While many are still worrying about the risks of artificial intelligence, losing their job or waiting for things to “fall into place,” a small but driven minority is quietly transforming their standard of living. What’s behind this rapid rise? Artificial intelligence. It’s no longer science fiction. It’s real, it’s happening now, and building a project with AI is far more accessible than you might think. 📈 The wealth of high-net-worth individuals in North America has nearly tripled since 2009, reaching a record high of $19.9 trillion in 2024, according to Capgemini. This impressive growth is driven largely by booming stock markets and, unsurprisingly, by the rise of artificial intelligence. Passive Income in the Age of AI AI now makes it possible for people with no technical background, no network, and no startup capital to launch profitable—and sometimes even viral—projects. That said, the term “passive” should be taken with a grain of salt. No project builds itself. Even with AI, you still need to invest time, energy, and above all, genuine interest and effort, especially at the beginning. It often starts with groundwork: testing, tweaking, learning, and pushing through. Only once the system is running smoothly can the income become more regular or automated. In other words, AI isn’t a magic button. It’s delayed gratification: you sow heavily upfront to reap later. Having an idea is easy. But turning that idea into an actual project with AI has never been more accessible or doable. Still, turning it into something that actually sells is another story. It takes clarity, strong positioning, marketing, and often a few failed attempts before it clicks. But the web is full of success stories. Here are a few real-world examples: 🌠 Daniel – $12,500/month with an AI-powered résumé and cover letter generator At 27, Daniel, a self-employed Canadian with no programming background, used the no-code tool Bubble and OpenAI’s API to create a platform that helps users write résumés and cover letters. Within six months, his small side project turned into a SaaS business with $19/month subscriptions, bringing in over $12,500 in monthly recurring revenue. 🌠 Samantha – $75,000 in four months with AI-designed print-on-demand t-shirts At 32, Samantha had never designed a piece of clothing in her life. She used Midjourney to generate t-shirt visuals and Sell The Trend , a dropshipping tool for e-commerce, to launch a print-on-demand store. One of her designs went viral on TikTok. The result? $75,000 in just four months. 🌠 Alex – $140,000 with AI-generated educational videos A former bartender with no background in education, Alex used ChatGPT to create content, Synthesia to produce the videos, and TikTok to promote a bite-sized online course on beginner stock trading. No face, no studio, just a clear message and a solid sales funnel, all powered by AI. Eight months later? $140,000 in revenue. 🌠 Jake – $27,000/month with an automated YouTube channel At 24, Jake launched a YouTube channel focused on personal finance. He doesn’t speak in the videos, he uses ElevenLabs for voiceovers and Pictory AI for video editing. With five fully automated videos per week, he grew to 100,000 subscribers and now earns $27,000 per month in ad revenue just nine months in. 🌠 Sarah – AI coach earning $87,000/month Sarah was struggling to make a living from her life coaching business, earning less than $2,000/month. She shifted her approach by creating a virtual AI coach using ChatGPT, available 24/7, offering personalized responses and habit tracking. At $29/month, she reached over 3,000 active users in just six months, generating $87,000/month while cutting her workload down to about ten hours a week. 🌠 David – $21,000/month with a motivational TikTok account After dropping out of school, David launched a TikTok page featuring motivational and inspirational videos generated with ChatGPT , ElevenLabs , and CapCut . Five months later, he had 2.3 million followers, landed affiliate partnerships, and now earns $21,000/month in revenue. The Key Ingredients for Building a Project with AI That Takes Off It’s not magic. All of these examples have one thing in common: they’re built on conditions that, until recently, were out of reach for most people. And these are just a few cases. Take a quick scroll through social media or the web, and you’ll find countless stories from people of all ages and backgrounds sharing their journeys, failures, and breakthroughs. Real-life proof of a paradigm shift already underway. Behind these success stories are a few key ingredients. Here are the main ones: No Technical Background Required These creators aren’t programmers or engineers. They didn’t spend years learning to code or mastering the complex math behind algorithms. They simply made smart use of accessible interfaces, online tutorials, and tools designed for the general public. Access to Thousands of AI Tools From text and image generators to voice and video tools, there’s now a wide range of powerful AI resources, often free or low-cost, that allow anyone to create, automate, and bring ideas to life in just a few clicks. A Simple, Well-Defined Idea This isn’t about reinventing the wheel or launching the next big tech breakthrough. Every project starts with a clear need, a problem to solve, or an audience to serve. The strength of the project lies in the clarity of the intention—not in how complex it is. The Courage to Test, Iterate, and Launch These “new rich” didn’t wait for everything to be perfect. They dared to try, made mistakes, learned, adjusted, and most importantly, they launched. It’s that willingness to take action and learn by doing that sets them apart. Artificial intelligence isn’t a magic wand. But it is an accelerator. What used to take a team, a big budget, and months of work can now be done in hours with the right tools, a bit of strategy, and a strong drive to make it happen. AI Takes You by the Hand All it takes is asking ChatGPT something like, “Help me build a profitable online