Major artificial intelligence companies are aggressively expanding their reach, particularly in markets like India, while also navigating complex financial landscapes and philosophical debates about AI's true capabilities. OpenAI, Google, and Perplexity AI are offering free or discounted AI tools, such as OpenAI's free ChatGPT 'Go' for a year, to millions of users in India. Google has partnered with Reliance Jio, and Perplexity with Airtel, in a strategy experts view as a long-term investment to attract a large, young audience and gather valuable data, despite concerns about data privacy and India's developing Digital Personal Data Protection Act. This approach, likened to a 'bait and switch,' aims to build a user base, though it remains uncertain if average Indian users will eventually pay for premium services given the widespread availability of free options. Meanwhile, Wall Street has seen a significant pullback in AI and crypto investments, marking the worst week for tech stocks since April. Nearly $700 million left crypto ETFs, and Bitcoin experienced a sharp slide. Companies like Palantir and the broader 'Magnificent Seven' group saw declines, indicating a cooling of speculative trading as experts like Peter Atwater warn of potentially overvalued AI stocks. Paradoxically, the demand for human expertise in AI training remains high, with companies like xAI and Mercor hiring Wall Street professionals to teach AI models complex financial tasks, offering up to $150 per hour or annual salaries between $90,000 and $200,000 for full-time AI tutors. Within corporations, AI is being integrated into daily operations. Meta employees are using their internal AI assistant, Metamate, to summarize accomplishments and feedback for performance reviews, demonstrating how the company trains AI on internal data for various applications. Google's Gemini Deep Research now offers an opt-in feature allowing it to access information from users' Gmail, Drive, and Google Chat data, emphasizing user control over data access. Beyond internal tools, AI is enhancing customer experience and revenue for companies like Uber, which uses it to create a 'lifetime experience' and offer digital tasks to gig workers, and Match Group (owner of Tinder and Hinge), which leverages AI to improve user outcomes, with a revamped Tinder expected in the Spring. On the educational front, Broken Arrow Public Schools is introducing a new 'AI Foundations' class, with about 200 students already enrolled, aiming to equip both students and teachers with an understanding of AI as a present-day reality. However, the nature of AI's intelligence remains a subject of debate. David Krakauer, President of the Santa Fe Institute, argues that large language models possess knowledge—like vast libraries—but not true intelligence, which he defines as solving problems with less information, suggesting that simply scaling models might not lead to genuine problem-solving ability. Looking ahead, Keith Riegert, CEO of Ulysses Press, shared a stark warning at a publishers conference, predicting that AI will either cause an economic collapse or render all jobs obsolete. He urged companies to adopt AI or risk being left behind, noting his company's partnership with OpenAI and its requirement for employees to use ChatGPT for at least an hour daily. Riegert even demonstrated creating a basic book for Amazon in just five minutes using AI, underscoring the technology's disruptive potential across industries.
Key Takeaways
- OpenAI, Google, and Perplexity AI are offering free or discounted AI tools in India, such as ChatGPT 'Go,' to attract users and gather valuable data, a strategy viewed as a long-term investment.
- Wall Street experienced a significant pullback in AI and crypto investments, with nearly $700 million leaving crypto ETFs and major tech stocks like Palantir and the 'Magnificent Seven' declining.
- AI training companies, including xAI and Mercor, are hiring Wall Street professionals to teach AI models complex financial tasks, with pay reaching up to $150 per hour or $90,000-$200,000 annually.
- Meta employees are utilizing their internal AI assistant, Metamate, to help summarize accomplishments and feedback for performance reviews, integrating AI into internal work processes.
- Google's Gemini Deep Research now offers an opt-in feature allowing it to access user data from Gmail, Drive, and Google Chat, with users retaining full control over permission.
- Uber and Match Group are leveraging AI to enhance customer experience, drive revenue, and improve user outcomes, with a revamped Tinder expected to launch in the Spring.
- Broken Arrow Public Schools has launched a new 'AI Foundations' class for approximately 200 students, aiming to educate them on understanding and effectively using artificial intelligence.
- David Krakauer, an evolutionary biologist, argues that large language models possess knowledge but lack true intelligence, which he defines as the ability to solve problems with less information.
- Keith Riegert, CEO of Ulysses Press, warns that AI could lead to economic collapse or job obsolescence, and his company requires employees to use ChatGPT daily, demonstrating its ability to create an Amazon book in five minutes.
Tech Giants Offer Free AI Tools in India
OpenAI, Google, and Perplexity AI are offering free or discounted AI tools to millions of users in India. OpenAI provides free ChatGPT 'Go' for a year, while Perplexity partners with Airtel and Google with Reliance Jio. This strategy aims to attract a large, young audience and gather valuable data for training AI models. Experts like Tarun Pathak from Counterpoint Research view this as a long-term investment rather than generosity. Concerns about data privacy exist, but India's flexible regulatory environment allows these offers to roll out widely. The country's Digital Personal Data Protection Act is still developing specific rules for AI systems.
