The biggest AI stories in the last month
How AI shaped the world in the last month
Hey, friends! I’m back from vacation! It was great to take some time off and spend quality time with my family. Now I’m feeling recharged and ready to dive back into the AI world, with a caveat: the frequency of this newsletter will change to every other week so I can take breathers and give you better quality newsletters (with fewer typos, I hope!)
Let’s catch up on some major AI developments that happened while I was away.
The EU AI Act takes effect (Passle)
Europe’s new AI law, which came into force on August 1, is a game-changer. The EU AI Act is the world’s first comprehensive regulation designed to manage AI risks in areas like healthcare, employment, and justice. It limits how companies can use AI to track or influence decisions in everyday life. With the EU leading the charge, expect other countries to follow suit. This is a big win for privacy and responsible AI use.
ChatGPT now has 200 million weekly users (Nieman Lab)
ChatGPT’s user base reached 200 million active users each week. This explosive growth highlights its dominance in the AI space, with 92% of Fortune 500 companies using OpenAI products. Meanwhile, API usage surged after the launch of the more efficient GPT-4o Mini. If Apple and Nvidia invest in OpenAI, it could further strengthen its market position. Speaking of which…
Apple and Nvidia consider investing in OpenAI (The New York Times)
Apple and Nvidia are in talks to invest in OpenAI in a deal led by Thrive Capital, which would value the AI company at $100 billion—$20 billion higher than its previous valuation. Nvidia’s involvement is key, as it supplies much of the specialized computing power that OpenAI relies on. Apple, often viewed as playing catch-up in the AI race, is looking to increase its role, particularly as it integrates more AI into its products.
The Washington Post hires its first AI strategy editor (Nieman Lab)
The Washington Post appointed Phoebe Connelly as its first-ever senior editor for AI strategy. Her mission? To integrate AI tools into the newsroom to enhance productivity without compromising editorial integrity. Connelly understands concerns about AI replacing jobs, but she sees experimentation with AI as a way to augment journalism and ensure transparency.
Google’s Gemini AI introduces customizable assistants (Popular Science)
Google’s Gemini AI now features custom bots called "Gems," designed to help users with specific tasks like learning languages or offering career advice. While Gemini can handle general queries, these custom Gems focus on specific topics, allowing users to tailor the AI experience to their needs. Available to “Advanced, Business, and Enterprise” users, Gems offer a more personalized AI experience.
Meta’s Llama AI models see a massive surge (Venture Beat)
Meta’s Llama family of open-source AI models has exploded in popularity, with downloads increasing over 10x in the past year. Now nearing 350 million downloads, Llama 3.1 has been adopted by major enterprises like AT&T, Spotify, and Zoom. This surge highlights the growing appeal of open-source AI, which is now a serious competitor to closed-source models like OpenAI’s, forcing innovation and cost reductions across the industry.
It’s good to be back, and I’m excited to talk more AI with you! Stay tuned for more updates and insights.