New research out this week by PwC consultants shows AI skills are already boosting paychecks. In the US, lawyers, accountants, and app developers with AI expertise earn about 25% more than their peers. In the UK, having AI skills adds a 14% wage bump, and in Canada, it's 11%.

The takeaway is clear: gaining AI skills is a valuable investment in your career.

In this week’s edition, we’ve got AI voice note takers, smart parking, AI-powered meditation, and a fun way to generate musical art with AI.

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AI Smart Helpers

The AI revolution is rapidly evolving, with ‘voice’ emerging as the next frontier. Last week, we explored the remarkable human-like interactions of ChatGPT 4o. Google also rolled out similar advancements, and word on the street is that Apple is gearing up to announce a major AI upgrade for Siri next month, potentially tapping into OpenAI models.

If you've used transcription services like  OtterAI, you know they can transcribe, summarize, and even pinpoint action items from your Zoom meetings. Pure transcription apps like WhisperBoard are also getting faster and more accurate.

Now, a new breed of voice assistants is changing how we capture and organize our thoughts. If you’re someone who enjoys verbal brainstorming, these tools will let you ramble as you please, and transform your ideas into clear, polished text.

We took three notable candidates for a test drive: AudioPen, AudioWriter, and AudioNotes. All three performed as advertised, and it’s easy to see how these tools can boost productivity. The applications are broad, from journaling and email creation to meeting summaries and more.

For iPhone or Mac users, AudioWriter offers the slickest interface, though the quality of the actual summaries of each app is similar. All three come with generous free plans; paid plans start at $9 a month.

Our verdict: This technology has the potential to be very useful, and we recommend experimenting, but only the most dedicated users should consider a paid plan. Given the rapid evolution of AI, it's likely that similar features will soon be integrated into voice assistants like Siri or Alexa, which many of us already use daily.

AI Parking

Ever wished parking could be less of a headache? Metropolis Parking is here to change the game, boasting the largest parking network in North America with over 4,000 locations in major cities like Los Angeles, New York City, San Francisco, Nashville, Austin, and Seattle.

At the core of Metropolis's success is its innovative AI technology. Here’s how it works:

• Register: Sign up through the Metropolis app with your vehicle details and payment method.

• Automatic Entry: Cameras recognize your license plate as you enter a Metropolis garage, tracking your parking session automatically.

• Easy Exit: Simply drive out when you’re done; Metropolis charges your card for the exact time parked.

• Real-time Rates: Check current parking rates and manage your session remotely using the app.

This seamless system removes the usual parking frustrations, providing real-time pricing information and hassle-free payments. With over 50 million customers benefiting from increased transparency and reduced costs, Metropolis is making urban parking easier for everyone.

Looking ahead, Metropolis plans to expand its AI technology to other areas like gas stations and retail stores. The goal is to streamline everyday transactions, making them as smooth as their parking solution.

So, as urban life gets busier, Metropolis offers a glimpse into a future where parking is one less thing to worry about. Who knew parking could be this smart?

AI Meditation

Struggling to switch off your brain after a long, stress-filled day? Meditation can be a powerful tool to quiet your mind and improve overall well-being. Introducing a smart-tech solution that combines AI-powered biofeedback to enhance relaxation.

Developed by the Canadian neurotechnology company Interaxon, the Muse S headband serves as your personal meditation and sleep coach. The company has trained advanced AI algorithms to analyze EEG data from the headband, enhancing your relaxation experience.

Here’s how it works:

• SmartSense EEG Sensors: Advanced sensors detect your brain activity and provide real-time feedback through gentle audio sounds. Monitoring changes and trends over time in each state helps you to track your progress.

• Comfortable Design: The headband is lightweight and stays securely in place, making it comfortable for extended use.

• Heart Rate Monitoring: It accurately measures heart rate and blood circulation, giving you insights into your physical state.

• Long Battery Life: The rechargeable battery offers 10 hours of continuous use on a single charge.

The Muse S premium subscription bundle includes the multi-sensor headband and a year's subscription service. This bundle provides access to over 500 guided meditations, helping you reduce stress and improve focus. Additionally, the headband features a smart fade function that aids in falling asleep by monitoring brain activity, heart rate, breathing, and more.

Muse is a bit pricey ($399) so it might not be for everyone. Apps like Calm and Headspace are certainly less expensive alternatives to help you relax without the expensive biofeedback. 

Whatever tools you use, remember that finding your inner peace is what truly matters.

AI Creative Pursuits

Calling all casual doodlers! Ok, this is a bit of a guilty pleasure … but we can’t help it. We love all the new generative AI experiments from Google Arts & Culture artists in residence.

One digital tool that we’ve been playing around with this week is Musical Canvas. With the help of Google AI, you can generate a soundtrack to your own artwork.

Simply draw a picture on the digital canvas and the tool uses Gemini 1.0 Pro via Vertex AI to provide a commentary on the artistic quality of your drawing. MusicLM then generates a soundtrack to match your drawing.

You can view the artwork we created and listen to the musical piece it inspired, a “slow, chill electronic piece with a gentle beat and a dreamy, ethereal sound”. The Google AI chatbot had this to say: 

The music is perfect for relaxing or unwinding. Your drawing is very interesting. I like the way you used the different shades of purple and blue to create a sense of depth and movement. The orange background is a nice contrast to the cool colors of the circles. Overall, I think this is a very well-done piece of art.

You can even add visual effects using the filters to affect the visual look and music response such as “Pixelate” for an 8-bit sound influence or “Old Film” for a vinyl effect. Who knew creating art could be this harmonious?

AI in the News (in case you missed it)

• US Senators unveil 'roadmap' for government-funded AI research and regulation. Read here.

• AI marketplace connects robots agents to pay humans to complete jobs. Watch here.

• AI 'godfather' Geoffrey Hinton says universal basic income will be needed to deal with AI's impact on inequality. Read here.

• I have weeks left to live but thanks to AI, I can live forever. Read here.

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Here.Now.AI Editorial team: Lori, Justin, and Lisa