Another week, another tech breakthrough. Scientists in Germany have found a way to dramatically cut AI’s energy consumption—by up to 90%!

AI’s soaring electricity use has driven up its carbon footprint. The researchers came up with a method to shrink AI models without sacrificing performance, making them more efficient and accessible—even for small businesses. This breakthrough could lead us all to a more sustainable AI future.

In this week's edition, we've got AI-powered travel planning, the pitfalls in AI search accuracy, a look at the collaborative AI workplace of tomorrow, and smarter celebrations with a dash of AI inspiration.

Let’s get started!

AI Travel Tool

Planning a summer getaway? AI-assisted travel planning has come a long way since we first covered it. The latest example is Mindtrip — a next-gen AI travel assistant that blends itinerary-building with interactive maps, real-time recommendations, and dynamic conversation.

Mindtrip starts like any AI chatbot—just tell it where you want to go or what kind of experience you're after. But here’s where it stands out:

• Recommendations come with clickable maps and detailed descriptions.

• You can refine suggestions through conversation—asking for alternatives, price comparisons, and ratings.

Team member Justin used Mindtrip to plan a week in Provence, balancing food, culture, shopping, and relaxation.

"The initial agenda was genuinely compelling," Justin reported. "When I investigated each recommendation individually, they proved both credible and appealing." While the first response lacked pricing information, a follow-up question yielded detailed estimates for each suggested activity and even an overall budget projection for the entire week.

Mindtrip still has limitations. Where It falls short:

• Flight searches are basic, struggling with multi-leg routes or premium options.

• Car rentals show locations but lack direct booking links or pricing.

Despite some gaps, Mindtrip delivers an impressive starting point—cutting research time dramatically while keeping the final decisions in your hands.

Once you create a free Mindtrip account, you'll gain access to a destination inspiration section featuring user-contributed suggestions spanning diverse locations, itineraries, and must-try experiences. The platform occasionally sends recommendation emails that our team found genuinely helpful rather than intrusive.

Tried Mindtrip or another AI travel planner? Let us know what worked—and what didn’t!

AI Fact-Finders

Are you turning to AI chatbots instead of Google or other search engines to find information? Nearly 1 in 4 Americans have made the switch. But as the battle for AI-search supremacy heats up, a big problem remains—these tools often get facts wrong.

A new study from Columbia University’s Tow Center for Digital Journalism found that AI search tools provided incorrect answers over 60% of the time when retrieving news content. Unlike traditional search engines, AI chatbots don’t just pull up links—they summarize and repackage information, often with misleading citations and outright fabrications. Some of the worst offenders:

• Grok 3 (integrated into Elon Musk’s X platform) was wrong 94% of the time.

• Even Perplexity, the “best” performer, had a 37% error rate.

• Paid versions were often worse—Perplexity Pro ($20/month) and Grok 3 ($40/month) delivered more confidently incorrect answers than their free counterparts.

Even when AI search tools partner with publishers, accuracy doesn’t improve much. OpenAI and Perplexity have content deals with major media companies, but they still failed to consistently identify articles from their own partners.

What’s worse: AI chatbots borrow credibility from trusted sources—even when they get things wrong. As BBC News put it, “When AI assistants cite trusted brands like the BBC as a source, audiences are more likely to trust the answer—even if it’s incorrect.”

Our recommendation? Use AI search for brainstorming, product research, or summarizing ideas—but verify facts and citations with traditional search engines.

If an AI chatbot confidently cites a source, don’t take it at face value—always check the original.

AI & the Workplace

We’ve been saying it for a while: we’re still in the early days of the AI revolution. But there’s no doubt—the pace of innovation and adoption is accelerating.

For a glimpse of where we’re headed, consider recent insights from Microsoft Corporate VP Aparna Chennapragada, who says AI is entering a new phase of co-working and collaboration.

Until now, AI has mostly functioned as an individual assistant—drafting emails, summarizing meetings, and answering questions. That’s changing. AI is evolving from a thought partner for individuals into a full-fledged team player. Instead of just assisting, it will help entire teams work more efficiently by coordinating tasks and managing workflows.

What this means:

• AI won’t just be a chatbot answering questions—it will act as a digital chief of staff, delegating work to specialized AI agents.

• Teams will collaborate with multiple AI assistants, each handling research, project management, or decision-making.

• The goal? Eliminate repetitive tasks so employees can focus on strategy, creativity, and big-picture thinking.

Within the next 12-24 months, AI will become more autonomous, requiring less input from users. Chennapragada predicts that every worker will essentially become a manager of AI agents.

But adoption isn't seamless. While businesses are eager to integrate AI, they’re struggling with information overload—too many tools and too little guidance on which ones to choose.

If this is truly the direction we’re headed in, the future of work isn’t just about humans using AI—it’s about humans and AI working together.

AI Special Occasions

Life’s biggest celebrations—weddings, anniversaries, milestone birthdays—deserve a special touch. But when it comes to delivering a heartfelt speech, a meaningful toast, or the perfect wedding vow, many people find themselves stuck, struggling to put their emotions into words. That’s where CelebrateAlly comes in—an AI-powered platform that helps you craft personalized, heartfelt messages in minutes.

Unlike generic templates or broad-use chatbots like ChatGPT, CelebrateAlly’s AI creates unique, customized speeches, vows, and celebration themes based on your personal experiences. Whether it’s a funny, touching best man speech or a tearjerking anniversary toast, this tool ensures that every word feels authentic and deeply personal.

Founded by former Microsoft product manager Sonali George, Vancouver-based CelebrateAlly has skyrocketed to over 500,000 users across 200 countries in just 18 months—proof that AI can make meaningful moments even more special.

How it works:

• Answer a few quick questions about your event, relationship, and emotions—it takes less than 2 minutes.

• Get a fully personalized speech, toast, or theme tailored to your preferences.

• Make any tweaks and deliver your moment with confidence.

CelebrateAlly is constantly evolving, rolling out new features like AI-powered wedding theme suggestions, celebration games, and personalized gift ideas. A recent addition? An AI-driven thank-you message generator that crafts the perfect note in your voice, capturing the gratitude and warmth behind every special moment.

CelebrateAlly is free to use, with no hidden charges—and your input and generated vows are kept secure and confidential, ensuring a private and intimate experience. This could be just the tool you need during the busy wedding season.

AI in the News (in case you missed it)

• Netflix’s Reed Hastings Donates $50 Million to Fund AI Research for the Humanities at Bowdoin College. Read here. 

• How AI is reshaping our world and who's cashing in. Watch here.

• AI job application rise 'risks hiring incapable staff'.  Read here.

• New research shows link between ChatGPT use and loneliness. Watch here.

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Here.Now.AI Editorial team: Lori and Justin