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Another week, another bold prediction of AI’s power to transform our lives. This time, Anthropic’s CEO Dario Amodei published a lengthy (15,000 word) essay to his blog where he predicts AI could solve world hunger and turn the tide on climate change.

He also believes AI could, in the next 7 to 12 years, help treat nearly all infectious diseases, eliminate most cancers, cure genetic disorders, and halt Alzheimer’s at the earliest stages.

While some say he leans too far into the techno-utopian camp, his insights are worth considering as a leading voice on AI's potential.

In this week’s edition, we’ve got more on Google’s AI podcast power, Mynd’s talk therapy, AI storm precision, and a smart sommelier for pairing food and wine.

Let’s get started!

AI Productivity

A few weeks ago, we introduced you to Google’s NotebookLM and a feature called Audio Overview that transforms your documents into podcast-style discussions. Two AI-generated hosts break down and analyze your uploaded documents in real-time, making the learning process more engaging.

We were amazed by the technology and clearly, we weren’t alone. The tool went viral, and now Google is pushing further with a new experiment called Illuminate, which turns academic papers into AI-generated audio podcasts.

How it works: Google’s LLM, Gemini, summarizes papers and creates Q&A segments. Then two AI hosts conduct a brief interview on the paper’s key points. You can check out samples on the Google Illuminate website.

You can generate your own audio discussions by searching for a topic or uploading a PDF or URL. Google suggests a prompt like: “Create a discussion tailored for a general audience with a medium duration. The tone should be semi-professional.”  You’re allowed up to 20 podcast-style discussions daily which can be saved in the My Library tab.

Illuminate also includes AI-generated audio podcasts for classic books, with transcripts. Expect bite-sized takes on classics like David Copperfield, Moby Dick, and The Raven. And yes, even War and Peace gets condensed into a quick 5-minute chat.

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AI Health & Wellness

AI-powered tools are stepping in to fill the gaps in mental health care, offering immediate support when it’s needed. Voice recognition is the latest advancement in wellness tech with human-sounding AI systems that excel at asking questions, listening, and responding effectively.

While they can’t replace licensed professionals, these tools bridge the space between therapy sessions, creating safe environments for users to express their feelings without fear of judgment.

Mynd is the latest innovation in this space.  Developed by Shashank Keshri, a recent MBA grad from the University of San Francisco, it aims to be your AI companion for round-the-clock mental health support. Mynd goes beyond standard chatbots by learning your patterns and providing proactive assistance that anticipates your needs.

Here’s what sets Mynd apart:

• 24/7 personalized assistance on iPhone, adapting to your emotional needs.

• Wellness tracker to monitor your mood and mental state over time.

• Custom meditations tailored to fit your personality and current state of mind.

• Calendar integration to anticipate stressful events and offer proactive guidance.

For a closer look at Mynd in action, check out this video.

As AI continues to evolve, tools like Mynd are making mental health support more accessible and tailored. While they aren't substitutes for therapy, they play a key role in expanding access to mental health resources for everyone.

AI Weather

We love highlighting AI applications for the greater good. As extreme weather becomes more frequent, accurate forecasting can save lives. AI-driven models like the Artificial Intelligence/Integrated Forecasting System (AIFS) are revolutionizing how we predict events like hurricanes, offering more precision than ever before.

Case in point --Hurricane Milton. AIFS predicted Milton’s landfall within 7 miles, outperforming traditional models by nearly 100 miles. Five days before the storm hit Siesta Key, Florida, AIFS was already on target. No other model came close.

AIFS doesn’t rely on traditional physics-based equations. Instead, it uses machine learning, trained on decades of weather data. This enables it to identify complex atmospheric patterns faster and with less computational power than conventional models.

This isn't the first time AI has made waves in forecasting. The traditional IFS model—on which AIFS is based—predicted Hurricane Irma's path in 2017, Europe’s 2019 heatwave, and conditions leading to Australia’s 2019-2020 bushfires.

For a deeper dive, check out the full story in Newsweek.

With AIFS leading the charge, AI is proving to be a powerful ally in keeping us safe from nature's fury. And while we can’t stop hurricanes, getting a 93-mile advantage on landfall predictions feels like a win.

AI Food & Drink

Imagine having a world-class sommelier at your table in every restaurant you visit. That's the vision of ThirstyLogic, a new company showcased at SFTechWeek.

ThirstyLogic is revolutionizing the dining experience by using AI to pair food and wine more effectively. Their innovative approach aims to:

• Enhance diners' meal experiences

• Empower servers with expert knowledge

• Help restaurants optimize their wine lists

The best part? This sophisticated sommelier experience comes tableside via a server with a tablet, making wine expertise accessible to all.

Team member Justin attended TechWeek and caught up with Michele Anderson, one of ThirstyLogic's founders. As both a tech executive and a Master of Wine, she shared the company's mission:

"We're creating a win-win-win situation. Customers enjoy better meal experiences, servers make more knowledgeable suggestions, and restaurants benefit from wine lists tailored to their menus."

This AI application is set to elevate our dining experiences without requiring us to learn new technologies. So, the next time you're puzzling over a wine list, remember: your AI sommelier is just a tablet away. Cheers to that!

AI in the News (in case you missed it)

• Google turns to nuclear to power AI data centers. Read here. 

• AI isn’t likely to replace humans at work, says report—but 5 occupations may soon feel its impact more. Read here.

• AI helps discover more than 160,000 new virus species. Read here.

• Can you spot the AI impostor? The swift rise of AI celebrity endorsements. Watch here.

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