#OnEBoardChat June Roundup: AI Tools & Search Overviews, Event Apps, Community Platforms, How-To Videos

In June OnEBoard Chat discussed AI overviews of the Google Search results, AI tools, event apps, community platforms and how-to videos.

We appreciate everyone who participated in #OnEBoardChat and voted in the polls!

The OnEBoard tech chat is every Sunday at 11 AM Pacific time (6 PM UTC). Follow the #OnEBoardChat hashtag on Twitter/X, YouTube or LinkedIn to join in the conversation.

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Upcoming

July 7: Google Business Profiles Host: Molly Youngblood.
July 14: How-to videos Host: Peggy Kolm
July 21: Online education Host: Nina Trankova

Highlights from June discussions

June 2: AI Overviews in Google Search

Host: Molly Youngblood
View the poll results and discussion on X
Take the poll and join the discussion on YouTube (poll is still open)
View the poll results and discussion on LinkedIn

What do people think about Google’s AI Search Overviews? Most people on X say they prefer the regular search results, and think the AI overviews are not reliable. Almost no one thought the results were useful and accurate. More folks on YouTube and LinkedIn thought the results were accurate or helpful.

Notable comments:

• Molly Youngblood: “For myself I had positive results, however, based on the feedback of others there are certainly some improvements to be made.”
• Peggy K: “From my own experience, it's not reliable, because it presents a summary as if it's a definitive answer while not doing a good job "understanding" or picking reliable sources. Even if it's 90% correct, you need to already have expertise to know what 10% is wrong.”
• Search Berg: “100% needs improvement BECAUSE it's not reliable as it is right now. There needs to be a stricter focus on which sources it borrows/chooses to highlight information from. There need to be algorithms in place to assess content accuracy in AI Overviews.”
• Adam Auster: “Not reliable, sure, but also, most of the time, I am not looking for a summary. I am looking for sources so that I can understand something.”

June 9, 2024: Event App Features

Host: Nina Trankova
View the poll results and discussion on X
Take the poll and join the discussion on YouTube (still open)
View the poll results and discussion on LinkedIn (In private community)

Poll on LinkedIn

Poll on X

What do people think is the most important feature for an event app? It depends on who you ask. On YouTube folks thought the schedule was most important, and on X poll respondents also thought a social feed was a good feature. But on LinkedIn, PR professionals voted for event registration as the most important feature.

Notable comments:

• Nina Trankova: “I like the Personal profile section in events apps. It gives me an opportunity to introduce myself. That's a better chance of meeting new people. Today's major events are Parliamentary elections. I have a dedicated visual about the event.”
• Molly Youngblood: “I think one of the most important features is real time chat, I've attended and hosted events where this feature was a real lifesaver.”

June 16, 2024: What generative AI tools do you use in your everyday life?

Host: Svetlana Stavreva
View the poll results and discussion on X
Take the poll and join the discussion on YouTube (still open)
View the poll results and discussion on LinkedIn

Poll on LinkedIn

Poll on X

Poll on YouTube

Which AI do people use? ChatGPT is the big winner, followed by Gemini. YouTube poll-takers use Grammarly. And people also use DeepL for translation, Claude for asking questions, Pi for conversation, Perplexity for extractive AI.

Notable Comments:

• Nina Trankova: “I'm using Gemini. It helps me structure my posts for social media when I use prompts like "can you add more", "can you help me sound more professional".. I'm posting on specific topics I know well already.”
• Svetlana Stavreva: “JasperAI is known for creating marketing copy, blog posts, and social media content tailored to specific audiences.”
• Chiara Maria Cervetta: “Fun is one good word to describe Pi. 😊 🥧 pi by @inflectionAI is a conversational AI based on the Large Language Model: "Inflection-2.5". We can chat about all our personal matters with it, can ask it questions and get help. It is the most human-like and empathetic AI. 🤩 Pi has voices that sound real and natural with different intonations. It is a supportive and kind AI that we can trust and have as our companion. 😊 You can use it for free on the website: http://pi.ai”
• Jolyn Bowler: “I have also enjoyed my results in Gemini, but do prefer Perplexity for the most part. Actually enjoying AI... we've used it in one form or another for years and now it's become "the rage"... it's an interesting evolution.”

June 23, 2024: What is your favorite platform for groups and communities?

Host: Peggy Kolm
View the poll results and discussion on X
Take the poll and join the discussion on YouTube (still open)
View the poll results and discussion on LinkedIn

Poll on YouTube

Poll on X

Facebook Groups seems to be an overall favorite for hosting communities, followed by Discord. On X Google Chat was the big winner, perhaps reflecting Peggy’s Google Product Expert connections.

Notable comments:

• Nina Trankova: “I actually don't consider Google Groups to be old school. 💎🤖 With Gemini and API I'm looking forward to revival of public Group and public Communities on Google”
• Molly Youngblood: “I like the fact that Google Chat offers Google spaces where you can have very large groups”
• Mark Barrus: “I'm enjoying Reddit. Always looking for more groups there.”
• Peggy K: “Most of the groups I'm actually active in are on Discord and Reddit. I'm also in groups on Facebook and LinkedIn, but those I just read for the most part. I like having multiple groups on one platform, but I really can't keep up with them all everywhere.”

June 30, 2024: Video How-To Tutorials

Host: Nina Trankova
View the poll results and discussion on X
Take the poll and join the discussion on YouTube (still open)

Poll on X

Poll on YouTube

What makes how-to videos valuable? A step-by-step guide is essential, with folks on X also appreciating additional resources, and folks on YouTube appreciating effects.

Notable comments:

• Nina Trankova: “Since it's a video, my vote would go for entertaining effects. 🏆I have recently won the Creator Award with Google Product Experts for my #HowtoVideos.”
• Peggy K: My tips for a good video tutorial:
  * Don't make it real time (edit to speed things up or skip watching a page load)
  * Zoom in on the important parts so they are easier to see (use animations!)
  * Explain why steps are essential and which steps are optional
• Craig Long: “A step-by-step guide on how to fix something broken is quite valuable.”
• Mark Barrus: “It's a way of showing your expertise as well.”
• Search Berg: “I appreciate how-to videos because they present bite-sized information that users can digest quickly and easily. The format just WORKS.”