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Stack Snacks

John Siwickiwww.stack-snacks.com

Explore the latest in tech each week with host John Siwicki on the Stack Snacks podcast. This snack-sized audio experience makes cutting-edge AI, product design, and development digestible. Get a peek behind the curtain at innovators like OpenAI, AWS, Google, and more. Learn how emerging technologies like AI chatbots, generative diffusion models, and advanced neural networks are transforming industries. Whether you're a tech enthusiast, developer, designer, or entrepreneur, the Stack Snacks podcast demystifies complex concepts with clear examples and engaging storytelling. Discover practical insights you can apply to build a future-forward skillset, business, and career. Short on time? Stack Snacks serves up bite-sized episodes under 15 minutes so you can stay informed on what matters in tech. Tune in to fuel your curiosity and get an edge as technologies continue to evolve faster than ever.


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Episodes

Why ChatGPT 4.1’s Web App Debut Matters

OpenAI's recent release of ChatGPT 4.1 to its web app marks an exciting development in AI accessibility. Previously, this version was exclusive to API users, making its transition to the web app significant. The rollout not only broadens access but highlights 4.1's capabilities, particularly in code generation and comprehension. Testing reveals clear improvements in handling code-related tasks, signaling enhanced performance and potential for developers and tech enthusiasts. The introduction of ...

May 20, 20252 min

Year-End Wrap-Up

In this episode, we dive into the latest developments in AI as 2024 draws to a close, focusing on major updates from both ChatGPT and Google's Gemini. The discussion covers ChatGPT's new universal search feature and mobile vision capabilities, along with OpenAI's Sora text-to-video model. The episode highlights Google's comeback with Gemini 2.0 and explores exciting new projects like Project Astra and Project Mariner, which aim to revolutionize how AI interacts with our physical and digital worl...

Jan 06, 20254 min

ChatGPT Search: Is it Actually Useful?

ChatGPT Search is finally here, but is it any good? We're digging into this new AI search engine in a casual, no-nonsense way, exploring its features, quirks, and comparing it to the reigning champ, Google. I'll walk you through my own experiences using ChatGPT Search, showing you what it can do, where it excels, and where it falls a little short. We'll talk about the integration with ChatGPT Plus, the sourcing and citations (because accuracy matters!), and whether it's really a more seamless ex...

Nov 14, 20245 min

Life Without Google Search: A Week-Long Experiment in Alternative Search Methods

In this episode of Stack Snacks, we dive into the challenges and surprises of living without Google Search. Our host shares their experience of replacing Google with AI-powered alternatives like Perplexity, ChatGPT, and Claude. From accidental searches on Android to missing out on Google's interactive sports updates, discover the hurdles and unexpected revelations of this digital detox. Whether you're an AI enthusiast or simply curious about reducing your reliance on tech giants, this episode of...

Sep 01, 20243 min

Claude 3.5 Sonnet: Revolutionizing Developer Workflows

In this episode of StackSnacks, we dive into the game-changing impact of Claude 3.5 Sonnet and its Artifacts feature on software development. Our host shares personal experiences of how this AI tool significantly boosted productivity, allowing complex tasks to be completed in a fraction of the usual time. We explore the potential shift in development practices, the growing importance of well-documented frameworks and libraries, and the exciting future possibilities of AI-assisted coding. Whether...

Aug 18, 20244 min

Gemini's Updates: Google's AI Assistant Levels Up

In this episode of Stack Snacks, we dive into the latest and most exciting updates to Google's Gemini AI. We explore how Gemini is now integrating with essential Google apps like Keep, Calendar, and Docs, potentially revolutionizing personal productivity. The spotlight then turns to Gemini Live, Google's new voice-based AI companion, as we share first-hand experiences and speculate on its future impact. Join us for an insightful discussion on how these advancements might reshape our daily intera...

