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Big news this week has the AI world buzzing: DeepSeek, a new platform from China, is making waves with capabilities that rival OpenAI’s ChatGPT-4 for a fraction of the cost. 

But there’s a catch when it comes to your data. A Wired investigation confirms that, if you download the app, DeepSeek’s privacy policy is crystal clear—user data, including conversations, device info, and even keystroke patterns, is stored on servers in mainland China. (In addition to the app, it is possible to run a version of DeepSeek privately on your computer without the data “leaking”).

It’s a sharp reminder that as AI advances at breakneck speed, your privacy and security remain a serious concern.

In this week’s edition, we’ve got ChatGPT’s new task master, the robotaxi revolution, a heart health tracker, and AI’s wisdom seeker.

Let’s get started!

AI Task Management

Tired of juggling multiple apps to keep track of your to-do list? ChatGPT's newest feature might be just what you need. OpenAI has added a powerful task management system that transforms the chatbot from a helpful assistant into your personal productivity partner.

The new Tasks feature, currently in beta is limited to paid subscribers who are ChatGPT Plus, Team, and Enterprise users.  It brings some exciting capabilities:

• Smart Scheduling: Simply tell ChatGPT what you need to remember, like "Follow up with Linda on Friday" or “Remind me about Mike’s birthday on the 17th of June”, and it'll notify you at the right time. No more sticky notes cluttering your desk!

• Automation Made Easy: Set up recurring reminders for those regular tasks that always seem to slip through the cracks. Want a personalized weekend plan every Friday based on local weather? Or maybe a daily news briefing at 7 AM? ChatGPT can handle that.

• Web-Powered Updates: While ChatGPT won't (yet) continuously monitor websites or make purchases, it can perform scheduled web searches. For example, every month, you could have it check for concerts by your favorite artist in your area.

The real beauty of this update is its natural, conversational approach. Instead of navigating complex menus, you can manage your schedule by chatting as you normally would with ChatGPT. For those who prefer a more traditional interface, there's also a dedicated tasks manager tab in the web app.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman sees Tasks as just the beginning of AI agents that can work more independently. While current capabilities are focused on reminders and scheduled information gathering, this feature hints at more ambitious plans for the future.

To try Tasks, look for the “GPT-4o with scheduled tasks" option in ChatGPT's dropdown menu. Note: it doesn't yet support voice commands or mobile app integration – though OpenAI plans to expand availability based on user feedback.

We're excited to see how this feature evolves. While it may not replace your full-featured project management tools just yet, it's perfect for those everyday reminders and routine tasks that keep your day running smoothly.

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Self-Driving AI

Can AI handle LA’s infamous freeways? Another headline this week blew our minds – Waymo, the self-driving car unit of Google’s parent company Alphabet, is taking its biggest leap yet: fully autonomous robotaxis on Los Angeles freeways.  

Even if you don’t live in southern California, this is major news. No human backup driver. No safety net. Just AI navigating one of the country’s most unpredictable highway systems.

While Waymo has been operating on LA’s surface streets, freeway integration marks a new era. Highways mean faster trips, greater efficiency, and a stronger competitive edge against traditional ride-hailing services.

How it works:

• Waymo will first invite employees to test freeway rides before opening them to the public.

• Approval from the California Public Utilities Commission (granted in March 2024) allows Waymo to expand its commercial service not just in LA but also on Bay Area freeways.

• A key selling point: Highway access could make Waymo significantly faster. A ride from Santa Monica Pier to The Broad, for instance, could be cut in half via the I-10.

Want to see a Waymo robotaxi in action? You can watch this local NBC news report. Waymo is already operating in Phoenix and mapping roads for an international expansion in Japan. Meanwhile, Austin and Atlanta are slated to get Waymo robotaxis in early 2025.

If Waymo’s AI can master LA’s highways, it won’t just be a win for self-driving cars—it might convince even the most skeptical Angelenos to take a back seat.

AI Wearables

Wearables have long tracked heart rate, sleep, and activity, but accurate, medical-grade heart health monitoring in a compact, discreet form has remained elusive—until now.

French company Circular unveiled its Circular Ring 2 at CES 2025 earlier this month, introducing a key feature no other smart ring—including the market-leading (and previously featured) Oura—has yet to match: on-finger ECG readings with FDA-cleared atrial fibrillation (AFib) detection.

The single-lead ECG operates via an advanced PPG (photoplethysmogram) sensor, allowing users to monitor their heart’s electrical activity in real-time.

Additional features include:

•  No subscription required – Unlike Oura, Circular ditches monthly fees, offering full functionality at a one-time cost.

• Battery life that lasts – With 24/7 tracking, the Ring 2 promises an impressive eight days per charge, keeping pace with rivals like the Oura Ring 4 and the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Ring.

• A titanium overhaul – The new model features an all-titanium exterior, replacing the mixed-material build of its predecessor for improved durability.

• Smarter sizing – A new phone-based digital sizing tool aims to eliminate the hassle of finding the perfect fit.

The smart ring market is heating up. Circular entered the space three years ago, competing with Oura and Ultrahuman. Now, with ECG monitoring and an FDA stamp of approval, the Ring 2 positions itself as a serious contender for consumers prioritizing health tracking without bulky wearables.

Circular Ring 2’s official launch is expected sometime in March and will retail in the $350 range. While it’s pricey, we’re encouraged by the overall positive reviews.

With heart health tracking now at your fingertips—literally—smart rings are no longer just sleep and step counters. The future of wearables is getting smaller, sleeker, and much more serious about your health.

AI Wisdom

In a world overflowing with moral dilemmas and existential puzzles, wouldn’t it be wonderful to have a tool that offers spiritual insights tailored to your beliefs? Meet Robot Spirit Guide, an AI-powered platform designed to provide religious perspectives on life’s toughest questions.

Robot Spirit Guide combines sophisticated data science and design to deliver responses rooted in religious texts, traditions, and philosophies. Created by the CA-based development, data science, and design agency AE.Studio, the “Guide” acts as a digital mediator for anyone exploring their spiritual side or seeking cross-cultural understanding.

How it works:

• Ask away: There’s no charge to try it. Submit your question in the prompt bar, from “What is my purpose?” to “How can I let go of childhood resentments?”

• Suggested questions: the site features a dynamic display of user-submitted questions, such as "What is the meaning of life?" and "How can I find inner peace?", scrolling across the screen.

• Pick a perspective: Choose from Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Atheism, and more to frame the answer within your preferred worldview. You can choose multiple beliefs for a more comprehensive answer.

• Suggest inclusivity: Want another faith or philosophy included? Users can recommend additions, ensuring the platform grows alongside its community.

Robot Spirit Guide delivers accessible, user-friendly spiritual insights, fostering introspection, cross-religious learning, and empathy. However, its answers may lack the depth of human guidance.

We had fun asking a range of questions from the profound to the silly. With every answer, it’s quick to state; “Though I have broad spiritual knowledge, it’s possible I’ve spoken incorrectly. Act with wisdom and seek enlightenment.” Robot Spirit Guide reminds us that while AI can illuminate the path, the journey toward understanding remains uniquely our own.

AI in the News (in case you missed it)

• Today’s CEOs are the last to manage all-human workforces. Read here.

• First in the nation law school students required to have AI certification. Read here.

• Fast food goes high tech with new A.I. drive-thrus. Watch here.

• Chatbot offers empathetic, multilingual crime reporting to ease dispatcher workload. Read here.

• Reebok is selling the first AI-designed, 3D printed shoe available to buy. Read here.

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