AI round-up: Week of March 17, 2025
My long-time co-worker and good friend Patsie Dionise (our VP, Channel Experience) joked that I say something is “mind-blowing” an average of once a day. Well, she’s right. Let’s take a closer look at that:
1. Some days, I feel like there’s not much of my mind left to be blown.
2. Then, something comes along that is mind-blowing.
The latest bit of news to be labeled ‘mind-blowing’? Well, look for yourself – from Shelly Palmer:
“According to Adobe Analytics, U.S. retail websites saw a 1,200% increase in traffic from generative AI sources between July 2024 and February 2025. During the 2024 holiday season alone, this figure jumped 1,300% year-over-year, with Cyber Monday traffic spiking 1,950% compared to 2023.
Consumer adoption is driving the shift. A survey of 5,000 U.S. shoppers found that 39% have used generative AI for online shopping, with 53% planning to do so this year. Users rely on AI for product research (55%), recommendations (47%), deal-hunting (43%), gift ideas (35%), product discovery (35%), and shopping list creation (33%).
AI-generated traffic isn’t just growing—it’s more engaged than traditional sources. Visitors spend 8% more time on-site, view 12% more pages per visit, and have a 23% lower bounce rate than those from search or social media. Conversational AI interfaces are improving consumer confidence and making online shopping more intuitive.”
The last two weeks we’ve talked about how AI will change SEO. First, in how we need to adjust to the ways people find us; then, we took a look at Google’s new blue-linkless AI mode. Turns out, the change was already well underway. I mean those numbers … they’re just … I can’t wrap … it’s … MIND-BLOWING! (Sorry, Patsie.)
More mind-blowing stuff ahead.
Let’s get to it.
The Heavy Stuff
Story 1: Nvidia Holds a very exciting conference
I’ve seen the future. It’s in this article.
Nvidia dropped the mic on the future of everything with some absolutely amazing possibilities that it is working on, will be working on or sees someone working on – thanks in large part to … them. This is a must-read: 20 ways Nvidia’s GTC could reshape marketing (The Drum)
Story 2: That didn’t take long: Nvidia announces AI partnership with Yum Brands (WSJ)
Everything from taking your order to making sure your order is right – for starters – will be possible with new AI technology backed by Nvidia. Coming soon to a Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, KFC near you…
Story 3: People are using AI for mentoring and coaching counsel. (Financial Times)
Story 4: Wait! AI gets stressed by listening to people’s traumatic stories. (New York Times)
Listen, if the AI is getting stressed … what hope do we have?!?
Story 5: ChatGPT said he killed his children and was serving jail time. He didn’t and isn’t.
Your weekly reminder to fact-check generative AI info from the BBC.
Story 6: OpenAI asked the Trump administration for relief from state AI rules… (Bloomberg)
…in exchange for them sharing their AI with the White House. Hmmmm … I’m no expert, but that sounds a little unethical to me. Sam … who are you? Or is this who you always were?
The not-so-heavy stuff
Story 1: Zoom introduces a new agentic AI approach (VentureBeat)
People still use Zoom?
Story 2: If you can talk, you can ‘Photoshop’ (ars Technica)
Well, not quite. But kinda.
Story 3: How to talk about AI in a meeting is a clever headline for a glorified vocabulary list, but here it is. (Shelly Palmer)
Some of these terms are deep, though! Might want to bookmark this one.
Story 4: Stability AI has released a model that turns 2D images into 3D scenes. (TechCrunch)
Story 5: Anthropic (Claude) just added search. (ZDNET)
About time!
A few that don’t fit in either category
Story 1: Don’t piss off the celebrities. (Variety)
Remember last week when we talked about OpenAI wanting to train its models on copyrighted materials? Well … that went over about as well as you thought it would with actors, directors, writers, musicians and creators in general. 400 of them, to be exact.
I kinda feel like this is a fight we should all be a part of.
Story 2: Will you let an AI nurse treat/diagnose you? (Yahoo!)
Think carefully about that answer. Healthcare is not something enjoyed by all so before answering, think about those who don’t have access. Does that make you change your mind? You’re a parent in the middle of what you consider to be an emergency, and this nurse is available and accessible 24/7. Rethinking your initial reaction?
I don’t know how I’d answer that question … but I know it’s one worth asking. Because Ana, the AI nurse, is here. If you’re curious about what an interaction sounds like, here’s Ana talking to a patient who is nervous about an upcoming colonoscopy. (BTW – consider this my PSA to tell you to make sure you’re getting one.)
Final note:
Let’s put AI to the test. I’m in two NCAA draft pools – you have eight people; each gets eight picks in a randomly selected snake draft.
Here’s the one I drafted:
Here’s the one Claude drafted:
And, if you’re curious, USA Today asked AI to fill out a bracket.
Stay tuned to see how it all plays out!!
-Ben
As a reminder, this is a round-up of the biggest stories, often hitting multiple newsletters I receive/review. The sources are many … which I’m happy to read on your behalf. Let me know if there’s one you’d like me to track or have questions about a topic you’re not seeing here.