Aug 15, 202410 min

Poe Platform & Eleven Labs' Voice Isolator

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.stack-snacks.com/subscribe

Jul 15, 20243 min

Claude 3.5: A Surprising Release from Anthropic

In this episode of the Stack Snacks Podcast, host John Siwicki discusses the recent release of Claude 3.5 Sonnet by Anthropic. He describes it as a mid-tier model in the Claude family and shares his positive first impressions, particularly praising its coding capabilities and the 'Artifacts' feature. John encourages listeners to try out Claude 3.5 Sonnet and share their experiences and demos. 00:00 Introduction and Welcome 00:07 Claude 3.5 Sonnet Announcement 00:31 Initial Impressions and Benchm...

Jun 24, 20243 min

Recap of Apple's Exciting WWDC Announcements

Recap of Apple's Exciting WWDC Announcements In this episode of Stack Snacks, we dive into the latest Apple Intelligence announcements from their WWDC event. Highlights include new writing tools for Mail, Notes, and Pages, significant enhancements to Siri's natural language understanding and context awareness, as well as upcoming features like image creation from text prompts. We also explore the security aspects of device-based versus cloud-based AI integrations. Join us as we discuss how these...

Jun 13, 20246 min

Exploring AI Features in ClickUp and Coda

On this episode of the Stack Snacks Podcast as he explores the latest AI features introduced by two popular apps—ClickUp and Coda. Discover how ClickUp's new tool, ClickUp Brain, enhances project management through AI-driven features like knowledge management, task automation, and an AI writer. Then, delve into Coda's innovative Coda Brain, which integrates seamlessly with other apps like Google Drive and Slack to enhance document creation and data management. Learn about these exciting new deve...

Jun 11, 20244 min

Streamline Your Tasks with VoiceNotes

In this episode, we dive into VoiceNotes, an innovative tool that transcribes your voice recordings and offers a variety of useful features. From creating summaries and to-do lists to generating tweets, blog posts, and emails, VoiceNotes enhances productivity for busy individuals. We share our experiences using the tool, highlighting its convenience, especially for new parents. Discover how VoiceNotes can simplify your workflow, and learn about its export options and subscription plans. Tune in ...

Jun 06, 20243 min

Revolutionizing AI Search: Exploring Perplexity Pages

Welcome to another episode of Stack Snacks! In this episode, we dive into the exciting new release from Perplexity Search called Perplexity Pages. Episode Highlights: Introduction to Perplexity Search and its unique ability to summarize search results and cite sources. Overview of the new Perplexity Pages feature, which allows users to create mini Wikipedia-like pages. Personal experiences with creating and experimenting with Perplexity Pages. Discussion on potential use cases for Perplexity Pag...

Jun 04, 20242 min

What We Might See from OpenAI and Google This Week

Explore the latest updates and speculations surrounding OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google's Gemini ahead of major tech events. Dive into potential AI enhancements and what they could mean for everyday technology interactions. Discussion on the integration of AI with personal and work applications, and how this could revolutionize our digital experience. Anticipate the impact of new developments from OpenAI and Google, and what these could mean for the tech landscape. Tune in for expert analysis on upc...

May 13, 20248 min

Did Facebook Just Release A Google Challenger?

Welcome to another episode of Stack Snacks! In this episode, host John Siwicki explores Facebook Meta's launch of their Meta AI product. He discusses the recent release of Llama 3, an open-source model that rivals GPT-4 in benchmarks. John then dives into the more interesting aspect of the product launch, which is the integration of Meta AI into WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, and the standalone site. He takes a closer look at the features and functionality of Meta AI, highlighting its image gene...

Apr 28, 20249 min

Exploring Gemini 1.5 Pro and ChatGPT 4 Turbo Breakthroughs

This episode dives into the latest advancements in the field of artificial intelligence, focusing on recent updates to two major language models: Google's Gemini 1.5 Pro and OpenAI's ChatGPT 4 Turbo. Gemini 1.5 Pro: Currently available for developers through Google's AI Studio (free) and Poe (subscription). Major updates include: Ability to upload and understand up to 9.5 hours of audio. Support for video input. Expanded context window of 1 million tokens, enabling more comprehensive and informe...

