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

Here’s what we got for ya today:

• 🥇 Most believe AI will cost the U.S. jobs

• 🔍 Google AI Gems

• 🇺🇸 FTC banning fake reviews and testimonials

• 💸 OpenAI’s Project Strawberry update

Let’s get right into it!

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RESEARCH

Most believe AI will cost the U.S. jobs

A recent survey by Bentley University and Gallup reveals that most Americans remain skeptical about the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in business, believing it does more harm than good and will reduce U.S. jobs. Although the number of people who see AI as harmful has decreased slightly, a significant majority still do not trust businesses to use AI responsibly.

The survey found that those who are more knowledgeable about AI are slightly less concerned, but skepticism remains high across all age groups, particularly regarding AI's impact on jobs and decision-making. To alleviate these concerns, the study suggests that businesses should focus on being transparent about how they use AI, as this could help build trust and reduce public anxiety.

BIG TECH

Google AI Gems

Google is launching a new feature called Gems for its Gemini subscribers, allowing them to create custom chatbots that can serve various roles, like a gym buddy, cooking partner, or writing editor. Users can personalize these chatbots by giving them specific instructions and distinct personalities.

Google also offers pre-made Gems, such as a learning coach, idea brainstormer, and coding partner, for those who prefer not to create their own. Gems will be available to Gemini Advanced, Business, and Enterprise users on both mobile and desktop in over 150 countries and in most languages. This move helps Google compete with OpenAI, which already allows users to create and share custom chatbots.

GOVERNMENT

FTC banning fake reviews and testimonials

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has introduced a new rule to fight fake reviews and testimonials. This rule makes it illegal to buy or sell fake reviews, and the FTC can now impose penalties on those who break the law. The rule also bans businesses from creating or sharing fake reviews, whether they are written by AI, insiders, or anyone without real experience with the product.

It further prohibits companies from paying for positive or negative reviews and using fake social media metrics like followers or views. The rule also stops businesses from hiding negative reviews through threats or intimidation. This new rule is designed to protect consumers and ensure fair competition, and it will go into effect 60 days after it's published in the Federal Register.

STARTUPS

OpenAI’s Project Strawberry update

OpenAI's secretive Project Strawberry is expected to be released as early as this fall, with a focus on significantly improving math and programming capabilities beyond what current chatbots can achieve. Initially rumored to be aimed at "deep research" that allows for autonomous follow-up studies, new information reveals that Project Strawberry will also excel in complex problem-solving, including advanced puzzles like those found in the New York Times Connections.

The project has reportedly been demonstrated to national security officials, and while it's unclear if it will be integrated into ChatGPT 5, it could play a key role in enhancing the quality of data used for training future AI models, reducing errors, and improving overall performance.