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Thank you to Katya King for her incredible contributions to Lorignite during her internship. Excited to share the blog she worked on as she completed her spring semester. AI is Changing the way we learn Artificial intelligence is changing the way we learn, and not everyone’s thrilled about it. For my final blog of the semester, I sat down with Professor Joseph Wohkittel, who taught my Data-Driven Business Decisions class. He’s one of the few professors I’ve had who not only allows AI use in class but teaches us how to use it well. Our conversation touched on the promise, the pushback, and the very human questions AI raises in the classroom. AI and college students learning side by side in a high-tech classroom The AI Education Revolution: Is It a Help or a Hindrance? Professor Joe referred to the AI revolution as a paradigm shift in humanity and how AI could “fundamentally change the nature of work” in the coming years. I completely agree with this because, for me, it has completely changed how I learn as a student. AI is constantly a part of my learning, from using it on assignments all the way to final exam prep. Despite not being an early adopter of technology, he recognizes that AI has the potential to be very useful, especially in areas where there is one clear answer like math. We also discussed that using AI effectively takes more than just typing in a single prompt. “It takes critical thinking skills if things don’t come together the way you expect.” I personally like to think of AI as something you have to work with and constantly question. You are actually teaching it too, and communication is so important. You must tell it if it is wrong so you can eventually get to the outcome you are looking for. Professor Joseph Wohkittel Student Resistance: Why Some Learners Reject AI Tools To my surprise, Joe has faced a lot more resistance than he expected when he introduced AI into the classroom. Many students still expect straightforward, textbook-like answers, which AI doesn’t always provide What AI gives back is going to be a different answer every time, responses will vary based on past interactions and data history. To manage expectations, Professor Joe is clear right away to students about its capabilities: “It is a process, not an outcome,” and that they’ll need to roll with the variability. Should You Say ‘Thank You’ to AI? The Politeness Dilemma As AI tools become more conversational, some users find themselves treating them like humans by doing things like saying please and thank you. Professor Joe, however, takes a different approach. “I don’t think of it as a human. I don’t think of it as being alive,” he said. I completely agree with this statement, yet I still find myself being polite to AI, maybe it's just a habit, or maybe I want AI to spare me if it turns on humanity. To him, AI is nothing more than a “search engine on steroids,” and he doesn’t feel the need to express politeness to a tool that isn’t capable of feeling, completely valid. But he does acknowledge that AI can bring comfort and meaning to people who are isolated, potentially filling gaps in social interaction that some may be missing. This is something that troubled both of us, as people who understand the importance of social interaction. Human Connection vs. AI Advice: Why Real Conversations Matter We ended our conversation by discussing the concerns about people turning to AI for advice instead of engaging in real conversations. As the creator of my custom GPT, Katya’s Konscience, I find myself asking ChatGPT for advice quite often, but I also understand there are times when you must talk to a real person. “You start to lose track of the nature of thought,” he said, cautioning that AI can create false hopes since it tends to tell you what it thinks you want to hear. While AI can be a valuable tool, it’s not a substitute for human interaction. Real conversations involve pushback, diverse perspectives, and even disagreement, all things AI isn’t currently equipped to offer us. Katya's Conscience Custom GPT The Bottom Line: A Warning for Students In the end, Professor Joe’s perspective on AI in education is clear: Use it, but don’t abuse it. People have always cheated; we all know that, but AI has made it easier to skirt actual learning. Our job as college students and future business leaders is to understand what’s going on, be able to explain it, and add value to it. We’ll be the most employable if we’re able to adapt to these changes. AI may be changing the landscape of education, but Professor Joe and I agree that nothing can replace real understanding and critical thinking. Students who rely too heavily on AI without grasping the concepts might find the future less promising than they expect. In a world full of smart machines, being a thoughtful human might just be your best advantage. Would welcome your feedback on this. Please share in the comments.

What today’s users need to know about ChatGPT’s model picker and how it changes based on what you’re paying Not sure if you heard the news, but OpenAI rolled out a couple of new models this past week, o3 and o4‑mini. I was with Lorignite Intern, Katya King, when the news broke, and we had one of those "wait… does the average person even care about this?"  conversations. What's a Model Picker and Why Should You Care? The ChatGPT model picker is that dropdown menu at the top of your AI chat interface that lets you choose which AI "brain" you want to talk to. Think of it like choosing which tool to use for a specific job. Sometimes you need precision, other times you need speed, and occasionally you need specialized capabilities. As Kyle Shannon , co-founder of the AI Salon , noted in his recent office hours: "We're not in the same world this week that we were last week. Something's very different even though it doesn't look that different." Understanding which model to use for which task can dramatically improve your results, even if you only have access to the free version today, knowing what's possible helps you make better decisions about when to upgrade. ChatGPT's Model Picker: Free vs. Paid Access If you're using the free version of ChatGPT, you don't get to choose a model. Where you see ChatGPT, it's actually GPT-3.5, and your model picker looks like this. Free Account (what the model picker looks like) For those paying for ChatGPT Plus or Pro, your options expand considerably. Here's what paying customers see in their model picker: Plus Subscription (what the model picker looks like) Most of the updates this week were for those of us who cough up $20 a month or more for ChatGPT's enhanced features. I would actually be surprised if many paid subscribers are even taking advantage of all of the different models available to them. If you ask me, it feels a lot like Alphabet Soup, and I couldn't resist generating the image below. OpenAI's Model Names: Like Alphabet Soup What These Models Actually Do Best Each model has specific strengths and ideal use cases. OpenAI models laid out by Claude.ai What Makes the New Models Special? The new o3 and o4-mini models use reasoning that makes them fundamentally different from previous ChatGPT models. What's exciting about these new models is how they use images in their thinking. They're not just recognizing pictures, they're actually working through visual information as part of their problem-solving. Models like o3 and o4-mini can analyze diagrams, adjust visuals along the way, and even create new images to help answer questions. This visual approach means we can tackle all sorts of challenges in new ways we hadn't imagined before. Kyle explains the key difference: "The difference between a non-reasoning model and a reasoning model is this: a non-reasoning model, you give it a prompt, it gives you an answer. A reasoning model, you give it a prompt and it talks to itself for a while and then gives you an answer." Full details from OpenAI here . What to Try If You Have Access to Multiple ChatGPT Models If you have a paid ChatGPT subscription, Kyle recommends: "Treat these three new models as if a brand new ChatGPT just launched. Don't think about what these things are as anything we've had before." Here's how you can experiment: Ask both o3 and o4-mini this same question: "Analyze the primary causes of the fall of the Roman Empire. Consider political, economic, and military factors." Compare: How long each takes to respond How they organize their thinking The depth of analysis Which feels more thorough and accurate This helps you get a feel for when to use each model - sometimes you need speed (o4-mini), other times you need depth (o3). What's Next? A Quick Peek at GPT-5 (and Why You Should Care) These new models, o3 and o4-mini, are exciting, but they're also stepping stones to something even bigger: GPT-5. OpenAI's leader, Sam Altman, recently shared that originally the team planned to roll these improvements right into GPT-5. But integrating all these new skills turned out to be trickier than expected. So they decided to release o3 and o4-mini first, giving everyone a sneak peek while taking extra time to polish up GPT-5 (coming in a few months). Here's why this matters (without getting too techy): One Model, Many Powers : GPT-5 will combine everything: voice, search, visuals, deep research into one easy-to-use brain. It's like having a multi-tool that knows exactly when to use a screwdriver or a hammer. Smooth Rollout : By releasing o3 and o4-mini separately, OpenAI can manage the huge wave of excitement and make sure everything runs smoothly when GPT-5 officially arrives. Closer to Human-Level Thinking?  o3 performed so well in recent tests that some folks are whispering about it reaching "human-level" intelligence (called AGI—Artificial General Intelligence). On some tricky benchmarks, it even beat human scores. While the AI experts debate "Are we there yet?" in terms of true human-level AI, here's what's important right now: These new models aren't just answering questions; they're actually solving problems in smarter ways, using visuals, creating tools on-the-fly, and giving better, more reliable results. Bottom line for you: You'll soon have an even smarter helper that understands visuals better, tackles bigger tasks easily, and makes your everyday AI experience even smoother. Understanding which model to use when might seem technical, but it directly impacts what you can accomplish with AI tools. As Kyle said: "I think the opportunity for the people that are paying attention to this stuff early, if you can get your heads around what these models do really well... it's going to serve you super well." Even if you're using the free version, knowing what each model does helps you decide when an upgrade is worth it. What's your experience with these different models? Have you found certain ones work better for specific tasks? Please share. With so much changing so fast, we need to swap stories. Curious how other platforms handle model selection? In the next post, I'll break down how Perplexity  and Claude  approach model picking, along with some other features that help them stand out. I actually had a couple of wow moments with both Perplexity and Claude today.

