Today on Easy AI:

• ⚡ One BIG problem you can solve with AI: Client management

• 🤯 One BIG story in AI: How humans will boss the AI around

• 💰 The latest in AI tech news

• 🤖 Fresh new apps for you to check out

• 🧠 Today’s Tip: Multiply Your Marketing Content with AI

• 📈 AI Business Wins & Fails

(Read time: five minutes)

🤯 One Big Story: Meta’s chief AI scientist Yann LeCun argues that humans will actually boss the AI around

Humans will supervise and direct even highly advanced AI systems. LeCun dismisses fears of AI-driven existential threats, emphasizing that real risks arise from human misuse or unreliable technology. He advocates for developing smarter, responsible AI that can self-assess reliability.

I completely agree. Rather than avoiding AI out of fear, individuals should proactively learn and understand it. By becoming knowledgeable, you position yourself to effectively control and direct AI, ensuring it serves you rather than controls you.

🚀 Why This Matters:

• Control Over AI: AI is a tool to be mastered—not a force that will dominate you.

• Proactive Learning: By understanding AI, you ensure it serves your needs.

• Focus on Responsible Development: Smart, reliable AI comes from careful human oversight.

🔥 The Big Takeaway:

AI is a tool, not a threat. If you learn how to use it, you’ll be in charge, not left behind. The difference between those who thrive and those who struggle will come down to one thing: who’s learning to use AI vs. who’s avoiding it. So, instead of running from AI, learn it, master it, and put it to work for you.

Read more 

📰 The latest AI and tech news

Ford Accelerates Innovation with AI Agents and Nvidia GPUs

Ford is leveraging AI agents and Nvidia GPUs to speed up its vehicle design and engineering processes. The company aims to reduce development time and keep up with fast-moving competitors, particularly from China. AI is being used to optimize everything from car manufacturing to predictive maintenance.

Read more

AI Enhances Organized Crime, Europol Warns

Europol has issued a warning about how AI is empowering organized crime, making cybercrimes more sophisticated, scalable, and harder to detect. Criminal networks are leveraging AI for deepfake scams, fraud, and cyberattacks, posing a severe risk to businesses, governments, and individuals across Europe.

Read more

China’s Open-Source AI Strategy Counters US Restrictions

In response to US tech sanctions, China has doubled down on open-source AI models. Major companies like Alibaba, Baidu, and Tencent are making powerful AI models freely available, aiming to circumvent restrictions on cutting-edge AI chips and technology. This move could help China maintain its AI development momentum despite global tensions.

Read more

🤖 AI Breakdown: AI Sales Tools – What Works, What’s Hype?

Are you looking to automate your work or life? Want to play with excellent new AI tools? Every post has five new AI apps for you to try for yourself.

• 🔗 Fineshare - Achieve high-quality AI voice cloning online with a single recording, while retaining nuanced emotions and tones

• 🔗 Bolna - 24x7 AI receptionists to answer all inbound calls

• 🔗 Codeium - The most intelligent AI code generation tool out there and we have the data to prove it

• 🔗 ScriptFast - Turn messy ramblings into convincing YouTube scripts. Save hours on your next YouTube script

• 🔗 Quill - Provide your students with nonfiction texts paired with AI-powered writing prompts, instead of multiple-choice questions, to enable deeper thinking

Check out these AI apps, and let me know what you think. Please reply to this email.

🧠 Today’s Tip: Multiply Your Marketing Content with AI

Want to instantly boost your social media presence without extra work? I've detailed an easy, step-by-step system using AI that repurposes one piece of content into multiple engaging posts across LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, and more—saving hours weekly and creating new income opportunities.

👉 Read the full guide here and start automating your marketing

📈 AI Business Wins & Fails

AI can be a game-changer, but only when implemented wisely. Some companies have leveraged AI for massive success, while others have faced costly failures. Below, we break down one big win and one major flop, featuring direct insights from founders and executives.

Win: Duolingo’s AI-Powered Growth

Duolingo embraced AI to enhance its language-learning experience. CEO Luis von Ahn wanted AI to provide tutoring without expensive human teachers. In 2023, they integrated GPT-4 into Duolingo Max, offering AI-powered explanations and role-play conversations. AI helped increase daily users by 62% and paying subscribers by 63%, boosting revenue by 42%.

Von Ahn credits AI for making learning more engaging and scalable. He said, “There’s a massive opportunity to make our apps teach better and have lower costs.” AI-driven personalization kept users engaged, driving record-breaking growth. Duolingo’s thoughtful AI use aligned perfectly with its mission to democratize education.

Fail: McDonald’s AI Drive-Thru Disaster

McDonald’s attempted to automate drive-thru orders using AI voice assistants. The system made hilarious but costly mistakes, like charging customers $250 for chicken nuggets. AI frequently misunderstood orders, adding or removing random items. Social media was flooded with viral clips of AI failures, damaging the brand’s reputation.

After two years of testing, McDonald’s shut down the AI ordering system. Mason Smoot, McDonald’s USA Chief Restaurant Officer, admitted AI had successes but wasn’t reliable enough. He noted the company would “explore voice ordering solutions more broadly” in the future. The AI had only 85% accuracy, meaning one in seven orders was wrong.

Why One Succeeded & The Other Failed

1. AI Must Align With Business Goals

Duolingo used AI to improve learning, its core mission, leading to happier users. McDonald’s used AI for cost-cutting, but it didn’t meet customers' expectations for accuracy. If AI disrupts customer experience instead of enhancing it, it backfires. AI should solve a problem, not create new ones.

2. Testing & Quality Control Matter

Duolingo introduced AI gradually, ensuring it improved lessons before scaling. McDonald’s AI wasn’t fully reliable, leading to embarrassing failures. Rushing AI into customer-facing roles without extensive testing is a risk. Controlled rollouts prevent major public mistakes.

3. AI Needs a Human Backup Plan

Duolingo’s AI works alongside human-designed lessons, creating a hybrid system. McDonald’s AI completely replaced human ordering, with no fallback when errors occurred. Businesses should blend AI with human oversight, especially in customer interactions. AI should enhance, not replace, human service.

4. AI Hype vs. Reality

Von Ahn had a long-term vision for AI in education, improving the product step by step. McDonald’s AI seemed more like an experiment driven by automation hype. AI must be practical, not just trendy. Companies that plan for sustainable AI use will see lasting success.

The Takeaway

AI can drive massive success or public failure depending on how it’s applied. Companies that thoughtfully integrate AI, aligning it with customer needs, see real benefits. Those that rush in without proper testing or strategy risk costly mistakes. AI isn’t a magic fix—it's a tool that works best when carefully implemented.

Let’s Connect!

Want to connect with me beyond Easy AI? You can also connect with me directly on YouTube, Instagram, and LinkedIn. If you’re new here, you can read past posts and subscribe to Easy AI Club to get caught up.

💰 If you’re looking for investors or advisors for your AI product. I’m interested. Send an email, and let’s chat!

☕️ Support Our Team!

A team of three people works hard to make Easy AI educational, informative, and exciting! This awesome AI newsletter is free, but you can support our team by buying us coffee! Thanks so much for your continued support!

🔗 Click here to buy the team a cup of coffee!