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Here’s what’s in store for you today:
📰 AI NEWS

• 🎵 OpenAI Brings App Integrations to ChatGPT, Starting with Spotify

• 🍏 Apple’s AI Vision: Reinventing the App Experience

• 🧠 Thinking Machines Lab Co-Founder Andrew Tulloch Joins Meta

LATEST DEVELOPMENT

🎵 OpenAI Brings App Integrations to ChatGPT, Starting with Spotify

Earlier this week, OpenAI launched a new feature allowing developers to build apps directly within ChatGPT, enabling users to perform tasks and get answers linked to those apps. One of the first and most exciting integrations is Spotify, which lets users interact with their music library through ChatGPT.

By mentioning Spotify in your prompt, you can connect your account, giving the AI access to your likes, listening history, and playlists. This allows ChatGPT to provide personalized music recommendations, create playlists for specific moods or events, and even tailor selections based on your favorite genres or top artists. For example, you can ask it to make a dog-walking playlist or a road trip mix with your preferred songs and duration.

The integration also allows ChatGPT to perform actions on your behalf, such as controlling playback, adding or removing songs, managing playlists, and updating your following list. Tapping any suggested track or podcast opens the Spotify app directly, making it seamless to listen or watch.

OpenAI and Spotify emphasize user privacy and data security. While connecting your account gives ChatGPT access to your music data, IP address, and approximate location, Spotify does not share any artist content for AI training. Users can disconnect their accounts at any time.

The feature is available in English across 145 countries for ChatGPT Free, Plus, and Pro users on web and mobile. Free and premium Spotify users can use the integration, though premium users receive a more personalized experience.

Other companies like Booking.com, Canva, Coursera, Expedia, Figma, and Zillow have also integrated their apps into ChatGPT, allowing users to perform a variety of tasks—from learning new skills to searching for apartments—without leaving the chat interface.

🍏 Apple’s AI Vision: Reinventing the App Experience

Apple is reimagining the future of mobile computing by aiming to eliminate the app icon without eliminating the app itself. At its developer conference last year, Apple introduced a vision for AI-powered computing that would see iPhone users interact with an overhauled version of Siri and a revamped system, shifting from traditional app navigation to more intuitive, voice-driven interactions.

This approach challenges the conventional model of organizing tappable icons on the iPhone’s Home Screen, which resemble a scaled-down version of a computer’s desktop. As consumer behavior evolves, many users now prefer to ask AI assistants for recommendations or information rather than launching dedicated, single-purpose apps.

With approximately 1.5 billion iPhone users globally, Apple possesses a significant advantage in integrating AI seamlessly into its ecosystem. If successful, this strategy could not only maintain Apple's dominance in the app industry but also modernize how users interact with their devices in the AI era.

While OpenAI's recent announcement of apps running directly inside ChatGPT presents a new model of app interaction, Apple's vision focuses on enhancing the existing app experience through AI integration. By leveraging its control over hardware, operating systems, and a vast user base, Apple aims to redefine the app experience, making it more intuitive and integrated into daily life.

🧠 Thinking Machines Lab Co-Founder Andrew Tulloch Joins Meta

Andrew Tulloch, co-founder of the AI startup Thinking Machines Lab, has announced his departure from the company to join Meta. A spokesperson for Thinking Machines Lab confirmed that Tulloch "has decided to pursue a different path for personal reasons."

Prior to co-founding Thinking Machines Lab, Tulloch held positions at OpenAI and Facebook's AI Research Group, bringing a wealth of experience in AI research and development. His move to Meta underscores the company's ongoing efforts to bolster its AI capabilities and talent pool.

In August, reports indicated that Meta had made an offer to acquire Thinking Machines Lab, and when that did not materialize, the company reportedly extended a compensation package to Tulloch valued at up to $1.5 billion over six years. While Meta described the offer as "inaccurate and ridiculous," the move highlights the competitive landscape for top AI talent.

Thinking Machines Lab, founded by former OpenAI CTO Mira Murati, has been at the forefront of AI research, attracting significant attention and investment. Tulloch's transition to Meta is seen as a strategic move to enhance the company's AI initiatives and further its ambitions in the field.

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