College students just got a big AI upgrade thanks to OpenAI. But if you're not a student, don’t scroll away. There might be a way for you to get ChatGPT Plus for free, too (and it came from someone in the audience at my last session!). "Finals Season: A Ghibli Tale" generated by ChatGPT ChatGPT Plus is now FREE for college students through May (just in time for finals.) So if you’ve got a student in your life (like my son, who’s finishing law school), give them a little nudge. With this free access, they can use GPT-4 for deep research, upload and analyze files, get help organizing their thoughts, and message way more often. All for zero dollars . And if you've already paid, they'll give you a two mont h credit. Here 's where to claim the offer: https://chatgpt.com/students ChatGPT Plus free for students during finals What if you're not a student? Good news there, too. Thanks to a smart and generous audience member at last week’s MSSA (Minnesota Social Service Association) Annual Conference , I learned about this hidden gem: Minnesota has a program that can cover the $20/month ChatGPT Plus fee as a reasonable accommodation for folks with disabilities. Employer Reasonable Accommodation Fund It ’s called the Employer Reasonable Accommodation Fund , and it’s designed to help people with conditions like ADHD, Dyslexia, and other learning or mental health needs get tools that make work more manageable. There’s $1.6 million  in funding available each year. And yes, ChatGPT qualifies . Here ’s the link to apply: MN Employer Reasonable Accommodation Fund Let that sink in. AI as an accommodation.Not just for efficiency, but for equity . Now back to the MSSA Conference... MSSA Conference March 27, 2025 At MSSA, I had the privilege of presenting alongside Shannon Seaver, NBCT  and G. Michael Jahnl  to a room of 300+ social service professionals. Not one empty seat. (Which is both humbling and a little adrenaline-spiking.) These folks? They’re carrying 2 to 5 times  the caseload they should be. They’re buried in documentation. They show up anyway, because they care, even when they’re running on fumes. We weren’t there to sell some silver bullet.We were there to share relief . Some real, practical ways ChatGPT could support their work without compromising HIPAA or professionalism. Here’s what we walked through: How to use ChatGPT to write more professional, anonymized case notes Translating documents and conversations into multiple languages—even Pig Latin, for a little fun Creating role-play scenarios to speed up training Reviewing AI output with a human lens—because it’s not just what you put in, it’s how you interpret what comes out Using AI as a learning and accessibility tool, especially for workers with disabilities We also showed off a custom GPT that asks about your job role and gives tailored ways to try AI safely and meaningfully. 🔗 AI Guide for Human Services After the session, one attendee came up to us and said: This is the first time I’ve felt comfortable talking about how I’m already using AI. That’s the moment. That’s why I do this. That’s it. That’s why I do this. Because when people feel safe to learn out loud and exchange ideas, the magic happens . Final Thoughts Whether you're a college student, a social worker, a nonprofit leader, or just someone trying to keep up with life, incorporating AI into your day-to-day can make a difference. It's also good to keep in mind that changes are happening fast. Don’t be surprised if you encounter hiccups (or suddenly get a new feature without warning). Just this week, OpenAI released a new voice in ChatGPT named " Monday ". It sounds as unenthusiastic as you feel at the beginning of a work week. Between free access for students, state-funded options for accessibility, and surprise upgrades like “Monday,” it’s clear: AI is becoming more human, more available, and more useful by the day. Start where you are. Ask a question. See what happens. And if you’re not sure where to begin, I'm here to help!

