Playing Catch-Up Isn't Enough

28 July 2024 | Issue #58

In this issue:

You can't play catch-up with AI, you have to look ahead
A rant about people who write about design
SearchGPT is announced to take on Google
Photoshop and Illustrator get new AI capabilities
Design quote of the week

**Prompt**: a sleepy turtle. Illustrated in an art deco style. Use #16203e for the shadows. Use bright colors like Yellow: #fdfcc8, pink: #f86786, and blue: #7ee1ec for the rest.. --ar 16:9

Ethan Mollick, who has a must-read newsletter, recently dug into an alarming issue he sees across many industries: companies are slowly adapting to today's AI ... yet ignoring what AI will be tomorrow.

Scenario planning is necessary for organizations to manage the uncertainties of AI advancements. He emphasizes that while the path to Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) is unpredictable, the current state of AI already necessitates strategic foresight.

"You don’t need to know what happens next to realize that you should be planning for multiple contingencies."

- Ethan Mollick

He writes about how evolution has been jagged. Technology could not do things ... until it could. Many of today's AI shortcomings will be solved in future releases.

Mollick provides practical examples of being proactive, such as investing in AI education and training for employees, experimenting with AI tools to improve efficiency, and staying informed about AI developments to anticipate industry shifts (like reading this very newsletter). These steps can help businesses and professionals adapt to the rapid changes AI brings.

If you haven't realized it yet, this article should be a wake-up call for anyone dragging their feet on AI.

NEWS AT THE INTERSECTION OF AI AND DESIGN

🤬 Dear New Designers, It’s Not You, It’s the Industry

Lisa Angela has a rant about people who write about the design industry on social media. Her message to new designers is to ignore the noise and focus on the work.

Yes, but ...

I think it's possible to focus on the work and still work to elevate the design field. But your mileage may vary.

Keep reading

🔍 OpenAI Unveils SearchGPT, a New AI Search Engine

The Verge reports on OpenAI’s introduction of SearchGPT, a new AI-driven search engine poised to rival Google and Perplexity, promising significant advancements in how users interact with search technology.

• Enhanced Search Capabilities: SearchGPT leverages advanced AI to provide more accurate and context-aware search results, aiming to improve the overall user experience by understanding queries more deeply than traditional search engines.

• AI-Driven Innovation: By integrating OpenAI’s cutting-edge models, SearchGPT offers innovative features such as natural language processing and real-time data analysis, setting a new standard for AI-driven search technology.

Keep reading

NEW RESOURCES FOR YOU

Adobe Introduces New AI Functionality

Adobe recently rolled out the latest updates to the generative AI functionality within a couple of its flagship creative applications.

Photoshop

1. Contextual Task Bar: A new on-screen menu that recommends the most relevant next steps based on the current task, reducing the number of clicks required to complete projects.

2. Generative Fill: While not entirely new, this feature has been significantly enhanced. It now integrates more deeply into Photoshop’s selection tools and supports non-destructive editing with a new generative layer type. It allows users to create, remove, or replace parts of an image using natural language prompts.

3. Adjustment Presets: An upgraded set of 32 new presets that enable quick application and preview of different looks for images. Users can refine these presets through adjustment layers.

4. Remove Tool: An improved AI-powered tool that seamlessly removes unwanted objects from images, maintaining the integrity of the surrounding areas. It is particularly useful for complex backgrounds and larger objects .

5. Improved Gradients: Enhancements include new on-canvas controls and non-destructive editing capabilities, allowing real-time adjustments without permanently altering the original image.

Illustrator

1. Generative Recolor: Leveraging AI to quickly apply new colors to designs, ensuring that the style and theme match the artwork.

2. Text to Pattern: Enhanced capabilities for generating patterns from text inputs, allowing for more creative and varied design possibilities.

3. Mockup Tool: A new tool that enables designers to visualize their designs on real-world products, providing a practical way to see how designs will appear in different contexts.

These features and upgrades streamline workflows, enhance productivity, and provide more creative control for designers and marketers. Adobe’s integration of generative AI through Firefly into its tools reflects its commitment to empowering users with advanced, intuitive capabilities.

For more detailed information, you can read the full articles on MacRumors and The Verge.