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Your AI Sidekick Just Messaged You First
Bots sliding into your DMs, ChatGPT tossing quiz challenges, secret podcast scoops & trial buzz
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Imagine waking up to a chatbot that’s already slid into your messages with a tailored greeting, before you even had a chance to hit send.
This week, Meta’s bots are stepping up as proactive conversation starters, pinging you with themed chats that feel almost human. Meanwhile, ChatGPT is shaking up study sessions by nudging you with problems, tracking progress, and rallying your classmates.
All the while, an insider podcast teases tomorrow’s tech, designer therapies edge into patient trials, and a showdown over AI mimicry heats up.
Ready to see which surprise pings you first?
In This Issue:
💥 Big News: Meta’s chatbots adopt unforgettable personas, and ChatGPT’s new study-together feature teams up with you and your classmates
⚡ Rapid Recaps: An AI podcast from the industry leader drops secret insights, designer drugs hit the clinic, a premium plan rattles wallets, a plagiarism battle ignites, an AI job-hunt ally emerges, and one system makes dreams of parenthood real
✨ Weekly Spotlight: Design your own courses with Generative AI for Course Creators. rainstorm focused topics, craft measurable objectives, build engaging outlines and script slide decks for any format
🔥 Hot Tools: Browse 10 standout AI releases—from custom assistants to instant dashboards—and see which ones we handpicked for you
🛠️ Deep Dives: Explore Merlin AI’s all-in-one research hub, Shuffll’s effortless video studio, and Genie’s Shopify inventory wizardry
💥 Big News
Meta's AI Chatbots Get Personal
Meta is taking a bold step by testing customizable AI chatbots designed to proactively engage users within its messaging apps. These chatbots can maintain themed personas, such as movie critics or chefs, and remember past interactions. This development aims to enhance user engagement while exploring new interactive experiences.
Proactive Chatbots, With Personality
Chatbots maintain themed personas
Remembers past interactions for continuity
Targets enhanced user engagement
OpenAI Unleashes Study Partner Feature
OpenAI is transforming study sessions with its new "study together" feature being tested in ChatGPT. This tool turns the chatbot into an interactive study partner, challenging users to solve problems and master concepts. It also hints at collaborative sessions for simultaneous study among multiple users.
ChatGPT Becomes Your Study Buddy
ChatGPT becomes a problem-solving partner
Encourages mastery of concepts
Supports collaborative learning
⚡ Rapid Recaps
🎙️ OpenAI Hits the Airwaves
OpenAI has launched a podcast revealing insights into its development and future plans. It sheds light on naming decisions, viral growth, upcoming GPT-5 plans, and behavioral challenges.
💉 AlphaFold’s Cancer Drug Goes Human
Isomorphic Labs, a DeepMind spinoff, is starting human trials for AI-designed cancer drugs. Leveraging AlphaFold 3, these trials could transform drug development, aiming for on-demand treatment creation.
💸 Perplexity’s $200 “Max” Sticker Shock
Perplexity introduces a $200/month Max tier, reflecting the rising costs of maintaining advanced AI systems. This plan offers features like coding and detailed research tools.
🐱 Huawei’s Copy-Catfight Over AI Models
Huawei faces allegations of copying AI models from Alibaba, spotlighting ethical concerns in AI development. This controversy highlights the competitive pressures in the Chinese AI sector.
🎮 Copilot Levels Up the Job Search
Following layoffs, an Xbox executive suggests using Microsoft Copilot to ease job search and mental strain. This AI tool helps manage job loss challenges and boosts job hunting efforts.
👶 STAR Helps a Miracle Baby Arrive
Columbia University's AI system STAR helps a couple conceive after 18 years, showcasing AI's potential in fertility treatments.
💫 Check out all 99 AI products, features, & news Big Tech released this week.
✨ Weekly Spotlight
Design Your Own Courses With ChatGPT
Generative AI for Course Creators guides you through using ChatGPT to craft clear learning objectives, build engaging outlines & develop interactive content for webinars, videos & e-learning formats. Perfect for experts & beginners alike looking to streamline course creation.
Define focused topics with AI-assisted brainstorming
Craft measurable objectives that guide your course structure
Organize content plus design interactive activities for retention
Script & create slide decks tailored to multiple course formats
🔥 Hot Tools
10 Top & Trending AI Tool Releases This Week
Niomake: Generate tailored, high-quality content**
Post-Boost: Schedule and post content across multiple platforms**
PicMa Studio: Enhance photos with AI-driven editing tools**
SellerPic: Enhance product images with AI-generated marketing visuals**
Vexub: Transform text or audio into captivating AI-generated videos**
WalletFinder.ai: Discover profitable crypto wallet strategies driven by AI analysis**
Howdy: Automate Instagram DMs for personalized lead outreach
Teammates.AI: Handle customer service and sales with AI agents
Context: Transform inputs into polished presentations and documents
Tile: Transform raw data into actionable insights
**Featured
🚀 Login to Futurepedia to see your 5 personalized tool recommendations.
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🛠️ Deep Dives
1. Merlin AI: 26-in-1 AI research & writing hub
Why It’s Worth Your Time
Instant access to multiple AI models for versatile research & content creation
Chat contextually with webpages & files to get tailored insights & summaries
Create custom AI chatbots (Projects) that turn knowledge bases into specialized assistants
Generate code, diagrams & data analysis on demand with live previews
Translate over 50 languages including images & videos for global communication
Enhance websites with AI-powered search & Gmail assistance to speed workflows
Pricing
Free Plan: Try out Merlin with basic image generation, limited model access, Chrome extension support, and over 70 AI tools—no cost to get started
Paid Plans (from $29/month): Unlock unlimited access to top AI tools, advanced image features, Chrome extensions, and exclusive models like GPT-4o and Claude 3.7. Teams can collaborate with added controls, dashboards, and enterprise-grade security at $19 per seat/month
2. Shuffll: AI Video Creation Simplified
Why It’s Worth Your Time
Automate video production from concept to final cut with AI
Maintain brand consistency using custom logos, colors, & fonts
Scale content creation by producing multiple video series easily
Collaborate in real time on scripts and projects with your team
Publish across platforms with versatile export & embedding options
Enhance video quality using built-in teleprompter & voice tools
Pricing
Paid Plans (from $79/month*): Create videos with AI scripts, branded graphics, image generation, voice enhancement, and transcription. Higher tiers unlock advanced voiceovers, team collaboration, guest access, and priority support.
*save 40% on annual billing
3. Genie: AI Inventory Management for Shopify
Why It’s Worth Your Time
Track inventory in real time to avoid stockouts & overstock situations
Automate purchase orders with smart replenishment & multi-currency support
Analyze data easily using advanced spreadsheet-style views without complexity
Access powerful reports with customizable templates & automated scheduling
Manage suppliers including lead times & contacts in one centralized place
Set up quickly with minimal onboarding and Shopify-focused integration
Pricing
Free Trial: Get full access to all features for 21 days—no strings attached.
Paid Plans (from $59/month): Manage 1,500 to 5,000+ product variants and up to unlimited suppliers with tools for inventory tracking, reports, PO creation, and supplier management. Higher tiers offer dedicated support and Slack integration.
⏭️ What’s Next
This week reminded us that AI isn’t just reactive anymore. It will now reach out first, guiding our chats and study sessions with surprising intuition.
Up next, on Tuesday we’ll guide you through putting proactive AI to work in your own workflows, and on Thursday you’ll get your regular news roundup packed with the latest launches, trials, and industry shifts.
See you there!
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