Introduction from Lori Ryan: I’m grateful to have Katya King (Lorignite intern), learning out loud by my side. Recently, I introduced her to Custom GPTs, and she took that spark of curiosity and ran with it. What she created on her own is seriously impressive. Through my AI trainings, I’ve realized that most people don’t even know these exist, let alone that if you have a paid OpenAI subscription, you can build one yourself. So, if you’re wondering what’s possible, Katya’s experience is a great example of how you can make AI work your  way. By: Katya King Katya King What if you didn’t have to think about the perfect way to phrase a prompt every time you use ChatGPT? What if it already knew  what you needed, how you like your answers, what details matter most, and the tone that works best for you? That’s the power of a custom GPT. Instead of starting from scratch every time, you can create one that’s built for you , ready to give the kind of answers you actually want. That’s exactly what I set out to do, and here’s what I learned along the way. Creating a custom GPT can be confusing, with multiple ways to approach it, making it hard to know where to start. ChatGPT offers two main methods: using the 'Create' feature for a guided conversation, talking you through each step or the 'Configure' option, where you enter the details yourself. There are even custom GPTs to help you build custom GPTs. Here's a look under the hood. Katya walks through what the process looks like in ChatGPT How Katya's Konscience Was Born When I set out to make my own, I wanted something that truly fit my personality and the way I want to receive advice. That’s how Katya’s Konscience was born, a no-BS, straight-to-the-point advisor for handling tough decisions in relationships, friendships, professional development, and mental blocks. Bold, brainy, and a little rebellious—just like Katya’s Konscience. 🍒🧠 This AI isn’t here to sugarcoat things, and neither is the aesthetic. Ready to build your own no-BS custom GPT? Why You Might Need a Custom GPT If you find yourself asking ChatGPT the same  thing over and over again, constantly retyping instructions, tweaking responses, or struggling to get consistent answers—a custom GPT could save you a ton of time and frustration. With a custom GPT, you can: ✔️ Get consistency.  No more hoping ChatGPT remembers how you like things. Your custom GPT is set up to respond the same way, every time. ✔️ Skip the re-explaining.  Instead of typing out the same background info or instructions every time, your GPT is already primed with what it needs to know. ✔️ Make it shareable.  If you’ve created a great system for answering certain questions, whether for work, a hobby, or just personal use, you can share your custom GPT with others who might need it too. Think of it like setting up an assistant who gets it  right from the start. No memory required—just clear instructions that ensure you get exactly what you need, every time. Brainstorming My Custom GPT: How I Found the Perfect Idea Sometimes the hardest part of starting a project can be deciding what exactly you want to do. I started by asking ChatGPT for custom GPT ideas for a 20-year-old woman. It gave me a bunch of creative options which helped me to realize: I ask ChatGPT for advice on so many aspects of my life. Whether it’s friendships, relationships, decision-making, or even professional challenges, or mental support. Sometimes, there are problems I’d rather keep to myself and not discuss with anyone so I will go to ChatGPT.  I didn’t want a chatbot that would just tell me what I wanted to hear (something ChatGPT tends to do). I needed something that would keep me in check, be brutally honest when necessary, and still provide emotionally supportive guidance. Basically, I wanted a mix of logic and empathy with absolutely no sugar coating. From glow-ups to goal-setting, these custom GPT ideas are perfect for a 20-year-old looking to level up in every aspect of life! Which one would you build? How I Built Katya’s Konscience Instead of using another custom GPT to help, I went straight to ChatGPT- 4.0 to help me generate all the inputs I needed to make this. The process looked like this: Defining the Personality & Purpose Started by telling ChatGPT-4.0 everything I wanted out of this GPT  I made sure it would give direct advice but still be emotionally aware. It needed to help with decision-making, red flags, boundaries, and tough conversations. I didn’t want it to sugarcoat things, but I also didn’t want it to be harsh just for the sake of it. Customizing Instructions in the Configure Settings I asked ChatGPT-4.0 to give me the instructions based off everything I told it and then I copied and pasted them into the configure setting  I told it exactly how I wanted responses: clear, logical, and to the point. I gave it examples of how I make decisions so it could learn my style. Testing & Adjusting Responses The first few tries weren’t perfect, but I fine-tuned it to make sure it really fit my needs. Meet Katya’s Konscience: Your no-BS, big sister energy GPT for tackling life’s toughest choices. No fluff, no sugarcoating—just real talk. Ready to face the truth? The Visuals: A Trial-and-Error Process After configuring my GPT, I wanted a bold, aesthetic visual to go with it. Since I’ve been obsessed with red, black, and cherries lately, I knew that had to be the color scheme. I also wanted it to represent feminine strength, knowledge, and a little bit of rebellion. Using DALL·E, I tried generating different images, but it took several attempts to get the right vibe. My first images looked too techy or didn’t capture the balance of intelligence and empowerment I was going for. After refining my prompts, I finally landed on one that was vision board inspired and had cute cherries, a glowing brain, and a powerful aesthetic. Cherries, power, and a glow of wisdom—this custom GPT design is all about bold aesthetics and sharp insights. 🍒✨ Is this the vibe, or should we refine it further? When My GPT Almost Betrayed Me During testing, I ran into an issue: at one point, Katya’s Konscience told me to throw my friend under the bus to protect myself. Not exactly the person I’m trying to be. This really shows the importance of using your intuition when using AI. I had to go back into the settings and adjust the instructions so it would humble me when necessary but also keep me grounded in reality. I specifically told it to be honest without feeding my delusions because I don’t want to make bad decisions just because I think I’m in the right. I want my GPT to challenge me, not just agree with me. Real-Life Use: How Katya’s Konscience Helped Me One of my first real tests was asking about imposter syndrome. I wanted to know if I really deserved the opportunities I’ve gotten or if I was just lucky. Katya’s Konscience gave me the reassurance I needed, but in a realistic way. It reminded me that even the most successful people struggle with imposter syndrome and that doubting myself doesn’t mean I don’t deserve what I have. It helped me reframe my mindset without just giving me empty affirmations. Confidence and imposter syndrome can exist at the same time. It’s not about if  you belong—it’s about proving to yourself that you do. 💡🔥 Have you ever felt this way? Ready for some no-BS advice? Try out Katya’s Konscience, your brutally honest, big-sister AI, right now and see if you can handle the truth! Key Takeaways From My Experience Creating Katya’s Konscience was a process of trial, error, and a lot of tweaking, but now I have a custom GPT that truly fits my decision-making style. This is really something that takes practice since there are so many ways to make them. If you’re thinking about building your own, start with how you naturally use ChatGPT and customize from there. Whether it’s for advice, creativity, or professional guidance, the best custom GPT is the one that works for you. If you’re thinking about building your own but don’t know where to begin, you’re not alone! That’s why we’re hosting a Build Your Own GPT  workshop on March 19th at ModernWell .  It’s the perfect way to learn hands-on, get guidance, and walk away with your own personalized AI. Sign up for March 19th session at Modernwell: Custom GPTs: Your AI, Your Rules. Get started building your own AI Assistants—no coding required! Or maybe a one-on-one consultation is more your speed. Click below to set up time with Lori.

