Introduction

Welcome to the second edition of this fully AI-generated newsletter. Every story, summary, and insight you’re about to read has been chosen, compiled, written, and structured by AI.

This is an experiment. The goal? To push the limits of AI in content generation, refine the process, and see just how far we can take automation in curating and delivering the most relevant AI news.

Along the way, I’ll be tweaking, testing, and iterating - so expect updates, improvements, and perhaps a few surprises. Consider this a journey into the evolving role of AI in media. Let’s see how well it does and thanks for joining us!

Please note, AI can hallucinate! But we do our best to avoid that.

23/03/25 Foreword

“Hi everyone, thank you for subscribing to our newsletter and we look forward to you being part of the journey. Please do share your thoughts and feedback as we progress.

This week there are no tweaks or updates, this is because we want to give more tim to see how it is performing, and to hear your thoughts”. - Very best, Nicolas and the System7 team.

Now, onto the latest in AI.

Welcome to this week's AI update, where we track the most significant developments shaping the future of artificial intelligence. Meta's aggressive $15 billion investment in Scale AI, the emergence of new video generation models, and the complex relationship between human cognition and AI tools are dominating conversations this week. The landscape is evolving rapidly, with technological breakthroughs and ethical questions emerging in parallel.

Major AI News Headlines

• Meta's $15B acquisition of Scale AI reshapes data-labeling landscape.

• MidJourney's video generation model challenges Google's dominance.

• MIT study warns of 'cognitive debt' from over-reliance on AI writing tools.

Major AI News

Meta Secures 49% Stake in Scale AI for $15 Billion

Summary

Meta has invested $15 billion in data-labeling company Scale AI, acquiring a 49% stake and boosting the startup's valuation to $29 billion. Scale's founder Alexandr Wang will join Meta's AI team while remaining on Scale's board.

Why It Matters

This represents one of the largest AI investments to date and signals Meta's determination to compete with OpenAI and Google. The deal creates potential conflicts for Scale's other clients, who must now decide whether to continue using a service partially owned by a competitor.

Key Takeaway

Meta continues aggressive AI investment, following industry trends of talent acquisition, Data labeling remains a critical bottleneck in AI development, The deal is creating ripple effects across the industry as companies reassess partnerships.

Source: Link

MidJourney Launches Video Generation Tool

Summary

MidJourney has released Version 1 of its video generation model, allowing users to create short animations from static images. The model offers options for automatic animation or custom prompts, with controls for motion intensity.

Why It Matters

At just one image credit per second of video, MidJourney's offering is significantly more affordable than competitors, democratizing access to AI video creation. This marks a major step toward MidJourney's vision of real-time AI simulations where 3D environments and interactive scenes are generated on the fly.

Key Takeaway

AI video generation is becoming more accessible and affordable, The quality gap between professional and AI-generated video content continues to narrow, MidJourney is expanding beyond still images to compete in the broader visual AI market.

Source: Link

MIT Study: ChatGPT Use Creates 'Cognitive Debt'

Summary

MIT researchers found that writing with ChatGPT diminishes users' mental engagement and recall abilities. In the study, 83% of participants using AI couldn't quote a single sentence they had just generated, while those writing without AI showed stronger recall and neural activity.

Why It Matters

As AI writing tools become standard in education and workplaces, this research raises important questions about their long-term impact on human cognition and knowledge retention. The researchers liken this effect to the 'Google Maps effect,' where overreliance on technology weakens mental capabilities.

Key Takeaway

AI assistance can reduce mental engagement and memory formation, A balanced approach—thinking first, then using AI for editing—may preserve cognitive benefits, Educational institutions may need to reconsider how AI tools are integrated into learning.

Source: Link

Fun AI Topics Of The Week!

AI-Generated 'Useless DIY Tools' Go Viral

Summary

ChatGPT has been generating hilariously impractical inventions like steel-toed flip flops and inflatable dumbbells, sparking amusement across social media platforms. These creations highlight AI's capacity for humor and absurdity.

Why It’s Interesting!

The trend showcases how people are finding entertainment value in AI's creative capabilities, beyond just practical applications. It reveals the playful relationship forming between humans and AI tools.

Key Takeaway

AI humor is emerging as a distinct form of entertainment, These interactions demonstrate how users are pushing AI in unexpected directions.

