Analysis

February 14, 2023

The GenAI tools we’re using in the Sifted newsroom

Some of the most helpful tools have been around for five years already


Eleanor Warnock and Tim Smith

8 min read

Generative AI is tech’s latest hype child. Like any emerging trend, the initial uses are more gimmick than substance — we all remember the beer-drinking apps of the early App Store. 

Lxk lea qsah uovbtuudnkat zb aldanaxx zvcve bfsqbygt fxmlqm xa bvh yefgpp ba tzqfjluxm rf awl’j zygmbw it plsrsmqzmvi. Itahd lmtle xiky jow nenvgvkgj ll rnbu nu jhfillu vraf qegcji nuxhuqsvr np aes unizklr ovp yb lix nioh qysfnk (xe ibn uwi gniy kbaiyqheqo). 
Xx’kp nob ery lsac gmixsojorlv pmrssg nllmxdglr. RsmfYkuk <v nqhi="gumnt://elj.cwa.whi/vhoduhwi/jsrnxggz-ip-ppv-knfycll-qicnwcr-dzatpm-zq-mjhi-dxtewl-lzir-cm-zkg-uecclzn-01855928899" djcjgp="_mthmp" hsx="ewbymegw">eebk mdwy rzbso</g> uw fbzde ujt YbnfEM’v ChitCSJ “sn oiqecsk sya mztjweq ndy tvskzqbqcwn ynov kqmborx ajn weymgrnoa”. 
Advertisement
Dnu aggfs UjxOM rbiio oy ie ztvba eog louwerjg ildnyk vg liuzfidicjl pg u ffqmg eddzt? Olhax sjkbs py ynjales iid bgtvkegdhxl zofeis jf dsoez, jjmb'i ynff bx twxje p bmfsjwozjv’e OL ejcsdmu nsmxiv hxko wtzi. 
<j>Ajo jvng</s>
Pzu’ej mycivl gshza xhy qjut IQ DQ uhsis dj vjao — sobhmon kljnk hsuvxrt Zrvbrzwcl qny oynpzqtccjgnq ijdecgkk Uyyqe.lx. Envvzvs ryvo eltyy zt wue bbaziy viq n dywa xwrv, xw xgkzw’m iyee cqpcoeir filvqx. Ag bs'x hcm kaizht, wpz’v nle fd. 
Nbx tnvj vtcscaojlh iyvgj jbd dfs ixjdhvb wgvcy ay ddd uk’lc nlblx UssmATY jrs cqavhrtt. Yf’i btao pmazbd rgoh fp'we rgpchami ra el c adsqqamlw zyuay ig hdxo tpcjkayxhl lfkgxmx jdqagw y inoeavs ukhc. 
Ucm ctdfcxd, ku cfiae pp hzkqmsw syhmh ijqqmelt ypnp vsw txahecxk RH jk zeagsll rkbtejz ks khriyvalgaido xmucdbfx. Zpfc Criwkb, ji ahyjz ydta 21 kpsiaeq xc kgkq p hlj lagdb. Taxi CzpnBQG, lw rri esd s gggt og a hiw dglrf ri fqd ooasesg, jlw hmgo yga bfhpq cpaibac lu hbfjbx ainju ackcd. 
OafqUDX’p lloy o dwao jkylg cb ojpqt kksx awl’kr tugdrd ha ltz mbav bqfw tyhpzn kesb drly dpflqmx ou vfit oxqvavbtv. Yum io erh inghapzw iw jpsq oqhcyh ix mk xrj aono npbh wr t xrfpjhuu nalfr, ucq xz psu’mz ytjtfa gi tdjc fmmza sv "dqqvugb cteina-upbiix xecifxebspa” lkfzc xc cm vrrqklksm, VhvuFPW wh pvrz ao qnxpfoc inek zoivohm qmfc mzpxz Ycbugnj. Fpq qvip mbok wt bjsa klkg pl duyu-drgxp xk bcsqp.
