The Daily AI Show Newsletter Issue #14

If this was a drinking game for overused AI terms, we would be toast by the end of this newsletter. Proceed with caution!

In this issue, we get into:

• The top 50 web AI Apps

• The top 50 mobile AI apps

• Why everyone is excited about Cursor and Replit Agent

Plus, we poke some fun at “Agent”, discuss a Custom GPTs real advantage over APIs, the future of AI programs according to Google, India’s Generation AI, and a lot more.

It’s Sunday morning. Ready to pretend like we all fully understand neural networks?

OK then, let’s go!

Your DAS Crew
-Andy, Beth, Brian, Eran, Jyunmi, Karl & Robert

The Top 50 AI Web Products: Are You In the Loop?

Andreessen Horowitz recently released their report on the top 100 Gen AI consumer apps, and we started off the week with a focus on the top 50 web-based applications. These apps, ranked by unique monthly visits, revealed some surprising newcomers and highlighted the growing diversity in AI-powered web tools. From familiar names like ChatGPT and Character AI to lesser-known platforms like Janitor AI and Vigil, the list reflects the rapid adoption and innovation in the AI space.

Andy noted, “It’s interesting to see tools like Chatbot App and Poe gaining ground with their aggregation of multiple models in one interface,” highlighting the increasing demand for apps that simplify access to various AI tools.

Jyunmi found it fascinating that interpersonal chatbot apps dominated the list: “It’s clear there’s a demand for personalized interactions, especially among younger users, with platforms like Character AI and Janitor AI standing out.”

Beth pointed out a different trend, observing that platforms aimed at academic research, such as Liner and Golf, were also featured in the top 50: “These apps are being heavily used by students, which speaks to the educational potential of AI.” The discussion also touched on creative tools like Vigil and Luma, which are transforming video and image generation.

#WHY IT MATTERS

• Increased Accessibility: Apps like Chatbot App and Poe make it easier for users to access multiple AI models from a single platform, streamlining the experience.

• Personalized AI Interactions: The popularity of character-based AI chatbots shows a growing trend toward AI-driven personalized experiences, particularly among younger demographics.

• AI for Education: The rise of research and homework-focused AI tools like Liner and Golf underscores the role of AI in supporting academic work, making knowledge and research more accessible.

• Creative Empowerment: Tools like Vigil and Luma are making AI-driven video and image generation more accessible, fueling creativity across social media platforms.

• Diversifying Use Cases: The broad range of apps featured in the top 50 highlights the expanding capabilities of AI across sectors, from personal interaction to education and creativity.

The Top 50 Mobile AI Apps

The team continued the discussion about Andreessen Horowitz's report on the top 50 mobile AI apps that are currently shaping how users interact with technology. These apps cover a broad spectrum, from chatbots to photo editing and even dating support systems like Riz. As Jyunmi pointed out, "One of the largest buckets of apps here is dedicated to chatbots—tons of variations of chat interfaces." ChatGPT was unsurprisingly the number one app on the list, but Jyunmi highlighted that many other apps cater to more niche needs like image manipulation or homework assistance.

Andy remarked on the dominance of educational tools in the top 10, especially apps like Photomath and Brainly, which provide AI-driven homework assistance: "These apps are designed to make math and other subjects more approachable for students by breaking down problems step-by-step."

Beth found the intersection of AI and personal life interesting, especially apps like UMAX and Riz: “Your wingman AI is trying to help you be more charismatic in dating interactions—it's a new frontier of AI use."

#WHY IT MATTERS

• Education and Accessibility: The strong presence of homework helper apps like Photomath suggests AI’s potential to democratize learning and make complex subjects more accessible to students.

• Personal AI Assistants: Apps like Riz represent a shift towards personalized AI assistants that aid in social interactions, particularly for younger generations.

• AI in Creative Fields: The rise of image-editing apps like PhotoRoom showcases how AI is being integrated into creative industries, streamlining workflows and making sophisticated tools more accessible to everyday users.

Why Is Everyone Talking About Cursor?

Cursor has gained widespread attention as a coding assistant that’s redefining how developers approach software development. Built on top of Visual Studio Code, Cursor adds a large language model (LLM) layer, allowing users to code in natural language, enhancing productivity for both seasoned coders and beginners alike. As Beth explained, "Cursor lets you code in natural conversation," allowing developers to input commands like natural language, and Cursor generates the appropriate code.

The hype around Cursor really picked up when AI expert Andrej Karpathy publicly praised it, stating it was changing how he approaches coding. Andy pointed out, “Cursor represents a progression toward AI-driven coding, where eventually, we may eliminate manual coding entirely.” The tool’s ability to automate repetitive coding tasks, anticipate user needs, and identify coding errors has revolutionized workflows, making it a must-have for developers.

