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#73 AI is changing your city, your Church, and your weekend

Plus: Bernie Sanders has thoughts

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The AI Plug
September 18, 2023

From cityscapes redesigned by AI to Bernie Sanders' bold stance on tech benefits for workers, we've got some scintillating stories to kickstart your week. Ever wondered what an AI-generated church service would be like? We've got that covered too! Plus, don't miss our tool of the day that turns text into stunning video. Trust me, it's not just good—it's scary good! Let’s dive in.

In today’s newsletter:

  • Hottest stories: City planning with AI, Bernie Sanders weighs in, and AI in church

  • TL;DR Rundown: Chinese IPO, teachers + AI, and DeepMind evolving

  • Tool of the day: Text-to-video which is scary good

HOTTEST STORIES 
Today’s biggest stories if you’re in a rush 

AI is now outsmarting us in urban planning, with a study from Tsinghua University in China showing that an AI system can design urban areas that are 50% more efficient than human designs.

This isn’t just about making pretty parks. The AI focuses on access to services, green spaces, and traffic levels. After a two-day training session, this AI whiz was able to compute tasks in seconds that took human planners up to 100 minutes.

Now, before you city planners start updating your resumes, hear this: the team sees their AI as an ‘assistant’ to human experts. It’s not about replacing us; it’s about working together.

And the result? A tag-team effort that could increase access to basic services and parks by 12 and 5 percent, respectively. So next time you’re enjoying a well-planned cityscape, remember: you might have AI to thank for that perfect picnic spot.

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Bernie Sanders, the firebrand US senator, is shaking up the AI debate with a proposition that’s as bold as a triple-shot espresso. He’s saying that if the AI and robotics revolution leads to more work being done at lightning speed, then the hardworking folks on the ground should see some of those gains in the form of more paid time off.

But Sanders isn’t just talking about an extra day to hit the beach. He’s sparking a conversation about a seismic shift in our workweek. His argument? If new tech is going to turbocharge our productivity, then the benefits should trickle down to the workers.

And it’s not just about kicking back and relaxing. Sanders is painting a picture of a future where people have more time for what really matters: hanging out with their kids, spending time with family, soaking up culture, or hitting the books for a better education.

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AI has made its way from the classroom to the workplace, and now, it’s in the church. The Violet Crown City Church in north Austin hosted a Sunday service entirely created by AI. Pastor Jay Cooper used ChatGPT.

GPT kicked out about a 15-minute service, like a shotgun sermon, an outline. However, Pastor Cooper emphasized that a human element is still needed. He had to fill out the service with additional prompts and add a couple of prompts to the sermon to beef it up.

Cooper got the idea after reading more about AI and speaking with members of the congregation who are software developers. He posed a big question: "Can a prayer written by artificial intelligence, in some way, communicate truth? Can you experience God through that?".

While the AI-generated sermon was relevant, it lacked a key component: emotion. Cooper believes that the messiness of humanity should be present in worship. The AI-generated service is a one-time thing and there are no plans to do it again.

GIVE US A CLICK AND TAKE YOUR PICK  
A gentleman’s agreement 

TL;DR RUNDOWN
Listicle of what else is happening today 

IPO Surge: Chinese AI firm Fourth Paradigm is leading a surge in Hong Kong IPOs, aiming to raise $280 million.

Future-Proofing Careers: Discover the importance of upskilling in five key areas to future-proof careers in the face of the AI revolution.

Gemini Rising: Google is reportedly nearing the release of its AI software, Gemini, which is intended to compete with OpenAI’s GPT-4 model.

AI Guardrails: The US Homeland Security Department has revealed new AI guardrails as it deploys technology across the agency, aiming for responsible and trustworthy use of AI.

AI Teachers: Teachers are increasingly utilizing generative AI to create engaging lesson plans and interesting word problems, according to a report by Wired.

Chatbot Showdown: VentureBeat compares Claude Pro and ChatGPT Plus, two leading artificial intelligence chatbot services, discussing their features, performance, and user experience.

Intuitive iPhone: The iPhone 15 opts for intuitive AI over generative AI, offering subtler AI features that enhance everyday tasks like photography and phone calls.

Regulating AI: California Senator Scott Wiener has drafted a bill proposing regulation and transparency standards for large language models, marking a significant step towards AI regulation at the state level.

AI Evolution: Mustafa Suleyman, co-founder of DeepMind, suggests that generative AI is just a phase and the future lies in interactive AI.

TOOL OF THE DAY 
AI tools we’ve used, loved, and recommend above all others 

There’s not much to say here, other than wow. You gotta try it for yourself. That is all.

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