154 - AI usage dropping?

• The AI Hype Bubble is Popping? New data from the US Census Bureau shows a significant and surprising drop-off in corporate AI adoption, the largest since the survey began.

• Unprofitable AI: Despite billions in investment, 95% of companies report their AI software has failed to generate new revenue, raising questions about the return on investment.

• The Dystopian Jobs Platform: We dissect the controversy surrounding OpenAI's new jobs platform and the accusation that the company that displaced workers is now profiting from "helping" them.

• Follow the Money: We examine the absurdity of a multi-billion dollar GPU data center deal between OpenAI and Oracle, while the underlying AI applications struggle to prove their value.

• Media and Gaming Go All-In: A look at where AI is actually finding a profitable footing, from the AI-touched Wizard of Oz at the Las Vegas Sphere to its widespread use among video game developers.

• The Vibe Check is Not Good: From the disappointing tech news to the unsettling ethical questions, we discuss why this week feels like we're "living in a simulation."

Episode 153: Is the 'Nanobanana' the End of Photoshop?

This week, we're diving into the good, the bad, and the slightly uncanny with Google's new Gemini Flash 2.5 image editor, a.k.a. the "Nanobanana." This groundbreaking tool uses simple text prompts to make complex image edits, but is it a genuine replacement for traditional software like Photoshop? We'll break down the pros and cons, including its impressive speed and character consistency, as well as its surprising flaws and heavy censorship.

In this episode, we're covering:

• The rise of a new AI image editor that promises to simplify complex tasks and boost creative productivity.

• The massive capital being invested in AI labs like OpenAI and Anthropic and what it means for the future of the industry.

• A look at the surprising link between AI adoption and a 13% decline in jobs for young adults.

• A "great take" on how people who can think without AI may gain a huge advantage over those who become entirely dependent on it.

• Why some employers are going back to paper resumes to prevent AI, and what that says about authenticity in the age of automation.

  @shakoistsLog

AI: Destroying SaaS and The Future of Education

Welcome to this week's episode, where we're tackling the big questions about AI. Is it killing the software industry? And should colleges be embracing it instead of banning it? We'll dive into the latest trends, debate the pros and cons, and explore how AI is reshaping how we work and learn.

• SaaS Under Threat: We're seeing a massive shift in the tech world. Hear real-world examples of how AI is allowing solo developers to build and launch products in a weekend that once took months for a full team.

• The LLM Leaderboard: We're introducing our weekly LLM leaderboard, and this week's top spot goes to Google. We'll break down why Google's latest models are setting a new standard in multimodal AI.

• The Coding Conundrum: AI can make you faster, but is it a 10x improvement or just a 2x boost? We'll discuss the debate around using AI for coding and whether it's a stepping stone or a permanent crutch.

• AI in Academia: We'll explore a new tool, GPTZero, that schools are using to detect AI-generated work. Is this the right approach, or are colleges missing a major opportunity to prepare students for the real world?

• Embracing the Future: A hot take on why colleges should stop banning AI and start incorporating it into their curriculum. Learn how a simple shift to presentations and real-world scenarios could prepare students for the future of work.

• The Human Connection: In a world of AI-generated content, we argue that the pendulum is swinging back toward in-person interaction and a focus on essential human skills.

@mark_k

This week, we're taking a deep dive into the "AI bubble" and exploring why some experts are concerned.

• Are we in a bubble? Despite massive investments—as much as $40 billion—a recent MIT report reveals that 95% of companies have seen little to no return on their generative AI initiatives.

• We'll explore why some experts, including Sam Altman, are comparing today’s AI boom to the dot-com bubble, and why the "dream" might be outpacing reality.

• Why do so many LLMs rely on Reddit for 40% of their data? We discuss the good, the bad, and the ugly of this information source.

• A look at the surprising chart showing a dramatic drop in ChatGPT usage after June 6, suggesting that a significant number of users might be using it for "homework."

• Is AI responsible for recent layoffs, or are companies using it as an excuse to cut costs? We break down the likely combination of both.

• We'll get my final thoughts on whether this is a true bubble ready to pop or just a much-needed slowdown in the pace of AI innovation.

@KTrimbach42 @onechancefreedm

https://x.com/mazeincoding/status/1952787361768587741

In this week's episode, Ryan is taking a deep dive into the hype and reality of OpenAI's latest release. Join us as we dissect the good, the bad, and the just plain weird of GPT-5.

