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Beginners in AI
Good morning and thank you for joining us again!
Welcome to this daily edition of Beginners in AI, where we explore the latest trends, tools, and news in the world of AI and the tech that surrounds it. Like all editions, this is human curated, and published with the intention of making AI news and technology more accessible to everyone.
THE FRONT PAGE
The Secret Desires Leak Reveals Industrial-Scale Deepfake
TLDR: A massive data breach at an AI companion platform revealed that users have been uploading photos of ordinary women—from yearbooks, workplaces, and social media—to generate nonconsensual explicit deepfakes at scale.
The Story:
Secret Desires AI, a browser-based "adult companion" chatbot, left nearly two million images and videos exposed in unsecured Microsoft Azure cloud storage containers. The breach, first reported by 404 Media, included roughly 930,000 files in a "removed images" folder, 50,000 photos in a "faceswap" container, and over 220,000 AI-generated explicit videos. Many file names contained full first and last names of the women pictured. The platform had advertised face-swapping as a paid feature costing $7.99 to $19.99 per month, marketing its ability to "digitally recreate your crush" and make AI companions "look like that girl from the gym." Some prompts visible in the exposed data explicitly requested imagery of minors.
Its Significance:
What makes this breach different is what it reveals about who gets targeted. The exposed files weren't just celebrities—they included women with almost no online presence, their photos scraped from graduation pictures, vacation selfies, and workplace directories. Research shows 96% of all deepfakes are nonconsensual, with 99% depicting women. The leak arrives as Congress considers the Deepfake Liability Act, which would strip Section 230 protections from platforms that fail to prevent such abuse. And as AI systems become more personal and intertwined with daily life—from companion chatbots to health assistants—expect bad actors to increasingly target services that accumulate detailed personal information, whether explicitly intimate or not.
QUICK TAKES
The story: A startup called Starcloud just trained an AI model in space for the first time ever. Last month, they launched a satellite with a powerful Nvidia computer chip — 100 times stronger than any chip previously sent to space. The satellite successfully trained a small AI on Shakespeare's writings and is now running Google's Gemma AI model while orbiting Earth. The company plans to build giant data centers in space that would use 24/7 solar power and cost 10 times less to run than buildings on Earth.
Your takeaway: As AI keeps growing, it needs more and more electricity. Space-based data centers could be one answer to this problem, using unlimited solar energy instead of draining power grids on Earth. Google, SpaceX, and Blue Origin are all working on similar projects.
The story: An AI toy called Miiloo, made by Chinese company Miriat, has been telling children that Taiwan is an "inalienable part of China" and calling comparisons between Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Winnie the Pooh "extremely inappropriate and disrespectful." This comes after other AI toys were caught telling young children how to find knives, light matches, and other dangerous activities. A consumer safety group warns that AI toys aren't ready for children and may affect their social development.
Your takeaway: AI toys can say things their makers didn't plan for — including political messages and dangerous advice. Parents should know that most AI companies say their technology shouldn't be used by children under 13. Read our previous lead story covering more of this topic here AI Toys, From 11 Phrases to Infinite Responses
The story: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is giving all employees access to a new type of AI tool that can complete multi-step tasks on its own. These "agentic" AI tools can help with meeting management, reviewing new drugs and medical devices, running inspections, and handling paperwork. The FDA launched a two-month challenge for staff to come up with new ways to use the technology, with winners showcased in January 2026.
Your takeaway: Government agencies are starting to use more advanced AI that doesn't just answer questions but actually completes tasks. This could speed up how fast the FDA reviews new treatments and medical devices.
The story: IBM bought a company called Cognitus that specializes in business software for industries with strict rules — like governments, banks, and hospitals. The purchase adds AI tools that meet tough security and privacy requirements. This follows IBM's December 8 announcement that it's buying another company called Confluent to help process data in real time. IBM has also partnered with Anthropic (the company behind Claude) to add AI to its software.
Your takeaway: IBM is building up its AI offerings piece by piece through acquisitions. The focus on regulated industries shows there's growing demand for AI tools that can meet strict legal and security standards.
The story: MIT researchers built a new control system that helps flexible "soft" robots work safely around people and delicate objects. Unlike rigid factory robots that avoid contact, soft robots need to touch things — but that makes them tricky to control. The new system uses math to predict how the robot will move and ensures it never pushes too hard. In tests, robots could pick up fragile items like eggs and paper cups without crushing them.
Your takeaway: Soft robots could eventually help in hospitals, homes, and factories where they need to handle delicate items or work alongside people. This safety system is a key step toward making that possible.
