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800 Million Weekly Users?! ChatGPT Just Redefined “Explosive Growth”: Just a couple of months ago, I reported that ChatGPT had crossed 100 million new weekly users between December and February. That was already staggering — more than the entire population of the UK jumping online with AI in a matter of weeks. But while I was off-grid on a family adventure along the …

OpenAI x Shopify: The Rise of Agentic Commerce Inside ChatGPT: The ChatGPT + Shopify Link-Up: Why It Matters Let’s not underplay this. OpenAI integrating Shopify’s commerce engine directly into ChatGPT isn’t just a feature update, it’s another whole change to how we can use AI. Until now, AI assistants have largely sat in the “recommendation” layer …

Stop Hunting Unicorns! Time To Train Your Own AI Champions: Hiring a headline‑grabbing “AI rock‑star” sounds thrilling, though unless you can stomach a Silicon‑Valley salary and know precisely what you need, it usually ends in an empty swivel‑chair and a blown budget. A smarter play? Build an internal AI‑apprenticeship pipeline that turns your …

My Early Adventures with Manus AI: Powerful, Promising, and Occasionally Painful - Paid for Tiers Now Available: If you’ve been keeping your finger on the pulse of AI developments lately, you’ve probably heard whispers, or rather, shouts - about Manus AI. Launched just this March by the Chinese startup Monica, Manus is an example of something called “agentic AI.” Don’t let the …

Winner - Best Use of Digital Technology - Somerset Business Awards: Ellie and I are genuinely buzzing to share that on 29th March 2025, Techosaurus Ltd was honoured with the ‘Best Use of Digital Technology’ award at the Somerset Business Awards! This award recognises our passion and commitment to transforming businesses through innovative digital …

Further Research - The Rise of AI Visitors and the Evolution of SEO: In the last six months, we’ve witnessed a surge in AI-driven searches and scraping. Rather than visiting websites directly, users are increasingly relying on ChatGPT, Perplexity, or Google’s forthcoming “AI Mode” to handle their browsing. As a result, many sites report anywhere from an 11% to 55% …

Getting Ready for LEO: The Future of AI-Optimised Search: This article expands on our last short piece about how Google has announced their new “AI Mode”, and that just like Perplexity, and ChatGPT Search before it this will change how we write websites for the future. Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) has ruled the digital world for decades, dictating how …

The Future is Gemini: Google’s Plan to Retire Assistant in 2025: The era of Google Assistant is coming to an end, and its successor, Gemini, is already making waves. This transition represents more than just a name change—it’s a bold move by Google to redefine what an AI assistant can do. With advanced AI capabilities, deeper personalization, and broader device …

The Mystery of LLMs: Are They Liberal, Self-Preserving, or Just Pretending?: What Is an LLM and How Is It Trained? Large Language Models (LLMs) are the powerhouses behind modern AI chatbots, search assistants, and automated content generators. They work by predicting the next most likely word in a sequence based on extensive training data. These models are trained on …

OpenAI’s Metafictional Marvel: The Uncertain Future of Creative AI: Sam Altman has shared an extract from a new AI model they’ve trained, and it’s already causing a stir. We don’t know if or when we’ll get access to this model—OpenAI hasn’t given a release date or even guaranteed we’ll see it. However, from the preview Altman posted on X (formerly Twitter), it’s …

Google’s New “AI Mode” & The Death of SEO: Google recently announced something they’re calling ‘AI Mode,’ positioned as a significant upgrade to search—but let’s unpack what this really means and why it’s important for everyone. What is Google’s AI Mode? Currently, if you’re signed into Google and …

Quietly Brilliant or Subtly Baffling? Apple’s Latest Low-Key Launches: Apple’s latest announcements have quietly landed, skipping the usual grand keynote, yet the upgrades themselves are surprisingly substantial. Here’s a quick breakdown, spiced with a few of my own thoughts. Entry-Level iPad It’s great to see a £100 drop on the entry-level iPad, …

