A year ago, it sometimes felt like artificial intelligence had somehow spread everywhere, but that was just a preview of how artificial intelligence could suddenly enter people’s lives, for better or worse.
It would take an entire book to cover every transformative update, flashy launch, and embarrassing misstep from the biggest AI brands: Open artificial intelligenceof Chat GPT, Google Gemini, and apple Intelligence, not to mention every AI developer.
Still, before 2025 shakes up the landscape again, there are some key highlights worth remembering.
Unlimited upgrades for ChatGPT
It’s hard to talk about artificial intelligence in 2024 without centering it on ChatGPT. OpenAI seems determined to stay in the spotlight, releasing game-changing update after game-changing update.
In May, GPT-4o was launched, followed by a streamlined version GPT-4o opens the multi-modal evolution of ChatGPT in processing text, images, audio and video. The o1 model released in December brings a new level of reasoning, providing sharper, more insightful answers. It has proven to be an invaluable tool for solving problems ranging from coding challenges to creative brainstorming.
ChatGPT’s Advanced Voice Mode brings new voice interactions to ChatGPT, providing a range of realistic voices – including santa claus. If you don’t talk through the app, OpenAI even has a toll-free 1-800-CHATGPT hotline to call and interact with ChatGPT.
Filmmakers have spent much of the year eagerly awaiting SolaOpenAI’s text-to-video model. While Sora’s ability to create animated films has only recently become available to non-professional filmmakers, now creative professionals or marketers can use Sora’s ability to create animated films on deadline.
Creative collaboration is also the focus of ChatGPT’s canvas mode, which can collaborate with artificial intelligence in real time to edit and improve projects side by side. To keep things organized, OpenAI is also introducing Projects, which groups conversations and files into neat folders. Expanded ChatGPT search capabilities help keep all information current and accurate.
Most importantly, OpenAI features Its festive “12 Days of OpenAI” eventwhich launches daily updates such as WhatsApp Integrations, new $200/month ChatGPT Pro tier, and early access to upcoming O3 models chatbot. That may have helped distract from an hours-long power outage caused by an accident in December. Microsoft Data center failure. The scope of the outrage may not be great PR, but it does undeniably highlight how far ChatGPT has spread since its inception in 2024.
Google Gemini Leap
When 2024 ends, Google Gemini won’t even exist. It wasn’t until February that Bud became Geminithe rebranding is part of Google’s year-long effort to surpass OpenAI by incorporating artificial intelligence into everything it does. A shiny new Android Gemini app and Gemini Advanced subscription package immediately began competing with ChatGPT, and upgrades soon followed.
By May, Google launched Gemini 1.5, an updated version with more processing power and an expanded context window, making it smarter and better able to understand complex queries. But the real magic started this summer, when Gemini smarts made their way to Google Home devices and replaced Google Assistant in more places.
This peaks in September Gemini scenea feature that allows you to have instant voice conversations with AI. The ChatGPT competition continued with a custom chatbot called Gems, and a month later, an iPhone app was released, integrating with other Google apps on iOS.
In December, the finale came to an end with the release of Gemini 2.0, a massive upgrade with better and faster response, photo analysis and other features. Not to mention, many of the exclusive features of Google Pixel phones further connect to the rest of the Google ecosystem.
Apple smart phone finally matures
Rumors about Apple’s artificial intelligence plans have been circulating for years, but in 2024 Apple Intelligence will finally make its debut. Apple in Global Developers Conference June.
The design is definitely Apple, but there’s a lot of integration with existing AI models. In particular, Apple will allow its improved Siri voice assistant to rely on ChatGPT for answers and various queries. We’re still waiting for Siri’s promised ability to see, understand, and perform tasks within apps.
Even if the branding is different, Apple’s artificial intelligence tools seem to be mainly designed to match or exceed the capabilities provided by OpenAI and Google. For example, Apple Intelligence powers image creators Image Playgroundand Genmoji, which lets you design your own emojis.
Probably the most obvious aspect is how Apple information It mainly uses Apple hardware to run artificial intelligence processes locally or on its ultra-secure private cloud computing servers. This way, Apple Intelligence can perform faster and ensure more privacy.
While OpenAI, Google and Apple dominate the headlines, artificial intelligence is having a wider impact thanks to other big brands. Meta, for example, launched its Meta AI virtual assistant, embedding it into Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, upgrading and expanding its capabilities throughout the year (including some celebrity voices). Meta will also embed Meta AI into next year and designate next year as the year of AI smart glasses. Meta Quest Headphones as well as Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses. Oh, and who could forget the unveiling of t?Orion augmented reality glasses prototype?
However, not all artificial intelligence hardware performed so well this year. Centered around the Rabbit R1, a small artificial intelligence-centric device, and wearable devices such as Human Artificial Intelligence Pins and Plaud NotePin had very high sales at the beginning of the year, but they have both declined rapidly since then and will probably only succeed as very niche products.
If there’s one thing that 2024 has proven, it’s that artificial intelligence has officially transcended its shiny new technology phase and is sweeping over our lives in a full-blown revolution. ChatGPT, Gemini, Apple Intelligence, and their competitors all demonstrate how dazzling and even truly useful AI tools can be when used correctly.
That doesn’t mean that 2025 won’t be without missteps and mistakes, but it certainly indicates that it will become a standard part of many digital activities to some degree, whether you’re trying to have a game night with friends, entertain, or educate the kids , or organize our meal and cooking plans. This year has demonstrated what AI can do; next year, the question will be, what capabilities do we really want AI to provide us with?