Apr 14, 20244 min

Gemini Advance: Is It Worth Your Time?

In this episode, we're diving into the recent launch of Google's Gemini Advanced model. Join us as we explore whether it's worth your time and investment. Here's what we've got on the menu: * Introduction to Gemini Advanced : A week after its launch, we take a closer look at Google's new AI offering. Is it the chatbot competitor we've been waiting for? * Understanding the Subscription Model : To access Gemini Advanced, powered by the Gemini Ultra 1.0 model, you'll need to navigate Google's brand...

Feb 15, 20246 min

OpenAI Announces New Models and Features at Dev Day

John Siwicki discusses the highlights of OpenAI's dev day, focusing on the new updates and features. He mentions the launch of GPT-4 Turbo, a larger model with a 128K context window. He also talks about the new Assistance API, which allows users to deploy their own assistants or agents. Additionally, he mentions the availability of DALL·E Three in the API and the introduction of the Text-to-Speech Whisper API. John also discusses the pricing for GPT-4 Turbo with vision, the upgrade to GPT-3 and ...

Nov 07, 202315 min

AI News Roundup: Canva's Magic Studio, ARC Browser's AI Features, Google Assistant with BARD & More!

John Swicki provides a news roundup of recent developments in AI. He starts by discussing Canva's new feature called Magic Studio, which includes text-to-design, text-to-video, and text-to-presentation capabilities. He is impressed by the range of features and the ease of use offered by Canva. Next, he talks about Arcmax, a web browser that has integrated AI components. He highlights features such as a five-second preview of web pages, smartly renamed downloads, and the ability to ask questions ...

Oct 09, 202310 min

OpenAI Unveils Exciting Updates for Chat GPT and DALL·E 3

We discus the recent announcements made by OpenAI regarding the updates to their Chat GPT and the introduction of DALL·E 3, their text image system. He highlights the improvements in image generation and the integration of Dolly Three into ChatGPT. He also explores the new features of back-and-forth conversations and voice capabilities in ChatGPT, emphasizing the impressive quality of the voices. John expresses his excitement about the possibilities these updates bring and the potential for more...

Sep 26, 202312 min

Navigating the AI Subscription Maze, Zoom's New Features, and OpenAI's Upcoming Event

Welcome to another episode of Snack Snacks, where we make the complex world of AI digestible! Join John Siwicki at the ungodly hour of 3:45 AM as he dives into the latest updates in the AI landscape. In this episode, we explore: * Anthropic's Claude Pro : Is the subscription model the future of AI? We discuss the pros and cons of Anthropic's new offering and how it stacks up against other subscription-based AI services. * Prompting Tips from Anthropic : Learn how to make your prompts more effect...

Sep 11, 20239 min

Latest AI Tools: Ideogram, OpenAI's Mega Prompts, Loom AI, and More!

John Siwicki is the host of Stack Snacks, a show that aims to make learning about AI simple and fun. He provides insights and commentary on various AI-related topics and shares interesting links and resources with his audience. Summary: In this episode of Stack Snacks, John Siwicki discusses several interesting AI-related topics. He starts by introducing Ideogram, an image-to-text generator that handles text in a unique way. He highlights some of the interesting results it produces, such as gene...

Sep 04, 202312 min

Exploring the Latest in AI: TextFX, Visualizing AI, JamBot, and OpenAI's Fine-Tuning Update

John Siwicki discusses several interesting topics in this episode. He starts by introducing the Text FX project from Google, which offers AI-powered tools for rappers, writers, and wordsmiths. He explores the different tools available, such as Simile Explode, Unexpected Alliteration, and Acronym Fuse Scene Unfold. Next, he mentions a project called "Visualizing AI" by Google's DeepMind. This project showcases artwork and animations created by artists based on AI. The visuals are captivating and ...

