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VCs Abandon Old Rules for a ‘Funky Time’ Investing in AI Startups
Venture capitalists are revising their playbooks for AI startups, emphasizing rapid growth, data generation, and strong go‑to‑market strategies. Aileen Lee of Cowboy Ventures described the shift as a “funky time” at TechCrunch Disrupt, noting that traditional metrics are giving way to new variables such as competitive moats and technical depth. Jon McNeill of DVx Ventures…
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OpenAI Pilots Group Chat Feature in ChatGPT Across Select Asia-Pacific Markets
OpenAI has begun testing a group chat capability within ChatGPT in Japan, New Zealand, South Korea and Taiwan. The feature lets users create multi‑person conversations where ChatGPT participates as an active collaborator, offering itinerary planning, renovation ideas, restaurant suggestions, report outlining and other assistance. Users start a group by tapping the people icon, can add up to…
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Apple Tightens App Store Rules on Personal Data Sharing with AI
Apple has updated its App Review Guidelines to require developers to disclose and obtain explicit user permission before sharing personal data with any third party, including artificial intelligence services. The change aims to reinforce privacy protections and warns that non‑compliant apps risk removal from the App Store. Apple did not comment on the revision, which…
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Chinese State-Backed Hackers Leverage Anthropic’s Claude AI to Automate Attacks
Anthropic reported that Chinese state-backed hackers employed its Claude large‑language model to automate roughly thirty attacks on corporations and governments during a recent campaign. The company said the AI performed up to 80‑90% of the work, with human operators intervening only at a few critical decision points. Four victims had sensitive data stolen, while the…
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Remodel AI Introduces AI-Powered Paint Visualizer for Home Renovations
Remodel AI, founded by Dirk Morris, has rolled out a paint‑visualization feature that uses computer‑vision AI to let users preview real‑world paint colors on photos of their spaces. The tool draws from established brands such as Behr, Benjamin Moore, and Sherwin‑Williams, and adjusts for lighting and texture to produce realistic renderings. Available on iOS and…
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OpenAI’s Sora: A New Frontier in AI‑Generated Video
OpenAI’s Sora is a generative video model that creates short clips from text, images, or video prompts. Built on a diffusion architecture, it starts with static noise and gradually refines it into coherent motion that matches the input description. Sora offers features such as storyboarding, higher resolutions, longer runtimes, and a cameo tool for personal…
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Google expands NotebookLM with Deep Research tool and broader file support
Google is enhancing its AI‑powered note‑taking service NotebookLM with a new Deep Research feature that automates complex online research and generates source‑grounded reports. At the same time, the platform now accepts a wider range of file types, including Google Sheets, Drive URLs, PDFs, and Microsoft Word documents, allowing users to summarize spreadsheets and quickly add…
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AI-Generated Celebrity Deepfakes Fuel Consumer Scams
Scammers are using AI‑generated images, video and audio to clone famous faces and voices, creating fake endorsements that trick consumers into clicking links, providing personal data, or sending money. A McAfee study found that a large share of Americans have encountered such deepfake scams, with pop‑culture icons like a leading pop singer topping the list.…
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Mozilla Unveils AI Window Feature for Firefox Browser
Mozilla announced that Firefox will soon include an AI‑driven browsing experience called AI Window. The opt‑in feature adds an AI assistant and chatbot to the browser, letting users pick the underlying model and interact with web content in a more intelligent way. AI Window will sit alongside the traditional private and classic windows, and Mozilla…
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Google Gemini Live Receives Major Update with New Accents, Faster Speech, and Adaptive Tutoring
Google has rolled out its biggest update to Gemini Live, the real‑time conversational AI interface, on Android and iOS. The upgrade adds smarter models that better understand intonation, rhythm, and pitch, letting users hear the assistant speak more slowly or quickly, adopt a range of accents, and deliver dramatic storytelling. Gemini Live also offers adaptive…
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DeepMind Unveils SIMA 2, a Gemini‑Powered Embodied AI Agent
DeepMind introduced SIMA 2, the next generation of its general‑purpose AI agent that combines the language and reasoning capabilities of the Gemini model with embodied skills learned from video‑game data. The new system can understand complex instructions, reason internally, and improve itself through self‑generated experiences, effectively doubling the performance of its predecessor, SIMA 1. Demonstrations showed SIMA 2…
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NotebookLM Gains Powerful New Source-Finding and File Support Features