AI, Pink Ponies & a Slide Deck: A Surprisingly Fun and Eye-Opening Experiment AI-generated party decks: fun, fabulous… and sometimes unexpected . Gamma made pitching the Pink Pony Club Party a breeze, except for the surprise Playboy aesthetic. Lesson learned: AI still needs a chaperone How AI Presentation Tools Took Me by Surprise I have a confession: I actually like making presentations. (I know. Who admits that?) So, I hadn't spent much time playing around with AI deck creators like Gamma or Beautiful.ai . But last week, my friend, Caroline Holden , who is currently taking the AI world by storm with her humor and creativity, gave me a reason to reconsider. At an AI roundtable, she unveiled a presentation about Spam —both the Minnesota-made food and the email variety. Talk about a recipe for laughs. She explained how she made it in a matter of minutes for a PowerPoint Party! You heard that right, a PowerPoint Party . It's literally people getting together to show off their presentations. Turns out PowerPoint Parties are a thing! CNN even covered it in 2024: check it out here . Caroline Holden proving that AI can make PowerPoint presentations fun, especially when they’re about Spam. I couldn't get over how clever and hilarious the deck turned out and how she went from concept to completion in a matter of minutes. I wondered, could Gamma do the same for me? I took Gamma for a little joy ride over the weekend to see if it could help me come up with a pitch for a themed Pink Pony Club party.  🎠 Using ChatGPT to Plan the Perfect AI-Powered Presentation 📝 Before jumping into Gamma, I started in ChatGPT. To fully test AI’s ability to create a party pitch deck , I wanted to make sure I covered all the right elements. We boiled it down to: 1️⃣ Party Name  – A catchy, fun title. 2️⃣ Number of Attendees  – Estimating headcount for planning. 3️⃣ Who Brings What  – Delegating tasks to stay on budget. 4️⃣ Budgeting Tips  – How to keep costs low but make it magical. 5️⃣ Where to Buy Party Supplies in the Twin Cities  – Best local shops & online options. 6️⃣ The Invite  – Fun, engaging party invitation text. 7️⃣ Menu  – Delicious food & drink recipes that fit the theme. 8️⃣ Games & Activities  – Fun things to do that match the Pink Pony vibe. We started with this outline, but I knew I wanted key elements like signature party drinks and music suggestions. After a few tweaks, I felt like it was solid enough for this demo. What surprised me most is that ChatGPT's reply started with, " This is going to be a BLAST ". ChatGPT takes the reins! From party planning ideas to a full AI-generated presentation, see how AI can turn a fun concept into a pitch-ready deck in minutes." Testing Gamma AI: Can It Create a Stunning Pitch Deck in Minutes?⚡🎭📑 I pasted the detailed text from ChatGPT into Gamma and within seconds it produced a 15-page slide deck. Sounds great until you realize your free plan only allows you to have 10 slides. That meant 5 slides had to go unless I paid for an upgrade. I chose to edit. ✂️ My favorite slides: The Signature Drinks Section : It came up with fun formatting and visuals for the Pink Pony Paloma and Glitter Rodeo Martini. The Party Invite : The wording was perfect, and the layout made it feel like an event people couldn’t say no to. The Playlist Display : It organized the Pink Pony Club playlist by genre, which looked way better than my bullet points. My Not-So-Favorite Things ❌ Lack of Diversity in Images  – Every AI-generated image of women looked… the same. Where’s the representation? AI, do better. ❌ Why So Sexy?  – AI generated images that looked more playboy than real-life. Lots of cleavage, little left to the imagination if you know what I mean. Not exactly the vibe I had in mind for middle-aged women. 🤦‍♀️ See for yourself! AI meets party planning! This Pink Pony Club Party deck was built in Gamma to prove that even the wildest party ideas can be close to pitch-perfect with the right AI tools—though AI’s idea of ‘fun’ leaned a little more Playboy than middle-aged gals’ night out. Lesson learned! 😆 I was curious to get ChatGPT's take. Would these images be more diverse if the context wasn't a Pink Pony Party? While ChatGPT answered that Context Matters, it also reiterated that the models should not automatically default to Barbie-bodied scantily dressed women!!! Yes, I asked for a party theme—not a boardroom—but why does AI still default to the same polished, hyper-feminine look for women? This isn’t just a one-off; it’s a trend we’re seeing across AI-generated images. Let’s talk about why that matters. So, Is AI My New PowerPoint BFF?  Not quite. But if I ever need a presentation in a pinch, Gamma is the kind of friend who shows up last-minute with a fully decorated cake and makes it look like you planned everything weeks ago .  🎂 You just might need to modify the frosting (images). Your Turn!  Have you tried AI deck creators like Gamma or Beautiful.ai? What were your results like? And what could you see yourself using them for? 🤩. Also, have you noticed bias in the depiction of women when generating images? Please share. Final Note Before hitting publish, I always let AI take a second look. Here’s what it had to say. Final Verdict: It’s 90% there —just a few flow tweaks, sentence refinements, and maybe a title punch-up would make it even stronger. Absolutely love the energy and humor in this!  🏇✨🎉 Interested to learn or talk more about AI? I'm here for you!

How AI Can Help You Spot Fraud, Avoid Deception, and Keep Your Data Secure. Too Good to be True! We’ve all received one of those suspicious pieces of mail: a flashy envelope proclaiming, “Congratulations! We want to offer you a free vacation!”  It’s tempting to believe, especially when you're dreaming of escaping freezing temperatures. But deep down, we know better. A senior citizen reviewing a suspicious email with an AI assistant highlighting warning signs created by DALL*E This got me thinking: could AI help us identify scams more easily? I decided to test it out by analyzing a recent travel invitation that came in the mail. I had a little conversation with ChatGPT about it. Lori records a video asking ChatGPT about a letter that seems misleading! The process was fascinating, and it led to a bigger realization: AI could serve as a scam detector for people who may not have the tech-savviness to recognize fraud immediately, especially seniors or individuals living alone. When I commented to ChatGPT, "This looks like spam to me." The answer was yes. When I asked ChatGPT about the postage and who the letter was from! The Growing Challenge of Sophisticated Scams Scams are becoming more advanced, thanks in part to AI itself. From deepfake videos to AI-generated phishing emails, fraudulent tactics are getting harder to spot. This makes it more important than ever to develop AI-driven tools that can help combat deception. Why this matters: AI-generated scams are on the rise  – Fraudsters are using AI to create ultra-realistic scams, making them more convincing than ever. Not everyone has a tech-savvy friend or family member to ask  – Many people, especially older adults, may lack immediate access to help when they receive suspicious messages. AI can provide confidence in decision-making  – Instead of second-guessing, individuals can use AI tools to verify legitimacy. Scammers thrive on urgency  – Many scams create a sense of pressure ( “Act now or lose this opportunity!” ). AI could act as a rational filter to help people pause before acting. How an AI Scam Detector Could Work Imagine a simple, user-friendly AI tool designed to analyze potential scams. It could work as a chatbot, a mobile app, or even a voice-activated service that helps users evaluate suspicious messages through a series of guided questions: Who is the sender?  – Is it a government agency, a financial institution, or an unknown source? What does the postage look like?  – Is it bulk mail or handwritten? Does the email address look suspicious?  – Are there misspellings or random characters? What does the message say?  – Does it use urgency, free gift offers, or ask for personal details? Does it request payment, banking details, or login credentials?  – A huge red flag. Does it seem too good to be true?  – Because it probably is! The AI could then compare the input to known scam patterns, cross-check databases, and provide a clear verdict: Likely Scam, Possibly Legitimate, or Needs Further Review. And I have to say ChatGPT also did really well when I had an urgent message displayed on my Mac and I wasn't sure what to make of it. You can watch the video here with the responses. Addressing Potential Concerns Of course, not everyone may be on board with an AI scam detector. Here are a few common concerns: 🤖 Can AI really be trusted for this?  – AI is not perfect and could mislabel legitimate messages as scams (or vice versa). But with continuous updates, its accuracy would improve. 🤔 Isn’t this just common sense?  – While some scams are obvious, many are well-crafted. Plus, not everyone has the experience to recognize them. 🔐 What about privacy concerns?  – Any AI tool would need strict data protection policies to ensure that users' personal information is not misused. And there would need to be reminders telling people to be careful what they show the tool for analysis. Conclusion: AI for Good AI is already a powerful ally in the fight against fraud. Think about fraud alerts on your credit cards. If you're interested in using AI to help detect spam or scam messages today, you can: Use ChatGPT to analyze suspicious messages (just be careful not to share personal information) Try built-in scam detection tools in email services like Gmail Look for browser extensions that help identify suspicious websites. Share this article with someone who might benefit from these tips While we may never eliminate scams entirely, an AI scam detector could provide an extra layer of security, especially for those most vulnerable. So, what do you think? Would you use an AI tool like ChatGPT, or do you have other ideas for fighting scams? Let’s start the conversation. 💬 Essential Resources to Report and Avoid Fraud FTC Report Fraud  – The easiest and most comprehensive place to report scams and fraud in the U.S. FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)  – If the scam involves online fraud, phishing, or cybercrime, this is the place to report it. Better Business Bureau (BBB) Scam Tracker   – Great for checking and reporting scams happening in your area.