Aug 27, 202311 min

Exploring AI Avatars, Video Tools, and Content Magic: A Weekly AI Roundup

About The Guest(s): John Siwicki is a tech enthusiast and content creator who shares updates and insights on the latest trends in the tech industry. John provides valuable information and reviews on various platforms and tools. Summary: In this episode, John Siwicki shares updates and new developments in the tech industry, particularly in the video and AI space. He discusses the launch of Heygen 2.0, an AI video platform with lifelike avatars, and demonstrates how to create an AI video using Can...

Aug 14, 20239 min

AI News: ChatGPT's New Features, Google's Enhanced Search & Meta's AudioCraft

In this episode, John Siwicki dives into the latest updates from the AI world. He starts with six new features rolling out for ChatGPT, including prompt examples, suggested replies, and the default use of ChatGPT-4 for Plus subscribers. He also discusses the new ability to upload multiple files for the code interpreter and the introduction of keyboard shortcuts. John then moves on to Google's AI-powered search experience, which has received three significant updates: the inclusion of more videos...

Aug 07, 202311 min

AI News: AWS HealthScribe, Llama, and the Open Web

Welcome back to another episode with your host, John Swicki. This week, we're diving into some exciting new releases from AWS, learning how to train a llama for your own purposes, and exploring a few other intriguing topics. AWS's new release, HealthScribe, is our first point of discussion. This innovative tool automatically generates clinical notes from patient and clinical conversations, enhancing clinical productivity with AI-generated notes that are easy to reference, edit, and finalize. We ...

Jul 31, 20239 min

AI News: Llama 2, Qualcomm's Next Move, & Apple's Rumored GPT Rival

In this episode, host John Swicki takes a deep dive into the current state of AI, discussing newly released open-source models, on-device applications, and possible future developments from major tech companies. Highlights of this episode include: * Llama 2's Arrival: John kicks off the episode by reviewing Facebook Meta's recently open-sourced AI model, Llama 2. Discussing its complexity, sizes (7 billion, 13 billion, and 70 billion parameters), and potential for both research and commercial us...

Jul 24, 202310 min

Insights into OpenAI, Shopify's AI Leap, and Claude

Welcome to another episode where we dive deep into the exciting world of artificial intelligence. Here's what we cover in this episode: * OpenAI-AP Collaboration : We discuss the new agreement between OpenAI and the Associated Press to share select news content and technology. OpenAI will have access to part of AP's text archive to refine its model, and this collaboration could possibly mark the start of a new era in news services. * Claude 2 Update : Anthropic recently launched Claude 2, a sign...

Jul 18, 202310 min

AI Updates: Chatbot PI, GPT API, and Public.com's Co-pilot

Show Notes * Chatbot PI's New Update - The chatbot PI has released a new update for their iOS app where users can now speak to it. The bot will talk back, allowing for more interactive conversations. The update also includes six different voice options. However, the feature has not been tested yet due to hardware limitations. [Timestamp: Start - 5:00] * GPT API Release - The long-awaited GPT API is now available for everyone to start experimenting with. The API doesn't seem to have any drastic p...

Jul 10, 202311 min

This Week's AI Snack: Stable Diffusion XL

* Stable Diffusion 0.9 : A significant release from Stability AI. The new model has impressive demo images, including an alien walking through Las Vegas and a wolf in Yosemite National Park. Notably, the model has made significant improvements in rendering hands and faces. * ClipDrop.co : A toolset from Stability AI where you can experiment with the 0.9 model. Examples include a lion with wings, a lighter cake, and a farmer cat in a garden. * Image Generation : Discussion of various generated im...

Jun 26, 20239 min

AI Snack: Function Calling

OpenAI API Updates * Notable reduction in the cost of some models: * 75% cost reduction on embeddings * 25% cost reduction for input tokens for GPT 3.5 Turbo * Function Calling Upgrade for GPT3 and GPT3.5: * This new feature allows conversion of natural language queries into API calls or database queries. * Examples include converting queries like "Email someone to see if she wants to get coffee on Friday" to function calls such as "send an email." * It can even convert database queries like "Wh...

Jun 20, 20235 min
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