The last time we talked about stock markets taking a hit in this newsletter was during the launch of DeepSeek. Who would've thought AI tools would once again be behind another dip in 401(k)s and personal wealth? This time, the spotlight is on how AI is being used—not just by tech companies, but by governments. The U.S. has announced new tariffs this week, and many are raising eyebrows about the decision-making process. An article from The Verge suggests that AI tools may have played a role in shaping the broader global trade strategy.
Where did these numbers come from? Apparently, an oversimplified calculation that several major AI chatbots happen to recommend.
It’s not just the tariff formula that’s raising questions, people are also puzzled by the list of affected countries, which oddly includes an island inhabited by penguins. According to one post, the error might stem from using large language models (LLMs) to generate the list based on top-level internet domains (like .ca or .in), leading to some unexpected results.
Thinking of crafting your own global trade rules?
Now’s your chance: ChatGPT Plus is free for college students in the U.S. and Canada for the next two months. Just follow this link to claim your access.
This move seems to be a response to Anthropic’s recent push into academia, with new partnerships and a dedicated “learning mode” for students. You can read more about it here.
In other news:
India is now the fastest-growing market for ChatGPT, though revenue growth hasn’t quite caught up. This is likely due to higher subscription prices relative to local expectations. Read here.
Everyone seems to be generating a flood of images with ChatGPT lately. The creative energy is real. 700 million images in three days!
A new behind-the-scenes book on OpenAI is dropping this May. Empire of AI by Karen Hao is going to be worth a read. Sam Altman is getting defensive, and that’s always a sign.
I’m still searching for a good way to conduct a take-home exam where students don’t rely on LLMs. If you’ve found a workaround, please share!