Welcome to our Last Week in Local AI series, where we round up some of the most fascinating stories about AI from this past week!
Here, we will look at each of these stories through the lens of a local business owner and highlight how they might innovate or impact local businesses with the advancement of AI technology.
This week, we’ve got new beta features rolling out for ChatGPT Plus subscribers. Incredible advancements in diagnosing type 2 diabetes… with your voice. 🤯 Musk unveiling his new AI chatbot and so much more.
So, without further ado, let’s look at the past week’s exciting stories.
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The Latest Beta for ChatGPT Plus Users Introduces Handy File Upload and Analysis
Source - The Verge
Our first story for the week highlights new updates to ChatGPT Plus that could streamline how you manage business documents and visuals.
Subscribers are now getting access to the ability to upload various file types directly to ChatGPT, allowing it to act as a quick-thinking assistant. It's designed to parse through your data, providing summaries and crafting detailed visualizations to help you grasp the finer points of your business metrics at a glance.
Previously this feature was only available to ChatGPT Enterprise subscribers.
If advanced data analysis isn’t your thing, then be sure to check out how ChatGPT Plus is showing off its artistic flair as well. In collaboration with DALL-E 3, it can now take a simple image and reimagine it with a creative twist, offering up custom graphics that could add some zing to your marketing campaigns.
A capybara transformed into a Pixar character? That's the kind of creative spark that could make your brand stand out.
For those of you who are curious about what that cute furry friend might look like, don’t worry. I’ve got you covered.
Whether it's analyzing sales trends or jazzing up your promotional material, these updates are bringing a touch of enterprise-level AI power to the individual subscriber, and that could mean big things for small businesses looking to get ahead in the digital space.
In Just 10 Seconds, AI Can Identify Type 2 Diabetes Using Only Your Voice
Source - Diabetes.co.uk
Our next update comes from the healthcare front, where AI is making waves in diagnostic technology.
Klick Labs has developed a voice analysis system using AI that can predict type 2 diabetes with impressive accuracy – 89% for women and 86% for men – and it only requires 10 seconds of voice recording. This could totally shift the game for local health pros, giving them a swift, non-intrusive, and budget-friendly way to screen for diabetes.
With nearly half of the 240 million adults living with diabetes worldwide unaware of their condition, this technology could significantly improve early detection rates. This tech could let local businesses in the healthcare industry offer top-notch screenings minus the pricey gear or special training.
This technology could totally change how we catch health issues sooner rather than later.
US Advertisers and Merchants Get a Boost with Google's Latest Generative AI Imagery Tools
Source - TechCrunch
Stepping into the spotlight for our third article is Google's latest leap in AI: generative tools for product imagery now available to U.S. advertisers and merchants.
This feature, part of the AI-powered Product Studio, lets businesses whip up professional images for their products with just a text description. Say goodbye to the hassle and expense of constant photoshoots.
Think about the potential here.
A local boutique could craft seasonal product scenes without redoing its entire catalog photos. Or a family-run restaurant could update its online menu with dishes that look straight out of a gourmet magazine, all without a professional photographer on retainer.
These AI tools can even spruce up existing photos, improving quality or tweaking backgrounds to make your products pop.
And for the cherry on top, Google is rolling out a "small business" attribute on Google Search and Maps, making it easier for customers to spot and support local businesses.
So, this new feature could really amp up the exposure for small businesses and boost visitor numbers - it's a perfect chance to spruce up your online shop using some snazzy AI-generated imagery.
For local businesses looking to shine online without splurging, these tools pack a serious punch. Whether you’re fine-tuning your web presence or launching a new product line, AI is ready to play a part in your visual strategy.
Collins Dictionary Crowns 'AI' as the Word of the Year
Source - BBC
Up next, AI isn't just changing the game in business—it's officially the talk of the town, earning the title of "word of the year" by Collins Dictionary.
Just like how we've seen email and streaming services become part of our daily lives, AI's use has blown up this year - four times over - showing it's becoming just as ingrained in our everyday chatter and routines.
This acknowledgment signals a game-changing point for those running the business show: AI and tech are game-changers for small biz success these days. Understanding and embracing AI could be as crucial as having an email address was in the early days of the internet.
So, getting savvy with AI isn't just a smart move; it's a must to keep your business in the game.
Be sure to check out our local business AI starter kit if you haven't already, it's a great place to get your feet wet with using AI.
As we debate the broader implications of AI's increasing dominance, it's also popping up in fun ways in our culture—think how it played a role in crafting what's celebrated as the Beatles' "last song" using vocals from John Lennon that were unearthed by AI.
Although AI is profoundly influencing society, its emergence in pop culture as a creative tool shows businesses can strategically leverage it too.
Musk Reveals X Subscribers to Be First in Line for xAI’s Chatbot Grok
Source - TechCrunch
Wrapping up our weekly round-up, Twitter subscribers (sorry, X subscribers) should keep their eyes peeled for an exclusive sneak peek at a new AI chatbot named Grok, unveiled by Elon Musk's AI startup, xAI.
This fresh face in AI promises to blend conversational savvy with a touch of humor, aiming to outshine its peers with real-time information access and internet browsing capabilities to pull in the latest data.
For local businesses, the launch of Grok marks a time when customer chats could turn more lively and quick to respond.
Imagine an AI chatbot on your business's social media or website that not only answers queries with the efficiency you'd expect but also throws in a dash of humor to keep the conversation light and memorable. This chatbot, with its quick answers and fun personality, could really make a business stand out in a super crowded online space.
Musk also teased that Grok will sidestep sensitive questions with a clever quip, suggesting a level of sophistication that might handle the unpredictable nature of customer queries with ease.
While details are still under wraps, the under-the-hood glimpse reveals that Grok is honed by "tens of thousands" of GPUs and trained with the latest web data and human feedback, hinting at its potential to be a robust tool for businesses seeking to incorporate AI into their operations.
As AI becomes a more integrated part of business, keeping up with these advancements isn't just for tech giants; it's a crucial strategy for local businesses looking to stay ahead of the curve.
With tools like Grok, AI could soon be the new frontier for supercharging customer service experiences.
Stay Ahead of the Curve With Our Weekly AI Round-up
That's a wrap on this week's Last Week in Local AI round-up.
From the introduction of more accessible AI tools for creating stunning product imagery to the potential of voice technology in healthcare and the buzz around AI's cultural impact to the promise of new AI chatbots with a sense of humor, it's been a fascinating seven days.
Each story we've shared not only reflects the rapid advancements in AI but also how these innovations could directly benefit your business, making processes smoother and customer interactions sharper and more engaging.
If these glimpses have caught your interest, believe me, we've got heaps more mind-blowing AI advancements waiting for you to explore. Keep tabs on our journey by following us on social media or subscribing to our newsletter—you won't want to miss what's next!
We're just kicking off this thrilling adventure, and we're stoked for you to hop on board as we keep uncovering the impact of AI on local businesses, week by week.
See you next week!