Welcome to Get The Gist, where every weekday we share an easy-to-read summary of the latest and greatest developments in AI—news, innovations, and trends—all delivered in under 5 minutes! ⏱

In today’s edition:

• Microsoft Unveils MatterGen for Materials Discovery

• xAI’s Grok Web App Rivals ChatGPT and Gemini

• Microsoft Adds Copilot and Designer to 365 Plans

• Apple Pauses Controversial Notification Summary Feature

• And more AI news….

Top Developments

Microsoft

Microsoft Unveils MatterGen for Materials Discovery

The Gist: Microsoft’s new AI tool, MatterGen, revolutionizes materials discovery by generating novel compounds with remarkable precision, outperforming traditional methods and accelerating innovation in materials science.

Key Details:

• MatterGen uses generative AI to create new materials tailored to specific properties, surpassing traditional screening methods.

• The AI successfully designed and helped synthesize a new material, TaCr₂O₆, which matched predictions during real-world testing.

• Built on extensive datasets and open-source under the MIT license, MatterGen invites collaboration for applications in areas like batteries and magnets.

• The innovation aligns with global efforts, including Google, Meta, and Amazon, to advance AI-powered materials science.

xAI

xAI’s Grok Web App Rivals ChatGPT and Gemini

The Gist: Elon Musk’s xAI has launched a web version of its Grok chatbot, offering broader accessibility without requiring an X account, directly competing with ChatGPT and Google Gemini through advanced features and customizable options.

Key Details:

• The Grok web app is available at Grok.com, providing real-time info gathering, question answering, and image generation akin to its iOS app.

• Users can sign in with X, Google, or email accounts, with free plans including limits like 10 image generations every two hours.

• Features include “Temporary Mode” for privacy, customizable themes, and modes like Auto, Visualise, and Search for tailored interactions.

• Broader access via the web targets users in schools, workplaces, or without X Premium subscriptions.

Microsoft

Microsoft Adds Copilot and Designer to 365 Plans

The Gist: Microsoft is making its AI tools, Copilot and Designer, available to Microsoft 365 Personal and Family subscribers, offering advanced productivity and design capabilities to millions of users.

Key Details:

• Subscribers gain access to Copilot in apps like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, plus the standalone Copilot app.

• Monthly AI credits support tasks such as drafting, analyzing, and designing, with unlimited use available through an upgrade.

• Designer enables creation of high-quality visuals and photo editing with premium features like object removal.

• Users can toggle AI features on or off in apps for greater flexibility and control.

Quick Gist

Apollo Hospitals is partnering with Microsoft to adopt four AI copilots aimed at expanding its remote healthcare platform and developing new technology solutions (Read More).

An Australian SEO discovered that Google's search ranking strategies include a focus on detecting AI-generated content, as revealed by a Google employee’s LinkedIn profile (Read More).

Samsung is set to launch the Galaxy S24 Ultra, featuring the advanced Gemini AI system, enhancing user experience with improved capabilities (Read More).

Apple integrated OpenAI's ChatGPT into macOS and iOS, allowing users to leverage its functionalities across various apps like Notes and Siri, but a subscription is required for full access (Read More).

Apple is pausing its controversial notification summary feature in iOS and macOS due to recurring issues with spreading false information (Read More).

Snowflake AI Research launched SwiftKV, an optimization framework that cuts inference costs for Meta Llama models by up to 75%, enhancing performance and scalability for enterprises using LLM technologies (Read More).

TCL announced at CES 2025 its plans to launch next-generation Google TVs with Gemini capabilities, enhancing home entertainment and smart home management features (Read More).

THAT’S IT FOR TODAY!