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- 👀 Weekly AI news: Did you miss it?!
👀 Weekly AI news: Did you miss it?!
👨🚀 The most important AI updates at a glance
Die AInauten
January 25, 2025
👀 Weekly AI news: Did you miss it?!
👨🚀 The most important AI updates at a glance
AI-HOY and happy weekend, dear AInauts!
What a crazy week in AI-land ... But maybe you haven't heard all the exciting news, tools and hacks yet, or maybe you've just joined us. No need to worry!
We have summarized our highlights of the past week for you:
Finally, there is the most important quick news for you - so you can keep an eye on all relevant developments with just one click! Ready? Let's go!
A powerful prompt transforms any text into clear mind maps in a flash. As an AI-supported knowledge engineer, it analyzes content and creates a hierarchical structure with main topics and subtopics in markmap format.
It's easy to use: enter the prompt with text in an AI language model, insert the output at markmap.js.org, done! Works with ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini and other models. Also exciting: Google is already working on a direct mind map integration for NotebookLM.
OpenAI is on the verge of groundbreaking developments, if rumors are to be believed: employees are equally excited and concerned about the latest advances. A breakthrough in PhD-level superagents and a massive IQ boost are on the horizon. Sam Altman plans a behind-closed-doors briefing with US government officials at the end of January.
New projects such as GPT-4b micro for Longevity and o3 mini are in the pipeline, and the "Operator" is introducing computer-controlling agents. AI development is no longer linear, but exponential - with far-reaching consequences for science and society...
A crazy tech breakthrough has gaming nerds rejoicing: the cult shooter DOOM is now actually playable in a PDF format! And as if that wasn't crazy enough, Tetris is also available in the same format.
Running Doom in a... PDF file ! 🤯🤯🤯
github.com/ading2210/doom…
Credits: ading.dev
— Wassim Chegham (@manekinekko)
9:56 AM • Jan 13, 2025
The world of AI video generation offers different access routes: Premium individual subscriptions offer the latest features and maximum control, but are expensive. The techie route via APIs enables flexible integration, but requires technical expertise. Replicate scores with pay-per-use and a large selection of models.
The easiest way to get started is via aggregator platforms such as Krea or Freepik, which bundle various models as a one-stop store. The only disadvantage is that new special features, such as Kling's upcoming updates for consistent characters and objects, are usually only available on the original platforms.
DeepSeek's new open source model R1 is causing a stir in the AI world! The Chinese language model shows impressive performance and is on par or even ahead of OpenAI o1 in many benchmarks.
R1 uses clever reinforcement learning instead of massive amounts of data and is an astonishing 95% cheaper than o1. In tests, R1 proves to be very competent, even if it can't quite match o1 in complex analyses. With various model sizes, even for local devices, it offers an exciting alternative.
Hailuo AI is revolutionizing AI video generation with its new "Subject Reference" function in the Minimax model. Instead of inconsistent characters in AI videos, users can now upload a reference image that serves as the basis for consistent video generation.
This replaces previous cumbersome workarounds such as image-to-video conversion or FaceSwap methods. Thanks to Replicate, implementation is simple and API-compatible, which is particularly practical for automation. The service is perfect for AI influencers and personalized video production, but has its limits with multiple characters in one video.
OpenAI and partners have announced a massive $500 billion project called "Stargate" to massively expand the AI infrastructure in the US. The mega-project, twice as expensive as the Apollo program, combines OpenAI's AI expertise with SoftBank's funding, NVIDIA's chips and Oracle's systems.
The first step is being taken in Texas with a $100 billion investment. While Trump is using the project for his agenda, Elon Musk and Sam Altman are already publicly exchanging blows over the financing details.
📰 AI news quickie: The HAI highlights from the industry
This week has been absolutely crazy, from DeepSeek R1 to OpenAI's operator and America's AI push with fewer Guardrails and more infrastructure - $500 billion USD to be exact ... Let's get in!
AI models, innovations and features
OpenAI has introduced the new Tool Operator, an autonomous AI agent system: It can act autonomously on the internet !
The DeepSeek R1 release has made a new reasoning model open source - and pushed OpenAI to make the o3 mini model free for everyone.
Google has also released a new Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking model. The message went a bit under - although it is very impressive! You can check it out here.
Google Workspace is also integrating the best AI features into its Business and Enterprise plans at no extra cost - and has also introduced the ability to chain actions in Gemini.
Elon has relaunched Grok web app free for all. Here are 12 exciting use cases.
Anthropic has also published a smaller release for the API: Citations!
