Are you feeling overwhelmed by AI? I am, and yet I'm still deep-diving into it and enjoying (some!) of what I'm finding!
I'm loving what it can do as a TOOL for ideas to improve stragies, get ideas for blog posts and so much more, but I'm terrible at prompting it to create great images or videos ... I'll leave that to others, for now! But in terms of prompts, I've been deep diving into that for the past few years and my prompts (and Ai) are getting better and better!
Artificial Intelligence, better known as AI, has been around for a while, but since it became mainstream in 2023, practically everyone has used it in some way. From AI assistants we can access as google extensions, image and information generators in exclusive AI platforms like ChatGPT and Dall-E, to now even our social media apps having it embedded into its functions (hello Meta AI!), it’s safe to say AI is EVERYWHERE. And AI development is moving forward at such an alarming rate, there's no chance of it slowing down anytime soon. So, buckle up, and get ready for the ride!!!
No. We're definitely not done yet!!
First of all, to know what’s happening in the world of AI right now, you need to know what AI actually IS. So, who better to ask to sum it up in one simple paragraph, than a prompt to Meta.ai itself! Here's what they came back with;
AI is like an assistant that you can ask any question to and it’ll respond in moments. Its answers will feel more personal as they are driven by special AI algorithms, which model the decision-making processes of the human brain and allow it to ‘learn’ and better help you over time, just like you’d be able to better help a friend once you got to know them better.
For a more targeted understanding of AI, you can click here for masterclasses, free podcast episodes and more blog posts.
The second thing you need to know about AI right now is that there have been some big changes recently, and three of those you really NEED to know about.
I’ve summarised the three big updates for you below:
- Gemini
Gemini, Google’s own AI assistant, has been coming up with monthly major updates that you can use across Google Workspace. This is all based in their endeavour to make AI more accessible, so this is definitely one to consider for your business or personal needs!
In May alone, the updates have been:
- Gemini 1.5 Pro has been introduced to Gemini Advanced (Just in case you weren't aware, Gemini was formerly known as Google Bard)
What this means: Gemini Advanced gives you direct access to Google’s next-generation model, 1.5 Pro. With 1.5 Pro, Gemini Advanced can process significantly more information, running up to 1 million tokens – about 1500 pages.
Gemini Advanced will also be available in 150+ countries and territories, as well as 35+ supported languages.
How this benefits us: A longer context window lets you solve more complex problems than ever before, which can save you time and boost productivity when you explore and analyse information. They’re also gradually expanding access to more languages, countries and territories to enable more people to experience Gemini Advanced.
- Document Upload in Gemini Advanced
What this means: You can seamlessly upload multiple Google Docs, PDFs and Word files from Google Drive or your device for summaries, feedback and insights about your academic, personal and other documents.
This new feature helps your research and writing by summarising complex topics, identifying trends within and across documents, sharing comprehensive feedback on your written work and transforming notes and transcripts into structured outlines.
How this benefits us: You can unlock deeper insights from your documents and streamline your workflows with Gemini Advanced to save time.
- Chat with Gemini in Google Messages
What this means: Starting in English and on select devices, you can now chat with Gemini directly in Google Messages. Try it out by clicking on the 'Start chat' button on Google Messages and select Gemini.
How this benefits us: You can draft messages, brainstorm ideas, plan events or simply have a fun conversation, all without leaving the Google Messages app.
- Exclusive to Gemini Advanced: Data Analysis
What this means: You can now upload your spreadsheets for faster data processing and exploration, presentation-ready charts and deeper insights. Upload Google Sheets, CSVs and Excel files directly from Google Drive or your device.
How this benefits us: Efficiently process, explore, analyse and visualise your data to save time and uncover insights faster.
You can see a full history of Gemini’s updates here.
- ChatGPT-4o
ChatGPT released their newest model, GPT-4o. This is free to EVERYONE (not just pro users) and has amazing new features, so definitely have a play around with it!
The new features you can find in it include:
- Faster and improved capabilities
These range over text, voice and vision controls, allowing better understanding and quicker responses to the content you share.
