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 week, we're looking at OpenAI's stunning new video tool that hit #1 on the App Store, a massive chip deal that could power AI for years to come, and a computer-generated "actress" that has real actors worried. We'll also check in on disaster-response robots and walk you through three simple ways to use AI this weekend.

AI TOP STORY
Sora 2 Creates Videos With Sound – And Puts You in the Scene (Sora 2: OpenAI's New Video Generator)

OpenAI just turned AI video from a tech demo into something anyone can use. On September 30, the company released Sora 2, its biggest update yet to the video creation tool it first showed off earlier this year. But this time, it came with a surprise: a free mobile app that works like TikTok, complete with a scrolling feed of AI-made clips.

What happened: Sora 2 can now make 10-second videos that follow the rules of physics, sync sound effects with what's on screen, and even let you star in your own clips using a feature called "cameos." "Prior video models are overoptimistic — they will morph objects and deform reality to successfully execute upon a text prompt," OpenAI wrote in its announcement. "In Sora 2, if a basketball player misses a shot, it will rebound off the backboard." The app hit #1 on Apple's App Store within 48 hours and pulled in 164,000 downloads in its first two days, even though it's still invite-only.

Why it matters: This marks a big shift in how fast AI video has improved. Back in February, OpenAI's first Sora was just a research preview. Now, it's a consumer app that anyone can download. The change mirrors what happened with ChatGPT — moving AI from something only experts could use to something regular people play with on their phones. Just a few weeks ago, Google's Gemini app was creating buzz with its "Nano Banana" image trend, and now Sora 2 is doing the same for video.

What to take away: AI video tools are no longer stuck in labs. They're in your pocket, and they're good enough that people are using them to make viral content. If you've ever wanted to create a short clip but didn't know how to use editing software, tools like Sora 2 remove that barrier. But they also raise new questions about what's real online — and who gets replaced when machines can do the job.

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LAST WEEK IN AI AND TECH

Chip Giants Join Forces for AI's Biggest Build-Out Yet (Samsung and SK Hynix Sign OpenAI Deal)

Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix signed agreements with OpenAI on October 1 to supply up to 900,000 DRAM wafer starts per month for the company's Stargate project. The deal came after OpenAI CEO Sam Altman met with South Korea's president in Seoul and could consume around 40% of global DRAM output. "Korea has all the ingredients to be a global leader in AI — incredible tech talent, world-class infrastructure, strong government support, and a thriving AI ecosystem," Altman said. Samsung shares jumped to their highest level since January 2021, while SK Hynix stock surged nearly 10% to levels not seen since 2000.

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Hollywood Actors Push Back Against AI "Actress" (AI Character Tilly Norwood Draws Backlash)

A computer-generated character called Tilly Norwood drew sharp criticism from Hollywood actors after her creator announced that talent agents were interested in signing her. SAG-AFTRA released a statement on September 30 saying Tilly Norwood "is not an actor, it's a character generated by a computer program that was trained on the work of countless professional performers — without permission or compensation." When shown a picture of Tilly Norwood during a podcast interview, Emily Blunt responded: "Good Lord, we're screwed. That is really, really scary."

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eBay Gives 10,000 Sellers AI Writing Help (eBay Rolls Out ChatGPT Enterprise)

eBay announced on October 3 that it has given 10,000 sellers access to ChatGPT Enterprise to help them draft product listings, respond to customer questions, and analyze sales performance. The ChatGPT Enterprise version offers faster response times, better privacy controls, and the ability to handle larger amounts of data than the free version. "This is about giving our sellers tools that save them time so they can focus on growing their business," an eBay representative said. The program starts with 10,000 sellers but eBay plans to expand access if early results are positive.

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AI School Experiment Raises Questions About Learning (Alpha School Uses AI for Core Instruction)

At Alpha School in Austin, Texas, students spend their mornings learning from AI-driven software instead of teachers giving traditional lessons, while human "guides" mentor students and keep them motivated. The school, which charges around $40,000 per year and now runs multiple campuses, says its model delivers personalized learning at each student's own pace. "The AI allows every student to move at their own speed and master concepts before moving forward," a school representative explained. Critics worry about long-term effects on social and emotional development, especially for young students who need human connection.

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Childhood Cancer Research Gets AI Funding Boost (HHS Doubles AI Cancer Research Funding)

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced on October 2 that it is doubling its funding for childhood cancer research projects that use AI. The new funding will support researchers working on AI-based systems for cancer detection, diagnosis, and treatment planning for young patients. "AI has the power to save lives by finding cancers earlier and helping doctors make better treatment decisions," an HHS official said. The projects will focus on using machine learning to analyze medical images, predict how different cancers will respond to treatment, and recommend personalized care plans.

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TECH TERMS TO KNOW

Inference – When an AI model makes a prediction or creates output based on what it learned during training. Every time ChatGPT answers a question or Midjourney makes an image, it's doing inference.

TOOL SPOTLIGHT (non-sponsored)

ROBOTICS AND AI

Disaster Robot Hauls Life-Saving Gear Through Rubble (ROMATRIS Robot for First Responders)

When disaster strikes, rescue teams face dangerous conditions that can make it almost impossible to reach victims trapped in collapsed buildings or unstable terrain. A team of German researchers has built a solution: ROMATRIS, an AI-powered robot that can carry 330 pounds of life-saving equipment through rubble, ruins, and disaster zones. The robot was designed to work alongside human first responders, hauling medical supplies, search tools, and rescue equipment over terrain that would slow down or stop people and vehicles. ROMATRIS uses AI to figure out the best path through unstable areas and can climb over obstacles that would stop wheeled vehicles. "Every second counts in a disaster, but human rescuers often face treacherous terrain that makes it nearly impossible to reach victims in time," the research team explained. The robot can work for hours without getting tired and doesn't need to worry about its own safety, which means rescue teams can send it into areas that would be too dangerous for people.

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

Prompt for ChatGPT (that asks questions first):
"I want to create a video using Sora based on a story idea I have. Please ask me questions one at a time to gather the following information:

What is my story concept? (setting, main character, and key moment)
Which movie's visual style do I want to match?
What specific 10-second scene do I want to show?
What camera angle and movement do I prefer?
What lighting and mood am I going for?
What time of day should it be?

After I answer all your questions, create a detailed Sora prompt that captures the cinematography, lighting, color palette, camera movement, and visual atmosphere of the movie I referenced, while bringing my story idea to life. Include specific technical details like shot type, lighting direction, and visual effects that match the movie's style."

This way, ChatGPT will guide you through the process conversationally, asking one question at a time, then compile everything into a professional Sora prompt at the end. All you have to do is take that prompt and enter it into Sora's app(the only way to use Sora at the moment) once you get access to it.

DID YOU KNOW?

The first AI program to beat a human at checkers was written in 1952 by Arthur Samuel, but it took 40 hours of computer time to make a single move. By 1994, the program Chinook became unbeatable and retired as world champion.

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AI-ASSISTED IMAGE OF THE WEEK

Prompt Used: A Japanese-style ink illustration of two owls with wide, exaggerated eyes, one staring directly forward and another peeking in from the top corner. The artwork is high contrast, black-and-white, with bold linework and cross-hatching, reminiscent of ukiyo-e prints mixed with manga stylization. Vertical Japanese calligraphy text is included that reads "闇夜も見ています" ("We’re watching even in the dark night"). The mood is quirky, humorous, and slightly eerie, with a minimalist parchment-like background.

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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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