Welcome to Between Calls, your weekly dose of hand picked stories from the worlds of digital marketing, wellness and science. Blending commerce, consciousness and curiosity, Between Calls brings you insights to make you think and think again.

This week we explore Gen AI adoption, the booming fitness tracker market, and the latest advancements in brain mapping. First, we delve into how generative AI is transforming work, moving from novelty to necessity. Then, we examine the rapid growth of the fitness tracker market, driven by increasing health awareness and technological advancements. Finally, we look at the most detailed map of a mammalian brain to date, offering new insights into neural circuits and brain function. So, we have Gen AI, fitness tracking and a map of the brain this week. Happy Reading!

Last week on Upgrad Enterprise’s GenAIrous podcast, I shared our learnings from startups & nonprofits adopting Gen AI. In our portfolio we have a nonprofit which grew its social presence from one channel to seven, tripling its reach without adding headcount. Another partner, a manufacturing company automated its organic marketing, increasing output tenfold while cutting time spent by 80 percent.

These examples show that generative AI is not a luxury or a threat. It is a quiet multiplier, helping teams do more with less. The biggest hurdle is not cost or complexity, but mindset. What started with text has now moved into images, video, and voice, laying the groundwork for deeper, more scalable impact. If you’re interested in Gen AI adoption, then here’s an article where we’ve distilled insights from the discussion.

The global fitness tracker market is skyrocketing, with projections estimating a rise from USD 60.94 billion in 2024 to USD 323.47 billion by 2034, achieving a CAGR of 18.04%. This surge is driven by increasing health consciousness, advancements in wearable technology, and the growing popularity of fitness tracking among consumers.

Fitness trackers now offer a range of features, including heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, and integration with mobile apps, providing users with comprehensive insights into their health and fitness. The market is also witnessing innovations in design and functionality, catering to diverse consumer preferences and needs. It’s moved from watches, to bands, to patches, to rings and now it’s even getting implanted inside our bodies!

In a groundbreaking achievement, scientists have created the most detailed map of a mammalian brain to date, mapping a tiny fragment of a mouse’s brain tissue. This high-resolution 3D map contains more than 200,000 brain cells, including around 82,000 neurons, and over 500 million synapses. The project known as the Machine Intelligence from Cortical Networks project, comprises more than 150 researchers. They utilized advanced microscopy and artificial intelligence to reconstruct the neural circuitry, providing unprecedented insights into brain organization and function. The findings reveal new cell types and a refined understanding of inhibitory neurons, showing they selectively target specific cells to coordinate network function. This research marks a significant milestone in neuroscience, offering a detailed blueprint of brain activity that could inform studies on neurological disorders and cognitive functions. Do give it a look, it’s a fascinating picture.

As a generative AI researcher with expertise in machine learning and practical applications, create a comprehensive, beginner friendly guide to generative artificial intelligence. Define generative AI and explain how it differs from traditional AI by demonstrating its ability to create new content, text, images, code, audio rather than just analyzing existing data, using clear analogies and everyday examples. Break down core concepts like large language models, neural networks, training data, and tokens in accessible language while exploring major generative AI platforms including ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Midjourney with their unique strengths and use cases. Detail practical applications across industries from content creation and coding to design and research, including step-by-step examples of effective prompt engineering techniques. Address common misconceptions and limitations while providing actionable guidance on ethical usage, avoiding bias, and protecting privacy. Maintain an engaging, accessible tone throughout with progressive explanations that build from basic principles to advanced applications, ensuring readers gain both theoretical understanding and practical skills for leveraging generative AI in their personal and professional lives.