DeepMind Dunks on “PhD AI” 🎓 , Reese Talks Women + AI 🎬 , Build a Second Brain with Claude Code 🧠

AI Quick Takes ⚡

1. DeepMind’s CEO says calling today’s AI “PhD-level” is a joke 🎓

Demis Hassabis, CEO of Google DeepMind and one of the OGs of modern AI, isn’t here for the hype. In a recent interview, he called it “nonsense” to say today’s models have reached PhD-level intelligence. His reasoning? While current LLMs like GPT-4 or Gemini might look smart in specific contexts, like summarizing articles and generating code snippets, they routinely fail basic tasks like simple arithmetic or reasoning when phrased slightly differently. In his view, intelligence isn’t about passing one test; it’s about consistency, generalization, and adaptability. Read more

Why it matters: Hassabis argues that what AI is missing most is the ability to learn continuously, not just memorizing patterns during training, but updating based on new data in real time. He sees “learning” as the most important capability in any future AGI (artificial general intelligence). That means models will need to get better at reasoning, applying knowledge flexibly, and making intuitive leaps. Hassabis reminds us that the real breakthroughs will come when AI can actually learn and adapt like we do.

2. Rolling Stone’s parent just hit Google with a mic-drop lawsuit 🎤

Big media says Big Tech’s eating their lunch and using their own words to do it. Penske Media (home to Rolling Stone, Variety, Billboard, and more) is suing Google, accusing it of lifting their articles for AI-generated summaries that steal clicks and cut revenue. Google’s like “we’re just helping users,” but Penske says it’s more like a digital dine-and-dash. Read More

Bottom line: Publishers want a seat at the AI table and a slice of the revenue pie. This case could add to the litigation that will shape how AI tools get their info (and who gets paid for it).

3. Reese Witherspoon Wants Women Running AI in Hollywood 🎬

The Legally Blonde icon just made a legally sound case for women to get hands-on with AI in entertainment. Reese Witherspoon told Variety that AI is already changing how stories get told, and she wants more women in the room shaping that future. She's using AI tools herself and sees them as time-savers, not job-snatchers. Her point? The tech’s not going away, so we better make sure it reflects our voices, not just the usual suspects. Read More

Real talk: AI in film is equal parts exciting and ick-inducing (deepfakes, anyone?). But if women aren’t part of building and steering it, we risk being sidelined again. Reese says: don’t fear the shift. Help design it.

4. Another One Bets on Bots: Fiverr Lays Off 250 🧠💻

We’ve been hearing it all year: companies swapping out headcount for headless tech. The latest? Fiverr. The freelance platform just laid off 250 employees as it rebrands itself an “AI-first” company. The CEO says it’s all about building a leaner, faster org with fewer layers and more productivity… powered by small teams and smart tools.

And yes… this isn’t totally new territory for Fiverr. Earlier this year, Kaufman dropped a memo saying AI is coming for your job (including his) unless employees adapt. He also said he would only hire candidates who’re already using AI, calling it a becoming-a-non-negotiable skill, not a bonus.

But here’s the flip side: A new PwC report shows AI doesn’t have to replace you. It can upgrade you. Workers using AI are seeing better output and better pay. The key? Learning how to work with AI, not fear it. If Fiverr’s news made your stomach drop, you’re not alone. But let’s turn that anxiety into agency. The AI-first future is coming but there is opportunity to make sure you’re leading, not just reacting.

Try This Week 💡

At Work: Build Your Own AI Thinking Partner

In this episode of AI & I, Noah Brier shares his workflow for turning AI into his second brain. He uses Claude Code on top of his Obsidian vault to turn AI into a research assistant, strategist, and context-savvy collaborator.

👩‍💻 Try this:

Set up a personal knowledge base using Obsidian (a free, local note app) and start saving your notes, meeting recaps, or shower-thought breakthroughs. Then, experiment with an AI tool (we second Noah’s use of Claude Code) to read, summarize, and connect ideas from those notes.