Google’s NotebookLM has rolled out a major upgrade that makes locating, adding, and managing research sources far easier. The Gemini‑powered assistant now offers “Fast” and “Deep” research modes, lets users add CNET as a preferred Chrome source, and expands file compatibility to include Google Sheets, Microsoft Word documents, PDFs, and other Drive files without extra…
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Google Adds Deep Research Capability to NotebookLM
Google has expanded its NotebookLM AI workspace by adding a Deep Research tool that can automatically browse the web and compile multi‑page reports on a single topic. The new feature works alongside the Gemini model, allowing users to direct the app to seek specific online sources and receive suggested articles, papers, and websites. NotebookLM can…
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DeepMind Unveils SIMA 2 AI Agent Capable of Learning New Video Games
DeepMind has introduced SIMA 2, an advanced AI agent that expands on its earlier SIMA system by incorporating Google’s Gemini model. The new agent can interpret high‑level user goals, perform complex reasoning, and execute actions across a variety of video games, including titles it has never encountered. Released as a limited research preview for academics…
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Spotify Launches AI-Powered Recaps for Audiobooks
Spotify has introduced Recaps, an AI‑generated summary feature for audiobooks that helps listeners catch up after pausing. Available in iOS beta for select English titles, the tool activates after the first 20 minutes of listening and provides a spoiler‑free overview of what has been heard. The feature sits alongside Spotify’s $12 subscription, which includes 15…
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Google Launches AI‑Driven Shopping Tools Including Call Agent and Automated Checkout
Google is expanding its shopping experience with a suite of artificial‑intelligence features. Users in the United States can now engage in conversational searches, have an AI agent call local stores to ask about inventory and promotions, and let the system automatically purchase items when price targets are met. The tools, rolled out through AI Mode…
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Google Introduces Conversational Shopping and Ads in AI Mode Search
Google is expanding its AI Mode search with new conversational shopping capabilities powered by Gemini. Users in the United States will soon be able to ask complex product questions and receive generated guides, tables, and recommendations. The rollout also includes sponsored shopping content, mirroring traditional search ads, while the Gemini app currently offers ad‑free results.…
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AI Chatbot Relationships Spark Divorce and Legal Scrutiny
Companion chatbots are increasingly becoming a source of marital strain as couples confront emotional attachments to artificial intelligence. Divorce attorneys report a rise in cases where AI infidelity is cited as a factor, while surveys show a majority of singles view such relationships as cheating. State lawmakers are responding with varied approaches, from California’s new…
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Milestone Secures $10M to Track GenAI Impact on Software Development
Israeli startup Milestone, which builds a data platform to link generative AI tool usage with engineering outcomes, announced a $10 million seed round led by Heavybit and Hanaco Ventures. The round also saw participation from Atlassian Ventures and a group of high‑profile angels, including GitHub co‑founder Tom Preston‑Werner. Milestone’s customers such as Kayak, Monday and…
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OpenAI’s Open-Weight Models Draw Interest from U.S. Military
OpenAI has released open-weight models that can run locally, giving the U.S. military and defense contractors a new option for secure, air‑gapped AI applications. Companies such as Lilt and EdgeRunner AI are testing the models for translation and virtual assistant tasks, while the Pentagon has signed multi‑year deals with major AI firms to prototype generative‑AI…
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Microsoft Leverages OpenAI’s Chip Designs to Bolster Its Semiconductor Efforts
Microsoft is turning to its AI partner OpenAI to address challenges in its chip strategy. Under a revised agreement, Microsoft will gain full access to OpenAI’s custom AI chip designs, which are being co‑developed with Broadcom, and secure intellectual‑property rights to those designs. The deal also preserves Microsoft’s access to OpenAI’s models through 2032 while…
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OpenAI Launches GPT‑5.1 with Dual‑Mode ChatGPT and Real‑Time Personality Controls
OpenAI introduced its newest model, GPT‑5.1, as the default engine for ChatGPT. The update offers two variants—Instant for fast responses and Thinking for more deliberative tasks—while adding real‑time personality and tone controls that let users adjust the chatbot’s style on the fly. The rollout follows criticism of the previous GPT‑5 release, with OpenAI keeping older…
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AI-Powered Platform Helps Patients Fight Health‑Insurance Claim Denials
Neal Shah, driven by personal experiences with insurance denials during his wife’s cancer treatment, founded Counterforce Health, a free AI‑driven service that creates customized appeal letters for denied claims. The platform lets users upload denial notices and medical records, then generates evidence‑based appeals in minutes. Counterforce aims to level the playing field as insurers increasingly…