Specifically, GPT-4o is much better than any existing model at understanding and discussing the images you share. For example, you can now take a picture of a menu in a different language and talk to GPT-4o to translate it, learn about the food's history and significance, and get recommendations. How handy is that?!
To make advanced AI more accessible and useful worldwide, GPT-4o's language capabilities are also improved across quality and speed. ChatGPT also now supports more than 50 languages across their services.
Disclaimer: There will be a limit on the number of messages that free users can send with GPT-4o depending on usage and demand. When the limit is reached, ChatGPT will automatically switch to GPT-3.5 so users can continue their conversations, albeit with less features and updates.
- Desktop app
For both free and paid users, they’re also launching a new ChatGPT desktop app for macOS that is designed to integrate seamlessly into anything you’re doing on your computer. With a simple keyboard shortcut (Option + Space), you can instantly ask ChatGPT a question. You can also take and discuss screenshots directly in the app!
- Simplified look
If you have been a user of ChatGPT, you may have noticed it has recently adopted a new look. ChatGPT has been redesigned to be more user-friendly and appear more conversational. This is noticeable in its new home screen, message layout and more!
Read more about ChatGPT-4o and try it out yourself on this update information page.
- Meta AI
Meta AI is yet another assistant, but this one is incredible! It’s also free, and you can use it on Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp AND Messenger (aka the Meta apps that you already have). I'm finding it has a much more conversational tone than other AI assistants, which I think is very appealing and helps with written content generation.
It has also had some big updates, including:
- More information
You can use Meta AI in feed, chats, search and more across the Meta apps to get things done and access real-time information, without having to leave the app you’re using. This allows you to ask questions and get information as you scroll or text!
For example, if you’re planning a ski trip in your Messenger group chat, you can use search in Messenger and ask Meta AI all the things you want to know, without leaving the Messenger app. For example, I've recently been in New Zealand's South Island in a campervan, tiki-touring around with my mum and my daughter. Each town we'd be driving to, we'd ask Meta, "Please tell me 10 facts about Arrowtown that are little-known, that we wouldn't find in a regular search?" and it came up with 10 great things that made our visit far more intriguing!
NEXT, after a hairy trip in our giant campervan from Queenstown to Wanaka via the Cardrona Hotel, I needed to know how I could drive us
It is seamlessly integrated in search across Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger, so you can use it to get things done, learn, create and easily connect with the things that matter to you.
- Images
Meta AI’s image generation is now faster, producing images as you type, so you can create things like album artwork for your band, decor inspiration for your apartment, animated custom GIFs to send to your friends and anything else you can think of.
You can also access Meta AI when you’re scrolling through your Facebook Feed. If you come across a post you’re interested in, you can ask Meta AI for more information right from the post. So if you see a photo of the northern lights in Iceland, you can ask Meta AI what time of year is best to check out the aurora borealis, just like that!
Image generation in WhatsApp is also sharper and higher quality, with a better ability to include text in images. It’ll even provide helpful prompts with ideas to change the image, so you can keep iterating from that initial starting point.
And it doesn’t stop there. Found an image you love? Ask Meta AI to animate it, iterate on it in a new style or even turn it into a GIF to share with friends. The updates are endless!
- Global access
Meta AI is expanding to be accessible in English in many more countries, including Canada, Ghana, Jamaica, Malawi, New Zealand, Singapore and so many more, meaning your international friends and family will have access to the same features as you!
Read more about it through the Meta website here.
The final thing you need to know about AI right now is that it can take your business marketing from great to extraordinary! Check out this blog now to see first hand how I use AI in my business, what prompts to use to get what you want and so much more!
No matter how confusing all of this AI talk seems, you should be incredibly proud of your eagerness to stay updated, seek out new knowledge and embrace the ever-evolving AI scene. Keep on learning and figuring out what is best for you and your business, and if AI keeps expanding as it has been, I’ll probably be back sooner than you think with another AI update. Until then, good luck!
