Discover the power of AI's potential

AI is revolutionizing the way we learn, work, and play -- from mastering new skills to rediscovering old memories. This week, we’re exploring AI avatars and their role in the growing field of personalized learning.

We’ve also got an AI-powered app for the ultimate Zen state of well-being, our picks for restoring those fading family photos, and the best TED talks on AI.

Thanks to everyone who took part in our poll last week on their favorite chatbot. ChatGPT is the clear winner, followed by Perplexity.

Now, let’s dive in!

AI’s Talented Tutors

Picture a world where every student has their own AI-powered tutor tailored to their learning style and pace. Sounds like science fiction? The future is closer than we think.

Last spring, Sal Khan, the visionary behind Khan Academy, made a bold prediction: AI chatbots are on the verge of revolutionizing education in a way we've never seen before.

Now, a company out of Singapore, Genius Group, has unveiled StudentAI and its Avatar Tutor Team as part of a dedicated suite of AI tools for students, taking learning to the next level. This isn't just any upgrade; it's a leap into a new era of personalized learning.

• Personalized Learning at Scale: With the launch of 25 AI-powered Tutors and Tools, Genius Group is democratizing education featuring subjects ranging from arts and literature to math, computer science, history, and geography.

• Innovation Meets Education: The AI Avatar Tutor Team, originally introduced as Student AI in a beta version, has already made waves by attracting over 25,000 students in just three months, showcasing the demand for personalized, tech-driven education.

• Partnership with Giants: This project isn't just a solo venture; it's backed by Microsoft through their Microsoft for Startups program, adding a layer of credibility and technological prowess.

• Tailored Tutoring: These aren't your average, one-size-fits-all educational tools. Each AI tutor is designed to cater to the individual needs of students, making learning more effective and engaging.

Pricing works on a token system, and after a free trial, $4.99/month should cover most students’ needs. We signed up and received 1,000 free tokens for our trial run. Our conversation with Lucas (the history and geography tutor) on ancient Egypt and the reign of Ramses II was impressive. Lucas provided primary sources, books, scholarly articles, online encyclopedias, museums with Egyptian collections, and university websites.

We’re excited by all the possibilities that generative AI can bring to the classroom (and beyond). The StudentAI avatars include a career counselor and mock interviewer to prepare students for a more successful future. Bring it on!

AI-Powered Harmony

Ready to escape to your own private Zen island … without stepping out of your door? Now you can, with a little AI assistance. We’re big fans of leveraging artificial intelligence to enhance our well-being. Tomo is a new subscription-based mobile app focused on wellness and meditation.

Brought to you by the company that launched Replika and Blush (we’ve featured both in previous newsletters here and here), Tomo offers more than 250 activities to help with stress-busting, finding that elusive work-life balance, and conquering sleepless nights. How it works:

• Virtual Island & AI Coach: Sign in to meet your AI coach on a virtual island, ready to personalize your wellness journey.

• Tailored Experience: The AI asks about your goals to customize activities focused on growth, well-being, and fulfillment.

• Wellness Activities: Offers guided meditation, yoga, affirmations, and talk therapy.

• Text-Based Therapy Feel: The experience, according to several reviews, is similar to text-based therapy services like BetterHelp.

The makers of Tomo are quick to point out this is not a substitute for professional medical or psychological treatment.

Tomo is available on the Apple IOS store for now. Users can try out Tomo for free for three days. Then you pay $7.99/week, or $49.99/year.

Photo Restoration Magic

Got a stash of old, fading photos tucked away in albums or boxes? We're excited to share a couple of AI-powered gems that can breathe new life into those cherished memories.

Team member Lori discovered PhotoRestore.io, a handy free tool crafted by Hassan El Mghari, a talented software engineer based in New York (his LinkedIn profile is here). With a simple click, this site works magic on your blurry, faded, or damaged photos, transforming them into clear, high-quality treasures. The site is clear about keeping your privacy and data security as top priorities.

How it works: Lori took a digital image of a fading photo of her mother, uploaded it to PhotoRestore.io, hit ‘restore’, and got a side-by-side comparison within seconds with a remarkably clear version ready for download.

As a final touch, Lori used iPhoto for minor flaw corrections and opted for a classic black-and-white look, bypassing sepia or color options.

Five free restorations are available daily. Options include enhancing image quality, increasing resolution, background removal, and colorization. 

Team member Justin went all out with a photo of his great-grandfather using neural.love, a site that also enhances video, generates art, and lets you create your own avatar. After uploading his image, Justin explored various enhancements, such as upscaling resolution, colorizing, and erasing time's wear and tear.

The results? A high-def, vibrant image that truly honors his ancestor.

Neural.love operates on a credit system. Starting with five free credits, you can experiment with several features or tidy up a few photos. If you're hooked, subscriptions are available ($27/month) or purchase a one-off batch of credits for $57, depending on your needs.

AI Leading Voices

We’re big fans of TED Talks. In the ever-evolving conversation on artificial intelligence, TED Talks serve as a bridge, connecting AI innovation to the everyday user, making the complex world of algorithms and machine learning both engaging and accessible.We've curated a selection of our top 7 TED Talks picks:

• How AI Could Save (not destroy) Education, by Sal Khan (April 2023). The founder of Khan Academy explores the potential of AI to personalize education.

• How AI Art Could Enhance Humanity's Collective Memory, by Refik Anadol (April 2023): In this visually stunning talk, artist Refik Anadol discusses how AI can transform vast data collections into breathtaking art installations. 

• How to Keep AI Under Control, by Max Tegmark (October 2023): Physicist Max Tegmark tackles the critical issue of AI safety.

• Why AI is Incredibly Smart and Shockingly Stupid, by Yejin Choi (April 2023): Computer science professor Yejin Choi delves into the paradox of AI's capabilities, illustrating how AI can perform complex tasks yet fail at simple reasoning. 

•  How AI Can Empower Any Business, by Andrew Ng (April 2022): Founder of both DeepLearning.AI and online education source Coursera Andrew Ng shares practical advice on how businesses of any size can leverage AI to enhance efficiency and innovation.. 

• How AI can Enhance our Memory, Work and Social Lives, by Tom Gruber (April 2017): A co-creator of Siri envisions a future where AI augments human abilities, rather than replaces them. 

• Don't Fear Intelligent Machines. Work with Them, by Garry Kasparov (April 2017): The famous chess grandmaster shares his experience with AI, from his matches against IBM's Deep Blue to his views on machine intelligence.

With thoughtful development and ethical considerations, AI has the potential to enrich humanity in ways we're just beginning to imagine. Happy viewing!

AI in the News (in case you missed it)

• Tech and media companies pledge to prevent AI political interference. Read here.

• AI can spot male vs. female brains with 90% accuracy. Read here.

• AI helps predict whether antidepressants will work in patients. Read here.

• OpenAI teases it’s latest text-to-video breakthrough, “Sora”. Watch here.

• Can AI help to unlock our past? Read here.

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