OpenAI unveils Orion: The next leap in AI with GPT-5 Strawberry technology - Sededin Dedovic, Financial World

OpenAI, one of the leaders in artificial intelligence development, is on the brink of launching its latest groundbreaking AI model, codenamed Orion. Built using the innovative GPT-5 Strawberry technology, Orion aims to push the boundaries of complex reasoning capabilities while minimizing errors. The significance of this development was highlighted by a recent demonstration of GPT-5 Strawberry technology to U.S. federal officials, underscoring the increasing importance of AI in U.S. national security and OpenAI's commitment to transparency with decision-makers. At the heart of Orion is the GPT-5 Strawberry technology, an innovative approach designed to enhance AI's ability to reason, plan, and solve complex problems. By extending the "thinking" time of AI when tackling challenges, GPT-5 Strawberry enables Orion to deliver more accurate and reliable results.

https://www.financial-world.org/news/news/financial/27207/openai-unveils-orion-the-next-leap-in-ai-with-gpt5-strawberry-technology/

OpenAI’s Project Strawberry will become ChatGPT-5, launch soon, and be better at math than any chatbot, insiders say - Graham Barlow, TechRadar

More details of OpenAI’s secretive Project Strawberry have dropped, including its expected release date and the areas it will specialize in. A recent report in The Information quotes “two people who have been involved in the effort”, and goes on to say that Project Strawberry could drop this fall [so September-November], and be better at math and programming than any chatbot we’ve seen so far. 

https://www.techradar.com/computing/artificial-intelligence/openais-project-strawberry-will-become-chatgpt5-launch-soon-insiders-say

3 ways AI can smooth our inevitable move to a 4-day workweek - Marcus Mossberger, Fast Company

For executives, the impending four-day workweek will inevitably bring on new questions of productivity, output, and outcomes. How do I ensure my people are producing the same level, or better, outcomes while putting in less work? The good news is that as artificial intelligence takes on a bigger role at work, managers can lean into AI tools to redesign how we work, so that we can get more done in less time. For those on the cusp of embracing a four-day workweek, here are three ways you can lean into AI to ensure a successful transition. 

https://www.fastcompany.com/91145281/3-ways-ai-can-smooth-our-inevitable-move-to-a-4-day-workweek

7 new (and improved) things you can do with ChatGPT-4o - Emma Street, TechRadar

7 new (and improved) things you can do with ChatGPT-4o - Emma Street, TechRadar

ChatGPT-4o can handle more complex instructions and follow them more accurately than its predecessors. It's more adept at understanding and executing multi-step instructions or those that require a higher level of reasoning. One of the most striking differences between version 4 and its predecessor is that you can now upload documents into the prompt window. ChatGPT-4 can analyze Word documents, spreadsheets, and images. ChatGPT-4 also enables you to use other users' customized GPTs and even allows you to create your own. We'll be looking at that in more detail below. (note: check out my custom GPT https://chatgpt.com/g/g-pLDOh2PHk-ray-s-eduai-advisor )

https://www.techradar.com/how-to/how-to-use-chatgpt4

Technology is burning out faculty, survey shows - Colin Wood, EdScoop

The report, published last week by the innovation arm of Western Governors University, polled 359 faculty members from colleges and universities, most of whom reported that they expect more edtech to be used in their classrooms. But less than a third of respondents reported belief that changes in the classroom were “heading in the right direction.” This broad concern included a belief held by 58% of respondents that technologies would lead to faculty having less autonomy in designing courses. Forty-one percent reported burnout and 79% reported they were constantly “on the job” because of technology.

https://edscoop.com/university-college-faculty-technology-burnout-wgu-survey/

OpenAI says ChatGPT's weekly users have grown to 200 million - Reuters

 ChatGPT, launched in 2022, can generate human-like responses based on user prompts and had 100 million weekly active users, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman had said in November. OpenAI said 92% of Fortune 500 companies are using its products and the use of its automated Application Programming Interface, or API, which allows software programs to talk to each other, has doubled since the launch of ChatGPT-4o mini in July. Separately, AI startups OpenAI and Anthropic signed deals with the U.S. government for research, testing and evaluation of their artificial intelligence models, the U.S. Artificial Intelligence Safety Institute said earlier in the day.

https://www.reuters.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/openai-says-chatgpts-weekly-users-have-grown-200-million-2024-08-29/

OpenAI’s First College Partnership Sheds Light on How GPT Is Used in Higher Education - Alexandra Tremayne-Pengelly, Observer

At the beginning of this year, Arizona State University (ASU) became the first higher education institution to partner with OpenAI to integrate A.I. in coursework, tutoring and research. Now, eight months later, the university’s foray into A.I. has led to the creation of around 250 projects backed by ChatGPT, OpenAI revealed in an update today (Aug. 26).  Universities, like ASU, have embraced the technology as a way to enhance student potential. “The goal here was to really drive what future uses of A.I. technologies can look like and to help guide the design of new technology,” Kyle Bowen, ASU’s deputy chief information officer, told Observer.