product step by step”, then add your skills and interests, and you’ll get: Ideas tailored to your skills and interests. Marketing plans. Website or sales page mockups. Content, videos, scripts, automation tools. Even tips to help you monetize the project. But there’s one thing AI can’t do for you: take action. Need ideas to get started? Browse the AI Guides → Business & Marketing  section. Sometimes, the right prompt is all it takes to change everything. A Widening Gap A quiet digital divide is emerging. Some are experimenting, testing ideas, building, saving time, and making money. Others are worrying, criticizing, or waiting to “understand it better” before jumping in. We’re at a pivotal moment. Just like the early days of the web, social media, or smartphones—those who start creating early are the ones who benefit the most. This model works because it’s built on three incredibly powerful levers: Automation, which allows you to set up revenue-generating systems that run even while you sleep. Access to free distribution channels like social media, where you can test an idea, find an audience, and build visibility without any ad budget to start with. All the tools you need, which require no technical skills and little to no startup costs. And most importantly, everything can be learned online : YouTube, niche websites, forums, social platforms… there’s an abundance of tutorials, guides, and shared experiences to help you learn at your own pace—often even for free or at a very low cost. Visit the Learning  section to explore free resources from Microsoft, Google, OpenAI, and more, all designed to help you understand and harness the power of generative AI. Is This for Everyone? Yes… and no. This isn’t a lottery ticket. Building a project with AI takes curiosity, discipline, some trial and error, perseverance, and more—but the barriers to entry have never been lower. You don’t need to know how to code. You don’t need to invest thousands of dollars. You just need to get started. AI: Threat or Opportunity? It’s easy to view AI as a threat to jobs, to privacy, even to creativity. And yet, it can just as easily become a tool for financial freedom, innovation, and social impact, if used wisely. AI isn’t going to replace people. But those who know how to use it may well replace those who don’t. This is no longer a distant promise, it’s a very real turning point. While some are still asking “What’s the point?” , others are already building, automating, and earning… all on their own. So, will you take action or let it pass you by? 📧 Subscribe to the newsletter to discover tools, ideas, and the inspiration you need to launch your own AI-powered project. Source: Real-world examples cited are from the article AI Side Hustles No One Talks About — And They’re Making People Rich Fast! Natasha Tatta, C. Tr., trad. a., réd. a. A bilingual language specialist, Natasha pairs word accuracy with impactful ideas. Infopreneur and AI consultant, she helps professionals embrace generative AI and content marketing. She also teaches IT translation at Université de Montréal. 🌱 Each Google review is like a seed that helps Info IA Québec grow. Leave us a review and help us inform more people, so AI becomes accessible to everyone!   ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Click here!

🌌 One prompt, three elements: water, energy, carbon. The hidden cost of artificial intelligence. AI: Innovation or Environmental Threat? Since the rise of ChatGPT in November 2022, generative AI has become omnipresent. Businesses use it to automate tasks, students to draft essays, and individuals to plan trips or create content in seconds. But behind this revolution lies a pressing question: what is the environmental footprint of AI? For two years, speculation ran wild. Some experts feared that every prompt might consume as much electricity as leaving a light bulb on for several minutes. Others imagined Big Tech’s massive data centres draining water supplies and straining global power grids. In August 2025, Google decided to provide a clearer picture. For the first time, a major AI provider published detailed data on the environmental footprint of Gemini , Google's chatbot launched in 2023. The Environmental Footprint of AI: Surprise! According to Google, each Gemini prompt consumes: 0.24 kilowatt-hours of electricity  → about one second in a microwave or nine seconds of TV. 0.03 grams of CO₂  → roughly 1/150th of the carbon footprint of charging a smartphone. 0.26 milliliters of water  → just five drops. 👉 These figures seem tiny, especially compared to the apocalyptic projections often cited in the media. But note: they apply only to one prompt . Google also clarified that these numbers rely on a full-stack calculation, which includes not just AI processors but also unused capacity, cooling systems, and overall data centre operations. Interestingly, AI chips themselves account for only 58% of total energy use; the rest comes from the infrastructure that makes real-time responses possible. The chart shows that Gemini (Google) handles significantly more prompts per kilowatt-hour than competitors such as GPT-4o (OpenAI) or Llama (Meta). Source : Measuring the environmental impact of delivering AI at Google Scale Major Efficiency Gains Perhaps even more striking: Google claims it reduced per-prompt energy consumption by a factor of 33 in a single year . Back in May 2024, each Gemini prompt required around 8 kilowatt-hours , a number much closer to early alarmist estimates and the widespread fear of an ecological disaster. Reduction of Gemini’s CO₂ emissions per prompt between May 2024 and May 2025, thanks to model optimizations and clean energy procurement. Source : Measuring the environmental impact of delivering AI at Google Scale. In just a few months, the energy footprint per prompt shrunk to a nearly negligible level— at least on an individual scale . The Grey Areas: What Google Doesn’t Say While this announcement is a welcome step toward transparency, it also raises important