News/AI Models
Switzerland launches Apertus, world’s first open-source national AI model
Switzerland has launched Apertus, an open-source national Large Language Model developed by public institutions including EPFL, ETH Zurich, and the Swiss National Supercomputing Centre. The move positions Switzerland as the first country to offer a fully transparent AI model as public infrastructure, potentially setting a new standard for how nations approach AI development and data sovereignty. What you should know: Apertus represents a completely open approach to AI development, with full transparency across its entire training process. Users can inspect any part of the model's training, access comprehensive documentation, source code, and the datasets used to build it. The model...
read Sep 2, 2025Dolby Vision 2 uses AI “content intelligence” to fix TV motion smoothing issues
Dolby has unveiled Dolby Vision 2, the next generation of its HDR format that incorporates AI-powered optimization and filmmaker-controlled motion smoothing features. The upgrade represents a significant evolution beyond traditional HDR by introducing "Content Intelligence" tools that automatically adjust TV settings based on viewing conditions and content type, while addressing the controversial motion smoothing issue that has long frustrated filmmakers. What you should know: Dolby Vision 2 introduces AI-driven features that go far beyond basic HDR tone mapping to optimize the entire viewing experience.• The new "Content Intelligence" tools automatically adjust TV settings based on what you're watching, your viewing...
read Sep 2, 2025Indigenous youth use AI to preserve languages disappearing every 2 weeks
Young Indigenous technologists are developing AI-powered tools to help preserve and revitalize endangered languages in their communities, addressing a crisis where the UN estimates an Indigenous language dies every two weeks. These projects, led by individuals like Danielle Boyer with her SkoBot language-learning robot and Jared Coleman's AI-powered Paiute translator, represent a growing movement to reverse generational language loss while maintaining ethical control over cultural resources. The big picture: Indigenous communities worldwide are racing against time to preserve languages that colonization systematically suppressed, with half of all global languages projected to disappear by 2100. How the technology works: Boyer's SkoBot...
read Sep 2, 2025AI startup “WagerGPT” and more chase $150B sports gambling market with mixed results
A growing number of entrepreneurs are developing AI-powered gambling tools, betting that artificial intelligence can give ordinary bettors an edge in the rapidly expanding online sports betting market. While some claim success rates of 56-60 percent compared to standard odds of 52 percent, the field remains largely experimental with no clear wave of newly minted millionaires emerging from AI-assisted gambling. The big picture: The convergence of America's booming $150 billion sports betting industry with the AI gold rush has created a cottage industry of startups promising to turn bots into winning bet-makers. Americans spent over $150 billion on sports-related wagers...
read Sep 2, 2025Creative Runway AI expands into brass tacks robotics and self-driving car simulation
Runway AI, the $3 billion video generation company, is expanding beyond creative tools into robotics and autonomous vehicle training after receiving inbound interest from firms in those industries. The move leverages the company's existing world models to tap into rapidly growing simulation markets, with backing from major investors including Nvidia, Alphabet, and General Atlantic. The big picture: Runway's pivot reflects how generative AI is increasingly shaping robotics and self-driving development, positioning the company to capture demand in markets projected to grow from $16.5 billion combined in 2025 to over $51 billion by 2034. Market opportunity: The numbers underscore significant growth...
read Sep 2, 2025Israeli VCs embrace AI tools while maintaining human-first investing
Israeli venture capital leaders are adapting their investment strategies to incorporate AI tools while maintaining that human judgment remains irreplaceable in venture capital decisions. A new survey from CTech, an Israeli technology publication, reveals how three prominent firms—Red Dot Capital Partners, HiCenter Ventures, and Blumberg Capital—are using AI to enhance their operations while emphasizing that successful AI investments still depend on human trust, commercial focus, and long-term defensibility. What they're saying: Industry leaders consistently emphasize that AI enhances but doesn't replace human decision-making in venture capital. "AI is already woven into our daily work … helping us process information faster,...
