Weekly Round Up | Smarter Tools: Seedream, Claude, Google & OpenAI

Seedream 4.0 boosts image editing, Claude generates real files, Google expands AI search, OpenAI launches certifications, and Veo 3 hits Photos.

Author

Adam Stewart
September 11, 2025

Adam here! This week is stacked with updates that show just how quickly AI is moving from novelty to utility. Seedream 4.0 is giving creators faster, more precise image generation and editing. Claude can now build real files for you — spreadsheets, docs, decks, and more. Google is expanding AI search into new languages, OpenAI is rolling out jobs and certifications to help workers stay ahead, and Google Photos just added a Create tab (US-only for now) that can turn stills into short Veo 3 videos.

Less buzz, more practical tools — and most of them are ready for you to try today.

We’ve just started to open the doors to the new AI Systems Lab.
It’s a community I’m building with Victor where we’ll share workflows, test new tools, and learn from each other as we put AI systems into practice.

Join us here: https://aisystemslab.ai/

AI IMAGERY

Seedream 4.0 Raises the Bar for Image Gen & Editing

ByteDance just dropped Seedream 4.0 — a new image generation & editing model that blends text-to-image, reference-based edits, batch output, and fast high-resolution work into one tool. It’s designed for creators who want more control, speed, and consistency.

Here’s what stands out:

  • Multimodal power: Use text prompts and/or reference images to guide the result.

  • Batch & style consistency: Generate several related images at once, keeping character/style coherence across outputs.

  • Speed & resolution: Internal tests show ~2K-image generation in ~1.8 seconds, with support for up to 4K imagery.

  • Precise editing: Natural-language editing (remove object, change background, keep color styles, etc.) that preserves details.

AI PRODUCTIVITY

Claude Can Now Create and Edit Files

Claude is stepping up from just giving answers to actually producing the files you need. With its new file creation and editing feature, you can now generate Excel spreadsheets, Word docs, PowerPoint decks, and PDFs directly inside Claude.ai or the desktop app.

Here’s what you can do:

  • Turn data into insights: Upload raw data and get cleaned spreadsheets, charts, and written analysis.

  • Build spreadsheets: From financial models to project trackers, Claude creates working formulas and multiple sheets.

  • Cross-format work: Transform PDFs into slides, meeting notes into docs, or invoices into organized spreadsheets.

Available now in preview for Max, Team, and Enterprise users (Pro users coming soon). Just enable “Upgraded file creation and analysis” under Settings > Features > Experimental to get started.

Why it matters: Claude isn’t just advising anymore — it’s acting like a collaborator, taking on the technical work while you focus on strategy.

AI SEARCH

Google Expands AI Mode to 5 New Languages

Image: Google Japan Blog

Google’s AI Mode — its advanced search powered by Gemini 2.5 — is set to expand into Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, and Brazilian Portuguese.

Right Now (Tested): The rollout is still in progress, so most regions (like mine) only see the English version for now. But the bigger picture is clear: Google is building towards a truly global AI search where you can ask complex questions, get structured answers, and explore topics more deeply in your own language.

So while the new language support is coming soon, you can already use AI Mode as a smarter, structured way to search in English today.

AI & WORK

OpenAI Introduces Jobs Platform and AI Certifications

Image: OpenAI Blog

OpenAI is rolling out new initiatives designed to expand economic opportunity in the age of AI:

  • OpenAI Jobs Platform: A new hub to connect companies with AI-skilled talent. It isn’t just for big employers — there will also be tracks for small businesses, local governments, and community organizations to find the people they need.

  • OpenAI Certifications: An expansion of the OpenAI Academy that will let anyone earn AI fluency credentials directly inside ChatGPT, from basic workplace use to advanced skills like prompt engineering. The goal: certify 10 million Americans by 2030, starting with launch partners like Walmart.

AI will be disruptive, but OpenAI says the best way forward is making sure more people have access to AI training and direct connections to employers who value those skills.

AI PHOTOS

Veo 3 Video Generation Arrives in Google Photos

Google Photos is rolling out a new Create tab that brings all its generative AI features into one place. The big update: Veo 3, Google’s latest video generation model, which can turn still images into short, high-quality video clips.

Here’s what you can try inside the new tab (Now available in the U.S.):

  • Photo to video (with Veo 3): Add motion to photos with prompts like “Subtle movement” or “I’m feeling lucky.”

  • Remix: Restyle photos into anime, comic, sketch, or even 3D animation.

  • Collage, Highlight videos, Cinematic photos, Animations: A hub of creative tools for reimagining your memories.

Availability is limited to the United States for now, with daily free generations and extra capacity for Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers.

TWEETS OF THE WEEK
MORE AI IN ACTION
DISCOVER THESE AI TOOLS AND APPS

  1. Seedream 4.0 - integrates image generation and image editing capabilities into a single, unified architecture.

  2. Claude - Claude can now create and edit Excel spreadsheets, documents, PowerPoint slide decks, and PDFs directly in Claude.ai and the desktop app.

  3. Prezi AI - From idea to presentation, effortlessly. Present bold ideas, create attention-grabbing visuals, and bring any idea to life with Prezi AI.

  4. Zapier - Zapier is where innovators put AI to work. Connect AI directly to your workflows, build your own agents, and actually deliver on your AI strategy.

  5. Gemini 2.5 Flash Image - The new Gemini 2.5 Flash preview offers better performance and new model capabilities.

  6. Anything - Turn your words into mobile apps, sites, tools, and products - built with code. Add GPT-5 and 40+ integrations in an instant.

  7. Ideogram Character - The best character consistency model that works with just one reference image.

  8. ChatGPT Study Mode - A new way to learn in ChatGPT that offers step by step guidance instead of quick answers.

  9. Magic Animator - Create and edit lottie animations, ship to your apps and websites.

  10. Moonvalley - Generates image-to-video and text-to-video with cinematic detail, motion, and lighting. Built to stand up to scrutiny wherever and whenever.

  11. Wispr Flow - Effortless voice dictation in every application: 4x faster than typing, AI commands and auto-edits.

  12. Airtable AI - Use Airtable AI to summarize & extract insights from your data, helping you work faster, collaborate more, and prioritize your most important work.