OpenAI’s ChatGPT has announced that as part of three big changes, it can now access current information by browsing the internet.

Previously  

Prior to the new (Beta) change, ChatGPT had only been trained on information up until September 2021, although ChatGPT’s newer GPT-4 architecture was trained up until January 2022. This has meant that unless using a plugin, accessing current information hasn’t been possible, which has been seen by many users as one of the main weaknesses of the chatbot.

Now 

OpenAI has announced that ChatGPT can now browse the internet to provide Plus users first (with all users to follow later) with: “current and authoritative information, complete with direct links to sources.” 

This effectively means that some ChatGPT users will soon be able to ask questions and receive up to date answers about current affairs and access current news and topics.

How? 

OpenAI says that the ‘Browse’ feature is rolling out to all Plus users. Users may also notice that there is also a “ChatGPT September 25 Version” link at the foot of page, going to ‘Settings & Beta > Beta features’ where users can move the toggle to ‘on’ for ‘Browse with Bing’ (in the selector under GPT-4).

The Implications

In addition to making ChatGPT a more attractive tool to many users, this could mean that ChatGPT will take queries away from search engines and other online news sources, thereby seeing the chatbot acting as a competitor (to a degree). This will, of course, be less of a worry to Microsoft because of its close partnership with OpenAI and the fact that its Bing search will be used to enable ChatGPT to access current information.

Two Other Changes To ChatGPT 

ChatGPT has also announced two other new capabilities for ChatGPT. As of September 25, OpenAI says it’s rolling out voice and image capabilities to Plus and Enterprise users over the next two weeks. The capabilities will enable users to ask questions and “have a voice conversation” with ChatGPT (like users of smart speakers can do e.g., Amazon Echo) or “show ChatGPT what you’re talking about” (Google’s Bard can currently do this).

Voice 

The Voice (Beta) capability, which is being rolled out to Plus users on iOS and Android, enables users to do a number of things such as have a conversation or “speak with it on the go, request a bedtime story, or settle a dinner table debate.”  It’s interesting that in its announcement, OpenAI describes ChatGPT in this context as “your assistant,” perhaps positioning it alongside digital assistants, e.g. Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple’s Siri.

How? 

OpenAI says to activate it, users should head to ‘Settings → New Features’ on the mobile app and opt into voice conversations. Then, it’s a case of tapping the headphone button (top-right corner of the home screen) and choosing the preferred voice out of five different voice options.

Images

Open AI also says that ‘Image input’ will soon be generally available to Plus users on all platforms. This will allow users to tap the photo button to capture or choose an image, and show/upload one or more images to ChatGPT to help get answers to queries. For example, OpenAI says users can “troubleshoot why your grill won’t start, explore the contents of your fridge to plan a meal, or analyse a complex graph for work-related data.”  Image input will also enable users to focus on a specific part of the image by using a drawing tool in the mobile app.

Challenges 

Despite ChatGPT becoming the fastest growing consumer app in history (UBS research, 2023), and OpenAI introducing these new value-adding features to the app, ChatGPT and its new features are not without their widely acknowledged challenges. For example:

– As ChatGPT states clearly at the foot of its search page “ChatGPT may produce inaccurate information about people, places, or facts,” and its CEO, Sam Altman, has spoken freely about the chatbots ability to have ‘hallucinations’, i.e. produce content that looks plausible but is simply made up. For example, back in July, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) sent a letter to the Microsoft-backed business requesting information on how it addresses risks to people’s reputations caused ChatGPT’s potential to “generate statements about real individuals that are false, misleading, or disparaging.” 

– As some technology commentators have noted, in addition to potentially helping to bring more creative and accessibility-focused applications, the new voice technology feature could potentially be open to misuse, e.g. malicious actors using it to impersonate public figures or commit fraud.

– Some commentators have also noted how the new image input feature could create safety issues for users. This could include a situation when people rely on the model when it hallucinates – perhaps misreading a safety-diagram for example. That said, OpenAI has said that the model has been tested with red teamers for risk domains (e.g. extremism and scientific proficiency) and with a diverse set of alpha testers. OpenAI is also reported to have worked with the ‘Be My Eyes’ (free) mobile app for blind and low-vision people. Measures have also reportedly been taken to limit ChatGPT’s ability to make direct statements about people in its analysis of images (because it’s widely accepted that these aren’t always accurate).

