AI is continuing to shake things up, pushing boundaries and igniting debates. Apple and Baidu are diving into smart glasses, OpenAI’s SearchGPT is gunning for Google, and Meta’s AI-powered news partnerships are stirring the pot. On the creative front, Universal bets on “ethical” AI music while the Beatles snag a groundbreaking AI-assisted Grammy nod. But it’s not all smooth sailing—Poland’s controversial AI radio experiment shows just how messy this tech revolution can get. Buckle up.

1. Apple, Baidu Look to Smart Glasses
News leaks out of Cupertino suggest that Apple is looking to get into smart glasses.  Techloy suggests that there are at least four different smart/augmented-reality products in the works, while a Bloomberg article suggests that “Project Atlas” is underway with internal focus groups of Apple employees.  Meanwhile, Chinese tech behemoth Baidu will introduce its version of smart glasses this week.

2. OpenAI’s SearchGPT Launches
The long-awaited ChatGPT search engine has gone live for ChatGPT Plus and Team users.  SearchGPT incorporates real-time internet access to enhance responses with up-to-date information, while regular ChatGPT relies solely on its pre-existing training data (which may be periodically updated but is static between updates).  So if you’re looking for a good cheeseburger near your hotel or the weather, ChatGPT’s search can provide a solid alternative to Google and Bing.

3. Universal Partners to Create ‘Ethical’ AI Music Generator
As Universal Music Group sues AI music engines Suno and Udio for copyright infringement, it simultaneously is partnering with Klay Vision to create that is, “Fully respectful of copyright, as well as name and likeness rights, [and] will dramatically lessen the threat to human creators and stand the greatest opportunity to be transformational, creating significant new avenues for creativity and future monetization of copyrights.”  No details or timelines were announced.

4. Suno.AI Announces New Enhanced Song Generation Model
Last Friday, the text-to-music AI tool teased version 4 is coming. Take a listen to this 46-second version of a song supposedly created with the tool to get an idea where the technology is headed.  (No release dates were announced for v4.)

5. Meta Releases Open-Source Variant of Google’s NotebookLM
While Google’s NotebookLM’s podcast generator was making waves this fall, Meta was busy creating an open-source version of the tool.  NotebookLlama will allow vendors to fork the technology and expand AI podcast creation using Meta’s Llama AI engine.

6. Meta Partners with Reuters for Real-Time AI Results
Meta has partnered with Reuters to provide real-time news content for its AI chatbot, which answers questions on current events across Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed, and it marks Meta’s first news partnership in years amid its reduced focus on news content. Reuters confirmed the collaboration, emphasizing that terms of the agreement are confidential.

7. Washington Post Launches New AI-Powered Answer Service
WaPo has launched “Ask The Post AI,” a generative AI tool that provides with summary answers and curated results from user questions. Results are based on the publication’s fact-based journalism since 2016.  According to the Post, the AI only delivers answers if it finds relevant, high-quality reporting, similar to the outlet’s AI-driven tools like AI-audio reads and “Climate Answers.”

8. Famed BBC Host Gets New Postmortem Podcast Gig
Over four decades, Sir Michael Parkinson hosted an eponymous talk show and was named the “greatest British talkshow host ever.” A year after his death, Parkinson’s voice will be heard on a new podcast series, which will feature an entirely unscripted conversation with a guest of the show and the AI host.  Parkinson’s family is overseeing the project.

9. Polish AI Station Goes Kaput
A state-owned regional Polish radio station, OFF Radio Kraków, abruptly ended its experiment using AI to co-create programs, just a week after launching it amid a wave of criticism and staff reductions. The project sparked a greater backlash when an AI-generated “journalist” conducted an “interview” with deceased Nobel laureate Wisława Szymborska and proposed a similar interaction with other historical figures. Editor-in-chief Marcin Pulit stated the project had already achieved its goal of generating discussion about AI’s potential and risks, making it unnecessary to continue the experiment.

10. Beatles Become First Artist to Get AI-Assisted Grammy Nomination
The Beatles’ song “Now and Then,” restored with AI technology, has received Grammy nominations for Record of the Year and Best Rock Performance, marking the first time an AI-assisted production has achieved such recognition. The AI was used to isolate and enhance John Lennon’s vocals from a low-quality demo, allowing producers to create a clearer, usable track without generating new vocal elements.

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Chris Brunt

Chris has thirty-plus years' experience in radio programming, digital content creation, and digital sales, most recently at Beasley Media Detroit. During his time at Beasley, and Greater Media Brunt made his mark in the development of websites, audio and video streaming, podcasts, and social media channels. As Digital Sales Manager, he drove increases in revenue by leveraging both owned/operated and programmatic media.

Along with his duties at Jacobs Media, Chris develops revenue opportunities for jācapps’ mobile apps clients.

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