Apple's Google competitor

Welcome back to The Daily Update — Here’s what’s kicking off another week in AI:

🗞️ The Latest: Tom Hanks warns fans of AI ad using his likeness

🤖 AI Tool of the Day: Generate engaging content with LogicBalls

📸 Business Spotlight: Apple is using AI to create a potential Google competitor

🚨 AI Roundup: Four quick hits

Read time: 2 minutes

🗞️ The Latest: Tom Hanks warns fans of AI ad using his likeness

Tom Hanks is warning his fans about a video ad that uses an AI version of him to sell a dental plan.

Key points:

• Hanks posted a screenshot from the video on Instagram Sept. 30.

• It’s unclear where the video originated and what dental plan it was promoting.

• The Oscar-winner has previously called attention to the dangerous potential of AI and deepfakes.

• Hanks believes that AI versions of actors will eventually star in films. He says that the technology allows actors to “recreate themselves at any age.”

Why it matters: Improved deepfakes were a predictable byproduct of rapid advances in AI technology. Unsanctioned ads will only become more common as the technology continues to improve. We’re just beginning to see how synthetic media will affect social media platforms and entertainment.

🤖 AI Tool of the Day: Generate engaging content with LogicBalls

LogicBalls is a versatile platform that offers a plethora of AI copywriting apps. You can use it to write sales content, social media ads, SEO content and more. Here’s how I used LogicBalls to create an “About Us” statement for this newsletter:

Click here to try LogicBalls. Free plans offer over 50 free AI apps. Paid plans start at $19.99 a month and offer over 120 apps.

📸 Business Spotlight: Apple is using AI to create a potential Google competitor

Apple plans to bring its powerful internal search engine to the App Store and other apps.

What you need to know:

• A search team led by former Google executive John Giannandrea is working to build “Pegasus” into iOS and macOS. The team could leverage generative AI to further enhance it.

• Apple previously upgraded its Spotlight search feature, letting users find information across their devices.

• Bloomberg reports that Apple has everything it needs to launch a Google replacement.

• Apple’s current agreement with Google brings in $8 billion annually in search ad revenue. Bloomberg says the company could generate more revenue by bringing search in-house.

• Last week Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of services, said that the company does not plan to launch an Apple Search model.

Why it matters: Google’s ongoing antitrust trial could jeopardize its deal with Apple if the U.S. determines that the company violated antitrust law. The DOJ’s lawsuit and AI present an opportunity for Apple to launch a legitimate Google competitor.

🚨 AI Roundup: Four quick hits

• Wearable AI: Humane debuts ‘AI Pin’ on the Paris runway.

• Access Denied: Website owners can now opt out of training Google’s Bard chatbot and future AI models.

• Hype Train: A new leaked Google ad highlights Pixel 8 AI features.

• Platformer: The synthetic social network is coming (this newsletter by Casey Newton breaks down the implications of last week’s announcements from OpenAI and Meta).

How was today’s newsletter? Your feedback helps me create better emails for you. Thanks for reading The Daily Update!

Jack

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