GPT-4.5 is Live - Another Leap Forward in AI!: Just hours after discussing the potential of GPT-4.5 in today’s Generative AI Skills Bootcamp, OpenAI has officially launched GPt-4.5 for Plus & Team subscribers - and we’re already seeing impressive results! 🌟 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗚𝗣𝗧-𝟰.𝟱: 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝗕𝗮𝘀𝗲: Delivers more accurate, …

The Latest in Generative AI: Exciting Announcements You Need to Know: Generative AI continues to evolve at breakneck speed, and the latest announcements showcase just how transformative this technology is becoming. Here’s a breakdown of some of the most exciting updates, explained in a way that’s easy to understand—no tech jargon required! Claude 3.7 Sonnet: A …

Amazon Unveils Alexa+: Your New Smart Assistant for a Smoother Daily Life: Amazon’s latest Devices & Services event just dropped some exciting news. Enter Alexa+, a reimagined, AI-powered assistant designed to make your everyday tasks simpler and more enjoyable—even if you’re not a tech whiz. A Smarter Assistant at Your Service Alexa+ isn’t just another voice …

UK Newspapers Unite Against AI Copyright Exemptions: The : The Battle Over AI and Copyright in the UK In a rare show of unity, some of the UK’s largest newspapers have launched a coordinated campaign protesting government proposals that could reshape copyright law in the age of artificial intelligence (AI). The “Make It Fair” campaign opposes a …

Good News for Digital Tracker Owners: New Police Powers to Recover Stolen Property: If you’re an Apple AirTag owner—or use any digital tracker to keep tabs on your valuables—here’s some welcome news. Under the latest provisions of the government’s Crime and Policing Bill, police will soon have the authority to search properties without a warrant in order to recover stolen goods …

Perplexity’s Comet Browser: The Future of AI-Driven Web Surfing: I’ve been keeping an eye on Perplexity AI for a while now, and their latest project—Comet—is generating plenty of buzz. While it’s not out yet (you actually have to sign up to express your interest in the beta), if it does roll out, it could really change the way we browse the web. And although it’s …

iOS 18.4 Beta Introduces Priority Notifications: A Smarter Way to Manage Your Alerts: Apple’s iOS 18.4 beta is rolling out a new feature that promises to change how you deal with notifications. The new Priority Notifications feature, powered by Apple Intelligence, is designed to help you focus on what matters most—by automatically prioritizing important alerts and reducing the noise …

What Exactly is Quantum Computing?: With Microsoft’s new Majorana Quantum Chip in the spotlight, you might be wondering: what is quantum computing and why does it matter to everyone? Let’s break it down with simple language and a relatable analogy. The Librarian Analogy: Classical vs. Quantum Classical Computers – The Single …

Apple Announces the iPhone 16e: The New Face of the SE Line : With the launch of the iPhone 16e, Apple has officially said goodbye to the old SE models. This new iPhone is a serious upgrade in every way. What’s New in the iPhone 16e? The iPhone 16e is powered by Apple’s latest A18 chip and comes with a 6.1-inch OLED display featuring Face ID—no more Touch ID. …

The Evolution of Research: A Deep Dive into Perplexity's New Deep Research Feature: I’ve always been fascinated by how we gather and process information, and Perplexity’s new Deep Research tool is a total game changer. It’s like having your own personal research assistant that goes off and digs up everything you need from across the web—synthesizing and analyzing data faster than …

UK’s AI Security Institute: A New Era in Tackling AI Risks: The UK government has taken a decisive step in its AI strategy by rebranding the AI Safety Institute to the AI Security Institute. This change signals a clear shift in focus—from addressing general ethical concerns like bias and freedom of speech to tackling the most pressing security risks posed by …

Windows 10 and Microsoft 365: What You Need to Know Before October 14, 2025: I remember when we were told that Windows 10 was the last and final version of Windows—a comfort blanket that would be updated regularly. Then, not long after, Windows 11 was announced and released. At first, it didn’t seem much different from Windows 10 aside from a few new visual flares and, of …

Two AI Companies, Different Approaches to Advertising at the Super Bowl: The Super Bowl has long been a stage for brands to show off their creativity and deep-pocketed ambitions. This year, two major players in the AI world—OpenAI and Google—took centre stage with very different approaches. Below, I break down their strategies, share my thoughts in dedicated sections, …

