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 impactful move to release its first open-weight models in years. The AI & Tech Round-Up covers everything from LLM chess battles to Siri powered by GPT-5, U.S. military drone strategy, Gemini’s storybook generator, and the latest scraping controversy. Our Robotics Spotlight features a robot dog that can dance, flip, and carry serious weight.

AI TOP STORY 
Weights Unlocked — OpenAI Releases Its First Open-Weight Models Since GPT-2
(gpt-oss-20B and 120B bring consumer-friendly AI under Apache 2.0 license)

What Happened
OpenAI has released two new open-weight models—gpt-oss-20B and gpt-oss-120B—marking the company’s first openly licensed model drop since GPT-2. The smaller model runs on consumer GPUs with as little as 16 GB of VRAM, while the larger is designed for heavyweight computing. Sam Altman said the move was about “getting AI into the hands of the most people possible,” reflecting a rare moment of open access from a company known for its guarded releases.

What It Means
With these models available under the permissive Apache 2.0 license, anyone with a capable machine can run them locally—no cloud subscription fees, no API keys, no internet connection. This levels the playing field for developers, researchers, and hobbyists who can now build, adapt, and experiment without depending on commercial servers.

What to Take Away
The significance isn’t just technical—it’s geographic and economic. Countries without strong cloud infrastructure or the funds for high-volume API usage can now access cutting-edge AI directly. Schools, small startups, and individual builders can train skills, launch tools, and create educational resources locally. That could translate into genuine leaps in learning, innovation, and economic development, far beyond the reach of traditional AI rollouts. If you want to try OpenAI’s new open-weight model yourself, you can run it locally without relying on the cloud. One easy way to get started is by using LLM Studio, a desktop app that lets you download, run, and chat with large language models right on your own computer. All for free.

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LAST WEEK IN AI AND TECH

Pawn Clash — AIs Battle in Kaggle’s Chess Arena
Eight large language models—none of them built specifically for chess—competed in Google’s new Kaggle Game Arena. The lineup included Gemini 2.5 Pro, Grok 4, and o4-mini, with several sweeping their matches 4–0. Organizers stressed that “the event does not involve chess-playing engines,” instead pitting general-purpose AI models against each other to see how well they could adapt to a game outside their training.
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GPT-5 Comes to Siri — Apple’s Smarter Voice Assistant
Apple confirmed that GPT-5 will power ChatGPT integration within Apple Intelligence on iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS Tahoe. The company says ChatGPT “will use GPT-5” to help Siri handle more complex and contextual requests. This means richer conversations, smarter task follow-through, and deeper integration with apps and services already on your Apple devices.
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Drone Priority — Executive Order Pushes U.S. Unmanned Power
A new executive order calls for the Department of Defense to “procure, integrate, and train using low-cost, high-performing drones” to maintain U.S. dominance in unmanned systems. The directive sets a 90-day deadline for replacing outdated systems and encourages more domestic production, signaling a strategic pivot toward large fleets of affordable, versatile drones.
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Gemini Writes Your Story — Illustrated AI Books
Google’s Gemini app now offers a tool where you can “simply describe any story you can imagine,” and it will generate a unique 10-page illustrated book with custom art and audio narration. The feature works in more than 45 languages and can incorporate your own photos or art styles, effectively turning anyone into a children’s book author in minutes.
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Bot or Block? — Perplexity Caught Scraping Against Policy
Cloudflare engineers found that Perplexity’s web crawler was ignoring robots.txt rules designed to block it. The company reported that “this activity was observed across tens of thousands of domains and millions of requests per day,” with Perplexity allegedly rotating user-agent strings to avoid detection. The finding has fueled ongoing debates over AI data-gathering practices and consent.
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TECH TERMS TO KNOW

Attritable Drones

Definition:
Attritable drones are unmanned aircraft designed to be low-cost, quickly produced, and expendable in high-risk missions. Unlike traditional drones that can cost millions and require extensive protection, attritable models are meant to be lost, damaged, or sacrificed if the mission demands it.

