Catch up on select AI news and developments from the past week or so (in no particular order):
The EU releases draft guidelines for general purpose AI regulations. The European Union unveiled its initial draft of a Code of Practice for general purpose AI models, outlining transparency, copyright compliance, and risk mitigation standards. This draft precedes finalized rules due in May 2025 and invites feedback until November 28. Importance for marketers: These regulations will shape AI's commercial use, requiring companies to adapt their AI strategies to align with compliance requirements.
OpenAI and others seek new path to smarter AI as current methods hit limitations. OpenAI faces delays and challenges in training large language models. Researchers are exploring new techniques like test-time compute to enhance inference, reshaping the AI arms race and resource demand. Importance for marketers: Highlights how advancements in AI can shape new strategies, tools, and resources, offering key opportunities for marketers.
Vatican and Microsoft unveil AI-generated St. Peter's Basilica for virtual visits. A digital twin of St. Peter's Basilica uses AI to improve visitor experiences and manage conservation. This innovation employs advanced photogrammetry and 22 petabytes of data, aiding preservation and accessibility. Importance for marketers: Demonstrates the potential of AI in creating engaging and scalable experiences.
Google Gemini introduces streamlined assistant UI for Android. Google revamps its Gemini Assistant UI with a bottom-aligned text box and categorized extensions. Features like "Ask about this screen" offer enhanced interactivity. Importance for marketers: Showcases how AI innovations can improve user engagement and provide marketers with insights on customer preferences.
Apple to release iOS 18.2 with ChatGPT integration for Siri. Apple's iOS 18.2 update, featuring ChatGPT integration, is set to launch in December. This marks a step toward enhancing Siri's capabilities with AI-driven responses and other upgrades for new models. Importance for marketers: Demonstrates how integrating AI into widely used platforms like iOS can enhance user interactions, creating new opportunities for personalized marketing.
Google Gemini launches standalone iPhone app with Live mode. Google's Gemini app for iPhone debuts with features like voice interaction and the Gemini Live conversational mode. It integrates with Google apps to enhance interactivity and accessibility. Importance for marketers: Highlights the growing trend of standalone AI apps that offer seamless user experiences and greater integration with ecosystems, opening avenues for marketers.
Baidu unveils enhanced AI tools including no-code app builder. Baidu introduces I-RAG, an AI-powered text-to-image tool, and Miaoda, a no-code app builder. These innovations focus on usability and expand the company's AI commercialization efforts. Importance for marketers: Highlights how no-code tools democratize application development, enabling marketers to create and deploy solutions efficiently.
OpenAI prevails in copyright lawsuit over AI training data. A federal judge dismissed a copyright lawsuit against OpenAI for using news content in training models. However, plaintiffs may file an amended complaint. Importance for marketers: Shows the legal complexities around AI training, underscoring the importance of understanding content rights and compliance in AI applications.
Anthropic hires its first AI welfare researcher to explore ethical considerations. Anthropic's new role addresses potential ethical concerns in AI, such as avoiding misinterpreting AI as sentient. This aligns with growing industry focus on responsible AI. Importance for marketers: Highlights the importance of ethical AI development, which can impact trust and brand perception in AI-driven marketing initiatives.
Perplexity AI adds ads as 'sponsored follow-up questions.' Perplexity introduces ads labeled as "sponsored questions" to monetize its platform, emphasizing privacy protection and AI-generated answers. This contrasts with OpenAI's ad-free ChatGPT. Importance for marketers: Provides insights into how AI platforms monetize through ads, highlighting opportunities for targeted advertising in innovative formats.
Apple plans to launch AI-driven wall tablet for smart homes. Apple's upcoming AI wall tablet, set for March, integrates with smart home devices and uses AI for app navigation. It targets high-end consumers. Importance for marketers: Demonstrates how AI-driven smart devices can create new customer touchpoints, expanding opportunities for smart home marketing.
OpenAI co-founder Greg Brockman returns after leave. Greg Brockman resumes work at OpenAI, focusing on technical challenges alongside CEO Sam Altman. His return follows significant leadership changes. Importance for marketers: Indicates stability and continuity in OpenAI's leadership, ensuring sustained development of tools that marketers rely on.
Google Gemini Advanced introduces file uploads for tailored AI responses. Google Gemini Advanced now supports file uploads to enhance context and precision in responses, with applications in marketing, sales, and customer service. Importance for marketers: Offers marketers new tools for personalized messaging and content creation, improving efficiency and alignment with brand goals.
Wall Street Journal tests AI-generated article summaries. The Wall Street Journal uses AI to create "Key Points" summaries for articles, with editor verification to ensure accuracy. Importance for marketers: Demonstrates how AI can streamline content consumption, offering inspiration for summarization tools in marketing communication.
OpenAI outlines US AI strategy and competition with China. OpenAI's blueprint includes AI economic zones and infrastructure to maintain global leadership, emphasizing AI's transformative potential. Importance for marketers: Signals the scale of AI’s economic impact and opportunities for businesses in emerging AI-driven markets.
Small language models emerge as efficient AI tools. Small language models (SLMs) provide cost-effective, standalone AI solutions, complementing large language models (LLMs). Both approaches offer distinct advantages. Importance for marketers: Highlights the growing diversity in AI tools, enabling marketers to adopt solutions suited to specific needs and budgets.
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.
