Dearest Reader,
A personal note from me this week.
As we look ahead to the festive season, and reflect on all that occurred in 2024, I want to take a moment to thank you for being on this journey with me.
Every single comment, like and reshare has supported my work immensely, and motivates me to continue providing value to all of you.
What started as a simple AI newsletter in August has grown into 18 editions of breakthrough discoveries, emerging tools, and shared learning. Together, we've witnessed an incredible year in AI.
This will be the final edition for 2024, but we'll be back in January with fresh insights and even more AI developments to explore - cannot wait to share what’s in store for 2025.
Wishing you a wonderful holiday season!
Ideja x
TLDR for this week:
(Remember to click the underlined, bold sections of the rest of the newsletter to get the sources & all the links you require – happy reading!)
✅ Salesforce debuts AI Agentforce 2.0 and hires 2,000 staff.
✅ OpenAI launches 1-800-CHATGPT for voice/WhatsApp.
✅ ChatGPT search now free with voice and mobile updates.
✅ Perplexity AI raises $500M, valued at $9B.
✅ NVIDIA unveils $249 Jetson Orin Nano.
✅ MidJourney 6.1 adds mood boards and profiles.
🚨 The top AI news for you this week…
Salesforce finally enters the AI space
Salesforce has released Agentforce 2.0, an enhanced version of its enterprise AI platform, featuring expanded Slack integration, improved CRM capabilities, and enhanced accuracy. The company is significantly scaling up its sales force, with CEO Marc Benioff announcing plans to hire 2,000 new salespeople to support the platform's rollout - double the number previously indicated.
OpenAI launches 1-800-CHATGPT for voice access
OpenAI has introduced a new phone service that allows users to interact with ChatGPT through voice calls and WhatsApp messages using 1-800-CHATGPT (1-800-242-8478). The service offers 15 minutes of free usage per month, providing an accessible way for users to experience the AI chatbot without needing an account. The company is also working on integrating WhatsApp messages with existing ChatGPT credentials.
Perplexity AI raises $500M, triples valuation to $9B
Perplexity AI, the alternative to Google Search, has secured a $500 million funding round, driving its valuation to $9 billion. The platform, which boasts over 15 million active users, differentiates itself by providing real-time information and has recently expanded its offerings to include internal file search capabilities and financial data features. Such valuations in the AI space personally make me wonder what’s in store for 2025…
Innovations to 👀 out for…
NVIDIA has launched the Jetson Orin Nano Super Developer Kit, a palm-sized AI supercomputer now available at $249. The new device offers 1.7x better generative AI performance, and comes equipped with NVIDIA's comprehensive AI software suite and supports multiple cameras, making it an accessible platform for developers, students, and hobbyists exploring AI development.
MidJourney has introduced new personalisation features for its AI image generator, including Pinterest-style mood boards and multiple customisation profiles in version 6.1. Users can now create custom versions of the model by uploading collections of inspiration images and using a simplified ranking system that requires only 40 image ratings to start.
OpenAI is expanding ChatGPT's search capabilities to all free users, making the feature available across all platforms to logged-in accounts. Previously exclusive to paying subscribers, the tool offers a conversational approach to web searching and now includes enhanced mobile performance and voice search integration through Advanced Voice. (Move over Google Search…)
📚 AI terminology of the week
For this week, a word I heard in the early stages of my AI upskilling journey that should definitely be understood by everyone…
Diffusion = The process AI image generators use to create images by gradually removing noise (random pixels) until a clear picture emerges.
Think of it like:
Starting with TV static and slowly revealing a picture
A sculptor starting with a rough block and gradually refining details
A photo developing in a darkroom, becoming clearer over time
Real World Examples:
Midjourney creating art from text descriptions
DALL-E generating images step by step
Stable Diffusion turning your prompts into pictures
Extra Context: Diffusion models work backwards - they first learn how to turn images into noise, then reverse that process to create new images. This reverse process is why they're called "diffusion" models, similar to how particles spread out (diffuse) in nature.
🧠 AI Action Corner
This Week's Focus: Optimising your AI Workspace Setup
It can be overwhelming to be using so many AI tools at once, whilst being simultaneously bombarded with new ones every day.
These are my personal tips for you to get yourself organised, ahead of 2025!
Essential Elements:
Organise Your Workspace
Create browser folders for each AI tool you use daily
Set up custom shortcuts for your most-used prompts
Pin essential AI tools to your bookmark bar
Build Your Prompt Arsenal
Start a simple note file for successful prompts (more tips on best prompts to come in 2025!)
Label prompts by task (writing, coding, image)
Include examples of your best results
Smart Tool Management
Keep track of free vs. paid credits
Set calendar reminders for renewals
Have free alternatives ready as backup
(Pro tip: Create a simple system for tracking which AI tools work best for specific tasks. For example: "Use ChatGPT for writing, Claude for analysis, and Midjourney for visuals." This prevents tool-switching fatigue and optimises your workflow.)
P.S. Reading about AI is one thing, but taking that first step? That's where most people get stuck. If you're nodding along to these newsletters but need more hands-on support, let's chat!
At Edvance AI, we're a Gen-Z led team passionate about making AI accessible to everyone through workshops and consulting. Simply reply to this email if you want to work together.