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OpenAI Launches GPT-5.1 with New Personality Presets and Adaptive Reasoning
OpenAI has introduced two updated versions of its flagship model, GPT-5.1 Instant and GPT-5.1 Thinking, now available in ChatGPT. The rollout adds eight preset personality styles—Professional, Friendly, Candid, Quirky, Efficient, Cynical, Nerdy, and Default—and incorporates adaptive reasoning that lets the model allocate extra compute time when needed. OpenAI says the new models outperform previous versions…
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OpenAI Rolls Out GPT‑5.1 with New Tone‑Control Presets and Dual‑Model Architecture
OpenAI has launched GPT‑5.1, a two‑model system that pairs an Instant model for everyday requests with a Thinking model for more complex tasks. The update adds six new tone‑presets—Default, Friendly, Efficient, Professional, Candid and Quirky—plus the existing Cynical and Nerdy options, letting users tailor ChatGPT’s personality. OpenAI says the new models are “warmer, more intelligent,…
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OpenAI Challenges Court Order for NYT Access to 20 Million User Chats
OpenAI announced that a sample of 20 million ChatGPT conversations from December 2022 to November 2024 does not include business customers and is stored under a legal hold. The company offered the New York Times privacy‑preserving alternatives such as targeted searches and high‑level usage classifications, but the newspaper rejected them and filed a motion demanding…
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German Court Rules OpenAI’s ChatGPT Violated Copyright on Musical Works
A German court has ruled that OpenAI’s ChatGPT breached national copyright law by training its language models on licensed musical works without permission. The lawsuit, filed by GEMA, the German music rights society, resulted in an order for OpenAI to pay undisclosed damages. OpenAI has expressed disagreement with the decision and is considering its next…
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Apple to Pay Google $1 Billion Annually for Custom Gemini AI Model Powering Siri
Apple is set to pay Google $1 billion each year for a custom Gemini AI model that will power the next generation of Siri. The model, featuring 1.2 trillion parameters, will run on Apple’s private cloud while on‑device models remain for personal data processing. Apple evaluated Anthropic as an alternative, which would have cost $1.5 billion per year.…
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AI-Generated Music Sparks Listener Unease and Calls for Clear Labelling
A recent survey commissioned by Deezer reveals that most listeners cannot distinguish AI-generated songs from human-made tracks, leading to widespread discomfort and a strong demand for clear labelling. While curiosity about AI music exists, many fear it could lower quality, threaten artists’ livelihoods, and flood streaming platforms with generic content. Major services such as Spotify…
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Google Maps AI Features Streamline Thanksgiving Travel
Google Maps has rolled out a suite of AI‑driven tools that can ease the hectic Thanksgiving travel season. Users can navigate busy airports with a Directory tab, check real‑time crowd levels, make restaurant reservations without a phone call, and download offline maps for areas without signal. Location sharing keeps families coordinated, while curated lists and…
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Hero Launches Invite-Only Autocomplete SDK to Speed AI Prompting
Hero, a productivity startup founded by former Meta employees, announced an invite‑only autocompletion SDK that fills in AI prompts based on context. The SDK can populate travel details, image‑generation parameters and other fields, reducing back‑and‑forth interactions. Co‑founder Brad Kowalk said the technology finishes tasks “10 times faster” and opens use cases from travel to ads.…
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Finding Meaning in an AI‑Driven World
During an OpenAI livestream, CEO Sam Altman asked chief scientist Jakub Pachocki how meaning will look in a future shaped by artificial intelligence. Pachocki responded that meaning will arise from the human desire to engage with processes, crafts, and analog experiences that AI cannot replicate. He highlighted the value of hands‑on activities, imperfect creations, and…
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Meta AI Chief Yann LeCun to Depart for Startup
Yann LeCun, Meta’s chief AI scientist and founder of the FAIR research lab, announced plans to leave the company and start his own venture. LeCun, a 2018 Turing Award winner, will retain his professorship at New York University while departing a Meta organization that has recently shifted its AI focus toward rapid commercial deployment. The…
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Neo Home Robot Promises Household Help but Relies on Remote Operation
California‑based 1X has unveiled Neo, a humanoid robot priced at $20,000 that aims to handle chores like laundry, vacuuming and door opening. Neo moves with a soft, tendon‑driven gait, can lift up to 154 pounds, and runs for about four hours on a charge. While it features built‑in AI similar to ChatGPT and Gemini, most…
