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So plot twist of the century: OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic just announced they are teaming up. Yes, you read that right. The same companies that usually compete like they are in a cage match are now joining forces on F/ai, a brand-new startup accelerator in Paris.

This is massive. Based at Station F (Paris’s famous startup campus), the accelerator will host two batches of 20 companies per year. Here is the catch: they aren't taking open applications. You have to be "recommended" to get in.

What makes F/ai different? 

Selected startups get the VIP treatment. And we’re talking: access to cutting-edge models, massive computing credits, and technical expertise that most accelerators can’t touch. France’s President Macron has been courting AI investment like a pro, and with Mistral AI already based there, Paris is officially becoming Europe’s answer to Silicon Valley.

But while the big three were busy making friends in France, OpenAI dropped a massive upgrade to Deep Research in ChatGPT. As of February 10, the feature now runs on GPT-5.2 and is significantly less "black box" than it used to be.

The highlights:

  1. You can now hand-pick exactly which sources the AI uses and describe the specific outcome you’re looking for.

  2. You can finally interrupt a research run mid-stream to pivot or adjust the direction.

  3. It now plugs directly into the big dogs like Google Drive and SharePoint, plus high-end databases like FactSet and PitchBook.

  4. You can read your full reports directly in the app with a new document viewer. It’s a small tweak, but your 50 open browser tabs will thank you.

  5. ChatGPT now drafts a proposed research plan first. You get to review and tweak the "blueprint" before the AI actually starts digging.

  6. You get a structured report with citations and direct source links. Because in 2026, we’re all about verifying the "vibes" with actual facts.

The Bottom Line: This addresses the biggest complaint about AI research: trust. Now you can restrict Deep Research to only verified sources and tell it to ignore those sketchy blog posts. It’s a win for anyone on the Plus or Pro plan who actually needs their data to be, you know, accurate.

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🦾 Anthropic Adds File Creation, Connectors And Other Killer Features to Claude’s Free Tier

AI Generated

Talk about perfect timing. While OpenAI rolled out ads for ChatGPT’s free tier this week, Anthropic basically walked up to the buffet table and said "everything is free now—and no ads."

On February 11, Anthropic announced that Claude’s free tier now includes three massive features that used to be paid-only. And we’re talking: File Creation, Connectors, and Skills. Plus, they threw in Compaction for longer conversations. All powered by Sonnet 4.5. All completely ad-free.

Here’s a breakdown of what you get for exactly $0:

  • File Creation (Your Personal Office Suite): Free users can now create and edit professional docs directly in the chat. We are talking Excel spreadsheets, PowerPoints, Word Docs and PDFs. So if you need a budget spreadsheet,or want a pitch deck. Claude builds it. The quality is legit because it uses Sonnet 4.5, which currently crushes coding benchmarks at 77.2%. (Note: Please still hire an accountant for your taxes.)

  • Connectors (Link Claude to Everything): This is the wild part. You can now connect Claude to your entire productivity stack: Slack, Notion, Google Drive, Zapier, Canva, and even PayPal. It is like having an assistant who actually has access to your tools instead of just shouting advice from the corner.

  • Skills (Teach Claude Your Workflows): Think of these as custom "instruction folders." You load them with your brand guidelines or report templates, and Claude automatically follows them every time. It is basically an AI intern that actually remembers your feedback.

  • Compaction (The "Infinite" Chat): Ever hit a wall in a long conversation where the AI "forgets" the start? Compaction fixes that. When things get long, Claude automatically summarizes the context so you can keep rolling without starting fresh.

Why This Matters:

Let’s zoom out for a second. OpenAI is currently testing ads at the bottom of ChatGPT responses for free users and those on the $8 per month "Go" tier. Meanwhile, Anthropic just made their free tier more powerful than most paid AI assistants were just six months ago.

This isn't just a win for your wallet. It is a completely different vision for how these AI giants plan to keep the lights on. OpenAI wants to serve billions of people and is using ads to foot the bill. Anthropic on the other hand, is taking the opposite path. They are betting that a premium, ad-free experience will attract the big enterprise customers and power users who are willing to pay for a "clean" workspace.

