Win with AI

Welcome back apprentices! 👋

Remember when calculators were accused of turning us into math dropouts? Well, it didn’t happen — but let’s be real, who’s solving long division by hand these days? 

Now, swap calculators for AI, and we’re facing a new challenge: relying on it a bit too much. 

Experts call it “mental outsourcing,” and it might be dimming our critical thinking skills. 

But don’t worry — it’s not all doom and gloom! There’s a smarter way to use AI, and we’re breaking it down in today’s episode. 

Share this with your crew — because no one wants to become an “AI zombie”! (copy URL here)

In today's email

• François Chollet new venture

• Biden’s latest move 

• $420K AI Robot Unveiled

• OpenAI’s blueprint for AI leadership

• How to use AI (safely)

• More Tools & Updates

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Quick News 

🧠 François Chollet, Keras legend, just launched Ndea, an AI lab aiming to crack AGI by blending deep learning with program synthesis. No mega datasets here — just smarter AI that learns like humans. With plans to tackle drug discovery and wild new frontiers, Ndea’s betting brains beat brawn in the AI race.

⚡ Biden’s new order tackles the insane energy needs of AI data centers by fast-tracking gigawatt-scale infrastructure and leasing federal land — on the condition companies use American-made semiconductors. It’s part energy boost, part AI lockdown, and 100% about staying ahead of rivals like China.

💸 AI16Z just announced a humanoid robot that can chat, sprint, and even cut your cigars — all for the low, low price of $420k. With Tesla’s Optimus aiming for $30k, though, this feels more like a luxury flex than a practical buy.

🗽 OpenAI’s blueprint for U.S. AI leadership is calling for smarter regulation, ‘AI Economic Zones,’ and $175B in infrastructure investment. It’s like a master plan for turning the U.S. into an AI superpower—while making sure everyone shares the pie.

Together with Writer

Writer RAG tool: build production-ready RAG apps in minutes

RAG in just a few lines of code? We’ve launched a predefined RAG tool on our developer platform, making it easy to bring your data into a Knowledge Graph and interact with it with AI. With a single API call, writer LLMs will intelligently call the RAG tool to chat with your data.

Integrated into Writer’s full-stack platform, it eliminates the need for complex vendor RAG setups, making it quick to build scalable, highly accurate AI workflows just by passing a graph ID of your data as a parameter to your RAG tool.

Learn more about our production ready RAG tooling here.

AI Guide 
AI Isn’t a Magic Wand, but It’s Pretty Close 

AI Is like that overachieving friend who always has the answers — useful, but not someone you’d let run your life. 

The truth? AI can revolutionize your business life if you use it right. But if you over-rely on it, you risk becoming what we call an "AI zombie" — mindlessly trusting the tech and losing the ability to think critically. Let’s make sure you’re in control, not the other way around.

How to Use AI Without It Using You

1. Start with a Plan (No, “Let’s Try AI” Isn’t a Plan)

   • Pinpoint your goals — whether it’s automating customer service or conquering data chaos.

   • Tie AI projects directly to business outcomes, like boosting sales by 20% or finally taming your inbox.

2. Make AI Your Sidekick, Not the Hero

   • AI is here to help, not take over. Grammarly can polish your emails, but it won’t write the love letter that wins you a client. That’s still your job.

   • Think collaboration, not delegation — your brain + AI = unstoppable.

3. Upgrade Your Team, Not Just Your Tools

   • Train your employees to use AI tools wisely. Teach them to ask, “Is this output actually useful?” instead of blindly trusting the machine.

   • Fun fact: People who fact-check AI outputs have higher critical thinking scores. Be those people.

4. Transparency Is the New Black

   • Be upfront about how you’re using AI. Your customers will thank you.

   • Protect sensitive data like it’s the last slice of pizza at an office party.

What’s in It for You?

• Efficiency: AI does the boring stuff, like scheduling and data entry, so you can focus on the exciting parts of your business (or take that long lunch).