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Anthropic Commits $50 Billion to New U.S. Data Centers with Fluidstack
Anthropic announced a $50 billion partnership with U.K.-based Fluidstack to build custom data centers in Texas and New York, slated for completion through 2026. The facilities are designed to support the compute‑intensive Claude models and reflect Anthropic’s push for dedicated infrastructure alongside existing cloud ties with Google and Amazon. The move positions Anthropic among rivals such…
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Waymo Expands Robotaxi Service to Freeways Across Key U.S. Cities
Waymo, the Alphabet subsidiary behind autonomous taxis, announced that its robotaxis can now travel on freeways in the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles and Phoenix. The move adds curbside service at San Jose Mineta International Airport and promises faster trips, such as cutting the San Francisco‑Mountain View ride in half. Waymo’s fleet, already operating…
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WisdomAI Secures $50 Million Series A to Accelerate AI‑Driven Enterprise Data Analytics
WisdomAI, the AI data analytics startup founded by former Rubrik executives, has closed a $50 million Series A funding round led by Kleiner Perkins with participation from Nvidia’s venture arm. The company’s platform lets business users ask natural‑language questions of structured, unstructured, and “dirty” data, using large language models only to generate database queries. Since its launch,…
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EU Council Revises Chat Control Proposal, Making CSAM Scanning Voluntary Amid Privacy Concerns
The European Union Council received a revised Child Sexual Abuse Regulation proposal that shifts mandatory content scanning to a voluntary model, with limited exceptions for high‑risk services. While the change garnered broad support among lawmakers, privacy advocates, including digital‑rights jurist Patrick Breyer and encrypted‑email provider Tuta, warn that loopholes could undermine the voluntary nature and…
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ChatGPT Goes Free on WhatsApp Until Early 2026
OpenAI’s ChatGPT is now available as a free AI contact inside Meta’s WhatsApp messaging app. Users can add the number 1‑800‑242‑8478 to start chatting with the bot, link their ChatGPT account for sync, and enjoy features such as question answering, summarization, translation, coding help, and image generation. The free offering will end on January 15,…
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AI Image and Video Models Develop Distinct “Personalities,” Shaping Creator Workflows
Creators are increasingly describing generative AI image and video models as having distinct “personalities,” referring to each model’s unique style, strengths, and preferred tasks. This emerging view helps artists select the right tool for specific projects, much like choosing a camera lens. By combining multiple models—such as Google’s Veo 3, Adobe’s Firefly, and Runway—creators achieve greater…
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Apple Intelligence Brings Everyday AI Features to iPhone and Mac
Apple Intelligence, now available on the latest iPhone models and Macs, adds a suite of AI‑driven tools that subtly improve daily use. Features such as Prioritize Notifications, automatic Summaries for messages and web pages, an upgraded Siri interface with ChatGPT fallback, Tap‑to‑Siri, a Reduce Interruptions Focus mode, and the Clean Up tool in Photos demonstrate…
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Google Photos Launches AI-Powered Personal Photo Editor Using Gemini’s Nano Banana Model
Google Photos has introduced a new AI-driven editor that leverages Gemini’s Nano Banana model to make personalized adjustments to faces in users’ images. By tapping into private face groups, the tool can open closed eyes, add smiles, remove sunglasses and more, all through simple natural‑language prompts. The update also adds AI‑generated style templates tailored to…
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World Labs Launches Marble, First Commercial AI-Powered 3D World Model
World Labs, the AI startup founded by Fei-Fei Li, has introduced Marble, its first commercial world‑model product. Marble lets users transform text prompts, images, videos, 3D layouts or panoramas into editable, downloadable 3D environments through a freemium tier and three paid subscriptions. Featuring AI‑native editing tools, a hybrid 3D editor called Chisel, and capabilities such…
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Coda Music Introduces AI Identification Tools and Artist Support Features
Coda Music, a newer entrant in the streaming market, has launched a suite of tools to identify and label AI‑generated songs. The platform now reviews every new artist for AI origins, flags profiles suspected of AI creation, and offers a user‑controlled toggle to hide AI artists entirely. Alongside these safeguards, Coda promotes higher per‑stream payouts,…
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AI Application Layer Race Heats Up Across the Atlantic
A new Accel report finds the United States still leads in large AI models, but Europe is rapidly catching up in the application layer. Emerging firms such as Lovable and Synthesia are highlighted as category leaders, while European and Israeli startups have raised 66 cents for every dollar raised by U.S. peers. The report notes…
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Google May Add Customizable Styles to NotebookLM Video Overviews
