This Week in AI for Business Owners: The 7 Updates You Need to Know

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This week was massive for AI updates, and I’ve sifted through the noise to bring you the seven that can actually make a difference for your business.

1. Google Workspace Introduces Built-In E-Signatures

Finally! Google Workspace added e-signature functionality to Google Docs. Now you can send, manage, and sign contracts directly in your docs—no more switching to third-party tools like DocuSign. I tested it, and while it’s not perfect, it gets the job done for simple agreements.

2. OpenAI Drops O3 for Advanced Problem-Solving

On OpenAI's 12th day of Christmas they released a preview into o3. The reaction to o3 goes in many directions, so here are a few:

• "OpenAI's o3 model achieved an elo rating of 2727 in codeforces. That puts it in the 99.95 percentile of competitive programmers. CS grads might honestly be cooked." - Lisan al Gaib
• "OpenAI just gave everyone a best in the world programmer in their pocket! o3 scored 2727 on Codeforces meaning it outperformed 99.8% of the competition (humans) on that platform! Oh and remember how o1 was SOTA? It is now outperformed by o3-mini. gg humans." - Nomaditsu
• "Wow, these AI wars are getting crazy. OpenAI just dropped the o3 model. The o3 has scored over 85% on ARC-AGI . Human performance is at 85%. I am even more convinced the world and human labour are going to change really fast. Congrats OpenAI!" - Rihard Jarc
• "@OpenAI JUST announced o3 on their 12th day of OpenAI and... well, just look at these benchmarks: 87.5% on ARC-AGI (the human threshold is 85%). 25.2% of EpochAI's Frontier Math problems (when no other model breaks 2%). 96.7% on AIME 2024 (missed one question). 71.7% on software engineer (o1 was 48.9). 87.7% on PhD-level science (above human expert scores). Even the team seemed shocked - one speaker said they 'need to fix [their] worldview... especially in this o3 world....' Safety testing starts now. Public release end of January." - Allie Miller

This isn’t just chat-based AI; O3 understands and interacts with complex systems, making it useful for things like logistics, engineering, and advanced design. Could AGI be closer than we think?

3. Google Notebook LM Gets an Upgrade

If you haven’t tried Notebook LM yet, now’s the time. Google just revamped its AI-powered productivity tool with a cleaner layout, interactive audio features, and a premium version.

For example, my lawyer client is using this to organize cases with their team in one place—documents, research, notes—all streamlined into one workspace.

Pro Tip: Use Notebook LM to create a central hub for big projects or client accounts.

4. ChatGPT Is Now Accessible by Phone and WhatsApp

OpenAI made ChatGPT more accessible by launching a phone number (1-800-CHAT-GPT) and WhatsApp integration. This is great for people who want quick answers but don’t want to deal with apps or logins.

I tried it, and while it’s not as robust as using the app, it’s surprisingly convenient.

5. Google VEO 2 Overshadowed OpenAI’s Sora:

Google is flexing with VEO2, its new AI video generator. The results? Stunning. This tool creates realistic videos from text prompts, blowing competitors like Sora out of the water.

Pro Tip: Join the VO2 waitlist if you’re a content creator or marketer. This tool will save you time and money while elevating your visual storytelling.

• Click here sign up for the waitlist for Google VEO 2
• Click here to view a comparison of Google VEO 2 and Sora

6. ChatGPT Desktop App Connects to Apps Like Notion

The ChatGPT desktop app now lets you integrate with apps like Notion, making it easier to collaborate and get work done. I tested it by rewriting a transcript directly in Notion—it worked seamlessly.

While ChatGPT can’t yet replace the content itself in your app, it’s clear we’re getting closer to AI automating these workflows entirely.

7. Google Labs Whisk Brings AI Creativity to Life

Google Labs launched Whisk, a tool that creates artistic visuals from your images or text prompts. If you’re into creative work or visual storytelling, this tool can help you stand out.

I tested it for fun, and while I probably won’t use it daily, I see its potential for email marketing, ebooks, or unique social posts.

Pro Tip: Play around with Whisk to create personalized designs that make your brand pop.

Conclusion

AI is moving fast, and staying informed is no longer optional.

Let's grow together,

Shanee Moret

P.S. Click here to subscribe to my YouTube channel for upcoming tutorials on all of these AI tools and more.