Since mid-January 2025, Microsoft 365 Personal and Family users have automatically received access to Copilot and Designer.
Adobe presents important new updates for Premiere Pro (Beta), After Effects (Beta) and Frame.io in the run-up to the Sundance Film Festival 2025.
And with Firefly Bulk Create, you can now edit 10,000 images in one click and remove backgrounds behind products in an instant!
Runway's new AI image generator Frames is here, and it looks suitably cinematic. Freepik, Krea and Pika have also released new updates.
While AI pioneer François Chollet launches Ndea (a new lab dedicated to the development of AGI), rumor has it that GPT-5 already exists - but is being kept secret by OpenAI for commercial reasons.
Agents and chatbots everywhere!
If you prefer to work with a free alternative to OpenAI's Operator, you'll find it at Browser Use.
Perplexity AI has a new assistant in its Android app that can call other apps and do everyday tasks for you - and has also launched the Sonar API for real-time results.
Explore ACU's curated list of AI agents for computing applications, which includes research, projects and tools. Automate tasks with new helpers and stay productive!
Companies are increasingly relying on autonomous AI agents to handle complex tasks and optimize operational processes. Intelligent agents are the goal of AI!
Liveblocks brings AI co-pilots into your app - with a new user interface that makes collaborative work with AI natural.
With DryMerge, you can connect apps with agents and complete routine tasks in minutes - without any technical frustration.
ChatGPT Plus and Perplexity Pro shine in the 2025 coding charts, while Grok for X fans shows off newer strengths. The GitHub Copilot Workspace is also new.
Robots in factories are celebrating their new record number: with 162 robots per 10,000 workers, the density has more than doubled in seven years!
Crazy! Ayrin has a relationship with ChatGPT and invests over 20 hours a week.
Business, politics and research
Trump has rescinded Biden's sweeping AI executive order to pursue a more lax regulatory strategy and make America the world capital of the AI and crypto industry. The tech moguls rejoice!
Microsoft and OpenAI define their relationship to drive the $500 billion investment in infrastructure with Project Stargate - while Elon still claims the capital is lacking.
OpenAI has released an economic plan aimed at maximizing the benefits of AI and driving economic growth in the US.
Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei predicts that AI could surpass human intelligence by 2027 - and has secured another billion from Google.
Mistral AI has signed a multi-year deal with AFP and is aiming for an IPO. The French AI company is also opening new offices in Singapore.
Getty Images buys Shutterstock for USD 3.7 billion to assert itself in the AI world. Stock photography faces challenges from generative AI - this could be exciting!
The British AI video platform Synthesia has doubled its valuation to 2.1 billion dollars with a financing round of 180 million dollars.
In 2025, VCs are primarily interested in AI solutions that tackle specific business problems and increase efficiency. Investments in simplified digital infrastructure and customized software solutions are at the top of the list.
Apple is now part of the UALink alliance, which is competing against Nvidia's dominance in the AI hardware market. Huawei also wants to knock NVIDIA off its throne in China.
A new study shows that 38% believe millennial careers are threatened by AI and who is most at risk.
Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis predicts that by 2025 we will be swallowing drugs developed with the help of AI.
"The State of AI 2025" report shows: While 25% of companies have AI in production, the focus is increasingly on customer-facing applications and complex workflows.
AI in education and learning
More and more teenagers are using ChatGPT for school: around 26% say they have worked with the AI tool.
One eleven-year-old uses ChatGPT for all her math and reading homework and even asks the simplest things ...
But: The transformation of learning in Nigeria through AI is showing progress: thanks to AI-Tutor on average almost two years of knowledge in just six weeks!
Downsides and dangers
Searching the internet is changing radically: with AI-generated answers from Google, OpenAI and co., keyword searches are turning into conversations.
A new dark AI chatbot called OnionGPT has recently seen the light of day - it promises uncensored instructions. Cybercriminals use the GhostGPT, and the gramma jailbreak still works perfectly.
Microsoft has tested over 100 AI tools and found out: Hackers don't need complex math skills, simple attacks are more effective than thought.
With GeoSpy, a powerful AI tool from Graylark Technologies, cops and stalkers can pinpoint the location of photos in seconds...
Dotdash Meredith is firing 143 employees, about 4 percent of its workforce, despite a lucrative $16 million annual deal with OpenAI.
The Pentagon says AI increases efficiency in the "kill chain" - from threat detection to strategic planning. Yikes…
And that’s a wrap! Enjoy the rest of your weekend.
Your AInauts,
Fabian & Reto
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