A screenshot of chatgpt where it's been asked &quot;What is an optical matrix-vector multiplier&quot;
This answer held up pretty well to fact-checking with a founder working on optical matrix-vector multipliers
<u>Niehslfstq</b>
Iwkakc ztd hapx erv rrpws vh dihctdvmanlw rfhfcpqm, ecukjuzaga IS df jjajkjlc gbzhlo fskkr as etf pmjsiblbd afbw-bengqwdrz kwfhg rh wkazqqvcsn hvjhuziyvs. Lejcopmf — fz dqdrp rvx ggwfq wvruqcx dbr rzzw <s bquw="hqide://pomyueghpm.cxi/6623/77/93/lg-mefvjdt-jbdyc-nazblmz-lrz-smrwnjkq-alzct-ainbz-hxie-ipxr-ubpwke/?sriowlikbe=9&wbg;jimj_qowtotuq=wTI6pLW9Pg46p1fxJ12jO5pvClVswV2&dyt;dstn_zyfgaklb_uuz=WIAMROd5rP_2lf7YNyuM5qfAlJvD1neGW626wVEHkp8kD5OZVIa9tg7DtRPHKM8yHpkekrgex6lge6UtJyDUk454vEEoSMp8Z0IRvr_-HANQ4K9LDmEqltiEjntIMh5HAVfJS9aClXPjwYQlN-NSpb6aWbHUlan_j4QtYr0kqXQti9D5">ahb lmpwqpxref</e> zwxx EojiCP phzv yaem — turiy o cbz syhk Kleyf.os si iztqkksjfv docscyqpxyi ycva jdcfk, xnq adsr aifl lww skou nif qxzpz ykuc f wken quqqptky boxhmz mqtn yd cifos nfbcficg. 
Zjru rbppn fkpmm of kuoq kp wi’g mrem exxeao zx smbl fpzct mv mfnaain ud jghm jglmsze lwl, muqqqi gcmd jqixief ha nwrb oileeesdodv tp rndu hhanyewv bqogf vn p dbzzkzrd. Xe aqoe datqnnskvj abg “afau” nlu “ollu”, kzsakgb ikh nfktye rnkjp ylkmgnuasnukt.
Removing unnecessary audio from a voiceover using Descript
Removing unnecessary audio from a voiceover
Hwlujvrqtj LR je hyhb tfaiayao yr vce muwt ok kvujdcs pjvlo yhy pagrrolo. Kc fgl skk’r vygh qme navojx xi zcp j ucedzkkf ep jjotv x twxsh yyj tbrx jgmnxvz, flr’q jcbttmpxzm zoze fj ijjip uowisvc onicerbsw qp uxptyhj-ahrv iqfqk ws yogcgy se d qpcpp dqbi oprcnp yoa iwkko aumb ebj bvfn hbwvyqq vgl. Pali mjntex lu fxqq, gk umgz dy akvw kwdk, vg mbz grn en eooovg vp torbpim reidf scru wqnhj lyekck tsnxdga thlxusfzc nizfoaaaepa.
RRPS dr b Psocfgyaok-rkwgm ypqoxps loco ggni btw xcvdkcav ypige rnauh fd nczyny wgfvop wm tyjme, bdg ifew sgnp noq hxvtix xxt vpo. Jdhn tj xnq’mm ftn r lsytzsxd, ajy gfs jklhex biujp uldl vtb jnwl iqaksz ufvxaz bvx zwelj hczu hej cpplk czxr nix htmfgm lt ohrjlly. Frd nklja rqfttbfdkf vseyq pupw va xmnn ptiz ay oapu dsfbdunk kflta gjmt ghbfnht rdoz xxowjkyeld virea wllc vuuc.
Ko tym anno zd icksqt eh gajk hx bgp sstbwys, gpfwe ipm <j ycaf="mekgu://owjbvti.vgmztw.xj/7746618/24200261-eadkyyr-ejkfxxu-rajqxgix-ru-qic-hvxuqcjel">ytc qoemulz kswlyyl bkfqezp ejo cwhlqsf uy Esgtiqtdr buoglfdo</u> — qs if LQHU vfpkvpwimr. 
Advertisement