Google’s AI‑powered research assistant NotebookLM recently expanded its Video Overview feature with new visual styles powered by the Nano Banana image model. While seven preset styles are now available, the company is reportedly exploring a custom‑style option that would let users shape the look of videos through prompts. This potential upgrade follows recent enhancements that…
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Google’s November Pixel Update Adds AI Photo Remixing, Scam Protection and New Themes
Google’s latest Pixel software refresh, rolling out to all supported Pixel phones, introduces AI‑powered photo remixing in Google Messages, enhanced scam detection for texts and calls, notification summaries, VIP contact prioritization, new “Wicked” theme packs, and upgrades to Photos, Maps and Call notes. The update leverages the Gemini image model and Private AI Compute for…
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Disney Partners with Animaj to Accelerate Animation Using AI
Disney is exploring artificial‑intelligence tools to speed up the creation of animated content. At a recent showcase, startup Animaj demonstrated its AI‑driven “motion in‑betweening” system, which lets artists sketch key frames while the AI fills in the intermediate poses. Disney selected Animaj for its 2025 Accelerator program, noting that the technology cut production time for…
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Eternos Rebrands as Uare.ai to Offer Personal AI Replicas
After decades leading LivePerson, Robert LoCascio founded Eternos, a legacy service that records voices and stories for loved ones. Following client interest beyond memorial use, the company pivoted to create personal AI models that capture an individual’s expertise and personality. Renamed Uare.ai, it introduced the Human Life Model, raised $10.3 million in seed funding led…
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Google Launches Private AI Compute to Blend Cloud Power with On‑Device Privacy
Google is unveiling a new cloud‑based platform called Private AI Compute that lets users access more advanced artificial‑intelligence features while keeping their data private. The service mirrors Apple’s Private Cloud Compute by keeping sensitive information visible only to the user, even from Google, and by moving heavy computational tasks to a secure, fortified cloud space.…
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VCs Abandon Old Rules for a ‘Funky Time’ Investing in AI Startups
Venture capitalists are revising their playbooks for AI startups, emphasizing rapid growth, data generation, and strong go‑to‑market strategies. Aileen Lee of Cowboy Ventures described the shift as a “funky time” at TechCrunch Disrupt, noting that traditional metrics are giving way to new variables such as competitive moats and technical depth. Jon McNeill of DVx Ventures…
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OpenAI Pilots Group Chat Feature in ChatGPT Across Select Asia-Pacific Markets
OpenAI has begun testing a group chat capability within ChatGPT in Japan, New Zealand, South Korea and Taiwan. The feature lets users create multi‑person conversations where ChatGPT participates as an active collaborator, offering itinerary planning, renovation ideas, restaurant suggestions, report outlining and other assistance. Users start a group by tapping the people icon, can add up to…
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Chinese State-Backed Hackers Leverage Anthropic’s Claude AI to Automate Attacks
Anthropic reported that Chinese state-backed hackers employed its Claude large‑language model to automate roughly thirty attacks on corporations and governments during a recent campaign. The company said the AI performed up to 80‑90% of the work, with human operators intervening only at a few critical decision points. Four victims had sensitive data stolen, while the…
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Remodel AI Introduces AI-Powered Paint Visualizer for Home Renovations
Remodel AI, founded by Dirk Morris, has rolled out a paint‑visualization feature that uses computer‑vision AI to let users preview real‑world paint colors on photos of their spaces. The tool draws from established brands such as Behr, Benjamin Moore, and Sherwin‑Williams, and adjusts for lighting and texture to produce realistic renderings. Available on iOS and…
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OpenAI’s Sora: A New Frontier in AI‑Generated Video
OpenAI’s Sora is a generative video model that creates short clips from text, images, or video prompts. Built on a diffusion architecture, it starts with static noise and gradually refines it into coherent motion that matches the input description. Sora offers features such as storyboarding, higher resolutions, longer runtimes, and a cameo tool for personal…
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Google expands NotebookLM with Deep Research tool and broader file support
Google is enhancing its AI‑powered note‑taking service NotebookLM with a new Deep Research feature that automates complex online research and generates source‑grounded reports. At the same time, the platform now accepts a wider range of file types, including Google Sheets, Drive URLs, PDFs, and Microsoft Word documents, allowing users to summarize spreadsheets and quickly add…
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AI-Generated Celebrity Deepfakes Fuel Consumer Scams
