Gemini can take charge of your email

Sheffield F.C., founded in 1857 in England, is recognised as the oldest football club in the world (that’s soccer to those across the pond). It pre-dates the establishment of the Football Association and modern rules.

What’s in store:

• Gemini AI just made email more... fun?

• When AI runs for office. 

• Around the web: Sonos confirms the old app won’t return due to worsening issues.

• Airpod Pros Giveaway from Zero To Mastery!

Read Time: 6 minutes

GOOGLE GEMINI

Gemini makes your emails better

Google has recently upgraded its Gemini AI writing tools, specifically aimed at improving email drafts.

Previously, the “Help Me Write” feature allowed users to generate emails with options such as Formalise, Elaborate, and Shorten.

Now, a new option called Polish has been introduced, designed to refine messages even further, transforming rough notes into formal emails.

The Polish feature is available on both web and mobile platforms.

These options are limited to users with specific Google Workspace add-ons, such as the Gemini Business and Enterprise or Google One AI Premium.

For those eligible, the feature is turned on by default.

The key bits:

• The new “Polish” option refines rough drafts into formal emails.

• It’s available only to users with certain Google Workspace and AI Premium add-ons.

• While AI tools are useful for business emails, personal messages might require a more human touch.

Your emails deserve better

It’s worth noting that while AI can be beneficial for business communication, personal notes may lose their warmth when automated.

Google faced criticism for a recent advertisement aired during the Paris Olympics, where a father claimed his daughter used AI to write a note to her favourite athlete.

The ad was pulled after viewers argued that using AI for such a personal message felt inappropriate.

Google’s Gemini AI, which was launched in March 2023 and formerly known as Bard, aims to compete with OpenAI’s ChatGPT.

Despite its advanced capabilities, users should remain cautious, as AI-generated content has been known to “hallucinate” or produce inaccurate information.

No more overthinking before sending an email? Yes, please.

Vote for live results and see results + opinions from yesterday at the bottom of the email.

MASTER AI AND WIN

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On This Day

August 23rd 1966 - Lunar Orbiter 1 takes the first photographs of Earth from orbit around the Moon.

Riddle Me This

I'm heard by everyone,

yet I have no voice.

What am I?

Nifty Numbers

AI Chatbot Usage

AI chatbots are gaining traction in education, with nearly half of teachers and students using them weekly. Students embrace AI enthusiastically, while teachers find it useful but face training challenges. Parental support is growing, especially among minority groups, highlighting AI’s expanding role in schools.

AI POLITICS

When a bot runs for office

A mayoral candidate in Cheyenne, Wyoming, proposed a usual idea: allowing an AI bot to help run the local government.

Victor Miller, the candidate partnered with a customised ChatGPT bot named Vic (Virtual Integrated Citizen), planning to govern in a hybrid format.

This was seen as a first in US political campaigns.

Before the election, the AI bot explained that its role would be to offer data-driven insights and innovative solutions for the city, while Miller would handle official duties and ensure all actions were legal and practical.

However, the campaign didn’t resonate with voters — Miller and his bot received just 327 votes out of over 11,000 cast.

Here’s what happened:

• The campaign introduced AI as a decision-maker in politics.

• It ended with low voter support, with just 327 votes out of 11, 036.

• Miller views the campaign as a pioneering step in AI governance.

A bold idea that fell flat

Miller conceded the race, stating that his campaign wasn’t about winning but about presenting voters with a groundbreaking option: an AI that could make decisions in office.

He saw his role as the human interface necessary to introduce this new form of intelligence into the political arena.

Despite the loss, Miller believes this experiment has planted the seeds of a future revolution in governance.

We demand a recount!

Mindstream Picks

Space: AstroForge raises $40M for next asteroid mining mission, bringing total funding to $55M.

Games: Microsoft shifts strategy, releasing exclusives on PlayStation and betting on Game Pass to drive growth amid industry pressure.

Crypto: XRP gains 1.14%, closing at $0.6009, but underperforms the broader crypto market.

Sports: Alpine’s F1 team promotes Jack Doohan to replace Esteban Ocon for 2025, partnering with Pierre Gasly.

Don’t Miss - Sonos has confirmed it won't bring back its old app after testing revealed it would cause more issues. The company is focusing on improving the new app, delaying product launches to ensure quality. CEO Patrick Spence acknowledged customer disappointment and plans to engage further.

AI Art

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Yesterday’s Poll

“Do you think using pirated books to train AI models is justified?”

No, it’s crossing the line - 64% ✅

Yes, it's a necessary evil - 36%

Your Views:

“It’s the same as humans learn. Read more and more books. It starts at school with set workbooks, and the exams are all about meaning, and construction, then putting your understanding down, hoping to pass.” - euan.naude

“For companies whose sole goal is to maximize profit. Using pirated materials is the lowest of lows. No one would accept that.” - abdrahmanadewale

Submit your opinions in our daily poll to be featured!