TOOLS ON OUR RADAR
✅ TickTick
Freemium: Manage your to-do lists with a built-in Pomodoro timer, habit tracker, and calendar view that helps you actually finish what you start.📄 iLovePDF
Freemium: Compress, merge, split, and convert PDFs online in seconds without installing any software or creating an account.🔐 Bitwarden
Freemium and Open Source: Store unlimited passwords across all your devices with this security-audited, open-source password manager trusted by millions.🎬 Tella
Freemium: Record polished screen videos with automatic silence removal, zoom effects, and custom backgrounds that make your tutorials look professionally edited.
TRENDING
AI Co-Pilot Makes Prosthetic Hands Much Easier to Use — University of Utah researchers added AI to a prosthetic hand that shares control with the user. Success rates jumped from 10-20% to 80-90%, letting people pick up fragile objects like eggs without crushing them.
AI Predicts When Your Avocado Will Be Ripe — A Florida State researcher created a smartphone app that predicts avocado ripeness with 92% accuracy. The tool could help reduce significant food waste and apply to other foods if successful — avocados have a 40% global waste rate.
Microsoft Copilot Shows Up on LG TVs, Can't Be Removed — LG TV owners report a software update installed Microsoft's AI assistant without asking, and there's no way to delete it. LG and Samsung announced the AI integration at CES 2025.
Grok Chatbot Initially Mistaken About Mass Shooter — Elon Musk's Grok AI initially misidentified the man who stopped a gunman at Bondi Beach in Australia and questioned whether real videos were authentic. The chatbot later corrected some errors upon reevaluation.
AI Agents Are Starting to Replace Simple Business Software — A growing trend shows companies building custom AI tools instead of buying off-the-shelf software. Back-office tools and simple dashboards are most at risk as AI makes building custom solutions faster and cheaper.
TRY THIS PROMPT (copy and paste into Claude or Gemini)
tory Arc Visualizer: Map your story's dramatic structure like a Hollywood screenwriter with interactive beat-by-beat plotting
Build me an interactive Story Arc Visualizer as a React artifact that helps writers, presenters, and creators structure compelling narratives using proven dramatic frameworks.
The console should include these sections:
1. **Story Setup** - Define your narrative:
• Story type selector (changes the template):
- Novel/Screenplay
- Short Story
- Presentation/TED Talk
- Marketing Campaign
- Podcast Episode
- Product Launch Story
- Personal Story/Memoir
• Genre picker (affects pacing suggestions):
- Action/Thriller
- Romance
- Mystery
- Comedy
- Drama
- Horror
- Fantasy/Sci-Fi
• Target length: 5 min, 20 min, 1 hour, Feature film, Novel
• "Load Story Template" button
2. **Timeline Canvas** - Visual story builder:
• Horizontal timeline spanning 0-100%
• **Classic 3-Act Structure overlay:**
- Act 1 (Setup): 0-25%
- Act 2 (Confrontation): 25-75%
- Act 3 (Resolution): 75-100%
• **Dramatic Tension Curve:**
- Line graph showing emotional intensity (1-10)
- Starts low, rises to climax, resolves
- Drag control points to reshape the curve
- Color gradient from blue (calm) to red (intense)
• **Beat Markers:**
- Draggable pins along timeline for key story beats
- Each beat shows: title, description, emotional tone
- Suggested placement based on structure (e.g., "Inciting Incident at 12%")
- Custom beats you can add anywhere
3. **Story Beat Library** - Structural checkpoints:
• **Hero's Journey beats** (toggle on/off):
- Ordinary World
- Call to Adventure
- Refusal of the Call
- Meeting the Mentor
- Crossing the Threshold
- Tests, Allies, Enemies
- Approach to Inmost Cave
- Ordeal
- Reward
- The Road Back
- Resurrection
- Return with Elixir
• **Save the Cat! beats** (alternative):
- Opening Image
- Theme Stated
- Setup
- Catalyst
- Debate
- Break into Two
- B Story
- Fun and Games
- Midpoint
- Bad Guys Close In
- All Is Lost
- Dark Night of the Soul
- Break into Three
- Finale
- Final Image
• **TED Talk Structure**:
- Hook (grab attention)
- Personal Connection
- Problem Statement
- Insight/Discovery
- Solution/Framework
- Evidence/Examples
- Inspiration/Call to Action
• Drag any beat onto your timeline
• Customize beat descriptions
• Check/uncheck completed beats
4. **Character Arc Tracker** - Emotional journeys:
• Add up to 5 main characters
• For each character:
- Starting state (who they are at the beginning)
- Ending state (who they become)
- Character arc curve on the timeline
- Key transformation moments
- Relationship dynamics with other characters
• Multiple character arcs displayed as layered lines
• Click any point to add character beat ("Sarah learns the truth")
• Ensure arcs intersect at key moments
5. **Tension & Pacing Analyzer** - Story rhythm:
• Visual heatmap showing pacing:
- Green zones: Breathing room, character development
- Yellow zones: Rising action, complications
- Red zones: High tension, conflict, climax
• Pacing warnings:
- "Too much downtime in Act 2"
- "Climax feels rushed - consider extending"
- "Long stretch without tension spike"
• Genre-specific pacing benchmarks
• "Smooth out pacing" auto-adjustment suggestion
• Contrast checker (too samey vs. good variety)
6. **Scene Builder** - Detailed breakdown:
• Below timeline, list all scenes/chapters/segments
• For each scene:
- Scene number and title
- Location and time
- Characters present
- Purpose (advance plot, develop character, reveal info, create tension)
- POV character (if applicable)
- Tension level slider
- Word count or time estimate
• Drag to reorder scenes
• Color-code by subplot or storyline
• "Missing beats" warnings
7. **Theme & Motif Tracker** - Deeper meaning:
• Central theme input (what's the story really about?)