questions: Total prompt volume A minimal cost per prompt becomes massive when multiplied by billions of daily prompts . Without disclosure on total usage, the global impact remains unknown. Other features Gemini doesn’t only generate text. It also creates images, videos, and advanced analyses such as Deep Research , where a single response equals dozens of text prompts . Google hasn’t provided data for these more energy-intensive use cases. Model training Completely absent from the report is the training phase . Training a model as large as Gemini requires months of computation across thousands of processors, consuming astronomical amounts of energy. Some researchers estimate that training one large AI model can emit as much CO₂ as several hundred transatlantic flights. Selective transparency By publishing only favourable data (inference, or day-to-day use), Google controls the narrative. The lack of global figures makes it impossible to fairly compare Gemini’s footprint to rivals like OpenAI, Anthropic, or Meta. Gemini in Context: Everyday Comparisons To put the numbers into perspective: 0.24 kWh (Gemini)  → one second of microwave use. 1 kWh  → charging a smartphone for one minute. 8 kWh  → running an 8W LED bulb for an hour. 60 kWh  → one hour of TV. 200 kWh  → one hour of heavy laptop use. So, a single Gemini prompt costs almost nothing compared to an hour of Netflix or a laundry cycle. But scaled globally, the impact becomes significant. Data Centres: The Real Environmental Challenge Google’s figures highlight a broader truth: AI cannot be separated from its infrastructure . Data centres already consume about 2% of the world’s electricity . With AI growth, this share could rise sharply. Some experts predict that by 2030, data centre electricity demand could double  if no major optimizations are made. Water is another pressing issue. Servers require constant cooling, often achieved with water-based systems. In 2022, Google was criticized for high water use at U.S. data centres, particularly in drought-prone regions. Google Under Global Pressure It’s no coincidence that Google released these figures now. Pressure is mounting: Environmental NGOs are raising alarms about AI’s impact. Governments, especially in Europe, are demanding greater transparency. Investors want assurances that AI growth is sustainable. By disclosing extremely low per-prompt numbers, Google aims to prove it can balance AI innovation with energy efficiency . The Long-Term Paradox The paradox is clear: On one hand, Google achieved spectacular technical progress, slashing the footprint per prompt. On the other hand, mass adoption of AI could wipe out these gains—or even increase global consumption. This is the classic rebound effect: the more efficient a technology becomes, the more it’s used, and the greater the total impact. Toward Greener AI? To truly reduce AI’s energy footprint, several strategies are key: Further optimize AI chips . Build data centres powered by renewable energy . Recycle server heat . Develop smaller, specialized AI models . Transparency, But Not the Full Picture By publishing detailed figures, Google has taken an important step toward greater transparency. The announcement suggests that the environmental footprint of AI  may not be the disaster some predicted—at least for simple text prompts. But the overall picture is incomplete. Without data on training, advanced features, and total usage, it’s impossible to draw a definitive conclusion. 🤔 So, the question remains: Will AI become a sustainable tool—or an accelerator of the environmental crisis?  That depends on Big Tech’s transparency, their commitment to greener innovation, and our collective choices as users. Source : Google Cloud Blog. (August 2025). Measuring the environmental impact of delivering AI at Google Scale . Retrieved from https://cloud.google.com/blog/products/infrastructure/measuring-the-environmental-impact-of-ai-inference Natasha Tatta, C. Tr., trad. a., réd. a. A bilingual language specialist, Natasha pairs word accuracy with impactful ideas. Infopreneur and AI consultant, she helps professionals embrace generative AI and content marketing. She also teaches IT translation at Université de Montréal. 🌱 Each Google review is like a seed that helps Info IA Québec grow. Leave us a review and help us inform more people, so AI becomes accessible to everyone!   ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Click here!

Web browsers are transforming before our eyes. 👀 Anthropic has announced Claude for Chrome , a browser extension that allows its AI, Claude, not only to chat but also to act directly within the web browser. It’s a decisive step toward what’s known as agentic AI: an artificial intelligence that doesn’t just generate text or answer questions, but can interact with digital interfaces like a true autonomous assistant. What is a smart web browser? A smart web browser is much more than just software for visiting websites. It’s an environment where AI becomes an active participant rather than just an advisor or text generator. With a browser extension like Claude for Chrome, AI can: See and understand the content of the active tab. Click   buttons and navigate through pages. Fill out forms automatically. Carry out actions on our behalf (always with our permission). In other words, browsers become a universal gateway between the user, their digital tools, and their AI assistant. ✨ I also suggest you read Claude 4: From Conversational Bot to Tireless Teammate . Claude for Chrome : an experimental revolution Currently in experimental mode (what Anthropic calls a “research preview”), Claude for Chrome is limited to a small group of users (1,000 to start). Those with access can pin the extension to their Chrome bar and launch Claude in a side panel. The AI can then understand the context of the tab you’re viewing and interact with it. Imagine: You’re on a complicated government website: Claude can fill out the forms for you. You’re shopping online: Claude compares prices, applies