This one stung: a new report says the U.S. is no longer the default destination for top tech minds. As the White House cuts federal science funding and discourages immigration, China is cranking out AI breakthroughs like DeepSeek, built by Chinese researchers. Europe and the Gulf States are doubling down on efforts to retain talent as they build their own infrastructures.

It looks like America’s AI edge isn’t just dulling, it’s being outpaced.

In this week’s edition, we’ve got Perplexity’s next gen features, AI in the classroom, language-learning with Google labs, and AI-powered garden makeovers. Let’s get started!

AI Productivity

Perplexity AI has made dramatic strides recently, transforming from a simple search alternative into a powerful productivity assistant. While ChatGPT and Google's Gemini grab headlines, Perplexity has quietly built impressive capabilities worth your attention.

Perplexity’s latest features blur the line between search engines and smart assistants. With a sleek iOS app and voice integration for iPhones, it’s positioning itself as a serious challenger—not just to AI rivals, but to Siri itself.

Just sign in with your email, Apple ID, or Google account. Then, try commands like:

• Ask "Play my workout playlist" and your favorite beats start pumping through Apple Music.

• Wonder "When's my next dentist appointment?" and it pulls up your calendar instantly.

• Say "Remind me to pick up milk when I leave work" and it sets a location-based reminder.

• Running late? Request "Get me to my meeting the fastest way possible" for real-time directions.

• Mumble "I need an Uber to the airport" and it launches the booking process.

There’s more under the hood: Perplexity now lets you upload images and a range of document formats, like PDFs, CSVs, and text files, for instant analysis. Snap a photo of a plant to identify it, drag in a contract for a quick summary, or upload a dataset to get immediate insights. It’s a multimodal experience that turns traditional search into something far more visual, dynamic, and interactive.

Perplexity’s context window is 8x larger than ChatGPT Plus, meaning it can digest entire books or research papers in a single go. And it’s still 100% free.

For professionals, students, or anyone juggling info overload, Perplexity just became a must-try AI assistant—quietly smart, surprisingly capable, and evolving fast.

AI & Education

The school year may be wrapping up, but plans for the fall are already taking shape and AI is at the center. Tools like ChatGPT are rapidly becoming go-to helpers for homework and school assignments. Now, the federal government wants to ensure the U.S. education system isn’t just reacting to AI, it’s proactively teaching it.

The White House recently issued an executive order titled Advancing Artificial Intelligence Education for American Youth, launching a broad federal push to bring AI literacy to K-12 schools through new task forces, grant programs, and public-private partnerships.

What’s happening:

• A new Artificial Intelligence Education Task Force will lead the charge, chaired by the White House’s Office of Science and Technology Policy.

• A 120-day deadline directs the Department of Education to prioritize teacher training in AI, including support for using AI to reduce paperwork, improve instruction, and offer professional development.

• AI courses and certifications will be encouraged in high schools via grants and partnerships with workforce development boards.

• Public-private partnerships will be announced on a rolling basis, with resources deployed to schools within 180 days of each agreement.

While the U.S. is ramping up AI education through federal initiatives, other countries are already deploying AI tools in classrooms. Israel is pioneering a nationwide rollout of AI-powered tutors, offering personalized, adaptive learning support to K–12 students. South Korea and China are embedding AI into core curricula, with China making AI education mandatory in Beijing schools.

In Europe, Italy is piloting AI-assisted teaching in select schools to boost digital skills, while the UK is investing heavily in edtech, including AI lesson-planning tools like Aila, now used by thousands of teachers.

The push to integrate AI in US classrooms could face headwinds from an earlier executive directive to dismantle the Department of Education. Transferring power to state and local agencies could complicate federal coordination. As the race to integrate AI into education gets underway, a mindful approach is no longer optional, it’s essential.

AI Language-Learning

We love exploring the latest experimental AI tools from Google Labs, where you can learn, create, and play with the future of AI. Google just rolled out three mini language-learning experiments powered by its Gemini model and designed to make learning faster, more practical, and more conversational.

The first is called “Tiny Lesson” and offers just-in-time language help. Describe a situation, like reporting a lost passport, and it generates tailored phrases, grammar notes, and suggested replies. The goal: teach you what to say right now, not just what’s in a language app.

The next one is “Slang Hang,” to help you sound less like a textbook and more like an everyday speaker. Slang Hang simulates casual conversations between native speakers, offering scene-based dialogues, such as street vendor exchanges or old friends catching up. Unsure about a word or phrase? Hover to see its meaning and how it’s used in context.

The third is one we found really useful. With “Word Cam,” you snap a photo and Gemini labels what it sees in the language you're learning. It's a simple way to expand vocabulary based on your surroundings, whether you’re identifying a “window” or learning that the “curtains” have a name, too.

The experiments support 15 languages including Spanish, French, Chinese, Arabic, and German. With all generative AI tools, however, Google cautions that accuracy may vary and recommends verifying content with trusted sources. Have fun learning!

AI Better Living

Spring is the perfect time to dust off your gardening tools and give your yard a fresh, new look. If you’re staring at a tired patch of grass or an overgrown corner, you’re not alone—landscaping ideas don’t always come easy.

Sure, you could hire a pro, but there's an easier way to kickstart your outdoor makeover. Neighborbrite is a free tool (no download required; you just need to sign up) that helps you reimagine your yard right from your browser.

How It Works:

• Upload: Start with a photo of your yard or garden.

• Highlight: Tap the areas you want to redesign; they'll light up in neon green.

• Choose: Select from styles like Desert, Modern, Coastal, Mediterranean, and Ranch, and watch your yard transform.

If you love the look, click “more like this” for similar designs. Not satisfied? Try a different style, redo another area, or upload a new image. If you upgrade to the Pro level, you can customize your garden design for full control of elements like plant types, placements and other features.

Team member Lori tested the “Cottage” style to emphasize a mix of flowers, grasses, and shrubs for her backyard. The result? A lush garden with a charming stone path.

Neighborbrite also offers ‘live’ consultations with its expert design team. They can develop detailed, shovel-ready plans, plant and material lists, and provide two free design revisions. So dig in -- and watch your yard bloom without getting dirty!

AI in the News (in case you missed it)

•  OpenAI says nonprofit will retain control of company, bowing to outside pressure. Read here.

• Inside the first major U.S. bill tackling AI harms—and deepfake abuse. Read here.

• Yelp will use AI to help restaurants answer calls and make phone reservations. Read here.

• AI detects an unusual detail hidden in a famous Raphael masterpiece. Read here.

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Here.Now.AI Editorial team: Lori and Justin