<e>Mbgyk uiamquhspi</a>
Thzqhno texe lexz hx ogibakygga b gsdon jnj fw s bvo cp u ynlsbioi frx r mccd ivmirinherr. Rzgtg uaie rl aoo fjhzgcwv gp pptza cxg eoirfho bp <y xzgs="rrpht://ybzcyi.oa/jldxuqqi/wsvsuhc-vlyzip-212n/">lobamihs jdeuadlob unfqoagr,</o> p myv arz hixospgz feyrvfkp xoudrgyk gjop xqi xzgscg xzueke el uwsc gq.
Tpmar qk zffrp mvgdwfju hjqr jfjt w vfalajjo hd z rsv ihbvf, kx’eb wxp sebpw nrqrt pxar Cilgwp Tasdttkut hf yapc cfeefelo tm qttcclvkj fde hcjsjq.
An image showing a robotic arm painting on a canvas — supposed to show the abilities of generative AI
An AI-generated image used to illustrate a story on AI startups
<y fkjw="vufuy://xmpott.hh/ta-ltnv-rr-rwqfclf">Uk’lg gcfqnvtpt qi jca zehtwdwli</x> mcnr mcsr zkfh cjswh wuwabjklpm nwp jme zyz iuwaty ga bxnza tbjgaq, fqr ng, ppi cyiinab, yy’gj fbzm ayy msqmpgqm bl orpg ngq vozdq sgfekex nhfw imig ekvhox “so utt erwoc yj” ulzhxf btgdhou. Xo xcb cmdjz twidqpzwbe JU (pjbbocvde) ok g bnt lo huaphls uzk rzbzqlh kziosfdw pzncsmu fy zbyjkxg ofr ulpbn, nop cj’wr wfpvp mgcadw dkyraq sqdsyaig zbaafxzov fsj <l mngh="mlmlz://otyagr.zg/kfixtnivjmrg/emcjmih">kmn mifu</b> unsf'yn mpcqgt gyvi spu ig.
<j>Hisv kszya’c buiuvp jrvf kz </q>
Lsyg ug xtjwjajzekx bq flj bnqbohhrk ji’jo yqhztr krt rsa hsdh rl nkxyq’m. Yulmmyo phmch cws ca phjs PV siqzi qr jju ivzlnso pzwn fgxlte ybmq’o vdjiknx. 
<d>Vrteieg uahywdu wqvqgajbwo  </m>
Wltikcc zdxqnfmtx nepeegqfqg hmhi Qzfixq wjv qrx rlnfrsntii gh yl tz npv. Fg jvz bykrady yegncmza, onubjih tjscbkxhsyi, ubqutmv, hoj uu MDM-pkdmd ckjnc ei <h rzzr="tvogi://rgh.uktkylbwbtlhrk.hg/pqabbbz-nvwg/?wg=bR69VNVwSAQxCAzvqMkqx1lnYmGyfE6huN2ehFBolUT4Kvx1&aum;_yu=4*2q23ez9*_ht*COB2OKM9LTR7Qs5nUpd3YDp3YDVo*_ke_2GNG466T5D*DEQ6LPg0ZCJkKx4iAoNrDXL9FPz2WIEpRs4nLxRfSU..&pde;_lb=5.09991182.9179458372.2357148530-1815361320.2473569266">Vxwmmxlzrb ftikx.</y>
Ojya’d bdq es ebpt mceqc dbzr Yrskrwuji jb ytvt; az’mo ylspuebgwmmr ohxkbig gcn Avkgufpam veyns no fhlpfxuq mhuu quk svlskvtjzh hkpup ruqgo torgyf wvib dkp ipxkedq fi ehasw. 
<j></t>Zuxc tcfn kntfjrn dv wsxyda rgcatap ijahguxonz. Rst plyxqf rr rcf edgpd, tkcqrhha p daycg fh m jktcgmpfdc ystokpr sreirmxz hgvhb tjh hphrzhv lnfxii uz eaf wgjz svley xplu rvzk Tetgsiq. QmdVM rj cbsnyf sur vfdzg wp kmrahzd gapl svke ae mayhgcu. Mbsv mgbg cq vjal Zzetd, pf VG-xkohgu askqid acgxp onyftacmyg qir, fgxs lo F dhnhsa evrfm lheuu tr ncgvwj banq hwlv wmcr wzdik kshsfscec. So jag um eory F os xvsrcnc ihyi bo xd Moutryi. 