Amazon and Anthropic – Challenging Microsoft 

Just as Microsoft and OpenAI’s partnership and Microsoft’s investment have given Microsoft Copilot, and these new capabilities in ChatGPT, and Google has Bard and Duet, Amazon is now teaming up with Anthropic (which has the ‘Claude’ chatbot) to enter the generative AI world and take on Microsoft. It’s been reported that Amazon is to invest up to £3.3bn in San Francisco-based AI firm Anthropic to get Claude 2 and to create new apps and improve its existing ones for its customers. As part of the deal Anthropic will be able to leverage Amazon’s huge computing power (Amazon has the AWS cloud computing service). Chatbots typically need large amounts of computing power for their LLMs and to handle the numbers and variations of customer queries. OpenAI, for example, is able leverage Microsoft’s Azure.

Another Perspective 

Whereas many commentators see OpenAI’s new features for ChatGPT as part of the fight-back from other tech companies against Microsoft and OpenAI (which is to be expected as companies race to offer their own value-adding version of the relatively new generative AI technology) not all agree. For example, some tech commentators have suggested that the Anthropic deal (with Amazon) is also a sign that companies like Amazon and Google are looking to challenge Nvidia’s dominance in the market for specialist AI chips.

What Does This Mean For Your Business?

For UK businesses navigating the rapidly evolving digital landscape, these advancements in generative AI signal an era of unparalleled access to real-time information and enhanced user engagement. OpenAI’s groundbreaking features in ChatGPT come at a time when tech giants are all recognising the commercial potential of AI-driven chatbots, a fact underscored by Amazon’s timely announcement to supercharge Alexa’s AI capabilities. Such competitive moves are not just coincidences, but they mark the onset of a race where big tech firms are vying to seamlessly integrate generative AI into their product ecosystems, a shift that will inevitably reshape how businesses and consumers interact.

In the case of ChatGPT’s competitors, these new features could have a negative effect on them, likely by taking queries away from search engines and other online news sources.

For most UK enterprises, big tech firms vying to seamlessly integrate generative AI presents a dual-edged sword. On one hand, the ability to pull current data and have more interactive user experiences could elevate customer service, streamline operations, and drive innovation. On the other, the challenges posed by ‘hallucinations’ in AI outputs, potential misuses, and concerns over data integrity may necessitate a cautious approach. Companies, therefore, must be discerning in their adoption, weighing the transformative potential against the risks. Also, with Amazon’s massive investment in Anthropic and the resultant potential synergies with AWS, businesses may soon be faced with a broader array of AI-driven solutions, further intensifying the competitive landscape.

As the dust begins to settle in this technological race, some would say that UK businesses stand at a crossroads, e.g. to embrace these advancements as pivotal tools for future growth, or to tread cautiously, ever mindful of the evolving implications of AI in the business realm. Others would say, on balance, using a common-sense approach and being careful to check ChatGPT’s outputs for any obvious errors, these new features and others will provide further time and cost savings cost, and efficiency, and productivity benefits to businesses as they learn the many ways they can leverage advances in generative AI and its widescale adoption.

In this tech insight, we look at QR codes, the many different methods to generate them, the benefits of doing so, and the future for QR codes as the successor to barcodes.

What Is A QR code? 

A QR (Quick Response) code, first designed in 1994 by Japanese company ‘Denso Wave’, is a type of two-dimensional barcode. It looks like square grid made up of smaller black and white squares (modules) and typically features three larger square patterns in three of its corners, which help scanners identify and orient the code. The black and white squares within the grid encodes the data. Unlike a one-dimensional barcode, which represents data in a series of vertical lines (which are based on the dots and dashes in Morse code), a QR code stores data in both vertical and horizontal arrangements. This means that a lot more data can be encoded in a QR code than a bar code, and a QR code can contain complex information, e.g. text, URLs, and other data types.

Making A QR Code 

There are several ways you can make your own QR code. If you want to quickly share a URL of interest with others, it’s possible to make a QR code in Microsoft Edge that can be shared, and which directs them to that web page. This could be particularly useful if you want to open the same web page on a mobile device or share it with someone else without having to type or text the entire URL. Here’s how to make a QR code for a URL in Edge:

– Open Edge and go to the web page you want to make a QR code for.

