Need to Know News - March 13th, 2025
In this week's Need to Know News edition:
🤖 Google's latest Gemini feature has privacy advocates talking - will users trade data for smarter responses?...
🤖 Nearly half of C-Suite execs now trust AI over their own decisions...
🤖 Unilever's radical marketing shift abandons tradition for a new AI -driven approach...
And whole lot more!
Google Launches Gemini with Personalization
Google just launched Gemini with Personalization. It lets the AI assistant tap into your Search history for smarter answers.
The opt-in feature uses an experimental Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking model. It only accesses your data when relevant to your questions.
Privacy controls are robust - users can disconnect anytime, edit search history, and see exactly which personal data influenced responses. The feature is rolling out to adult Gemini subscribers now. All together the update gives Google a head start over Apple's similar but unreleased "personal intelligence" system.
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Over Half of Americans Now Use AI Chatbots - Many Forming Personal Connections
AI chatbots have gone mainstream with 52% of American adults now using tools like ChatGPT and Gemini. That's according to a new Elon University survey.
ChatGPT leads with 72% of users, while Google's Gemini follows at 50%.
What's surprising is how personal these relationships are becoming—38% believe AI will form deep human connections, and 9% primarily use chatbots for companionship. Most users (51%) engage with AI for personal rather than work purposes. Young adults dominate usage, with 77% of users being 18-29 years old.
Sam Altman Hints at OpenAI 'Creative Writing' Model
Unilever's Bold Shift: Ditching Traditional Ads for Influencers and AI
Unilever is dramatically changing how it reaches consumers. New CEO Fernando Fernandez announced the consumer goods giant will invest heavily in influencers over traditional advertising.
Why the change? Fernandez believes consumers have become "suspicious" of corporate brand messages. His solution is ambitious - placing "at least one influencer" in every area of every country where Unilever operates. Some regions could have up to 100 influencers. This "social-first" strategy requires dedicating 50% of Unilever's ad budget to influencers and celebrities.
Google's Secret "Toucan" Video Generator Coming Soon
Google is quietly developing an AI video creation tool for Gemini. Hidden code in the latest Android app reveals the feature, codenamed "Toucan." It will transform text descriptions into short video clips.
Each video will take 1-2 minutes to generate. This suggests significant computing power requirements. The app includes warnings about daily generation limits. This hints at a tiered pricing model similar to competitors. Google hasn't officially announced Toucan yet. But the detailed code references suggest a launch is imminent.
OpenAI Launches New Tools for Building AI Agents
OpenAI has released a powerful set of tools to help developers build AI agents. These new offerings make it easier to create systems that can work independently on behalf of users.
The centerpiece is the Responses API. It combines the simplicity of Chat Completions with the tool capabilities of Assistants API. Developers can now build agents with just a few lines of code.
Three built-in tools come with the API. Web search provides up-to-date information with citations. File search helps retrieve data from documents. Computer use can automate browser tasks.
OpenAI also introduced the open-source Agents SDK. It simplifies creating multi-agent workflows with easy configuration, handoffs between agents, and safety guardrails. Companies like Coinbase and Box have already built specialized applications in days instead of months.
OpenAI Pushes Washington for Fewer AI Regulations
OpenAI is aggressively lobbying the Trump administration to roll back AI regulations. The company submitted a proposal urging "freedom to innovate" after Trump revoked Biden's AI executive order.
The proposal calls for a "voluntary partnership" between government and industry. OpenAI wants federal agencies to test AI with real data and possibly waive FedRAMP security requirements. They claim this could speed government adoption by 12 months.
They're warning about China's AI progress, specifically mentioning DeepSeek as evidence that America's lead "is not wide and is narrowing."
OpenAI also wants copyright rules that allow AI models to "learn from copyrighted material" - even as they face lawsuits from The New York Times and other publishers.
How Johnson & Johnson Uses AI to Transform Healthcare
Johnson & Johnson is deploying AI across three key areas: improving productivity, enhancing core processes, and embedding AI in products. CIO Jim Swanson explains their practical approach.
AI now helps J&J predict supply chain risks, answer employee questions, and accelerate clinical trials. In medical applications, AI assists surgeons with procedures and helps analyze heart conditions.
To ensure adoption, J&J created governance councils and trained over 47,000 employees on AI. They're embedding tools directly into workflows, allowing tasks that once took weeks to be completed in minutes.
Nearly Half of C-Suite Execs Trust AI Over Their Own Decisions
New SAP research reveals executives are increasingly relying on AI for decision-making. A striking 44% would change their planned decisions based on AI insights, while 38% would let AI make business decisions for them.
The trust runs deep - 74% of executives have more confidence in AI advice than in family and friends. Over half (55%) work at companies where AI insights now regularly bypass traditional decision processes.
Cybersecurity Firm Raises $49M to Fight AI-Powered Bot Attacks
Estonian cybersecurity company Blackwall just secured $49 million in funding. The goal? to combat the rising threat of AI-powered bots. The company will use this cash to double its workforce and expand into US markets.
Blackwall's GateKeeper product helps hosting providers protect websites from increasingly sophisticated automated attacks. The technology also creates new revenue streams through security offerings.
The funding comes as fraud becomes more organized, with attackers operating like legitimate businesses. Research shows 40% of financial institutions experienced fraud losses in 2024, up from 29% the previous year..
Thanks for reading.
Until next time!
The AI Marketers
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