Welcome to Daily Zaps, your regularly-scheduled dose of AI news ⚡️ 

Here’s what we got for ya today:

• 🤖 Lifehack: Note-taking with Google AI

• 🏋️‍♂️ Zuckerberg on AI training data

• 🎥 OpenAI revamping Sora

• 🇪🇺 Big tech sign-up to EU’s AI pact

Let’s get right into it!

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BIG TECH

Lifehack: Note-taking with Google AI

Google has updated its AI-powered tool, NotebookLM, to include new features like summarizing YouTube videos and audio files, as well as generating shareable AI-driven audio discussions. Initially used by educators, the tool is now gaining traction among business professionals. Users can upload various file types, generate summaries, and share them via public URLs.

Google's AI note-taking tool, NotebookLM, now offers the ability to summarize YouTube videos by analyzing transcripts, providing key topics and links to specific parts of the video. It also suggests follow-up questions to explore content in-depth and allows users to create podcast-style "Audio Overviews" of the material. This feature extends to audio recordings, making it easier to search transcriptions for study guides or insights. NotebookLM enhances engagement with video and audio content, distinguishing itself from other AI tools like Gemini and Microsoft Copilot.

BIG TECH

Zuckerberg on AI training data

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg acknowledges complex copyright issues in using scraped data to train AI models but downplays the value of individual creators' content, suggesting it isn’t significant enough to warrant compensation. He hints Meta may form partnerships for valuable content but is prepared to avoid paying creators, as it has done with news outlets.

This approach aligns with Meta’s stance in ongoing legal battles over scraping, where it argues for broad interpretation of fair use. While some AI companies are striking paid content deals, Zuckerberg signals that Meta will continue to prioritize what it deems valuable content, mirroring its previous strategies in handling news content disputes.

STARTUPS

OpenAI revamping Sora

OpenAI's video-generating model, Sora, teased in February, has faced delays despite initial excitement, with the company focusing on improving quality and addressing issues like long generation times, inconsistent styles, and visual errors. Early demos left creators like Patrick Cederberg frustrated by the model's limitations, but OpenAI is now training a new version with hopes of producing longer, higher-quality clips.

The delay reflects a broader trend of companies releasing flashy AI demos prematurely before their products are fully ready for commercial use. Despite Sora's delay, creators have turned to other AI video tools from startups like Runway and Pika in the meantime.

GLOBAL NEWS

Big tech sign-up to EU’s AI pact

The European Commission launched the AI Pact, encouraging companies to make voluntary pledges on AI practices ahead of the full implementation of the EU’s legally binding AI Act. The Pact promotes AI governance strategies, high-risk system identification, and AI awareness.

While many major companies, including Amazon, Microsoft, and OpenAI, have signed, notable absences include Meta, Anthropic, and Spotify. The Pact aims to create best practices and foster compliance, with companies reporting progress after 12 months. Despite voluntary nature, it could drive competitive compliance among signatories.