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Hey there, welcome to AI Toast!
Today’s menu:
Google turns search results into podcasts
The $2,000 AI ad that crashed the NBA Finals
Four AI tools to save you hours
How to use OpenAI's Sora for free
This week’s oddest AI news
Reading time? About 6 minutes. Enough for a coffee and a half.
Search just started talking back. Literally.
Image Source: Google
Imagine asking Google a question and getting a podcast-style answer, right on the search page. That’s the new “Audio Overviews” feature Google is quietly testing in Labs.
Here’s what’s wild:
It’s not just a robot reading text. Audio Overviews use Google’s Gemini AI to whip up a 30-45 second conversation between two AI “hosts.” Think of it as a mini NPR segment, minus the awkward pledge drives.
You don’t get this every time. Only certain queries show the “Generate Audio Overview” button, usually for topics where a quick explainer beats a wall of text.
The audio sits in a mini-player under the “People also ask” box. You can play, pause, speed it up, or mute it. Underneath, you’ll see links to the web pages it pulled from.
You can give feedback (thumbs up/down) on each clip. Google says this helps tune the AI, but I suspect it’s also a secret test of our patience for robot banter.
Right now, it’s US-only, English-only, and you have to opt in through Google Labs.
Personal take? It’s like Google Search just started talking. Now you can listen instead of reading. It’s almost like having Google as your chatty office-mate. Always ready to explain, sometimes a little too eager.
2x conversions by pre-testing your ads? Yes, it's possible!
Instead of crossing your fingers the next time you run ads, what if you would know your ad performance before you even go live?
With Neurons AI, you can.
It gives you quick, actionable recommendations to improve your creatives and maximize your ad impact. Run A/B tests before launch and tweak your visuals for maximum brand impact.
Global brands like Google, Facebook, and Coca-Cola are already using Neurons to boost their campaigns.
We're talking 73% increases in CTR and 20% jumps in brand awareness.
Image Source: Kalshi
Kalshi, a betting platform, hired “AI filmmaker” PJ Accetturo to make the wildest ad possible for the NBA Finals. His budget? $2,000. His crew? Just him, a laptop, and a lot of caffeine.
Key Insights:
He wrote a script, then used Google’s Gemini to brainstorm “10 wild characters in unhinged situations.” The result: an old man in a crop top, an alien chugging beer, a farmer floating in a pool of eggs. You know, normal stuff.
Each shot was prompted in detail for Google’s Veo 3, a text-to-video tool that spits out 8-second clips (with sound). Editing happened in CapCut and Premiere.
Total time? Three days. Total cost? About 95% less than a traditional ad. The vibe? If GTA and Adult Swim had a baby, and that baby was raised by YouTube.
Accetturo’s verdict: AI is a superpower, but taste still matters. “Comedy writing is the moat,” he says. If you can make people laugh, you’re safe (for now).
If you want to spiral a little more, here is the video.
Marketing ideas for marketers who hate boring
The best marketing ideas come from marketers who live it. That’s what The Marketing Millennials delivers: real insights, fresh takes, and no fluff. Written by Daniel Murray, a marketer who knows what works, this newsletter cuts through the noise so you can stop guessing and start winning. Subscribe and level up your marketing game.
Four AI Tools That Actually Save Time
NotebookLM: Like a research assistant who never sleeps. Upload PDFs, links, or notes and get instant summaries, connections, and even audio overviews.
Google AI Studio: Test-drive Google’s latest AI models, from chat to image and video generation, all in one playground. No coding required.
Kickresume: Auto-builds snappy resumes and cover letters. Less staring at blank pages, more landing interviews.
ElevenLabs: Clone your voice, create lifelike narrations, or just prank your friends. (Use responsibly. Or at least, creatively.)
How-To: Make Text-to-Video for Free (Yes, Really)
Image Source: OpenAI
Go to Bing and search for “OpenAI Sora video generator.” or Download here
Find the Sora demo page. (You’ll need a Microsoft account. No, you can’t use your old Hotmail.)
Type your video idea as a prompt. Be specific. “A cat in a suit giving a TED talk” works better than “cat video.”
Hit generate. Wait for the magic. It usually takes a minute or two.
Download and share your AI-made video. Wonder if Spielberg is feeling nervous yet.
Logged-in Microsoft account users can create 10 free video clips on the Bing app. After that, each clip costs 100 Microsoft Rewards points.
Want to see it in action? Check out this tweet.
One line takeaway: The future of video is a text box and a wild imagination.
Quick AI News Bites
1. Meta’s $14B Power Play
Meta just dropped a fortune to snag Scale AI’s Alexandr Wang and his whole team to build next-gen AI. Meta’s new playbook: skip hiring, treat startups like minor leagues, and pay whatever it takes to get the brightest minds before rivals do.
2. Apple’s Siri Gets a Brain Upgrade
Apple announced that Siri will soon run on a new AI model, making it “smarter, faster, and more helpful.” Translation: maybe it’ll finally understand your grocery list.
3. New York Passes Landmark AI Safety Bill
New York’s RAISE Act is the first in the US to force tech giants like OpenAI and Google to be transparent about how they keep their most powerful AI models in check. Smaller startups are off the hook, but the move could set a new standard for AI oversight.
4. Google Hits the Scale Exit
Google was ready to hand Scale AI a cool $200 million, but now it’s shopping for new partners. Meta’s big bet on Scale may have tipped the scales, guess Google didn’t want to weigh in.
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Thanks for hanging out at AI Toast.
Got a story, a rant, or a “wait, did AI just…” moment? Hit reply or DM me. I read everything (even the weird stuff).
Catch you soon.
— Poonam Soni