The Week in Generative AI: July 26, 2024 edition

Welcome to The Week in Generative AI, a weekly roundup for marketers from Quad Insights that sums up the latest news surrounding this rapidly evolving technology.

On Thursday, ChatGPT parent OpenAI launched SearchGPT, which it describes as “a prototype of new search features, using the strength of our AI models to give you fast answers with clear and relevant sources.” As The Verge’s Kylie Robison explains it, SearchGPT is designed to deliver more than “just a plain list of links” — instead, it “tries to organize and make sense of them. In one example from OpenAI, the search engine summarizes its findings on music festivals and then presents short descriptions of the events followed by an attribution link.” So far, the media consensus is that Google should be worried. Wired, for instance, puts the competitive threat in stark terms in a post titled “SearchGPT Is OpenAI’s Direct Assault on Google.”

See also: “Google makes its Gemini chatbot faster and more widely available” (TechCrunch)

Previously: “Google search’s new AI Overviews offers hilariously bad advice,” as we noted in the May 31 edition of this column.

Adobe just released new Firefly AI tools for Illustrator and Photoshop that “let creative workers describe what they want with brief prompts and receive AI-generated textures or images,” TechCrunch’s Maxwell Zeff reports. The Generative Shape Fill tool has launched in beta for Illustrator, allowing users to generate AI-powered textures and more, while Firefly’s text-to-image generator will become broadly available in Photoshop, Zeff notes.

Previously: “Adobe adds Firefly gen AI features to new Express mobile app,” as we noted in the March 8 edition of this column.

Diageo-owned Scotch whisky brand Johnnie Walker is experimenting with AI-powered packaging personalization, Consumer Goods Technology’s Liz Dominguez reports. Supported by Amazon’s Bedrock AI tools, the initiative is a part of Diageo’s Project Halo, which “allows its brands to co-create label designs with consumers,” Dominguez explains, adding that the tool will be featured as part of the Johnnie Walker Princes Street tour experience in Edinburgh from Aug. 1-31.

See also: “Snoop Dogg and Hempacco leverage AI to generate new Delta-9 gummy packaging,” as we noted in the March 15 edition of this column.

Meta just announced Llama 3.1, the newest iteration of its AI model, CNBC’s Kif Leswing and Jonathan Vanian report. This update comes in three versions, with the largest variant billed as Meta’s “most capable” AI model to date, Leswing and Vanian note, adding that the announcement also highlights Meta’s growing partnership with Nvidia — the computer chip partner for the training of Llama models.

See also: “Meta expands AI chatbot to more regions, adds new functionality” (Social Media Today)

Previously: “Marketing Dive explores how Meta’s AI tools are paying off for advertisers,” as we noted in the Feb 16 edition of this column.

AI tools and advancements:

• “Google’s DeepMind Says Its AI Can Tackle Math Olympiad Problems” (Bloomberg)

AI partnerships:

• “Google links with NBCU, becomes Official Search AI Partner of Team USA” (Marketing Dive)

AI controversy:

• “AI Is Already Taking Jobs in the Video Game Industry” (Wired)
• “Anthropic’s crawler is ignoring websites’ anti-AI scraping policies” (The Verge)
• “Big Tech says AI is booming. Wall Street is starting to see a bubble” (The Washington Post)

AI strategy:

• “Amazon racing to develop AI chips cheaper, faster than Nvidia’s, executives say” (Reuters)
• “Best Buy’s new strategy includes AI, holograms, reimagined stores and more” (Chain Store Age)