Catch up on select AI news and developments from the past week or so (in no particular order):
Meta unveils new AI tool Movie Gen, challenging OpenAI's media generation models. Meta introduced Movie Gen, an AI model designed to generate realistic video and audio clips, positioning it as a competitor to OpenAI and ElevenLabs. Movie Gen can edit existing videos and create content with synchronized sound effects and music. It has impressed in blind tests against other media generation tools, but concerns remain about the broader use of AI in entertainment and the potential for misuse in elections. Importance for marketers: Marketers need to consider how AI like Movie Gen could transform content creation, allowing for more dynamic, engaging multimedia campaigns.
OpenAI releases ChatGPT's Canvas feature to enhance coding and writing workflows. OpenAI launched Canvas, a new ChatGPT interface that helps users with writing and coding by allowing direct editing of generated text or code. Users can highlight and modify outputs, and access shortcuts for writing adjustments or code debugging. The tool supports multiple programming languages and includes version restoration. Canvas aims to improve efficiency for writers and developers alike. Importance for marketers: This update could streamline creative workflows and coding tasks, enabling faster content production and more seamless coding processes for marketing teams.
Accenture and NVIDIA launch AI group to scale enterprise adoption of agentic AI. Accenture and NVIDIA have formed a new business group aimed at helping enterprises adopt agentic AI systems, which can act autonomously based on user intent. The initiative includes AI Refinery Engineering Hubs to support large-scale AI operations, benefiting industries such as marketing and finance. Initial applications show promising results in cutting costs and increasing efficiency. Importance for marketers: Marketers can benefit from AI-driven process improvements, with tools that automate complex workflows, potentially transforming customer engagement and campaign management.
Adobe to launch free app for creators to ensure attribution in AI-generated content. Adobe announced a free web-based app for creators to affix "Content Credentials" to their images and videos, helping them claim authorship and prevent their work from being used in AI training without permission. This move comes amid increasing legal concerns over unauthorized use of creative content in AI models. Importance for marketers: This app empowers creators and marketers to protect their content from being misused, encouraging transparency and accountability in the growing field of AI-driven media.
Google launches Gmail Q&A feature for iOS to boost inbox productivity. Google has rolled out its Gemini-powered Gmail Q&A feature for iOS, allowing users to search their inboxes with natural language queries. The tool can help users locate unread messages, summarize conversations, and answer general questions without leaving the Gmail app. The feature was previously available only on Android devices. Importance for marketers: Marketers can use this tool to improve email management, quickly retrieve critical conversations, and enhance overall productivity, especially in email-heavy workflows.
California's AI transparency law causes uncertainty among AI companies. California passed a law requiring generative AI companies to disclose details about their training data, including ownership and sourcing. Despite the law, many companies, including Microsoft and Google, are reluctant to confirm compliance. Some firms, like OpenAI, have committed to following the regulations, while others remain silent, possibly due to legal concerns. Importance for marketers: Marketers need to be aware of increasing regulation around AI data usage, as transparency will likely impact the development and deployment of AI-driven marketing tools.
AI misinformation is becoming harder to detect, raising new risks. As AI-generated content becomes more sophisticated, detecting misinformation is becoming increasingly challenging. Current AI detection tools, including watermarking, have proven unreliable, and labeling practices are inconsistent. Experts warn that governments and businesses are vulnerable to manipulation, as AI tools can produce nearly undetectable fakes. Importance for marketers: Marketers must stay vigilant as AI-generated misinformation could damage brand trust. It's vital to invest in robust tools for content verification and to communicate transparency in marketing efforts.
Google Photos may soon help identify AI-generated images through metadata. Google Photos is preparing to roll out a feature that will display metadata to identify AI-generated images. This update will include tagging AI-manipulated photos, providing transparency around image origins. The feature is expected to launch soon, helping users distinguish real from AI-generated content. Importance for marketers: This tool could help marketers verify image authenticity and maintain credibility in visual campaigns, especially in an era where AI-generated content is becoming more common.