Global AI Companies Offer Free Premium Access in India
Major artificial intelligence companies are providing free premium access to their services in India. This move aims to attract a large user base and collect valuable data from the Indian market. Experts suggest this strategy resembles a 'bait and switch' tactic, similar to past tech industry practices. They question whether the average Indian user will eventually pay for upgraded services. This is especially true given the widespread availability of free AI versions.
Wall Street AI and Crypto Investments Slow Down
Wall Street saw a significant pullback in AI and crypto investments, marking the worst week for tech stocks since April. Investors moved away from high-risk trades, causing nearly $700 million to leave crypto ETFs. Bitcoin, which had been rallying, slid sharply, and other crypto products also dropped. Experts like Peter Atwater warned that AI stock valuations were becoming too high. Companies like Palantir and the Magnificent Seven group experienced declines, despite some having solid earnings. This shift indicates a broader cooling of speculative trading in these markets.
Wall Street Experts Paid to Train AI Models
AI training companies are hiring Wall Street professionals to teach their artificial intelligence models complex financial tasks. These experts can earn up to $150 per hour for their knowledge in areas like investment banking and hedge fund management. Companies such as xAI and Mercor offer various roles, from part-time remote work to full-time positions. Mercor, for example, pays full-time AI tutors between $90,000 and $200,000 annually. This trend highlights the crucial need for human expertise in developing advanced AI for the finance industry.
Expert Says AI Models Have Knowledge Not True Intelligence
David Krakauer, an evolutionary biologist and President of the Santa Fe Institute, argues that large language models possess knowledge but not true intelligence. He explains that intelligence involves solving problems with less information, while knowledge is simply knowing facts. Krakauer compares LLMs to vast libraries that know everything but do not demonstrate genuine problem-solving ability. He notes that current AI tests often measure knowledge retrieval rather than abstract reasoning. This perspective suggests that simply making models larger might not lead to more intelligent systems.
Broken Arrow Schools Launch New AI Class
Broken Arrow Public Schools is introducing a new AI Foundations class for students. About 200 students have already enrolled at Broken Arrow High School and the Broken Arrow Virtual Academy. Kovi Philliber, an IT educator, emphasizes that artificial intelligence is a present-day reality, not just a future concept. Zoe Annison, a curriculum developer, will be among the teachers for this full-year course. The class aims to help both students and teachers understand and use artificial intelligence effectively.
Meta AI Assistant Helps Employees With Reviews
Meta employees are using Metamate, the company's internal AI assistant, to help with their performance reviews. Joseph Spisak, a product director at Meta, stated that Metamate summarizes accomplishments and feedback from employee documents. Meta trains this AI tool on internal data, also using it for tasks like building applications. While some employees find Metamate useful for generating feedback, results can vary without specific project details. This shows how Meta integrates artificial intelligence into its internal work processes.
AI Improves Customer Experience for Uber and Match
Companies are using artificial intelligence to enhance customer experience and boost revenue. Uber focuses on creating a 'lifetime experience' for users, encouraging them to use multiple services like Uber One. Uber also plans to use AI to offer digital tasks to its gig workers, expanding earning opportunities. Match Group, which owns Tinder and Hinge, uses AI to improve user outcomes and drive growth. Match CEO Spencer Rascoff expects a revamped Tinder to launch in the Spring, aiming for better user connections and success stories.
Google Gemini Can Read Your Gmail With Permission
Google's Gemini Deep Research can now access information from your Gmail, Drive, and Google Chat data. This feature is strictly opt-in, meaning users must actively give permission for Gemini to read their data. To enable it, users select 'Deep Research' from the Tools menu in Gemini and choose their desired sources. Cybersecurity writer Davey Winder clarifies that this is not a forced data collection. Users have full control and can choose not to use Gemini or grant it any data access.
Publisher CEO Warns AI Could Collapse Economy or Jobs
Keith Riegert, CEO of Ulysses Press, shared a stark view on AI's future at a publishers conference in the United Arab Emirates. He believes artificial intelligence will either cause an economic collapse or make all jobs obsolete. Riegert urged companies to adopt AI or risk being left behind in the industry. His company, Ulysses Press, partnered with OpenAI and requires employees to use ChatGPT for at least an hour daily. He even demonstrated creating a basic book for Amazon in just five minutes using AI.
Sources
- ChatGPT, Gemini: Why OpenAI, Google and Perplexity are offering free AI in India?
- Airtel-Perplexity to Jio-Gemini: Why global AI giants are offering free premium access in India
- Wall Street’s AI‑crypto party stalls as valuation alarms sound
- AI training companies are offering up to $150 an hour to get Wall Streeters to train their models
- LLMs Have A Lot Of Knowledge, But They Aren’t Necessarily Very Intelligent: Evolutionary Biologist David Krakauer
- Artificial intelligence class coming to Broken Arrow Public Schools
- A Meta product leader shares how AI helps him with performance reviews
- A look at the intersection of AI and customer experience
- Gemini AI Can Read Your Gmail Now, Google Says
- Genius Exec Says There Are Only Two Possibilities for AI: It'll Collapse the Economy, or Make Everyone's Job Obsolete
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