News/AI Models
Samsung’s AI in One UI 8.5 fixes Android’s Wi-Fi switching problem
Samsung is developing AI-powered connectivity features for One UI 8.5 that will automatically switch between Wi-Fi and mobile data based on signal quality and user behavior patterns. The update represents Samsung's push to integrate machine learning into core smartphone functions, potentially solving common connectivity frustrations that plague Android users. What you should know: One UI 8.5 introduces two AI-driven connectivity features designed to optimize network switching without manual intervention. "Intelligent Link Assessment" learns from Wi-Fi link data to automatically disconnect from weak networks and switch to cellular data when needed. "Intelligent Network Switch" uses handover history along the user's movement...
read Sep 25, 2025Judge approves $1.5B Anthropic settlement over copyrighted books
A federal judge has approved a $1.5 billion settlement between AI company Anthropic and authors who accused the company of illegally using nearly half a million copyrighted books to train its Claude chatbot. The settlement will pay authors and publishers approximately $3,000 per book covered by the agreement, marking a significant legal precedent for AI companies' use of copyrighted material in training data. What you should know: U.S. District Judge William Alsup approved the settlement in San Francisco federal court after addressing concerns about fair distribution and author notification.• The settlement covers existing books but does not apply to future...
read Sep 25, 2025MIT study shows AI models behave like swayable voters during elections
A groundbreaking study from MIT and Stanford researchers tracked 11 major AI language models—including GPT-4, Claude, and Gemini—throughout the 2024 presidential campaign, revealing that these systems behaved more like swayable voters than neutral information sources. The findings expose how AI models can shift their responses based on real-world events, demographic prompts, and public narratives, raising significant concerns about their reliability and potential influence on democratic processes. What you should know: The study conducted over 12,000 structured queries between July and November 2024, marking the first rigorous examination of how AI models behave during a live democratic event. Models demonstrated measurable...
read Sep 25, 2025What do you have for me today? ChatGPT delivers personalized morning briefings to Pro users
OpenAI has launched ChatGPT Pulse, a new mobile feature that delivers personalized daily updates to Pro subscribers based on their chat history and connected apps. The preview feature represents OpenAI's latest push toward proactive AI assistance, with the AI model conducting overnight research to surface relevant information each morning rather than waiting for users to initiate conversations. How it works: ChatGPT Pulse analyzes user chat history, preferences, and optional Gmail and Google Calendar connections each night to generate morning updates. Users receive visual "cards" containing topic summaries that can be expanded for detail, covering areas like project follow-ups, dinner suggestions,...
read Sep 25, 2025Insight for the twilight: Inspiren raises $100M to expand AI-powered senior care platform
Inspiren has raised $100 million in Series B funding led by Insight Partners, a global software investor, to expand its AI-powered senior living platform nationwide. The investment accelerates the company's mission to address critical challenges in senior care, including rising acuity levels, staffing shortages, and increasing demands from residents and families through a unified ecosystem that integrates safety monitoring, care planning, and emergency response. What you should know: Inspiren has built the senior living industry's first complete AI-powered ecosystem, launched in March 2025, that unifies multiple care functions into a single platform. The company's total funding now reaches $155 million,...
read Sep 25, 2025California-based singer slams AI-generated Mississippi star’s $3M record deal
Oakland R&B singer Kehlani has publicly criticized the AI-generated artist Xania Monet, who recently secured a $3 million record deal with Hallwood Media after achieving top-five R&B chart success. The controversy highlights growing tensions between human musicians and artificial intelligence in the music industry, as artists grapple with AI's ability to create complete songs and compete for traditional recording contracts. What you should know: Xania Monet is an entirely AI-generated R&B artist created by Mississippi writer Talisha Jones, who feeds lyrics into AI systems to produce both the music and visual appearance. Monet has garnered more than 674,000 monthly listeners...
read Sep 25, 2025Now docking at Contemplation Station: DeepMind’s new AI models let robots think before they act
Google DeepMind has unveiled Gemini Robotics 1.5 and Gemini Robotics-ER 1.5, the first AI models that enable robots to "think" before taking action, marking what researchers call the dawn of agentic robots. This breakthrough represents a fundamental shift from task-specific robotic programming to general-purpose AI that can adapt to new situations without reprogramming, potentially transforming how robots operate in real-world environments. How it works: The system uses two complementary AI models that work together to enable more sophisticated robotic behavior. Gemini Robotics-ER 1.5 serves as the "thinking" model, processing visual and text input to generate step-by-step natural language instructions for...
read Sep 25, 2025Penny for your talks? Neon app pays users $0.30 per minute to record calls for AI training
Neon, an app that records phone calls and sells them to AI companies for training data, has climbed to No. 2 on Apple's US App Store in the Social Networking category. The app pays users $0.30 per minute for calls with other Neon users and $0.15 per minute for calls with non-users, suggesting many people are willing to trade privacy for compensation. How it works: Neon records phone conversations and sells the audio data to AI developers to help train speech recognition systems. Users earn money for each minute of recorded conversation, with earnings capped at $30 per day plus...
