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The biggest announcements from Microsoft Build
ALSO: OpenAI vs. Scarlett Johansson
Zain Kahn
May 24, 2024
Read time: under 4 minutes
Welcome back, Superhuman
Microsoft wants to use AI to give its graphics editing tool Paint a fresh coat of paint — and other big announcements from this week’s Build conference. Plus, Scarlett Johansson faces off against OpenAI over voice rights.
Today’s Insights
Rounding up Microsoft Build’s biggest announcements
How to create interactive charts with GPT-4o
Prompt: Friday Funday
Ping Pong: OpenAI vs. Scarlett Johansson
5 new AI tools to boost your productivity
Chart and AI-generated image of the day
NEXT IN AI
The biggest AI announcements from this week’s Microsoft Build conference
Source: Microsoft
Microsoft kicked Monday off with a bang by announcing a new slate of powerful AI PCs. But it had more surprises in store at this week’s Build conference, from AI virtual employees to automatic video translations. Here’s a roundup of the biggest news from the event.
Copilot AI Agents: Microsoft says its AI assistant will soon be able to complete certain tasks automatically, from crafting meeting agendas to processing orders to replying to emails. It’s racing against Google and OpenAI, who are working on their own AI-powered autonomous agents.
The Sky’s the Limit: There’s an ongoing debate in the AI industry over whether models will keep improving at the same rate — or whether progress will instead start to level off. During one presentation, a special guest, Sam Altman, made the case that we still have a long way to go. Microsoft’s CTO agreed: “We are nowhere near…how powerful we can make AI models,” he said.
Advanced Paste: A new Windows 11 feature will let users copy and paste across different formats. You can instantly convert code into different languages or ask AI to translate or summarize a piece of copied text.
Bringing Back Paint: Microsoft wants to make its graphics editing platform cool again with a feature that lets users generate AI images based on their doodles in real time. You can also use a new slider to decide how much you want the AI to take creative license over your sketch.
Instant Translations: Microsoft’s web browser Edge will soon be able to translate videos from YouTube, LinkedIn, and other platforms in real time, with both dubbing and subtitles. Six languages will be supported at the outset, with more planned for the future.
AI AT WORK
How to create interactive charts with GPT-4o
Go to ChatGPT and make sure you select GPT-4o as your model.
Upload your data file to ChatGPT (do not enter any sensitive information into ChatGPT)
Now click on the expand button to explore your data and ask ChatGPT to visualize your data by requesting the creation of a chart.
For instance, I uploaded a spreadsheet with data on the Japanese automobile industry.
Prompt: “Create a pie chart to display the total units sold by each brand in 2021”
You can interact with the chart and even edit it in ChatGPT by clicking on the edit button in the top right corner.
PROMPT OF THE DAY
Friday Funday – What to read this weekend
Prompt: You are a bookseller with a kind nature and wide understanding of a variety of genres. I'm in the mood for a new book to read. Can you recommend 3 books in different genres based on the following prompt: [Enter ideal genre here, ex: A story set in a dystopian future where emotions are outlawed.]
Source: Tom’s Guide
THE BIGGEST CULTURAL DEBATES IN AI
Ping Pong: OpenAI vs. Scarlett Johansson
🏓 Ping: OpenAI says internal documents prove it didn’t use Scarlett Johansson’s voice to train Sky, its new AI avatar. Internet users had noticed an eerie resemblance between Sky and Johansson’s character in the 2013 movie Her. But Sky’s real voice actress backed up OpenAI’s claim: “It’s just my natural voice, and I’ve never been compared to her by the people who do know me closely.”
🏓 Pong: OpenAI isn’t out of the woods just yet. Johansson revealed that the company had repeatedly tried to recruit her to become the voice of its new interface, but that she’d turned down the offer. Experts said she could still file a claim under “right to publicity” laws — which forbid companies from using artists’ likenesses without their permission — and let a judge decide whether the voices sound too similar.
PRODUCTIVITY
5 AI Tools to Supercharge Your Productivity
✅ Canvid: Create stunning, AI-enhanced screen recordings.
✅ Findr: Al assistant that can answer questions, find information, write documents, all powered by your apps and workplace knowledge
✅ Guidde*: Magically create video documentation with AI.
✅ Firebender: Find early adopters and new startup leads via an AI-powered database.
✅ Codebay: Learn Python easily with fun, interactive lessons, and your own AI coding tutor.
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AI & TECH NEWS
Everything else you need to know today
Source: Wall Street Journal
Hopping the Paywall: News Corp, which owns the Wall Street Journal and other major outlets, signed a “historic, multi-year agreement” that lets OpenAI use its articles to train new AI models.
Echo Chamber: TechCrunch reported that Meta’s new AI advisory council is made up entirely of white men, despite calls for more diversity in the industry.
Upping the Ante: South Korea promised to invest $19 billion into domestic chip production, more than doubling a commitment it made just a few weeks ago.
Marketing Maneuver: TikTok announced it’s rolling out an AI assistant, a video generator, and other AI tools geared toward the platform’s advertisers.
Incognito Mode: X’s director of engineering said the platform would soon remove the ability to see which posts other users have liked.
CHART
How K-12 teachers view AI
Source: Pew Research
Public K-12 teachers are divided over how AI platforms like ChatGPT might affect education. Around a third say AI tools bring an equal mix of benefit and harm into the classroom, while a quarter say they bring more harm than benefit. Roughly 6% think AI will be a net positive, while the largest share — 35% — still aren’t sure one way or the other.
AI GENERATED IMAGES
Dinotopia: New York City
Source: u/LongjumpingDrag4 on Reddit
Prompts:
People enjoying coffee at an outdoor café with a friendly dinosaur sitting nearby eating greenery, illustrated in the style of James Gurney. New York City, spring themed, beautiful flowers, the scene features detailed textures and soft lighting, with patrons casually interacting with the dinosaur as if it's a regular part of their day --ar 4:3 --stylize 300
An illustration by James Gurney, a girl on a bench in New York City pets a baby sleeping dinosaur in her lap, slice of life, cute dinosaur, people walking past, sunny nice day, in the fall --ar 4:3 --stylize 300
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