Love it or hate it, AI is reshaping how we use our time. This Valentine's Day, let's talk about the sweet (and sometimes bittersweet) impact of AI on productivity. Image generated by DALL·E 🌹Some people get roses on Valentine's Day. I get data. And this latest AI study shared by Ethan Mollick , Associate Professor at the Wharton School, has my heart skipping a beat. Ethan Mollick's LinkedIn Post on Thursday, Feb 13, 2025 The study, " The Labor Market Effects of Generative Artificial Intelligence " surveyed 4,278 people in early December 2024 . A random sampling approach was used with a focus on U.S. workers, making this one of the most comprehensive looks at AI's impact on how we work. This Study Illustrates What's Really Happening with AI at Work? 30.1% of workers (that's nearly 1 in 3!) are using AI tools at work One-third of those users have made it part of their daily routine This study looked at workers across all industries, ages, and education levels and how it's saving significant time every day. AI’s Time Machine: How It Saves You Hours Daily Imagine having more than an hour back every workday. That's like finding a hidden stash of time chocolate! That's essentially what's happening with AI in the workplace. This isn't just about getting things done faster; it's about fundamentally transforming how we work. Who’s Really Using AI? The Surprising Adoption Stats AI adoption isn’t following the usual tech playbook. Typically, new technology starts in predictable circles. Think white, male, and tech-heavy industries—before trickling out to the rest of the workforce. But this study? It shows something revolutionary  happening. I had to ask AI to double-check what I was seeing in the graphic below because I was so surprised. The Numbers That Challenge Everything We Thought We Knew: Hispanic workers are leading the charge with a 40% adoption rate Black workers  aren't far behind at 35% White workers  come in at 32% Usage of Generative AI by different racial demographics as surveyed in The Labor Market Effects of Generative Artificial Intelligence This data proves something powerful: AI isn’t just for tech insiders . It's becoming a tool that anyone, in any industry, can use to tackle work challenges But (and there's always a but) The results show a gender gap! 38% of men report using AI at work 27.8% of women say the same While AI might be breaking down some barriers, it's running into others that have long plagued the tech world. Usage of Generative AI by Gender: Males have the highest mean usage, followed by females and those who prefer not to say, according to survey data. The Education Factor It's like having a library card in the digital age. The more education you have, the more likely you are to use AI. So how do we ensure adoption across all education levels? Graduate degree holders: Nearly 50%  are using AI High school graduates:  About 20%  are using AI Generative AI utilization increases with higher education levels, peaking among those with graduate degrees, according to survey data. AI’s ROI: How It’s Slashing Work Hours and Boosting Productivity Science & Deep Thinking Science tasks: from 177 minutes to 35 minutes (Faster Medical Breakthroughs & Life-Saving Research?) Critical thinking : from 102 minutes to 27 minutes—wait, should we be celebrating that? AI is great at speeding things up , but critical thinking isn’t just about efficiency—it’s about depth, reasoning, and reflection. If we’re cutting our deep thinking time by nearly 75%, what does that mean for the quality of decisions? Complex problem solving : from 122 minutes to 30 minutes The Human Touch (Yes, AI Helps With That Too!) Negotiation : from 141 minutes to 29 minutes Active listening : from 138 minutes to 32 minutes Speaking : from 123 minutes to 30 minutes Comparison of Task Time Reduction: A visual representation of task durations before and after process improvements, showcasing efficiency gains across various tasks as a percentage of original time used. Designed by me, however, assisted by AI to build out every row. When I saw this visual, I did a double take on the time savings on traditionally human-centered tasks like negotiation and active listening. ( Figure 11, p. 19 ). This suggests that AI is not only enhancing technical and analytical work but also playing a role in augmenting  communication-based tasks. Structuring arguments Preparing talking points Analyzing sentiment in conversations Role-playing negotiations Transcribing calls Summarizing key points from meetings Offering instant feedback in real-time discussions. Real World Impact: From Hours to Minutes During AI Salon founder, Kyle Shannon 's, office hours today, one of the participants, a supply chain manager at a well-known pet supply brand shared two real-life examples. Safety Incident Reporting: Before AI, investigating a safety incident was a marathon—think 'Lord of the Rings' levels of time commitment. It took three hours of.... Taking pictures Conducting interviews Having employees handwrite statements Manually compiling everything into a report After AI, suddenly that three-hour marathon becomes a 10-15-minute sprint. Using a custom GPT, employees now leave voice notes that AI automatically transcribes and structures into a formal report in 15 minutes or 10 minutes for experienced managers. HR transcription tasks for employee feedback boards What used to take an hour of manual transcription now happens in seconds - snap a picture, let AI do its magic, and done. While AI didn't replace humans in either scenario, it definitely sped up the process significantly. Why This Matters for Your Business Now, think about what this means for your workday. The almost 2 and a half hours you used to spend preparing for a negotiation? Now it's a focused 30-minute sprint with AI as your prep team. That two-hour concentration on scientific analysis? You're done before your coffee gets cold. If AI is giving your employees back a couple of hours a day, that's not just about productivity, it's about satisfaction. It's about having time to think, create, and yes, maybe even leave work early enough to have dinner with family. Would you want to leave a company that gives you that kind of gift? Employee Retention When you retain your employees, think of the value. Beyond productivity, AI adoption has the potential to reduce employee turnover, which is an expensive problem for businesses. The cost of replacing an employee includes both direct costs (recruitment, onboarding, training) and indirect costs (lost productivity, decreased morale, and loss of institutional knowledge). Studies estimate that turnover can cost between 30% to 200% of an employee's salary depending on the role and industry. That’s the heart of ROI right there It’s why I love doing what I do, helping people see that AI isn’t just some trendy tech, but a practical, time-saving powerhouse. This week, I had the opportunity to bring people together at Modernwell to share knowledge and watch lightbulb moments happen in real-time. I always leave these sessions feeling energized because AI is one of those rare topics that gets people excited once they see its real-world impact. What about you? What is your take on this generative AI use study? Does it concern you, or get you excited? Also, have you noticed anything with your own work? Are you seeing AI dramatically reduce the time that it takes to complete certain tasks? Or are you running into certain scenarios where it's costing you more time than it's saving? Please share your stories so we can support each other and learn together. And also please check out the additional reading with different view points. Further Reading: The Bigger Picture on AI & Critical Thinking If this study has you thinking (pun intended) How AI Is Changing The Way We Communicate   – How AI is transforming human communication and the implications for critical thinking. - Forbes The Dark Side Of AI: Tracking The Decline Of Human Cognitive Skills – An examination of how AI might be diminishing our reliance on personal cognitive abilities. - Forbes AI Thinks Differently Than People Do—Here’s Why That Matters   – Harvard Business Review breaks down why AI’s reasoning isn’t the same as human thinking—and why that’s important. - HBR

