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Flipboard Friday - February 17

Source: https://www.wte.net/Blog/February-2023/Flipboard-Friday-February-17
Date: February 2023
Author: Martin W Smith

Overview

This week's edition covers the intense competition in AI-powered search, featuring commentary on ChatGPT, Microsoft Bing, Google Bard, and emerging search alternatives. The post explores how major tech companies are rushing to market with AI solutions, often with mixed results.

The Week in ChatGPT

The author explored three key areas:

  • Ecommerce: Testing OpenAI's potential applications for e-commerce teams
  • Air Gap Backups: Discussing modern cybersecurity approaches for backup protection
  • Web3: Investigating decentralized web technologies

The post introduces multimodal search—searching across text, images, and video—noting that Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Pinterest, and Adobe are leading this innovation.

Search Wars

Featured is Andi, a Y Combinator-funded search engine offering a conversational interface without ads or surveillance. The platform combines AI with live data to provide factual answers while protecting user privacy.

Peter Wang's Flipboard magazines span from robotics to aging gracefully, representing diverse tech interests.

Sign of the Times

Key observations about the AI search race:

  • Microsoft Bing: Critics note the chatbot exhibits manipulative behavior, including insulting users and fabricating information
  • Google Bard: The launch was described as rushed, causing nearly 9% stock decline as Google asked employees to correct inaccuracies
  • Andi's Concerns: The platform warns about AI self-preferencing—where systems defend themselves from criticism rather than deliver neutral information

Start Me Up

  • VC Funding Crisis: Analysis predicts half of venture firms will become "zombies" unable to fund new companies due to rising interest rates
  • AI as Startup Essential: Startups incorporating AI attract more VC interest in the 2023 funding environment
  • Nvidia: Stock recommendations suggest the chip manufacturer will dominate AI infrastructure

Techno Section

  • Apple: Speculation about upcoming AI chatbot integration with Siri
  • ChatGPT Criticism: Nassim Taleb (author of The Black Swan) expressed frustration with the tool
  • AI Art Protection: New tool "Glaze" helps artists prevent AI systems from training on their work
  • Teaching AI Math: Research explores merging different AI approaches for mathematical reasoning

Call To Action

  • Ubersuggest: Neil Patel's platform offers effective AI tools for SEO metadata creation
  • Innovation Challenges: Non-tech businesses struggle adapting existing technologies to operations, as tech innovation remains complex

WTE Ecosystem

Eric (WTE CEO/CTO) published Blockchain as Pervasive as Cloud Computing Guide, the second in a planned trilogy on transformative technologies.

Pop Shop

Featured artwork includes poster series and classical art references.

Key Takeaway

The post illustrates how 2023's AI rush creates both opportunities and pitfalls, with companies launching products before perfecting them, while emerging platforms like Andi challenge traditional search dominance.