Scammers are using AI‑generated images, video and audio to clone famous faces and voices, creating fake endorsements that trick consumers into clicking links, providing personal data, or sending money. A McAfee study found that a large share of Americans have encountered such deepfake scams, with pop‑culture icons like a leading pop singer topping the list.…
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Mozilla Unveils AI Window Feature for Firefox Browser
Mozilla announced that Firefox will soon include an AI‑driven browsing experience called AI Window. The opt‑in feature adds an AI assistant and chatbot to the browser, letting users pick the underlying model and interact with web content in a more intelligent way. AI Window will sit alongside the traditional private and classic windows, and Mozilla…
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Google Gemini Live Receives Major Update with New Accents, Faster Speech, and Adaptive Tutoring
Google has rolled out its biggest update to Gemini Live, the real‑time conversational AI interface, on Android and iOS. The upgrade adds smarter models that better understand intonation, rhythm, and pitch, letting users hear the assistant speak more slowly or quickly, adopt a range of accents, and deliver dramatic storytelling. Gemini Live also offers adaptive…
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DeepMind Unveils SIMA 2, a Gemini‑Powered Embodied AI Agent
DeepMind introduced SIMA 2, the next generation of its general‑purpose AI agent that combines the language and reasoning capabilities of the Gemini model with embodied skills learned from video‑game data. The new system can understand complex instructions, reason internally, and improve itself through self‑generated experiences, effectively doubling the performance of its predecessor, SIMA 1. Demonstrations showed SIMA 2…
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NotebookLM Gains Powerful New Source-Finding and File Support Features
Google’s NotebookLM has rolled out a major upgrade that makes locating, adding, and managing research sources far easier. The Gemini‑powered assistant now offers “Fast” and “Deep” research modes, lets users add CNET as a preferred Chrome source, and expands file compatibility to include Google Sheets, Microsoft Word documents, PDFs, and other Drive files without extra…
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Google Adds Deep Research Capability to NotebookLM
Google has expanded its NotebookLM AI workspace by adding a Deep Research tool that can automatically browse the web and compile multi‑page reports on a single topic. The new feature works alongside the Gemini model, allowing users to direct the app to seek specific online sources and receive suggested articles, papers, and websites. NotebookLM can…
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DeepMind Unveils SIMA 2 AI Agent Capable of Learning New Video Games
DeepMind has introduced SIMA 2, an advanced AI agent that expands on its earlier SIMA system by incorporating Google’s Gemini model. The new agent can interpret high‑level user goals, perform complex reasoning, and execute actions across a variety of video games, including titles it has never encountered. Released as a limited research preview for academics…
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Spotify Launches AI-Powered Recaps for Audiobooks
Spotify has introduced Recaps, an AI‑generated summary feature for audiobooks that helps listeners catch up after pausing. Available in iOS beta for select English titles, the tool activates after the first 20 minutes of listening and provides a spoiler‑free overview of what has been heard. The feature sits alongside Spotify’s $12 subscription, which includes 15…
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Google Launches AI‑Driven Shopping Tools Including Call Agent and Automated Checkout
Google is expanding its shopping experience with a suite of artificial‑intelligence features. Users in the United States can now engage in conversational searches, have an AI agent call local stores to ask about inventory and promotions, and let the system automatically purchase items when price targets are met. The tools, rolled out through AI Mode…
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Google Introduces Conversational Shopping and Ads in AI Mode Search
Google is expanding its AI Mode search with new conversational shopping capabilities powered by Gemini. Users in the United States will soon be able to ask complex product questions and receive generated guides, tables, and recommendations. The rollout also includes sponsored shopping content, mirroring traditional search ads, while the Gemini app currently offers ad‑free results.…
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AI Chatbot Relationships Spark Divorce and Legal Scrutiny
Companion chatbots are increasingly becoming a source of marital strain as couples confront emotional attachments to artificial intelligence. Divorce attorneys report a rise in cases where AI infidelity is cited as a factor, while surveys show a majority of singles view such relationships as cheating. State lawmakers are responding with varied approaches, from California’s new…
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OpenAI’s Open-Weight Models Draw Interest from U.S. Military
OpenAI has released open-weight models that can run locally, giving the U.S. military and defense contractors a new option for secure, air‑gapped AI applications. Companies such as Lilt and EdgeRunner AI are testing the models for translation and virtual assistant tasks, while the Pentagon has signed multi‑year deals with major AI firms to prototype generative‑AI…