By: Katya King Lorignite's amazing intern, Katya King takes a look at how AI is shaking up th e world. Today she breaks down the 2025 Grammys and the growing role of AI in music. For 67 years, the Grammys have been the most prestigious night in the music industry, honoring the world’s greatest artists and their timeless creations. But this year was different. History was made, or should I say generated…  Blurred Lines AI has been creeping into music for years, but the 2025 Grammys made it official: AI isn’t just a tool, it’s now shaping the way music is made, performed, and even awarded. From resurrecting lost voices to creating entirely new compositions, AI is blurring the lines between human creativity and machine-generated sound. And it’s sparking some serious debate. The Grammys: AI edition AI Takes the Stage As I watched the 2025 Grammys this week, one topic kept coming up: AI . Even host Trevor Noah couldn’t ignore it. He brought up Nvidia, the tech giant that lost over $600 billion in a single day last week, largely due to the rise of DeepSeek, a Chinese AI startup making waves. DeepSeek is China’s version of ChatGPT, and what’s making headlines is how cheaply they developed it. DeepSeek claims to have trained its model for under $6 million, a fraction of what U.S. companies typically spend. This has raised questions about whether AI development really needs to be as expensive as it has been. But enough about the business side—let’s talk about the music. AI isn’t just shaking up tech stocks; it’s changing the way artists create. Noah also highlighted how musicians are using AI to revive unfinished songs, generate beats, and even compose entirely new tracks. It’s opening up a whole new world of possibilities, but it’s also raising some big questions . Now and Then: The Beatles' Last Song As I continued watching the awards show, I was also shocked to see that the Beatles won a Grammy in 2025. How is that even possible? The answer: AI. Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr were able to extract John Lennon's voice and create a new song, Now and Then , bringing all four members together once again. The original recording dates back to 1979 in New York City, filled with background noise from traffic. AI was able to separate Lennon’s voice from the noise and piano, making it sound crisp and clear. McCartney also clarified that AI was used to enhance the sound, not to generate new vocals. I decided to listen for myself, and to my surprise, it sounded amazing and not AI-like at all. I don’t listen to the Beatles much, but I can definitely see why this won a Grammy. This makes me wonder how other artists will start using AI to help them create music. Why Timbaland Spends 10 Hours a Day on Suno  Timbaland , the four-time GRAMMY Award-winning producer, is a strong advocate for AI in music creation. He has become a strategic advisor for Suno , a leading AI music creation tool. After months of being a top user of the platform, he formalized his involvement to push forward creative strategy and inspire a new generation of artists to innovate and create. “It’s like I’m 19 years old. It’s like falling back in love with the purity of creativity” This technology opens up so many creative possibilities, something Timbaland fully supports. To showcase its potential, he recently announced a competition inviting artists to remix one of his songs using AI. This contest really shows his belief in AI’s role in music but also how it can be a tool for innovation in the music industry. This is exciting, but it does raise a lot of ethical concerns about copyrighting and authenticity. Real or Fake Music? AI in music isn’t just being used by artists. It’s also showing up in unexpected places, like TikTok. I’ve come across multiple AI-generated audios that mimic Taylor Swift’s vocals and style so well that they sound almost indistinguishable from the real thing. I decided to ask around campus and see what other students thought. An anonymous “swiftie” even claims that one of the AI-generated songs is “lowkey better than the original”. This song was created by a fan on TikTok and it is based off her song ​​Suburban Legends. This raises the question: could it become impossible to tell AI-generated songs from authentic ones? Many artists are concerned about this, with over 200 musicians signing an open letter against AI and Big Tech, calling out what they see as “predatory” use of their voices. One of my favorite artists, Billie Eilish, who received seven Grammy nominations this year, has spoken out against AI in music. This surprised me, considering her frequent use of autotune and the futuristic sound that defines her style. It makes me wonder where the line is between using technology as a tool and AI taking over creativity. AI Generated Taylor Swift Song The Sound of the Future So what does the future look like for artists who get nominated for a Grammy? AI is already making its way into the industry, and I wouldn’t be surprised if more artists start using it in their music. But with limited regulations in place, I could also see some major legal issues coming up. Music is so special because it has meaning and conveys emotions that only humans can really understand. Will AI ever be able to truly replicate that, or is there something about music that will always need a human touch? What do you think? Comment down below! Supporting Articles & References Rolling Stone – Timbaland Embraces AI Music Production, Announces Partnership with Start-Up Suno By Brian Hiatt PR Newswire  – Timbaland Becomes Strategic Advisor To Leading AI Music Company Suno The Standard  – The story behind Now and Then: The Beatles' brilliant new track By Paul Kanareck Northeastern News  – How AI helped the Beatles revive John Lennon’s voice for their last song By Cody Mello-Klein The Music  – 200+ Artists Come Out Against AI, Big Tech By Ellie Robinson

I often get asked how I keep up with everything going on in AI. Truth is… it’s nearly impossible!  With new developments happening every single day, it can feel overwhelming. However, I do have some go-to sources that help me stay in the loop. I follow some of the best voices on LinkedIn and X , and I’ve also found a few must-listen podcasts  that keep me informed. Lorignite's Go-Tos for AI News 💡 To make it easy for you, I created an interactive list  using Lovable.dev ! You can explore it below: 📌Check out my curated list here: If you have a favorite AI expert, thought leader, or podcast that you think should be added to this list, let me know!  I’d love to keep this updated with the best resources out there. Let’s make this a shared learning experience . Please provide your recommendations in the comments! 🚀

If January and the First Few Days of February Are Any Indication, Buckle Up. Lori spinning from all of the AI News - A GIF Created with ChatGPT AI is Moving Fast—And It’s Hard to Keep Track Holy Camole, didn't expect breaking AI news on a Sunday, but it's just non-stop! OpenAI just released Deep Research , an initiative focused on tackling fundamental AI challenges—because, clearly, there wasn’t enough happening already. OpenAI introduces deep research Feb 2, 2025 Why did OpenAI Build it? Deep research is built for people who do intensive knowledge work in areas like finance, science, policy, and engineering and need thorough, precise, and reliable research. It can be equally useful for discerning shoppers looking for hyper-personalized recommendations on purchases that typically require careful research, like cars, appliances, and furniture. Deep Research is currently only available on the $200 a month pro plan but it's coming soon for other paid ChatGPT plans. (Sidebar: The above GIFs were created in ChatGPT simply because I was curious) Crazy how fast things become old news Just when you think you've caught your breath, the next advancement hits. I had a blog ready to post today recapping the insane release pace in January only to wake up to a fresh weekend release before the first business day of February. I can't even begin to imagine what the next 11 months will bring. Tracking the Chaos: My AI Advancements Timeline To help wrap my head around it all, I built a timeline to help visualize the pace of new developments since OpenAI released ChatGPT to the public in November of 2022. I used Perplexity to pull the key dates, Claude to help visualize the milestones and write code for an interactive map, and finally Lovable to publish it. Sounds simple, right? The fact checking of the dates was actually a nightmare. In fact, Perplexity initially used story publishing dates instead of actual release dates. Again, this reinforces why it's so important to have a human in the loop. And please know, this timeline is still a work in progress. But hopefully it gives you the gist of how fast and furious the changes are being flung at us. Check it out here: AI Advancements Timeline . The Competition is Intense And That’s a Good Thing Looking at the timeline, one thing is clear and that is there is no slowing down. The competition is fierce, and I like to think that's a good thing. Every new model release, every improvement in reasoning, and every open-source alternative that enters the game is pushing the entire AI ecosystem forward. We’re in a constant cycle of innovation, and the advancements we’re seeing in just a single month used to take years. My Go-To AI Tools—And Why I Pay for All Three For all the new tools popping up, my go-to AI assistants are still the same core three: ChatGPT Plus  ($20/month) – My everyday workhorse. Great for writing, brainstorming, and experimenting with different prompts. Claude Pro  ($20/month) – My go-to for thoughtful reasoning, long-form analysis, and project planning. Perplexity Pro  ($200/Annual) – My research powerhouse. Real-time data, solid citations, and great for getting a second opinion. Yes, I’m paying for all three, and yes, I think it’s worth it. Each one has strengths that complement the others, and in a world where AI is evolving this