Perplexity’s $9B Bet: Who Needs Google Anyway?

Plus: 1-800-ChatGPT: Hotline Bling Goes AI

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Not So Artificial Newsletter
December 19, 2024

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📞 ChatGPT gets an old-school upgrade: Dial AI anytime!

 OpenAI is taking us back to the future by introducing ChatGPT through a phone number and WhatsApp integration, making AI more accessible to everyone.

The Details:

  • US users can now call 1-800-CHATGPT to hold voice conversations with the AI assistant, getting 15 minutes of free calling per month.

  • The service works on any phone, even vintage rotary devices – no modern tech required.

  • On the global side, OpenAI rolled out a WhatsApp integration, letting international users text ChatGPT. It uses a lighter model with daily usage caps but holds promise for upgrades like image analysis in the future.

Why it matters: This move revives the charm of hotline services in the AI era. Whether you’re texting on WhatsApp or chatting via a landline, OpenAI is bridging the gap between the tech-savvy and those still on dial tones. More accessibility, more ChatGPT — no excuses!

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💳 GitHub Copilot goes free: Code smarter without the cost

Microsoft-owned GitHub made waves by launching a free tier for GitHub Copilot, its AI coding assistant, marking a milestone moment as GitHub crosses 150 million developers worldwide.

The Details:

  • The free tier includes 2,000 monthly code completions and 50 chat messages.

  • Integrated directly into VS Code and GitHub's dashboard, it leverages Claude 3.5 Sonnet or GPT-4o for code suggestions. Premium models like Gemini 1.5 Pro remain behind a paywall.

  • Features such as multi-file editing, terminal assistance, and project-wide awareness are all part of the free offering.

  • GitHub's developer base jumped from 100M in 2023 to 150M, underscoring its rapid growth.

Why it matters: GitHub has its sights set on 1 billion developers. By removing financial barriers, it positions AI coding tools as an essential “free utility” instead of a luxury. For developers, this could mean fewer reasons to explore rival tools — and more time for productivity.

📈 Perplexity rockets to $9B valuation

AI search startup Perplexity secured a jaw-dropping $500M funding round, tripling its valuation to $9B in less than a year.

The Details:

  • From a $1B valuation in April to $9B now, Perplexity’s rapid rise comes amid lawsuits from publishers.

  • Boasting 15M+ active users, Perplexity has rolled out features like one-click shopping and financial analysis tools.

  • To ease content disputes, Perplexity inked revenue-sharing deals with publishers like Time and Fortune.

  • The company recently acquired Carbon, a startup specializing in data integration, enabling connections to platforms like Notion and Google Docs.

Why it matters: Perplexity is shaking up the search engine landscape, challenging industry giants like Google. Its quick evolution and smart integrations prove that AI-powered search isn’t just the future — it’s already here. But can it keep outrunning the big players?

❌ Apple dials down iPhone subscription plans

Apple has officially canceled its iPhone subscription service, a project that would have let users lease iPhones for a monthly fee with yearly upgrades.

The Details:

  • The subscription aimed to mimic the leasing model popular in the car industry.

  • Surveys revealed consumers prefer to own their phones and upgrade on their terms, potentially prompting the project’s demise.

Why it matters: Apple’s vision for turning iPhones into a service-based product hit a roadblock. While the model could have provided predictable revenue, consumer habits spoke louder — ownership still reigns supreme.

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🔍 In Other News: Quick Bytes

  • ⚛️ Microsoft’s GPU frenzy: Microsoft reportedly acquired 500,000 Nvidia Hopper GPUs this year, nearly doubling purchases from rivals like Meta and ByteDance. Microsoft’s aggressive push cements its position as Nvidia’s biggest customer.

  • 🎭 Magnific AI’s Magic Real: Magnific AI launched an image generation model tailored for realistic visuals in architecture, photography, and film, empowering professionals with lifelike imagery tools.

  • 🌍 Odyssey’s Explorer: Odyssey unveiled its generative world model, turning 2D images into immersive 3D environments. They also welcomed Pixar co-founder Ed Catmull to their board.

  • ⏳ Open Vision Engineering’s Pocket: Priced at just $79, Pocket is an AI-powered voice recorder that captures, transcribes, and organizes conversations, providing professionals with seamless note-taking.

  • 🎬 Runway’s Talent Network: Runway introduced a platform for AI filmmakers, connecting creative professionals with studios and brands seeking cutting-edge production expertise.

  • 💬 DHS launches DHSChat: The U.S. Department of Homeland Security rolled out an internally-developed AI chatbot for 19,000 employees, operating on a secure infrastructure.

  • 🤖 AI in the workplace: Nearly 25% of U.S. workers use generative AI like ChatGPT weekly, though unclear company policies are driving concerns about data security and job perceptions.

  • 💰 SoftBank’s mega U.S. investment: SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son and President-elect Donald Trump announced a $100B investment in U.S. tech projects over the next four years, focusing on AI and infrastructure to generate 100,000 jobs.

  • 📽️ YouTube AI controls: YouTube now lets creators decide if their videos can be used for AI model training, requiring consent from rights holders to meet transparency standards.

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👋 Thanks for Reading!

We hope today’s roundup made you a little sharper (and maybe a little more entertained). From AI coding breakthroughs to phone-accessible ChatGPTs, the AI world isn’t slowing down — and we’re here to keep you in the know. See you tomorrow with more insights and news! 📢

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