Here are some of the AI news and developments from the past week or so (in no particular order):
Truecaller and Microsoft enable AI voice for call answering. Truecaller has partnered with Microsoft's Azure AI Speech to allow users to create an AI version of their own voice to answer calls. The new feature builds on Truecaller's AI assistant, introduced in 2022, which screens incoming calls and informs users of the purpose of the call. The AI voice is generated from clips recorded by users, providing enhanced personalization.
Why it matters to marketers: This development demonstrates the potential of AI to enhance customer interactions by adding a personal touch. Marketers can leverage similar technologies to create more personalized and engaging customer experiences, increasing customer satisfaction and loyalty.
Avoid AI overviews in Google Search. Google is rolling out AI summaries in search to all users in the US, and they cannot be turned off. These summaries, intended to provide helpful information, may surface inaccurate or copied content. Users can avoid AI summaries by selecting the “Web” filter in search results or by appending “udm=14” to search URLs. Extensions or manual setting adjustments in browsers such as Chrome and Edge can also circumvent these features.
Why it matters to marketers: Understanding how to interact with AI summaries in Google Search can help marketers inform their audiences on how to make their content visible and accessible.
Google introduces ads to AI Overview. Revealed during the Google Marketing Live event, Google has announced plans to integrate ads into its AI summary for search. These ads will be prominently labeled “Sponsored” and will appear above and below the AI-generated summary when relevant. The ads will be auto-generated from your existing search ads.
Why it matters to marketers: The introduction of ads in AI Overview creates new advertising opportunities. Marketers should understand that AI-driven placements can increase visibility and relevance, and be prepared to leverage this space to reach their audiences more effectively.
Google Ads VP discusses how AI search will impact publishers. In an interview, Shashi Thakur, VP of Advertising at Google, addressed concerns about the impact of AI Overviews on organic traffic to publishers. Thakur claimed that users are clicking on links in AI Overviews, despite the lack of statistical evidence. Publishers fear that AI-generated answers could replace clicks to their sites, leading to a drop in traffic. Thakur emphasized that links embedded in AI answers increase click diversity and user engagement.
Why it matters to marketers: This highlights the ongoing debate about the impact of AI on organic search traffic. Marketers need to stay informed about advances in AI in search engines so they can adapt their strategies and ensure their content continues to drive traffic effectively.
The AI race between Microsoft and Apple has reignited. Microsoft has unveiled Copilot+ PCs with advanced AI capabilities and a specialized Neural Processing Unit (NPU) aimed at outperforming Apple's Macs. These PCs offer improved performance, battery life, and AI capabilities. Microsoft's Copilot AI assistant integrated into these devices aims to improve productivity and provide a unique user experience. This move allows Microsoft to compete more aggressively with Apple.
Why it matters to marketers: The growing AI race among technology giants highlights the importance of keeping abreast of AI advancements. Marketers can leverage these technologies to enhance their marketing strategies, increase productivity, and stay competitive in a rapidly evolving technology landscape.
Amazon plans to overhaul Alexa's AI for a subscription fee. Amazon is upgrading its Alexa voice assistant with generative AI in an effort to make conversational interactions more fulfilling. The upgrade, scheduled for later this year, will be offered as a subscription service separate from Amazon Prime. The move comes in response to advances from competitors like OpenAI and Google, and is meant to make Alexa more competitive in the AI-powered assistant market.
Why it matters to marketers: This shift highlights the growing trend toward subscription-based AI services, and marketers should consider how they can leverage such services to enhance customer engagement and streamline operations, especially in voice-activated and AI-driven marketing strategies.
Microsoft Edge now offers real-time video translation. Microsoft Edge will soon offer real-time translation of videos on platforms like YouTube, LinkedIn, and Coursera. This new AI-powered feature will provide voice-over and subtitles in multiple languages, improving accessibility and user experience. Initially, it will support translation from Spanish to English and from English to several other languages, aiming to make online content more accessible to a wider audience.
Why it matters to marketers: Real-time translation significantly expands the reach of video content, helping it reach a wider, multilingual audience, helping marketers increase the global impact of their video marketing campaigns.
Microsoft announces AI assistant “Team Copilot”. Microsoft's new Team Copilot AI assistant supports group collaboration by managing meetings, taking notes, assigning tasks, and more. The AI assistant expands the capabilities of Microsoft 365 Copilot, which already acts as a personal assistant. Team Copilot aims to streamline project management and improve productivity within organizations.
Why it matters to marketers: The introduction of Team Copilot highlights the expanding role of AI in team collaboration and project management: marketers can use such tools to improve efficiency, manage campaigns more effectively, and increase team productivity.
Scarlett Johansson and OpenAI clash over voice imitation. Scarlett Johansson has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging that the company's ChatGPT demo produced a voice that closely resembled hers without her consent. The dispute highlights potential legal challenges regarding AI-generated content and publicity rights. Johansson's lawsuit could focus on whether the imitation violates her rights, and involves precedents like Bette Midler's lawsuit against Ford.
