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Grammarly has disabled its controversial “Expert Review” AI tool following intense criticism and a class-action lawsuit filed by writers whose identities were used without consent. The feature used generative AI to provide editing feedback meant to mimic the styles of famous authors and academics, including Stephen King, Neil deGrasse Tyson, and the late Carl Sagan. Lead plaintiff Julia Angwin, an investigative journalist whose voice was also emulated, argued that the tool monetized the professional skill and livelihoods of writers without their involvement.

Perplexity announced “Personal Computer,” a new system designed to transform a dedicated Mac into a 24/7 autonomous AI agent. Unlike standard chatbots, Personal Computer acts as a digital proxy that stays powered on to execute complex, multi-step projects across a user's local apps and files. According to Perplexity, the system uses a coordinator to delegate tasks to specialized sub-agents for web research, document generation, and coding, allowing it to perform “3.25 years’ worth of work in just four weeks” during internal testing.

Google announced a major overhaul to Google Maps, integrating Gemini models to transform navigation into a conversational experience. The headline feature, “Ask Maps,” allows users to ask complex, open-ended questions (such as finding a quiet place to charge a phone), receiving personalized recommendations based on real-time data and community reviews. Google also is rolling out “Immersive Navigation,” which provides a visual overhaul with 3D views, clearer lane guidance and natural voice instructions.

Lean TECHniques works alongside Midwest companies to leverage technology for business impact. Through advisory, coaching, and embedded delivery, Lean TECHniques helps organizations develop high-performing teams, create environments that fuel innovation, and deliver best-in-class customer experiences. Core areas of expertise include software, cloud, artificial intelligence, product management, and technology leadership.

Claude just got visual. It can now build custom charts, diagrams, and interactive visuals right in the chat. For example, I asked how a curveball works in baseball, and it built this diagram:

Don’t count out this 16-seed.

The website Your AI Slop Bores Me lets humans play the role of AIs and answer requests of other humans (who are pretending they are asking questions of AI). It’s all good fun, and it involves a lot of drawing. Give it a try (hat tip to Greg Swan for sharing this one in his email newsletter).

Yahoo Sports built two NotebookLM notebooks to help you fill out your NCAA basketball brackets. NotebookLM suggests asking the chat specific questions about any player or creating a Mind Map to dive into every team.

We asked for the most-likely upsets on the men’s side, and here’s what it said (here’s a full bracket based on NotebookLM):