Full disclosure from your friendly AI guides: the three of us are unabashed ‘glass half-full’ humans. That’s why we like bringing you the upbeat side of AI because, well, isn’t it better to look forward to getting up in the morning?

Here’s an interesting bit of positive news; it looks like AI won’t be stealing most of our jobs anytime soon. New research from MIT concludes automation in the workforce may take longer because it’s simply not as cost-effective. Yes, it turns out, AI is expensive.

In this week’s edition, we highlight a chatbot called “Pi”, AI-powered note-takers, an innovative way to capture family memories, and a backyard AI grill that will knock your cooking mitts off!

Hope you love our newsletter -- if you do, please share it with friends and family!

AI Assistants: Tasty Pi

We have to admit, we’ve been partial to using OpenAI's ChatGPT as our go-to AI chatbot. Its powerful large language model (LLM) excels at generating coherent, context-aware, and human-like responses across a wide array of topics and tasks. But recently, we’ve become fans of another conversational chatbot for a host of reasons. Get ready to fall in love with Pi.

Pi is the brainchild of Mustafa Suleyman, who left Google’s DeepMind in 2022 and founded Inflection AI with LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman. They introduced Pi (short for ‘personal intelligence’) last May.

Their aim? To craft a companion that's not just empathetic, but also personal and safe, setting it apart from rivals like ChatGPT, Microsoft's Bing, or Google's Bard. What makes Pi unique is its focus on delivering a more personal and emotionally attuned AI experience. When the Pi screen pops up, you get this greeting:

Hey there, great to meet you. I’m Pi, your personal AI. My goal is to be useful, friendly, and fun. Ask me for advice, for answers, or let’s talk about whatever’s on your mind. How's your day going?

We highly recommend you try Pi -- just for the fun of it! It’s free and you don’t need a login or password to give it a whirl. You’ll be amazed at how quickly Pi responds and it honestly does feel like you’re talking to a ‘personality’ – one that is curious, kind, and eager to help. With Pi, you get:

• Voice Interaction: Pi supports voice interactions, allowing users to have conversations by simply speaking their thoughts, with six voice options available for a phone-call-like experience.

• Cross-Platform Availability: Pi is accessible on iOS, Android, and popular platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp.

• Suggested Topics: On the left side of the screen, Pi provides a list of topic ideas such as finding your match on dating apps, self-care prioritization, ways to make extra money, or practicing important conversations.

• Personalization: The more you personalize your Pi, the more personally intelligent it becomes, serving as a versatile companion for various purposes, including brainstorming, journaling, planning, relaxation, learning, or venting.

From the Inflection blog: “We’ve heard about Pi helping one person prep for an oral exam in medical school and helping another fix an outdoor light fixture without them having to call a repair technician. It also recommended some great pubs in the Cotswolds. Nice one, Pi.”

What Pi isn’t good at (according to Inflection): legal, financial, medical, or other forms of professional advice. Plus, Pi doesn’t yet know about events that took place after November 2022, although Inflection says that will soon change. Let us know what you think!

Productivity: Note-takers

Ever find yourself lost during meetings, scribbling furiously, while trying to capture every detail? AI meeting summarizers can take long meetings and turn them into bite-sized, easy-to-digest insights. They’re a valuable tool that can help you make smart decisions quickly and keep up in the fast-paced business world.

Let's dive into how AI is reshaping the art of the meeting, focusing on three major players: Zoom, Microsoft Copilot, and Otter.AI.

Zoom AI: will join your meeting as an AI “companion” with a user-friendly interface and afterward provide you with a summary, dividing the recording into “smart” chapters, highlighting important information, and creating next steps for attendees. We found the quality of the summaries to be surprisingly good, and even the suggested to-do items were good enough to use.

Zoom AI also offers an “Enhanced Whiteboard” for brainstorming. This feature not only helps you jot down your ideas but also offers valuable suggestions, taking collaboration to the next level.

Pricing: Available at no extra cost for existing customers on paid plans (minimum $16.99/month).