And honestly? The timing of all this is legendary.

Anthropic’s Super Bowl ads, which literally mocked the idea of AI ads, ran just last week. Then OpenAI officially started testing ads on February 9. Two days later, Anthropic drops this massive free tier upgrade?

That is not a coincidence, y’all. That is a coordinated, high-level PR dunk.

The bigger question is: can Anthropic actually afford to be this generous?

Well plot twist… it might be working. According to the analytics brainiacs at EDO, Anthropic’s Super Bowl ads pulled more engagement than all three of OpenAI’s spots. Translation? The crowd is clearly rocking with the whole “no ads, just vibes” energy.

And yes, it’s a smart play. Make the free version so good that people fall in love first… then gently tempt them with the shiny, premium, pristine, pro experience  later.

The Bottom Line:

If you are still hanging out on ChatGPT’s free tier and don't want ads cluttering your deep thoughts, Claude just gave you a very sparkly reason to switch. You get professional file creation, app connections, and custom workflows—all for $0 and zero "sponsored" interruptions.

Grab your popcorn y’all. The AI wars are officially in the "trash talk" era, and we are here for it.

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🧱 Around The AI Block

🤖 AI Workout Of The Day: How To Have AI Type For You While You Talk 

AI Generated

AI dictation apps absolutely exploded in 2025 because language models finally learned how to actually listen. We aren’t talking about that janky, word-for-word robot transcription anymore. We’re talking about smart text that knows the difference between "their" and "there" based on context. Wild, right?

After testing the top contenders, one app is clearly winning the crown: Wispr Flow. Here is why it’s currently crushing the competition:

  • It works everywhere: Gmail, Slack, VS Code… literally any app you can type in.

  • The "Umm" Eraser: It hits 95%+ accuracy and automatically cleans up your "ums" and "uhs" while adding perfect punctuation.

  • The "Command Mode": You can highlight text and say "make this friendlier" or "turn this into bullet points" and it just... does it. It’s like having a personal editor living inside your keyboard.

The best part? It understands "oops" moments. If you say "Let's meet at 2 p.m. today… actually, make it 4 p.m. tomorrow," it only types the final decision. Apple’s built-in dictation could never.

How to get started (It takes literally 2 minutes):

  1. Download it from wisprflow.ai.

  2. Install and grant those mic permissions.

  3. Click into any text field (e.g., email, notes, browser) and hold down the Fn key (Mac) or Ctrl+Win (Windows) to start recording your voice.

  4. Release the key when finished. Flow will automatically process and insert the cleaned-up text.

The Damage: The free tier gets you 2,000 words per week (roughly 8,000 a month), which is perfect for testing the waters. Pro will run you $12 to $15 a month for unlimited talk-time. It’s out now on Mac, Windows, and iOS. (Android users, your turn is coming soon.)

Pro Tips For Better Accuracy:

  • Go Hands-Free: Turn on "Hands-Free Mode" for those long-winded writing sessions.

  • Style Switcher: Use the "casual," "formal," or "very casual" settings depending on if you’re emailing your boss or your bestie.

  • Use a Good Mic: An external microphone or high-quality headset significantly improves transcription accuracy.

  • Quiet Environment: Minimize background noise to help the AI focus on your voice.

  • Check Settings: Use the Wispr Flow dashboard or the app's settings to change your hotkey, hide the floating toolbar, or enable Silent Mode (if you're a quiet speaker).

💡 Quick Tip:

When using a tool like OutdoorBrite, don't just ask for a "nice garden." Upload a photo of a luxury resort you like and ask the AI to iterate  

You are a landscape designer. From this reference image, extract:

 -Plant species (or closest match)
 -Layout style
 -Planting structure (layers, spacing, height rhythm)
 -Key design principles

Now apply that same style and structure to my yard using these details:

 -Yard size:
 -Climate/location:
 -Sun exposure:
 -Soil type:
 -Maintenance level:
 -Budget:
 -Existing features:

Adapt plants if needed for my climate, but keep the same overall vibe.

Is this your AI Workout of the Week (WoW)? Cast your vote!

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