Prompt idea: “Summarize all my notes from this week and give me three big themes to follow up on.”

✨ Why it works:

• It connects the dots between ideas you didn’t even realize were related.

• Your brain focuses on “Why?” and “What if?” instead of “Where was that again?”

• You stay in creative flow while it handles the mental grunt work.

It’s like working with a genius research assistant who never sleeps and remembers everything you’ve ever said. Yes, please.

You Asked 🙋‍♀️

“Can I trust AI to give me real answers or is it just making stuff up?”

This is the AI question equivalent of “Can I trust this Hinge match?” And the answer is... sometimes.

AI is great at sounding confident even when it’s confidently wrong. That’s because it’s predicting words based on patterns, not pulling from a fact-checked encyclopedia. So yes, it can absolutely fake it.

🧠 Pro move: 

When you’re asking for info (especially medical, legal, or news), always cross-check sources. But if you’re brainstorming, rewriting, or organizing ideas? Let it cook. Think of it like a very smart intern: super helpful, but still needs supervision.

💡 Want more trustworthy answers? Build a smarter AI sidekick.

You can create a custom GPT (in ChatGPT) that acts kind of like a “mini RAG,” which stands for Retrieval-Augmented Generation, but don’t worry, there’s no quiz. This means you can upload your own files, brand guides, research docs, or whatever matters to you, and your AI will pull from those first, instead of guessing.

Resource Roundup 🛠️

A Google engineer just dropped a FREE 400+ page book: Agentic Design Patterns

📊 Report to Bookmark: Squarespace dropped its 2025 Entrepreneurship Report, and it’s full of juicy insights on how founders are actually using AI (or avoiding it). TL;DR: AI saves time, but trust and training are still major gaps.

📊 Anthropic Economic Index Report (Sept 2025): The full report from Anthropic (“Uneven geographic and enterprise AI adoption”) with data on Claude.ai usage over time, how AI diffusion varies across countries & U.S. states, and how companies use Claude via its API. A key takeaway? Usage is shifting from more conversational “help me think this through” interactions toward more directive/automation‑style requests.

🌍 Google just announced what it's calling the biggest upgrade to Chrome in its history: and it’s all about infusing AI into how you browse, search, and stay safe online. Gemini in Chrome will help you understand complex info, juggle all those open tabs, and even remember that article you forgot to bookmark. A new “agentic browsing” mode is in the works (imagine your browser doing tasks for you), plus smarter integrations with Google tools like Calendar and Maps, and a search bar that’s getting way more brainy. On the security side: scam alerts, faster password help, and better control over pop-ups and notifications.

What We’re Loving 💖

🤖 A Wearable Robot That’s Helping ALS and Stroke Patients

Harvard’s soft robotic vest is giving serious hope to folks with ALS and stroke-related mobility loss. It doesn’t just assist. It learns how you move, then personalizes lift support to help with everyday tasks like eating or brushing your hair. The more you wear it, the smarter (and more intuitive) it gets. This is AI serving real people, bringing autonomy back to lives that tech too often overlooks.

Your Turn 🔁

Got an AI win? Found a tool that made your life 10x easier? Building something cool that deserves a little hype (or know a woman who is)? We want to hear it! You might just see your story in the next edition (with your permission, of course). Because when one of us figures something out, we all get smarter. 🫶 

Her AI Vault 🗂️

Your go-to stash of top resources we’ve created so you never have to dig through old emails to find that one gem.

📘 5 Ways To Get Started With AI At Work: Quick-start guide to delegate the “ugh” tasks and focus on what actually matters.

🔐 AI Privacy Guide: What your AI tools really collect and how to lock down your settings like a pro.

🔍 Her AI Glossary: 40+ essential AI terms, broken down in plain English.

🧠 AI Model Cheat Sheet: Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini... we decoded who does what best, so you can stop guessing and start impressing.

🛠️ Build-Your-Own Productivity Tool: A one-prompt web app for tasks, timers, and focus that is custom-built by Claude and copy-pasted by you.

Before You Go... 💭