AI-generated images disrupt Google Image search results, frustrating creators. Creators are expressing frustration with AI-generated images cluttering Google Image search results, making it difficult to find real photos. Users have called for filters that allow for the exclusion of AI content. The issue highlights the growing challenge of managing AI-generated media in search engines. Importance for marketers: Marketers should be aware of how AI-generated content could skew search results, affecting brand visibility and content discovery, and take steps to ensure the authenticity of their visual assets.
OpenAI secures content partnership with Hearst for use in ChatGPT. OpenAI has partnered with Hearst, granting access to content from major publications such as Cosmopolitan, Esquire, and the San Francisco Chronicle. ChatGPT will now display Hearst content with proper citations and links. The deal follows similar partnerships OpenAI has formed with other major media brands, including Condé Nast and Time. Importance for marketers: This deal provides opportunities for more targeted content generation, allowing marketers to tap into trusted media sources for enhanced brand credibility and content authenticity in their campaigns.
Publishers slow down efforts to block OpenAI's scraping bots as content deals expand. Efforts to block OpenAI's web crawlers have slowed down, especially as more publishers sign content deals with the company. After Open AI secured partnerships with Dotdash Meredith, Vox, and Condé Nast, fewer media companies are opting to block OpenAI's GPTBot. The trend suggests that publishers are becoming more willing to collaborate with AI firms. Importance for marketers: Marketers should monitor the evolving landscape of AI-publisher partnerships, as it may influence content accessibility, SEO strategies, and the availability of data for AI-driven marketing tools.
Apple to roll out new Apple Intelligence features in iOS 18.1. Apple announced new Apple Intelligence features in iOS 18.1, including tools for proofreading, rewriting, and summarizing text across apps. Siri will also receive updates, allowing users to maintain context in conversations and access smarter replies. These features are aimed at enhancing productivity across iPhones, iPads, and Macs. Importance for marketers: Apple's enhanced intelligence tools can improve marketing efficiency by simplifying content creation, proofreading, and summarization, providing marketers with quicker ways to fine-tune messaging.
Hugging Face releases new tool to help developers build AI-powered web apps quickly. Hugging Face launched OpenAI-Gradio, a tool that enables developers to create AI-powered web apps in minutes. The new Python package integrates with OpenAI's API, allowing developers to deploy powerful AI tools quickly and with minimal resources. It lowers the barrier for businesses to create scalable applications. Importance for marketers: This tool allows marketers to rapidly create AI-powered web applications for tasks like customer service and product recommendations, offering a competitive edge in personalized user experiences.
Meta's AI chatbot expands to 21 new markets, including the UK and Brazil. Meta announced its AI chatbot is expanding to 21 new markets, including Brazil, the UK, and several Latin American and Asian countries. The chatbot, which supports multiple languages like Arabic and Thai, now serves almost 500 million monthly users. Meta's goal is to make its AI assistant the most widely used by yearend. Importance for marketers: The expanded availability of Meta's AI chatbot opens new opportunities for marketers to reach global audiences, especially in emerging markets, with conversational AI tools.
Google rolls out simplified homescreen for Gemini app on Android. Google is rolling out a redesign of the Gemini app on Android, streamlining the homescreen by reducing clutter and making it more intuitive. The new interface includes simplified prompts and a greeting message, while users can still access previous queries and tools for image and video search. Importance for marketers: Marketers using Google's Gemini app for research and content discovery will benefit from a cleaner, more efficient interface, allowing them to work faster and find relevant information with ease.
Google adds AI-powered voice search for videos and images in Lens. Google has enhanced its search capabilities with more AI-driven tools that allow users to ask questions about images and videos via voice. The AI provides answers based on visual content, part of a broader AI integration into Google's search ecosystem. This update aims to simplify search and improve accuracy in results. Importance for marketers: These AI-powered visual search enhancements could reshape SEO and visual content strategies, as marketers will need to ensure their media is optimized for these new voice-activated search functionalities.
You can find the previous issue of AI Update here.
Editor's note: GPT-4o was used to help compile this week's AI Update.