https://observer.com/2024/08/openai-arizona-state-university-partnership/

The versatile leader: How learning to adapt makes CEOs better - Ana Maor, Hans-Werner Kaas, Kurt Strovink, and Ramesh Srinivasan; McKinsey

Some of the most innovative and creative people in history succeeded because they were versatile. They were able to master more than one discipline and then combine them to forge new ideas and inventions. Benjamin Franklin, for instance, the quintessential Renaissance man, was a writer, printer, scientist, and politician. He played a key role in drafting the Declaration of Independence, helped negotiate the Treaty of Paris to end the American Revolution, and published Poor Richard’s Almanack, which helped shape American political thought. In this chapter excerpt from our new book, The Journey of Leadership: How CEOs Learn to Lead from the Inside Out (Portfolio, September 2024), we explore how today’s business leaders can similarly turn their diverse experiences into meaningful outcomes.

https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/the-versatile-leader-how-learning-to-adapt-makes-ceos-better?

How to Use ChatGPT at Work - HubSpot

Discover the key to unlocking unparalleled productivity with this ultimate guide to revolutionizing your workflow. Plus, 100 prompt ideas to help you unleash the power of generative AI. Meet your ultimate guide to tapping into the powerful capabilities of ChatGPT and amplifying your productivity. This eBook provides a comprehensive understanding of ChatGPT's functionalities, equipping you with the knowledge to streamline workflows, accelerate decision-making, foster collaboration, and implement best practices. Get ready to revolutionize your workday and unlock unparalleled efficiency with ChatGPT! (it is free)

https://offers.hubspot.com/using-chatgpt-at-work

Metaverse in Education Due for Exponential Growth Spurt - GovTech

In a new report, market researchers said the use of metaverse technology in education will increase greatly in the next four years. The industry, they estimated, will rise from $3.9 billion to $19.3 billion by 2028. Metaverse technologies like virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) are poised for significant development for educational use in the next few years, according to a recent report that found the global market for metaverse in education is also set for exponential growth. The report, from the market researching company MarketsandMarkets, estimates the global market for metaverse in education is worth $3.9 billion now and will grow to $19.3 billion by 2028 — representing a 37.7 percent compound annual growth rate.

https://www.govtech.com/education/metaverse-in-education-due-for-exponential-growth-spurt

It's the End of the World as We Know It: Do We Feel Fine? - Diane Stopyra, University of Delaware

The AI genie is out of the bottle. In 2024, artificial intelligence has infiltrated every sector of our lives, from healthcare to politics to dog walking (yes, you really can enlist a robot for that). But for all its ubiquity, AI remains a question mark in the collective consciousness. Are we optimistic… or afraid? Thinking about this new era feels like watching a Blue Hen playoff game: You’re excited but also on the edge of your seat with nervous energy.

https://www.udel.edu/udaily/2024/august/blue-hens-artificial-intelligence-the-world-as-we-know-it/

The Warning Signs of Academic Layoffs - Ryan Anderson, Inside Higher Ed

I am now writing this piece to help other faculty and staff members recognize the signs of their own institution’s instability and transition out of it before their positions are abruptly cut. How can you tell if your college or university is gearing up for layoffs and what can you do to safeguard your career? Here are some key indicators and actionable steps to consider.

https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/career-advice/2024/08/20/how-prepare-and-protect-your-career-against-layoffs-opinion

Special Report: Reducing Points of Friction With AI - Colleen Flaherty, Inside Higher Ed

Inside Higher Ed’s new deep dive report, published with support from Amazon Web Services, reviews the wide variety of ways in which institutions are using AI, including that meaningful middle territory in which institutions are using both generative and nongenerative AI to optimize enrollment and other often-opaque processes for students to boost access and equity. It also considers how institutions such as the University of Michigan and Arizona State University are approaching AI from an enterprise perspective.

https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2024/08/20/report-reducing-points-friction-ai

New College of Florida tosses hundreds of library books, empties gender diversity library - Steven Walker, Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Hundreds of New College of Florida library books, including many on LGBTQ+ topics and religious studies, are headed to a landfill. A dumpster in the parking lot of Jane Bancroft Cook Library on the campus of New College overflowed with books and collections from the now-defunct Gender and Diversity Center on Tuesday afternoon. Video captured in the afternoon showed a vehicle driving away with the books before students were notified. In the past, students were given an opportunity to purchase books that were leaving the college's library collection.

https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/education/2024/08/15/new-college-of-florida-throws-away-hundreds-of-library-books-diversity-lgbtq/74814756007/

These Living Computers Are Made from Human Neurons - Jordan Kinard, Scientific American

Artificial intelligence systems, even those as sophisticated as ChatGPT, depend on the same silicon-based hardware that has been the bedrock of computing since the 1950s. But what if computers could be molded from living biological matter? Some researchers in academia and the commercial sector, wary of AI’s ballooning demands for data storage and energy, are focusing on a growing field known as biocomputing. This approach uses synthetic biology, such as miniature clusters of lab-grown cells called organoids, to create computer architecture. Biocomputing pioneers include Swiss company FinalSpark, which earlier this year debuted its “Neuroplatform”—a computer platform powered by human-brain organoids—that scientists can rent over the Internet for $500 a month.

