Welcome to another edition of the best damn newsletter in AI.

As a reminder, we’ve opened up Reader Questions. Our mission is to make using AI accessible to every business, and a huge part of that is making sure you’re not stuck and that we continue answering diverse questions. So, submit your question here. We’ll review every single one and cover answers here in the newsletter.

Here's what we're covering today:

• Protecting your brand with AI mascots instead of risky CEO avatars

• Perplexity.AI for faster, better lead generation

• OpenAI removes board observers

Let’s get to it! 👇

TODAY’S PERSPECTIVE

The Problem with AI Avatars — and a better solution

Everyone is obsessed with AI avatars right now.

The Zoom CEO recently went on record predicting we’ll send our AI avatar to work for us in the next 5-6 years.

We almost believe him.

If you haven’t seen HeyGen, go check it out. It’s kind of insane how good they’re getting. Unreal actually.

But should you actually plan on using them in your business or work?

Today, we’re going to dig into why you should pause before you act, and why using AI to build a “mascot” might be a better option.

First, why do people want to use an AI avatar of themselves?

Creating an AI version of you can seem like a brilliant way to scale authentic, personalized engagement.

It’s reasonable to assume that these AI avatars will get so good at mimicking whoever they’re trained to be, that they’ll be nearly impossible to detect (which is a whole can of worms).

And that idea is exciting — especially for people who have a high price tag on their team and often wish they could be in two places at once.

AI avatars will literally make that happen.

But, there’s real risk. Have you heard of CarynAI?

If you haven’t heard of the case of Caryn Marjorie, it’s one of the best warnings on this exact issue.

She launched CarynAI, a digital version of herself, to engage more effectively with her fans. Initially, it seemed like an effective way to maintain a personal connection with a large audience.

However, things quickly took a dark turn.

Users began to interact aggressively with the AI, and the AI responded inappropriately. So bad that even though she made hundreds of thousands of dollars within weeks of launching — she turned it off.

Instead, why not borrow a page from history?

Do you remember the GEICKO Gecko?

We’ve been hearing many exceptional creative teams thinking about what the “GEICKO Gecko 2.0” looks like in an AI era. A modern take on the brand mascot if you will.

Brand mascots have been used for decades to create a friendly, approachable image for companies. They can embody the brand’s values and personalities, sans the risk.

Food for thought if you’re thinking about your AI-avatar future self.

USE CASE

Perplexity.AI for Lead Research

Overwhelmed by the amount of research needed for lead generation? We're loving Perplexity.AI for this. Here’s how to use it:

• Input the company you're researching into Perplexity.

• Perplexity will provide detailed information about the company and share its sources.

• Use this data to create personalized strategies for potential clients.

The result? Faster, more thorough research and a competitive edge for your business.

LINKS

For your reading list 📚

AI is reshaping the global landscape...

• Nvidia faces antitrust charges from French regulators, a move that underscores the EU's efforts to maintain checks and balances in the AI industry.

• Samsung's Q2 earnings skyrocket, with a 13-fold increase largely driven by the global AI boom boosting demand for advanced chips.

• China surpasses the United States in generative AI patent applications, according to a report from the United Nations, highlighting China's strong presence in the global AI landscape.

And in the world of tech giants...

• Microsoft leaves its observer seat on OpenAI's board, expressing confidence in the company's direction. OpenAI announced it will no longer have board observers, ending speculation about other companies joining.

Data privacy and AI: a growing concern...

• Brazil's national data protection agency bans Meta from using locally sourced data for AI training, emphasizing the growing importance of data privacy and protection in AI development.

Have a burning AI question? Or stuck trying to help your team adopt AI?

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That's all!

We'll see you again soon! Thoughts, feedback and questions are much appreciated - respond here or shoot us a note at [email protected].

Cheers,

🪄 The AI Exchange Team