read Sep 2, 2025Welcome to AI Hammy: Will Smith posts bizarre AI cat concert video after fake fan controversy
Will Smith posted a bizarre AI-generated concert video featuring a crowd of distorted cats, confirming suspicions that his team has been using artificial intelligence to enhance footage from his recent tour. The latest video comes after widespread criticism of an earlier concert clip where AI was allegedly used to add fake enthusiastic fans to sparse audience footage, highlighting a growing trend of celebrities embracing low-quality AI content. What happened: Smith's Instagram account featured a new video showing him performing on stage before panning to reveal an audience composed entirely of AI-generated cats with distorted features. The video was co-posted with...
read Sep 2, 2025OpenAI adds parental controls to ChatGPT after teen suicide lawsuits
OpenAI announced it will launch parental controls for ChatGPT "within the next month," allowing parents to manage their teen's interactions with the AI assistant. The move comes after several high-profile lawsuits alleging that ChatGPT and other AI chatbots have contributed to self-harm and suicide among teenagers, highlighting growing concerns about AI safety for younger users. What you should know: The parental controls will include several monitoring and management features designed to protect teen users. Parents can link their account with their teen's ChatGPT account and manage how the AI responds to younger users. The system will disable features like memory...
read Sep 1, 2025Chile develops Latam-GPT, a 50B-parameter AI model for Latin America
The Chilean National Center for Artificial Intelligence is developing Latam-GPT, an open-source large language model specifically designed for Latin America and trained on regional languages and contexts. The project aims to help the region achieve technological independence by creating AI that understands local dialects, cultural nuances, and historical contexts that global models often overlook. What you should know: Latam-GPT represents a collaborative effort across Latin America to build regionally-focused AI capabilities. The model contains 50 billion parameters, making it comparable to GPT-3.5 in scale and complexity. It's trained on over 8 terabytes of text data from 20 Latin American countries...
read Sep 1, 2025Senior developers use AI for 50% of code vs 13% for juniors
Experienced developers with over 10 years in the field are more than twice as likely to use AI code-generation tools to produce over half of their finished software compared to junior developers, according to new research from Fastly, a cloud services platform. The findings challenge assumptions about AI adoption in programming, revealing that senior developers embrace these tools not out of laziness, but as a strategic response to their broader responsibilities beyond day-to-day coding. What you should know: A July survey of 791 US developers found stark differences in AI tool usage across experience levels. Around 33% of senior developers...
read Sep 1, 2025AI detects consciousness in coma patients 4-8 days before doctors
Researchers at Stony Brook University have developed an AI system called SeeMe that can detect signs of consciousness in comatose patients by analyzing microscopic facial movements invisible to doctors. The breakthrough technology spotted consciousness in patients an average of 4-8 days before clinicians could identify these signs, potentially transforming how medical teams approach treatment decisions and rehabilitation timing for brain injury patients. What you should know: The AI system tracks facial movements at the level of individual pores to identify responses to simple commands like "open your eyes" or "stick out your tongue." SeeMe detected eye-opening responses in 30 of...
read Sep 1, 2025How hotels are using humanoid AI robots to solve staffing challenges – and impress international travelers
The hospitality industry stands at an inflection point where science fiction meets business reality. Humanoid AI robots—once relegated to tech demos and research labs—are now checking guests into luxury hotels from Singapore to San Francisco. This isn't just about novelty; it's about fundamental shifts in how hotels compete for guest loyalty while managing persistent labor shortages and rising operational costs. Recent industry surveys suggest that 49% of travelers would welcome robot greetings in hotel lobbies, while nearly 70% expect hotels to adopt innovative technologies during their stays. Properties introducing humanoid AI into guest services report stronger engagement metrics and more...
