We’re excited to introduce a new feature for our Here.Now.AI. community: an AI-powered audio version of our newsletter!

To tune in, just tap the “listen online” link at the top right of this newsletter. You'll find it there every week, making it easier than ever to enjoy our curated AI insights and practical tips while on the go.

In this week’s edition, we’ve got an AI trip planning tool, an audiobook browser, a fight that’s brewing over AI fair pricing, and art-inspired AI poetry.

Let’s get started!

AI Travel Adventures

Dreaming about a last-minute summer escape? We initially dipped our toes into the world of AI travel planners with mixed reviews. But in the fast-moving AI space, even a few months can bring a wave of improvements.

Ask Layla is a state-of-the-art AI travel assistant that seems to tick all the boxes. From finding flights to curating complete itineraries, Layla's got you covered—with personality to boot. Layla doesn't just give you options; she offers opinions, making the experience feel like you're planning with a seasoned travel agent.

How it works: Just type in your request, whether it's for hotels, flights, or a full travel plan, and Layla springs into action. You'll get video previews of destinations, a list of activities, accommodation options, and live airline prices.

 We tested Layla for a weekend in LA and a four-to-five day trip to Kauai. Both times, Layla delivered diverse, engaging itineraries, with restaurant recommendations, hotel options, and flight choices with follow-up suggestions and direct links.

We're excited about the advancements in generative AI for travel planning. With Layla, generative AI isn't just about convenience—it's redefining how we explore, personalize, and perfect our travel plans in real time.

AI Audiobooks

Summer is the perfect time for listening to audiobooks, whether you're on a long road trip or relaxing by the pool. If you're looking to refresh your listening list, an AI audiobook expert might be just what you need.

Audible, the audiobook arm of Amazon, is testing a new AI-powered search tool called Maven.  Maven uses natural language processing to give you personalized audiobook recommendations, tailored to your mood.

Whether you're looking for a “historical fiction novel set during World War II” or want "something light and funny while on a 7-hour flight," Maven has you covered.

How it works:

• Personalized picks: Just ask Maven for a specific theme or genre, and it will sift through Audible’s vast catalog to suggest titles that match your taste.

• Quick reviews: Audible also uses AI to offer “reviews at a glance,” helping you quickly decide if a book is worth your time.

• Deep dives: For those who love niche topics, Audible is experimenting with AI-curated collections that let you explore specific subjects in depth.

Maven is currently available on iOS and Android devices. During this testing phase, it’s being rolled out to 50% of U.S. customers across all membership plans, focusing on a portion of the catalog as Audible learns more about what users like.

Audible’s experiment comes as AI-narrated audiobooks are becoming more common on the platform. While this tech is exciting, it’s also causing some concern, with human narrators worried about AI taking over their jobs. As of May, over 40,000 titles on Audible featured AI narration, and that number is likely growing.

AI Pricing Probe

Artificial intelligence (AI) is everywhere, helping companies automate and improve their operations. One of the latest trends in AI is something called "surveillance pricing " where companies use AI to set different prices for different customers based on how much they think each person is willing to pay.

Instead of relying on traditional factors like supply and demand, these algorithms look at aspects such as where you live, your age, your credit history, and even your online shopping habits.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently launched an investigation into the use of "surveillance pricing" by eight companies, including Mastercard, JPMorgan Chase, and the consulting firm McKinsey & Co. The FTC issued orders to the companies to gather information on:

• Products and Services: Details on surveillance pricing products and their implementation.

• Data Collection: Information on data sources, collection methods, and third-party involvement.

• Customer Information: Who the products are sold to and their intended use.

• Consumer Impact: Potential effects on targeted consumers

The FTC's inquiry is exploratory at this stage and no accusations of wrongdoing have been made. However, the probe could lead to more scrutiny on how AI pricing tools impact the market, and potentially prompt new regulations to ensure fair competition and consumer protection.

We think the government needs to play a role in better understanding the broader implications of AI-driven pricing.

AI Creative Pursuits

Ready to turn your favorite piece of art into a poetic masterpiece?

Google has unveiled a new feature in its Arts & Culture app: Poem Postcards. This tool lets you create AI-generated poems based on a chosen artwork and subject, blending technology and creativity in a fun, shareable way.

How it works:

• Pick a piece of artwork, like "The Starry Night" or "The Scream."

• Choose a poem style— such as a haiku, sonnet, limerick, or more.

• Enter a subject, like “spring” or “ocean.” Or complete the prompt, “For someone who loves…”

• Google’s AI, powered by its PaLM 2 language model, crafts a poem that pairs perfectly with your selected artwork.

We gave it a try and chose Claude Monet’s The Water-Lilly Pond. We selected an “ode” as the kind of poem we wanted to create (Google described odes as “elaborately structured poems praising an event or individual”). Our prompt? “For someone who loves harmony.” The result? A poem postcard (above) that beautifully blends art and words in perfect harmony.

You can even send your art to a friend. The updated app is out now on Android, with an iOS version on the way. You can also access it via the Google website.

It’s all part of Google’s push to weave generative AI into more of its apps, making tech feel a bit more personal and fun. Send us your poems – we’d love to see what you come up with!

AI in the News (in case you missed it)

• Google launches AI-enhanced Pixel phones. Read here.

• Wyoming reporter caught using AI to create fake quotes and stories. Read here.

• 'Game changer' AI detects hidden heart attack risk. Read here.

• Icons of the past take new star turns with celebrity estates cashing in on AI voice cloning deals. Read here.  

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