Hands on with chat + search: connecting generative AI to the internet

So far in this series I’ve taken a look at image generation with Adobe’s Firefly, audio generation with tools like MusicLM and Stable audio, and voice generation via ElevenLabs. In this post, I’m going back to where this wave of AI hype began with ChatGPT and text generation. However, plenty has changed since my early posts about ChatGPT at the end of 2022, and even since more recent posts. In competition with other chatbots like Google’s Bard, we’re now seeing successive releases […]

https://leonfurze.com/2023/10/02/hands-on-with-chat-search-connecting-generative-ai-to-the-internet/

Tubefilter: YouTube increases the value of its Premium Lite tier through Background Play and Downloads. “Last year, YouTube launched its Premium Lite tier as a slimmed-down, cheaper alternative to the standard YouTube Premium subscription. Now, YouTube is looking to make that deal even sweeter by adding a pair of useful features for Lite subscribers: Say hello to Background Play and Downloads.”

https://rbfirehose.com/2026/03/01/tubefilter-youtube-increases-the-value-of-its-premium-lite-tier-through-background-play-and-downloads/

TechCrunch: Snapchat launches creator subscriptions in the US. “Social network Snapchat announced today it’s launching creator subscriptions in alpha with select people in the U.S. starting on February 23. The company noted that users will be able to buy subscriptions to creators, including Jeremiah Brown, Harry Jowsey, and Skai Jackson.”

https://rbfirehose.com/2026/02/17/techcrunch-snapchat-launches-creator-subscriptions-in-the-us/

Engadget: Anthropic beefs up Claude’s free tier as OpenAI prepares to stuff ads into ChatGPT’s. “Anthropic is upgrading Claude’s free tier, apparently to capitalize on OpenAI’s planned integration of ads into ChatGPT. On Wednesday, Anthropic said free Claude users can now create files, connect to external services, use skills and more.”

https://rbfirehose.com/2026/02/15/engadget-anthropic-beefs-up-claudes-free-tier-as-openai-prepares-to-stuff-ads-into-chatgpts/

Ars Technica: Google experiments with locking YouTube Music lyrics behind paywall. “Google continues to turn the screws on free YouTube users, expanding a test that restricts access to song lyrics on YouTube Music. Users without a premium subscription have found that Google’s streaming music service only shows song lyrics a few times before demanding money.”

https://rbfirehose.com/2026/02/13/ars-technica-google-experiments-with-locking-youtube-music-lyrics-behind-paywall/

YouTube Blog: Flex your options: YouTube TV plans launch this week. “TV should be easy, and with YouTube TV Plans launching this week, we’re giving customers more control over their subscriptions. Over the next several weeks we are rolling out 10+ plans across Sports, News, Entertainment and Family content, priced lower than the main YouTube TV Plan.”

https://rbfirehose.com/2026/02/10/flex-your-options-youtube-tv-plans-launch-this-week-youtube-blog/

Mashable: Alexa+ is now available to everyone in the US, and free for Prime members. “For ages, Alexa has been a staple of Amazon Echo devices, serving as the loyal voice assistant. But Amazon is upgrading Miss Alexa to Alexa+, an assistant that does far more than play music and answer your questions. Alexa+ is Amazon’s AI assistant coming to all Echo devices for Prime members. Not a Prime […]

https://rbfirehose.com/2026/02/09/mashable-alexa-is-now-available-to-everyone-in-the-us-and-free-for-prime-members/

Mashable: Grindr is testing a new AI plan that could cost $220 a week. “Grindr has been testing EDGE in Australia and New Zealand, and it’s now expanding the pilot to Canada and some U.S. cities. Because EDGE is an experiment, users may see different prices, the blog post states. On X, multiple posts show the EDGE price as $219.99 for one week or $349.99 for one month.” Holy mackerel.

https://rbfirehose.com/2026/02/06/mashable-grindr-is-testing-a-new-ai-plan-that-could-cost-220-a-week/

FTC: JustAnswer trapped consumers in hidden subscriptions that cost 26 times the advertised price: FTC lawsuit reveals question-and-answer service misled hundreds of thousands by advertising $1-5 access while immediately charging monthly fees up to $125 https://ppc.land/ftc-justanswer-trapped-consumers-in-hidden-subscriptions-that-cost-26-times-the-advertised-price/ #FTC #JustAnswer #ConsumerRights #HiddenFees #SubscriptionServices

Tubefilter: Streaming viewers have clear preferences: They want to watch older shows for free. “Since 2020, the shows that have captured the most U.S. streaming watch time — and the most placements in Nielsen’s associated top-ten rankings — are familiar favorites from network and cable TV.”

https://rbfirehose.com/2026/01/01/streaming-viewers-have-clear-preferences-they-want-to-watch-older-shows-for-free-tubefilter/