Beginners in AI

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Welcome to this week's 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.

This issue’s Top Story looks at OpenAI’s controversial move to introduce advertising into ChatGPT. In our AI & Tech Round-Up: a startup builds tiny but powerful models using quantum techniques, U.S.–China tensions spill into energy-hungry data centers, HTC enters the AI glasses race, Hidden Door opens early access for AI-generated stories, and Sam Altman backs a rival to Neuralink. Our Robotics Spotlight highlights Apple’s plan to rebuild its AI strategy around lifelike robots and smart home devices.

AI TOP STORY
Selling the Answer — OpenAI Experiments With Ads in ChatGPT

What Happened
OpenAI is testing advertising inside ChatGPT, starting with small-scale trials. Users reported seeing sponsored messages embedded within responses. Nick Turley, who leads the initiative, explained on Decoder: “We’re thinking about how ads could be part of ChatGPT in a way that feels natural and helpful, not disruptive.” The company says it wants to create new revenue streams beyond subscriptions, but the move signals a shift in how AI tools may be monetized.

What It Means
For years, ChatGPT has been known as a clean, ad-free experience. Introducing sponsored content could alter how people trust and use the tool. The timing matters: OpenAI is under pressure to match revenue growth from rivals like Anthropic and Google, which are already weaving AI into ad-heavy products. One observer put it bluntly: “Every major platform eventually turns to ads. The question is whether the product gets better or worse as a result.”

What to Take Away
Advertising reshaped the early internet, turning once-free tools like search engines and social platforms into ad-funded empires. Google’s search, once prized for simplicity, has become cluttered with promotions that many feel degrade the experience. A similar arc could emerge here: AI results might be bent toward advertisers instead of users. If ChatGPT or similar tools become central to how we ask questions, the shift from “pure” answers to “sponsored” ones could redefine not only user trust, but the economics of information itself.

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LAST WEEK IN AI AND TECH

Small but Mighty — Startup Multiverse Builds Compact AI Models
Multiverse, a buzzy AI startup, has unveiled two of the smallest high-performing AI models yet, designed to run efficiently on limited hardware. TechCrunch notes: “These models are compact enough to run on a phone but strong enough to match mid-sized LLMs in quality.” The announcement signals a push toward making AI more accessible for edge devices and mobile applications.

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Power Play — Data Centers Fuel U.S.–China Grid Tensions
China’s massive demand for electricity to run AI data centers is straining U.S. infrastructure as the two countries compete over access to semiconductors and energy. Fortune reports: “Officials are warning that America’s aging grid may struggle to support both AI growth and traditional energy needs.” The clash underscores how AI expansion is no longer just a tech story, but a geopolitical and energy one.

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See the Future — HTC Reveals Vive Eagle Smart Glasses
HTC announced the Vive Eagle, its new AI-enabled smart glasses, built with voice-assist features and real-time translation. The Verge writes: “The Eagle is pitched as a device that lets you keep your phone in your pocket and interact naturally with information.” By entering the race alongside Meta and Apple, HTC hopes to carve space in the growing AR wearables market.

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Story Mode — Hidden Door Launches Early Access AI Game
Interactive AI storytelling platform Hidden Door has opened early access, letting players co-create worlds with AI characters. According to The Verge: “The system doesn’t just generate text — it remembers, adapts, and lets players build persistent universes.” This signals a new phase for AI in gaming, where narrative depth could be shaped dynamically by the player’s imagination.

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Mind Merge — Sam Altman Backs Neuralink Rival Merge Labs
Sam Altman has invested in Merge Labs, a new brain-computer interface company competing with Neuralink. The Verge reports: “Merge aims to make brain interfaces less invasive while still providing meaningful cognitive enhancements.”The move signals Altman’s continued bet on merging human intelligence with machines — a long-term ambition shared by many in the field.

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TECH TERMS TO KNOW

Spiking Neural Network (SNN) is An AI model that mimics the way biological neurons fire in bursts.
Use Case: Could make robots process sensory input more like animals.

TOOL SPOTLIGHT (non-sponsored)

TalkMe.AI is an AI-powered language learning platform designed to help users improve their speaking and listening skills in various foreign languages. The company utilizes ultra-realistic AI tutors to simulate real-life conversations, making the language learning process more engaging, personalized, and accessible for learners of all backgrounds and skill levels.

Why Might It Be Good to Try?

• Realistic AI Tutors: Provides immersive conversation practice with lifelike AI partners, making learning interactive and engaging.

• Instant Feedback: Users receive corrections and suggestions on pronunciation, grammar, and expressions in real time.

• Personalized Learning Plans: Adapts to your skill level, goals, and interests, ensuring efficient progression.

• Overcome Social Anxiety: Safe, private environment to make mistakes and learn without pressure or embarrassment.

• Wide Language & Topic Range: Learn several popular languages and practice topics ranging from travel to business scenarios.

ROBOTICS AND AI

Apple’s AI Reboot — Robots, Siri, and Home Security

Apple is reportedly planning a major AI reset, with robotics playing a central role. Bloomberg notes: “The company is exploring lifelike home robots and security cameras as part of its next wave of AI-driven devices.” Alongside this, a more natural and lifelike version of Siri is in the works. If successful, this could mark Apple’s shift from lagging in AI to shaping how AI lives in the home — blending utility, safety, and companionship into one ecosystem.

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TRY THIS PROMPT (copy and paste into ChatGPT, Grok, Perplexity, Gemini)

Hobby to Prototype

I want to turn one of my hobbies or interests into a small project or app. Here’s what I enjoy or want to explore: [describe your idea in plain words]. 

Please outline:

The problem it solves or why it’s fun.
The key features or functions it should have.
A simple first version I could test (prototype).
Suggestions for design or user experience.
Next steps to build it out further.

Optional: I can upload a folder, file, or link a Google Doc with more details or notes. If I do, please read that and weave it into your plan."

DID YOU KNOW?

The world’s first 3D-printed food was a simple piece of chocolate created in the early 2000s.

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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

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