Bridging the Generative AI Divide: Why It's Everyone's Business: Anyone who has followed my journey recently knows: I have devoted my time and resources to supporting local communities in understanding, adopting, and harnessing Generative AI. I’ve worked through local events with the Yeovil Chambers' Digital Hub; I serve on the board at Digital Somerset; I …

OpenAI’s Bold Moves: o3-mini, Deep Research, and a Major SoftBank Investment : Long story short: OpenAI isn’t sitting on its hands. Shortly after the DeepSeek ruckus shook the industry, they announced the new o3-mini model—a clear statement of power that outperformed DeepSeek’s R1. Then, OpenAI surprised everyone with Deep Research, an AI agent that autonomously gathers, …

Introducing Deep Research: Your Personal AI Research Assistant: Imagine having an AI that goes off and does all the hard work of researching a topic for you—gathering data, cross-referencing multiple sources, and pulling together clear, synthesized answers. OpenAI’s new Deep Research initiative is set to do just that, revolutionizing how we access knowledge. …

Perplexity Pro now has reasoning with DeepSeek R1 and OpenAI o3-mini: If you’re looking for a smarter way to search the internet, Perplexity AI is leading the way. Recently, Perplexity Pro has been upgraded with two advanced reasoning models that make searching, researching, and planning information a breeze. DeepSeek R1: Open-Source Power and Uncensored Processing …

Get Perplexity Pro for Free: The Future of Internet Search: Imagine an internet search engine that doesn’t just return a list of links and ads but instead converses with you—finding exactly what you need by pulling together information from across the web. That’s Perplexity, and now you can get the paid for Perplexity Pro edition for free through an …

Microsoft 365 Copilot: Optimizing SharePoint Content for Better AI Responses: Microsoft’s latest documentation on Microsoft 365 Copilot reveals some critical insights for anyone using SharePoint as a knowledge source for their AI agents. These details clarify how Copilot processes content and highlight important best practices to ensure your data plays nicely with the system. …

Altman on Open-Source LLMs: Competition Is Fueling Innovation: Sam Altman’s recent Reddit AMA (ask me anything which happened on 31st January 2025) has stirred conversation across the AI community. In response to news that competitors DeepSeek and Qwen are giving open-source access to their large language models, Altman made it clear: competition is exactly …

Qwen AI: A Cost-Effective, Versatile Contender from Alibaba Cloud: In the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence, China’s latest entrant, Qwen AI, is making notable progress. Developed by Alibaba Cloud, Qwen AI demonstrates that generative AI models can be built both affordably and efficiently while offering a range of creative and practical …

OpenAI Unveils o3-mini and o3-mini-high: Advanced Reasoning Now Free for ChatGPT Users : Here’s something exciting for the weekend: OpenAI has just released its latest reasoning models, o3-mini and o3-mini-high. This is the first time advanced reasoning capabilities are available to free ChatGPT users — an important milestone in making sophisticated AI more accessible. On top of this, …

DeepSeek Security Breach: Misconfigured Database Exposes Sensitive Data: AI startup DeepSeek recently suffered a serious security breach involving a misconfigured ClickHouse database. The database—left accessible via open ports 8123 and 9000 on two subdomains—lacked authentication, exposing over a million lines of sensitive information to the public internet. This …

DeepSeek’s Controversies, Market Impact, and Ongoing Innovations: DeepSeek’s rapid rise in the AI industry has brought both applause for its cost-effective approaches and skepticism regarding its transparency. While its AI assistant soared to the top of app store charts in both the UK and US, questions remain about how accurately DeepSeek represents its training …

DeepSeek’s AI Assistant Tops the UK and US App Store Charts: DeepSeek, a Chinese startup, has made headlines by releasing an AI assistant that quickly rose to the top of both the UK and US Apple App Store charts. This surge in popularity has placed it above established names like ChatGPT, sparking conversations around innovation, cost-effective AI …

