browser has been discontinued for years, and even more previously unknown vulnerabilities are still occasionally discovered.  The point being - once a hacker has Internet Explorer open, and the ability to tell it to open a URL, they can choose from a wide variety of methods to install software, execute code, or destroy data.

IE would prompt the user with a dialog box to open the file, and if the user clicked “open,” a second dialog box appeared, vaguely warning about opening content on the Windows device. Clicking “allow” would cause IE to load a file ending in .hta, running embedded code.

Haifei Li, the Check Point researcher who discovered the vulnerability, summarized the attack methods: the first technique used the “mhtml” trick to call IE instead of the more secure Chrome/Edge. The second technique tricked users into thinking they were opening a PDF while actually executing a dangerous .hta application. The goal was to make victims believe they were opening a PDF using these two tricks.

Check Point’s report includes cryptographic hashes for six malicious .url files used in the campaign, which Windows users can use to check if they’ve been targeted.

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Author: Stephen Hannan
New York Newsroom

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AI News Roundup: Luma AI's Dream Machine, Apple AI, Leonardo's New Model, Pika Upgrades their Image to Video model and MORE...

AI Weekly Roundup: Exciting Developments in Image and Video Generation

This week saw a flurry of activity in the AI world, with several new tools and updates released for image and video generation. Let's dive into the most noteworthy developments:

Luma AI Launches Dream Machine

Luma AI released Dream Machine, their competitor to AI video tools like Sora, Veo, Pika, and Runway. While some claim it's on par with Sora, initial testing suggests it's not quite there yet in most scenarios. However, it does excel in certain areas.

Key points about Dream Machine:

- Initially had long queue times (up to 7 hours) due to high demand

- Performs better with image-to-video rather than text-to-video

- Generates 5-second videos

- Excels at flyover shots and time-lapses

- Pricing: 30 free generations per month, then about $0.25 per video

Pika and Stability AI Updates

Pika also updated their image-to-video model, though details on the improvements are scarce. Meanwhile, Stability AI finally released the weights for Stable Diffusion 3, making it available for download on Hugging Face. Initial tests show improvements in text generation within images, but it still requires detailed prompts for optimal results.

Leonardo Unveils Phoenix Model

Leonardo introduced their new custom AI model, Phoenix. This foundational model, trained from the ground up, offers:

- Enhanced prompt adherence

- Coherent text in images

- Superior image quality

- More creative control

Early tests suggest Phoenix may outperform Stable Diffusion XL in some aspects.

Midjourney Introduces Model Personalization

Midjourney launched a new feature called Model Personalization. By ranking at least 200 images, users can train the AI to generate images more aligned with their preferences.

Google's Gen Type Tool

Google Labs released Gen Type, a tool that creates letters in various styles based on user prompts. This free tool offers similar functionality to Adobe Firefly's text features.

Suno Updates Audio Generation

Suno, the AI music generation tool, now allows users to upload or record audio snippets and extend them into full songs. This feature is available for Suno Premium users.

Apple's AI Integration

At WWDC, Apple announced extensive AI integration across its ecosystem:

- On-device AI for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS

- AI-powered features in Notes and Calculator apps

- Email inbox overhaul with AI-generated summaries

- Smart replies and notification summaries

- Image Playground for generating illustrations and animations

- Gen Emoji feature for creating custom emojis

- Enhanced photo editing and searching capabilities

- Improved Siri with typing option and context awareness

Other Notable News

- Adobe is revising its terms of service to clarify they won't train AI on customers' work without permission.

- Apple briefly became the world's most valuable company following the WWDC announcements.

- Elon Musk expressed concerns about Apple's integration with OpenAI, though his claims were later clarified as misrepresentations.

- OpenAI hired two new C-level executives: Sarah Friar as CFO and Kevin Weil as CPO.

- Microsoft is removing custom GPTs from Copilot Pro due to low usage.

- A new open-source AI model, Qwen2, outperforms Llama 3 in various benchmarks.

- A photographer was disqualified from an AI image contest after winning with a real photo, highlighting the ongoing debate between AI-generated and human-created art.

As AI tools continue to evolve and become more accessible, creators have an expanding array of options for generating images, videos, and music. Stay tuned for more exciting developments in the world of AI.


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Author: Trevor Kingsley
Tech News CITY // New York Newsroom

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Apple Pay will Soon Be An Option for iPhone Users with WINDOWS PCs - No Safari Needed; Both Chrome and Firefox to Be Supported...

Apple is about to make waves in the digital payment space when iOS 18 goes live - support for Apple Pay on non-Safari desktop web browsers. That's right, apple pay in Windows PCs inside of Chrome or Firefox. It appears Apple's goal is to make Apple Pay something  people use for every transaction they make.