read Sep 25, 2025Databricks partners with OpenAI in $100M deal to embed ChatGPT into enterprise platforms
Databricks, a San Francisco-based data analytics firm, has partnered with OpenAI to integrate the ChatGPT maker's AI models directly into its enterprise data and analytics platforms, including its flagship Agent Bricks product. The partnership is expected to generate $100 million in revenue and gives Databricks a competitive edge over rival Snowflake in the rapidly expanding enterprise AI market. What you should know: The integration will embed OpenAI's AI models directly into Databricks' cloud platform and Agent Bricks, which helps customers create, test and scale AI applications and agents.• More than 20,000 enterprise customers of Databricks will gain access to GPT-5...
read Sep 24, 2025Kansas launches AI platform connecting small businesses to state resources 24/7
Kansas has launched ConnectKS, an AI-powered platform designed to connect small businesses with state resources, funding opportunities, and support organizations. The initiative addresses a critical need in a state where over 99% of businesses are small enterprises, offering 24/7 access to information that was previously only available through direct government contact during business hours. What you should know: The Kansas Small Business Office partnered with EcoMap Technologies to create a centralized digital ecosystem that helps entrepreneurs navigate state resources and build connections. ConnectKS launched this summer as one of the first offerings from the Kansas Small Business Office, which was...
read Sep 24, 2025$5.5K AI mural theft in Boston speaks to such art’s power to provoke
A 20-foot AI-generated mural advertising Cambridge's Dx Arcade was stolen in broad daylight from Central Square, sparking heated debate about artificial intelligence's role in street art culture. The theft has brought the contentious discussion over AI-created artwork from online forums directly to the streets, where traditional graffiti artists and AI proponents are clashing over authenticity and artistic legitimacy. What happened: Two suspects ripped the $5,500 banner off a Pearl Street wall on August 31, leaving only mounting studs and torn edges behind. Owner Sean Hope commissioned local artist Brian Life to create the 20-by-10-foot mural using AI over five months,...
read Sep 24, 2025Google Sheets gets smarter with Gemini’s formula assistance
Google has enhanced Gemini's capabilities within Google Sheets, adding formula explanation, error correction, and multi-formula generation features. These updates aim to reduce spreadsheet-related busywork for professionals while building user trust through improved transparency in AI-generated formulas. What you should know: Gemini can now explain how formulas work, diagnose why they fail, and provide multiple formula options for complex tasks. When Gemini creates a formula, users can ask for explanations that break down each component with bulleted descriptions of what each part does. If a formula fails, users can request error analysis and corrections from the AI assistant. The system can...
read Sep 24, 2025AI models now pass toughest Chartered Financial Analyst exam in minutes
Advanced AI models can now pass the most challenging level of the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) exam in just minutes, according to new research from New York University and AI wealth-management platform GoodFin. This breakthrough represents a significant leap in AI's financial reasoning capabilities, as Level III of the CFA—focused on portfolio management and wealth planning—previously stumped AI systems due to its complex essay questions. What you should know: Researchers tested 23 large language models on mock CFA Level III exams, finding that frontier reasoning models successfully passed using advanced prompting techniques. The study evaluated models including o4-mini, Gemini 2.5...
read Sep 24, 2025Skild AI’s universal robot brain goes starfish, adapts even after losing limbs
Skild AI has developed an "omni-bodied brain" that allows a single AI model to control multiple types of robots and adapt to extreme physical damage, including continuing to operate after losing limbs. The breakthrough represents a significant step toward more generalized robotic intelligence that could work across any hardware platform, addressing a key limitation in current robotics where AI models are typically designed for specific robot types. What you should know: The AI system can control unfamiliar robotic hardware and adapt to severe physical modifications without additional training. When a four-legged robot's limbs were cut off with a chainsaw, the...
read Sep 24, 2025Meta moves to sell wholesale electricity through new subsidiary Atem Energy
Meta has filed an application with federal regulators to sell wholesale electricity through its newly formed subsidiary Atem Energy, marking the tech giant's entry into energy markets. The move reflects Meta's growing need to secure reliable power for its expanding AI data center infrastructure, which is driving unprecedented electricity demand across the industry. What you should know: Meta's energy subsidiary seeks broad market authorization to manage the company's massive power requirements. Atem Energy has requested Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approval to sell energy, capacity, and ancillary services by November 16. The wholly owned subsidiary was created earlier this year...
read Sep 24, 2025SocialPost.ai raises $1M for AI social media tools meant to boost small biz
SocialPost.ai, an AI-powered social media platform for small businesses, has raised $1 million in seed funding led by Ember Venture Capital. The funding comes just three months after launch, during which the company has attracted over 600 subscribers, demonstrating strong early market validation for AI-driven social media tools tailored specifically to small business needs. What you should know: SocialPost.ai is building what it calls the world's first large language model and agentic platform purpose-built for social media marketing. The platform helps small businesses create, schedule, and analyze social media content using AI technology. Since launching three months ago, the company...