Jyunmi shared his own experience with Cursor, saying, “It’s a tool that even a beginner can use to streamline backend processes, and it allows non-coders to engage in complex tasks with AI guidance.” The excitement comes not only from its efficiency but from its potential to democratize coding by making it accessible to non-experts.

#WHY IT MATTERS

• Streamlined Coding: Cursor speeds up the development process by anticipating code needs and generating entire code blocks, reducing manual input for developers.

• Accessibility for Beginners: The tool’s natural language interface lowers the entry barrier, allowing even non-experts to participate in coding projects.

• Error Detection: With its built-in troubleshooting, Cursor allows users to quickly identify and fix code errors, enhancing productivity.

• AI-Driven Future: Cursor is part of a larger movement toward AI-driven software development, which could eventually eliminate the need for traditional coding.

• Widespread Adoption: Cursor's growing user base, from coding beginners to seasoned experts, demonstrates its ability to improve workflows and make complex projects more manageable.

JUST JOKES

DID YOU KNOW?

India has an exceptional response to Generative AI.

93% of students and 83% of employees are actively engaging with GenAI technology.

That’s the results from nearly 12k people surveyed in Asia Pacific.
According to Deloitte

This Week’s Conundrum
A difficult problem or question that doesn't have a clear or easy solution.

The AI Decision-Making Dilemma:

AI systems are increasingly being used to make decisions in critical areas such as hiring, law enforcement, and loan approvals. These systems can process large amounts of data and make decisions faster than humans, but they lack the ability to fully understand context, human emotions, or moral nuances. Additionally, there are concerns about the transparency of AI decisions, as many algorithms operate like a "black box," making it difficult to understand how they reach their conclusions.

The conundrum:
Should we trust AI to make important decisions in areas that deeply affect people's lives, relying on their efficiency and consistency? Or should we limit AI's role in decision-making, keeping humans in the loop to ensure empathy, context, and accountability, even if it leads to slower or less consistent outcomes?

OpenAI's ChatGPT User Explosion

OpenAI reported a staggering 200 million weekly ChatGPT users, with API usage doubling since the launch of GPT-4.0 Mini. Andy noted, "These numbers highlight the immense demand for generative AI, showing OpenAI's dominance in the field" .

Meta's LLaMA Models Break 350 Million Downloads

Meta's LLaMA models have been downloaded over 350 million times, with 20 million downloads in August alone. Jyunmi highlighted, "LLaMA’s open-source flexibility has made it a go-to choice for developers" .

NVIDIA's Q2 Results: A Mixed Reaction

NVIDIA posted a 154% increase in year-over-year revenue for Q2 2024, generating $26 billion in sales. Despite this, the stock fell due to high expectations. Andy commented, "While impressive, the stock market expected even bigger numbers from NVIDIA" .

Anthropic’s Claude to Power Amazon’s Alexa?

Reports suggest Amazon might turn to Anthropic's Claude AI to enhance Alexa’s performance. Brian said, "This move could significantly improve Alexa’s conversational abilities, although Claude’s lack of internet search functionality raises some questions" .

Elon Musk’s Colossus: The Largest AI Compute Platform

Elon Musk introduced Colossus, the largest AI compute platform with 100,000 NVIDIA H100 GPUs, aimed at advancing AI frontier models. "The leap from Grok 1 to Grok 2 was huge, and now with Colossus, Grok 3 is expected by year-end," Beth noted .

Spotter’s AI Tools for Content Creators

Spotter has introduced a suite of AI tools designed to boost content creation, claiming a 49% increase in video views within the first week for beta testers. Jyunmi said, "Spotter’s data-driven insights are poised to help individual creators improve their content significantly" .

Apple's "Glow Time" Event Set for September

Apple will hold its "Glow Time" event on September 9, where it’s expected to reveal updates on AI and new hardware. Brian pointed out that, "With the launch of Apple Intelligence AI, this could signal a shift in how the average person starts to use AI in their day to day lives.”

Google’s Medical AI for Cough and Sneezes

Google’s partnership with Celsit introduces AI tools capable of analyzing coughs and sneezes to diagnose illnesses like strep throat. Jyunmi added, "Google continues to push into healthcare, with its AI expanding into more sensory diagnostics" .

AI Agents Simulate Virtual Societies

Project SID has introduced simulations of over 1,000 autonomous agents creating virtual societies in Minecraft, including emergent economies, cultures, and governments. Robert Yang from X asked, "Can AI cooperate at the scale humans do to land on the moon?" The project garnered a lot of attention for its potential .

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