Hello, AI Lovers!

Your daily AI brief is here to kickstart your day with the top stories you need to know.

In today’s AI Shorts:

• GitHub Copilot Just Got an AI Upgrade & other top stories

• Learn ChatGPT – Convert Any File in Seconds with Convert Anything!

• Learn to create apps without coding using Cursor AI

• Learn to Discover 5 new AI tools

• Other top stories in AI

• Opinions on AI across the web

Let’s dive in and get you up to speed.

TOP STORIES

1. OpenAI Launches o3-mini, Its Latest Reasoning Model

   OpenAI has introduced o3-mini, a new AI reasoning model designed for STEM problems, offering improved efficiency and affordability. The model is available to all ChatGPT users, with premium plans providing higher query limits. O3-mini aims to enhance AI accessibility and performance, competing with DeepSeek’s R1 model. It supports various reasoning efforts and integrates search for up-to-date answers, though it initially lacks image analysis capabilities.

   Read in detail here.

2. GitHub Integrates OpenAI’s o3-mini Model into Copilot and GitHub Models

   GitHub has integrated OpenAI’s latest reasoning model, o3-mini, into both Copilot and GitHub Models. Early benchmarks show o3-mini outperforming its predecessor, o1, in coding tasks while maintaining quick response times. Available for Copilot Pro, Business, and Enterprise users, o3-mini can be selected in VS Code or GitHub Chat, offering 50 messages per 12-hour window.

   Read in detail here.

3. Companies Block DeepSeek Over China Data Risks

   Hundreds of companies, including those with government ties, are blocking DeepSeek due to concerns about data leakage to the Chinese government. DeepSeek’s privacy policy mandates data sharing with Chinese intelligence agencies. Major U.S. cloud providers like Microsoft offer DeepSeek, but firms like Armis, Netskope, and Fox Rothschild have blocked it. The Pentagon and Navy have also banned DeepSeek, citing data security risks.

   Read in detail here.

4. AI Startup Perplexity Sued for Trademark Infringement

   Perplexity, an AI-powered search product startup, faces a lawsuit from Perplexity Solved Solutions for trademark infringement. The Texas-based company claims Perplexity’s use of the “Perplexity” brand causes confusion and violates trademark rights. The lawsuit seeks to bar Perplexity from using the trademark, pay damages, and transfer domain ownership. This legal battle adds to Perplexity’s ongoing challenges, including a lawsuit from News Corp’s Dow Jones and the NY Post.

   Read in detail here.

AI MASTERY

CHATGPT MASTERY

Convert Any File in Seconds with Convert Anything!

Did you know that the “Convert Anything” plugin in ChatGPT allows for easy file conversions across multiple formats? It streamlines the process, making transformations quick and efficient right in the chat!

HOW TO SET IT UP:

1. Launch ChatGPT: Open ChatGPT in your browser.

2. Activate Plugin: Enable the “Convert Anything” – GPT plugin.

3. Upload Your File: Drag and drop the file you want to convert.

4. Request the Conversion: Type a message specifying your conversion request and make sure to include the desired output format, such as:

   • “Convert this PNG to JPEG.”

   • “Change this WAV file to MP3.”

5. Download Converted File: Receive the converted file through a direct download link.

Why It’s Useful: The “Convert Anything” plugin centralizes multiple file conversions, making it easy for users to change file formats on the fly without needing separate software or applications.

Pro Tip: Experiment with various file types to see what formats are supported. You can also ask for batch conversions for multiple files at once, making the process even more efficient!

AI TUTORIAL

Cursor AI lets you create apps without coding!

Cursor AI is an innovative platform which allows users to build and deploy fully functioning applications without any coding knowledge – simply by providing prompts and making adjustments as needed.

Step-by-step:

1. Visit the Cursor website: Open your browser and go to the Cursor platform to get started.

2. Sign Up / Log In: Create a new account or log into your existing Cursor account.

3. Start a New Project: Click on “Create New Project” to begin building your app.

4. Prompt Creation: Describe the app you want to build in simple terms (e.g., “Create a to-do list app”).

5. Review Generated Code: Cursor will generate the necessary code based on your prompt. Take a moment to review it.

6. Request Adjustments: If you need changes, provide specific instructions (e.g., “Add a feature for reminders”) and let Cursor modify the code.

7. Test Your App: Use the built-in testing feature to see how your app functions and make sure everything works smoothly.

8. Deploy Your App: Once you’re satisfied with the app, follow the prompts to deploy it to your chosen platform.

Pro Tip: Experiment with different prompts and specific features to fully leverage Cursor’s capabilities. The more detailed your instructions, the better the output!