Source: Link

Claude Opus Listed as Co-Author in Academic Paper

Summary

Anthropic's Claude Opus AI was named as a co-author in an academic rebuttal to an Apple study that claimed large language models lack genuine reasoning abilities. The paper challenges Apple's methodology and conclusions, with the AI model contributing substantive analysis.

Why It’s Interesting!

This represents a significant moment in academic publishing, as an AI model receives formal authorship credit for intellectual contributions. It raises questions about how we attribute ideas and analysis in an era of advanced AI tools.

Key Takeaway

AI systems are increasingly contributing meaningful intellectual content to academic discourse, The boundaries between human and AI authorship are becoming blurred.

Source: Link

Neanderthals May Have Been Record-Setting Travelers

Summary

Computer simulations suggest Neanderthals migrated across northern Eurasia more quickly and extensively than previously thought. Without modern tools, they may have traveled thousands of kilometers from the Caucasus to Siberia in under 2,000 years.

Why It’s Interesting!

These AI-powered simulations are changing our understanding of prehistoric human migration by considering factors like climate periods, river networks, and elevation to chart likely paths. The findings align with archaeological evidence of long-distance movement and potential interbreeding with other human species.

Key Takeaway

AI simulations are revolutionizing archaeological research, Our understanding of prehistoric human capabilities continues to evolve with new computational methods.

Source: Link

AI Tools Of The Moment

ComputerX 

An AI assistant that turns everyday language into fully realized outputs from web apps to data visualizations.

Link

Krea 1

Photorealistic image generation model that avoids the typical AI-created look.

Link

ElevenLabs MCP Connector

Links voice-driven agents to platforms like Gmail, Salesforce, and HubSpot.

Link

Wispr Flow

AI voice keyboard for iPhones that refines speech into polished text with auto-formatting.

Link

Project Mariner

Google's browser agent for navigating websites and performing complex tasks autonomously.

Link

Expert Prompt Of The Week

CONTEXT

As Meta's investment in Scale AI shows the importance of quality data in AI development, many users struggle to extract useful information from long documents or articles.

PROMPT

You are a specialized reading assistant that transforms complex content into accessible formats. For the text I'll share, please create: 1) A visual Mind Map with the main topic at center and key concepts branching out (limit to 7-10 branches), 2) A 150-word Executive Summary capturing essential points, and 3) A Simplified Article that preserves the core message while reducing complexity. Present in plain language at a 8th-grade reading level, maintain the original tone, and include a bullet-point list of 3-5 key takeaways. If appropriate, create a simple table or chart to visualize quantitative information.

EXAMPLE USE CASE

This prompt helps professionals quickly digest industry reports, academic papers, or news articles without losing crucial information. It's particularly useful for preparing briefings, summarizing research findings, or extracting actionable insights from dense material.

Trending AI Topics For The Week

UK Approves Driverless Taxis for 2025

Summary

The UK will permit autonomous taxis on its roads by next spring under the Automated Vehicles Act. Companies like Uber and Wayve are planning to launch services in London, with the government projecting 38,000 new jobs and £42 billion in economic benefits by 2035.

Why It’s Important

While the UK currently trails behind the US and China in autonomous vehicle deployment, this regulatory framework could help close the gap through structured innovation and testing.

Self-Adapting Language Models (SEAL) Enable Continuous Learning

Summary

MIT researchers introduced a technique called Self Adapting Language Models that allows AI systems like Meta's Llama and Alibaba's Qwen to update their parameters as new information arises, mimicking human learning processes.

Why It’s Important

This approach could address one of AI's major limitations: the inability to adapt to new information without expensive retraining, potentially making models more dynamic and useful in rapidly changing environments.

Apple Rebuilds Siri from Ground Up with Mixed AI Approach

Summary

Apple is developing a new version of Siri built primarily on its own models, but tapping OpenAI and Anthropic for specific tasks like image generation and code support. Rather than creating a standalone chatbot, Apple's AI will enhance existing tools like photo search and predictive text.

Why It’s Important

Apple's approach prioritizes subtle integration of AI into its ecosystem rather than following the chatbot trend, highlighting different strategic visions for AI's role in consumer technology.