AI Model Mania

OpenAI, the brains behind ChatGPT, just dropped a jaw-dropping stat: 400 million weekly active users. That’s a 33% jump in under three months!

What’s fueling the surge? Turns out, good old-fashioned word of mouth. People see their friends using it, get curious, and next thing you know, they’re hooked. As one insider put it, “When a tool is this useful, people can’t stop talking about it.”

In this week’s edition, we’ve got the latest on digital taskmasters, Fiverr’s freelancer fix, AI’s gender divide, and housekeeper robot helpers. 

Let’s get started!

AI's (Free) Model Mania

We typically don't cover individual AI model releases - they come so fast and furious they could fill our entire newsletter! But this week is different, with three noteworthy free releases that deserve your attention:

Perplexity AI just dropped its "Deep Research" feature in its base model. Think of it as ChatGPT Deep Research’s competent cousin but without the $200 monthly price tag. While it takes 2-4 minutes to process, Deep Research thinks deeply, asks clarifying questions, and scours the internet before delivering comprehensive insights.  It's completely free (with usage limits).

Google's new Gemini 2.0 Flash model is now available as an iPhone app. While free users can only access text features (voice and image capabilities are reserved for $20/month subscribers), it's an impressive addition to Google's growing AI arsenal, alongside NotebookLM, which we love, and featured recently.

Finally, AI model Grok 3 has entered the fight. Currently free while in beta (though a $16/month subscription is planned), Grok stands out for its lightning-fast responses and robust reasoning capabilities. But beware -- true to Grok-owner Elon Musk's style, it operates with fewer restrictions than its competitors, raising concerns that reduced filtering could lead to the spread of misinformation and inappropriate content generation under the guise of "truth-seeking". (note: we’re not Grok users as we prefer other AI models.)

Our take: If you've been disappointed by the output of AI chatbots, or haven't explored them recently, now's the perfect time to give these free options a try. The landscape is evolving rapidly, and these releases show just how accessible and remarkable advanced AI features are becoming.

AI & Business

Ask any creative working in the gig economy if they’re worried AI will kill jobs and the answer is likely a resounding ‘yes’.  Fiverr, the freelancing marketplace, is flipping the AI script, launching a new platform, Fiverr Go, to empower rather than replace freelancers.

Unlike companies that have replaced workers with AI, Fiverr is betting on a coexistence model, helping freelancers harness AI to scale their businesses rather than compete against it.  The initiative allows creators to train AI on their own work—keeping control, setting prices, and monetizing their intellectual property.

Fiverr Go offers a dual-pronged AI strategy:

• Personal AI Creation Model – Freelancers can train AI exclusively on their work, maintaining full ownership and control.

• Personal AI Assistant – A tool that adapts to freelancers' preferences, optimizes client communication, handles administrative tasks, and provides business insights.

At launch, Fiverr Go will be available for select freelancers in voiceover, songwriting, graphic design, illustration, copywriting, and digital marketing. The platform will also be open to developers, allowing them to build AI applications that integrate with Fiverr’s vast transactional dataset.

Fiverr’s biggest competitors—Upwork and PeoplePerHour—have integrated AI assistants, but none have directly embedded generative AI tools for creators the way Fiverr Go does.

Fiverr’s move could set a precedent for how gig platforms integrate AI. If successful, it may push other freelance marketplaces to rethink their approach to automation—favoring AI as a tool for empowerment rather than an engine of replacement. We’d love to know what you think of this emerging business model.

AI Gender Divide

We were disheartened by this news: as more businesses adopt AI into the workplace, new research shows women are more reluctant to use AI tools than their male counterparts.

In a recent working paper, “Global Evidence on Gender Gaps and Generative AI” by scholars at Harvard Business School, UC Berkeley, and Stanford, women are shown to be adopting generative AI tools at a 25% lower rate than men, despite the technology’s potential to boost productivity across industries. Some of their findings:

• A Federal Reserve Bank of New York survey found that half of men used generative AI in the past year, compared to just a third of women.

• Across 18 studies involving 140,000+ students and professionals, women were 10% to 40% less likely than men to use AI tools.

Turns out some women hesitate to use AI because they worry it might be seen as "cheating" and could trigger professional backlash. Others fear being judged more harshly than men if they rely on AI-generated information. Many simply haven’t had as much exposure to these tools, making them less confident in adopting them.

If women continue to lag in AI adoption, it could widen existing gender gaps in wages, career advancement, and overall economic growth. Women’s lower adoption of AI isn’t just a workplace issue—it’s an economic and technological challenge that requires proactive solutions.

One of the paper’s authors, Harvard B-school Associate Professor Rembrand Koning suggests ways to close the gender gap by requiring companies to normalize AI training. He encourages business leaders to create a judgment-free culture around AI use and urges developers to incorporate diverse input to keep bias in check.

AI & Home Robotics

The development of humanoid robots took another step forward this week. Norwegian robotics company 1X has just pulled back the curtain on its latest prototype, Neo Gamma. Designed for the home environment, this robot isn’t about industrial strength—it’s built to blend seamlessly into your living room.

Unlike the cold, mechanical look of typical industrial robots, Neo Gamma sports a knitted nylon suit. This softer look isn’t just for show—it helps prevent injuries if you accidentally bump into it. Other standout features include:

• Human-Like Movement: With a natural gait complete with arm swings and the ability to squat and sit without toppling, Neo Gamma moves at a rapid 100 Hz, adapting to new tasks and environments with ease.

• Conversational AI: The robot comes equipped with a large language model developed in-house, enabling casual, human-like conversations that make interactions feel natural.

• Safety First: Emphasizing situational awareness, 1X has prioritized onboard AI to help the robot navigate safely around people and property. And while full autonomy is the long-term goal, there’s a manual override option to keep things under control.

For a closer look at Neo Gamma in action, check out this video demonstration.

1X is taking a “home-first” approach that sets it apart from competitors like Figure, Boston Dynamics, and Tesla’s Optimus —companies that tend to focus on industrial or warehouse applications. As technology increasingly supports independent living—especially for older adults—home robots like Neo Gamma are being built to be both helpful and easy to have around.

While production numbers for this beta version remain under wraps, Neo Gamma is a promising glimpse into a future where our homes might be filled with robots that are as much companions as they are helpers.

AI in the News (in case you missed it)

• When AI Thinks It Will Lose, It Sometimes Cheats, Study Finds. Read here.

• How Meteorologists Use AI To Improve Forecasting. Watch here.

• 1,000 artists release ‘silent’ album to protest UK copyright sell-out to AI. Read here

• How AI is revealing the language of the birds. Watch here.

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Here.Now.AI Editorial team: Lori and Justin