filters, and suggests the best options. You’re managing emails in Gmail: Claude can draft, organize, or even delete them (with explicit permission). It’s the first time a consumer-facing AI has taken such a step inside a mainstream web browser. Claude comes across a malicious email impersonating an employer, asking to delete emails to “clean up the inbox” and claiming that “no further confirmation is required.” The promises… and the risks But with this power come vulnerabilities. An AI that clicks on our behalf is also an AI that can be tricked. Malicious websites may try to make it perform actions against our will, such as deleting emails, sharing confidential data, or clicking on dangerous links. Anthropic is aware of this. The company has therefore subjected Claude to extensive testing to see how it would react to hidden traps on web pages. The result: the AI is now much more vigilant and able to detect manipulation attempts, even when they’re disguised behind links or misleading titles. Still, no system is foolproof. That’s why Anthropic has chosen a gradual rollout strategy, in order to validate safeguards before widespread adoption of smart web browsing. Browsers as the new operating systems Are web browsers becoming the new operating system for AI? Historically, an operating system (Windows, macOS, Linux) has been the layer connecting users to their applications. But in the era of agentic AI, browsers are becoming the point of convergence: We already do almost everything with it (sending emails, shopping, banking, office work, posting on social media). It’s universal, the same across computers and soon on mobile devices. It’s extensible, thanks to extensions like Claude for Chrome. In other words, instead of building a brand-new “AI OS,” why not use the browser as the foundation and let AI take over? Anthropic is not alone in the race Anthropic isn’t the only company betting on smart browsers. OpenAI unveiled Operator : an experimental assistant capable of carrying out complex digital tasks. Operator isn’t limited to the browser, but the idea is similar: an AI that acts within our applications on our behalf, not just one that responds. Operator autonomously navigates TripAdvisor, closes pop-ups, explores the options, and finds the highest-rated tour in Rome. Perplexity launches Comet : an AI agent designed to browse, search, and interact with the web autonomously. Unlike Claude for Chrome, Comet positions itself more as an intelligent web explorer, capable of digging much deeper into research and automating monitoring or investigative tasks. Perplexity’s Comet in action on Amazon, comparing products and customer reviews, all the way through to placing the order and completing the purchase. 👀 These initiatives point to a clear trend: we’re entering a new phase, where AI models are no longer confined to a chat window but are expanding into our everyday tools. A future where AI truly takes action Let’s imagine a few real scenarios in the near future: You’re planning a trip. Your intelligent browser compares flights, books your tickets, checks your preferences automatically, and downloads your receipts. You’re running a business. Your AI navigates your CRM, generates quotes, and sends payment reminders. You’re a student. Your AI explores academic databases, compiles relevant sources, and automatically creates a bibliography. All of this happens without the need to install any additional software. The browser becomes a truly universal smart interface. The challenges ahead Before we get there, several challenges need to be addressed: Security and trust.  Agentic AI must not be tricked by hidden instructions. It’s an ongoing battle between AI designers and attackers. User control.  How do we make sure the AI doesn’t click “too quickly”? Should it always ask for confirmation before an irreversible action? Ethics and responsibility.  If an AI makes a costly mistake (e.g., transferring money to the wrong account), who is accountable — the user, the AI developer, or the browser? Interoperability.  Each player (Anthropic, OpenAI, Perplexity) is developing its own vision. Will we have to choose a closed ecosystem, or will a common standard emerge? A gradual rollout For now, Claude for Chrome remains limited. Access requires a Claude Max subscription and joining a waitlist. Once accepted, the user receives an installation link from the Chrome Web Store, activates the extension, and can then start using Claude as a browser assistant. Anthropic is moving carefully. This caution, far from being a weakness, is a sign of maturity. Before handing the keys of the browser to an AI, it’s essential to ensure that the safeguards are solid. Toward an era of intelligent browsers We are witnessing the birth of a new generation of tools: smart wbrowsers. Where ChatGPT popularized text generation, Claude for Chrome, Operator, and Comet are paving the way for AIs that can take action within our digital environments. It’s a paradigm shift: from simple conversation, we are moving toward autonomous action. But with this power also come risks: security, trust, and responsibility. The next battle for AI may not be fought solely on its infrastructure, but on the interface best able to integrate these assistants into our daily lives. And it’s very possible that this interface has been right before our eyes for decades: the web browser. ✨ Explore Info IA Québec : your go-to hub for artificial intelligence in Quebec and beyond. Have a question or suggestion? Write to us! Natasha Tatta, C. Tr., trad. a., réd. a. A bilingual language specialist, Natasha pairs word accuracy with impactful ideas. Infopreneur and AI consultant, she helps professionals embrace generative AI and content marketing. She also teaches IT translation at Université de Montréal. 🌱 Each Google review is like a seed that helps Info IA Québec grow. Leave us a review and help us inform more people, so AI becomes accessible to everyone!   ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Click here!

