Roundup: From Leaking Secrets to Casting Spells

AI news that caught my eye

Jan 18, 2025

AI News that caught my eye, plus a roundup of what was published in the Newsletters this week.

AI News

I've scoured the entire internet - okay, maybe not all of it, but definitely a solid chunk of it - and here’s some AI news that caught my eye.

AI That Can’t Keep a Secret

Here’s a fun (or terrifying) fact: Nearly one in ten generative AI prompts in business accidentally spill sensitive info. It’s like your chatbot became that coworker who overshares at lunch. Companies relying on AI to speed up operations are finding out the hard way that some tools don’t know the meaning of “confidential.” The lesson? Treat your chatbot like a toddler—don’t tell it anything you wouldn’t want repeated.

Scammers: AI’s Sneakiest Fans

Speaking of oversharing, scammers are having a field day with AI. They’re using it to craft realistic phishing emails, fake phone calls, and even cloned voices. NBC4 reports that AI is making their scams so convincing, even your grandma might fall for them. If you thought those “Nigerian prince” emails were bad, imagine getting a voicemail from someone who sounds exactly like your gran.

AI That’s Boring—but Useful

Not all AI is out to expose your secrets or scam your grandma. Forbes highlights how businesses are using AI for more mundane things, like cleaning up messy document workflows. Sure, it’s not as thrilling as robots engineering proteins (more on that later), but cutting down on paperwork? We’ll take it.

Gemini vs. ChatGPT: The Battle of the Bots

Over in Silicon Valley, the AI showdown is heating up. ChatGPT is still the cool kid on the block, but Google’s Gemini is working overtime to catch up. ZDNet explains how Gemini’s features are solid, but it’s missing ChatGPT’s star power. Meanwhile, Ars Technica points out that Google’s plan to bundle Gemini into Workspace could be its secret weapon. Is it enough to win? Stay tuned.

Duolingo Gets Smarter

If language classes in high school scarred you for life, Duolingo might be your redemption arc. CNET shares how the app is going all in on AI to make language learning smoother and more personalized.

AI and Religion

AI is now creeping into religion, according to The New York Times. Pastors are using it to write sermons and help guide prayers, which has sparked debates about how much tech should be involved in spiritual matters. It’s an unusual pairing. If AI writes your sermon, does it count as divine inspiration or just good coding?

Spells by AI?

Not to be outdone, witches and pagans are also throwing AI into the mix. The Wild Hunt dives into how some practitioners are experimenting with AI for crafting spells. Others, understandably, think this is a terrible idea. Magic, after all, isn’t something you typically outsource to a chatbot.

Can AI Movies Be Art?

Here’s a question for you… Should AI-generated movies be considered art? The Korea Times looks at whether AI creations deserve copyright protection and recognition alongside human-made films. It’s a tricky question—does the director get credit, or does the algorithm?

AI Takes on Aging

If you’re tired of hearing about chatbots, try this: OpenAI has developed a tool that can engineer proteins and turn cells into stem cells. It sounds like something out of a sci-fi movie, but this breakthrough could help scientists fight aging and disease. It’s an exciting leap into the unknown. My plan is to live forever. So far, so good.

Google Sniffs Out AI Content

There’s growing evidence that Google is detecting AI-generated content, but it’s not about banning it outright. Instead, Google seems focused on maintaining search quality by flagging low-quality or spammy AI output. For content creators, this means AI isn’t off-limits—but relying on generic, poorly optimized AI text might hurt your rankings. In short, if you’re using AI to generate content, make sure it isn’t slop!

The Week in the Newsletters

That’s all for this week! If you feel you got some value from this, please consider subscribing and sharing.

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