Happy October, everyone!

In this week’s edition, we’ve got a smart search tool to help you make better buying decisions, the latest on website builders, an AI chatbot to assist with family leave benefits, and mixing up your favorite mocktail the AI-way.

Let’s get started!

AI Search

Ever found yourself drowning in a sea of information while trying to make a simple purchase decision? Whether it's upgrading your phone, buying a new car, or choosing a skincare product, the process of sifting through countless news articles, websites, and social media platforms can be overwhelming. Lumona AI is designed to streamline your research process.

Lumona AI does the heavy lifting for you, consolidating information from various sources into a comprehensive, easy-to-digest format. With a single query, you can access a wide-ranging survey of relevant material, including summaries from different social media platforms.

We put Lumona to the test with the question, "Should I upgrade to the iPhone 16 Pro?" The results were impressive, offering a holistic view of the topic. The AI provided articles, recommended YouTube videos, and even summarized key features that Reddit users appreciated or found lacking.

In addition to social media insights, Lumona offers an AI-generated news summary with proper attribution, similar Perplexity, which we've previously covered.

Two recent MIT computer science graduates Dylan Walker and Qiong Zhou Huang are the creators of Lumona. They received backing from the renowned startup accelerator Y-Combinator.

The best part? Lumona is currently free to use. So, the next time you're contemplating a purchase or seeking information on a topic, why not give Lumona AI a try? It might just become your new go-to research assistant.

AI Productivity

Thinking about launching a business or taking that hobby to the next level? If you’re in need of a website, we’ve got an update on AI-powered website builders.

Web builders are cost-effective and offer a big advantage with their user-friendly, intuitive drag-and-drop interfaces. Additionally, they efficiently optimize websites for different screen sizes, ensuring a consistent and mobile-friendly experience across various devices.

We read a number of articles that reviewed the best-of web builders. These are the most popular:

• Wix: Reliable and well-established, Wix's new AI site generator and coding assistant make web design even easier. Now integrated with ChatGPT, it offers plans starting at $17/month with a variety of features.

• Hostinger: Known for speed and affordability, Hostinger's AI Builder includes a writing assistant, image generator, logo maker, and AI heatmap tool to track user behavior. Plans begin at $2.99/month.

• Jimdo: Perfect for small e-commerce, Jimdo's AI-powered ‘Dolphin’ builder creates device-optimized sites based on a simple questionnaire, offering a modern design in minutes. Jimdo's free plan allows you to create a website with up to 5 pages and is considered one of the most generous among website builders. 

AI web builders are the best for freelancers, blogs, and small businesses that don’t mind limited customization and functionality. On a cautionary note, they can be limited by their inflexibility and generic templates, which may leave you dependent on the platform and facing challenges when migrating to a new one.

If you’re looking for a more complex website, it’s best to invest the time and money hiring a website developer or agency.

AI for Good

No parent should have to choose between their job and caring for their family. Yet, too many do, often unaware of the paid family leave benefits available to them. That’s where PaidLeave.ai steps in— a generative AI chatbot designed to ease access to state family leave benefits.

PaidLeave.ai was developed by Moms First in collaboration with OpenAI, Novy.ai, and Craig Newmark Philanthropies. The goal: to streamline the process and empower parents and caregivers to claim the benefits they’re entitled to.

PaidLeave.ai leverages OpenAI's GPT-4 model, trained on verified state resources, to provide accurate, personalized guidance about paid family leave. It’s available in 9 states and Washington, DC.

How PaidLeave.ai works:

• Offers step-by-step assistance for navigating paid family leave programs.

• Delivers essential forms and resources to help users apply for benefits.

• Limits errors and confusion through safety checks and built-in guardrails against misinformation

Currently, 13 states offer paid family leave, with funding almost entirely through employee-paid payroll taxes. The Federal Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) provides 12 weeks of unpaid leave during a 12-month period to care for a newborn or a sick family member.

Moms First Founder Reshma Saujani hopes the tool will allow millions of women (and men!) to become more educated on family leave laws. It’s a great example of how AI can make a meaningful difference in our lives.

AI Food & Drink

Mocktails are popping up on restaurant menus everywhere. These alcohol-free drinks are gaining popularity as people seek out sophisticated alternatives to booze without sacrificing flavor. They’re not just for the health-conscious or those who are skipping alcohol. They’re great for anyone who wants to enjoy a complex, refreshing beverage minus the next-day headache.

Want to whip up a mocktail at your next dinner party or while hanging out with friends? With AI-powered tools like ChatGPT’s custom Mocktail Mixologist, crafting the perfect drink is just a finger tap away.

We asked Mocktail Mixologist how to make a virgin mojito – and voila! We got a simple recipe “to get you sipping in no time!”

Virgin Mojito Recipe

Ingredients:

• 10 fresh mint leaves

• 1/2 lime, cut into 4 wedges

• 2 tablespoons of sugar (or simple syrup)

• Ice cubes

• Club soda or sparkling water 🥤

• Lime slices and mint sprigs for garnish (optional)

Instructions:

1. Muddle it up
   In a glass, add the mint leaves, 3 lime wedges, and sugar. Use a muddler (or the back of a spoon) to gently mash the ingredients together. This releases the mint oils and lime juice!

2. Ice, Ice, Baby
   Fill the glass with ice cubes to the top!

3. Fizz it Up
   Pour club soda or sparkling water over the ice and the mashed ingredients. Stir well to combine.

4. Finishing Touch
   Garnish with the remaining lime wedge and a sprig of mint for that extra flair.

5. Sip & Enjoy
   Sit back, relax, and enjoy your fresh Virgin Moji

Mocktails are no longer a boring, second-choice option. With a bit of AI-powered help, they’re evolving into a sophisticated staple you can make anytime, anywhere. Enjoy!

AI in the News (in case you missed it)

• California Gov. Newsom vetoes AI safety bill that divided Silicon Valley. Read here.

• If your AI seems smarter​, it's thanks to smarter human trainers. Read here.

• What to know about the rise of AI deepfakes. Watch here.

• Researchers Harness AI to Repurpose Existing Drugs for Treatment of Rare Diseases. Read here.

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