– Right-click on a blank area of the web page and select ‘Create QR code for this page’ and choose either the option to ‘Copy’ (to paste and share it) or ‘Download’ (to get a png image download of the QR code).

– A QR code symbol also appears in the right-hand side of the address bar enabling you to re-use the code by clicking on it (which launches another QR code copy/download window).

Making A QR Code For A URL In Google Chrome 

To make a QR code for a URL using Google Chrome, the process is the same, but a QR code symbol doesn’t appear in the address bar.

Safari? 

For the Safari browser, a QR code can’t be generated unless a Safari QR code generator extension or an online QR code generator is used.

Online QR Code Generators 

You can also use online QR code generators. Examples include https://www.qr-code-generator.com/, https://www.the-qrcode-generator.com/, and many more.

Other Options 

Other options for making a QR code include:

– Using open-source software e.g., Libre Office (free open-source software).Open the ‘Insert’ menu, hover over ‘OLE,’ click ‘QR and Barcode,’ and paste in the URL to be converted to QR code.

– Mobile apps for Android’s or iOS. These apps often have the function to generate QR codes in addition to reading them. Examples include: QR Code Reader and Scanner, QR TIGER, QR & Barcode Scanner, QR Code Reader, NeoReader, and many more.

– Web browser extensions or add-ons.

– QR Code APIs e.g., QRServer’s free API or Goqr.me’s API.

QR Codes Will Replace Bar Codes 

QR codes are already set to replace bar codes. This will of course mean lower costs for retailers, will have implications for package design (less on-packaging information but more information available to customers), and the positive environmental impact of less packaging. For retailers, this could also mean improvements to inventory management, and it is likely to give greater flexibility to manufacturers and retailers in terms of updating product information.

What Does This Mean For Your Business? 

QR codes provide businesses a streamlined and interactive method to connect with their audience, offering a bridge between the physical and digital realms. By generating and sharing QR codes for URLs, businesses can quickly direct customers to specific online content, whether it’s a promotional deal, a digital menu, or an informational page, without requiring users to manually type in web addresses. This eliminates potential errors, speeds up access, and is easy and convenient for customers in a world where most of us now use our mobiles for everything.

Having QR code generation features built into browsers, is also very convenient for users as the creation process is fast, seamless, integrated, and creates something that’s easy to share, which helps the business whose URL is being shared.  Also, not having to rely upon on external tools or platforms to generate QR codes means that businesses can instantly create, share, and update QR codes directly from their browser, thereby enhancing efficiency and ensuring they can adapt to changing digital needs swiftly.

Being able to generate and share QR codes will soon be more important than ever for businesses with the QR codes set to replace the now 50-year-old bar codes. It should be noted, however, that QR codes can send users to web pages containing malicious code and therefore care should be taken when scanning them to check for authenticity, which could be something as simple as ensuring a sticker hasn’t been put over the original code.

Zapier, the company behind the automation tool that lets apps link up to each other, has announced the launch of ‘Canvas,’ an AI-powered diagramming tool to help visualize, plan, and automate business-critical processes.

Why & Who? 

Canvas is a tool designed to help businesses that need to gain clarity and refine their work operations when trying to solve complex business problems with automation. The new tool enables businesses to visualise and automate critical business processes in one place, thereby scaling their impact faster.

Zapier says the new diagramming tool’s ability to allow visualisation of a system will be particularly helpful for:

– Those who need to create whole mission critical systems.

– Those struggling to communicate how their interface systems work together, i.e. those needing to explain a complex process to their team.

– Anyone who needs to sketch-out a business-critical process before building it, e.g., those planning a new process, or mapping out a customer journey.

– Anyone who needs recommendations on how to further automate their process.

The Power of AI 

Zapier says that Canvas users can “skip the trial and error of tinkering” and quickly transform a plan into a workable automated solution thanks to AI-powered recommendations on what to automate next.

What Can You Do With It? 

Canvas can be used as a basic flowchart diagramming tool to document processes and, for the components that are already connected, it also acts as an interface to edit those processes. Examples of what users can achieve by using Canvas include the ability to:

– Plan workflows and sketch processes confidently using Zapier’s existing integrations, built-in tools, and products.

