AI Update, May 24, 2024: AI News and Views From the Past Week

Catch up on select AI news and developments from the past week or so (in no particular order):

Truecaller and Microsoft to Enable AI Voice for Answering Calls. Truecaller, in partnership with Microsoft's Azure AI Speech, will enable users to create AI versions of their voices to answer calls. This new feature builds on Truecaller's AI Assistant, introduced in 2022, which screens incoming calls and informs users of the call's purpose. The AI voice is generated from a user-recorded clip, enhancing personalization.

Importance for marketers: This development showcases the potential of AI in enhancing customer interactions by adding a personal touch. Marketers can leverage similar technologies to create more personalized and engaging customer experiences, thereby increasing customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Avoiding AI Overviews in Google Search. Google has rolled out AI Overviews in Search for all US users, which cannot be turned off. These overviews, intended to provide helpful information, sometimes present incorrect or copied content. Users can avoid AI Overviews by selecting the "Web" filter in search results or appending "udm=14" to the search URL. Browser extensions and manual settings adjustments in browsers like Chrome and Edge can also bypass these features.

Importance for marketers: Understanding how to navigate AI Overviews in Google Search can help marketers to inform their audiences on how to keep their content visible and accessible.

Google to Introduce Ads in AI Overviews. Google announced plans to integrate ads into AI Overviews in Search, as disclosed during the Google Marketing Live event. These ads will be prominently labeled as "Sponsored" and will appear above and below AI-generated overviews when relevant. The ads will be auto-generated from existing search advertisements.

Importance for marketers: The introduction of ads in AI Overviews presents a new advertising opportunity. Marketers should prepare to leverage this space to reach audiences more effectively, understanding that these AI-driven placements could enhance visibility and relevance.

Google Ads VP Addresses AI Search Impact on Publishers. In an interview, Google's VP of Advertising, Shashi Thakur, addressed concerns about AI Overviews' impacting organic traffic to publishers. Thakur claimed that users are clicking on links within AI Overviews, despite lacking statistical evidence to support this claim. Publishers fear reduced traffic due to AI-generated answers potentially replacing clicks to their sites. Thakur emphasized the diversity of clicks and higher user engagement with embedded links in AI answers.

Importance for marketers: This highlights the ongoing debate about AI's impact on organic search traffic. Marketers must stay informed about AI developments in search engines to adapt their strategies and ensure their content continues to drive traffic effectively.

AI Competition Reignites Between Microsoft and Apple. Microsoft has introduced Copilot+ PCs, featuring advanced AI capabilities and specialized neural processing units (NPUs), aiming to outperform Apple's Macs. These PCs offer enhanced performance, battery life, and AI functionalities. Microsoft's Copilot AI assistant, integrated with these devices, aims to boost productivity and provide unique user experiences. This move positions Microsoft to compete more aggressively with Apple.

Importance for marketers: The intensifying AI competition between tech giants highlights the importance of staying abreast of AI advancements. Marketers can leverage these technologies to enhance their marketing strategies, improve productivity, and stay competitive in a rapidly evolving tech landscape.

Amazon Plans AI Overhaul for Alexa with Subscription Fee. Amazon is upgrading its Alexa voice assistant with generative AI, aiming for more conversational interactions. The upgrade, expected later this year, will be offered as a subscription service separate from Amazon Prime. This move comes in response to advancements from competitors like OpenAI and Google, positioning Alexa to better compete in the AI-driven assistant market.

Importance for marketers: This shift emphasizes the growing trend toward subscription-based AI services. Marketers should consider how such services can be utilized to enhance customer engagement and streamline operations, particularly in voice-activated and AI-driven marketing strategies.

Microsoft Edge to Offer Real-Time Video Translation. Microsoft Edge will soon feature real-time translation for videos on platforms like YouTube, LinkedIn, and Coursera. This new AI-powered capability will provide dubbing and subtitles in multiple languages, enhancing accessibility and user experience. Initially supporting translations from Spanish to English and English to several other languages, the feature aims to make online content more accessible to diverse audiences.

Importance for marketers: Real-time translation can significantly expand the reach of video content, making it accessible to a broader, multilingual audience. Marketers can utilize this feature to enhance the global impact of their video marketing campaigns.

Microsoft Introduces 'Team Copilot' AI Assistant. Microsoft's new Team Copilot AI assistant will support group collaboration by managing meetings, taking notes, and assigning tasks. This AI assistant expands the capabilities of Microsoft 365 Copilot, which already serves as a personal assistant. Team Copilot aims to streamline project management and enhance productivity within organizations.

Importance for marketers: The introduction of Team Copilot underscores the growing role of AI in team collaboration and project management. Marketers can use such tools to improve efficiency, manage campaigns more effectively, and enhance team productivity.

Scarlett Johansson vs. OpenAI Over Voice Imitation. Scarlett Johansson has taken legal action against OpenAI, alleging that its ChatGPT demo featured a voice closely resembling hers without her consent. This dispute highlights potential legal challenges around AI-generated content and the right of publicity. Johansson's case may focus on whether the imitation violates her rights, with legal precedents like Bette Midler's case against Ford being relevant.