Apple demonstrated the new feature for a group of developers at WWDC 2024 who shared the details with us. 

Here's How it Will Work...

If you’re browsing the web on a desktop browser that isn’t Safari and you spot an Apple Pay button, you’re in luck, clicking that button will now generate a special QR code. Pull out your

iPhone running iOS 18, scan the code, and voila – it's like any other Apple Pay transaction from this point. This not only makes shopping more convenient but also bridges the gap between different platforms, enhancing the overall user experience.

Until Now, Apple Pay Was Only Accessible in Very Specific Situations...

Using Apple Pay outside of an Apple produced mobile device was limited to Macs computers/laptops, and even they were limited to using it only when using the Safari browser. This update really is a big change.

Regardless of your browser or operating system, you might start noticing a lot more Apple Pay buttons popping up across the web.

From a particle point of view, this option seems both faster and easier than typing in a credit card number.  But in cases where someone is using service they use often and likely has their card on file, using Apple Pay would be an additional pointless step.

Stay tuned for more updates as we inch closer to the iOS 18 release date this fall!

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Author: Alex Benningram
Tech News CITY // New York Newsroom

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The Latest News in AI's Evolution: 6 Recent Stories or Announcements You Need to Stay Up To Date...

Like every week, there has been a torrent of AI news, reflecting the rapid progress and growing implications of this transformative technology. While many updates represent incremental advancements, some developments carry profound future implications, and a few are simply downright bizarre and amusing.

The AI Landscape's Overwhelming Complexity

An infographic from First Mark Capital vividly illustrates the staggering complexity of the current AI landscape. Dubbed the "2024 ML/AI/Data Landscape," the image depicts the sheer number of companies involved in this space, encompassing both established giants and numerous smaller players. This visual representation serves as a stark reminder of just how monumental and widespread the AI revolution has become.

Microsoft and OpenAI's Ambitious Data Center Plans

Unconfirmed reports suggest that Microsoft and OpenAI are planning a $100 billion data center project, which would be a staggering 100 times more costly than some of the largest existing data centers. The proposed facility would house an artificial intelligence supercomputer dubbed "Stargate." If realized, this endeavor could propel OpenAI and Microsoft to an unprecedented lead, making it challenging for other companies or open-source models to catch up.

OpenAI's Synthetic Voice Capabilities

OpenAI has unveiled its ability to generate realistic synthetic voices from a single 15-second audio sample. The quality of these AI-generated voices surpasses even the impressive capabilities of tools like Elevenlabs. However, while showcasing this remarkable feat, OpenAI has refrained from making the technology publicly available due to potential misuse concerns. The company is advocating for measures to protect individuals' voices, educate the public about AI-generated content, and develop techniques to track the origin of audiovisual media.

Advancements in AI Art and Music Generation

Several developments in AI-powered art and music generation have emerged. OpenAI has introduced an inpainting feature for its DALL-E model, allowing users to selectively modify specific areas of generated images. Stability AI has unveiled Stable Audio 2.0, enabling the generation of three-minute songs and audio-to-audio generation based on hummed or instrument sounds. However, the quality of AI-generated music remains a subject of debate, with a group of musicians, including Nicki Minaj and Katy Perry, signing a letter expressing concerns about the irresponsible use of AI in music.

Anthropic's Research and Apple's AI Ambitions

Anthropic researchers have discovered that repeatedly asking harmless questions to large language models can eventually lead them to provide potentially harmful information, a phenomenon they are actively investigating. Meanwhile, Apple appears to be deepening its involvement in AI, revealing the "Realm" language model designed to enhance voice assistants like Siri by improving context understanding and reference resolution.

Ethical Concerns and Regulatory Developments

Ethical and regulatory issues surrounding AI continue to surface. A court in Washington has banned the use of AI-enhanced video evidence, citing concerns about the potential for inaccuracies introduced by upscaling algorithms. Additionally, the company behind the AI-generated George Carlin standup comedy set has agreed to remove all related audio and video content following a settlement with Carlin's estate.

Bizarre and Amusing AI Applications

Among the more unusual AI developments, an autonomous electric scooter called the Ola Solo has been introduced in India, claiming to be the first fully self-driving scooter. In Phoenix, Waymo vehicles are now delivering Uber Eats orders, allowing customers to retrieve their food from self-driving cars. Furthermore, an upcoming season of the Netflix reality show "The Circle" will feature an AI catfish participant, adding an intriguing twist to the dating-focused premise.

As the AI news cycle continues to accelerate, it becomes increasingly evident that we are witnessing a technological revolution of unprecedented scale and impact. Stay tuned for more developments, insights, and discussions as we collectively navigate the challenges and opportunities of this "next wave" of innovation.


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Author: Trevor Kingsley
Tech News CITY // New York Newsroom

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