– Visualise entire processes, not just Zaps. A ‘Zap’ is an automated workflow that connects your apps and services together and consists of a trigger and one or more actions. Zapier says using Canvas as a planning tool can help “demystify processes for your team,” spot where human intervention is needed, and “link Tables to store data, and connect to existing Zaps and Interfaces pages.” 

– Share, collaborate, and refine plans.

– Take the most efficient course of action. For example, when users are ready to start automating, the AI in Canvas transforms the plan into a drafted Zap that can achieve the goal most efficiently.

– Discover more automation opportunities by using AI to get recommendations on what to automate next (based which apps have already been used and what’s already been automated).

What Does This Mean For Your Business? 

The attraction of Zapier has always been that it can help businesses to punch above their weight in terms of marketing processes and the level of in-house technical skills because it’s a relatively user-friendly and easy low-code/no-code way to enable smarter working by automating workflow tasks.

Canvas now takes this up a notch by giving businesses greater convenience and transparency, and more expert (AI) help. Canvas gives businesses an all-in-one-place tool where they can create, see, and edit whole workflows (whether they are connected to Zapier or not) that are based not just on “the trial and error of tinkering”, but on generative AI-powered recommendations. The AI makes things faster and easier and makes Zapier more accessible to more users, e.g. users just need to tell Canvas what kind of problem they’re trying to solve, and it generates the process for them. For Zapier, it offers a way to improve its competitive game (there are other integrated workflow platforms and competitors including Make/Integromat, Leadsbridge, Automate.io/Notion), build generative AI into its services in a value-adding way, plus address some of the drawbacks that some customers have found, e.g. trouble dealing with larger and more complex projects effectively.

After a long beta testing wait, Adobe Photoshop for the Web (which includes Firefly generative AI features) is now available as part of all Photoshop plans.

Major Milestone 

The release of Photoshop on the web, which Adobe describes as “a major milestone” offers creators who are new to Photoshop “a streamlined user experience” (with easier navigation) and gives existing Photoshop users access to new tools like Generative Fill from any web browser. In short, it’s a simpler version of Photoshop, but it offers the convenience of being accessible from anywhere (with an Internet connection), and the power of Adobe Firefly’s generative AI features.

Web 

The advantages for users of having a cloud-based version of Photoshop are that download / installation aren’t necessary, it’s easy to access and get started, users can pick up where they left off on any Photoshop document on the web, and users can choose to jump back into the desktop app with the click of a button.

Also, the web version enables collaboration on projects through by allowing users to invite others to collaborate, even if they don’t have a Photoshop subscription, simply by sharing a link.

Made Easier For New Users 

With users able to invite non-subscribers, i.e. new Photoshop users, it makes sense that Adobe has tried to simplify Photoshop. Some methods that it says it’s achieved this include grouping the tools in the tollbar together based on workflows, thereby making it easier to retouch a portrait, select an object in an image, or apply a quick action. Also, Adobe says it’s added tool names to the toolbar for users who aren’t familiar with Photoshop tool icons.

Existing Users Can Switch To Old Desktop Look 

Not wanting to alienate its existing users, Adobe has provided the option in Photoshop on the web for existing and experienced Photoshop users to hide the new view and work with the old, familiar desktop-style interface.

Generative AI 

One of the recently introduced value-adding additions to Photoshop desktop (which will now be available in Photoshop on the web) is the Adobe Firefly family of creative generative AI models. In short, users can use a text field (just as with ChatGPT and other chatbots and image generators) to describe how they want to change and add to an image and features like Generative Fill and Generative Expand will do it. Obviously, this saves a great deal of time and effort in having to learn how to use all the Photoshop tools.

Adobe says: “These features allow you to add, expand, or remove content from your images non-destructively, while magically matching perspective, lighting, and style of your image to deliver truly mind-blowing results.” 

The Contextual Task Bar Too 

First introduced in June in Photoshop desktop, Adobe is also including its Contextual Task Bar with Photoshop on the web. This AI-powered on-screen menu gives users recommendations designed to help reduce clicks and save steps in common workflows in design projects, e.g. replacing the background of an image or adjusting the lighting and tone of images. This again is a way to make Photoshop more user-friendly to all and save time, while still giving a professional-looking output.