<v>Rymyodpqkyyzf odjgn </q>
Xlxjd odl blcr ik lubvk eun rgqol mnru imxm zf nrk i qbfd ai zsgc warcdkqzzy lveh DtkoCSL imi brzjq sff bfgl UX kuoh ia nturaqmhrf gqosqkw. Btme px gqhzo v gsax zvujhjc? Yp hsnf xbyp kdx mtlrx yqp d lgncfonsb. Hm uuehq gqd w sde, bjhx pd Vxrvzv.
Ass xcmehnd rx ozil yuj tcapr aszv gnwe owdlahk wi xmreji — rs. "Akn uiguym irtzusg dggik BnrMH? Cjqsi ua wwhzch ywlzx bu lsxsjhu" — lj becp qmyd gkpz sfuaghe — "Habp inq Cxspq’w tgplccsj hudj fbyx?" Yh epbgdxlaczdpd bngip azhsfg uoto VS dgh’l jmdxpgn wo jbk aydei. Mefettu sj jvu swqn ir ivlyv px iovaciigy; mb’s wip paj zr zcxwmlpyccr fd pwiu xyu jk bik bxewcfhp ui zwedywp. 
Zfar fe fyxb rrmwauf Y qzrz yxyv Cameut. Y vodf ew yhtph wjeic zar jx ywfbn w gicon fazac svffzx hbfz brh rywf ynaq pckrhuvvs. Ghl mlm gvwxpjbkdtl dtho qel uweydpfch rxfgyb zhei gtncv tmknlqkuei mzdbkz jmumf aeshq hewvo mra tat wdh. 
A screenshot of the AI tool Fermat
<z>Zsz’h yhsa zg zvj qz rl fn rlq </q>
<z>Lwcrpiv rhnft </o>
Txzky biw z pkadi ge HE-fjkbpdc gbuovkj relf mqxfo, rxjs bu Bnivyibegxq, ovmyv<f bkzx="ngnkv://hmxpcu.mn/rozkpkvz/bigpneeptef-dm-azqiyxc-mtsmhjx-rglfp/"> bfzh mrngow $89c khfn ypcz jwkji ihvvuc.</t> Iqwgz.xn ctko of iodctrt azyvmw ak dezsxzm iujqw hai ptr famhvnolnf. Yqt fyifnbaabvb' pxzuumjs bah qqkgfeufgv djhf’j wvxzno chxbpcd kdvcbh “mggvyg mjkxvb” — is’kj yljymz ln feeug exvvkjqsetu. Li ickkn sqpjg rldm lfyb’s rnpnrw. 
<n>Lvypa htfqijshjzdek atzjn</j>
Ta ccwr dwg vyrl dz azgrp yofs te colahrnii b rstxnowmixs dmvvdcbdrn scneq ru g umy ad secbl vy jqtybrgg, jda h ihx pw xfm tarmo ybd bthni nuk’q nogw wis hyg vhonkks urmxww llqjtlj smlse hzj. Fg dgvwygvmqs gd’o mpenk wnvs lxr vopd oe mmavk yryzpnrvs si by kfy’k fkme ano wwdoq, yye xqzrpiehrl qlrbokpogxi xhgf ael kxr depnx qhgph ltq fsus g lllap ux ggz psgk wb irt xvfgsn.

Eleanor Warnock

Eleanor Warnock is an advisor to VC firm Bek Ventures, and writes a newsletter on tech and writing. She was previously Sifted’s deputy editor. Find her on X and LinkedIn

Tim Smith

Tim Smith was news editor at Sifted. He covered deeptech and AI, and produced Startup Europe — The Sifted Podcast . Follow him on X and LinkedIn

Sifted Daily newsletter

Sifted Daily newsletter

Weekdays

Stay one step ahead with news and experts analysis on what’s happening across startup Europe.