AI Weekly Insights #31

AI in Education, Sound Design Revolution, and Safety Shifts

Author

Kharee Smith
May 31, 2024

Happy Sunday!

"AI Weekly Insights #31" is here to deliver your weekly dose of AI innovations and news! This week, we’re delving into OpenAI's new initiative for nonprofits and education, ElevenLabs' sound effects generator, a significant hire at Anthropic, and the latest in AI meeting assistants.

Let’s get into the insights!

The Insights

For the Week of 05/26/24 - 06/01/24 (P.S. Click the story’s title for more information 😊):

  • What’s New: OpenAI has announced a new initiative to offer a discounted rate for ChatGPT and a new version named “ChatGPT Edu” aimed at educational institutions.

  • ChatGPT Edu: This accessible option allows universities to bring AI to their campuses at scale. It builds on the success of universities like the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and Arizona State University using ChatGPT Enterprise.

  • OpenAI for Nonprofits: The initiative allows nonprofits to access ChatGPT Team at a discounted rate of $20 per month per user. This is a $5 discount from the normal “Team” pricing and is in line with the pricing for “Plus” users (which is available to everyone). Nonprofits can apply on their website.

  • Why It Matters: ChatGPT Edu is interesting because it looks similar to ChatGPT Enterprise. I imagine this will expand to offering education-specific features, maybe something like personalized tutoring or AI-assisted research tools. Allowing a discount for nonprofits to use ChatGPT is key to achieving more with fewer resources, which is crucial in the nonprofit sector.

Image Credits: OpenAI

  • What's New: ElevenLabs, known for high-quality voice synthesis, has released a new tool that can generate sound effects from text prompts.

  • Sound Effects: After teasing the tool back in February, it allows users to generate any sound in high quality. Paid subscribers can use any sound generated completely royalty-free. Examples include prompts like “noise from an old radio out of tune” and “thunderstorm raging over the city.”

  • Why It Matters: This tool is a game-changer for creators, offering immense control over sound design, which traditional methods with pre-recorded sounds can't match. However, it raises questions about the future of traditional SFX companies and their adaptability. It's a reminder that AI's capabilities are always growing, potentially disrupting established industries. Try the tool for free on their website.

  • What's New: Anthropic, a competitor to OpenAI, has hired Jan Leike, OpenAI’s former safety lead, to head up its new AI safety team.

  • Safety Concerns: Anthropic was founded by former OpenAI employees who believed the company was straying from its mission of safe and ethical AI. Jan Leike resigned from OpenAI earlier this month due to concerns about the company not providing enough resources for safety.

  • Why It Matters: The departure of employees over safety concerns contradicts OpenAI’s mission of ensuring “artificial general intelligence benefits all of humanity.” Leike's expertise in AI safety will certainly help Anthropic's efforts to ensure that AI systems are aligned with human values. This move underscores the growing importance of AI safety and ethics in the industry.

Image Credits: Anthropic

AI Meeting Assistants in 2024

Modern meeting assistants are transforming the way we manage meetings, taking on tasks from attendance tracking to follow-up emails. Let's explore some top meeting assistants that streamline the process.

AI Tool: Otter.ai

  • Features: Real-time transcription, action item assignment, speaker identification, keyword summaries, and collaborative note-taking. Integrates with popular platforms like Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams.

  • Pricing: The Basic plan is free (limited minutes) and the Pro plan starts at $8.33/month (billed annually) or $16.99/month (billed monthly).

  • Ideal For: Teams who want to track action items and follow-up tasks efficiently.

AI Tool: Fireflies.ai

  • Features: Transcription, meeting summaries, conversation intelligence, and searchable transcripts. Integrates with project management tools like Trello and Asana.

  • Pricing: Free plan (limited storage), Pro plan starts at $10/month (billed annually). There are Business and Enterprise plans for larger teams.

  • Ideal For: Teams who need accurate transcriptions and easy collaboration on meeting notes.

AI Tool: Avoma

  • Features: Meeting scheduling, agenda creation, note-taking, AI-powered meeting summaries, conversation intelligence (sentiment analysis, talk-time breakdown), CRM integration. Also offers post-meeting summaries and follow-up email drafts.

  • Pricing: Basic plan (limited transcriptions), Starter plan starts at $19/month (billed annually). There are Plus, Business and Enterprise plans for larger teams.

  • Ideal For: Sales teams who need insights into customer conversations and meeting effectiveness.

AI Tool: Sembly

  • Features: Automatic transcription, meeting summaries, action item tracking, sentiment analysis, and keyword highlights. Integrates with communication tools like Slack and Teams. Also drafts detailed follow-up emails including all attendees.

  • Pricing: Free plan (limited minutes), Professional plan starts at $10/user/month (billed annually).

  • Ideal For: Teams who want detailed meeting analytics and insights to improve collaboration.

AI Tool: Fathom

  • Features: Real-time transcription, AI-generated summaries with key takeaways and action items, voice commands for note-taking, clip creation, and seamless integration with video conferencing platforms. Also drafts follow-up emails with meeting summaries.

  • Pricing: Generous free plan, Premium plan starts at $15/month. There is a Teams edition for larger groups.

  • Ideal For: Individuals and teams who prioritize quick, easy-to-read meeting summaries and actionable insights.

Did You Know? Many meeting assistants are now experimenting with drafting follow-up emails based on meeting notes and action items, making post-meeting communication a breeze!

Your enthusiasm and curiosity drive our exploration through AI's rapidly evolving landscape. I look forward to your insights, questions, and assistance in spreading our discoveries with the AI community.

Until next Sunday, keep exploring and stay engaged!

Warm regards,

- Kharee