• The GPT-5 presentation was a letdown, feeling sterile and uninspired despite some impressive demos like coding a visual for Bernoulli's principle.

• We explore the general consensus that GPT-5, in its current state, isn't living up to the hype and is even underperforming competitors like Grok.

• Listener feedback reveals serious issues, including a detailed account of how GPT-5 struggled with a simple image recognition task and gave hilariously wrong advice.

• The episode raises concerns about increased hallucinations, with the host sharing an anecdote about the model giving him incorrect dates and then "knowing" it was wrong.

• We touch on other AI news, including the new brain-implant startup from Sam Altman, which puts him in direct competition with Elon Musk and Neuralink.

• The overall verdict? Many people, including a listener quoted in the episode, are finding GPT-5 to be a step back, leading to the question: Is AGI cancelled?

What is Ryan Yapping on about today

• OpenAI releases new "open" models: OpenAI launched two new open-weight reasoning models, GPT-OSS-120B and GPT-OSS-20B, which can run locally on devices like laptops and even phones.

• Shifting business model: The new OpenAI models signal a move away from a subscription-based, pay-per-API model to a one-time hardware investment, offering more privacy since data stays on the device.

• Google DeepMind's "Genie 3": Google DeepMind unveiled Genie 3, a highly advanced world simulator that can generate entire game worlds from natural language prompts, featuring high-fidelity visuals and in-world memory.

• New coding benchmark: Claude upgraded its Opus model to version 4.1, which is being praised as the new top-tier model for coding and advanced agentic tasks—at least until the next major release from a competitor.

• Amazon backs "Netflix of AI": Amazon is supporting an AI-generated streaming service that allows users to type prompts to create scenes or full episodes, with Disney and other major studios reportedly in talks to license their IPs.

• AI for job interviews: A growing number of major companies, including Unilever, Delta, and Vodafone, are using AI to score job interviews by analyzing a candidate's facial expressions, eye movements, and voice for "confidence" and "trustworthiness."

• Potential privacy concerns: With the new local-run models and AI-driven interview tools, there's a growing conversation about user privacy and data security, especially with the news that OpenAI is providing ChatGPT to the government for just $1.

• Publicity vs. practical use: While the new OpenAI models are generating buzz, some observers are questioning their real-world utility, suggesting the release may be more of a publicity stunt without clear use cases or examples.

• The current "vibe check" for AI is low (2/10), but there's significant interest in developing AI traders, despite challenges with human inaction on AI-generated insights.

• A Reddit user's experiment showed ChatGPT managing a stock portfolio and outperforming the market, leading to predictions of AI-driven market crashes, AI-optimized press releases, and the emergence of AI investment clubs and "prompt engineers" for financial advice. @gregisenberg

• Day trading is expected to be dominated by AI within 18 months, with retail investors likely having AI trading assistants by 2027, and new financial products like "winning prompts" and social networks for AI trading strategies emerging.

• The rise of AI in finance will prompt new SEC regulations for "algorithmic investment advice" and could lead to "AI flash crashes" and "algorithmic insider trading" scandals.

• Apple is anticipated to acquire Anthropic, as Apple needs a stronger Large Language Model (LLM) than its own.

• OpenAI is reportedly launching GPT-5 soon, featuring a massive token window, multi-context processing, dynamic reasoning, and integrated tools like Code Interpreter, while ChatGPT is introducing a "study mode" for step-by-step problem-solving.

  @Diesol @radshaan

• The vibe gut check is a low 2/10, with significant AI talent poaching among major companies.

• Delta Airlines is reportedly testing AI for personalized ticket prices, which Ryan thinks is a "horrible idea" and hopes fails. @flavioAd

• LinkedIn sees 11,000 job applications per minute due to AI resume spam, creating a tough job market.

• Nodes launched "Anti-Clueless," an AI platform for talent acquisition, deemed a "bad idea."

• Leading AI researchers from OpenAI, Google DeepMind, Anthropic, and Meta issued a joint warning about AI safety.

• Google's Gemini shows rapid user growth in both new and returning users.

• Pine AI's service allows AI to handle phone calls for users, seen as a "good idea" for now.

• OpenAI and SoftBank are struggling with the "Stargate" project, facing delays and scaled-back plans.

• Oracle will supply OpenAI with 2 million AI chips for its new data center, costing $30 billion per year.

• Microsoft and Meta are aggressively poaching top AI researchers from rivals. @scaling01