💬 Quoted: “We observed users using language that might indicate forming connections with the model.”

• OpenAI is increasingly worried the plot of Her is playing out in real life for some of its users. GPT4-o’s new human-sounding voice mode began rolling out to paying customers on July 30 – and in a report published Thursday, the AI company says early testing of its voice mode found users are more likely to form human-like emotional connections with the technology, which ends up reducing their desire for human interaction. OpenAI says these connections could potentially help benefit lonely individuals, but also have the potential to negatively impact users’ “healthy relationships” as well as social norms.

🏘️ Stat of the Day: Home affordability has significantly worsened across the US since the height of the pandemic, according to the National Association of Realtors’ affordability index. In January 2021, American families needed an income of $49,152 to afford a median-priced single-family home with a 20% down payment – but that same purchase would require a family income of $110,544 in June 2024.

🤔 Did You Know? On average, Olympic athletes live about five years longer than the general population, according to a study that examined 8,000+ athletes who made the Olympics from 1912-2012.

📰 Worth a Read: How to Make Better Decisions with Second-Level Thinking → (Ness Labs)