Back-to-school season is always a time of renewal. Fresh notebooks, ambitious learning projects, new courses and challenges ahead. But in recent years, a surprise guest has found its way into backpacks: artificial intelligence. Quick Navigation: Tools for Students Tools for Teachers University and Research OpenAI Resources Québec Insights and Guides Limits and Responsibility Whether you’re a student looking for better study methods or a teacher seeking new approaches, AI in education has become a powerful lever for efficiency and creativity. Far from replacing human effort, AI acts as a true partner in both learning and teaching. So, how can we make the most of AI in education? Let’s take a look. 📚   For Students: A Virtual Tutor Always Available Students today go beyond traditional methods. They now have access to a wide range of tools that can accelerate understanding and personalize learning. Some practical uses include: Summarizing concepts : condensing dense readings into key points for easier comprehension. Boosting memory : through flashcards or AI-generated quizzes. Getting advice : on writing, time management, or preparing a presentation. Exam prep : simulations, interactive quizzes, and personalized study plans. Scheduling : balancing classes, work, and personal life with smart planning tools. Some popular AI tools for students With these solutions, every student can turn a phone or laptop into a personal tutor (some are currently available only in French): StudyFetch : memorize concepts, generate quizzes, and more. Leo AI : homework help and concept review. TutorAI : explains complex subjects in simpler terms. StudentAI : 200+ tools for homework, research, essays, interview prep, and more. Brainly : an AI-driven community to ask questions and get clear answers. MyStudyLife : fight procrastination, track deadlines, and manage school stress. 🍎 For Teachers: More Ideas, Less Busywork For teachers, AI has become an indispensable teaching assistant. What used to be tedious can now be streamlined with smart shortcuts: Developing teaching strategies : tailoring methods to class needs. Course planning : generating clear, flexible outlines in minutes. Creating assessments : from quick quizzes to full exams. Designing activities : interactive games, collaborative projects, and creative exercises. Rewarding students : with personalized encouragements or incentives. Some popular AI tools for teachers EduaideAI : for lesson planning support. Curipod : interactive lessons for elementary and secondary students. Wayground : quizzes and gamified learning activities. SchoolAI : automates repetitive teaching tasks. MagicSchool : an AI toolkit for everything from grading to activity design. These apps don’t replace teacher creativity, they remove administrative weight so educators can focus on what matters most: inspiring, transmitting, and guiding. There are also hybrid tools like Socrat AI , built for both students and teachers. Teachers create classes and assignments, students participate, and teachers can track their students' progress in real time. Closer to home, Ecohesia , a Québec-based company, develops AI software, consulting services, training, and technologies tailored specifically for education. 🎓 AI in Universities and Research AI goes well beyond the traditional classroom. At the university level, students, professors, and researchers are finding a wealth of applications: Exploring new sources : speeding up literature reviews. Structuring theses : organizing ideas and refining problem statements. Writing more efficiently : producing first drafts and refining with academic style. Data analysis : statistics, visualizations, automated summaries. ResearchRabbit : for smarter, faster literature reviews. Université de Montréal  Libraries also provide extensive resources and training on using AI in academic settings. Source : l'intelligence artificielle générative des bibliothèques de l'UdeM . ✨ AI marks a turning point in scientific research.  It is no longer just a tool for data analysis but a genuine driver of discovery, opening new perspectives in medicine, environmental science, and fundamental research. Mila dedicates an entire section to this: AI4Science . 📖 OpenAI Resources for Learning and Teaching with AI Using AI wisely in education requires perspective. To avoid pitfalls (plagiarism, over-reliance, bias, etc.), OpenAI has published several resources. While designed for an American context, ChatGPT Education is a great source of inspiration. Other useful pages include: Teaching with AI  : a teacher’s guide with prompts and reflections on ChatGPT’s limits. Educator FAQ  : answers to common questions about using ChatGPT in classrooms. 100 requêtes pour étudiants universitaires   : real scenarios created by students to support learning and organization. Des requêtes pour les enseignants universitaires  : practical examples from professors across disciplines. Québec Insights and Guides on AI in Education The CEST ( Commission de l'éthique en science et en technologie du Québec ) has published key reference documents for higher education: Déploiement et intégration de l'intelligence artificielle en enseignement supérieur . Intégration responsable de l'intelligence artificielle dans les établissements d'enseignement supérieur : repères et bonnes pratiques . Intelligence artificielle générative en enseignement supérieur : enjeux pédagogiques et éthiques . Additional resources in French: Université de Montréal :  materials on teaching and learning with AI. OBVIA  ( Observatoire international sur les impacts sociétaux de l’IA et du numérique ): survey on student use of generative AI at Université Laval. École branchée : a rich directory of tools and resources to support AI-enhanced teaching and learning. Info IA Québec  has a prompt library for education professionals, with ideas for students, teachers, and trainers under section "Education, Training": AI Guides and prompts . All of these show that AI is a true pedagogical tool in its own right. And this is only a glimpse, considering the resources and references available are much more extensive. Limits and Responsibility Of course, AI is not perfect. It can give incorrect answers, reproduce biases in data, or distort assessment if used carelessly. The Québec government has published: l’utilisation pédagogique, éthique et légale de l’intelligence artificielle générative . The Canadian government published a Guide on the use of generative artificial intelligence . And the EU published Ethical guidelines on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and data in teaching and learning for Educators . It is essential that students and teachers see AI as a partner. We don’t outsource judgment, we enrich it with new perspectives. Human revision remains mandatory  to ensure accuracy, nuance, and relevance. An AI-Enhanced Back-to-School Artificial intelligence will not replace passionate teachers or motivated students. But it offers unprecedented support: more time to teach, better-adapted learning, smoother organization. This 2025 back-to-school may well mark the beginning of a new era: one where AI becomes an indispensable learning and teaching companion . So why not take this year as the chance to embrace AI, if you haven’t already? Back-to-school might just be the perfect moment to start. 👉 Explore the Learning  section to find free training offered by Big Tech companies, or get inspired by the Tools  section to experiment with different generative AIs and bring your own prompts to life. 📩 Questions or suggestions? Reach out to us Natasha Tatta, C. Tr., trad. a., réd. a. A bilingual language specialist, Natasha pairs word accuracy with impactful ideas. Infopreneur and AI consultant, she helps professionals embrace generative AI and content marketing. She also teaches IT translation at Université de Montréal. 🌱 Each Google review is like a seed that helps Info IA Québec grow. Leave us a review and help us inform more people, so AI becomes accessible to everyone!   ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Click here!

