ALTERN #13 - New Ways to Search with AI Mode
Google enhances search with AI Mode, Anthropic's Claude integrates deeper with apps, Alpha School pioneers AI-driven education, Yann LeCun honored for AI advancements, Reddit leverages AI for improved
Welcome back to today’s edition of the Altern Newsletter — your daily dose of the most exciting breakthroughs, tools, and trends shaping the world of AI.
🔮 Trending AI Tools
Claude Integrations – Connect Claude to apps like Jira, Zapier, and Google Workspace for seamless workflow automation and enhanced research capabilities.
Google AI Mode – An AI-powered search experience offering conversational answers, follow-up questions, and rich product insights directly within Google Search.
🔮 Submit your AI tool to the best AI tools marketplace.
Google’s AI Mode Gets Expanded Access and Additional Functionality
Google’s AI Mode, powered by Gemini 2.0, is reportedly expanding access and adding features like multi-step query handling, though specific updates remain unconfirmed. The experimental search tool aims to rival ChatGPT by processing complex questions, but details on new functionality are limited. No official announcement was found for May 2025, suggesting this may be a speculative report. - TechCrunch
Anthropic Lets You Connect Apps to Claude
Anthropic launched Integrations, allowing Claude to connect with apps like Zapier, Atlassian, and PayPal, enhancing workflow automation. The beta feature, available for Max, Team, and Enterprise plans, enables Claude to access project data and perform tasks. Advanced Research mode now searches web, Google Workspace, and Integrations, delivering cited reports in 5-45 minutes. - TechCrunch
What Happens When Teachers Are Replaced With AI? The Alpha School Is Finding Out
Alpha School in Brownsville, Texas, uses AI tutors to deliver a full day’s instruction in two hours, with plans to expand to Houston, Fort Worth, Phoenix, New York, and Santa Barbara by fall 2025. Students show high motivation and top 2% test scores, but critics argue AI cannot replace human educators’ role in fostering trust and collaboration. Tuition ranges from $10,000 to $65,000. - Newsweek
The Academy Recognizes Yann LeCun for Advancing AI
Yann LeCun, Meta’s Chief AI Scientist, received the New York Academy of Sciences’ Trailblazer Award for pioneering machine learning and neural networks. His work emphasizes sensory inputs over language for smarter AI, predicting a shift from LLMs to new architectures. LeCun advocates open-source AI to foster collaboration. - New York Academy of Sciences
Reddit’s AI Play Is for the Google Crowd, Not Just the Community Scrollers
Reddit is enhancing its platform with AI to improve search and content discovery, targeting Google users seeking answers. The strategy aims to boost ad revenue and user engagement beyond its core community. This move reflects Reddit’s pivot to compete in AI-driven search markets. - TechCrunch
That’s a wrap! Explore cutting-edge AI tools at Altern, follow us on X, GitHub and LinkedIn, and stay ahead of the AI revolution with the daily Altern Newsletter at newsletter.altern.ai for the latest updates!