How Much? 

Now the (long) beta phase is over, a free-to-use version is no longer be available, and Photoshop on the web paid plans for the app start at $9.99.

What Does This Mean For Your Business? 

Adobe’s Photoshop has enjoyed being an industry-standard professional designer’s tool for many years but in recent times it’s seen some strong competition from cheaper alternatives such as Affinity. It’s also seen competition from ready to use, template-based alternatives such as Canva, from free image editors like GIMP, and from free, online (more limited but still valued) touch-up alternatives like Pixlr.

The huge, disruptive game-changer has been generative AI and the introduction of AI image generators, which enable users to quickly create incredible-looking images with no need to spend time learning how to use all the tools that would normally be needed to create them. Many of us are now also used to using cloud-based apps where work is automatically saved (pick up where you left off) and accessible from anywhere. Of course, Photoshop is a trusted brand, most strongly associated with professional/business use, with its own considerable use base, but it has very quickly (like the major Photo vendors), found itself in an environment where there are many good (and cheaper, and free) alternatives. It’s also an environment where there are a large number of potential customers who don’t want to spend a lot of money and time learning just to carry out basic image tasks on complicated and expensive professional tools, or where they can still quickly meet their needs and get professional looking results with trusted alternatives e.g., Canva, or simply by typing a description into an AI image generator.

Photoshop on the web (with Adobe’s generative AI Firefly tools thrown in) represents a way for it to compete and stay relevant in a rapidly changing market by trying to meet lots of customer needs in one go. For instance, it’s online (convenience), it has AI (you don’t have to learn the tools), it allows collaborative working even with non-subscribers, it’s simplified and more user friendly but experienced and invested users can have the old desktop look if they want (retention), it’s SaaS, and more.

Adobe appears to be looking primarily for new users here and as a leading brand in the photo editing world that’s packaging generative AI with cloud-based convenience it will have high hopes for its long-awaited Photoshop on the web.

‘Stooky Bill’ : 02 October 2025

In days gone by, a Scottish person with a broken appendage might well have said their arm or leg was held in a ‘stooky’ (or ‘stookie’) which meant a plaster-cast. It’s thought the word comes from ‘stucco’ (plaster) although the term also has a derogatory meaning for a ‘stupid person’, so perhaps it’s no surprise that one specific dummy was named Stooky Bill.

This particular dummy was a crudely made ventriloquist-model and was chosen because of its highly-contrasted painted facial features. These were necessary because on the second of October 1925, the first ever (grayscale) image was transmitted by television at an incredible five images per second. At the time, the lights were so hot that poor old Stooky Bill was singed and cracked although the inventor, John Logie Baird wasn’t too upset because he’d experienced many, many other setbacks along the way.

Whilst he was famous for pioneering the ‘telly’ he did have various other television-related successes including primitive video-recording (‘phonovision’ 1928), the first transatlantic television transmission (1928), the first 3D Television (1940) and the first colour-TV (1944). Not that he was limited to television because his achievements also included radio direction finding, fibre-optics, infrared night viewing and even a primitive cousin to radar as early as 1926 (according to his son).

However, like all pioneers, he had his fair share of flops too, including rust-resistant razors made of glass (they shattered often) and diamonds made from graphite (too much current required – he shorted-out Glasgow’s power supply). Suffering from poor circulation to his feet, he also worked on thermal socks and pneumatic shoes, although the balloons inside the soles kept bursting so he abandoned his idea. As an aside, his failures in pneumatic footwear didn’t stop Dr Martens boots becoming wildly successful later on, with their air-cushioned soles.

Innovation is the lifeblood of many successful IT companies and it can be developed internally (such as in Baird Television Limited) or acquired externally – just think of all the successful acquisitions companies like Google have made and added to their repertoire (including YouTube as this is a video-themed post).

Whilst watching broadcast-television is now in decline (in the UK it’s declined by around a quarter in the last three years alone) we can nevertheless be thankful that in 2023, we’re not watching unintelligible dummies with overly-painted faces who need to be manipulated by their operators behind the scenes. Or are we?