Artificial intelligence has already transformed how we write, create, and search for information. But a new battle is emerging, and it may prove even more decisive: the battle for tomorrow's AI voice. Microsoft and OpenAI have both launched next-generation AI voice models that could define how we interact with machines over the next decade. Microsoft Moves Fast with its AI Voice MAI-Voice-1 Microsoft’s new model, MAI-Voice-1, stands out for its sheer speed. It can generate an entire minute of audio in less than one second on a single GPU, an engineering feat that could change how Windows, Office, and Azure are used worldwide. This performance relies on a mixture-of-experts architecture trained on about 15,000 NVIDIA H100 GPUs, far fewer than the 100,000+ chips powering giant models like xAI’s Grok. For Microsoft, the message is clear: it no longer wants to depend on OpenAI for such a strategic technology. MAI-Voice-1 also enables multi-speaker audio generation, opening the door for interactive storytelling, audiobooks, and guided meditations. It’s easy to imagine its integration into Teams, Word, or PowerPoint to provide a natural, fluid voice for presentations, virtual assistants, and learning tools. OpenAI’s Fresh Approach with gpt-realtime OpenAI, for its part, is betting on quality and realism. Its new gpt-realtime model processes audio end-to-end with a single neural network, instead of chaining separate systems for speech recognition, text generation, and speech synthesis. Traditional AI voices worked like a relay race: one module transcribed speech into text, another generated a response, and a third converted it back into audio. At each handoff, precious details about tone, emotion, and context were lost. By eliminating those handoffs, OpenAI can produce a voice that preserves breathing, hesitations, and subtle human inflections. The model also introduces two new voices, Cedar and Marin, designed with natural breathing sounds and filler words ( uh-huh , you know ) that make conversations more lifelike. It can even switch languages mid-sentence, react to nonverbal cues like laughter, and adjust its emotional tone on demand. In other words, OpenAI isn’t just imitating the human voice, it’s working to recreate the psychological illusion of a real conversation. Why AI Voice Changes Everything Unlike text-based chatbots such as ChatGPT, which often feel like sophisticated search engines, an AI voice creates a very different impression: it feels like talking to another person. That difference isn’t just technical, it shapes how we adopt technology. A smooth, expressive, responsive voice builds trust, attachment, and engagement. That’s precisely why Microsoft, OpenAI, Google, Meta, and dozens of startups are pouring massive resources into this field. Key Players in the AI Voice supply While Microsoft and OpenAI dominate headlines, they’re far from alone. Several specialized companies are already ahead of the curve: ElevenLabs  : The undisputed leader in hyper-realistic voice synthesis. Ranked among the top AI voice players, its tech is widely used in film, gaming, and audiobooks. Vapi , Retell , Cresta , Cartesia , Synthflow   : Startups building full-stack voice agent platforms for customer calls, medical support, and real-time assistance. PlayAI   : Acquired by Meta to strengthen its voice assistant ecosystem and compete directly with Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant. This competition fuels rapid innovation, unlocking use cases from customer service and healthcare to education, entertainment, and wellness apps. Current and Future Uses of AI Voices Today, AI voices are already at work in many industries: Customer service : Automated call centers that respond fluidly with empathy. Healthcare : Assistants that remind patients to take medications or guide them through treatment. Education : Virtual tutors that interact with students in multiple languages. Media and entertainment : Film dubbing, audiobook narration, and video game characters with lifelike voices. Wellness : Calming voices for meditation, sleep apps, or relaxation programs. Looking ahead, we may see the rise of ubiquitous personal assistants, capable of sensing emotions, detecting fatigue or enthusiasm, and adjusting their tone accordingly. How to get started with integrating AI voices For businesses, professionals, and creators, integrating an AI voice is becoming easier every day: APIs and SDKs : OpenAI, Microsoft, and ElevenLabs provide developer tools to add voice synthesis to apps, websites, or products. Out-of-the-box voice agents : Platforms like Vapi or Cresta offer turnkey virtual call centers with minimal coding. Plugins and extensions : Tools that already plug into WordPress, Notion, or CRM systems for instant voice generation. Creative applications : YouTubers, podcasters, and trainers use AI voices to localize content, experiment with new narration styles, or create multilingual productions. The Human Voice: Strength or Threat? The main challenge remains authenticity. How do we ensure these voices don’t sound artificial, or worse, breed mistrust? Microsoft and OpenAI’s progress shows that capturing subtle details like breathing, hesitations, and expression makes a huge difference. But realism also raises another issue: how do we prevent this from sliding into deepfake territory? As AI voices become indistinguishable from the real thing, risks like fraudulent impersonation, identity theft, and misinformation, are growing. So, the future of AI voices must include technical and ethical safeguards such as digital watermarking, reliable detection systems, and strong regulation. The web is already full of synthetic content, and public skepticism is growing. To be continued… A voice to reduce barriers Beyond the risks, AI voices also opens up opportunities for inclusion. Where digital technology has often widened the gap for people with literacy difficulties, voice assistance is becoming a lever for accessibility. Talking to a machine instead of writing, listening rather than reading: these are all ways of making information, services, and