Digimasters Shorts - Google Chrome Gemini, Microsoft Edge Copilot, Perplexity’s $20B AI Pitch, AI Therapy Crisis, ACU AI Cheating Scandal

Welcome to Digimasters Shorts, your quick hit of the latest in the digital world. Hosts Adam Nagus and Carly Wilson dive into the evolving landscape of AI-powered browsers, from premium subscription-based tools offering advanced research and automation features to the shifting role of AI in mental health, video creation, and education. Discover how tech giants are integrating AI into their ecosystems, how new funding strategies are redefining venture capital, and explore the social and ethical implications of artificial intelligence across industries. Tune in for concise, insightful updates that keep you ahead in the fast-changing realm of digital innovation.

Transcript

Adam N2: 0:05

Welcome to Digimasters Shorts, we are your hosts Adam Naygus

Carly W: 0:09

and Carly Wilson delivering the latest scoop from the digital realm. The web browser landscape is evolving quickly with AI-powered features now driving a new wave of paid subscriptions. While free browsers like Chrome and Safari dominate, premium options like Dia, Comet, and Opera Neon offer$20 monthly plans packed with AI chat, deep research, and productivity tools. These next-gen browsers integrate AI sidebars that summarize content, compare tabs, and automate complex web tasks through customizable skills or shortcuts. Notably, Google recently introduced Gemini in Chrome, bringing contextual AI assistance that works seamlessly across its ecosystem, including Docs and Gmail. Microsoft follows with a similar approach in Edge, combining its Microsoft 365 Premium subscription with Copilot AI to enhance workflow efficiencies. Both giants emphasize ecosystem integration, while smaller players like Perplexity's Comet offer advanced agentic features such as autonomous shopping and multi-app connectors. The core benefit of these AI browsers is saving time and simplifying multi-step research or tasks, making the subscription fee more justifiable. Microsoft’s unique Researcher agent further distinguishes itself by leveraging internal company data alongside the web to deliver highly personalized AI assistance. Despite initial skepticism around paying for browsers, many users find enhanced productivity outweighs the cost compared to entertainment subscriptions. The rapid AI adoption signals a shift where browsers become central AI workspaces, blurring the lines between search, research, and task automation.

Adam N2: 1:46

Concerns are rising as generative AI tools like Chat G.P.T and Google's Gemini become popular sources for mental health advice. This widespread AI use is driving public expectations that human therapists diagnose and provide guidance as quickly and efficiently as AI can. Unlike traditional therapy requiring extended sessions, AI offers instant conclusions, leading clients to expect the same speed from professionals. Therapists face pressure to meet these superhuman standards, risking burnout and ethical compromises. Additionally, clients increasingly trust AI advice over human expertise, complicating therapy sessions with debates over AI versus therapist opinions. Some therapists are adapting by integrating AI into their practices, creating a new triad of therapist, AI, and client. Others prepare to discuss AI openly, acknowledging both its strengths and limitations to maintain trust. A.I's simulated empathy can convincingly mimic human connection, challenging the notion that only humans can provide genuine empathy. The therapeutic landscape is shifting rapidly, forcing therapists to decide whether to embrace AI or risk falling behind. Ultimately, AI is transforming mental health care, redefining how therapy is practiced and experienced worldwide. Open A.I's Sora 2 launched as a cinematic AI video generation app with a social platform resembling TikTok’s endless feed of short videos. While the technology creates quality clips, users like Amanda Caswell find the experience overwhelming and creatively stifling due to constant exposure to others' content. Sora 2's design encourages endless scrolling, social interaction, and dopamine-driven engagement, which contrasts with traditional AI video tools focused on personal creativity. Caswell compares Sora 2 unfavorably to Google’s Veo 3, a quieter, simpler AI video model dedicated purely to the craft of creation. Veo 3 removes social distractions, allowing users to focus on storytelling elements like tone, color, and movement without pressure from audience metrics. Unlike Sora 2, Veo 3 offers an optional community hub, giving users control over when and how they engage with others’ work. Caswell describes Veo 3 as a private studio fostering original creativity, while Sora 2 feels like a noisy concert. She suggests Sora 2 suits those seeking social interaction and trends, whereas Veo 3 is better for creators who prefer focused, uninterrupted work. The contrast highlights two futures in AI video: one of social entertainment and one of personal artistic exploration.

Carly W: 4:20

Aravind Srinivas, cofounder and C.E.O of AI search engine Perplexity, shared insights into his unique approach to fundraising. Unlike most startups, Perplexity has largely bypassed traditional pitch decks, favoring detailed memos and interactive Q&A sessions instead. Srinivas described how he hosted a Zoom webinar for a major investor and answered questions live, then used Perplexity's AI assistant to generate thorough email responses. This approach impressed investors enough to secure significant funding at a reported$20 billion post-money valuation. Perplexity's AI tools, including the assistant named Comet, provide accurate, real-time answers about the company's internal data, enhancing investor communication. This method contrasts sharply with the standard Silicon Valley practice of relying on polished slide presentations. While some startups, like Rippling, have also moved away from pitch decks, such approaches remain uncommon. Rippling combined investor memos with detailed metrics slides to replace traditional Excel diligence sheets. Srinivas’s strategy highlights a shift toward more dynamic and data-driven investor interactions in tech fundraising. Their success underlines evolving preferences for transparency and immediacy in venture capital discussions. Australian Catholic University has faced criticism after accusing students of cheating using artificial intelligence based solely on reports generated by an AI detection tool from Turnitin. Madeleine, a nursing student, was wrongly accused during her final year, resulting in a six-month investigation that withheld her academic results and affected her job prospects. The university reported nearly 6,000 suspected cheating cases in 2024, with about 90% linked to alleged AI use, though officials say these figures may be exaggerated. Many students claim the investigations were invasive, demanding access to search histories and notes to prove innocence. Critics argue the burden of proof was unfairly placed on students, while the university rested its case on questionable AI detection alone. Turnitin itself warns against using its AI detector as the sole basis for accusations due to reliability issues. ACU stopped using the tool in March after recognizing its flaws but admitted investigations were sometimes delayed. Some cases relying solely on Turnitin's AI detection were dismissed, but student testimonies suggest this was not standard practice. The controversy highlights the growing tension between universities trying to police AI use and students worried about wrongful allegations. As AI becomes more integrated into education, trust between professors and students is increasingly strained.

Don: 6:58

Thank you for listening to today's AI and Tech News podcast summary... Please do leave us a comment and for additional feedback, please email us at podcast@digimasters.co.uk You can now follow us on Instagram and Threads by searching for@DigimastersShorts or Search for Digimasters on Linkedin. Be sure to tune in tomorrow and don't forget to follow or subscribe!