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Grok 4 Details, Velvet Sundown AI Hoax Explained & More
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Hey Reader, This week, a band called Velvet Sundown that had been quickly gaining popularity on Spotify was revealed to be an elaborate hoax constructed with AI tools. And then a day later...the hoax was revealed to be a hoax? We'll break the confusing Velvet Sundown story for you, plus we'll share with you an exciting update that finally makes Gemini's Gems useful, and we'll share a video that succinctly tells you everything you need to know about the new Grok 4. All that and more await, so let's get right into it... 🪄 App of the Week: Gemini Gems
Use Case: Customize Gemini Across Google Workspace Link: Gemini Gems (Freemium, Not Sponsored!) Why you should care: Gems launched a while back, but they have been severely limited until this week's update which gave users the ability to use Gems across Google Workspace. This includes Google Docs, Gmail, Slides, Sheets, and more. Here's how you can set up your own Gemini Gem:
Now your custom Gem is ready for use! Note that for now, you can create Gemini Gems and interact with them in the Gemini interface using a free Google account, but you must have at least the Google AI Pro account at $20/month to use Gems across Google Workspace. You can check out this page if you want more tips on how to build your Gems. Google's AI strategy is clear: release chart-topping LLM models like Gemini 2.5 Pro, and update their already massively popular platforms like Google Workspace so that people can use these new AI models where they already work. 📰 News That Matters: Velvet Sundown and the Art of the Hoax
Link: 'Spokesperson’ for AI ‘Band’ Velvet Sundown Now Says He Is an Imposter | Rolling Stone Why it matters: Their hazy, Seventies-tinged tracks popped up out of nowhere last month on Spotify and within days, they’d racked up over half a million monthly listeners all without a digital footprint, live performances, or a clear origin story. When pressed about their sudden fame, a man named Andrew Frelon who described himself as an “adjunct member” of the band claimed they were part music project, part “art hoax,” and admitted to using the AI song generator Suno in creating their tracks. Frelon described the group as a modern twist on classic art hoaxes and defended AI experimentation in music as the inevitable next step for culture. “We live in a world now where things that are fake have sometimes even more impact than things that are real." But then things got even weirder. A day after the interview went live, Frelon published a Medium post admitting he was the hoax, not the band. He’d seized on Velvet Sundown’s lack of online presence, rebranded one of his old social media accounts to pose as the band’s “official” voice, and duped journalists into running with a story that was a "test of media gullibility." The band’s real (or realer?) account swiftly denied any connection to Frelon, calling him unaffiliated and denouncing the AI claims as “fabricated.” So is Velvet Sundown a real band? An AI construct? A viral accident? A performance art piece wrapped in a misinformation campaign? Yes. Velvet Sundown may just be the first of many acts that go viral even though they aren't "real". We're officially in a world where reality no longer matters quite as much as it used to. 📝 Prompt of the Week: Learn More About Yourself in 10 Questions Prompt Formula: Quick Description: How to Use:
After question 10, ChatGPT will talk to you about what it’s inferred about you. Take a beat and let it sink in, then decide: was it accurate? Was it insightful? Were you surprised? Prompt credit goes to @PromptLLM on X. 📽️ Video of the Week: Grok 4 - 10 New Things to Know This week in a livestream on X, Elon Musk and the Grok team introduced the world to Grok 4. Elon made huge claims about Grok 4's abilities during the stream, but just how smart is the new Grok really? Check out this video from AI Explained for a breakdown on the benchmark results, the caveats that go with them, pricing, comparisons to other AI models like ChatGPT and Gemini, and more in less than 12 minutes. 📢 Community Highlight: Our First Ever AIA Networking Event
Want to meet other professionals who are using AI in real, practical ways? Then you’ll want to check out our first-ever AIA Community Networking Event, happening Thursday, July 17th from 1–2:30pm CDT. This event is designed specifically to help members connect, exchange ideas, and discover collaboration opportunities whether you’re just getting started with AI or deep into a project already. Here’s what’s in store: 🧭 Guided activities that make connecting easy even if you don’t know anyone yet We’re creating structured breakout groups based on sign-ups, so early registration is essential. Sign-ups close one week before the event (July 10th) to be included in all planned activities. Ready to join in? Click here to join The AI Advantage community and get access to this event plus expert workshops, AI guides, courses, and a whole network of curious, creative members just like you. That's all for this week! See you next Thursday. Much Love, Follow The AI Advantage: Written By: |
Hi! I'm Igor with The AI Advantage.
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Hey Reader, Welcome back! It's been a week since GPT-5 released, and the reception has been mixed to say the least. We'll break down the issues people have had with the new ChatGPT and what OpenAI is already doing in response in the News That Matters section. Plus, we'll show you how to use a state-of-the-art voice dictation tool and share with you a prompt designed by OpenAI to help correct misbehaving AI agents. All that and more below! Let's get right into it... 🪄 App of the Week: Wispr...
Hey Reader, It finally happened: OpenAI revealed the highly anticipated GPT-5 to the public, and they went a step further than anybody expected, making it freely accessible to anyone with a ChatGPT account. We'll break down all of the GPT-5 details in News That Matters, but don't miss the other goodies in this newsletter! ElevenLabs put out a new music generator that blows the competition out of the water, and Google DeepMind released an entirely new kind of AI called Genie 3 that is capable...
July 2025 Community Highlights If you’ve been wondering what we do in The AI Advantage community, here’s your peek behind the curtain. Every week, community members are building tools, testing workflows, and solving real problems with AI, asking questions, and sharing wins along the way. The AI Advantage team is consistently adding new resources to the community, like our weekly guides and our recently launched Automation Course! If you want to know what else you're missing out on in the...