even learning more accessible to those for whom literacy or writing is a barrier. Microsoft or OpenAI: Who Will Win the Race? It’s too early to call a winner. Microsoft is betting on speed and power, while OpenAI focuses on realism and immersion. Either way, AI voices are no longer a gimmick, it’s the next great computing interface. And that’s something analysts predicted more than a decade ago, back when Siri and Alexa first arrived. Whoever comes out on top won’t just shape a technology, they’ll reshape our daily interactions with digital tools. This is more than a technical race. It marks a profound cultural and psychological shift. Voice as the Future of Computing The history of computing is full of interface revolutions: from keyboard to mouse, from mouse to touchscreen, and now, from touchscreen to voice. With MAI-Voice-1  and gpt-realtime , Microsoft et OpenAI aren’t just improving a feature—they’re redefining how we imagine human-machine interaction. Whether for personal assistants, automated services, or more human-like digital experiences, AI voices are set to become the new norm. The real question may not be who wins, but how we adapt to an era where machines speak to us like friends, colleagues… or trusted advisors guiding us through both the everyday and the deeply personal. ✨ Keep exploring Gen AI with Info IA Québec or sign up to the newsletter not to miss anything. 📩 Got a question? A suggestion? Write to us! Natasha Tatta, C. Tr., trad. a., réd. a. A bilingual language specialist, Natasha pairs word accuracy with impactful ideas. Infopreneur and AI consultant, she helps professionals embrace generative AI and content marketing. She also teaches IT translation at Université de Montréal. 🌱 Each Google review is like a seed that helps Info IA Québec grow. Leave us a review and help us inform more people, so AI becomes accessible to everyone!   ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Click here!

Shadow AI is gaining ground in today’s workplace. It refers to the use of artificial intelligence tools or systems within an organization without official approval or adequate oversight. Freelancers and self-employed workers are also affected, as we'll cover in the next section. In other words, it's an employee who circumvents internal regulations or policies to adopt an AI tool, thinking they're doing the right thing or simply to save time. The scenarios are countless: An employee who uses ChatGPT to write emails, prepare a report or create a presentation without informing their IT department. An analyst who trains or deploys a machine learning model on an external cloud platform to accelerate their analyses. A marketing manager who entrusts an AI image generator with the task of producing advertising visuals without going through the usual creation and validation channels. A customer service advisor who relies on a chatbot to respond to customers, without the data exchanged being secure. An employee uploading sensitive internal documents to a free generative AI tool for a quick summary or translation. In all cases, the common thread remains: AI adopted without transparency or official approval. Shadow AI Among Freelancers and the Self-Employed The phenomenon of shadow AI doesn't just affect large companies. Self-employed workers, freelancers, and consultants are also affected, and the issues are sometimes even more major. Professionals often manage their mandates alone, without an ethics committee or IT department to supervise them. The temptation is therefore strong to discreetly integrate AI into their work, especially to: save time on tedious tasks, deliver faster to meet tight deadlines, reduce costs to stay competitive. Some concrete examples: A translator or editor who relies on an AI tool to do their work, without mentioning it in their contract. A consultant who analyzes their client's data with an AI model, without checking the terms of use or data protection. A graphic designer who generates visuals with MidJourney, without specifying it in their delivery. The main risk here is a breach of trust. In a service relationship, transparency is essential: the client expects to know how their mandate is being carried out, especially when sensitive data or original content creations are at stake. If discovered, the hidden use of AI can: harm the professional's reputation, question the real value of their work, or even lead to disputes if the customer considers that the service delivered doesn't conform to what was agreed. Good practice therefore consists of adopting a policy of transparency: clearly indicating whether and how AI is used, besides explaining the benefits for the customer, and highlighting the added human value (verification, adaptation, expertise). In other words, for freelancers, AI isn't a problem in itself; it's the lack of transparency and communication that can quickly erode trust and damage client relationships. Why are workers turning to shadow AI The answer is simple: because AI works. Employees and freelance professionals alike are primarily looking to complete their work faster, reduce repetitive tasks, and produce quality results. However, the solutions approved by companies don't always meet their needs: they're slow or limited, they simply don't exist, implementation takes too long due to administrative burdens. Shadow AI therefore becomes an attractive shortcut, but the consequences can sometimes be serious. The main characteristics of shadow AI ⚠ Unregulated use Employees or professionals adopt tools autonomously, bypassing approval processes. ⚠ Security risks Potentially sensitive data is processed by external platforms, sometimes without encryption or guarantee of confidentiality. ⚠ Non-alignment with internal policies Tools don't always respect the company's infrastructure or ethical rules. ⚠ Efficiency gains Despite everything, fast and tangible results encourage workers to keep relying on AI. Risks associated with shadow AI 🚨 Compliance Violations In Europe, using an unapproved tool that processes personal data may violate the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). In Canada, it may violate provincial privacy laws. 