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/these-living-computers-are-made-from-human-neurons/

Why competent workers become incompetent managers - TOMAS CHAMORRO-PREMUZIC AND SUNNY LEE, Fast Company

Some incompetent managers get ahead due to their overconfidence or narcissistic traits, as discussed in Why Do So Many Incompetent Men Become Leaders? Likewise, some individuals can get ahead through their powerful connections, political skills, or purely by some luck theory can’t explain. Unsurprisingly, this is even more common in political elections, where voters are not always skilled enough to evaluate candidates’ potential (or unwilling to scrutinize them properly) than in corporations. Even more intriguing is that it’s not uncommon for individuals who perform well in their jobs as individual contributors to fail to perform as expected when given managerial or leadership responsibilities, much like great individual athletes can disappoint after retiring and transitioning to team coaches or managers.

https://www.fastcompany.com/91170842/why-competent-workers-become-incompetent-managers

Demand for Online Courses Surges, Creating Cultural Tensions - Lauren Coffey, Inside Higher Ed

Students are demanding more online courses than ever, a new survey of colleges’ chief learning officer finds, but this is accompanied by tensions over faculty autonomy and budget challenges. According to the ninth annual “Changing Landscape of Online Education” (CHLOE) report, released today, roughly three-quarters of the chief learning officers polled reported an increasing demand for online options from campus-based students, with 60 percent noting that online sections typically fill first. Nearly half (46 percent) of the 324 online learning leaders surveyed added that online program enrollment is outpacing enrollment growth in on-campus programs at their institutions. The findings come alongside seven in 10 respondents stating they are actively negotiating or had previously resolved tensions between online initiatives and the institution’s mission and culture.

https://www.insidehighered.com/news/tech-innovation/teaching-learning/2024/08/13/report-most-institutions-see-tension-over-online

States With the Best & Worst Community Colleges (2024) - Adam McCann, WalletHub

University education is out of reach for many Americans, but thanks to community colleges, higher education is more accessible than ever. Compared with public four-year institutions, where tuition and fees cost almost three times as much on average, community colleges offer significant savings for students. Despite the fact that community colleges can offer significant cost advantages, not every state offers schools of the same quality. WalletHub drew from its 2024 ranking of the Best and Worst Community Colleges to create a state-by-state ranking of community-college system.

https://wallethub.com/edu/e/states-with-best-worst-community-college-systems/15073

The AI Scientist: Towards Fully Automated Open-Ended Scientific Discovery - Sakana.ai

At Sakana AI, we have pioneered the use of nature-inspired methods to advance cutting-edge foundation models. Earlier this year, we developed methods to automatically merge the knowledge of multiple LLMs. In more recent work, we harnessed LLMs to discover new objective functions for tuning other LLMs. Throughout these projects, we have been continuously surprised by the creative capabilities of current frontier models. This led us to dream even bigger: Can we use foundation models to automate the entire process of research itself?

https://sakana.ai/ai-scientist/

US colleges cutting majors, slashing programs after years of putting it off - Heather Hollingsworth, Associated Press

For years, many colleges held off making cuts, said Larry Lee, who was acting president of St. Cloud State but left last month to lead Blackburn College in Illinois. College enrollment declined during the pandemic, but officials hoped the figures would recover to pre-COVID levels and had used federal relief money to prop up their budgets in the meantime, he said. “They were holding on, holding on,” Lee said, noting colleges must now face their new reality. Higher education made up some ground last fall and in the spring semester, largely as community college enrollment began to rebound, National Student Clearinghouse Research Center data showed. But the trend for four-year colleges remains worrisome. Even without growing concerns about the cost of college and the long-term burden of student debt, the pool of young adults is shrinking.

https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/nation/2024/08/11/us-colleges-cut-majors-slash-programs-after-years-of-putting-it-off/74760884007/

Perplexity’s popularity surges as AI search start-up takes on Google - Madhumita Murgia and Cristina Criddle, Financial Times

Perplexity AI, an artificial intelligence search start-up, has increased its monthly revenues and usage seven-fold since the start of the year, after closing a new $250mn round of funding. The AI-powered search engine answered roughly 250mn questions in the last month, compared with 500mn queries for the whole of 2023, Dmitry Shevelenko, Perplexity’s chief business officer, told the Financial Times. The new figures underscore Perplexity’s position as one of the fastest-growing generative AI applications to emerge since OpenAI’s ChatGPT launched to huge acclaim in November 2022, despite controversy over the start-up’s data-gathering techniques.

https://www.ft.com/content/87af3340-2611-4650-9ae3-036927e9f65c