AI Summer School - Where Gen AI is Headed

Your weekly guide to getting the most out of generative AI tools

Author

Innovation Profs
August 22, 2025

Welcome to Gen AI Summer School

We’re spending the summer teaching you the essentials you need to succeed in an AI-forward world.

Here’s the plan (click the links to read past posts):

Where Gen AI is Headed

The rapid rise of generative AI over the past couple of years – from language models to multimedia tools – has left many wondering: what comes next? In this final part of our Gen AI Summer School series, we’ll explore some areas we are watching closely as we look to the future of generative AI.

Before we get into that, if you have enjoyed this series (or want an easy way to learn it all), our upcoming Generative AI Boot Camp on Sept. 12 is based on the material from this series. You can attend in-person at Drake University or virtually.

Autonomous, agentic AI: AI systems that operate with autonomy - making decisions and taking actions independently - are on the rise. This “agentic AI” is increasingly embedded across domains like development, customer service and security. ChatGPT recently released its AI agent mode. Tools such as Make and n8n are currently being use to create AI agents. A simple tool to get you started is agent.ai.

Multimodal experiences: We've already seen generative AI expand beyond text to incorporate images, audio, video, and more. This trend also includes adaptive user interfaces that embrace multimodal inputs (voice, vision, text) and offer emotionally responsive, cross-platform experiences, especially on mobile devices.

If you have not yet downloaded ChatGPT, Gemini and Grok mobile apps, that’s a good place to start. Gemini Live, for example, lets you to have natural, conversational interactions with Google's Gemini AI, using your voice and optionally, your camera or screen.

AI in everyday life: AI is moving from our phones into the physical world – via augmented reality glasses, smart wearables, and in-home devices. Tech companies envision digital assistants that are with you everywhere, not just in a smart speaker or browser. For example, Meta’s second-generation Ray-Ban smart glasses were among the first gadgets with a generative AI assistant built-in, allowing users to converse with an AI just by saying “Hey Meta.”

Google is teaming up with Warby Parker to develop similar glasses. ByteDance and Snap are in this space as well. And Meta’s next glasses are reported to have a built-in display. Future AR glasses won’t just record your world – they’ll understand and annotate reality in real time.

Other wearable AI devices include the $50 Bee Pioneer, the Plaude AI NotePin and Limitless AI Pendant.

AI companions: Another striking trend is the rise of AI “friends” and companions – chatbots or digital characters that people converse with for emotional support, friendship, or even romance. Science fiction imagined this scenario in films like Her, but it’s now becoming reality for millions. In fact, a recent 2025 study found that therapy and companionship have become the #1 use case for generative AI, overtaking tasks like brainstorming.

Over 30 million people have created a Replika (AI friend) account to date, according to the company CEO, and a competing platform Character.AI boasts 20 million monthly active users.

Meta allows users to create AI chatbots in Instagram and Messenger. And Grok recently released its AI companions, which are labeled for users age 18 and older.

AI browsers: AI browsers are rapidly emerging as a new category in web navigation, integrating real-time language models and assistants directly into the browsing experience. Perplexity’s Comet offers a conversational interface that automates web tasks, while The Browser Company’s Dia embeds AI throughout its interface, and Opera continues expanding its AI capabilities via Aria and Neon. These browsers promise to collapse search, summarization, writing and task execution into a unified, AI-driven workflow.

Smarter, more personal AI assistants: OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has already hinted at GPT‑6, which promises persistent memory allowing AI to recall past conversations and user preferences for more cohesive, personalized interactions. Think of it less as a tool and more like a trusted assistant.

In summary

Generative AI is no longer just a tool for text or image creation. It’s evolving into a constant presence in our lives, woven into the devices we wear, the platforms we use, and even the companions we keep. From AI glasses and home assistants that anticipate our needs, to digital friends that offer emotional support, the trajectory is clear: AI will grow more integrated, more personal, and more powerful.

Upcoming Gen AI Events

Free Back to School Gen AI Update: Join us as we kick off the new school year with a free virtual overview of recent developments in generative artificial intelligence. This virtual event is free and open to the public, so sharpen your pencils and join the fun.

When: Monday, Aug. 25, 12-12:45 p.m. Central time
Where: Virtual event on Zoom
Sign up here.

Gen AI Boot Camp: Join us in-person at Drake University or virtually for our next Generative AI Boot Camp. This one-day workshop will get you up to speed and using generative AI tools effectively in your work.

When: Friday, Sept. 12, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: Drake University or on Zoom
Sign up here