read Sep 1, 2025Chinese AI startups match US giants with fewer resources
Chinese AI companies have rapidly closed the gap with U.S. rivals, developing cost-efficient models that perform comparably to leading Western systems like OpenAI's GPT-4o and Anthropic's Claude 3.5 Sonnet. This strategic pivot represents a distinct approach to generative AI, emphasizing resource optimization and targeted applications over the compute-intensive methods favored by American firms. What you should know: DeepSeek, a Chinese AI startup founded in 2023, has emerged as the most notable competitor, achieving competitive performance with significantly fewer computing and data resources than U.S. models. The company's DeepSeek-R1 model now performs comparably to established Western systems despite operating under resource...
read Sep 1, 2025Death, Taxes and AI: IRS adopts new tech for fraud detection as 95% of US companies embrace automation
The IRS is increasingly integrating artificial intelligence into its operations, from call centers to fraud detection systems, as part of a broader technology transformation following pandemic-related challenges. This shift reflects a wider trend where 95% of U.S. companies now use generative AI, marking a significant evolution in how both public and private sectors leverage automation for core functions. The big picture: Danny Werfel, former IRS Commissioner and current strategic advisory board member at alliant, describes AI as presenting both "an opportunity and a risk" for tax administration, with the agency expanding from initial call center applications to chatbots and scam...
read Sep 1, 2025Mexico’s Supreme Court rules only humans can hold copyright protection
Mexico's Supreme Court has ruled that works created exclusively by artificial intelligence cannot be granted copyright protection, establishing that authorship belongs solely to humans. The unanimous decision creates a significant legal precedent for AI and intellectual property in Mexico, clarifying how the country will handle the growing intersection of AI technology and creative rights. What you should know: The Supreme Court determined that Mexico's Federal Copyright Law reserves authorship exclusively for humans, rejecting the idea that AI-generated works can qualify for copyright protection. The court ruled that automated systems lack the "necessary qualities of creativity, originality and individuality that are...
read Sep 1, 2025Meta explores Google and OpenAI partnerships while building Llama AI
Meta is reportedly exploring partnerships with competitors Google and OpenAI to integrate their AI models into its own applications and services. This strategic move represents a temporary measure to enhance Meta's AI capabilities while the company continues developing its proprietary Llama models to remain competitive in the rapidly evolving AI landscape. What you should know: Meta's Superintelligence Lab is actively evaluating external AI models to power key features across its platform ecosystem. Leaders have examined integrating Google Gemini into Meta AI's chatbot to improve conversational search responses for users. The company has also held discussions about incorporating OpenAI's models to...
read Sep 1, 2025Google Photos uses AI to find the best moments in your videos
Google Photos is introducing a new "Key Moments" feature that uses AI to automatically identify and highlight the most engaging sections of user videos. The tool addresses a common problem with video sharing—lengthy recordings filled with uninteresting content—by allowing users to quickly find and extract compelling clips with a single tap. How it works: Key Moments analyzes videos that are at least ten seconds long, using AI to detect joyful, nostalgic, or visually rich segments.• The feature displays interactive "chips" on the video timeline that users can tap to save highlighted moments as separate clips or remove unwanted markers.• Google's...
read Sep 1, 2025Wedbush gives Serve Robotics $15 target as autonomous last-mile delivery heats up
Wedbush Securities has initiated coverage on Serve Robotics Inc. (NASDAQ:SERV) with an "Outperform" rating and a $15 price target, positioning the autonomous delivery company as a key player in the AI-driven last-mile delivery market. The rating reflects growing analyst confidence in robotics companies that can capitalize on enterprise demand for automated delivery solutions and operational efficiency. What they're saying: Wedbush analyst Daniel Ives sees significant potential in Serve's autonomous delivery platform and growth trajectory.• "We are initiating coverage on Serve Robotics with an OUTPERFORM rating and a $15 price target. In our view, Serve Robotics has established a pioneering autonomous...