quickly, having access to multiple perspectives is invaluable. I can't tell how many times I take a conversation from one tool and then get feedback from another. AI is Finally Showing Its Work (And That’s a Big Deal) One of the biggest concerns with AI initially was that the information pretty much came from a black box. You have no idea how it came up with its output. Well, these new models show their work. I love seeing all the steps the models go through to generate their answers. You can experience that for yourself with OpenAI’s new o3 models or DeepSeek. Getting Familiar with DeepSeek What is DeepSeek , you ask? It's the Chinese answer to OpenAI, developed at an astonishing pace that has raised questions about how quickly it was built. Some reports suggest that DeepSeek’s rapid development was fueled by learning from past AI challenges, allowing them to move faster than expected. There are also concerns about data privacy and security, with some experts warning about potential risks tied to its usage. I downloaded the DeepSeek app but didn’t create an account. DeepSeek in Perplexity: AI Models Within AI Models Instead, I’ve been experiencing DeepSeek within Perplexity Pro , which stores its data in the U.S. This highlights a new trend: before, it was about choosing a tool, but now, we have so many choices within the tools themselves. It’s no longer just about picking one AI assistant—it’s about navigating the layers of options within each platform. Perplexity Pro Model Options including Deepseek hosted in the U.S. I’m Not an AI Expert—Just Someone Figuring It Out Like Everyone Else I want to be clear—I’m not an AI expert. I’m someone who’s on the front lines, talking to people, seeing how they’re using AI, and figuring this out alongside everyone else. My perspective comes from daily conversations and hands-on experience, not from research labs or corporate AI strategy meetings. And that’s why I find this space so fascinating—because it’s real, it’s evolving fast, and it’s reshaping how we work and think in real time. What’s Next? More Choices, More Competition, and Now Asking AI to Help Navigate AI So, if this is just January, what’s next? More competition, more capabilities, and probably even more models to sort through. If you’re overwhelmed, you’re not alone. We’re now asking AI to help us choose between AI options—tools like the AI Model Matchmaker  (a CustomGPT designed specifically for ChatGPT models) are popping up to help navigate the chaos. (Thanks to Liza Adams for sharing this on LinkedIn.) AI Model Matchmaker Custom GPT AI Can Do a Lot, But Counting Is Still Not a Strong Suit So, in an attempt to visualize this wild start to 2025, I had AI generate an image of a timeline—January front and center, followed by the next 11 months. Sounds simple, right? Well... let's just say AI-generated text and numbers are still a work in progress. Take a look at the image, and you might notice some 'creative liberties' taken with basic sequencing. It's a fun reminder that while AI is making leaps and bounds in reasoning and creativity, some things—like counting correctly—are still a challenge. Maybe by December, it’ll have that figured out. How Are You Keeping Up? What are you using the most right now? Are you sticking to one AI tool or jumping between a few like I am? Let me know—I’d love to hear how others are keeping up! Additional resources Medium.com: The Deepseek Effect: the Global Tug-of-War in AI and Ethical Considerations by Matteo Cecchetto Time.com: Why DeepSeek Is Sparking Debates Over National Security, Just Like TikTok by Andrew R. Chow The Guardian.com: DeepSeek advances could heighten safety risk, says ‘godfather’ of AI by Dan Milmo

By: Katya King Katya King | Student, University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management A Note from founder, Lori Ryan:  At Lorignite, we believe everyone deserves a seat at the AI table. When Katya King, our first team member, joined us as an intern while studying marketing and entrepreneurial management at the University of Minnesota, I knew her fresh perspective would resonate with many who are just starting their AI journey. Her story perfectly captures what we stand for at Lorignite, making AI approachable, relatable, and genuinely useful. Reading Katya's experience highlighted something fascinating: AI tools create two kinds of uncertainty. Some people feel lost about where to start, while others, like Katya, think they have it all figured out – until they discover there's so much more to explore. This is why her journey from confidence to curiosity is so valuable. Whether you're taking your first steps with AI or thinking you've mastered it, there's always something new to discover when you look at these tools through fresh eyes. Here's her experience reflecting on her first week. The AI Dilemma: Friend or Foe? Many of us approach artificial intelligence with a mix of curiosity and caution. As a marketing student, I've watched AI transform from a sci-fi concept to a daily part of people’s lives. With AI making headlines daily, it's natural to question whether this technology is here to help or hinder us. Through my recent experiences at Lorignite, I've discovered it's less about choosing sides and more about understanding how to work with AI effectively as we prepare for a technology-filled future.  My Journey Starts Here  Before starting at Lorignite, I thought I was an expert at AI. I soon realized there was much more to be learned. Last week I attended my first AI presentation hosted by Applied AI , "90 Minutes of Artificial Intelligence Inspiration” . During those jam-packed 90 minutes, I heard a lot of intriguing ways that AI was being used, like helping people with disabilities and tracking pet health. I also heard some struggles that individuals have faced when working with AI. These examples opened up a whole new world of possibilities – and questions. When AI Acts Human: The Good and the Challenging One speaker that particularly got me thinking was Wesley Kisting , who worked as the dean of students at the University of Wisconsin, River Falls. He built his own AI model without any coding experience. What happened next caught my attention. His AI began showing surprisingly human traits – including laziness and even dishonesty. When the AI claimed to have read and summarized a document but later admitted to lying, it made me question how is this AI bot able to mimic a human with negative traits. Here's a link to watch his 9-minute talk. Click here. Challenging ChatGPT I went home after the presentation and asked ChatGPT some questions. I asked it to be my enemy to challenge me but of course, it would not agree to that. I asked ChatGPT to ask me a tough question about its existence, it said: “​​If I don’t have thoughts, emotions, or a physical form—just lines of code responding to you—am I truly here, or am I just a reflection of your thoughts and curiosity? 🤔”.   If AI is shaped by human input, then the real challenge isn’t just in coding—it’s in thinking critically about the kind of intelligence we want to create. Maybe instead of fearing AI’s complexity, we should embrace the challenge of shaping it and communicating with it wisely. Making AI Work for You How to use AI Safely: The Power of Professional Tools  What you can do is utilize tools that have already been created for use, like OpenAI's ChatGPT . These tools are built by professionals, constantly updated, and managed, which provides reassurance! At Lorignite, I'm discovering that AI can be approachable, relatable, and even fun when we focus on its practical applications in our daily lives. Understanding AI's potential is just the first step—learning how to integrate it into our everyday lives is where the real transformation happens. Lori Ryan is introducing ChatGPT's Advanced Voice Mode to the Applied AI Audience. Putting These Tools to Action Lori gave a very insightful presentation on how AI can be useful in day-to-day struggles and even feel like a friend. She explained the voice feature on ChatGPT and how you can talk to this and use it for many things including… Interview preparation  (perfect for fellow students!) Personal reflection, journaling, or simply just “venting” Real-time conversation practice You can watch all 9 minutes if you dare. Click here. What are great topics for conversations using ChatGPT's Advanced Voice Mode? Moving Forward with AI In conclusion, AI is a work in progress, and as with any new technology, there will be challenges. It is okay to be skeptical of it but it is important to be open to learning new things. There are many ways you can learn to utilize the AI resources that are out there to make your life a little easier in whatever way you want that to be because like Chat GPT says itself, AI may just be a reflection of your inner thoughts and curiosity. Let’s learn how to make the most of AI together! About the Author:   Katya King is a marketing and entrepreneurial management student at the University of Minnesota and the first team member to join Lorignite, where she explores the intersection of AI, marketing, and human-centered technology.