OpenAI’s o3-Mini Model: Latest Updates and What We Know So Far: OpenAI recently stirred the AI community with news that its o3-mini model will soon be accessible to a broader audience. While official details remain somewhat sparse, we have enough context—and a few recent updates—to get a clearer picture of what o3-mini might offer, how it builds on o1, and what …

New ChatGPT Canvas Upgrades: Real-Time HTML & React Rendering—and Now on the o1 Model: The Canvas feature in ChatGPT has been turning heads since it first launched, especially among developers who want a quick, interactive way to test and display code. Until recently, though, Canvas was only available on GPT-4o—which not everyone had access to. Now, it’s rolled out to o1, ChatGPT’s …

Claude’s New Citations Feature: Why It’s a Game-Changer for Developers: If you’ve ever used an AI tool and wondered, “Where’s this information coming from?”, you’re not alone. Tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and NotebookLM already offer some form of source referencing, but Anthropic’s new Citations feature for Claude takes things a step further in terms of precision, …

Perplexity’s New Android Assistant: What You Need to Know: Another week, another leap forward in the AI space! This time it’s Perplexity making waves with their brand-new AI Assistant for Android. If you’re wondering what it does, why it matters, and how it compares to what’s already out there, let’s break it down in a straightforward way. What Is …

Demystifying ChatGPT’s New “Operator” Mode: What It Is and How It Works: There’s been a lot of buzz around OpenAI’s latest feature, Operator. If you’re wondering what it is, what it can do, and why people are so excited, don’t worry—you’re not alone. At first glance, it might sound a bit like something out of a sci-fi film, but really, it’s a clever step forward in how …

What a Week! Bootcamps, Events, (Re)Prep Work, and Five New AI Developments That Changed Everything (Again): If there’s one thing you can count on in the fast-paced world of tech, it’s that nothing stays the same for long. This past week has been a whirlwind for us—wrapping up our first Generative AI Skills Bootcamp cohort, hosting back-to-back events, and then watching in disbelief as five major AI …

GenAI News 20 Jan 2025: The tech to build the holodeck A visit to an elderly mother in Germany highlighted the capability of Gaussian splatting, a novel 3D capture technique creating lifelike 3D models with your phone. This technology, developed in 2023 by European scientists, uses millions of fuzzy, translucent blobs to …

Trump Intervenes: TikTok Restored in the U.S., But What’s the Bigger Picture?: This weekend has been nothing short of extraordinary for TikTok users in the United States. Just this morning, on January 19th, TikTok went dark, leaving millions of users scrambling to adapt and countless small businesses in disarray. Yet, in an astonishing turn of events, the app is now being …

TikTok’s U.S. Shutdown: What It Means for Millions of Users and What’s Next: As of January 19, 2025, TikTok has officially gone dark in the United States. The popular app, known for its viral dance trends, comedy sketches, and unparalleled ability to catapult creators into stardom, has ceased operations in anticipation of an impending federal ban. For millions of Americans, …

Uk to introduce Digital ID and Driving Licence by Christmas 2025: The UK government plans to roll out a digital ID system for age verification in pubs, clubs, and shops by 2025, marking a major milestone in modernizing identity verification processes. This initiative is part of the government’s broader ‘Plan for Change’ programme, which aims to enhance …

Microsoft 365 Updates with Copilot AI: Microsoft has recently integrated its AI-powered assistant, Copilot, into Microsoft 365 Personal and Family subscriptions for consumers. This integration introduces several new functionalities across various applications, accompanied by a subscription price increase of $3 per month in the U.S. …

GenAI News 16th Jan 2025: Google Signs Deal with AP to Deliver Up-to-Date News through its Gemini AI Chatbot Google has signed a deal with The Associated Press (AP) to enhance its AI chatbot, Gemini, by providing real-time news updates from AP. This initiative marks Google’s first agreement with a news publisher. …

GenAI News 15th Jan 2025: Meta’s Generative AI Push Could Bring Big ‘Windfall’ For WhatsApp, Analyst Says Meta Platforms is testing generative AI-powered chatbots within WhatsApp, aiming to enhance customer service and drive e-commerce sales. Analysts project this could generate incremental revenue of $16.6 …