read Sep 1, 2025Canadian university debuts 3D AI teaching assistant “Kia” to co-teach ethics course
Simon Fraser University professor Steve DiPaola has introduced Kia, a 3D AI teaching assistant, to co-teach his first-year course on AI history and ethics alongside him this fall. The initiative represents what SFU calls a "world first" in higher education, designed to expose students to AI capabilities and limitations through direct classroom interaction rather than theoretical discussion alone. What you should know: Kia appears as an expressive Black female digital persona with real-time facial expressions and body language, created by DiPaola to serve as an AI collaborator rather than a replacement for human teaching staff. The AI assistant will answer...
read Sep 1, 2025Silicon Valley AI leaders turn to biblical language to describe their work amid unprecedented uncertainty
Silicon Valley's most influential artificial intelligence leaders are increasingly turning to biblical metaphors, apocalyptic predictions, and religious imagery to describe their work. This linguistic shift reveals something profound about how the tech industry views its own creations—and the existential questions AI development raises about humanity's future. From Geoffrey Hinton, the Nobel Prize-winning "Godfather of AI," warning about threats to religious belief systems, to OpenAI CEO Sam Altman describing humanity's transition from the smartest species on Earth, these leaders are framing AI development in terms that echo creation myths, prophecies, and divine transformation. This isn't mere marketing hyperbole—it reflects genuine uncertainty...
read Sep 1, 2025Open up and say “AI”: New stethoscope can detect 3 heart conditions in 15 seconds
Doctors at Imperial College London have developed an AI-powered stethoscope that can diagnose three major heart conditions—heart failure, heart valve disease, and atrial fibrillation—in just 15 seconds. The breakthrough technology represents the first major upgrade to the traditional stethoscope since its invention in 1816, potentially transforming early cardiac diagnosis by detecting subtle heart problems that human ears cannot perceive. What you should know: The AI stethoscope analyzes heartbeat patterns and blood flow while simultaneously taking an ECG, sending data to cloud-based algorithms for instant analysis. The device, about the size of a playing card and manufactured by Eko Health, a...
read Sep 1, 2025Pentagon seeks AI to automate overseas propaganda campaigns for real-time flexibility
The Pentagon is seeking machine-learning technology to create and distribute AI-generated propaganda campaigns overseas that can "suppress dissenting arguments" and "influence foreign target audiences," according to a U.S. Special Operations Command document obtained by The Intercept. This represents a significant escalation in military information warfare capabilities, with SOCOM specifically requesting contractors who can provide "agentic AI or multi-LLM agent systems" to automate large-scale influence operations in real-time. What they're seeking: SOCOM wants automated systems that can scrape internet content, analyze situations, and respond with propaganda messages aligned with military objectives. The document calls for technology that can "respond to post(s),...
read Sep 1, 2025AI transforms voice calls, clunky IVR into a customer service comeback
Voice calls are staging a comeback in AI-powered contact centers, defying predictions that digital channels would replace phone-based customer service. This resurgence is driven by artificial intelligence that enhances rather than replaces human conversation, making voice interactions more intelligent while preserving the immediacy and trust that customers seek for complex or urgent issues. The big picture: AI is transforming voice from a legacy channel into a sophisticated customer experience tool that combines human empathy with intelligent automation. Speech recognition and natural language processing have eliminated rigid interactive voice response (IVR) menus, enabling AI assistants to understand context, emotion, and nuance....
read Aug 29, 2025John Deere buys GUSS for AI sprayers that cut chemicals 90%
John Deere has completed its full acquisition of GUSS, the company behind autonomous electric orchard sprayers that use AI-powered weed detection technology. The deal formalizes a joint venture partnership that has been developing for years and positions Deere to capitalize on growing demand for agricultural automation driven by labor shortages and rising operational costs. What you should know: GUSS specializes in fully autonomous electric sprayers designed specifically for orchards and vineyards, addressing critical challenges in high-value crop production. The GUSS electric sprayer operates for 10-12 continuous hours on a single overnight charge using a 63 kWh Kreisel Battery Pack. Its...
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