• Add recurring motifs (objects, phrases, images)
• Mark where themes appear on timeline
• "Theme consistency" check
• Symbol tracker with visual icons
• Foreshadowing planner (plant early, pay off later)
• "Search Story Themes" for thematic depth ideas
8. **Comparison Mode** - Learn from the masters:
• "Load Famous Story" library:
- Star Wars: A New Hope
- The Matrix
- Breaking Bad (Pilot)
- TED Talks (top-rated)
- Pixar films
• Overlay famous story's structure on your timeline
• See exactly where they hit key beats
• Learn timing and pacing from proven stories
• "Search Story Breakdowns" for analysis
9. **Presentation Mode** - Share your vision:
• Clean, visual story arc presentation
• Export as:
- Interactive HTML page
- PDF beat sheet
- Image (PNG) of full timeline
- Notion/Google Docs outline
• "Pitch this story" executive summary
• One-page visual overview for collaborators
• Beat-by-beat writer's guide
10. **Writer's Toolkit** - Creative support:
• Plot hole detector (missing logical connections)
• "What if?" scenario tester
• Conflict escalator (make problems worse)
• Stakes raiser (what can we lose?)
• Twist generator (surprise ideas)
• Satisfying ending checklist
• "Search Storytelling Tips" for craft advice
Make it look like a creative storytelling tool with:
• Timeline as the centerpiece (large, prominent)
• Cinematic design aesthetic
• Dramatic color gradients (blue → purple → red for tension)
• Smooth, flowing curves and animations
• Playful illustrations for story beats
• Film strip or storyboard visual metaphors
• Elegant typography (mix of serif and sans-serif)
• Dark mode option for "writer's cave" feel
• Inspiring, creative atmosphere
• Drag-and-drop that feels satisfying
• Confetti or sparkles when structure is complete
• Story beats as beautiful visual cards
When I click "Search Story Themes," "Search Story Breakdowns," or "Search Storytelling Tips," use web search to find screenplay analysis, story structure breakdowns, narrative craft resources, and examples from successful stories in your chosen genre.What this does: Transforms story structure from abstract theory into a visual, interactive timeline—helping writers, speakers, and creators map their narrative arc with proven beats, track character journeys, and ensure their story has the pacing and tension to keep audiences hooked from start to finish.
What this looks like:
WHERE WE STAND
✅ AI Can Now: Train and run language models on computer chips orbiting in space, proving that data centers can work outside Earth's atmosphere.
❌ Still Can't: Reliably identify people or verify facts during breaking news events — as shown when Grok misidentified people and questioned authentic footage.
✅ AI Can Now: Share control of prosthetic hands with users, automatically adjusting grip strength to handle fragile objects without crushing them.
❌ Still Can't: Filter out political messaging or dangerous content in children's toys before it reaches kids — the AI says whatever its training data contains.
✅ AI Can Now: Complete multi-step government workflows on its own, handling tasks like scheduling meetings, reviewing documents, and managing inspections.
❌ Still Can't: Be easily removed once installed on consumer devices — as LG TV owners discovered when Copilot appeared without an uninstall option.
RECOMMENDED LISTENING/READING/WATCHING
DOCUMENTARY: Coded Bias (2020)
MIT researcher Joy Buolamwini discovers that facial recognition software can't see her face—unless she wears a white mask. This sends her down a rabbit hole of algorithmic bias, where she finds that AI systems consistently discriminate against women and people of color.
The documentary follows Buolamwini as she testifies before Congress, works with other researchers to expose biased systems, and pushes for regulation. It's enraging and necessary. The film shows how bias gets baked into AI when the training data, the programmers, and the testers are all homogeneous. The technology isn't neutral, and the people deploying it often don't care about who it harms.
Thank you for reading. We’re all beginners in something. With that in mind, your questions and feedback are always welcome and I read every single email!
-James
By the way, this is the link if you liked the content and want to share with a friend.