Why it matters to marketers: This case highlights the legal complexities surrounding AI-generated content: marketers need to be mindful of intellectual property and publicity rights when creating content using AI, and avoid legal pitfalls related to copycat and consent.
Lenovo launches AI-powered Copilot+ PC. Lenovo has announced new Copilot+ PCs, Yoga Slim 7x and ThinkPad T14s Gen 6, powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite processors. These laptops feature advanced AI capabilities, such as offline Large Language Model (LLM) access, to boost productivity and creativity. The devices aim to provide a seamless user experience with extended battery life and enhanced security.
Why it matters to marketers: Lenovo's launch of AI-enabled PCs signals the growing integration of AI into personal computing. Marketers can benefit from these advancements by leveraging AI to increase productivity, create compelling content, and improve operational efficiency.
Apple and OpenAI integrate chatbots into iOS 18. Apple is reportedly partnering with OpenAI to integrate ChatGPT into iOS 18 to enhance Siri with generative AI capabilities. The move aims to make Siri more conversational and capable, rivaling Google's AI advances in Android. Apple's AI integration is expected to include features such as AI article transcription and photo editing, leveraging both cloud-based and on-device AI models.
Why it matters to marketers: The integration of advanced AI into iOS devices brings about a major shift in the way consumers interact with technology. Marketers should consider how they can leverage these AI capabilities to create more personalized and effective marketing strategies and use AI to enhance customer engagement.
Microsoft announces Phi-3-Vision compact language model. Microsoft has announced Phi-3-Vision, a multimodal small language model capable of reading and analyzing text and images. Part of the Phi-3 family, the model is designed for mobile devices and can perform common visual reasoning tasks. Unlike larger models such as DALL-E, Phi-3-Vision focuses on understanding and analyzing images, rather than generating them.
Why it matters to 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 use these models to analyze visual content and improve the effectiveness of image-based campaigns.
We are honored to integrate Google AI features in our upcoming smartphones. Chinese smartphone maker Honor plans to integrate Google's AI capabilities into its upcoming devices, including Gemini and Imagen 2. The partnership aims to enhance the AI capabilities of Honor's smartphones, making them more appealing to users looking for advanced generative AI capabilities. Honor's move builds on its existing use of Google's Android operating system and AI technology.
Why it matters to marketers: Honor's integration of advanced AI capabilities into its smartphones signals the growing importance of AI in consumer devices. Marketers can take advantage of these advancements to create more interactive and engaging mobile marketing campaigns, leveraging AI to improve user experience.
Google will invest 1 billion euros in Finnish data centers to grow AI. Google is investing €1 billion to expand its data centers in Finland to support the growth of its AI business in Europe. The investment will leverage Finland's renewable energy resources to power the data centers, in line with Google's sustainability goals. The expansion is intended to meet the increasing power consumption demands of AI technologies.
Why it matters to marketers: Google's investments in AI infrastructure highlight the growing demand for AI capabilities. Marketers need to recognize the importance of sustainable practices and the potential of AI to drive business growth and ensure their strategies align with technological advancements and sustainability goals.
Paris aims to become Europe's AI hub. Underlining its ambition to become Europe's leading AI hub, France will host the Viva Technology conference, bringing together tech executives and politicians to discuss the impact of AI across a range of sectors. France has attracted significant investment from tech giants such as Amazon and Microsoft, with Paris positioning itself as a major player in the AI industry.
Why it matters to marketers: Paris' emergence as an AI hub creates opportunities for marketers to engage with cutting-edge AI innovations. Attending events like Viva Technology can provide insight into the latest AI trends and foster collaborations that drive marketing innovation.
Google unveils powerful AI model in race against OpenAI. At its annual developer conference, Google unveiled its latest AI models, Gemini 1.5 Flash and Gemini 1.5 Pro, designed with efficiency and cost-effectiveness in mind. These models enhance the speed and capabilities of AI tools, providing advanced features such as summarizing long documents and handling complex tasks. The new models aim to provide developers with faster and more affordable AI solutions.
Why it matters to marketers: Advancements in Google's AI models provide marketers with powerful tools to enhance their strategies. These models improve content creation, data analysis, and overall campaign effectiveness, providing a competitive advantage in the digital marketing space.
Inflection AI's new leadership and focus on emotion AI. Following the departure of co-founder Mustafa Suleiman to Microsoft, Inflection AI has refocused its mission on developing AI with emotional intelligence. Led by new CEO Shaun White and a team of Silicon Valley veterans, the company aims to build chatbots that adapt and reflect business needs. Inflection AI's focus on emotional intelligence sets it apart from competitors that focus primarily on cognitive capabilities.
Why it matters to marketers: Inflection AI's focus on emotional intelligence highlights the potential of AI to create more personalized, empathetic customer interactions. Marketers can leverage these advancements to build stronger customer relationships and improve the overall user experience.
You can find last week's AI update here.
Editor's note: GPT-4o was used to compile this week's AI update.
