🎉 Microsoft CoPilot is Now Free [Kind of], Luma competes with Veo2, ChatGPT Tasks & Agentics, OpenAI Steps into Robotics
Microsoft Introduces CoPilot Free Tier, Luma Labs Launches Veo2 Competitor Ray, ChatGPT Gets Into Lightweight Agentics, OpenAI Pursuing Robotic Initiatives
Welcome to this week’s edition of AImpulse, a four point summary of the most significant advancements in the world of Artificial Intelligence followed by a cool new AI tool I’m trying out this week.
Here’s the pulse on this week’s top stories:
What’s Happening: Microsoft just introduced Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat, a rebranded free entry-level version of its AI assistant platform that introduces pay-per-use agent capabilities while maintaining core AI features for business users.
The details:
The new tier offers free access to GPT-4o-powered chat, which includes web-based knowledge, file analysis capabilities, and image and code generation.
Users can access custom AI agents for task automation, with a consumption-based model at $0.01 per message or $200 for 25,000 messages monthly.
Agents can leverage knowledge sources for a range of tasks and actions, and the Copilot Control System allows IT teams to manage the platform easily.
The offering aims to bridge the gap between free users and the full Microsoft 365 Copilot subscription ($30/user/month).
Why it matters: Microsoft’s launch is a shot at Gemini’s free push into its Workplace apps, but the differentiator (for now) is the agentic capabilities. For orgs looking to continue integrating AI easily across their knowledge bases and employees, Microsoft still looks like a powerhouse — though it will have no shortage of fast-moving rivals.
What’s Happening: Luma Labs just released Ray 2, the startup’s next-generation AI video model — which promises unprecedented motion quality and physics realism through a new multimodal architecture trained with 10x more computing power than its predecessor.
The details:
The model can generate high-quality video clips up to 10 seconds long from text prompts, and it has advanced motion and physics capabilities.
Ray2 demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of object interactions, from natural scenes like water physics to complex human movements.
Ray2 can currently handle text, image, and video-to-video generations, and Luma will soon add editing capabilities to the model.
The system is launching first in Luma’s Dream Machine platform for paid subscribers, with API access coming soon.
Why it matters: Veo 2’s launch around the holidays felt like a new level of realism and quality for AI video, and now Luma punches back with some heat of its own. It’s becoming impossible to discern AI video from reality — and the question is which lab will crack longer-length, coherent outputs and unlock a new realm of creative power.
What’s Happening: OpenAI is rolling out Tasks, a new ChatGPT beta feature that allows users to schedule reminders and recurring actions, marking the company's first step into agentic AI capabilities.
The details:
Users can schedule one-time reminders or recurring actions, such as daily weather updates, news briefings, or periodic web searches.
Tasks can be managed through chat or a dedicated web interface, with notifications available across desktop, mobile, and web platforms.
ChatGPT can suggest relevant tasks based on conversation history, though users must explicitly approve any suggestions.
Tasks will launch for Plus, Team, and Pro users in the coming days, with up to 10 active tasks at a time through a "4o with scheduled tasks" model option.
Why it matters: While reminders aren’t groundbreaking, Tasks lays the groundwork for incorporating agentic abilities into ChatGPT, which will likely gain value once integrated with other features like tool or computer use. With ‘Operator’ also rumored to be coming this month, all signs are pointing towards 2025 being the year of the AI agent.
What’s Happening: OpenAI just posted the company’s first robotics hardware job listings, revealing plans to develop its own custom robots with advanced AI capabilities.
The details:
Former Meta AR glasses lead Caitlin Kalinowski is spearheading the effort, joining as OpenAI's hardware director in November.
The company is hiring for technical roles, including sensor suite development and mechanical design, and a lab operations manager to oversee prototype testing.
Job listings hint at goals for ‘general-purpose robots that operate in dynamic real-world settings,’ with plans for a ‘wide variety of robotic form factors.’
OpenAI shuttered the robotics team in 2020, with research including training a robotic hand to solve a Rubik’s Cube and other dexterity challenges.
OpenAI has also collaborated with Figure in the past year, integrating its models into the robotics firm’s humanoid robots.
Why it matters: While OpenAI is no stranger to robotics hardware with its partnerships and reported consumer device efforts with Jony Ive, rebuilding an in-house robotics division may signal a belief that achieving its AGI goal may require control of both the physical and digital aspects of AI systems.
What’s Happening: Krea AI lets you place any product into your photos and adapt to your image's lighting and perspective.
Step-by-step:
Visit Krea AI’s website and log in, or create a free account.
Upload your base image where you want to place the product.
Click "Change Region," draw the placement area, and describe your product.
Upload your product photo as an image prompt for better accuracy.
Pro tip: Use high-quality product photos and try the "Train Subject" feature with multiple product angles for professional results.