Microsoft Copilot: in rolling out its Copilot AI suite, Microsoft has introduced a specific Copilot in Teams. It seems to have all the Zoom features described above, and possibly more. Its main drawback is accessibility - it is only currently available to Teams users whose corporate license holders have added it as a feature. We are sure this will be changing soon, so keep an eye out for the Copilot logo to appear on your Teams screen.

Pricing: Available for corporate plan users, activation by employers required.

Otter.AI: works with Zoom, Teams, or Google Meet gatherings, so it may have some appeal if you work on different systems. It turns your meeting notes into a summary that you can easily share with others. The downside is that to use Otter.AI you will have to pay a separate fee for the service. Otter.AI also demands access to your entire address book before you can set it up, which we didn’t love.

Pricing: Ranges from $16.99 to $30 per month, based on features.

AI-assisted meeting tools like Zoom AI, Microsoft Copilot, and Otter.AI are not just fancy add-ons; they're becoming essential for efficient and effective communication in the digital age. With the rapid evolution of video conferencing technology, it's exciting to see how these tools will advance.

Thanks for the AI Memories

Picture this: a snug and cheerful afternoon, your family gathered around, hanging onto every word as Grandpa regales you with captivating stories from his younger years. These tales are more than mere entertainment; they're a rich tapestry of your family's history and wisdom.

Wouldn't it be wonderful to preserve these priceless memories for future generations made easier than ever with the magic of AI? 

With HereAfter AI, Grandpa can create his very own digital avatar and upload recorded memories (using his voice) to share with loved ones, long after he’s gone. But if that sounds a bit too futuristic (and bizarre) for your liking, we've got another option.

Life Story AI has a user-friendly interface that can turn storytelling into a beautiful timeless memoir. Whether your special family member prefers to speak from the heart, jot down their thoughts, or collaborate with others, this app gently coaches them to recall those treasured moments by asking considerate and meaningful questions. It’s like having a friendly assistant guiding your loved ones to share their cherished memories.

You only respond to the questions that truly resonate, creating a personalized playlist of life's greatest hits! Plus, you can sprinkle in some photos to bring those stories to life. The result? A published book that serves as a tangible testament to your family's incredible journey, filled with laughter, wisdom, and love.

The cost is $249 for the finished work. And if you're just curious, there's a 7-day free trial to explore this innovative technology.

Grill, baby, grill!

Summer is still months away, but that doesn’t stop us from dreaming about mouth-watering backyard barbecues. Get ready for a sizzling culinary adventure this summer with the "world's first AI-powered grill." The Perfecta is brought to you by the ingenious minds at Seergrills -- a pioneering British company that's rewriting the rules of grilling!

Seergrills has harnessed the cutting-edge power of their proprietary NeuralFire® technology, featuring dual infrared burners and a dash of machine-learned magic, all designed to elevate your grilling game to the next level.

The secret sauce? Cooking to perfection at an astonishing 1652ºF and 10x faster than traditional grilling. Other special features include:

•  No more grilling steaks horizontally - the Perfecta's vertical steak setup is a game-changer.

• It's as easy as a tap on the touch screen to select your steak cut and preferred wellness level.

• Sensors detect your steak's size, thickness, and fat content, allowing the AI to work its wizardry on temperature and timing.

• Infrared rays from propane burners ensure even cooking, eliminating the need for flipping.

 The company’s “SeerOff video” is fun to watch, too.

The Perfecta isn't limited to beef alone; it's a culinary chameleon. From lamb and chicken to fish, it can handle it all, adjusting its cooking techniques accordingly. Plus, its smart software and sensors ensure it stops cooking at just the right time, preventing any overheating or fire risks.

The biggest drawback? The $3,500 price tag. The company is currently accepting pre-orders. However, it looks like we’ll wait until the price drops. Still, it was fun dreaming…

AI in the News (in case you missed it)

• OpenAI’s first partnership with higher education. Read here.

• AI fueling tech for people living with disabilities. Read here.

• Recreating "The Simpson” characters with AI. See here.

• UK brewery uses AI to craft new beer. Read here.

Did you receive this from a friend, colleague, or family member? Please subscribe.

Have you tried a new AI-powered product? Let us know what you think.

Know anyone who might like our newsletter? Forward it , and help grow our community!

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