Importance for marketers: This case highlights the legal complexities surrounding AI-generated content. Marketers should be aware of intellectual property and publicity rights when using AI to create content, ensuring they avoid legal pitfalls related to imitation and consent.

Lenovo Launches AI-Powered Copilot+ PCs. Lenovo has introduced new Copilot+ PCs, the Yoga Slim 7x and ThinkPad T14s Gen 6, powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite processor. These laptops feature advanced AI capabilities, including offline large language model (LLM) access, enhancing productivity and creativity. The devices aim to offer a seamless user experience with extended battery life and enhanced security.

Importance for marketers: The launch of AI-powered PCs by Lenovo highlights the increasing integration of AI into personal computing. Marketers can benefit from these advancements by utilizing AI to enhance productivity, create engaging content, and improve operational efficiency.

Apple and OpenAI to Integrate Chatbot in iOS 18. Apple is reportedly partnering with OpenAI to integrate ChatGPT into iOS 18, enhancing Siri with generative AI capabilities. This move aims to make Siri more conversational and capable, competing with Google's AI advancements in Android. Apple's integration of AI is expected to include features like AI article transcripts and photo editing, leveraging both cloud-based and on-device AI models.

Importance for marketers: The integration of advanced AI into iOS devices represents a significant shift in how consumers interact with technology. Marketers should explore how these AI capabilities can be harnessed to create more personalized and effective marketing strategies, leveraging AI for enhanced customer engagement.

Microsoft Introduces Phi-3-Vision Small Language Model. Microsoft has unveiled Phi-3-Vision, a multimodal small language model capable of reading and analyzing text and images. This model, part of the Phi-3 family, is designed for mobile devices and can perform general visual reasoning tasks. Unlike larger models like DALL-E, Phi-3-Vision focuses on understanding and analyzing images rather than generating them.

Importance for marketers: The development of small, efficient AI models like Phi-3-Vision opens up new possibilities for integrating AI into mobile marketing strategies. Marketers can harness these models to analyze visual content and enhance the effectiveness of image-based campaigns.

Honor to Integrate Google AI Features in Upcoming Smartphones. Chinese smartphone maker Honor will integrate Google's AI features, including Gemini and Imagen 2, into its upcoming devices. This partnership aims to enhance the AI capabilities of Honor's smartphones, making them more appealing to users seeking advanced generative AI features. Honor's move builds on its existing use of Google's Android operating system and AI technologies.

Importance for marketers: The integration of advanced AI features in smartphones by Honor demonstrates the growing importance of AI in consumer devices. Marketers can capitalize on these advancements to create more interactive and engaging mobile marketing campaigns, leveraging AI for enhanced user experiences.

Google Invests 1 Billion Euros in Finnish Data Center for AI Growth. Google will invest 1 billion euros to expand its data center in Finland, supporting its AI business growth in Europe. The investment will leverage Finland's renewable energy resources to power the data center, aligning with Google's sustainability goals. The expansion aims to meet the increasing power consumption demands of AI technologies.

Importance for marketers: Google's investment in AI infrastructure underscores the growing demand for AI capabilities. Marketers should recognize the importance of sustainable practices and the potential for AI to drive business growth, ensuring their strategies align with technological advancements and sustainability goals.

Paris Aims to Become Europe's AI Hub. France will host the Viva Technology conference, highlighting its ambition to become a leading AI hub in Europe. The event will feature tech executives and political figures discussing the impact of AI on various sectors. France has attracted significant investments from tech giants like Amazon and Microsoft, positioning Paris as a key player in the AI industry.

Importance for marketers: Paris's emergence as an AI hub presents opportunities for marketers to engage with cutting-edge AI innovations. Attending events like Viva Technology can provide insights into the latest AI trends and foster collaborations that drive marketing innovation.

Google Rolls Out Powerful AI Models Amid OpenAI Competition. At its annual developer conference, Google announced Gemini 1.5 Flash and Gemini 1.5 Pro, its latest AI models designed for efficiency and cost-effectiveness. These models enhance the speed and capability of AI tools, offering advanced features like summarizing lengthy documents and handling complex tasks. The new models aim to provide developers with faster and more affordable AI solutions.

Importance for marketers: Google's advancements in AI models offer marketers powerful tools to enhance their strategies. These models can improve content creation, data analysis, and overall campaign effectiveness, providing a competitive edge in the digital marketing landscape.

Inflection AI's New Leadership and Focus on Emotional AI. Following the departure of co-founder Mustafa Suleyman to Microsoft, Inflection AI has refocused its mission on developing emotionally intelligent AI. The company, led by new CEO Sean White and a team of Silicon Valley veterans, aims to build chatbots that adapt to and reflect business needs. Inflection AI's emphasis on emotional intelligence sets it apart from competitors focusing primarily on cognitive capabilities.

Importance for marketers: Inflection AI's focus on emotional intelligence highlights the potential for AI to create more personalized and empathetic customer interactions. Marketers can harness these advancements to build stronger customer relationships and enhance the overall user experience.

You can find last week's AI Update here.

Editor's note: GPT-4o was used to help compile this week's AI Update.

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AI Update, May 24, 2024: AI News and Views From the Past Week

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