• Better Decisions: Tools like ThoughtSpot turn mountains of data into insights you can actually use.

• Scalability: Need to grow fast? AI’s got your back, whether it’s automating workflows with Zapier or scaling customer interactions with ChatGPT.

• Innovation: Use AI to do things humans can’t — like analyzing millions of customer interactions overnight to find out why they love your product (or don’t).

Example: Telstra used AI to transform customer experience and operations. The result? Happier customers and a healthier bottom line. You want that, right?

Tools You Should Try (and Love)

1. ChatGPT: For snappy customer replies and creative content magic. (Link)

2. Zapier: Automate those soul-sucking, repetitive tasks. (Link)

3. ThoughtSpot: Turn your data into insights without a Ph.D. (Link)

4. Grammarly: Impress with typo-free emails (and maybe even sound smarter). (Link)

5. BambooHR: Recruit like a boss with AI-powered HR tools. (Link)

6. RingCentral: Seamless team communication with a sprinkle of AI. (Link)

7. StoryChief:  AI for content marketing that feels human.(Link)

8. AWS SageMaker: Build and deploy AI models faster than you can say “machine learning.”(Link)

9. TechVibe: Business automation to make you feel like a tech genius. (Link)

10. Visualmodo: Streamline workflows and save time for Netflix binges. (Link)

Your AI Playbook

1. Identify Your Pain Points: What’s slowing your business down? AI can probably help.

2. Test the Waters: Start small. Automate your scheduling or test AI customer support.

3. Keep Your Brain On: Use AI to enhance your work, not do it for you. Think co-pilot, not autopilot.

AI isn’t here to replace you; it’s here to help you crush it. When used wisely, it can make your business smarter, faster, and more innovative — all without sacrificing your human touch. So go ahead, try those tools, and share this guide with your team. 

And remember: no one likes an AI zombie. Stay sharp, my friends. 

Quick Question For You 
Are You Team AI Yet?

We’re curious - Where do you stand in the AI adoption race?

1. I’m All-In! 🤖

   • AI is my trusted sidekick, helping me streamline workflows and crush business goals.

2. Dipping My Toes 🦶

   • I’m exploring AI tools but still figuring out how they fit into my workflow.

3. AI-Curious 🧐

   • I’ve heard the buzz, but I haven’t taken the plunge yet.

4. Old-School All The Way 📇

   • Who needs AI when Post-it notes and spreadsheets still do the trick?

Vote below and let us know where you stand! Your responses will help us shape content that matches where you’re at on your AI journey.

Tools & Updates

🌍 Meta just dropped SEAMLESSM4T, an AI model that translates speech and text in real time across 101 languages. It handles voice-to-voice chats in 36 languages, text in 96, and somehow keeps emotions intact. Oh, and it’s open-source — so if you’ve got big translation dreams on a small budget, Meta’s got you.

 🛌 Mount Sinai’s new AI tool uses 2D sleep test videos to detect REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) with 92% accuracy. No fancy 3D cameras needed — just an algorithm catching dream-time movements linked to Parkinson’s and dementia.

💼 Microsoft just rolled out Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat, a free version of its AI assistant with GPT-4o smarts, including file analysis, image/code generation, and task automation. Want more? Custom AI agents are pay-per-use at $0.01 per message. It’s like getting a free trial of AI greatness — with the option to splurge.

🚀 Say hello to Tasks, OpenAI’s newest ChatGPT feature that handles reminders and recurring actions like daily weather updates or weekly briefings. It’s more than just a to-do list — it’s your ticket to smarter AI workflows.

🎥 Luma Labs dropped Ray 2, an AI model that makes 10-second videos so realistic, you’ll wonder if reality even matters. From splashing water to human dance moves, it nails motion and physics like a pro. Available now on Luma’s Dream Machine, with editing tools and API access coming soon.

Let's Chat About AI

This is all for today!

Replay to this email with your thoughts.

AI is more than just a buzzword. It’s a shift in how we live and work. And understanding it a bit better means you can make smarter choices about the tech you use every day.

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