Did AI write this?

Google throws down the gauntlet

Welcome back! Google DeepMind just dropped its latest AI model, and it feels like a pretty direct competitor to OpenAI’s Sora—with ultra-realistic, high-resolution video generation. DeepMind claims this new Veo 2 model can render complex visuals (think rippling water or shadows) with a level of detail and control that’s never been seen before. 

Who will win: the established leader or the research giant with endless resources? Place your bets now.

Is this Google’s comeback?

Via Google

Google AI Studio is a platform for building AI models and prototypes directly in your browser. Start new projects quickly with ready-made prompts and templates, whether you need image generation, speech-to-text, or code assistance. For developers, it integrates with Google’s API to deploy projects and test results on the fly.

Key features:

  • Pre-built templates: Quickly spin up models for common use cases

  • Code generation: Use AI assistance to automate writing and debug code

  • Real-time testing: Test and adjust models instantly using Google APIs

Pricing: Free

Low-code AI tools at your fingertips

AISmartCube lets you build, automate, and customize AI workflows without advanced coding. Use its drag-and-drop tools to design solutions, connect public knowledge bases, and automate repetitive tasks.

Use cases:

  • Customer support automation: Create chatbots that pull from public FAQs to provide instant answers

  • Marketing campaigns: Automate personalized outreach workflows using AI insights

  • Data analysis workflows: Build tools to gather and analyze data across multiple sources

Pricing: Free and paid plans available

Automate Your Startup Workflows with Make + HubSpot

Take your startup’s productivity to the next level with Make and HubSpot. Make’s no-code platform empowers you to build custom workflows, automate tasks, and connect your favorite tools effortlessly.

Through the HubSpot for Startups Program, you’ll get 1 year of Make for free—a game-changer for saving time and boosting efficiency. Don't let manual processes slow you down. Start automating and focus on scaling your business.

Write better, faster, smarter

MyStylus.ai

MyStylus.ai is your AI-powered writing companion for essays, reports, and creative projects. It provides real-time feedback to improve clarity, structure, and grammar, while helping you organize ideas and generate citations effortlessly.

Who it’s for:

  • Students/researchers: Write essays and reports with accurate citations and polished grammar

  • Writers: Refine creative projects with real-time editing and idea organization tools

Pricing: Free and paid plans available

Start a newsletter (written by you 😉 )

Via Topical

Topical helps creators and marketing teams streamline newsletter creation by pulling content from sources like Reddit, RSS feeds, and Bing News. Customize workflows with its node-based builder to gather, summarize, and format articles automatically, complete with AI-generated subject lines.

Key features:

  • Content curation: Pull articles from multiple sources like Reddit and RSS

  • AI summaries: Automatically generate concise, readable content

  • Email platform exports: Connect directly to MailChimp, Substack, and more

Pricing: Paid, free trial available

Smarter test prep, faster grading

Via PrepAI

PrepAI helps educators and HR teams by generating questions, quizzes, and assessments. You can create exams in different formats (like multiple choice or short answers) and even include visual content. 

Use cases:

  • Teachers: Automate quiz and test creation for any subject

  • Tutors: Generate practice tests that match individual learning levels

Pricing: Free and paid plans available

On this week’s episode of The Next Wave, we fly to London to get first-hand experience with Project Astra. We discuss the groundbreaking capabilities of Astra and more, including:

  • Multimodal conversations

  • Advanced personalization

  • Potential to perform complex tasks

  • Data privacy and security

This was such a trip—in more ways than one. Check it out wherever you listen to podcasts.

That’s a wrap! See you back here Friday.

—Matt (FutureTools.io)

P.S. This newsletter is 100% written by a human. Okay, maybe 96%.