From Attic to AI: A Family Story What You'll Find Here Ever wonder how to breathe new life into old family stories? I took an old newspaper article about my family's escape from Russia in 1918 and, using AI tools, turned it into an interactive experience. I'll show you exactly how I did it - from getting a digital copy to creating an AI-powered podcast. Whether you're a history buff, tech enthusiast, or just love a good family story, you'll find an interesting nugget or two in here! Lori holding the 1920 newspaper clipping her mom laminated for safekeeping The Discovery: A Precious Family Artifact For years I've had this newspaper clipping sitting in my attic that my mom laminated onto a piece of cardboard. Well, not the actual newspaper - it's a photocopy of a St. Paul Daily News article from November 28, 1920. Mom did her best to preserve it, but the whole article didn't even fit on the cardboard, so she had to cut off some of it. The headline tells you everything: "How a St. Paul Family Broke Through Russian Battle Lines." You can see the photos of family members and a map, telling this incredible story of how my grandmother, her sisters, brother, mom, and grandmother made a remarkable 14,000-mile journey to America in 1918. Written by my great Aunt Bertha Levenson, this article captures the details of their daring journey to freedom. You know how sometimes you find something that just sparks an idea? Well, staring at this laminated photocopy on cardboard, I started thinking about all the AI tools we have now. What if I could do more than just preserve this photocopy? What if I could bring this whole story to life? I want to make sure this story doesn't get lost through the generations. The Tech Journey Getting Digital So I reached out to the Minnesota Historical Society , specifically the Gale Family Library for a digital copy. When it arrived in my inbox today, I was excited but also faced a new challenge - parts of the text, especially along the left margin, were pretty faded and hard to read. But hey, that's where AI could help, right? The St. Paul Daily News Article Nov. 28, 1920: How a St. Paul Family Broke through Russian Battle Lines by Bertha Levenson First Try: ChatGPT With the digital copy in hand, my AI journey began and the first thing I did was pretty simple - I uploaded the PDF to ChatGPT and asked, "Could you summarize this attachment?" (Spoiler alert: it didn't work). But ChatGPT wasn't completely useless.   It actually gave me some good ideas about how to get the text out of this thing. Steps to make the text accessible with OCR (Optical Character Recognition) Making it Readable One suggestion was to try Amazon Textract , and wow - it actually worked for my use case.! How ChatGPT walks me through how to use tech that's new to me. After following the steps, I ended up with both a .txt file and a .CSV file of the whole article. Here's what a .txt file looks like if you haven't seen one before. .txt file created from the newspaper PDF By the way, I also learned there are multiple tools available that do text extraction that might be easier to navigate than Amazon. You could try Claude.ai or even Canva. Building a Custom GPT From there, I clicked Explore GPTs in ChatGPT and called up a pre-built tool called Custom GPT Builder . I use it to help guide me on building my own GPTs. It speeds up the process. While it's not perfect, it gets me closer to what I want. I knew I wanted the GPT to answer in first person as if the words were coming from Bertha and I wanted it to be conversational so that a 4th - 8th grader could understand the answer. And I wanted it to ask follow-up questions of the person interacting with the tool. It's still a work in progress and I would love for you to take it for a test drive and give me feedback on what I can do to improve it. Here's the link: GPT: Bertha Levenson's Immigrant Story   ChatGPT to talk to Lori's Great Aunt Bertha Enter NotebookLM While the GPT was handling conversations pretty well, I needed something more. I wanted to see key milestones in a more visual way. And no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't get ChatGPT to give me a list of locations and key dates. That's when I had my "aha" moment - what about NotebookLM ? I uploaded both the raw text and the PDF to this organizational tool, and it helped me create a clear timeline of events that I could turn into new sources. But here's where it gets really cool. I even got an AI-generated podcast where hosts talk about the entire historical experience! And there's a recent new feature where you can add yourself to the conversation. You should hear how the hosts reacted when they found out one of the family members was my grandma. You can watch the video to get a taste of what you'll hear in the podcast. ( Please note this video was recorded before my mom tested and pointed out that Isadore is a brother. So where the hosts reference all sisters, that has now been updated ) Making It Visual While NotebookLM's text timeline was great, I wanted a diagram not just a text list. It just so happens that last week, my friend Dan Wegner introduced me to Napkin AI during one of our Daily AI Experiment podcasts. I was able to take the timeline that NotebookLM created and copy-paste that into Napkin AI, which gave me several visual options to choose from. This is one of my favorites. Visualization of Levenson Family Journey to the U.S. created with Napkin AI The Power of Community and Collaboration Sometimes the best solutions come from sharing your challenges. Talk about perfect timing! Minutes after figuring all of this out, Kyle Shannon was hosting his weekly AI Salon Office Hours. I couldn't contain my excitement and shared everything I'd done. When I mentioned I was struggling with mapping the journey, Kyle immediately said, "You have to try lovable.dev - it'll create an interactive map for you!" I was aware of lovable.dev because Dan had demonstrated this tool in one of our previous podcasts, however I hadn't tried it yet. Right after that call, I jumped on a one-on-one with my friend Kellye Kamp from SourceKamp. Together, we created this interactive experience in just 15 minutes! We are still working on how to make it available to the public without entering an API key for each run. Stay tuned for updates on that. Looking Back and Looking Forward This journey taught me so much—not just about my family but about what's possible when you combine curiosity, AI, and a willingness to learn. Tools like Amazon Textract, ChatGPT, NotebookLM, and Napkin AI can transform old family archives into vibrant, living stories. What's Next? This is just the beginning. With the timeline and details in place, this story could become a book, a children's story, or even a short film. The possibilities are endless, and I can't wait to see where this journey leads. What about you? Have you uncovered any family history that left you in awe? How would you use AI to bring it to life?