read Sep 24, 2025Companies hire – and rehire – humans to fix AI-generated content flooding the internet
A new irony has emerged in the AI age: while artificial intelligence eliminates millions of jobs, it simultaneously creates hundreds of thousands of new roles for humans whose sole purpose is cleaning up the low-quality content AI generates. This "AI slop"—ranging from glitchy videos to factually incorrect articles—is flooding the internet, forcing companies to hire human specialists to fix what AI creates poorly, often employing the same people who would have originally created the content before AI undercut their roles. What you should know: AI slop represents the industrialized production of low-quality, AI-generated content that mimics legitimate material but lacks...
read Sep 24, 2025When no does in fact mean yes: AI models fail to understand Persian ritual politeness
New research reveals that mainstream AI language models from OpenAI, Anthropic, and Meta fail to understand taarof—a Persian cultural practice of ritual politeness where "no" often means "yes"—correctly navigating these social situations only 34-42% of the time compared to 82% for native Persian speakers. This cultural blindness in AI systems could lead to significant misunderstandings in global business, diplomatic, and social contexts as these models increasingly facilitate cross-cultural communication. What you should know: The study, conducted by Nikta Gohari Sadr of Brock University along with researchers from Emory University, tested major AI models including GPT-4o, Claude 3.5 Haiku, Llama 3,...
read Sep 24, 2025Microsoft adds Anthropic’s Claude models to Office 365 Copilot
Microsoft has added Anthropic's Claude Sonnet 4 and Claude Opus 4.1 AI models to Microsoft 365 Copilot, marking the first time the company has expanded beyond OpenAI's models for its flagship productivity suite. This strategic shift reflects Microsoft's growing confidence in Anthropic's capabilities and signals a broader diversification strategy as the company seeks to offer customers the best AI models regardless of their origin. What you should know: Microsoft is integrating Anthropic's models into specific areas of Microsoft 365 Copilot while maintaining OpenAI as the primary foundation. Claude models are now available in Microsoft's Researcher agent and Copilot Studio, the...
read Sep 24, 2025Unreal steel: Finnish sorting company orders 7 more AI robots after successful trial
ZenRobotics, a Finnish AI-powered robotic sorting company, and US Conveyor, a specialist in custom scrap metal recycling systems, have secured a repeat order for seven Heavy Picker robots from one of the largest steel recyclers in the United States. This follows the successful installation of three units for the same customer in 2024, demonstrating growing confidence in robotic solutions as the industry faces increasing demand for high-purity recycled metals and safer working conditions. What you should know: The Heavy Picker robots use AI and advanced robotics to separate ferrous and non-ferrous metals with high precision, addressing critical industry challenges. The...
read Sep 24, 2025California requires AI companies to disclose training data in 2026
California has passed Assembly Bill 2013, requiring generative AI developers to publicly disclose their training data starting January 1, 2026. The Generative Artificial Intelligence Training Data Transparency Act represents one of the most comprehensive U.S. rules on AI disclosure, potentially strengthening copyright lawsuits while raising compliance burdens for companies operating in the state. What you should know: The law mandates detailed public disclosures about datasets used to train AI models, including sources, availability, size, and whether copyrighted or personal data are included. Developers must publish information on their websites about data sources, whether datasets are publicly available or proprietary, their...
read Sep 24, 2025AI startups risk collapse without data systems, warns ex-Facebook executive
Former Facebook design executive Julie Zhuo warns that AI startups are building their businesses on "good instincts and good vibes" rather than solid data analytics, despite attracting hundreds of millions in funding. Her critique highlights a fundamental vulnerability in the AI boom: companies experiencing explosive growth lack the infrastructure to understand why they're succeeding, leaving them unprepared when inevitable slowdowns occur. What you should know: AI companies are growing at unprecedented speeds without implementing proper data analysis systems to understand their success. "I don't think a lot of the fast-growing companies are using data well at this point," Zhuo explained...
read Sep 23, 2025Andreessen Horowitz data shows ChatGPT dominates as consumers embrace AI tools
The artificial intelligence industry is experiencing a fascinating shift as consumers increasingly embrace AI tools for everyday tasks. While much attention focuses on AI's potential for scientific breakthroughs and enterprise applications, tracking how ordinary users actually interact with these technologies reveals crucial insights about the industry's future direction and commercial viability. Recent data from Andreessen Horowitz, a prominent Silicon Valley venture capital firm, shows that consumers are gravitating toward surprisingly diverse AI applications. Beyond the expected chatbot interactions, people are creating virtual companions, enhancing photos, and building digital characters for role-playing scenarios. This consumer behavior matters enormously because AI companies...
read Sep 23, 2025Volusia County, Florida deploys AI metal detectors across 10 high schools
Volusia County Schools is expanding AI-powered metal detectors to all 10 of its high schools, with four campuses already equipped and the remainder scheduled for installation by the end of the school year. The technology represents a significant upgrade from traditional metal detectors, using artificial intelligence to identify specific items rather than simply detecting metal objects, aiming to enhance campus safety while minimizing disruptions to students' daily routines. How it works: The AI-powered system can distinguish between everyday items and potential threats with remarkable specificity. "It scans everything on the person and identifies each item," said Capt. Todd Smith with...
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