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AI is an Amalgamation

AI is an Amalgamation

And that's a beautiful thing. Chatbots gather data from multiple sources in near real time, which translates to constant change and evolution.

Connie Connors
August 24, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes

Patience: for Evolving Technology

Most of us resist and even loathe change. (Example: Cracker Barrel’s logo redesign was met with outright rage.) Last week, OpenAI introduced a new version of ChatGPT (5). If you use the free version of ChatGPT, you most likely didn’t notice, and there is no reason for you to care.

Email I received 8-22-25.

But technologists freaked over the “sudden, without warning” change. Initial reviews were mixed and emotionally fueled. “It is cold.” “Not as effusive!” The common denominator: expectations. As a marketer, this smacks of “I could have told you,” but I know that the technologists said, “Let’s just give it a new number — like 5 — to tell them it’s a big deal. Everyone will understand.” Personally, I don’t feel any change — “she” is still trying to upsell me with every request. If anything, she’s snarkier.

Faith: The Sky isn’t Falling

I don’t know if this had anything to do with the fact that Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, decided to issue the statement, “Investors are overexcited about AI.” Sometimes CEOs have this predictable behavior that if the market doesn’t like their latest product, they blame it on the whole industry. To be fair, a significant amount of money is being invested in AI. On one hand, a $100 million raise this week for an AI-powered sleep solution makes one wonder. But if one out of 10, or even one out of 100 companies, makes a life-changing or life-saving discovery, it’s worth the investment. Lose some but win some. Let hype be hype.

September 1990

January 1997

August 2025

Good News for Kids

From the PR playbook for technology startup companies, make sure to balance the hype and rapid change with good-for-you announcements. OpenAI is partnering with Mattel to create AI toys to improve skillsets (STEM) in children, aimed initially for ages 13 and above (to avoid regulatory issues). OpenAI is also making strides in higher education with ed-specific versions of ChatGPT, but as a professor, I can say that most administrators and professors aren’t ready for much of anything that proclaims to be AI.

GOOGLE FLIGHT DEALS

When this was announced last week, I searched “Google Flight Deals” (see below). I was able to find it (see below), but it turns out to be a glorified version of Google Flights. Like all good technology and AI, it will be seamlessly incorporated into the existing product and not a dramatic 5.0 change, and you won’t even notice. I did test it with “I’d like to walk the Camino de Santiago,” and it responded that it couldn’t find any results. Which is good because, be forewarned, AI can get things wrong, like connection times for flights and trains. It’s important to double-check.

This screen came up when I searched for Flight Deals

When I used the pull-down menu, I found Flight Deals

Not so different from Google Flights, just a little better

There is at least one class action lawsuit against Otter.AI for recording without consent. As I mentioned in the newsletter, 39 states allow for some level of recording without consent. If you’re planning to use Otter as a note-taker, either for an in-person meeting or a video call like Zoom or Google Meet, start the meeting with, “Do you mind if I record?” On video calls, Otter will appear on your screen as “<Your Name’s> Notetaker”, which serves as a good reminder for you to ask. Regardless, I think it is a fabulous tool and use it almost daily.

Until Next Time

Stay curious, keep the faith in the power of technology to advance the greater good for all of mankind. Exponentially, sometimes almost is enough.

Connie

UP NEXT: Good, old technology: If you haven’t used Google Lens yet, let me show you the many ways! Also, I’m looking into AI tools to consolidate your medical records (addressing privacy concerns always).