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Microsoft Leverages OpenAI’s Chip Designs to Bolster Its Semiconductor Efforts
Microsoft is turning to its AI partner OpenAI to address challenges in its chip strategy. Under a revised agreement, Microsoft will gain full access to OpenAI’s custom AI chip designs, which are being co‑developed with Broadcom, and secure intellectual‑property rights to those designs. The deal also preserves Microsoft’s access to OpenAI’s models through 2032 while…
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OpenAI Launches GPT‑5.1 with Dual‑Mode ChatGPT and Real‑Time Personality Controls
OpenAI introduced its newest model, GPT‑5.1, as the default engine for ChatGPT. The update offers two variants—Instant for fast responses and Thinking for more deliberative tasks—while adding real‑time personality and tone controls that let users adjust the chatbot’s style on the fly. The rollout follows criticism of the previous GPT‑5 release, with OpenAI keeping older…
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AI-Powered Platform Helps Patients Fight Health‑Insurance Claim Denials
Neal Shah, driven by personal experiences with insurance denials during his wife’s cancer treatment, founded Counterforce Health, a free AI‑driven service that creates customized appeal letters for denied claims. The platform lets users upload denial notices and medical records, then generates evidence‑based appeals in minutes. Counterforce aims to level the playing field as insurers increasingly…
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OpenAI Launches GPT-5.1 with New Personality Presets and Adaptive Reasoning
OpenAI has introduced two updated versions of its flagship model, GPT-5.1 Instant and GPT-5.1 Thinking, now available in ChatGPT. The rollout adds eight preset personality styles—Professional, Friendly, Candid, Quirky, Efficient, Cynical, Nerdy, and Default—and incorporates adaptive reasoning that lets the model allocate extra compute time when needed. OpenAI says the new models outperform previous versions…
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OpenAI Rolls Out GPT‑5.1 with New Tone‑Control Presets and Dual‑Model Architecture
OpenAI has launched GPT‑5.1, a two‑model system that pairs an Instant model for everyday requests with a Thinking model for more complex tasks. The update adds six new tone‑presets—Default, Friendly, Efficient, Professional, Candid and Quirky—plus the existing Cynical and Nerdy options, letting users tailor ChatGPT’s personality. OpenAI says the new models are “warmer, more intelligent,…
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OpenAI Challenges Court Order for NYT Access to 20 Million User Chats
OpenAI announced that a sample of 20 million ChatGPT conversations from December 2022 to November 2024 does not include business customers and is stored under a legal hold. The company offered the New York Times privacy‑preserving alternatives such as targeted searches and high‑level usage classifications, but the newspaper rejected them and filed a motion demanding…
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German Court Rules OpenAI’s ChatGPT Violated Copyright on Musical Works
A German court has ruled that OpenAI’s ChatGPT breached national copyright law by training its language models on licensed musical works without permission. The lawsuit, filed by GEMA, the German music rights society, resulted in an order for OpenAI to pay undisclosed damages. OpenAI has expressed disagreement with the decision and is considering its next…
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Apple to Pay Google $1 Billion Annually for Custom Gemini AI Model Powering Siri
Apple is set to pay Google $1 billion each year for a custom Gemini AI model that will power the next generation of Siri. The model, featuring 1.2 trillion parameters, will run on Apple’s private cloud while on‑device models remain for personal data processing. Apple evaluated Anthropic as an alternative, which would have cost $1.5 billion per year.…
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Finding Meaning in an AI‑Driven World
During an OpenAI livestream, CEO Sam Altman asked chief scientist Jakub Pachocki how meaning will look in a future shaped by artificial intelligence. Pachocki responded that meaning will arise from the human desire to engage with processes, crafts, and analog experiences that AI cannot replicate. He highlighted the value of hands‑on activities, imperfect creations, and…
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Neo Home Robot Promises Household Help but Relies on Remote Operation
California‑based 1X has unveiled Neo, a humanoid robot priced at $20,000 that aims to handle chores like laundry, vacuuming and door opening. Neo moves with a soft, tendon‑driven gait, can lift up to 154 pounds, and runs for about four hours on a charge. While it features built‑in AI similar to ChatGPT and Gemini, most…
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Waymo Expands Robotaxi Service to Freeways Across Key U.S. Cities
Waymo, the Alphabet subsidiary behind autonomous taxis, announced that its robotaxis can now travel on freeways in the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles and Phoenix. The move adds curbside service at San Jose Mineta International Airport and promises faster trips, such as cutting the San Francisco‑Mountain View ride in half. Waymo’s fleet, already operating…