DISCOVER NEW AI TOOLS

1. Dreamix – AI-powered video editing that enhances, animates, and transforms existing footage. Helps creators bring their videos to life with minimal effort.

2. Elicit – AI research assistant that helps summarize papers and find relevant studies. Saves time for researchers by automating literature reviews.

3. Vellum – AI tool that helps businesses build, test, and optimize conversational AI models. Makes chatbot development seamless and scalable.

4. Pitchgrade – AI-powered platform that helps startups create and refine their pitch decks. Provides smart suggestions to optimize startup pitches and increase funding chances.

5. Unbounce – AI-driven platform for building high-converting landing pages. Optimizes conversion rates with AI-powered landing page design and testing.

OTHER STORIES

OTHER TOP STORIES

1. Google Reports Gemini Misuse by Nation-State Hackers

   Google identifies misuse of its Gemini AI by hackers from China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia for research and coding, despite safeguards to prevent abuse.

   Read in detail here.

2. Add Expletives to Google Searches to Avoid AI Summaries

   Including expletives in Google searches prevents AI-generated summaries, returning standard results instead. This loophole, discovered by internet sleuths, highlights user dissatisfaction with AI summaries.

   Read in detail here.

3. MLCommons and Hugging Face Release Massive Speech Dataset

   MLCommons and Hugging Face launch Unsupervised People’s Speech, a dataset with over a million hours of audio in 89 languages, to support AI research in speech technology and low-resource languages.

   Read in detail here.

4. OpenAI Tests AI Persuasion on Reddit’s r/ChangeMyView

   OpenAI used Reddit’s r/ChangeMyView to test AI persuasion, comparing AI-generated arguments to human replies. The study highlights the value of human data and the challenges of obtaining high-quality datasets.

   Read in detail here.

5. LinkedIn Lawsuit Over AI Data Use Dismissed

   A class action against LinkedIn for allegedly sharing Premium customers’ private messages to train AI models was dismissed. LinkedIn confirmed it never disclosed private messages for AI training.

   Read in detail here.

6. Anthropic’s Dario Amodei Challenges DeepSeek’s AI Cost Claims

   Dario Amodei of Anthropic critiques DeepSeek’s $6 million AI model narrative, highlighting the importance of context, total investment, and the temporary nature of current AI development cost parity.

   Read in detail here.

7. Trump Meets Nvidia CEO to Discuss AI Policy

   President Trump and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang discuss AI policy at the White House, focusing on export controls and the impact of China’s DeepSeek AI technology.

   Read in detail here.

8. Observo AI Raises $15M to Enhance Data Pipelines

   Observo AI secures $15M in seed funding to improve observability and security for enterprises using agentic AI, automating data management and reducing noise in data pipelines.

   Read in detail here.

9. ServiceNow Enhances AI Agent Portfolio

   ServiceNow introduces thousands of pre-built AI agents and an AI Agent Orchestrator to improve enterprise automation, streamline operations, and enhance data-driven decision-making for customers like EY and Rolls-Royce.

   Read in detail here.

10. Meta Surpasses Profit Targets, Dismisses DeepSeek Threat

    Meta’s Q4 earnings beat expectations, with CEO Zuckerberg praising U.S. President Trump and downplaying Chinese AI startup DeepSeek’s impact, emphasizing Meta’s commitment to open-source AI models and infrastructure investments.

    Read in detail here.

OPINIONS

1. ChatGPT’s Impact on Student Work and Ethics

   ChatGPT’s ease of use raises concerns about academic integrity. While some students use it as a resource, others misuse it for assignments, prompting debates on creativity, ethics, and the role of AI in education.

   Read in detail here.

2. Can AI be governed by an ‘equity by design’ framework?

   Daryl Lim proposes an ‘equity by design’ framework for AI governance, emphasizing transparency, accountability, and inclusivity. This approach aims to protect marginalized communities from AI biases and ensure ethical development and deployment of AI technologies

   Read in detail here.

3. AI’s Environmental Impact Sparks Concern

   AI’s extreme energy and water use, pollution, and ethical issues raise alarms. Meta’s AI profiles faced backlash for reinforcing biases and cultural stereotypes, highlighting the technology’s potential harm.

   Read in detail here.

4. Chinese AI Challenges American Tech Dominance

   DeepSeek’s cost-effective AI model rivals ChatGPT, raising concerns about U.S. tech giants’ future. Claims of Chinese government subsidies and intellectual property theft add to the controversy.

   Read in detail here.