Example:
The U.S. Air Force’s XQ-58A Valkyrie costs a fraction of a manned fighter jet but can still carry weapons, gather intelligence, or act as a decoy in contested airspace.

Use Cases:

• Swarm Attacks – Sending dozens or hundreds of drones to overwhelm enemy defenses.

• Surveillance in Hostile Areas – Flying into zones too dangerous for expensive drones or crewed aircraft.

• Electronic Warfare – Jamming communications or radar, even if the drone is destroyed in the process.

• Decoys – Drawing enemy fire away from higher-value aircraft or ships.

The goal is to field a large number of capable drones without worrying about losing them, making them a flexible tool for both offense and defense.

TOOL SPOTLIGHT (non-sponsored)

The Minimal Company is a technology firm focused on digital minimalism, designing products—most notably the Minimal Phone—that help users reduce distractions and live more intentionally. Their flagship device is an Android 14 smartphone featuring a distraction-free E-Paper display and a tactile QWERTY keyboard, crafted for those seeking a more focused and productive mobile experience.

Reasons someone might like their products:

• Reduced Distractions: The E-Paper display minimizes eye strain and reduces the temptation to doomscroll or binge content, helping users reclaim their time and focus.

• Intentional Use with Full Functionality: Unlike other minimalist phones, the Minimal Phone does not restrict access to essential apps (full Google Play Store access, NFC payments, Android Auto, secure messaging); it instead encourages more mindful use, making it suitable for those who rely on smartphone features but want a simpler experience.

• Physical Keyboard for Productivity: The device includes a tactile QWERTY keyboard that reviewers frequently praise for its comfort, clickiness, and improved typing speed—ideal for users who prefer physical buttons over touchscreens.

• Solid Build and Long-Term Support: The Minimal Phone is built with quality materials and promises software updates for over five years, targeting users looking for durability and longevity.

• Long Battery Life and User-Centric Features: With a four-day battery life, standard headphone jack, and expandable storage, the phone is tailored for practical everyday use.

• Positive Community Feedback: Customer testimonials highlight improved focus, satisfaction with build quality and keyboard, and decreased screen time—suggesting real-life benefits for users.

ROBOTICS AND AI

Dogged Performer — Unitree’s New Robot Dog Dances, Somersaults, and Carries 66 lbs

The A2 Stellar Hunter from Unitree can climb 45° stairs, sprint at 11.2 mph, and carry up to 66 lbs for five hours. Thanks to its LiDAR vision and improved stability, it can also perform acrobatic flips and dance moves. Compared to its predecessor, which could handle only 15 lbs, the A2 represents a major step in performance and utility for both research and industrial tasks.

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

Everyday Problem-Solving App Builder

Copy and paste this into ChatGPT, Claude, or any capable AI Natural language app design tool like Replit or Base 44(featured tool from last week)  :

*“I want you to act as an expert app designer and developer. I will tell you a problem I’m having in my life. You will create a prototype concept for an app that solves it.
In your response, include:

A clear app name and one-line mission statement.
A list of 5 core features that directly address the problem.
A simple visual layout/wireframe idea for the main screen.
A step-by-step flow of how a user would interact with the app from opening it to solving the problem.
Suggested technologies, platforms (iOS/Android/Web), and tools to build it.
Ways to keep the app simple for a first version (MVP).
After I give you my problem, ask any clarifying questions before creating the prototype.”*

Example Input:
“My problem is that I never remember to drink enough water during the day.”

DID YOU KNOW?

None of the Kaggle chess competitors had built-in chess logic—they relied entirely on language reasoning.

That means the AI wasn’t programmed with “how to play chess” — it figured out the rules and strategies by interpreting the game like a conversation. For non-technical folks, this shows how AI can apply reasoning to unfamiliar problems, not just follow preset instructions. It’s like teaching someone a game they’ve never seen before and watching them get good at it fast. This same skill could apply to scheduling, planning, or solving real-world challenges where the “rules” aren’t hardcoded.

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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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