AI Update: ChatGPT Downtime, Figma's New AI Features & More

Waking up to OpenAI downtime was not fun, but found some great examples of people applying some of the latest tech released this week.

BREAKING NEWS

OpenAI's ChatGPT Stumbles, But Not For Long

In a world where uptime is often synonymous with success, OpenAI's ChatGPT found itself momentarily humbled. Before the clock struck nine in the morning Eastern Time, the service that boasts a staggering 100 million weekly active users hit a snag.

For over 90 minutes, those millions were met not with the usual witty repartee of their AI companion, but a stark message: "at capacity right now."

OpenAI's transparency was immediate; they acknowledged the hiccup, noting that their API services were also caught in the crossfire. This wasn't a mere blip on the radar. The night prior, a partial outage had already given a prelude to the morning's events.

OpenAI's steady growth, marked by a significant developer community of over two million, had been seemingly unstoppable.

OpenAI hasn't taken its foot off the accelerator. They've been busy teasing the tech world with announcements of customizable AI bots and even the prospect of self-made chips to bolster their services. This outage, however, serves as a reminder that even the most robust systems have their limits.

By mid-morning, the issue was resolved, and ChatGPT returned to its operational state. The swift recovery is a testament to OpenAI's preparedness and ability to respond to unforeseen challenges.

Yet, it also poses questions about scalability and infrastructure, especially as AI services continue to weave themselves into the fabric of our digital lives.

This incident may be a mere footnote in the grand narrative of AI's ascent, but it underscores a critical point: as we lean more on artificial intelligence, the tolerance for downtime diminishes.

OpenAI's quick bounce-back is commendable, but the event is a reminder that in the age of AI, reliability is as valuable as the technology itself.

OTHER NEWS

Figma's AI Leap: More Than Just Lipstick on a Pig

In the tech world, the term "innovation" is bandied about with such frequency that it risks becoming a cliché. But when a company like Figma, a design firm at the forefront of collaborative tools, announces new AI capabilities amidst a high-stakes acquisition by Adobe, it's worth sitting up and taking note.

Figma's recent reveal of generative AI enhancements to FigJam—its platform for brainstorming and ideation—signals a significant shift in the software landscape.

As the industry scrambles to integrate AI into their offerings, Figma stands out, not merely for its technological advancements but for its strategic positioning during a period of uncertainty.

Why does this matter? It's simple.

As Figma awaits a $20 billion acquisition approval, it isn't idling. CEO Dylan Field's statement to Axios encapsulates their ethos: "We're not standing still." The company is sprinting, evolving, and refusing to let regulatory limbo dictate its pace of innovation.

Figma's adoption of AI isn't just a shiny add-on. It's a thoughtful enhancement aimed at refining and elevating the creative process. With new features in beta—currently free of charge—Figma is using OpenAI's GPT-4 to assist users in generating and organizing ideas within FigJam.

However, Field's pragmatism shines through as he acknowledges the potential need to reassess this model if usage skyrockets—a "great problem to have," in his words.

The discussion around AI in tech often feels like a veneer—companies hastily grafting AI onto existing products to stay relevant. Figma, however, is different. Field criticizes the superficial application of AI, likening it to putting "lipstick on a pig."

Instead, Figma is taking a "holistic view," integrating AI in ways that genuinely support and enhance how people use their tools.

This isn't about slapping on an AI label for clout. Figma's AI features are born from internal work, hackathons, and a deep understanding of their user base. It's a prime example of how AI should be utilized: not as a buzzword to flaunt but as a means to augment human creativity and efficiency.

As the tech industry watches Figma's next moves, the lesson is clear: true innovation isn't just about the technology itself, but the intent and thoughtfulness behind its application. Figma, even in the shadow of a monumental Adobe deal, is charting a course that others would do well to follow.

It's a reminder that in the race to AI, the winners will be those who enhance the human experience, not those who simply automate it.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Example of Video Dubbing and Lipsyncing with HeyGen. HeyGen partnered with Eleven Labs for the dubbing. HeyGen costs are higher than most because they have created some of the best avatar solutions out there.

I see many other options coming out in the future.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Example use-case of GPT-4 Vision to analyze an image and in this case generate captions based on social platform.

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