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WisdomAI Secures $50 Million Series A to Accelerate AI‑Driven Enterprise Data Analytics
WisdomAI, the AI data analytics startup founded by former Rubrik executives, has closed a $50 million Series A funding round led by Kleiner Perkins with participation from Nvidia’s venture arm. The company’s platform lets business users ask natural‑language questions of structured, unstructured, and “dirty” data, using large language models only to generate database queries. Since its launch,…
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EU Council Revises Chat Control Proposal, Making CSAM Scanning Voluntary Amid Privacy Concerns
The European Union Council received a revised Child Sexual Abuse Regulation proposal that shifts mandatory content scanning to a voluntary model, with limited exceptions for high‑risk services. While the change garnered broad support among lawmakers, privacy advocates, including digital‑rights jurist Patrick Breyer and encrypted‑email provider Tuta, warn that loopholes could undermine the voluntary nature and…
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AI Image and Video Models Develop Distinct “Personalities,” Shaping Creator Workflows
Creators are increasingly describing generative AI image and video models as having distinct “personalities,” referring to each model’s unique style, strengths, and preferred tasks. This emerging view helps artists select the right tool for specific projects, much like choosing a camera lens. By combining multiple models—such as Google’s Veo 3, Adobe’s Firefly, and Runway—creators achieve greater…
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Apple Intelligence Brings Everyday AI Features to iPhone and Mac
Apple Intelligence, now available on the latest iPhone models and Macs, adds a suite of AI‑driven tools that subtly improve daily use. Features such as Prioritize Notifications, automatic Summaries for messages and web pages, an upgraded Siri interface with ChatGPT fallback, Tap‑to‑Siri, a Reduce Interruptions Focus mode, and the Clean Up tool in Photos demonstrate…
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World Labs Launches Marble, First Commercial AI-Powered 3D World Model
World Labs, the AI startup founded by Fei-Fei Li, has introduced Marble, its first commercial world‑model product. Marble lets users transform text prompts, images, videos, 3D layouts or panoramas into editable, downloadable 3D environments through a freemium tier and three paid subscriptions. Featuring AI‑native editing tools, a hybrid 3D editor called Chisel, and capabilities such…
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AI Application Layer Race Heats Up Across the Atlantic
A new Accel report finds the United States still leads in large AI models, but Europe is rapidly catching up in the application layer. Emerging firms such as Lovable and Synthesia are highlighted as category leaders, while European and Israeli startups have raised 66 cents for every dollar raised by U.S. peers. The report notes…
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Google May Add Customizable Styles to NotebookLM Video Overviews
Google’s AI‑powered research assistant NotebookLM recently expanded its Video Overview feature with new visual styles powered by the Nano Banana image model. While seven preset styles are now available, the company is reportedly exploring a custom‑style option that would let users shape the look of videos through prompts. This potential upgrade follows recent enhancements that…
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Google’s November Pixel Update Adds AI Photo Remixing, Scam Protection and New Themes
Google’s latest Pixel software refresh, rolling out to all supported Pixel phones, introduces AI‑powered photo remixing in Google Messages, enhanced scam detection for texts and calls, notification summaries, VIP contact prioritization, new “Wicked” theme packs, and upgrades to Photos, Maps and Call notes. The update leverages the Gemini image model and Private AI Compute for…
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Disney Partners with Animaj to Accelerate Animation Using AI
Disney is exploring artificial‑intelligence tools to speed up the creation of animated content. At a recent showcase, startup Animaj demonstrated its AI‑driven “motion in‑betweening” system, which lets artists sketch key frames while the AI fills in the intermediate poses. Disney selected Animaj for its 2025 Accelerator program, noting that the technology cut production time for…
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Eternos Rebrands as Uare.ai to Offer Personal AI Replicas
After decades leading LivePerson, Robert LoCascio founded Eternos, a legacy service that records voices and stories for loved ones. Following client interest beyond memorial use, the company pivoted to create personal AI models that capture an individual’s expertise and personality. Renamed Uare.ai, it introduced the Human Life Model, raised $10.3 million in seed funding led…
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Google Launches Private AI Compute to Blend Cloud Power with On‑Device Privacy
Google is unveiling a new cloud‑based platform called Private AI Compute that lets users access more advanced artificial‑intelligence features while keeping their data private. The service mirrors Apple’s Private Cloud Compute by keeping sensitive information visible only to the user, even from Google, and by moving heavy computational tasks to a secure, fortified cloud space.…