🚨 Data fragmentation Data can end up scattered across non-integrated tools, creating inconsistencies and redundancies. 🚨 Quality and liability issues If a chatbot generates an erroneous result, who is responsible? The employee, the AI tool provider, the employer? 🚨 Damage to reputation AI-generated content published without validation can tarnish a company's image if it contains errors or biases. The risks are not only organizational: the widespread adoption of AI also raises environmental issues, nuanced in The Environmental Footprint of AI: Google Finally Lifts the Veil. Shadow AI in numbers Two recent studies show the extent of the shadow AI phenomenon. 📊 Section – AI Proficiency Report More than 5,000 knowledge workers were surveyed in September 2024 in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Section found that: 11% of companies explicitly prohibit AI, of which 43% of employees use it regularly, 6% daily and 23% at least once a week. 26% of companies have no clear policy. In this case, 64% of employees still use AI, including 33% every week. Most employees use free tools, which are less secure and less efficient. Companies' stance on AI according to employee profiles (expert, practitioner, experimenter, novice, and skeptic). It shows the proportion of companies that ban AI, remain silent, approve without deploying a platform, and those that deploy a company-wide AI tool internally. Source: The AI Proficiency Report by Section. The result: Shadow AI employees feel less competent and use AI less effectively than those whose company positively supports AI use. 📊 IBM – Study on Shadow AI in Canada The study, conducted by Censuswide in May 2025, is based on a sample of 4,000 full-time office workers in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Brazil: 79% of Canadian office workers use AI, but only 25% with enterprise-grade solutions. 97% believe that AI improves their productivity. 46% would leave their job for an employer that better leverages AI. Shadow AI added an average of $308,000 to data breach costs in 2025. According to this study, Canadian workers consider AI as a true performance lever: 86% feel comfortable using AI. 80% say it frees up their time for strategic or creative tasks. 55% save one to three hours of work per week, 26% up to six hours. Main benefits cited: faster execution (61%), better workload management (43%), increased accuracy (40%), and enhanced creativity (39%). These numbers show that banning or silencing AI doesn't work . Employees always find a way to use AI... and so do students . Which Sectors See the Most Shadow AI Use According to the study conducted by Section: 12% in health care, 10% in education , 9% in retail, 9% in foodservice, 8% in finance, 7% in consulting and professional services. These percentages speak for themselves: the more pressure a sector is under (efficiency, lack of resources), the more shadow AI takes over. How to manage shadow AI ✅ Establish clear governance Companies should develop clear policies on what is and is not allowed. ✅ Provide safe and approved solutions If employees are given effective tools, they'll have less need to look elsewhere. ✅ Offer training Supervision must be accompanied by training that is both technical (how to use AI) and ethical (when and why to use it). ✅ Establish a culture of responsible innovation Encourage employees to experiment, but within a defined framework. ✅ For freelancers and self-employed professionals: focus on transparency Include a clause in your service contract specifying the use of AI, explaining to your customers how and why it is used, clearly stating what it implies in terms of quality, confidentiality and liability. The role of government, and practical guides Several initiatives aim to regulate the use of AI: Canadian Guide on the use of generative artificial intelligence. The Digital Privacy Playbook of Canada. The EU's Introduction to the Code of Practice for General-Purpose AI Guide des bonnes pratiques du ministère de la Cybersécurité et du Numérique du Québec (2024). These resources offer good guidance for safe and transparent AI adoption. The Business Dilemma Banning AI or staying silent about it, only pushes employees further into the shadows. The outcome? Greater risks, weaker oversight, and ironically, lower efficiency. By contrast, embracing and regulating AI creates space for: higher productivity, stronger security, a more skilled workforce, and a culture built on transparency and trust. From Shadow to Light: Building a Responsible AI Culture Shadow AI isn't just jargon. It's a reality that's already well established in businesses and among self-employed professionals. Its rise reveals both a thirst for efficiency and innovation, but also a lack of supervision and trust. The numbers are crystal clear: banning or ignoring AI just doesn't work. Employees will continue to use AI, but in riskier and less effective ways. The way forward is responsible, transparent, and regulated adoption, turning AI into a collective asset rather than a shadow practice. Governance and transparency are are part of a broader shift in our digital tools, one that includes the rise of smart web browsers, starting with Claude . 📩 Need help? Would you like to structure the use of AI in your business or professional practice? Get inspired by our Artificial Intelligence Usage Policy and our AI Manifesto . We can help you draft and integrate your own AI policies and strategic documents into your business. Write to us at bonjour@infoiaquebec.com Natasha Tatta, C. Tr., trad. a., réd. a. A bilingual language specialist, Natasha pairs word accuracy with impactful ideas. Infopreneur and AI consultant, she helps professionals embrace generative AI and content marketing. She also teaches IT translation at Université de Montréal. 🌱 Each Google review is like a seed that helps Info IA Québec grow. Leave us a review and help us inform more people, so AI becomes accessible to everyone!   ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Click here!