Updates in Artificial Intelligence
Authors: Samantha Goldman; info@ciddl.org
Apple Intelligence
Apple first announced its Apple Intelligence back in June. Since then, it has launched several updates. Now, Apple Intelligence is available on iPhone15 Pro, later phones, and many devices with M1 chips or newer. Notable abilities include Writing Tools, image creation, and Siri with ChatGPT. First, the Writing Tools help users find the right words, change tone, proofread, and make messages more concise. Additionally, this upgrade summarizes emails, shortens long threads, prioritizes notifications, and categorizes emails. As for images, Apple has upgraded its notes feature, where users can draw a rough sketch and turn it into a related image with the Image Wand. With the Image Playground, users can generate images that include people in their Photos. Siri's latest update introduces several key improvements, including enhanced language understanding, the ability to type messages, seamless cross-app integration, and personalized phone awareness. ChatGPT is now integrated with Siri, allowing Siri to access and utilize ChatGPT's knowledge base to answer user queries. Apple also notes that this product is designed to protect privacy: data is never stored, only used for your requests, and has a verifiable privacy promise. Learn more about Apple Intelligence here.
12 Days of OpenAI
OpenAI made 12 very exciting announcements in December, though not all are directly related to special education preparation. This announcement included the addition of ChatGPT Pro, a $200 a month plan with advanced voice capabilities and access to Open AI o1, its smartest model yet. They also released Sora, the much-awaited video generation model. Sora’s abilities include replacing, removing, and re-imagining elements of videos, isolating the best frames and extending them, and combining two videos into one clip, among others. Most notable for special education is the ability to organize and edit sequences using storyboarding, a frequent method of brainstorming in education. They also released Canvas, which allows users to collaborate with ChatGPT using a split screen, where the interface includes the conversation on one side and refinements on the other. ChatGPT also released 1-800-CHATGPT, a method to interact with the AI via phone and WhatsApp. To learn more about the 12 Days of OpenAI here.
Google’s Willow
Google announced Willow, its state-of-the-art quantum processing unit, which has more qubits and is faster than the fastest supercomputer. This means that this chip can compute more complex problems, predict more accurately, and research much faster. You are not alone if quantum computing seems like something out of a movie. Blockbusters that boast quantum computing capabilities include Ant Man and the Matrix. To better understand how quantum computing might impact special education, teacher preparation, and research, let’s turn to Gemini:
Prompt: Explain how quantum computing and Willow might impact special education, teacher preparation, and research.
Response: Quantum computing, exemplified by Google's Willow chip, holds immense potential for transforming special education. While still emerging, this technology could revolutionize personalized learning through:
- Advanced data analysis: Enabling AI to create highly individualized learning plans based on student needs.
- Enhanced assistive technologies: Developing more sophisticated tools to support students with disabilities in accessing and engaging with the curriculum.
- Preparing future educators: Equipping teachers with the knowledge and skills to navigate a technology-driven future, including the potential of quantum computing.
However, it's crucial to consider ethical implications and ensure equitable access to these advancements for all students.
Google’s Notebook LM
Google launched NotebookLM in December of 2023. If you haven’t tried it yet, you should. It can take articles and turn them into engaging Podcasts. Other features include making study guides, creating Frequently Asked Questions documents, and creating a table of contents. The possibilities for this technology are so exciting as it relates to students with disabilities. Examples include the ability to upload lecture recordings, textbook chapters, and other research materials to have them synthesized into simpler terms, the creation of outlines from multiple sources, and NotebookLM's capability to identify trends in brainstorming notes.
Video Generation
Exciting updates in the world of AI video generation were also launched this year. Sora, initially announced last year, launched to their Pro subscribers. As mentioned in this blog’s 12 Days of OpenAI section, Sora’s capabilities include finding and isolating the best frames, extending them in both directions, organizing and sequencing video frames on a timeline, repeating and trimming videos, and combining them. The videos look amazing, but they are not perfect. Watch some of the clips here and share in our community the errors you find! Google DeepMind announced Veo 2, which creates high quality videos (up to 4k) with realistic motion. Check out some of the sample videos here. Veo 2 can interpret prompts that include instructions about the type of camera angle, movement, and style. Additionally, its understanding of physics allows it to have a high degree of accuracy and follow detailed instructions.
Copilot created a chart sharing the similarities and differences between the two video models:
Absolutely! Here's a revised comparison chart tailored for special education teacher education faculty and researchers:
| Feature | Veo 2 (Google) | Sora (OpenAI) | Similarities |
| Maximum Resolution | 4K (3840 x 2160) | 1080p (1920 x 1080) | Both support high-quality video output |
| Video Duration | Several minutes (2+ min) | Up to 20 seconds | Both generate videos from text prompts |
| Input Methods | Text prompts, reference images, cinematic parameters | Text prompts, image inputs, video inputs | Both use text prompts for video creation |
| Output Formats | MP4, multiple aspect ratios, SynthID watermarking | MP4, square, vertical, widescreen, built-in watermarking | Both use MP4 format and watermarking |
| Access | Waitlist access only, limited to 720p in preview | ChatGPT Plus required, duration constraints | Both have access limitations |
Implications for Special Education Teacher Education
As we know, education is rapidly changing due to similar advances. As teacher educators and researchers, we must stay current on these innovations and how to leverage them in our courses and research. Perhaps more importantly, these innovations are increasingly being integrated into our everyday devices, whether computers or phones. Thus, finding ways to help pre-service and in-service teachers leverage them to support outcomes for their students is important.
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